Deep Blue (Blue #1) by Jules Barnard Summary: In the Blue Series, a summer in Lake Tahoe is anything but carefree when recent college grads discover that finding real love means looking beneath the surface. When Cali Morgan kicks off her perfect post-college summer in Lake Tahoe, she has everything she ever wanted: acceptance into a top law program, a gorgeous boyfriend, and an incredible summer planned with her best friend.
Confident about her place in the world, Cali makes it her mission to be her friend’s wingwoman and help her meet guys. What Cali doesn’t count on is running into Jaeger Lang, one of her older brother’s high school friends, or the sparks that fly when she’s around him.
Jaeger has changed, and it’s not just the added height and muscle. There’s something about him that’s deep and a little scarred. In spite of the changes, Jaeger becomes a top pick for her friend—if Cali can keep her hands off him.
But when Cali’s boyfriend dumps her and her carefully laid plans begin to unravel, she finds herself questioning what it is she truly desires. In the midst of doubts about her future, one thing is very clear: she wants Jaeger for her own. The question is, has her friend already fallen for him?
Deep Blue is book #1 in the Blue Series.
This New Adult book is intended for readers over the age of 18 due to adult language, sexual content, and adult situations.
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Source: I purchased a Kindle copy.
Review:
Deep Blue had a pretty decent plot and I was definitely in the mood for a light and enjoyable NA romance.
I got the book on Amazon, but it was free. Which always makes me feel conflicted because I didn’t pay for it and I know it’s free to generate some reviews. And when those reviews aren’t positive, that sucks and is totally counterproductive for the author. The best I can do is not post this review on amazon, thought, since I review every book I read on the blog and goodreads.
Deep Blue had a great plot that, with a great editor, time, and effort, could have been molded into a phenomenal story. Like many free Kindle books, it lacked the final touches that makes a book genuinely good. The biggest issue I had was the lack of focus in the plot. I could tell that the author was trying to hone in on some issues and build up some scenes, but it was kind of all over the place and sometimes forced. The dialog seemed unnatural in some sections and the conflict in the plot wasn’t really one thing, but a bunch of random things that I don’t feel were explored and explained well enough.
I liked the characters and I liked some of the conflict, but Jaeger’s ex girlfriend fiasco came out of nowhere and I felt like more of the novel could have touched on that. Plus, I never felt like I knew anyone well enough. The synopsis led me to believe that Cali’s friend was interested in Jaeger, but it was more like Cali was floundering all over the place and assuming she had no chance because she tried to set them up. While that could’ve been a pretty good miscommunication type of conflict, it still wasn’t as well developed to be believable. I knew she had no interest in Jaeger and that Cali was being stupid.
I always feel like I expect too much from free and discounted books and even from indie authors. But then I realize I don’t. I don’t think I’m being unfair to expect a well written and well developed story and I don’t mind calling out traditionally published books for the same reasons. I don’t feel like books like this are a good representative of what indie books should offer. It’s one of those “meh, it’s free so I guess it’s readable type” of books and I feel like that isn’t the right way to feel about a book. I enjoyed the plot, but I don’t feel like I read a finished product.
