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brookgassman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
heavenlyi's review against another edition
5.0
"I wanted her to know this wasn't just about sex for me. This was about trusting me to keep her safe. This was about standing against survival side by side. This was about becoming a team - more than a team - soul-mates."
I absolutely LOVED everything about this book. Right from the start, I was pulled into the story and couldn't read fast enough. Then, when I finished, I didn't want it to be over!
Stranded on a island, this is a story about 4 people leaning on each other to survive; carving out happiness in the wilderness. And ultimately, two people finding their other half in each other among the chaos. Stripped down to basic instincts, the true meaning of love is revealed.
This story made me FEEL everything. My heart broke, I cried, and then I felt so much joy. The ending was perfection. The bond that is formed between the characters was beautiful.
This was my first Pepper Winters book, but it won't be my last.
I absolutely LOVED everything about this book. Right from the start, I was pulled into the story and couldn't read fast enough. Then, when I finished, I didn't want it to be over!
Stranded on a island, this is a story about 4 people leaning on each other to survive; carving out happiness in the wilderness. And ultimately, two people finding their other half in each other among the chaos. Stripped down to basic instincts, the true meaning of love is revealed.
This story made me FEEL everything. My heart broke, I cried, and then I felt so much joy. The ending was perfection. The bond that is formed between the characters was beautiful.
This was my first Pepper Winters book, but it won't be my last.
cala_p's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
While reading, I was nitpicking a lot of things, but when I finished it I sat back and evaluated the entire book, and as a whole, it's not bad. Overall, I did like it, but it's definitely not a favorite. I'm also not sorry for reading it. Would I reread it? Maybe in the far future when I forgot all the details.
The story starts with two strangers and a family banding together to hire an outside pilot after the airline refuses to fly out due to the storm. They succeed in their mission of flying but unfortunately don't make the crash they have thanks to the storm. The living still consists of the two strangers, Estelle and Galloway, and the two children, Connor and Pippa. The pilot and their parents don't make it. Two kids and two adults make it on this island for years together, eventually becoming a family and creating a new member.
First their motives for flying were off. The family at the top of that list! The reason they were willing to pay extra just to fly out was just to start their vacation early. I didn't find that a good reason at all. When the airline shut down, they were nice, giving everyone paid taxis and hotel rooms with breakfast for the night before flying tomorrow. If I was on a vacation, yeah that may suck compared to arriving in the final destination when I was supposed to, but you can't help storms. in the end, the airline was doing it to be safe. Not like the hotel came from their own money. It just seemed weird. They all claimed that there's no point when the storm died down, but considering they didn't even check online or a news channel for the weather, I'd go with the airline. Guess they were right considering they crashed due to the storm later. And then Estelle's reason She just wanted a extra spontaneous vacation, yet earlier she was so excited to go home. Galloway had the only decent reason: a job he would lose if he didn't arrive on time. Although, if he called the company I would like to think they would be understanding of it since you can't help Mother Nature. I suppose this was the author's way of getting the two together on an island, while adding the drama of two sibling orphans. I just wish it happened in another way.
Estelle and Galloway's romance was cute. And here I'll compare to another survival romance I read recently: Withering Hope. They were acquainted by name, but all in all strangers. No difference than Estelle and Galloway. Only for Estelle and Galloway, they started based on lust. And yes, i'll give it that most relationships happen based on initial appearance, and that's fine. Withering Hope: the characters were attracted to each other sure, but that wasn't the main reason they fell in love. It was more of a side thing. For these two, their romance was all lust at first and overtime they fell in love with each other's qualities. Maybe it was the way it was written but I didn't like how it seemed so driven by appearance and attraction to one another. The good thing is they didn't have sex till 50% in! The bad thing is (but also good) is that the reason is ONLY because of lack of protection and they didn't want a child. Good that the book didn't rush it. Bad that it would have happened if not for that small detail. Which by the way (spoiler) didn't work. and they had a child.
I liked that the book spanned over years and not just months or weeks. I think it really gave all the relationships, not just Estelle's and Galloway's a chance to grow. The children became theirs and it was all very heartwarming actually. At first I didn't like that the author added kids in the mix, but as it went on, I think that was a perfect detail. It really created them to all be a family. And then I cried in the second half when that one person dies.
I liked the ending, that they went back. I mean, after 4 years, civilization would suck. And they have a good system now. He basically built them a functioning house, and now has transportation on and off. What I didn't like was that the remaining child didn't live with them. I get it. Go back to grandma, the only family left. And for a child, that island is a sign of losing parents and then later a sibling. It's traumatizing. But I just wanted a happy ever after where the kid was with them. They became a family and I was sad it broke up, despite the yearly visits.
