This was a really engaging book - I liked...no I loved the main character, Harriet Hilary Amelia Scott.

This story begins with a bang - a ship is sinking and a young woman is being rescued by a dashing hero. True love has begun one might think, and perhaps this would be so if this book had one of those picture on the cover of the bare chested muscular leading man embracing the disheveled but still ravishing damsel in distress. But no this is not one of those novels. This is a gritty tale of two people who appear to have very little in common but don't seem to able to stay out of each other's way.

Harriet is the daughter of two environmentalists who dedicated their lives to making the world a better place. They may be gone now but Harriet is fighting on to honour their legacy while at the same time making her own way as a high school geography teacher. Her world is filled with good people from Drew, an old family friend who has always looked out for her but is now suffering from dementia, Liam, her house mate and long term friend as well as the locals who live in her community. Unfortunately life is not going smoothly since the sinking of the ship, The Watch, during a storm in Antarctica. The Scott Foundation does not seem to want to buy another ship and Per Amundsen, the Norwegian commander who helped to rescue her is looking for compensation for his derailed science expedition. Underneath everything is a much more serious problem that has been travelling beside Harriet for twelve years, a serious phobia of swimming (water) which resulted from an accident which claimed her mother's life and disabled her father.

This was a very real story which had me wanting to defend Harriet from those who would do her harm and cheer on the people in her life who had her back. The chemistry between Per and Harriet is very believable making you just want to shake both of them at times for their sheer stupidity. I started reading this book in the middle of the night while waiting for a child to return home from an evening out and basically gave up going to bed because I wanted to see how the story would end. Nothing in this book is easy and that's what makes it oh so much more readable.

In brief: Harriet Scott is an environmental activist/teacher with a secret – her fear of water. When she meets Commander Per Amundsen in Antarctic waters, little did she know it would set off a change of events that would have her facing her fears.
The good: Excellent characterisation with witty dialogue between Harriet and Per.
The not-so-good: I felt a bit lost at the start as the story jumps straight into the action.
Why I chose it: Looked really fun, thanks Harlequin for the ARC.
Year: 2017
Pages: 340
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Setting: Sydney, Australia and waters off the Antarctic
My rating: 8.5 out of 10
I initially found out about In at the Deep End when reading a story about Penelope Janu, the author. I love stories where professionals in another field turn to writing as it means two things for me: an informed, cracking read and hope that one day I’ll bust out a book that’s not a required textbook! I also love the cover of In at the Deep End as it screams wit, fun and something a bit different. I can guarantee you that this book holds all of these things, plus more. It’s a wonderful debut with some of the most crackling wit I’ve found in any books I’ve read.
The opening of the story is original too as we find heroine Harriet in a sinking ship off Antarctica. At first she seems like a courageous captain, ready to go down with her ship but as she is rescued, there’s an inkling that there is more at stake for Harry than the loss of the Scott Foundation’s ship. That becomes more obvious as she loses her cool when she’s splashed by big waves. Watching all this closely is her rescuer, Norwegian army commander Per Amundsen and he’s not happy. His scientific mission to Antarctica has been thwarted thanks to Harry’s rescue, so now he plans to sue. This sets off a relationship that crackles, sizzles and fences its way to love. It’s an honest story that shows both Harry and Per at their best and worst and the fun is in their dialogue and two steps forward, one step back dance as they attempt to resolve Harry’s fear of the water.
The story starts at a cracking pace and doesn’t really let up – if there’s not some action to be had in the water, there’s a lot of verbal action between Harry and Per. I know it sounds like I’m going on about the dialogue, but it really is that good. It’s the kind of rapid fire wit that makes you smile and chuckle. Plus, the dialogue seems so natural, it’s amazing. (Oh, and there’s a bit of Norwegian to be learned thanks to Per). Initially I was a bit confused as to how Harry got to the Antarctic, but after her rescue, everything is becomes clearer. She’s the daughter of environmental adventurers (think Steve Irwin), who have made a number of documentaries but have now passed away. Harry is somewhat of an Australian celebrity, having grown up on TV. She’s now a teacher who infuses her lessons with tales of her childhood, as well as being a quick artist. In her spare time, she continues to assist the family foundation, even though she doesn’t own any of it. Harry’s cruising in an awkward place, and it takes the calm eyes of Per to see it.
Harry immediately decides Per is some sort of action hero, Polarman. It’s easy to see why. He’s well built with piercing eyes, very physically fit and super smart. He sees everything and what he wants is to cure Harry’s water phobia – and do his study in the Antarctic. He’s warm to Harry’s cold skin, yet he can be verbally as cold as ice. He’s an enigma that fascinates Harry (and the reader), which makes for a fantastic romantic hero.
Much of the story is Per helping Harry to learn to be in the water, spiced up by the fascinating conversations you can have on the second step of a swimming pool. Don’t think that it’s boring. It’s not. It’s a lovely exploration of the beginning of a relationship with a heroine who is feisty, a bit clumsy but always passionate. Per is the epitome of the romantic hero (also I’m certain he would say he isn’t, with a few choice words in Norwegian) that will capture your heart. Their story is feisty, messy and simply a great read.

DNF.

It's not bad, there's just not a lot happening. The focus is on Harriet's daily life, where she lives, all the different people in her community, but it's not holding my interest. A week passes here, a month passes there, still not a lot happening, but clearly there's a mysterious backstory.

I don't feel any chemistry between her and Per. I'm not really into male love interests who are cold, bossy, standoffish and clearly hiding some horrible, sad past which will explain their demeanour. Per seems distant and uninteresting, and I don't find it romantic for him to boss Harriet around and act like he can fix her.

Thanks to Harlequin for the Netgalley copy.

This is a story about two strong willed people who both have strong environmental views and both do what they can to help "save the world". Harriet Scott or Harry as she is known to her friends grew up travelling the world with her famous parents but when tragedy strikes when she is a young girl her life is turned upside down and she is cared for buy good friend and fellow environmentalist Drew whom she will do anything to protect.

Per Amundsen is a Norwegian naval commander he is a total control freak and when he meets Harry well sparks fly because the meeting is filled with lots of tension as he is trying to save her life in The Antarctic and when The Scott Foundations ship The Watch is lost well it appears that these two very different people are going to be thrown together in their journey to get funding for a new ship and a path to a HEA.

This story has a cast of characters that add to the storyline they are fun and there are some very moving parts in the story as Par insists that Harry learn to swim but this is a very hard task for Harry after the tragedy in Brazil and Par is nothing if not such a control freak but Harry is a spitfire and she stands her grown but does what she knows she needs to do. I enjoyed this one their path to a HEA is an up and hill one their banter will have you smiling and groaning (in a good way) at times and of course there is lots of sensual sparks to push them together a good fun story.

In At The Deep End by Penelope Janu was a surprise awesome read. I'm glad it was recommended to me and it has been added to my fave reads for 2017. Harriet and Per were completely attention grabbing together and the plot was a stand out. Emotional, shocking, turbulent, thought-provoking and unputdownable. This was a story I could read again and again and I would not tire of the characters. Both Harriet (Harry) and Per (Polerman) were magic to read. It really was a feel good read and a story that this reader finished with gusto and had me frowning and smiling through to the conclusion :) Loved the story.
Review copy received from Harlequin Books via Netgalley