Nothing Without You
Saltwater Romance #1
Rhonda Forrest
Reviewed by Helen
This is a heartfelt story of growing up, of teenage rebellion and finding yourself, how long it takes is the question, come along and meet Evie Romano it is 1977, she is fifteen and her life has just been turned upside down, her parents separation and she has left her boyfriend and all of her friends behind in Beaudesert to move to North Queensland where upheaval into sex, drugs and rock and roll takes place.
Moving to the rain forests of North Queensland opens up a whole new world for Evie, she puts behind her best friend Layla the holidays spend on Stradbroke Island where she was first kissed by her boyfriend Chris, determined to show her independence from her mother she makes friends with the kids from the commune and is soon enjoying a life filled with drugs, alcohol older men and sex school falls by the wayside when she had always been so good, dropping out and deciding that life with her much older boyfriend Bob in Yeppoon is what she wants but will it be what she hopes it will be?
This is a beautifully told story about first love and growing up in the 1970’s it shows the turmoil, confusion and drama of a teenage girl who has her life changed in an instant, who grows into adulthood in a world of hurt and struggle, how will Evie’s life end up will she find the happiness and love that she deserves after all she has been through?
You need to read this one, it is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come, I grew up in the 1970’s I loved the music and it too me back to the era so well, Rhonda Forrest has a beautiful voice for making things real for bring her characters and settings to life and I loved Evie, there were tears and smiles from me, throughout this story and I look forward to book two. I loved it and highly recommend it.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Moving to the rain forests of North Queensland opens up a whole new world for Evie, she puts behind her best friend Layla the holidays spend on Stradbroke Island where she was first kissed by her boyfriend Chris, determined to show her independence from her mother she makes friends with the kids from the commune and is soon enjoying a life filled with drugs, alcohol older men and sex school falls by the wayside when she had always been so good, dropping out and deciding that life with her much older boyfriend Bob in Yeppoon is what she wants but will it be what she hopes it will be?
This is a beautifully told story about first love and growing up in the 1970’s it shows the turmoil, confusion and drama of a teenage girl who has her life changed in an instant, who grows into adulthood in a world of hurt and struggle, how will Evie’s life end up will she find the happiness and love that she deserves after all she has been through?
You need to read this one, it is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come, I grew up in the 1970’s I loved the music and it too me back to the era so well, Rhonda Forrest has a beautiful voice for making things real for bring her characters and settings to life and I loved Evie, there were tears and smiles from me, throughout this story and I look forward to book two. I loved it and highly recommend it.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
5 Stars
August 20, 2024 by Valeena Press
