Across the Ocean By Heather Sosbee

Brooke has spent the last four years dreaming of visiting Iceland. When everything in her life seems to fall apart, she takes it as a sign that now is the time to go. She heads to the land where the sun doesn’t set, the mountains are fierce, and the hot pools are divine.
Ari is the handsome Viking that Brooke has fallen for over the years through the internet. Now that she finally gets to meet him in person, she’s unprepared for how steamy things are between them. Only Ari isn’t available. He’s involved with a woman whose jealousy brings nothing but torment between Brooke and Ari. Will Ari choose Brooke? Or will she be forced to leave all of her dreams behind?

This book is for mature audiences only, due to sexual content, language, and difficult scenarios.

I am surprised that in this day and age there aren’t more books that have the H/h meeting online.  I mean, it’s a popular way to meet people and as we see in this book, it completely and totally works for the basis of a plot in a romance novel.  This is Heather’s first book and I have to say, bravo! 

Brooke lives in California.  She has a good friend that she went to High School with who moved to Iceland.  They become even closer friends online after her departure, and she introduces Brooke to Ari.  Ari is a super-fine Icelandic man, and he and Brooke become BFF’s, with the possibility of more.  On a whim, after the demise of her most recent relationship, Brooke decides to visit her friend in Iceland meet Ari face to face for the first time.  Problem is, Ari is in a serious relationship and is not available.  Another problem is that neither one of them can deny their attraction towards one another.  Lines are crossed, confusion ensues.  Will they work it out or walk away from what could be the best thing either has ever had?

First off, I am completely and utterly shocked that this is a first novel.  It is written not only beautifully, but it flows in such a way as to entrance the reader.  Or, at least, I was entranced; I finished this book in a matter of hours.  What really fuels the entire story is the palpable attraction between Ari and Brooke.  I LOVE romantic tension in a book, and this has it in spades.  It’s some of the best romantic tension I have read in a long time.  Will they get together?  Won’t they?  Will Ari’s bitch of a girlfriend ruin it all?  It’s delicious, delicious angst.

Another thing that I really liked about this book is how it presents Iceland.  It’s almost as if Iceland is another character in the book and it’s described so beautifully that if you don’t want to go visit there by the end of it, then you are clearly the most dreadful kind of dead fish.  I mean, seriously…if all Icelandic men are as hot as she makes it sound, how fast can I get there?  I want my own Viking!  And I definitely want to visit some natural hot pools with said Viking.  This leads me to the next thing that was awesome about this book: the sex.  Oh, it’s the sexiest of sexy time in Iceland, ya’ll.  Not only is the buildup between the main characters hot, but when they finally give in…panty melting here, ladies.  I really hope I don’t accidentally call my husband Ari in bed some night, let’s just put it that way.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book.  It’s the first in what is going to be a series of standalones novels about entwined characters, and I already can’t wait for the second one!  4.5 stars!