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In the Confidence of Crashing Waves
“This story completely wrecked me in the most beautiful way. I’m still thinking about it, still feeling it–the kind of ending that lingers long after you close the book. This one will stay with me for a long time.”-- Author K.T. Carpenter, The Kingdom of Aetherlyn Series
One moment–that’s all it takes...
Navigating life as you are entering into adulthood is difficult enough. Throw a loss into the equation and it will spiral your journey onto a path you never imagined was coming. For Jade Oneil, she just wanted to escape the aftermath of tragedy. What better way than to not deal with it, and instead run. Except something pulls her back to the place it all occurred. Like fate has other plans for her.
What she doesn’t anticipate is meeting him. Jade knows right from the second he steps into her atmosphere that he is going to turn her world upside down. Nothing could have prepared her for what transpires next. Especially with the blow she has already taken…
When you don’t want to be stuck in the town you grew up in, you make plans to get out. Plans that you refuse to detour from. Easton Bautista doesn’t want his future determined for him, but there’s a family business his father wants him to take over one day. He’s enlisting, point blank. Then a set of green eyes knocks him off of his feet. A complication he tries to avoid at all costs… until he can’t stop thinking about the what ifs.
Now Easton and Jade both have to make a choice–be friends and fight the feelings that are growing between them, or jump in with both feet and hope they don’t sink along the way. The mind can be a tricky thing, though–causing rash decisions to be made.
The Three Loves Theory:
Book #1 In the Confidence of Crashing Waves
Book 1.5 What the Tide Brings In
Book 2 “Brody and Alex’s story”
Book 3 “Jace and Kyah’s story”
One moment–that’s all it takes...
Navigating life as you are entering into adulthood is difficult enough. Throw a loss into the equation and it will spiral your journey onto a path you never imagined was coming. For Jade Oneil, she just wanted to escape the aftermath of tragedy. What better way than to not deal with it, and instead run. Except something pulls her back to the place it all occurred. Like fate has other plans for her.
What she doesn’t anticipate is meeting him. Jade knows right from the second he steps into her atmosphere that he is going to turn her world upside down. Nothing could have prepared her for what transpires next. Especially with the blow she has already taken…
When you don’t want to be stuck in the town you grew up in, you make plans to get out. Plans that you refuse to detour from. Easton Bautista doesn’t want his future determined for him, but there’s a family business his father wants him to take over one day. He’s enlisting, point blank. Then a set of green eyes knocks him off of his feet. A complication he tries to avoid at all costs… until he can’t stop thinking about the what ifs.
Now Easton and Jade both have to make a choice–be friends and fight the feelings that are growing between them, or jump in with both feet and hope they don’t sink along the way. The mind can be a tricky thing, though–causing rash decisions to be made.
The Three Loves Theory:
Book #1 In the Confidence of Crashing Waves
Book 1.5 What the Tide Brings In
Book 2 “Brody and Alex’s story”
Book 3 “Jace and Kyah’s story”
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2026
About the author
Joie James
1 book7 followersJoie James is an up and coming indie author, with this being her debut novel. She started writing poetry when she was in her teens… always having the idea for this book stuck in her head. It is the first in a series of three, with a novella as well. Joie currently lives in Texas, but finds herself not wanting to be stuck in one place for too long… having a gypsy soul. She has been married to “the one” for nearly twenty years, and is blessed to be a mother to her four children, along with two bonus kids. When she’s not nursing, you can find her at home either reading or writing. Maybe even dancing in the sands, because the water calls to her. One of her biggest passions is music (preferably on vinyl) and cult classic movies. And boy does she have jokes. Sending funny videos to her friends is Joie’s love language.
For more information on Joie, you can follow her on IG authorjoiejames. Or on TT AuthorJoieJames. Stay posted… website coming soon!
For more information on Joie, you can follow her on IG authorjoiejames. Or on TT AuthorJoieJames. Stay posted… website coming soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 18, 2026
This book will resonate with anyone who reads it. I resonated with every page. First love is always the sweetest and can be the hardest love. I am blessed with the fact that I am married to my first love but we have gone through mostly everything in this book. I laughed, CRIED, kicked my feet and felt EVERY word said. The author gave us so much trauma with healing, loss with hope and so many surprises the ending will blow your mind. I fell in love with the two main characters and the love they shared with each other. Highly recommend!!!
