BECKONED, Part 5: Adrift in Costa Rica by Aviva Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beckoned: Adrift in Costa Rica is part five of the “Beckoned” series by Aviva Vaughn. This story is a slow-burn, contemporary women’s fiction- full of vibrant and vivid descriptions of travel, adventure, food, loss, recovery, discovery, romance, spice, friendship, lessons, and growth.
This book takes us on a journey with Soren, what happens to him after he is forced to face the fact that he and Angela don’t have a future, and that she is madly in love with someone else.

“So here he was, standing in the lurid bookstore-cum-nightclub, watching as the colored lights painted the face of the woman who had flown into his life like a burning comet, and then exited it just as dramatically, leaving his life cold and hollow.
And she was in the arms of another man.
And it was all his fault.
He didn’t know how to bring the warmth back into his life, now that his sun was gone.
His heart began to race painfully, the blood draining from his head, a sense of surreal disorientation washing over him.
Although part of him would have preferred to hate Kieran, it just wasn’t in his nature; and Kieran was too well mannered to deserve it.”

“Dearest Soren,
Thank you for some of the most beautiful memories of my entire life.
I’ll never forget you.
Always,
Angela”

I have loved this series so much, devouring every word and I was so conflicted seeing Angela and Kieran together and loving how great they were together, but feeling so bad for Soren at the same time. I wasn’t really sure how Ms. Vaughn was going to approach this story, what direction she’d take- so my mind was reeling with the possibilities. I did have high expectations, because Soren really needed something good to happen to him to make up for so much heartache. I loved what Ms. Vaughn did with this story and it was every bit as good as I had hoped it would be. Even though I knew Ms. Vaughn wouldn’t make it easy for Soren and would make him ‘work for his happiness. I also love how much more of Soren we get to see. Even after 4 other books, there was still quite substantial character growth and development.

“He had long ago made peace with his father’s inability to show affection. If he was honest with himself, he even saw a bit of it in his own mannerisms. He had been taught that it was better to say or do nothing rather than say or do the wrong thing. It took losing Angela for him to realize how much like his father he had become.
Which was why he’d run away to Costa Rica. He was tired of living his father’s plan for him. He wanted to distance himself from everything that defined him—investment banking, Europe, his family—so he could figure out who he really was, or really wanted to be.”

Soren really stepped out of his comfort zone, as well as out from his father’s shadow. He relocates to a new country, abandoning everything he knows, for a fresh start. He learns the native language and makes some friends. Life slowly gets brighter and begins to look up for him.
Little does he know how much a surfing session would change his life, as an accident nearly costs him everything, but also introduces Elena into his world. I was surprised by how much I liked Elena, after Angela I wasn’t sure I would be able to connect with her, but I shouldn’t have worried as Ms. Vaughn has never let me down before. Elena is all woman. Sexy, sassy and vibrant. I loved the banter between her and the other characters. But Elena has some secrets which will come into play and gives this story another added element of intrigue. What happens when her past threatens their new-found happiness? You really should read all the fantastic details for yourself, I’m sure you will enjoy the book/series just as much as I have!
I loved Ms. Vaughn’s attention to detail, and the way she used her words to bring her story and characters to life. The whole series has been wonderfully captivating- and I am hard pressed to pick a favourite because the series just seems to get better and better with each new instalment. I am still convinced that this series would make a superb Television mini-series! It really is different from a lot of other reads- the descriptions and scene setting are so vivid, rich and vibrant- I was “seeing’ it in pictures, rather than merely reading the words. All the sights, smells and tastes of the book come alive, transporting me to Costa Rica alongside the characters.
A fantastic addition to the series and another splendid read from a talented author!

Thank you, Ms. Vaughn!

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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