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Gorgeous. That was the only word that kept going through his head. The only word he could say about her. He hadn’t wanted any of the other women staring at him from around the bar but this one was another thing altogether. She looked like exactly what he needed to take the edge off his internal shit storm. He had to have her.
Chloe Barlow has created a touching story in Three Rivers that takes place in Pittsburgh, PA. A loving and loyal to a fault wife, Althea, who loses her husband in a tragic accident. Guilt ridden and completely immersed in her work, she lets years pass without a thought of moving on but rather barely living through each day.Jenny and Tanner are living their normal lives, on Tanner's boat, and Jenny is trying hard to get Tanner to learn how to sail. She spent her youth on the water and enjoyed it, and thinks he would too - if she can only persuade him to try it. She ends up spending time with an old friend called Rob, a good-looking fella who is also of the sailing variety. They find a body, to their horror, and this starts off a whole chain of events which puts Jenny in grave danger. Everyone fends for themselves at Three Rivers. They pitch their own tents. They manage their own food, a week’s worth at a time, which they have to ration. They earn knives to carve their own eating utensils. Profanity is punished with “time taken off dinner.” Rich-girl-in-the-wild is a well-worn format, but Stusek brightens it up by making Stella likable. Yes, she is rude. Yes, she is entitled. Yes, she is overfond of the F-word. She is also funny and insightful. “I’ve made a career out of being uncomfortable,” she muses. “I have been followed by adult men with enormous cameras when I was just trying to get a meal . . . I’ve been criticized for accidentally agreeing to represent the wrong brand of sparkling water. I’ve been too thin and too fat in the same day.” That last line sums up a celebrity’s world. It also sums up a woman’s world. I felt connected to the characters, suffered through Althea's pain at such an immense lose of a loved one. The friendships that Althea has with her 2 BFFs is strong. Their support helps her through one of the most tragic times in her life. Bruised and battered emotionally she goes through life living for her dead husband and their child. He is her life line and her sanity. Together they work on healing each other, finding love and understanding that sometimes it's ok to let the past live in the past. Mind you, all of that wouldn't stop me from reading the next book in the series, if I got the chance :) Despite everything, I like these two, and the rest of their team.
They agree to have a good time for the amount of time that Griffen is in town, but what these two don’t realize is that they need each other to help each other heal and get passed the guilt they both have consuming them. This journey will give you loss, acceptance and the power of hope. Not only those, but it will show you how the power of friendship and keep you afloat even when you didn’t know that you were drowning. I also want to praise the rich vocabulary; Thank you Chloe I highlighted several words for my English repertoire. Metaphors and analogies were abundant but never used excessively and they were beautiful, they just enhanced the reading experience. Three Rivers blew me away. I can’t get over the fact that this is the debut novel for author Chloe T. Barlow. She is clearly exceptionally talented and was meant to write this story! Three Rivers was the perfect blend of romance, suspense, action and thrill. I didn’t find the story to be predictable or overdone. Althea experiences an unimaginable tragedy. Griffen wholly guards himself against personal relationships because of an unimaginable upbringing. Since "in Pittsburgh there (are) only two, maybe three, degrees of separation between people" Griffen and Althea soon find themselves wrapped in a whirlwind of a major commonality. Three Rivers journeys the self-discoveries for both of these characters in by such satisfying means for the reader by understanding both together and apart. Chemistry and passion knows no bounds between the two as the reader embarks on an incredibly emotional ride. They’re funny, playful, deep, and soulful and since their story is so brilliantly written we feel each of those emotions.
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Loved the fact that Griffen was the best friend to Althea's husband and that is what brings Althea and Griffen closer together. He constantly calls her gorgeous... so much so that it became annoying. Just wanted him to stop... she has a name! There's a time to call me gorgeous and a time to call me by my name... this is just a personal pet peeve. :) This may not bother anyone else... This wonderful debut novel by Chloe Barlow, takes you on a journey through the grieving process of a widow trying to find her way to exist in life. The story our author weaved for the reader is one of a woman becoming more than a widow and a man finding he's worth more than what his past dictates. (Althea) Tea and Griffen are such strong, bold characters of themselves, but they come alive when they are together. They spark when near each other and their romance is a sexy tale for us to watch unfold. Through this experience with a new man, Tea has to come to grips with the acceptance that she has been mired in guilt and grief all these years. Very poignantly written. The story gives us new beginnings, romance and some mystery. Only…when feelings grow and an undeniable attraction and connection builds between them, what will they do? Will Althea give love a second chance despite the anguish and despair that she still carries? And will Griffin, a man running from his past, ever find foreclosure and love? The call them the “Three Rivers” but its really two rivers joining together to form the third. One surrendering to the other to become something bigger and much more important. The rivers are not lesser for moving on and joining together, they are broader stronger, and lead to so many more opportunities—as one.
