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Cruel Water (Portland, ME, novels Book 2) Kindle Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 351 ratings

*100,000+ words* Innocence marked her… Violation crippled her… Love left her raw… The life she carefully rebuilt is challenged when she is confronted with the sins from her past. The carefully applied protection is at once ripped away, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. Her single night of indulgence with the silver-eyed stranger is only the beginning. He sees right to the heart of her and she is unable to ward off emotions that have been deeply buried. With the sting of betrayal still fresh in her soul, she’s surprised to find herself opening up to the honest integrity of the sharp-eyed, rough-looking biker. When he lost everyone who mattered, he was left without roots and learned to be content simply living in the moment. Completely unprepared for the feisty blonde bartender with old pain marring her clear-blue eyes, he questions his own rules of detachment, as she unwittingly finds a way under his skin. Appearances deceive and when the masks fall away, revealing deep, dark secrets, there is nothing left but to hang onto each other and survive the storm. *This book deals with issues around abuse that might be sensitive to some.* **Due to content of a sexually explicit nature, this book is recommended for a mature audience only.**

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Editorial Reviews

Review

  • "Cruel Water shone for me as one of the most outstanding reads so far of the year. Dealing with multiple issues that are seriously usually skimmed over or sensationalised, this was well written, thought out and emotionally charged. Fantastically well written..." (Obsessed By Books)
  • "This book touches on some very serious subjects and really tugged at my heartstrings, but nevertheless, it was beautifully written. Be prepared to go through a lot of tissues, because Cruel Water is a tear jerker for sure! " (Author Maureen Mayer)
  • "This is a breathtaking story of a damaged heroine supported by an strong man who is still recovering from his own emotional wounds. It takes you on journey towards happiness, forgiveness and above all a hope for a future lived free of a painful past." (Jezabell Girl & Friends)
  • "This is one explosive story, touching on subjects sure to tear you apart at times, but it is written with such skill that makes their story so amazing. I take my hat off to Freya, another fantastic book which melts your heart and soul." (Lilian's Author's Blog)
  • "Freya Barker has done it again with an engaging, emotional and generally "un-put-downable" read." (Oh My Growing TBR)

About the Author

Freya Barker inspires with her stories about 'real’ people, perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy. She is the author of the Cedar Tree Series and the Portland, ME, novels.

Freya is the recipient of the RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for best first book, “Slim To None,” and is a finalist for the 2016 Kindle Book Awards for “From Dust”. She currently has two complete series and three anthologies published, and is working on two new series; La Plata County FBI―ROCK POINT, and Northern Lights. She continues to spin story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01AKPA23O
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (March 3, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 3, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5186 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 389 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 351 ratings

About the author

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Freya Barker
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USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Driven to make her books about 'real' people; she creates characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy, but just as deserving of romance, thrills, and chills in their lives.

Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

***

For the latest news and updates on books and upcoming releases, you can subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/Freya_Newsletter

Or you can stay in touch on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FreyaBarkerWriter

Professional Inquiries:

For inquiries regarding foreign rights, audio, and other media outlets, please contact my agent, Stephanie Phillips of SBR Media.

stephanie@sbrmedia.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
351 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-written. They appreciate the interesting characters and their development. The emotional content is described as emotional and thought-provoking, with a healthy injection of desire, sexual appetite, and need. The pacing is described as engaging and unputdownable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

10 customers mention "Story quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story. They find it refreshing to read a story with substance and real issues. The book is described as captivating, emotional, and realistic, with an excellent job of describing the horrors Viv experienced. Readers also appreciate the next book in the series, which provides more insight into the first couple.

"...and heart shredding but so powerful, emotionally charged and captivating that you can't help but be swept up in the tsunami of feelings and emotions..." Read more

"An interesting story from someone who has never experienced abuse. All the right words, all the right feelings and all the right thoughts...." Read more

"...someone who can write interesting, well rounded characters and deal with tough issues like incest and spousal abuse in a realistic, compelling..." Read more

"...Its not easy which is the perpetual story of hope for the reader. Loved this book. Can't wait to read on to find out what is next for Ike and Viv." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and well-crafted. They appreciate the interesting characters and situations. The narration is also praised as good. Readers feel a strong connection to the characters, who are relatable with the right amount of humor, attitude, and compassion. Overall, they describe the books as wonderful novels worth reading.

