*I received a free copy of Surviving Ice from Atria Books via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Surviving Ice by K. A. Tucker Series: Burying Water #4
Published by Atria Books on 27 October, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Ivy, a talented tattoo artist who spent the early part of her twenties on the move, is finally looking for a place to call home. She thinks she might have found it in San Francisco, but all that changes when she witnesses a terrible crime. She’s ready to pack up her things yet again, when a random encounter with a stranger keeps her in the city, giving her reason to stay after all.
That is, until Ivy discovers that their encounter wasn’t random. Not at all…
Surviving Ice was fantastic! Suspense, romance, danger, a very cool tattoo artist and a former SEAL who didn’t know how far the company he was working for took some matters.
My Surviving Ice review:
Surviving Ice was so intense, especially because it started right in the middle of the action – Ivy witnessed her uncle being killed, and she had to hide underneath a desk in order to stay undetected herself! If you have read the prior stories in Tucker’s Burying Water series, you have already met Ivy – she comes across as distanced and quite abrasive, but there is a soft heart hiding deep inside of her. After her uncle’s death, she is ready to be on the move again, even if just days before she had started thinking about putting down roots in San Fransisco. Being the legal executor of Ned’s will makes sure she has to stay for a while, though, and when she meets Sebastian, she wonders if maybe San Fransisco isn’t an OK place after all.
What Ivy doesn’t know, though, is that Sebastian is basically made of secrets! And because Surviving Ice is written in dual points of views, with equal chapters from Ivy’s and from Sebastian’s points of views, the readers are privy to Sebastian’s inner thoughts, which made both their relationship and the budding romance even more interesting and tense. Ivy normally isn’t the girl to think about the future with a guy, though, she will get what she wants from him before moving on. However, there is something about Sebastian that makes her feel utterly safe – and she needs that now that her life has been turned completely upside-down.
I loved getting to know Ivy better in Surviving Ice, understanding why she was always so independent, and the reasoning behind her moving around so much. Even as a very successful tattoo artist, she didn’t feel the need to settle anywhere, and thanks to her personal web-site, clients always knew where to find her if they wanted a new tattoo, or an add-on to her prior work. Sebastian continued to intrigue me for a very long time, even if he shared his inner thoughts and doubts with me, there was still a layer of mystery surrounding him, and it was hard to see if he would ever be the man Ivy wanted and needed in her life.
Between the danger, the trashing of her house, and having to refurbish the Black Rabbit, Ivy didn’t have much time to wallow, or to actually grieve for her uncle. Surviving Ice still managed to show how hard it is to live with the sudden death of a loved one, though, and Ivy’s coping mechanisms made a lot of sense to me. The romance was definitely hot – with a lot of teasing both on Ivy’s and Sebastian’s parts. Written in in first person point of view, past tense, the story was quite fast-paced, and still managed to shift the mood from sad and frightened to one of hope and the need to build a secure life for the future. If you’re a Tucker fan, I’m sure you’re going to love Surviving Ice, and if you haven’t encountered her books yet, you could start with this – it can definitely be read as a stand-alone, and it will keep you interested for the whole story.
Some of my favorite Surviving Ice quotes:
He’d never take a dime of rent money from me, even if I tried to pay. And I have tried.
Ian chews the inside of his mouth. That’s one of a few signs that his father’s death has affected him emotionally. He hasn’t shed a single tear from what I’ve seen. Neither have I, though – and I?m devastated – so I guess crying is not a good indicator of pain.
I wonder exactly how much he keeps from her. I wonder if she’d be looking at me like that – and inviting me to sleep under her roof – if she knew the kinds of things I’ve done for her husband.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I remember seeing this on NetGalley, that beautiful cover really caught my attention <3
This sounds really good, I haven't read any of the other books in the series though, but I think these are companion novels?
These can be read as stand-alones without any trouble, Carla. Because the main character changes, and there is very little mention of the plot from the other books. Characters may be a part of other books, but only as side characters, so you can just dig in 🙂
Great review Lexxie! I loved this one too, I still have to write up my review though!
I loved how action packed this story was, I was captivated from the first page and loved seeing the relationship grow between Ivy and Sebastian!
