About the Book
Title: Breaking Anchor
Author: Geonn Cannon
Length: 252 pages
Release Date: March 1, 2017
Language: English
ISBN: 9781944591229
ASIN: B01NBQQLQM
Categories: Lesbian romance, contemporary
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31451955-breaking-anchor
Synopsis
Three years ago, Sofia Kennedy reported the tragic death of her girlfriend live-on air. Still in the closet even with her closest friends, she was forced to suffer her loss in silence. In the years since she’s become isolated and sticks strictly to a routine that prevents her from encountering painful memories of the woman she lost.
Marion Vogt runs a small but well-respected catering service that feeds the elite of Seattle. When Sofia’s consumer reporting segment does a story on Marion’s company, the two women immediately butt heads. An unintended insult results in a scathing report that nearly shuts down the business. Marion’s attempt to defend herself results in a deepening of their conflict until both women are ready to destroy one another.
They quickly find out Seattle can be a very small town when trying to avoid someone. As much as they want to avoid each other, fate keeps forcing Sofia and Marion to cross paths. Before long they realize they’ll have to decide if they’re going to hold on to bad feelings or risk forgiveness to discover just what they have to offer each other.
Review
Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes, so right from the synopsis this had my attention. I was also interested to see how the death of Sofia’s partner was handled because this can often be done in ways that I personally find upsetting. I was pleased to see that both aspects were written well.
I have to admit, it took me a while to warm to Sofia. I understood her reasons for how she made her choices, and I was sympathetic to her. The after-effects of her choices, made in good faith, are far-reaching. She’s not able to be fulfilled because of the tension between doing what she believes is right for her career and doing what she needs in order to heal. I ended up really liking her, but it took setting aside my annoyance with her in favor of developing compassion. I think that’s a sign of the excellent writing in that it made me examine my attitude toward Sofia and adjust.
Marion, on the other hand, I think I was half in love with from minute one. She is an absolute treasure and the kind of woman I admire. She strikes me as someone I would be friends with in real life. All throughout, she’s more than fair to Sofia, despite all the ways in which Sofia undermines her and snubs her. When she finally breaks through Sofia’s crusty exterior, these two are utterly wonderful together. Without giving spoilers, there is a thing Marion does for Sofia at the end which is so perfect and something I wish more people in real life could do when it comes to handling the aftermath of tragedy.
This is a relatively slow-paced, realistic story. There’s no big drama, just two women trying to work through their situation. The resolution is satisfying, and the ending, while still being a happily-for-now, is very much in keeping with the tone of the rest of the book.
For believable characters, sensitive writing about grief, and good, steady pacing, this gets 9/10 fountain pens.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Amazon UK | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
About the Author
Geonn Cannon was born in a barn and raised to know better than that. He was born and raised in Oklahoma where he’s been enslaved by a series of cats, dogs, two birds and one unexpected turtle. He’s spent his entire life creating stories but only became serious about it when he realized it was a talent that could impress girls. Learning to write well was easier than learning to juggle, so a career was underway. His high school years were spent writing stories among a small group of friends and reading whatever books he could get his hands on.
Geonn was inspired to create the fictional Squire’s Isle after a 2004 trip to San Juan Island in Washington State. His first novel set on the island, On the Air, was written almost as a side project to another story he wanted to tell. Reception to the story was so strong that the original story was put on the back burner to deal with the world created in On the Air. His second novel set in the same universe, Gemini, was also very well received and went on to win the Golden Crown Literary Society Award for Best Novel, Dramatic/General Fiction. Geonn was the first male author to receive the honor.
While some of his novels haven’t focused as heavily on Squire’s Isle, the vast majority of Geonn’s works take place in the same universe and have connections back to the island and its cast of characters (the exception being the Riley Parra series). In addition to writing more novels based on the inhabitants of Squire’s Isle, Geonn hopes to one day move to the real-life equivalent to inspire further stories.
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