"...She writes about likable people who you can feel a pull and connection to, who have multiple layers...." Read more

"I liked the writing style and I liked the characters. I just found it lagged in as several places ...." Read more

"...a book that will make you feel, definitely grab both of these wonderful novels and set aside some time to dive in because once you start reading,..." Read more

"...I listened to the audio book. I thought the narration was well done. The book didn't feel like it was long, and it kept me fully engaged...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers like the character development. They mention the writing style and the wonderful supporting character, Pam. They appreciate the desire, sexual appetite, and need that the characters display, regardless of age.

"...the very healthy injection of desire, sexual appetite and need that her characters display, regardless of the age ~ as in real life, just because..." Read more

"I liked the writing style and I liked the characters. I just found it lagged in as several places ...." Read more

"...Viv's counselor friend and therapist Pam is an absolutely wonderful supporting character with just the right amount of straight talk, humor, attitude..." Read more

"I love Viv’s character. She was so strong and such a rock for Sydney in From Dust...." Read more

6 customers mention "Emotional content"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and emotional. They appreciate the mature, flawed characters and the right words, feelings, and thoughts.

"...'s, was raw, devastating and heart shredding but so powerful, emotionally charged and captivating that you can't help but be swept up in the tsunami..." Read more

"Freya Barker has done it again with an engaging, emotional and generally "un-put-downable" read!..." Read more

"...All the right words, all the right feelings and all the right thoughts. I know the shaking and the panic attacks...." Read more

"...The characters are real with intense life issues. What an emotional; roller coaster ride for all including the readers...." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing and emotional content. They find the storytelling engaging and emotionally compelling, with an injection of desire, sexual appetite, and need.

"...of my favourite things about Freya's storytelling is the very healthy injection of desire, sexual appetite and need that her characters display,..." Read more

"Freya Barker has done it again with an engaging, emotional and generally "un-put-downable" read!..." Read more

"...The book didn't feel like it was long, and it kept me fully engaged. I would recommend it and rate it 4.5 stars." Read more

"...All the right words, all the right feelings and all the right thoughts. I know the shaking and the panic attacks...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2016
    I'm sure we all have a 'go to' list of authors whose books we 1-c without even needing to read the blurb. The books that, while they may be emotional and heart-wrecking roller-coaster rides, they help lift us or bring us out of a book funk... Since I read her first ever book, Freya Barker has been way up there on my list of faves 'go to' authors!

    I flove the Cedar Tree series that Freya also writes but have to admit that the Portland, ME series is fast becoming my out-and-out favourite!

    Freya has a tremendous ability to bring her characters and their situations to life in a very realistic and believable way. She writes about likable people who you can feel a pull and connection to, who have multiple layers. They run a gamut of emotions and show and experience feelings and sensations that we can all, to varying degrees, relate to. Some have difficult pasts and histories that have cut deep, caused scars, pain and damage that they hide so well but that, on occasion, come back to haunt or taunt them.

    We got an inkling from meeting Viv in 'From Dust' (book 1) that something dark and devastating had happened in her past and that behind the smile and lightness there lurked a pain and darkness that, under the wrong circumstances, could pull her under. I loved her and my heart broke for how she felt, what she had gone through and where she could end up without the support, love and care she so deserved.

    Ike had experienced his share of pain, loss and guilt and was himself lost and adrift, in need of someone to lighten his life, anchor him and heal the pain he feels.

    Our couple had, what was supposed to be, a blistering one night stand but, as is often the case with life, this turned out not to be the case and they were brought together again.
    They were two broken people with shattered hearts who were perfect for each other and, if they could overcome their fears and doubts, they could become whole again.

    Their story, especially Viv's, was raw, devastating and heart shredding but so powerful, emotionally charged and captivating that you can't help but be swept up in the tsunami of feelings and emotions that it evokes and hope like hell you survive the experience.

    The inclusion of character we met in the previous book - the staff at The Skipper, Pam (Viv's friend and therapist) along with Viv's brothers, the various friends and bar patrons all add to the palpable sense of family, community and friendship that Freya builds in her books.

    The attraction, heat, passion and sexual pull between our main characters is intense and the sex is off the charts hot. One of my favourite things about Freya's storytelling is the very healthy injection of desire, sexual appetite and need that her characters display, regardless of the age ~ as in real life, just because they are no longer horny teenagers doesn't mean they shouldn't have active and fulfilling sex lives!! ;)

    I absolutely adored 'Cruel Water'. It's another fantastic installment in the series and I give it 5 much deserved stars!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2019
    I liked the writing style and I liked the characters. I just found it lagged in as several places . Also was more than depressing throughout the whole book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2016
    Freya Barker has done it again with an engaging, emotional and generally "un-put-downable" read! Cruel Water will put you through the wringer, but the anger and crumpled tissue pile are well worth it.

