OMG! I said this book would be brilliant before I had even finished the first few chapters and it didn't let me down!

Judah and Morgan and the Painted Bay family, just melted my heart! I had tears and hold my breath moments and awwww moments.

This is a wonderful start to a new series and I cant wait to read more about Painted Bay!. ( )

Off Balance by Jay Hogan

The first time I read this I was blown away. I fell in love with the characters, setting and story and felt it was one of the best books I had ever read. When I saw a tour for the book I had to sign up. This is a book well worth reading and one that I highly recommend. It has stayed with me for nearly a year and rereading it was just as enjoyable as the first time when I met and fell in love with the characters.

What I liked:
* The location: New Zealand
* Judah: male ballet dancer at the top…until he was not, left home young, studied abroad, conflicted, outgoing and flirty, meets the perfect partner as he figures out what to do with his life after professional ballet
* Morgan: widow, fish and game officer, a decade older than Judah, caring and kind, generous, knows what he wants…really liked him and he was perfect with and for Judah
* The dynamics, dialogue, and interactions between Judah and Morgan and their open communication
* The family elements brought into the story – both Judah’s and Morgan’s
* Terry & his nine-year-old daughter were great friends and played a big part in the story
* The small-town community and how they interacted, reacted, and may have grown and changed over time
* The medical issue of Meniere’s Disease – a major factor in Judah’s life…and no doubt in other lives, too. Educational but not preachy
* Hannah’s shining moment and how it impacted Judah’s future
* The way it made me smile and care and feel…really loved this book

What I didn’t like:
* The bullying that Judah experienced in school
* Family members that were unkind…for whatever their own reasons might have been
* The losses sustained that more than one had to overcome then move forward from

Did I like this book? Definitely!
Would I read more by this author? Without a doubt!

5 Stars ( )