Scarlet Wave (Book 3) and Golden Shores (Book 4) in the RomantiSea Serenades Series

~J.D. Harbor

I was blessed to read both Scarlet Wave and Golden Shores as ARC’s for J.D. Harbor and boy, did they wreck me! In the best possible way though! I truly thought I was prepared for the conclusion of this series – I was so wrong!

Normally I review books individually, but on occasion I feel the need to combine a review is just a must. This is one of those occasions. With Scarlet Wave and Golden Shores being tandem stories, just PoV from each of the main characters, it was hard to compile a single review. So, here we are – a dual review, based on dual PoV’s.

Scarlet Bellari’s best friend has decided the two should set sail on a single’s cruise. Scarlet has tired of the dating apps full of men with no substance and turned her focus on her career. After being passed over for a well-deserved promotion, her best friend whisks her off for a week of sun, umbrella drinks, and men – the last one not being what Scarlet is looking forward to.

Jerry Duncan, military veteran and single dad of two special needs boys, has dedicated his life to caring for his sons and serving his country. Neglecting his personal life, mostly afraid he won’t find someone to accept the scars he bears or the attention his sons need, he’s let his mom and friend talk him into going on a single’s cruise.

When Scarlet and Jerry meet it isn’t like fireworks going off. The two have a slow, steady burn that leads to more through flirting and witty banter. Neither believing they will ever find the type of love dreams are made of, are quickly surprised at how easy conversation and time spent together is.Harbor has given us two extremely well-thought-out characters full of raw emotion and vulnerabilities that anyone who has gone through difficult relationships can immediately be drawn to. From the frustration of dating on Scarlet’s part, to the difficult of divorce and raising special needs children for Jerry – the relatability is completely there. The emotional unraveling that leads to rebuilding between the two is beautifully balanced—two imperfect people learning that love doesn’t erase life’s messiness, but it sure makes facing it a lot less terrifying.

Scarlet Wave and Golden Shores both give such vivid imaging you can picture the two standing together, flirting and making that heart-felt connection. The pacing in both books is steady and strong leading to an amazing finale’ you can’t miss. Flawless transitioning with the different PoV’s and scenes makes these two books an easy, smooth read that immerses readers in their journey – investing them fully.

Harbor has swept me overboard with Scarlet Wave and Golden Shores! I was captivated from the moment I started both stories until the final scene in Golden Shores! Harbor brought it all out with these two books – the emotions, tenderness and deeply human connections are authentic. As readers, between the two books we experience a story about love, trauma, parenthood, healing, humbleness, and rediscovering that life can be full of joy even at the hardest moments.

Scarlet won me over in Scarlet Wave. But Jerry? He pulled my heart in a million directions in Golden Shores. I would highly recommend the RomantiSea Serenades Series to anyone looking for an uplifting, inspiration story showing that sometimes life knocks us down, it’s possible to get back and overcome the most difficult of obstacles if we just open our hearts to the opportunity.

I would like to thank Naughty Nook PR and J.D. Harbor for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC Scarlet Wave and Golden Shores in the RomantiSea Serenades Series. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.

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