Shredded/Shattered (Extreme Risk #1 & 2) by Tracy Wolff-reviews

SHREDDED
(Extreme Risk #1)
by Tracy Wolff
Genre: contemporary, new adult, romance
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 4, 2014

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Twenty-one-year-old professional snowboarder Z Michaels is the bad boy of Park City, Utah. He’s always had his pick of any girl in town—and on the competition circuit. But underneath his cool exterior is a young man in turmoil, trying to take the edge off tragedy by overindulging in sex and shredding the slopes. In fact, Z’s reckless behavior is a thinly veiled attempt to blunt his emotional suffering with physical pain.

Ophelia Richardson isn’t like any girl Z has ever met. Though she’s from New Orleans high society, she’s no Southern belle—and she’s not shy about being miserable in frozen, godforsaken Park City. But laying low is her only option after her ex, a rich boy who couldn’t take no for an answer, nearly killed her in a jealous rage. Following that terrifying encounter, the last thing Ophelia needs is a boyfriend—especially one as rich and arrogant as Z. But Ophelia soon discovers that he isn’t what he seems. If anything, Z may be even more damaged than she is.

Tormented by their pasts and feeling alone in the world, Z and Ophelia find a connection unlike any they’ve ever known. But with Ophelia hiding the details of her life in Louisiana and Z’s death wish reaching terrifying new heights, their relationship seems to be going downhill before it even begins—unless they can find the strength in each other to trust, grow, and love again.

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REVIEW: SHREDDED is the first storyline in Tracy Wolff’s contemporary, new adult EXTREME RISK snowboarding series. This is Z Michaels and Ophelia Richardson’s story. Z is the bad boy of the snowboarding circuit with a dark and tormented past. Ophelia is a young woman on the road to both physical and emotional recovery following a horrific accident one year earlier. The storyline is told from two distinct first person POV-Ophelia and Z.

The focus of the storyline is on the building relationship between Ophelia and Z and, Z’s determination to push himself to the limits of his capabilities. As an extreme snowboarder Z constantly places himself in dangerous situations including a late night ‘jump’ off a mountain that could have ended his life. But it is these types of suicidal actions that will push Ophelia in another direction when Z’s need for the rush hits too close to home. Ophelia has already experienced the life and death situation of someone she once loved and she has sworn never to watch another friend self-destruct while she sits in the passenger seat-along for the ride.

The relationship between Z and Ophelia is confrontational in the beginning as Z’s reputation with woman and sex precedes his bad boy persona. Z pushes all of Ophelia’s buttons noting that she holds a secret almost as dark as the secrets from Z’s past and it is with this realization that Z can be both sympathetic and empathetic when the truth is finally revealed. But Z will continue to push the boundaries of his sport and in this Ophelia may be pushed right out of his life.

All of the secondary characters-Z’s friends Ash, Cam and Luc-as well as our leading couple have yet to grow up. Their immaturity fuels the lifestyle and public perception that is extreme sports-alcohol, drugs, nameless sex and risk taking. Ophelia runs when she is needed the most; and Z’s past drives the dangerous life style that is extreme snowboarding.

Tracy Wolff brings the world of snowboarding onto the pages of SHREDDED with references to the famous and the infamous; snowboarding terminology; and the Olympic trials and extreme snowboarding games. We are pulled onto the slopes, the half-pipe and the snow covered mountains where Z and his fellow athletes hone their skill and risk their lives for the ultimate thrill and the chance to be the best.

SHREDDED is a new adult storyline but the writing style was a little choppy. The language was stilted and at times felt forced as though the author was unsure how to proceed with the conversations. Yes, extreme sports have their own style of speech and terminology but the language or usage felt disconcerted at times. The synopsis (storyline blurb) does NOT match the premise and should be edited as the reference to Ophelia’s ‘ex’ is not at all what the storyline reveals.

Overall, SHREDDED is an interesting and timely storyline that ends on a cliffhanger. While one couple gets their happily ever after another young boarder will have his entire life destroyed in the blink of an eye.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

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SHATTERED
(Extreme Risk #2)
by Tracy Wolff
Genre: contemporary, new adult, romance
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 20, 2014

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

Ash Lewis has poured every last ounce of his blood, sweat, and tears into reaching the very top of the professional snowboarding world—until the unthinkable happens. After the biggest competition win of his career, Ash’s mother and father are killed in a tragic accident. Unable to handle the idea of going back out on the snow to pursue the dream his parents shared with him, Ash feels that he has no choice but to walk away from snowboarding forever. Then he meets Tansy Hampton.

Wild, fun, and impulsive, Tansy has a different look and a new passion every week. As a cancer survivor who spent the past several years waiting to die, Tansy has a fresh perspective on life—even if she doesn’t have a clue about what she actually wants to do with it. But she’s determined to find out, and that means making the most of her time while she still can.

From the very beginning, their chemistry is intense. But while Ash can’t stop chasing the ghosts of what can never be, Tansy stays firmly focused on the possibilities the world holds for her—and for them. She’s already picked up the pieces of one shattered life. Now she’s determined to help Ash do the same.

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REVIEW: SHATTERED is the second storyline in Tracy Wolff’s contemporary, new adult Extreme Risk series focusing on a group of extreme professional snow boarders. This is snowboarder Ash Lewis and nineteen year old Tansy Hampton’s story-a story of grief, recovery, acceptance and moving forward. Although it is the second in the series, SHATTERED can be read as a stand alone without too much difficulty.

Told from alternating first person POVs (Tansy and Ash) the focus of the storyline is Ash Lewis-a one time, up and coming snowboarder whose life was shattered the day his parents were killed on their way to his Olympic qualifying trials. Not only did Ash lose his parents but his fourteen year old brother was left paralyzed as well. Ash’s guilt eats away at his heart, his soul and his existence. When the Make A Wish foundation approaches Ash to grant a snowboarding wish to a dying teen, Ash refuses because he believes snowboarding and thusly himself are the cause of his parents’ death and his brother’s injuries.

Tansy Hampton’s first Make A Wish assignment is Ash Lewis. A dying fan’s wish is to meet and watch Ash on the snowboarding half pipe but Ash is shrouded in so much guilt that he is unable to grant the wish. With the help of Ash’s friends, Tansy is able to give young Timmy his dream but Ash is reluctant to hit the slopes. What ensues is an eight day trip to the Andes Mountains of Chile and a developing relationship between Tansy and Ash.

The attraction between our leading couple is immediate but Ash has spent the better part of the previous six months whoring around to forget about the lives lost and shattered. The sex between Ash and Tansy is sensual, innocent and provocative. Tansy is an inexperienced female with a secret that she hopes to keep buried but an unexpected turn will force Tansy’s secret to be revealed.

The secondary characters include Ash’s fellow snowboarders Luc, Cam, X and Ophelia and, Ash’s brother Logan. Logan and Ash’s relationship is strained and a good portion of the storyline focuses on Ash’s guilt, angst and emotional stability. The world building continues with the familiarity of the friends and the snowboarding experience, language and scenery.

SHATTERED is a story of one man’s guilt, grief and inability to move forward and in this, much of the novel is angst ridden in Ash’s self deprecation, self loathing and misdirected anger. Although his brother is alive, Ash cannot see past the paralysis and, the wheelchair is a daily reminder of everything he and his brother have lost.

Tracy Wolff has written an emotional and heartbreaking story about death and grieving. It is difficult to say how long or how much grief is too much but each individual must learn to accept a loss before moving on. SHATTERED will show one man that he is not the only person suffering in a world of hurt and pain and, there are others who are suffering right along with him.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy