Shia Turning is on the edge of becoming famous for her outstanding surfing ability. She is dedicating all her energy and concentration to climbing to the top of her profession. This means no romantic entanglements. Not even with Rose, the new property manager at Oceana trailer park where Shia lives. 

If you are looking for a new adult romance which offers complex characters then look no further. Griffin has created a Shangri-La of trailer parks with Oceana. The family which owns and manages the park has a special “knack” for choosing the right people to live in their community.

The story is intense at times, bringing in cruel realities of life. Yet at other times we are immersed in new attraction and the cannot keep our hands off each other phase. The quality of the writing eases us through the first and allows us to enjoy the rest.

The only thing I need to point out is a bit of redundancy in the sex scenes as you near the final quarter of the book. Maybe if I was back in my twenties or thirties I would slap myself silly using “redundancy” and “sex scenes” in the same sentence but as an older and more discriminative reader, I stand by that sentence.

Sweet Spot is book two in the Oceana series but can definitely be read as a standalone. Since I have started the series with this novel, I will definitely go back to the first book to learn more about the other characters. An enjoyable read overall.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley.  I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Yes! Another Oceana tale. Shia and Rose definitely found a sweet spot just as this story was a sweet treat. Read in one sitting. Highly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I enjoyed this story and read It very quickly. The main characters were drawn by an indescribable pull, which I liked. I liked the emphasis on sometimes just ‘feeling’ something and I loved the characters in Oceana. I thought the tough scenes on Shia’s childhood were written very well and sympathetically. This was a pleasant read with a different setting - I loved that Rose didn’t pull her away from surfing- it was a lovely relationship. There was one sentence in the book which made me realize there were other books in the series (which I shall now look for!) but you didn’t need to have read them first.

First time reading a Kimberley Cooper Griffin story for me and I did enjoy it. I must say it took a bit of a turn half way through that I wasn’t quite expecting and I am still trying to process just how I feel about it.
Shia is an up and coming suffering sensation trying to carve a career out of her passion, surfing. After a rough childhood herself she is determined to help underprivileged kids have an opportunity to better themselves like she has. With a manager that has brought some structure to her training and life she is totally focused on her work and fitness.
Rose has finally found a job that she feels at home with, which is as manager of her family’s business, getting to do a wide range of jobs daily. She is determined to show her family she the ability to focus and work hard, after years of changing careers. Both women are not looking for love or romance but it seems the universe has other plans.

I found it enjoyable for the most part but thought it ended with a few things up in the air, so assume there may be others in the series to follow.
Three and a half stars for me.

This was a nice, easy romance read, with two female main characters who had tons of chemistry and were clearly meant to be together. I really liked how their relationship progressed and how they both dealt with their feelings towards each other, as they weren't expecting to fall so hard for each other.

I do think there was a little too much going on at times (there were a couple of times where I completely forgot who certain characters were) and therefore some parts that I think could have been added to. For example, Shia's history as a fostered child and her *spoiler* subsequent meeting with her Mum was something that I definitely think should have been explored more. I did feel like that particularly part of the plot was wrapped up a little too quickly and we didn't quite get to see how things panned out between the two of them.

I didn't feel like Rose's 'gift' quite fit into the story, I'm happy with a little magical realism' but it did feel slightly out of place.

The intimate scenes between Shia and Rose were written really well and their chemistry poured through the pages of the book with the perfect balance of open and closed door.

I really enjoyed the characters and the story. Even though I never surfed, I love the way it is described here and the passion and connection between the two main characters. Even the side characters made me enjoy the story a lot.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very pleasant and enjoyable read. The characters were well developed and very driven. A easy read overall.

Thank You Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley.

Loved the continuation of this series. The characters of Shia and Rose was well developed, and I felt that the initial meeting between these two was very hot and quick, but as you got to know these characters, you just had a feeling that they were meant to be, even though they didn't know it at the time this book had a bit of the the paranormal about, but that's not a bad thing. I really liked revisiting Oceana Park and the characters from the previous book. I was happy to get updates on Gem and Mikayla and see how their relationship was thriving. The supporting characters in this book had a more upfront role in this book to help the main characters get to where they could have a happy ending somewhat. I would definitely recommend this book and author, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

I was so excited to have gotten an Advanced Readers Copy of Kimberly Cooper Griffin’s next Oceana Series book! I fell in love with the Oceana Park and really enjoyed the story of Shia and Rose with special appearances by Book #1’s main characters, Mikayla & Gem!