Now turn around and grab the edge of my desk...Well done. Now pull up your skirt for me," he commanded. Tea’s best friends, Jenna and Aubrey are such great secondary characters in this book. They are wonderful, supportive, loving friends and so funny. They are truly what a best friend should be. I loved them. (and Jenna will have her own story!) They are on a mission to get Tea into the dating world. They take Tea to a bar where she crosses paths with Griffin……As I mentioned, there is mystery and suspense within the story but I won’t spoil! You’ll have to read it to find out. I’m very excited to see that Ms. Barlow’s next book centers around Jenna, and I’m eagerly awaiting it’s release. Three Rivers was an amazing debut by Author Chlow Barlow! She is the sole author of her books and finds her inspiration on reality television, which she considers crazier than fiction. Although her stories are fictitious, she tailors her characters in a way that makes them relatable to most people, since most people have some pain and mistakes from the past they find hard to heal. The personal struggles that people go through to find healing and figure out God’s purpose for their lives are the core factors in these stories. She finds the perfect balance between Christianity and romance by infusing patience, forgiveness, faith, love and acceptance in her books. She is working on another book, the sixth book of the series featuring some characters from the first book. It promises to be as thrilling and entertaining as the previous ones. Chloe Barlow does a great job pulling you into the story. I needed to know what happens next and had a very hard time putting it down. For a freshmen offering, Chloe Barlow has done a wonderful job writing an exciting, heartwarming, and romantic story. It’s full of heartache, surprises, heart melting dialogue, straight talking friends, and one super irresistible smooth talking sexy male. I am so glad I read this book. This was provided by a blogger for a review tour and I don’t regret it one bit, even if I am doing this at an insane hour!!! I devoured this book in one day!! It’s that good. Jenna and Aubrey were the best friends ever! Supportive, loyal and completely meddlesome. In the right effin way! I loved both of them and I am so glad to hear they will get their own stories (which I obviously will read).
From there her life is turned upside down and no longer belongs to her. Her parents signed her up for Three Rivers which they call a transformational experience. They kidnap Stella, drag her out of her house, and fly her to Montana. She has no idea who these people are or what they are doing with her. Stella is dropped off in the middle of the wilderness and learns how to live and survive in the elements. You see her blossom and grow into a completely different person as each of the twelve weeks passes. Growing stronger and developing friendships to last a lifetime. Three Rivers captivates from the very beginning. Born and bred a Pittsburgh girl, I was so excited to sit down and enjoy this. A love story set in Pittsburg left me intrigued as soon as I learned of it and read the blurb. Without much expectation, Three Rivers took me on a harrowing journey about love; about learning to let go of holding on; about acceptance and rejuvenation. This tale of strength and undying love, both past and new, represents perfectly the trials we experience when dealing with grief and immense hurt.
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There she meets Griffen. Hot, sexy and she is instantly attracted to him. Griffen is a successful author whose books have been made into movies. Althea doesn’t realize that but decides that yes, he will be her fun night. The attraction between them is immediate. There is a spark between them. Not necessarily love at first sight, but pretty close. A heartbreaking tale of letting go and learning to love again. A jaw-dropping debut novel you have to read.” - Helena Newbury, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. When introduced to Althea, she has just suffered the tragic loss of her husband but left with the precious gift of a child. Helping her hold it together are her two best friends, Jenna and Aubrey. They continue to help and support her and encourage Althea to move on with her life. In her attempt to move on, we are introduced to Griffen. A famous author and native of Pittsburgh, who has returned to help his mentor at the local University. One night of passion opens up a new path for Althea that leads her across a river of happiness, love and heartbreak. Do you know yet what will happen to Matthew Venn through the course of the series or do you let his journey unravel as you write?
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