    If you have read From Dust, you will remember Viv as the beautiful bartender at The Skipper who found Syd in the alley behind the pub and gave her a chance to get her life back on track. By all outer appearances, Viv is the epitome of self-sufficiency but she has painful past we can't even begin to comprehend. The glimpse we received in From Dust only scratched the surface of the pain, loneliness and devastation she tries to hide from everyone.

    Viv's story broke my heart over and over again with each new revelation of the horrible things she endured over the past few decades. From the outside looking in, her family was the picture perfect group that others wanted to be a part of, but like most pictures of perfection, that facade crumbles when it is inspected too closely. Once Viv left home and her overbearing group of 4 brothers, she experienced a horrific marriage that broke her even more on both an emotional and physical level. Although she eventually found the strength to escape, she has never shared her experiences with her family and she doesn't know where she falls on the scale of 'victim' to 'survivor' some days. She has let some of her friends in on a limited basis, but she has built steel walls around her heart to keep anyone from getting too close now.

    Then one day a beautiful dark haired stranger sits at her bar, and for the first time in far too long, she actually FEELS something when she looks in those captivating grey eyes. With a painful guilt-ridden past of his own, Ike is a wanderer, but he has roots in Portland and he is finally starting to feel the urge to stick around one place for a change. He bought a house that has been renovated and is almost ready for him to move in, he has some acquaintances in the area like Skipper regular and softball team member Tim, and the gorgeous blonde bartender calls to him like a siren after just one night together - and he has absolutely no idea what to do with that. He can see that Viv is feeling the same pull but it scares the hell out of her, and after being warned off by several of her friends including Tim and Gunnar, he knows he has tread carefully but he is willing to take his chances.

    I fell in love with Ike right alongside Viv. He is a natural protector and becomes a pillar of strength for her to lean on, but he never tries to take over her life or make decisions for her unless she absolutely needs him to step in. He stands back and lets her fight her own battles, but he is standing behind her both literally and figuratively the whole time ready to jump in if she needs him. He knows she has fought hard to be rid of overprotective and overbearing men in her life and values her hard won independence, and he respects that.

    From the start of the book, events are set into motion that inevitably bring all of Viv's secrets out into the open and the emotional overload threatens to finally completely break her, but Viv is made of stronger stuff than that. After so many years of denial and trying to push down the memories into a little box, the emotional release is overwhelming to say the least leading to a few scary moments for Viv and her friends as they try to figure out how to help her. Fortunately she has a wonderful support system in Ike, Syd, Gunnar and the Skipper family, and they prove that the family you choose is just as important (if not more so) than the family you are born into with their unquestioning acceptance of her revelations even as they hate those experiences for her. So many times I wanted to reach into the pages of my Kindle and either throat punch or shake one of her brothers or her mom until they came to their senses- UGH! Viv's counselor friend and therapist Pam is an absolutely wonderful supporting character with just the right amount of straight talk, humor, attitude, and compassion to keep Viv rooted in reality and to help them all navigate the emotional minefield that has become Viv's life.

    Speaking of supporting characters, I have to say this book is filled with very well written characters who are not perfect, just perfectly flawed. They react in ways that may make you angry or annoyed, but those reactions are absolutely real. Denial is always easier than acceptance, and letting anger flow is a necessary step to reach acceptance for everyone involved no matter how much their initial reactions may hurt. As much as I wanted to smack her family, they had just come face to face with the reality that their history was being re-written in an unexpected and painful way, and where Viv has lived with years of that reality, they needed to work through that new knowledge in stages on their own.

    If you haven't read From Dust, you can absolutely read Cruel Water as a standalone. But if you love a book that will make you feel, definitely grab both of these wonderful novels and set aside some time to dive in because once you start reading, you won't want to stop.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
    The subject matter in this book was difficult. It covers not one, but two very emotional and painful issues.

    I liked Ike and Viv's more mature relationship. There was not the usual drama with a ton of communication problems. Ike and Viv had great chemistry. Ike was completely supportive. There was also romance, and a fair amount of heat.

    I also like the family Viv made from her co-workers. It was nice to see she had a support network that included Ike.

    All the drama came from Viv's family. I imagine it was supposed to be healing to forgive. Maybe I could forgive the brothers, but I am not so sure about Viv's mother. That would have taken me a LOT longer.