February 19, 2026
I don’t even know where to start with this review! This book touched me in a way a book never has! This is a beautiful love story with true heart!! A military romance with all the feels! There was tragedy, romance, a little spice and you’ll even laugh a few times! This book truly had a little of everything and was told so well that I felt I knew the characters personally! I will be recommending this book for years to come!
February 22, 2026
This is a very grounded, slice-of-life story about first love and navigating everyday life after hard things. The dialogue felt realistic, and you can tell the author was aiming to capture real experiences and emotions in a relatable way.
For me, I struggled to feel fully invested in the characters or their journey. I tend to gravitate toward stories with more emotional depth or stronger plot momentum, and this one leaned much more into the quiet, everyday moments. It felt more subdued than what I usually connect with.
That said, completing and publishing a debut novel is a huge accomplishment, and I truly respect the work and vulnerability that goes into putting a story out into the world. While this one wasn’t the right fit for me personally, I’m glad I gave it a try and I’m always excited to see indie authors chasing their dreams.
For me, I struggled to feel fully invested in the characters or their journey. I tend to gravitate toward stories with more emotional depth or stronger plot momentum, and this one leaned much more into the quiet, everyday moments. It felt more subdued than what I usually connect with.
That said, completing and publishing a debut novel is a huge accomplishment, and I truly respect the work and vulnerability that goes into putting a story out into the world. While this one wasn’t the right fit for me personally, I’m glad I gave it a try and I’m always excited to see indie authors chasing their dreams.
February 22, 2026
I received an ARC from the author, here are my thoughts:
I feel this book did a great job expressing emotions. It was easy to feel how Jade and Easton were feeling. I feel the author did a phenomenal job at really encompassing young first love. Your first love when you just think with emotions a lot. And I really enjoyed that.
I feel like they were both relatable main characters, and loved to see how their relationship developed through the book!
Overall, the author did an amazing job for a debut novel. I really can’t wait to see more work by her! 💕
I feel this book did a great job expressing emotions. It was easy to feel how Jade and Easton were feeling. I feel the author did a phenomenal job at really encompassing young first love. Your first love when you just think with emotions a lot. And I really enjoyed that.
I feel like they were both relatable main characters, and loved to see how their relationship developed through the book!
Overall, the author did an amazing job for a debut novel. I really can’t wait to see more work by her! 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
Although I am not well versed in military romances I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.
I loved how relatable Jade and Easton were. I feel like the emotions and life events were written by the author to be deeply felt by the reader and in a way that any reader could easily relate it back to their own lives and the struggles that they may have endured.
We all know that your first love hits with such an impact with feelings that are so deep and raw that it is so easy to get swept up in that bubble making it hard to see anything past it. Jade and Easton's love story is just like that. It is fast, deep, all consuming, and maybe a little bit messy, but thats how real life is, and again, what makes this book so relatable.
Following this love story was quite the ride. There were times I laughed, times where I felt the pain and hurt along with the main charcters, times where I was swooning, and there were other times where I just wanted to grab Easton and shake him. Plus the spice was spicin. That car scene will live rent free in my mind for quite some time. IYKYK 😝 That ending though.. i kind of had a feeling.. but it definitely did not go exactly how I thought it was going to.
Overall, this was a nice switch in pace from what I normally gravitate towards as a reader. Its a first love kind of story that will pull at your heart strings. It will also show you that love can be messy but it can also endure. It will also show you that sometimes your real true love isn't at all what you expected it to be and that it can be something more.
I highly recommend, not only because i enjoyed the story, but also because the author is pretty freaking amazing. I feel like knowing her on a more personal level helped me to enjoy the story more as there were several parts throughout that I could just hear her saying or doing some of the things she was writing about.
I loved how relatable Jade and Easton were. I feel like the emotions and life events were written by the author to be deeply felt by the reader and in a way that any reader could easily relate it back to their own lives and the struggles that they may have endured.