The major thing I noticed throughout was that I found their voices to be similar. When a book is written in dual POV the point is to have chapters from both character's thinking. With this one, I found it slightly hard to differentiate. If they were not titled for which character it was being told in, I would not have been able to tell the difference.
Besides the voices, the writing isn't too bad, but (and maybe this is just being nitpicky) I found a lot of one sentence paragraphs. One liners is nice for emphasis, but there's no emphasis when everything is its own new paragraph. Some of those sentences could have definitely been grouped together.
All in all, not bad. Things here and there bothered me but it was a long, entertaining read. I was never bored through it, so that's something at least. I will suggest it to people, but I will also say, for me personally, I didn't think it was amazing.
While reading, I was nitpicking a lot of things, but when I finished it I sat back and evaluated the entire book, and as a whole, it's not bad. Overall, I did like it, but it's definitely not a favorite. I'm also not sorry for reading it. Would I reread it? Maybe in the far future when I forgot all the details.
The story starts with two strangers and a family banding together to hire an outside pilot after the airline refuses to fly out due to the storm. They succeed in their mission of flying but unfortunately don't make the crash they have thanks to the storm. The living still consists of the two strangers, Estelle and Galloway, and the two children, Connor and Pippa. The pilot and their parents don't make it. Two kids and two adults make it on this island for years together, eventually becoming a family and creating a new member.
First their motives for flying were off. The family at the top of that list! The reason they were willing to pay extra just to fly out was just to start their vacation early. I didn't find that a good reason at all. When the airline shut down, they were nice, giving everyone paid taxis and hotel rooms with breakfast for the night before flying tomorrow. If I was on a vacation, yeah that may suck compared to arriving in the final destination when I was supposed to, but you can't help storms. in the end, the airline was doing it to be safe. Not like the hotel came from their own money. It just seemed weird. They all claimed that there's no point when the storm died down, but considering they didn't even check online or a news channel for the weather, I'd go with the airline. Guess they were right considering they crashed due to the storm later. And then Estelle's reason She just wanted a extra spontaneous vacation, yet earlier she was so excited to go home. Galloway had the only decent reason: a job he would lose if he didn't arrive on time. Although, if he called the company I would like to think they would be understanding of it since you can't help Mother Nature. I suppose this was the author's way of getting the two together on an island, while adding the drama of two sibling orphans. I just wish it happened in another way.
Estelle and Galloway's romance was cute. And here I'll compare to another survival romance I read recently: Withering Hope. They were acquainted by name, but all in all strangers. No difference than Estelle and Galloway. Only for Estelle and Galloway, they started based on lust. And yes, i'll give it that most relationships happen based on initial appearance, and that's fine. Withering Hope: the characters were attracted to each other sure, but that wasn't the main reason they fell in love. It was more of a side thing. For these two, their romance was all lust at first and overtime they fell in love with each other's qualities. Maybe it was the way it was written but I didn't like how it seemed so driven by appearance and attraction to one another. The good thing is they didn't have sex till 50% in! The bad thing is (but also good) is that the reason is ONLY because of lack of protection and they didn't want a child. Good that the book didn't rush it. Bad that it would have happened if not for that small detail. Which by the way (spoiler) didn't work. and they had a child.
I liked that the book spanned over years and not just months or weeks. I think it really gave all the relationships, not just Estelle's and Galloway's a chance to grow. The children became theirs and it was all very heartwarming actually. At first I didn't like that the author added kids in the mix, but as it went on, I think that was a perfect detail. It really created them to all be a family. And then I cried in the second half when that one person dies.
I liked the ending, that they went back. I mean, after 4 years, civilization would suck. And they have a good system now. He basically built them a functioning house, and now has transportation on and off. What I didn't like was that the remaining child didn't live with them. I get it. Go back to grandma, the only family left. And for a child, that island is a sign of losing parents and then later a sibling. It's traumatizing. But I just wanted a happy ever after where the kid was with them. They became a family and I was sad it broke up, despite the yearly visits.
The major thing I noticed throughout was that I found their voices to be similar. When a book is written in dual POV the point is to have chapters from both character's thinking. With this one, I found it slightly hard to differentiate. If they were not titled for which character it was being told in, I would not have been able to tell the difference.
Besides the voices, the writing isn't too bad, but (and maybe this is just being nitpicky) I found a lot of one sentence paragraphs. One liners is nice for emphasis, but there's no emphasis when everything is its own new paragraph. Some of those sentences could have definitely been grouped together.
