Saturday 24 February 2018

REVIEW: LEAVING EVEREST by MEGAN WESTFIELD


Leaving Everest
By Megan Westfield
Releasing February 19th, 2018
Entangled Publishing



Twenty-year-old Emily Winslowe has had an adventurous upbringing. Daughter of a Himalayan mountain guide, she has climbed Mount Everest and other peaks most Americans only dream of. But for all her mountaineering prowess, she's lacking some key experiences. Namely, guys. Especially one guy in particular—Luke Norgay, her childhood best friend who she hasn't seen since he left for college in the United States two years ago.

Luke unexpectedly reappears as a guide just in time for the Everest climbing season. He's even more handsome than she remembers, and that something that had been building between them during their last season together is back in front of them, bigger than ever.

The problem is, there's a detail about Emily's past that Luke doesn't know. It's the reason she ended up in the Himalayas in the first place...and the reason she must make it to the summit of Mount Everest this year. It's also the reason she would never consider following him back to Washington after the climbing season ends.

But first, they'll have to survive the mountain.

BUY LINK:  Amazon




In Leaving Everest by Megan Westfield, Emily Winslowe hasn't seen her childhood best friend in two years, but now Luke Norgay is back in her life and ready to be a guide for the Everest climbing season. However, as old feelings for each other resurface and the pair finding themselves working together, Emily finds herself needing to make decisions for what she's going to do with her future. Will she and Luke get the happy ever after they both deserve, or will the secret Emily's been hiding from her best friend keep her from ever giving the pair a chance at forever?

This is the first book I've read by Ms. Westfield, but I've got to say that it won't be my last. Really, this story was absolutely incredible due its fast-paced storyline because climbing Everest sounds exciting and I couldn't wait to discover whether the group would make it to the top; the dialogue was the perfect blend of intense moments due to the main characters backs stories, especially that of the heroine, that makes her baulk at following Luke back to Washington and wonderful banter that had me loving this couple together.

As for the way this story started, it sets the fast-pace of the story, especially from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time. Being around each other for the first time in two years, especially after what happened to them on one of their climbing adventures, isn't easy for Emily and she's determined to ignore their chemistry while Luke is all for seeing where things can lead, which makes this story very interesting. Will Luke win in his pursuit of Emily? Moreover, I absolutely loved both the main characters and the secondary characters definitely add that extra something special to the story when they're offering sound advice. 

Luke and Emily are both compelling characters that entertained me from start to finish with their back stories, their growing relationship and the obstacles they face on their journey to happy ever after including what happens to Luke that has Emily worried for him and could make her lose focus on the climb; the secret that Emily is keeping from Luke that could lead to him never being able to trust her again if he discovers the truth; and the big decision the heroine has to make towards the end that could decide this couple's future. 

With Emily, she's had a very adventurous upbringing and I loved her enthusiasm for climbing. She's resilient and courageous, but at the same time, her secret holds her back. Doesn't she know that facing the past will finally set her free? I also liked how determined the heroine was to help those in need, even if her sense of loyalty and honor could put her in danger. While the hero, he lost someone he loved that could very easily have made him not want to climb ever again, but I liked that he was ready to be a guide during Everest climbing season. It proves he's strong, brave and ready to face the past. I also liked how determined he was to win over the heroine because he wants more than to be her best friend. Then again, they're so good together so why wouldn't he want more. Will the heroine be able to give Luke what he wants -- the chance for a future together?

Overall, Ms. Westfield has delivered an amazing and well-written read in this book where the chemistry between this couple is powerful; the romance delightful and definitely shows how good these two are together; and the ending had me worried for the main characters, but had me cheering for their happy ever after, as what they go through makes Emily realize what's important. Certainly, she needs to face her past in order to have a fighting chance for a future with Luke. I would recommend Leaving Everest by Megan Westfield, if you enjoy New Adult Romance, the friends to lovers trope, or books by authors Rebecca Yarros, Beth Ann Miller, Lindsey Frydman and Cindi Madsen.




























































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