    I listened to the audio book. I thought the narration was well done. The book didn't feel like it was long, and it kept me fully engaged. I would recommend it and rate it 4.5 stars.

Top reviews from other countries

  • KMD.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Chocolate needed.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2016
    At the risk of sounding repetitious about Ms' Barkers books, this is another 'must read'. I don't think I'm giving anything away as it's mentioned everywhere that this book touches on a delicate subject, namely abuse. The kind of abuse suffered is two fold, from two men that should have been trusted entirely, but failed beyond my ability to describe. But Viv survived, but only just. Her life while good at the point the book starts, is very limited to where she's safe, loved by friends she trusts, and that's pretty much it. Even great brothers let her down unknowingly so all she has are those chosen relationships that she welcomes, despite loving her siblings and they her.

    While Viv is a woman in a million because of her survival, it was Ike that did it for me a thousand times over. He's probably my favorite male character in general of all the books Ive read, because he's the most 'real' man I've read yet. I'm kinda burned out on this Alpha thing that seems to have swept into this genre and even the word grates my nerves. I'm also a bit jaded reading words like 'claimed', 'mine', and the grunting manner that is used to depict how these guys speak....or rather grunt. So yes, for me, a massive plus was for only the second time in as many months, meeting a male character that was strong and didn't lose that strength while wondering if he was right for Viv, or she for him. He as strong enough to acknowledge he was cautious about his ability to deal with her baggage. He was 'real'. And I adore real. I want to feel while I'm reading that this actually could happen in a parallel universe to me, while knowing all this Alpha stuff is completely limited to the pages I thumb though on my kindle. Fantasy is great...but when Im curled up in a good story, I want to see that this man I'm loving in the book is akin to the man I love in my reality who's making me a cuppa in my kitchen. And Ike was as real as you get. I loved when Viv came swinging in the bar brawl, and while he had her back, he didn't jump to fight her fight for her. He saw her doing her thing, and acknowledged she was well able. Respect.

    All told this is a love story in the covers of a romantic tragedy with the HEA assured. That's not a spoiler, it's a simple fact given this genre and the unspoken 'well, it's a love story so what do you expect'. We revisit Gunner and Syd, get a mention of whom I think will be the next lady love in the next book, Ruby, and have the pleasure of feeling the sea salt against my skin and the sea winds in my hair, all via a beautifully written story by a very very talented author. When you can see in your minds eye the churning waters in the harbour and taste the tang of sea water while you read the words, you know you've hit a winner. When you can feel in your stomach what you know is the general gist of the story only a few pages in, but feel discomfort reading the words as the victim remembers the bedroom door opening, and the warmth of bed covers over her face as ............

    It's not nice.

    It's awkward reading, it's hurtful, it's sad, and it's got no redeeming qualities. There are no good points in abuse. There's no hope, and theres no relief when it stops, because your head won't let it go. Until youre ready to accept this wrong that's been done, isn't your fault. My heart breaks at the mere idea of a childs body being used for adult things. It disgusts me and angers me. This book gave decency to a topic that's so easy write wrong if it's only used as a casual filler in a plot. This didn't happen here, this was written with respect without murdering details home. We KNEW what was happening, without having to read the content of dreams or memories. It was for me, a glimpse of hurt, that had all the more impact because less was said.

    Im rambling a bit I know, and I hope my thoughts don't upset or drift too far so as to give too much away. But this story, this respectful tale of a woman surviving, and a good man, strong as any hero with a motorbike and leathers but with a personality that's real needs more than a line or two of my time. I didn't love this story, because all it's content isn't something I could love; and this is definitely a book that you might not enjoy while reading, but you won't be able to put it down because you will have to make it to the other side, and THEN you'll love it. Easy easy 5 stars, thank my thanks for another story that makes written women real.

    This will be my review also on goodreads.
  • P
    5.0 out of 5 stars Emerging from the deepest waters....like a boss
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2016
    It took me two days to read this book. Emotionally it was so intense I had to hug myself at times to keep the hurt from spilling out my insides felt so raw after reading some of the scenes. Only Freya Barker does this to me. Ike not only kept her sane he kept me sane as well. WHAT A MAN. There are no right or wrong ways to address the issues she brought up in this book but I love the way she made her heroine deal with things head on even when she was breaking. Not forgetting our hero who kept his s*** together so he could be there for her through thick and thin. Freya you rock!

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