All in all, not bad. Things here and there bothered me but it was a long, entertaining read. I was never bored through it, so that's something at least. I will suggest it to people, but I will also say, for me personally, I didn't think it was amazing.
nadine_booklover's review against another edition
4.0
"Home is where the heart is. Home is where the soul is found. Home is where the good time laugh. Home is where the hard times heal. Home is home and there is no place I would rather be."
Wow, this book surprised the heck out of me!
I never expected such a detailed story about being stranded on a deserted island. But one look at the page numbers should have clued me in ;-)
Reading it felt like watching my own movie unfold in my head. Pepper did an admirable job here!
Unseen Messages pushes a lot of your emotional buttons. A story about survival, love, self-reflection, growing above yourself, second chances as well as life choices and their consequences. Dealing a lot with the question "What if" is what makes this book so real for me.
It's great to see how the main characters grow each day above themselves. Amazing thing, this will to survive.
Honestly, sometimes I wished it wasn't so detailed because somewhere in the middle it felt like the story stagnates. But Pepper did a clever job of keeping me as reader glued to the pages. The end felt a little rushed though, but I didn't mind at all.
This book is not a light read and it keeps your mind busy. So if you are up for a little challenge and love survival romance, you should definitely go for it!
Wow, this book surprised the heck out of me!
I never expected such a detailed story about being stranded on a deserted island. But one look at the page numbers should have clued me in ;-)
Reading it felt like watching my own movie unfold in my head. Pepper did an admirable job here!
Unseen Messages pushes a lot of your emotional buttons. A story about survival, love, self-reflection, growing above yourself, second chances as well as life choices and their consequences. Dealing a lot with the question "What if" is what makes this book so real for me.
It's great to see how the main characters grow each day above themselves. Amazing thing, this will to survive.
Honestly, sometimes I wished it wasn't so detailed because somewhere in the middle it felt like the story stagnates. But Pepper did a clever job of keeping me as reader glued to the pages. The end felt a little rushed though, but I didn't mind at all.
This book is not a light read and it keeps your mind busy. So if you are up for a little challenge and love survival romance, you should definitely go for it!
myloveoflit's review
5.0
I was completely captivated this entire story. I also learned a few survival tricks as well. At times, I felt like I was on that island with them as Pepper vividly crafted immersive settings scene by scene. I became in awe by how long they remained on the island, how well they were able to adapt and make the most of their surroundings, and most of all how they became a family. There were some beautiful moments between these once strangers and the children they became responsible for. They thrived only to get knocked down, but they persevered. There were also some challenging and heart-wrenching moments. Of course there were, because this is a Pepper Winters story, after all.
One of the things I appreciated the most was the interactions between Estelle and Galloway in the beginning and how it morphed into the most real and raw love. Their hostility towards each other in the beginning was attributed to their inability to effectively express their thoughts. They were both flawed and very human. Galloway’s backstory was interesting as hell, but also a little heartbreaking. Their deepening affection for one another and for Pippa and Conner was truly exquisite.
Pepper sometimes gives little preludes in her writing when something unfavorable is about to happen. She really knows how to build the suspense. I, however, was not prepared for one such event. IT WRECKED ME. I was not okay. I was mad. I was ugly crying. I wanted desperately to talk to one of my book friends in that moment, but it was around midnight at the time. Pepper wasn’t even done putting my heart through the ringer though. This book took me on a turbulent emotional journey!
One of the things I appreciated the most was the interactions between Estelle and Galloway in the beginning and how it morphed into the most real and raw love. Their hostility towards each other in the beginning was attributed to their inability to effectively express their thoughts. They were both flawed and very human. Galloway’s backstory was interesting as hell, but also a little heartbreaking. Their deepening affection for one another and for Pippa and Conner was truly exquisite.
Pepper sometimes gives little preludes in her writing when something unfavorable is about to happen. She really knows how to build the suspense. I, however, was not prepared for one such event. IT WRECKED ME. I was not okay. I was mad. I was ugly crying. I wanted desperately to talk to one of my book friends in that moment, but it was around midnight at the time. Pepper wasn’t even done putting my heart through the ringer though. This book took me on a turbulent emotional journey!
gonewiththebooks's review
5.0
I was lucky enough to be chosen to receive an ARC of this book, but then I fucked up and gave the author the wrong kindle address (like a giant idiot). I wasn’t about to be that jerk either; plus, I had pre-ordered it, so when it finally came live, and I finished all my homework, you know I got right down to business. This book was unlike a lot of other Pepper Winter books I’ve read before. I love everything she does, and this one was absolutely no exception. I know it has been far too long since I’ve taken the time to review anything. This one was well worth carving out some time (I’m not gonna lie, I kinda missed this). Let us get to it though. I loved these characters. All of them. Not one of them pissed me off or had any flaws that can sometimes really irritate me in a character. What these people went through on that island, what they did to survive, reading it all was just incredible. It really made look at life a little differently, which isn’t something a lot books make you do. (Thumbs up Winters) Of course the love story in here was beautiful, and god, I don’t want to give any spoilers out, but WTF. WHY DID YOU DO THAT TO US!?!?!?!? There were some pretty heart wrenching parts that were really awful and I just hated, and I mean that in the best way possible. They made the book what it was.
