Double Dyno by Sharon K. Angelici is a somewhat slow burn romance that heats up as an adventure group faces more than they paid for on an extended camping, hiking and climbing trip.
This prequel to the Alice and Violet series follows Al’s outdoor adventuring company Extreme Adventure Group taking a couple of well vetted women into the wild for two weeks of living off the land as they hike from site to site and put in some rock climbing days. Al is unsure of Violet being reliable enough to trust should things turn hairy because she can’t tie a knot to literally save someone’s life. And she triggers her constantly by using her full name.
Violet doesn’t understand Alice’s problem with her name, but she does understand the masc woman’s beauty and alluring competence. Spending nights in a small tent with the woman helps her better understand, though waking up spooning the woman in the night is embarrassing.
The outing turns into the most adventurous Al and her business partners and best friends PB and Britt have experienced, but Al and Violet find their growing attraction may be the most perilous time.
Writing
The author spends a good amount of time introducing Al, Britt and PB, with a lot of loving banter and extreme setup of their lives at the tail end of their twenties. They’re brash and confident that running their adventure touring company and never settling in one place is their only ambition. It sets up a lot of expectation for the reader to experience their full potential and places yet another barrier for Al and Violet to see a happily ever after instead of a single trip romance.
The romance is a little different because, while Al and Violet immediately notice the other’s good looks, it takes a long time for Al to thaw toward the brazen Violet. There is a good balance between increasing the romance while giving an interesting account of their trip into the wilds.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
There is a lot of humor mixed in with the adventuring and eventually the increasingly dangerous situations the women find themselves in. I especially enjoyed the guessing game scene about Al’s new love, Bess, her first brand new car (says the reviewer with a Subaru of her own). Outdoor adventuring can be dangerous, and the author doesn’t skimp on putting the characters in some situations that I would much rather read about than experience. I really liked the balance between growing romance, humor, love of found family, and progressively harsh circumstances.
This is a story about two women who don’t even know how much they need love in their life. My favorite aspect of the romance is their dawning realization of how big the change would be for them, and the thawing of icy walls around their hearts they didn’t know were there. Since I haven’t read the series that takes place after this book, I don’t know how much these events changes everyone’s lives, but it’ll be fun to find out.
Heads Up
There are some somewhat gruesome outdoor adventures.
The Conclusion
Al, Britt and PB are the owner operators of Extreme Adventures Group, supplying extended hiking, camping and climbing tours. Living off the land and watching out for rattle snakes, their newest group includes the incompetent knot tying Violet which makes it difficult for Al to trust the woman, especially when she keeps using her whole name. Violet doesn’t understand why Alice is so triggered by a name she considers as beautiful as the tour leader, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to thaw the woman’s icy walls. Neither woman is prepared for how much they discover the need for love in their life.
The author provides a good amount of adventure, love of found family and humor between the tour guides as Violet and Al share a small tent and eventually their hearts in this prequel to the Alice and Violet series.
Excerpt from Double Dyno by Sharon K. Angelici
“The water’s warm. You should come in.”
“I’ll wait here and watch for creepy crawlies.”
Al waded out to her hips. “You’re volunteering to be my protector?” She chuckled.
Violet shook her head. “I’ll mostly scream for the rest of the team and call them on this.” She plucked the device from the pile of clothes.
“Make sure you turn it on.” Al pointed at the radio in Violet’s hand before falling backward into the water.
Violet rotated the dial and it squelched at the same time Al disappeared with a splash. Violet clicked her flashlight, scanning the top of the lake for Al to reappear. Moments later, Al was walking toward shore fifteen feet from where she’d gone under.
“Feel better?” Violet asked. “I feel absolutely amazing.”
Al collected her clothes and the water bladder. “Are you ready to go back?”
Violet shook her head. “Can I sit here a little longer?” She hugged her knees to her chest.
“Sure, if you’d like.” Al set the water down so she could pull her shirt on. Violet’s head turned, resting on her knees as she watched Al cover her body. “You’re going to be all wet.”
Al chuckled. “It’s water. I can handle it.”
“I suppose you can.”
They sat together for a few minutes until Violet couldn’t contain her observations. “It’s almost as beautiful out here in the dark as it is during the day.”
Al looked up at the sky full of stars. “I can’t imagine trading in this night sky for anything.”
Violet didn’t respond. She sat in the silence that followed, agreeing without words that the absence of the outside world created the peace that she craved.
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Series: Alice and Violet story
Double Dyno
Yule Be Home for Solstice
Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9798884262928
Publisher: Indie Author
Sharon K. Angelici Online
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Note: I received a free review copy of Double Dyno by Sharon K. Angelici. No money was exchanged for this review. When you use our links to buy we get a small commission which supports the running of this site