We all know that your first love hits with such an impact with feelings that are so deep and raw that it is so easy to get swept up in that bubble making it hard to see anything past it. Jade and Easton's love story is just like that. It is fast, deep, all consuming, and maybe a little bit messy, but thats how real life is, and again, what makes this book so relatable.
Following this love story was quite the ride. There were times I laughed, times where I felt the pain and hurt along with the main charcters, times where I was swooning, and there were other times where I just wanted to grab Easton and shake him. Plus the spice was spicin. That car scene will live rent free in my mind for quite some time. IYKYK 😝 That ending though.. i kind of had a feeling.. but it definitely did not go exactly how I thought it was going to.
Overall, this was a nice switch in pace from what I normally gravitate towards as a reader. Its a first love kind of story that will pull at your heart strings. It will also show you that love can be messy but it can also endure. It will also show you that sometimes your real true love isn't at all what you expected it to be and that it can be something more.
I highly recommend, not only because i enjoyed the story, but also because the author is pretty freaking amazing. I feel like knowing her on a more personal level helped me to enjoy the story more as there were several parts throughout that I could just hear her saying or doing some of the things she was writing about.
February 26, 2026
5 Stars
Received as an ARC from the author and I’d like to start by stating how honored I was to have been given this chance.
Following our FMC Jade and her navigation through life and the loss of her father, she enters her senior year of high school with low expectations, until she meets our MMC Easton, best friend to Jades best friend boyfriend. He had his future, his goals mapped out, then she walked through the halls at school and the rest is history.
She came in like a hurricane for Easton and it was an instant attraction. These character fell hard and fast!
This story was so beautifully done. It explores, grief, healing, the beauty within the sadness, military romance. There’s one thing for sure, the first love is the hardest as is the first cut is the deepest… leaves scars within our hearts and maybe, just maybe, leaves a challenge open to try to erase those scars.
Favorite quote “this is a to be continued situation, my love. This is far from done.”
And so it begins… again
Received as an ARC from the author and I’d like to start by stating how honored I was to have been given this chance.
Following our FMC Jade and her navigation through life and the loss of her father, she enters her senior year of high school with low expectations, until she meets our MMC Easton, best friend to Jades best friend boyfriend. He had his future, his goals mapped out, then she walked through the halls at school and the rest is history.
She came in like a hurricane for Easton and it was an instant attraction. These character fell hard and fast!
This story was so beautifully done. It explores, grief, healing, the beauty within the sadness, military romance. There’s one thing for sure, the first love is the hardest as is the first cut is the deepest… leaves scars within our hearts and maybe, just maybe, leaves a challenge open to try to erase those scars.
Favorite quote “this is a to be continued situation, my love. This is far from done.”
And so it begins… again
Review of advance copy received from Author
Right from the beginning I was pulled in with such intense emotions. I had no idea what the reason was and just felt sad. I did connect to one particular thing because it was something I lacked in my own life and wish I had it.
No matter who you are, or what you’ve been through, you will feel pain, love, and grief while reading this story.The ending was such a shock, but amazing way to end this book. I had the pleasure of advance reading this & cannot wait for the next book to see where that journey takes us.
No matter who you are, or what you’ve been through, you will feel pain, love, and grief while reading this story.The ending was such a shock, but amazing way to end this book. I had the pleasure of advance reading this & cannot wait for the next book to see where that journey takes us.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC REVIEW* This was such a beautiful, heartfelt read 🥰 It explores grief after loss, healing, and the journey of finding oneself again. You get to witness two individuals finding solace in each other and unexpectedly experiencing first love. The author did an amazing job expressing emotion through words. You can truly feel everything. From the trials they face while coping with the changes life brings after high school, to fighting to stay together despite the odds, every moment feels real and raw. It was such a beautiful experience. And the ending? It absolutely melted my heart and left me saying “awwww.” It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but one that’s completely worth the ride and leaves a lasting impression.
February 23, 2026
I am still in literal awe from finishing this book. I love the story so much and completely relate to the story. It hit me right in my soul. When you meet that person you think is your soulmate the feeling is indescribable. You are 18 and you have your whole life ahead of you. Both of you have an idea of what you want your life to be.. but life doesn’t always go as planned.. Beautiful story!
February 24, 2026
Five ⭐️ without hesitation. 🌊💙
In the Confidence of Crashing Waves by Joie James completely surprised me in the best way.
