Review: In Over Our Heads (Stories from the Shore #2) by CJane Elliott

Anthony Vallen is the life of any party. Full of energy and fun, Anthony adores romance and enjoys playing matchmaker for his friends while dancing the night away with a series of Mr. Right Nows. But he’s given up on his own happy ending. A bad breakup years ago made him a secret cynic about love… until he runs into Walter Elkins—the boy who broke his teenaged heart—on a scuba-diving vacation in Key West. Suddenly, Anthony’s reasons for shunning romance no longer hold much water. Being with Walter again forces Anthony to get serious—about himself, his worth, and his heart’s desires.

Brilliant and self-contained, scientist Walter Elkins prefers deep thoughts to other people. He’s a good boss and a model citizen, but Walter doesn’t let anyone get close. After a tragedy drove him out of his science career, Walter landed in Key West and became owner of a dive shop and a bar. Things are fine until Anthony Vallen—the only person who ever penetrated his defenses—shows up, and Walter’s calm, controlled life capsizes. He and Anthony have a second chance for love, but Walter must confront the old fears that threaten to torpedo their happiness.

DNF - 60%

I just can’t with this story. I got to 58% and it just went downhill from there.
Those who enjoy fluffy and cute with over the top characters may enjoy this but it just did not work for me.

The start was good. I liked Tony as a character. He was fun and flirty with some depth (buried deep). He was interesting enough and the storyline was good. Somewhere around the time he was letting Miles down and admitting he wasn’t over Walter, the dialogue became way too forced. The rambling became longer and less coherent.

I also had issue with Walter. There is something really egotistical in thinking the world revolves around him and he caused things to happen that have absolutely nothing to do with him. Flogging that line for almost the entire book, grating.

It got to the point I didn’t even care if they got together, and would have preferred them to find other people. If Walter would prefer to wallow in his self-exile, all power to him, but he dragged ME down, and I had zero hope for a healthy outcome for these men.

High school sweethearts reunited is a favourite trope of mine, but this did not make me feel good. I admit, I gave up. I could see nothing redeeming about Walter’s behaviour and Tony was becoming hysterical.

Honestly, I think reading other reviews would give you a better idea if this story is for you. It was definitely not for me, and that bums me out because the first 40% had a lot of promise.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion .