Avalon by Lee Souleles-a review and giveaway

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About the Book: Release Date April 28, 2013

It’s 1984, and Alex Wakefield is in Mexico, on a mission to avenge the death of his partner, DEA Special Agent Nicholas Locklear. Beautiful Sofie Davis is an alluring complication he never anticipated. Sofie is on a mission too. Recovering from a failed relationship, Sofie has returned to Mexico, looking for direction as she plans her future. She’s hoping to reconnect with her family-especially her mother’s memory-before she returns to California in the fall. After four years of focusing most of her attention on a college education, Sofie enjoys spending her days in a tropical Avalon. One sultry summer night, she meets Alex, her cousin’s new business associate. Taking a risk, she asks the gorgeous guy to dance. In the violent and corrupt world of Mexico’s emerging drug cartels, Sofie and Alex forge an unrealistic pact. They soon find love and heartache, and discover the true meaning of family loyalty and forgiveness.

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AVALON by Lee Souleles was a surprise read for me. I remember the 1980’s in Southern California very well. Too well! I could have been in college classes with our heroine Sofie! I was not really interested in revisiting some personal memories, but this novel opened me up to a world that I didn’t fully understand at the time. AVALON touched my heart in a profound way. It is a wonderful novel about family loyalty, forgiveness and love.

Sofie meets Alex Wakefield, an undercover DEA agent in Acapulco Mexico. She has returned to Mexico to heal from a broken heart. She is reconnecting with her large, wealthy Mexican family before she returns to California. Alex and Sofie are drawn to each other, but Alex has some big secrets. He is undercover to investigate her family. Alex needs to find out if Sofie knows about her family’s drug cartel. Their relationship is as hot as a sultry night in Mexico! Mixing business with pleasure is risky and someone is bound to get hurt.

The parts of the story that I loved the most were the descriptions of Mexico and its rich culture! The readers are shown both its beauty and its harsh poverty. All of the characters are so dynamic and they came alive for me. There are even some great life quotes sprinkled throughout the novel that I had to highlight! One that I loved was this life advice from her favorite Tia: “We’re each the captain of our own ship, not the master of the seas..……Life will bring the hurricanes, don’t go searching for rough weather”. The writing is poetic and the story is so rich and meaningful. I never thought that I could enjoy reading about America’s war on drugs, but I was wrong. AVALON was a very fulfilling read. I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Jules

Copy supplied by the author.

Lee is offering a paper copy of AVALON to one lucky reader at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Giveaway is open to USA and Canada only.

4. Giveaway runs from August 12 to August 16, 2013