This book is about new Oceana Property Manager Rose and resident & surfing professional Shia! After quickly falling into bed one day they decide to keep things casual. Both end up developing feelings that they each shove deep down until they can’t anymore and a person from Shia’s past returns to rock her to her core!

Overall I enjoyed reading this book. One of my favourite parts of the book was how Shia has dealt with her past, being in the foster system and making an incredible life for herself. The characters were interesting and the way they were brought together and then ended together was nice. It is the definition of an easy beach read!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this surprisingly good book

shia turning a surfer girl with high hopes and has struggled all her life

rose monroe a college dropout but a jack of all trades kind of girl, is now taking on a challenge of property manager of oceana her grandfathers mobile home park

both rose and shia have a lot to get through in their lives but they are about to meet and sparks will fly

can they navigate through their stuff and find a way to be together...interesting times

a pleasant read and the surfing competitions were great. really loved how the characters seem to come alive and i hope theres another book in this series

After reading Tides of Love I knew Oceana was a special place. I was so excited to see Shia get her own story in Sweet Spot.

Sweet Spot can be read as a standalone although it's fun to have read the first one and see some familiar faces.

It's great to see how Rose and Shia handle themselves. At twentysomething it's clear they look at hookups and love a little differently, especially as they are both focused on their career. It was great to see them communicate though and discuss rules and boundaries.

I loved how driven both were to be their best selves in every aspect of their lives.

An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

Shia is an up and coming surfer. Rose has just gotten a new job managing her family's place where Shia lives. They sorta fall in lust at least at first sight, and soon after, love too. Meanwhile, Shia's life is gonna be turned topsy turvey, way more than just tumbling in a rough wave.

The romance was pretty straight forward. And, I did find Shia's subplot very interesting too. I do wish that Rise has been a little less of just a sounding board sort of character. I never felt like she was a MC, even though she was one part of the main pair. It was such a fun read though, and I loved the surfing stuff.

A sweet story about confronting abandonment and finding love.

Shia is a former foster kid turned pro surfer and is on the way to achieving her dreams. Rose is taking over management of the mobile community where Shia lives. And when they meet, the connection is instantaneous. When one of Shia's family turns up unexpectedly, Shia doesn't know how to handle it.

I feel like most of the relationship was based on Shia and Rose's physical connection. There didn't seem to be a lot of substance to their relationship until Shia was confronted with her past. I liked the addition of Rose's ability to read people, but it seemed weird that it caused the conflict that it did. Also, for how much the surfing competition was mentioned, there was no epilogue or anything indicating the result. Maybe there will be a third book where it gets brought up? I also liked the community support among the residents and the family feel.

I loved the premise of the book, and I also wanted to massively fall in love with the characters. Truth is, it was hard to balance the character development of the book in addition to all the plot lines happening at the same time. I did love how quickly the 2 main characters fall in love and get into bed! Definitely appreciated that part of the book. The pace of the book felt rushed and the self-awareness described in the pages also felt a little forced. Overall, I think this is a great read if you’re looking for something that has a certain amount of spice and a certain amount of mysticism to it. But it is not the best romance from a “well-rounded” character perspective. I will still suggest this book to a few of my friends. And I will also read the other books in the series.

****Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC so that I may give my honest feedback and review****

Not exactly what I was looking for but still and overall decent read. I would have liked more development with the characters but that’s just me.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity

*3.5

I had a good time with this. They have good chemistry but I wish we got more scenes of them just hanging out together.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This story is part of the Oceana series that the author began with Tides of Love (Oceana, #1), which tells of the relationships that form within a mobile home campsite by the sea. On this occasion the story unites Rose, who is Gema's niece and granddaughter of the owner of the campsite. These two characters already appeared in the previous book and in this one we can see how they are doing now.

