Member Reviews
Meh.
Trying to hard to be funny and a bit over the top.
No chemistry between the characters and the characters were trying too hard; Matt to be mysterious broody and moody - Kat over the top and cheerful. It just did not work out.
I enjoyed this story – it is one of two people, who appear to have it all, success included. However, the reality is it that like many, they struggle with their mental health and their inner thoughts and troubles.
Both Kat and Matt are neighbours, in luxurious beachside apartments. They both have very different jobs and yet, both very demanding – he is an obstetrician and she is a host of evening show. On top of this, they both have monumental personal difficulties that affect their day to day living. Whilst Kat is dealing with her mum who suffers from bipolar disorder, Matt is struggling to deal with a tragedy that has adversely affected him.
They both need to accept who they are and embrace everything that makes them who they are, so that they can act upon their instant attraction towards each other. Can they move past the things that are holding them back, so that they can get their HEA? Read on to find out.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this book, in exchange for an honest review.
READ BETWEEN THE LINES:
Thank You to NetGalley, Victory Editing and Belinda Williams for the opportunity to read this book in advance for my honest opinion. All opinions are mine!
Kat is at the peak of her career. She co-hosts a morning current affairs program and is loved around the country for her sharp interviewing skills and her beautiful looks. She’s also known for her very public breakup, very messy breakup with a famous country singer. But Kate has secrets. She’s taken care of her sick mother her whole life, and uses that experience to write a book. She doesn’t dare let anyone read it, though. After learning there was about to be a huge change in her perfectly crafter career, Kat polishes off a bottle of wine and mopes on the deck. Que clumsy Kat and some broken glass. Suddenly her mysterious next door neighbor is hurdling walls and swooping in like some kind of knight in shining armor. But Kat doesn’t need a knight, at least that’s what she tries to tell herself. Matt loves his career as an obstetrician, though he didn’t come by the job traditionally. Matt was once a paramedic, but after responding to a horrible crash, he suddenly doesn’t know what to do with himself. Two people who learned to bottle up their secrets and put up walls to protect themselves realize they would much prefer to be on the same side of the wall as each other.
The first book in a new series by Belinda Williams, Between The Lines is filled with witty banter, steamy chemistry and a whole lot of healing.
I have read and loved The Hollywood Hearts series by Belinda Williams, so when I learned that she was coming out with a new series I was really excited!
Read Between the Lines follows the story of Kat Chalmers, a famous current affairs program host and Matt Goodridge, an obstetrician. They meet each other on the balconies of their beachside apartments and strike up a slow friendship that evolves into something deeper! But, both Kat and Matt have been through a lot in their pasts and are reluctant to share their deepest secrets. As they find themselves spending more time with each other, will they be able to hold onto the relationship that slowly develops between them or will their pasts catch up?
The book gets off to a good start with Kat and Matt meeting each other and slowly becoming friends. I loved the interactions between them and the smooth development of their relationship. Though Matt appears a little mysterious in the beginning, Kat is the one who is more closed off. Matt is quite patient and he knew how to give Kat space without overwhelming her. As the relationship between them got deeper, I was still disappointed that Kat's trust issues were holding her back so much. This book has a huge focus on mental health and I loved how the author handled all these issues.
But what caused me to get irritated at one point was Kat's reactions to Matt's actions. She was definitely a great help to Matt when he dealt with his demons, but he deserves an award for his patience too! I understand why she felt betrayed by Matt's actions but her reaction to that was a little extreme.
On the other hand, I loved the cast of supporting characters! They made for great additions to the story and I'm really excited to read Jess and Ant's story next!
I'd definitely urge you to give this one a chance if you're looking for a cute contemporary romance read with realistic characters!
Belinda Williams has authored another engaging and impassioned novel with Read Between The Lines, the first book from her brand new series, Freshwater. It is a compelling read, replete with an emotional plot, well-defined characters, and an exciting romance. This story takes place in Sydney, Australia, and the two main characters are exemplary examples of honor.
Kate Chalmers is the co-host of a very popular public affairs TV show. She is smart, beautiful, and prefers to keep her private time away from the public eye. She loves her life, although it can be lonely at times. She craves someone to love and trust, however, being burned in the past has left her disillusioned. In addition, she oversees the care of her mother, who suffers from a mental disorder. Needless to say, her plate is quite full.
Matt Goodridge is building his obstetrics practice. He used to be an EMT, until a traumatic event caused him to shift into a different career in medicine. He moved into Kate's building a few months ago, and after a chance meeting on their respective balconies, they became friends. Overtime, their friendship evolved into lust and love.
I liked this book and the way Ms. Williams tackled mental health. Kate and Matt have a lot of personality, and their genuineness toward each other and those around them was poignant. They are a very sexy couple. Overall, a solid romantic read.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this latest book by Belinda Williams, and I'm looking forward to reading more. This book was really well-written, even though it deals with difficult topics of bi-polar depression and PTSD. The topics were written with sensitivity and portrayed realistically.
Kat has her dream media job, and Matt is a doctor. They are really drawn to each other, but the issues that they struggle with keep them from really getting together and letting each other in.
Well-written dialog, well-written emotional expression, and a solid plot. Thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely read more by Belinda Williams in the future.
I really enjoyed this story about two people who, on the face of it, are successful people, but who have their inner turmoils and struggles with mental health. Matt and Kat live next door to each other in a high-end, beachside apartment building in Sydney. He is an obstetrician and she is a host on a popular evening interview show. But he struggles to cope with a tragic moment in his past and she struggles to come to terms with having to take care of her mother who suffers from bipolar disorder. They’re attracted to each other immediately, but they can’t find their HEA until both of them learn to accept who they are and their own personal weaknesses.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
The story of Kat and Matt.
It is a great read, and entertaining although it does also deal with some difficult issues.
Really looking forward to the rest of this series.
Mental Health is such a difficult topic. The stigma that surrounds it is a huge barrier to getting help and to others funding understanding and compassion. In this story Kat's mother suffers from bi-polar disorder, which as strongly affected every aspect of Kat's life. Matt suffers from PTSD in relation to his work as a paramedic (before he became a doctor).
Kat and Matt are very much drawn together, but their experiences tend to push them apart instead of bring them together. Although Kat's job is to interview people for a living, she is very hesitant to let anyone in. She doesn't allow the focus to be on her for very long and seems to reject anyone - friend or lover from getting too close. Matt has deep emotional scars, but is more open than Kat to new relationships - and getting to know each other without shields or barriers.
I liked so much about this book, especially the reasonable portrayal of mental health in all its facets. It was great that the author showed the benefits of therapy and non-judgmental support. I was also glad that <spoiler> Matt and Kat didn't get back together until Kat started in therapy</spoiler>.
Overall this is a great read! I loved that it was set in Sydney as well!
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
This was just ok for me. This story was about kat, a tv host, and Matt, a doctor. They are neighbors who meet and start a romance. I enjoyed the mental health aspect but I did not like that kat blew Matt off twice, I felt it was a little far fetched. I liked Diana and Matt’s friend. I would have liked to have seen more about Matt’s work. Thank you to netgalley for the arc. I give it 3 stars.
This is Kat and Matt book, Kat is a co-host of a leading current affairs program , she earned nationwide acclaim for her interview skills! She's going to use those skills to find out more about her sexy neighbor!! Matt is an obstetrician and does not talk about his past! He's definitely intrigued by his new famous neighbor! Although she asks to many questions! This book was definitely worth reading! I did enjoy reading it but it was just ok for me! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!