Book Review : Surviving Ice (Burying Water, #4) by K.A. Tucker

SURVIVING ICE 

Burying Water, #4

by K.A Tucker

Release Date: October 27th, 2015

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

eARC received in exchange of honest review

   

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SURVIVING ICE Synopsis: 

The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and Burying Water—which Kirkus Reviews called “a sexy, romantic, gangster-tinged page-turner”—returns with a new novel packed with romance, plot twists, and psychological suspense. 

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. 

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And don’t miss the previous titles in the Burying Water Series!

 

BURYING WATER

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BECOMING RAIN

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CHASING RIVER

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Lindy's Thoughts:

The Burying Water Series by K.A. Tucker has been addictive, suspenseful, complex, and thrilling.  These stories have extremely well developed characters, plot lines, and surprising twists and turns, that keep the reader hooked!

In Surviving Ice, we get Ivy and Sebastian's story.  Ivy is an independent, self-sufficient woman.  She is strong-willed, masks her emotions, and doesn't like to ask others for help.  Ivy is a talented artist, who is currently working in her Uncle Ned's tattoo parlor.  She has decided to settle down in San Francisco, after wondering all over the world.  However, Ivy's life is turned upside down when her uncle, and one of his clients is brutally murdered.  Ivy is working closely with a detective, but they don't have any leads on who could have murdered Ned, and what their motivation was.

Sebastian was discharged from the Navy Seals years ago, and now works for his good friend and fellow former Seal, Bentley.  He is given an assignment to retrieve a VHS tape that recorded a former employee's horrifying allegations.  If this tape surfaces, it can tank Bentley's business, and get him in a ton of trouble.  

Bentley claims that the allegations made by this employee are untrue.  In order to locate the missing VHS, Sebastian must get close to Ivy.  He flawlessly places himself into Ivy's life, and begins to develop feelings for her.  Sebastian does his own recon, where he begins to discover that all of the pieces of the story that he's been told by his friend, are not adding up.  As danger begins to follow Ivy, Sebastian will have to make difficult decisions, and suffer the consequences for those decisions.

I love when a story has a suspenseful and complex plot.  I like using my brain to try and figure out all of the puzzle pieces, before everything is revealed in the story.  Surviving Ice did a great job of hooking me, and had me rapidly turning pages!  I enjoyed how well developed the character's were, and learning about their personalities, vulnerabilities, and various layers.  This was a very intense story.  Ivy and Sebastian were sizzling hot together, and added another great component to the story.  Surviving Ice was a wonderful addition to the Burying Water Series.       

Rating:

I give, Surviving Ice, by K.A. Tucker, 4 Intriguing, Scorching Hot, Suspenseful, Conspiracy Filled Stars!

A Person Never Truly Knows Another

I am a very big fan of Tucker’s books Surviving Ice was a lovely addition to that statement. I was excited to hear Ivy’s story and perhaps get to know her better. As always the reader is drawn into a world of mystery with no possible happy conclusion in sight. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about Ivy but with Sebastian and Dakota this was a delight. 

The Story, Ivy has always been a bit of a nomad the only place she’s ever called home is behind her ink needle. Returning home for a while with her uncle gives her a sense of putting down some roots. Just when she is getting into the swing of being back home he is murdered in her presence. Suddenly life seems very real full of obstacles and responsibilities she doesn’t want. While she’s trying to figure out a way to run yet again she meets Sebastian. Soon these two start a dance of flirtation and their story begins to meld and mix into their plans. While unknowingly their paths were meant to cross but the outcome should have had different results. The chemistry they share is off the charts and when truths get revealed their passion blossoms into an impossible love. 

The Characters, Sebastian has a lot of dark skeletons in his closet but something about Ivy makes him want to open up again. He is very guarded and his feelings for Ivy surprise him deeply. I enjoyed his willingness to help her and be there for her while still doing his job and completing his mission. He really is the best at what he does because when faced with a difficult decision he still does the right thing and he manages to satisfy all parties involved. Ivy was always different and though she thinks she’s felt love its nothing compared to what Sebastian awakens in her. The only thing that has ever made sense to Ivy is being behind a needle and watching her art come to life. She should run she knows she wants to run but something about Sebastian grounds her. Although her inner goddess screams don’t trust her heart and soul feel safe in his arms. Its these emotions that help her decide to fight. 

The Ending, its true that people lead lives unknown to anyone else. As Ivy soon finds out nothing is as it seemed. The one person she thought she knew very well surprised her. The trust Sebastian earned was almost obliterated but those feelings of safety are what saves their fledgeling romance. I did not expect things to go the way they did but that is what makes Tucker such a talented author. Get ready for an unexpected thrilling roller coaster of emotions and events that are sure to leave you reeling. This series has been a wonderful addition to my collection of highly recommended! I can’t wait to see what Tucker has in store for her readers! Old and New alike I’m sure she’s going to thrill us all! 

My Rating

4.0 Job, Murder, Sketch, Tattoo, Cousin, Video, Dakota, Bikers, Case, House, Club, Plumbing, Exposed, Album, Trailer, Deal, Father, House, Unpredictable Love Filled Stars!!

Mikki's Review:

Surviving Ice is the last installment in K.A. Tucker's Burying Water Series. If you are looking for a romantic suspense series that delivers all the feels, look no further! This series is what you are looking for. K.A. Tucker's writing style is so powerful that not only will you read the story, you will feel it as well. All the books in this series can be read as standalone, but I highly suggest you add them all to your TBR list. They are amazing!

Ivy Lee's world is turned upside down when she witnesses her uncle's murder. She taught that she could call San Francisco her home, but running away from it all is what she wants to do. Ivy is left speechless from what she discovers from her uncle's past. He's been keeping secrets that could put her life in danger. Sebastian Riker has one mission. That mission becomes impossible to focus on when he meets Ivy. He has never felt so out of control. Their connection is something that he can't deny and lying to her is the last thing he wants to do. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even if it means to lose her in the process. Will Ivy be able to forgive Sebastian's lies when the truth comes out?

I really liked Ivy and Sebastian's story. It was intriguing, sexy, fast-paced and it included a few twists that I did not see coming. While I was reading, I felt like I was watching a romantic suspense unfold on the big screen. K.A. Tucker brought to life a fantastic story that will keep you at the edge of your seat! Their chemistry was hot and I loved how Sebastian took care of Ivy. He protected her and even if he was lying about who he really was, you always felt that he cared for her. Ivy was a strong heroine. It was not easy for her to witness the murder of her uncle. It created an emptiness in her that she has never felt before. She was really close to him and she loved her job his tattoo shop

What I really liked about these characters is that they were different. Both of them did not see themselves in a long-term relationship. It was a surprise to both of them to fall that hard for each other. With every moment that they spent together, you could see their connection and chemistry growing. It was not insta-love and I think that is what I liked the most about their relationship. Their chemistry was instant, but the way they fell in love is what made me happy. It was slow, but all-consuming.

Like always, K.A. Tucker delivered an unputdownable book. The story and the characters made my reading journey an unforgettable one. I'm sad to see this series end, but on the positive side it means that this author is working on something new. I am very excited to find out what is next on her list.

Rating:

I give Surviving Ice, by K.A. Tucker, 4 thrilling, suspenseful, captivating, page-turning stars!

About the Author:

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.          

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