Rose arrives at the campsite to take charge of the maintenance, since Gem, who was the one who had been doing it to help her father after he suffered a stroke, returns to her previous occupation.

Living at the campsite is Shea, a girl who surfs professionally, I think she already appeared in the previous novel as well, and her manager is Mikayla, who is Gem's partner.

Shea and Rose have a completely sexual and unexpected first encounter, almost without knowing each other. And the second time they see each other they have sex again without being able to avoid it. None of them are used to that. What they are both clear about is that their relationship can only be casual, Shea is focused on her career as a surfer and Rose takes the reins of her new job.

What seems like it's going to be a story of sex after sex and little else becomes something more complex, as Shea has a difficult past that seems to be complicated or perhaps clarified and Rose has some personal abilities that she is discovering that are going to interfere in her relationship with Shea.

It has been an interesting story without many surprises. With the added bonus of the presence of the protagonists of the previous story.

We are introduced to a pair of characters whose pasts are carefully unraveled throughout the story. While this character development is intriguing, it feels as if there's a missing puzzle piece in their lives. Perhaps this deliberate ambiguity was the author's intention. However, it occasionally left me wanting a more comprehensive understanding of the protagonists' backgrounds. It breaks away from the slow-burn trope but, in doing so, leaves some character development and plot details feeling incomplete.

Shia's relationship with her mother felt completely unresolved. It left me wondering the purpose of including this narrative in the story. She never really processed the trauma her mother caused her. She just accepted that some people make decisions based on there current situation, but there was no real resolution. The book does, however, touch upon several important aspects of modern dating, particularly the prevalence of hookup culture. It sheds light on the complexities and challenges that come with navigating relationships in today's world, making it a relevant and relatable read.

The book had an interesting ending, which I would describe as abrupt. It is unclear whether this was the author's intent, but it feels as though the story is cut short just as it starts to gain momentum. I found myself surprised when I reached the last page, hoping for further exploration of the main characters newfound relationship. One aspect that could have helped in understanding the story better is the awareness that this book is part of a series. I was not aware of this. I'm still unclear if this series is more anthology based, meaning, it follows several different residents or if it follows a certain timeline.

"Sweet Spot" takes readers on an emotional ride through the world of professional surfing and the complexities of family and personal ambition. The concept of the "sweet spot" in surfing is cleverly woven into the narrative, mirroring the characters' pursuit of the perfect balance in their lives.

Shia’s journey from the foster system to the pro-surfing circuit is inspiring, and her determination to find her place in the world is palpable. The introduction of her long-lost mother adds a layer of complexity to her life, testing her resolve and creating emotional turmoil. The story highlights how we never truly understand the inner struggles that drive people's actions.

One aspect that left me yearning for more was the relationship between Shia and Sharon, which felt somewhat unresolved. A deeper exploration of their dynamic could have added more depth to the story.

The novel also beautifully illustrates how past relationships, or the lack thereof, can shape our present and future. The characters' personal histories and connections are intertwined in a way that reflects the complexities of real life.

The emotional depth of the story is one of its strongest points. You can truly feel the characters' joys and sorrows, and the author's skill in portraying these emotions is commendable. The vivid descriptions of the surfing world and the setting make it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story.

"Sweet Spot" is a compelling read that delves into the pursuit of dreams, the complexities of family, and the unpredictable nature of life's "sweet spots." While there are some loose ends in the story, the emotional resonance and the vivid portrayal of the setting make it a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable read. The author's ability to evoke strong emotions and create a vivid world is a testament to their storytelling prowess.

Shia has been in the foster system after the death of grandmother who was taking care of her but that didn’t stop her for working hard to get where she wants to be and she this close to becoming a pro surfer and doesn’t want distractions. Rose has taken over property manager of Oceana from her grandfather where Shia lives and may have same empathetic gift her that her family have. Rose and Shia meets and are instantly attracted to each other and they decide to act on it despite not wanting any distractions they have some ups and down with Shia trust issues and others interference. I like seeing the previous characters and seeing what going in their lives as they support Rose and Shia.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.