Thank you, Naomi! I loved the action, too, and I was so very curious about Ivy from meeting her briefly in the other books. Sebastian was great, too, and I enjoyed how he looked a little deeper into himself about some things in his past.
My pre-ordered copy of this one should arrive soon, although I have to read book 2 and 3 first. Sounds like all the books in this seires are great and I can’t wait to continue the series, I’ve only read the first book so far, but own all the other books already.
Both characters sounds well developed and like they are interesting characters, that’s one of the things I liked about the first book and it’s fun getting to know more about the characters. Especially wiht how we met Ivy in the first book already, made me curious about ehr story. Great Review!
Ivy shows up in the third book, too, and like you, I was very curious about her, Lola. I hope you’ll keep enjoying this series!
I still have to try this series, but you know I have the second instalment at home and since you already told me I can enjoy the reads as stand-alones also, I think I should try my best to start it asap!
So glad you had such a great time with it 🙂
YAY Silvia! I hope you’ll enjoy these stories as much as I have!
This series continues to be powerful, huh? I still have to dive into Tucker’s work, Lexxie. I should have added it to my list for this month. I’m happy you continue to be wow’d by these characters. You know I love a dual POV…but they’re not all written that way, right? I’ll put Tucker on a sooner than later list, my dear. You just put so many authors on that list! 😉
Happy Friday! I hope your fall vacation wraps up nicely. Be safe when you head home. **BIG HUGS**
Yup, it sure does, Brandee. And of course I know you love dual POV… it just makes us that much more involved in the characters 🙂
I’m not exactly sorry about putting many authors on your sooner than later list 😉 You frequently return the favor, so there you go. *BIG HUGS*
*whines* I still haven’t read Burying Water ! I need to win at the lottery big time, retire in the country and spend my days/nights reading while I’m being fanned by a pretty boy while another is cooking and cleaning my house. Oh, and there’ll be a cocktail bar, too… I think I’m being delirious, so I’ll just add “great review” before the men in white come to lock me up !
*pats Iza’s hand* there, there… Maybe you should buy lottery tickets with Brandee and me? We are aiming for an island, though, with people to cook and clean for us, who can do our laundry, and also make sure our internet bills (and other bills) are paid, so that we can just read, chat, read and chat.
And then we can also be delirious together 😉
Count me in !!
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I think I remember reading reviews of earlier books in this series. Looks great.
It definitely is, Melanie! And I love Tucker!!
Twitter: talksupeblog
I don’t see “angst” or signs of it. Cool beans because I got all the books and I plan on binge reading it once I get over this drasted slump!
No angst here, Braine! That’s one of the things I love with Tucker’s NA novels, there is a lot of action, but minimal angst 🙂 I hope you’ll get over the slump!
wow it sounds like its got a lot going on, i like how you are just thrown into the thick of things
Yeah, that worked very well in this novel, Lily 🙂 And it was filled with action!
Yeeeesssss it makes me happy every time I see this book getting some love. Ivy rocks!
Ivy definitely rocks, Christy! I want her to do my next tattoo!!
Twitter: Mollykatie112
So happy you loved this one like I did! Loved Ivy and it was great seeing why she is so prickly all the time 🙂
I agree, Lorna, Ivy was great, and I loved reading her story, getting to know her better 🙂
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
Yes Lexxie..I loved this one. I really think she has found her niche and hope the next series brings us suspense too .
I hope so, too, Kim! Tucker is very good at mixing suspense with the romance, and with this series, we also got to travel 😀
Oh this book sounds delicious! I have yet to read any books from K.A. tucker but I have been drooling over all the Surviving Ice reviews. I need to start this series asap!
Oh my goodness, Sarah! She’s one of my favorite authors, and I am always looking forward to her next release 🙂 I hope you’ll enjoy her books once you get the chance to start reading.
I’m out of the loop with this author, but I need to get on it. Romance and suspense? I just checked my library and it has the first two books of her other series. Looks like a good place to start. I hope you have a fantastic week, Lexxie!
Yes, Robyn! You will enjoy Tucker’s books, I’m sure of it 🙂 And I love all of her books, so I can’t really pick one series for you to start with 🙂
Have a fantastic week yourself.