This book was, hands down, a five. I can barely stay up past 10 at night anymore, and I was reading this until 2:30 in morning, balling my eyes out, cursing the author’s name a few times. The writing and the characters and the story and everything was perfect. It was different, and it was terrifying to think of this happening to you. To wonder if you could survive that.
This book was, hands down, a five. I can barely stay up past 10 at night anymore, and I was reading this until 2:30 in morning, balling my eyes out, cursing the author’s name a few times. The writing and the characters and the story and everything was perfect. It was different, and it was terrifying to think of this happening to you. To wonder if you could survive that.
treparker73's review
4.0
Escape in the best way
Another well written book. The story never seemed to end, and when it did I wanted more! A few sad moments, but I love a good survival/love story. I wonder how this works play out in real life?
Another well written book. The story never seemed to end, and when it did I wanted more! A few sad moments, but I love a good survival/love story. I wonder how this works play out in real life?
onlyadream223's review
4.0
Beautiful but long
I'm a huge fan of Pepper Winters, and this book was no different. However, if you are familiar with her work, this one is not as dark as her other more well known set. It is a romance with a happily ever after.
That being said, this book is long. There are many parts where I felt was dragged for too long, but i understand what the author was trying to do for us the reader. She did an excellent job setting the scene for the reader. It truly completely dares your imagination to take a trip to an island in Fiji.
I'm a huge fan of Pepper Winters, and this book was no different. However, if you are familiar with her work, this one is not as dark as her other more well known set. It is a romance with a happily ever after.
That being said, this book is long. There are many parts where I felt was dragged for too long, but i understand what the author was trying to do for us the reader. She did an excellent job setting the scene for the reader. It truly completely dares your imagination to take a trip to an island in Fiji.
sonja_ahrb's review
5.0
Have you ever just wanted to crawl inside a book and live there? That's exactly what happened to me with Unseen Messages. Pepper Winters books admittedly scare the bejeezus out of me. I'm not into dark, I'm not into shades of gray. I don't like them, I don't read them, I avoid them like the plague. However this book is so different. So brilliant, so all encompassing. My eyes burned and swelled from reading late into the night. I just couldn't put it down, couldn't escape this world which Pepper created. These characters, their tragedies were my tragedies. Their triumphs, my own. I felt like I had a front row view into everything they were feeling, experiencing. I didn't want to leave. I wanted to be a castaway with them.
I just can't even explain how utterly amazing this story is. It's prose sometimes poetic, sometimes morose. I tore through this book as fast as I could, yet savoring every morsel Pepper Winters offered me. I cringed, I cried and I celebrated with this mismatched, most unlikely family. I loved them, I mourned them. And I took the most amazing journey with them. If any book should be made into a screenplay, it's this one right here. It will leave you satisfied yet wanting more. The books I reread are few and far between. This will be one of them. I feel like I need to go back just to soak it all in. I'm completely besotted.
I usually save the six star ratings for the most exceptional of books. I can't even give this book six stars. It deserves so much more than that.
~ Lia, 10 Stars
I just can't even explain how utterly amazing this story is. It's prose sometimes poetic, sometimes morose. I tore through this book as fast as I could, yet savoring every morsel Pepper Winters offered me. I cringed, I cried and I celebrated with this mismatched, most unlikely family. I loved them, I mourned them. And I took the most amazing journey with them. If any book should be made into a screenplay, it's this one right here. It will leave you satisfied yet wanting more. The books I reread are few and far between. This will be one of them. I feel like I need to go back just to soak it all in. I'm completely besotted.
I usually save the six star ratings for the most exceptional of books. I can't even give this book six stars. It deserves so much more than that.
~ Lia, 10 Stars
roxswi's review against another edition
3.0
a beautiful story, I have taken all the characters to my heart and how could you not on a desert island watching the characters grow, especially the kids. connor broke my heart and i liked pippa's development at first but no more in the end..
only 3 stars because was a bit too long and the end wasn't that satisfying for me personally
only 3 stars because was a bit too long and the end wasn't that satisfying for me personally