Surviving Ice by K.A. Tucker Series: Burying Water #4
Publisher: Atria Books on October 27, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
Ivy Lee, a talented tattoo artist who spent the early part of her twenties on the move, is looking for a place to call home. She thinks she might have finally found it working in her uncle’s tattoo shop in San Francisco. But all that changes when a robbery turns deadly, compelling her to pack up her things yet again.
When they need the best, they call him. That’s why Sebastian Riker is back in California, cleaning up the mess made after a tattoo shop owner with a penchant for blackmail got himself shot. But it’s impossible to get the answers he needs from a dead body, leaving him to look elsewhere. Namely, to the twenty-something-year-old niece who believes this was a random attack. Who needs to keep believing that until Sebastian finds what he’s searching for.
Ivy has one foot out of San Francisco when a chance encounter with a stranger stalls her departure. She’s always been drawn to intense men, so it’s no wonder that she now finds a reason to stay after all, quickly intoxicated by his dark smile, his intimidating strength, and his quiet control. That is, until Ivy discovers that their encounter was no accident—and that their attraction could be her undoing.
At A Glance
Finally, an almost perfect read. I’ve been waiting so long.
The Good
I fell for this book hard! The characters, the story, the romance, it was all so perfect for me. I love cold, unemotional characters and Ivy and Sebastian fit the bill. Ivy, the non-committal hard-ass who doesn’t grow attached to anyone and Sebastian, the unemotional ex-SEAL who has seen enough crap in his life to stay away from anything resembling feelings. It takes time, but they each crack the other’s shell, accidentally.
Surviving Ice broke my heart. Ivy loses a lot in this book, but she stays so unbelievably strong the whole time. I would be a mess if I had to deal with what she did. She was lucky to have Sebastian, even if his intentions were not the best in the beginning. Ivy needed that confident person to lean on even if she would never admit it. And Sebastian needed that special someone to bring him out of the cold void he has been hiding in for a good chunk of his life. Tucker really hit the nail on the head with pairing these two together. They had so much chemistry and such a deep connection.
Ivy and Sebastian slowly come together because of their circumstances and it was a real struggle for them. I like when it takes time and effort for a couple to get together. I am so over insta-love and love at first sight. Bleh. Lust at first sight is still cool, cuz, come on, people are hot!
We get some suspense, mystery, and action which were threaded throughout story. I loved the ending and how it wrapped up. I am sad to see the series end though. I think there is more characters to explore and hopefully the author gets to them one day.
The Bad
I expected more suspense based on Tucker’s other books in the series. I wasn’t disappointed per se, I just think a little more suspense would have been cool. If Ivy is in danger, let’s actually see her be in danger.
The Snuggly
The sex was the best of the series. Ivy and Sebastian had so much stinging passion. It was both cold and hot. The scene where Sebastian is in the closet, OMG. I will never forget that as long as I live.
Final Thoughts
I loved every moment of Surviving Ice. It was the best book in the seires in my opinion, but it won’t be for everyone. It depends on what you are looking for. For my mood, this was perfection. Very, highly recommended.
Quotes
“Who are you, really Sebastian? Besides the stranger who strolled in and seized my heart?”
“Your scar,” I admit. I wonder how he got it, and if it bothers him but I don’t ask. “I’ve covered a lot of scars for clients.”
“I don’t need it covered,” he says. “Scars give you—”
“Character,” I finish in unison with him. “I don’t mind them, either. They make people more interesting.”
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Oh yes! The closet scene was unbelievably hot, Jennifer! And I’m so happy you loved this one as much as I did. The characters really deserved a story like this one 🙂
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I agree, the characters did deserve this ending.
Lekeisha
I really need to start this series. Glad you loved this one!
kindlemom1
So many are loving this, dang it, I so should have grabbed this when I had the chance. So happy you loved this too!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
It will be worth the money.
Lily B
I got to read the first one dang it x.x I love her books, so glad you loved this one, despite the lack of suspense
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
You need to read the rest!!
Nathan
I haven’t read this series, but I am glad you loved it.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
It is one of the better series out there.
Braine Talk Supe
Damn this reading slump! I can give this a go, but if I push it I might DNF the darn thing. So I’m going to be patient and wait it out.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Yeah, I would wait until you are feeling into it. You can’t DNF this one.
Christy LoveOfBooks
YES, that closet scene … loved it. I burst out laughing with the very end of the book. I’m sad to see the series end too, but damn, what a way to go.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I know, the ending was perfect. I so would have made him do the same thing!
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Oh. Sounds like my kind of characters as well. Nice. 😀 Thank you!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Hope you get a chance to read this series.
Sharon - Obsession with Books
Oh yes, I remember that closet scene 😉
I enjoyed this as well, it wasn’t my fave book in the series but I liked Ivy and Sebastian together,
A great review! Sharon – Obsession with Books
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Happy you still liked it.
Melliane
I’ll have to try this series, it sounds really really good and everyone is loving it!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I love how popular it is because it deserves to be.
Anna
This looks like an interesting read. I might give it a shot. 🙂
Anna from Elements of Writing
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
You really should.
Kristin
Great review. I really enjoyed this story. They are both interesting characters. Both of which I’ve never had the pleasure of reading before. I agree that more suspense would have been awesome. I mean, when Sebastian first comes into the picture it was a bit suspenseful but that dulled down fast.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Yeah, it dulled and never really picked up until the end.
Melissa (Books and Things)
I really need to get on the KA bandwagon since it seems that so many bloggers I trust love her work. So need to start one book one of this series!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Both series are so good, you are going to fall hard for them.
kimbacaffeinate
Hehe…everyone loves the closet scene..I must admit I was fanning myself.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
It was the best! I still think about it.
Olivia Roach
I am glad to know that you have been able to find a fabulous read! It can be a bit draggy when they don’t come along for a while but it seems like the characters and the romance just made this one all worth it!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Oh yes, very much. The characters were the best.
Shane @ Itching for Books
Great review! Glad to see so many enjoyed this one too. I agree that it is the best book in the series. Ivy is awesome. Her grittiness is so likable. But like you said, where suspense is concerned it could have been more, I think Becoming Rain has more suspense than all the books in this series so it might be the favorite to many where in regards to that, but Surviving Ice has something else about it that really sticks with you.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Yeah, Becoming Rain was the most suspenseful, but Ivy makes this my fav book.
Jaclyn Canada
And now…even though this is not my genre…I’d really like to know what the closet scene is all about. So glad this one hit the spot for you. Great review!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
OMG, it was so naughty!