I do not typically gravitate toward military romance, but this was so much more than that. It’s a beautifully written story about young love and that fragile, confusing, emotional transition into adulthood. It felt raw in a way that sneaks up on you.
There were moments in this book where I genuinely felt like I was reliving pieces of my own first love — that all-consuming, can’t-breathe, can’t-think kind of feeling… and the miscommunications that somehow feel earth-shattering at that age. It made me happy, sad, frustrated, nostalgic — basically an emotional roller coaster.
Jade.. I saw so much of myself in her it was almost uncomfortable (except she has way more self-control than I ever did). And Easton… whew. Watching him make those “I’m trying to be tough” choices felt like watching my own first love repeat history. It was messy and human and so real.
And that ending. The one I felt in my bones was coming… but still didn’t fully expect? It was the perfect way to close this story. Bittersweet, beautiful, and completely earned.
If you love stories that make you feel everything and remind you what it was like to fall hard for the very first time, this one is absolutely worth it.
In the Confidence of Crashing Waves by Joie James completely surprised me in the best way.
I do not typically gravitate toward military romance, but this was so much more than that. It’s a beautifully written story about young love and that fragile, confusing, emotional transition into adulthood. It felt raw in a way that sneaks up on you.
There were moments in this book where I genuinely felt like I was reliving pieces of my own first love — that all-consuming, can’t-breathe, can’t-think kind of feeling… and the miscommunications that somehow feel earth-shattering at that age. It made me happy, sad, frustrated, nostalgic — basically an emotional roller coaster.
Jade.. I saw so much of myself in her it was almost uncomfortable (except she has way more self-control than I ever did). And Easton… whew. Watching him make those “I’m trying to be tough” choices felt like watching my own first love repeat history. It was messy and human and so real.
And that ending. The one I felt in my bones was coming… but still didn’t fully expect? It was the perfect way to close this story. Bittersweet, beautiful, and completely earned.
If you love stories that make you feel everything and remind you what it was like to fall hard for the very first time, this one is absolutely worth it.
February 21, 2026
“I have learned that the ocean cycles are similar to how life works. Everything will eventually come full circle. A wave is born from energy transferred through the wind, creating ripples that travel until the wave reaches its end. When it finally meets the shore and breaks, the water recedes—and it begins all over again. Waves are a symbol of the ebb and flow of life, tied to new beginnings and emotional stability. We change as we grow, finding our strength and resilience—and so do they. I don’t understand everything about the ocean, with its depth and unreachable places, but I know it adapts. And so do we.”
This is my favorite quote from this book.
From the very first page, I was completely captivated…actually, from the dedication, which left my eyes misty before the story had even begun. While many books pass through our hands, this one is truly a diamond in the rough.
At times, it was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. Life is hard enough without the added weight of the trials this young woman endures. Her journey is portrayed with such raw honesty and vulnerability that it felt deeply real and profoundly relatable. More than once, I found myself wanting to reach into the pages, hug her, and take away her pain.
I love a book that makes me feel…and this one absolutely did. I was wholeheartedly rooting for the female main character, completely invested in her growth and resilience. The writing flowed so effortlessly that I often forgot I was even reading.
Don’t let the beautiful cover fool you…this is far more than a typical military romance. It’s introspective and deeply moving, a powerful testament to human resilience and the strength of the heart. It explores what we, as souls, can endure and overcome through life’s many trials and tribulations.
This book is stunning. I’m truly honored to have read it, and I have no doubt this author is going places. An easy five stars.
February 26, 2026
What even is love, anyway?
In Confidence of Crashing Waves by Joie James dives straight into that question through the intertwined journeys of Jade and Easton. I received this book as an ARC, and for a debut novel, it’s an absolute accomplishment—you can feel the author’s heart stitched into every chapter. This indie author debut novel is a 5‑star read for me.
Jade is a young woman carrying more trauma than anyone her age should. She’s unsure if she can still love the way she once did, unsure if she can open herself up without breaking. Then she meets Easton—who brushes her off at first, not out of cruelty, but because he knows exactly where his life is headed and fears she could derail everything. But chemistry doesn’t care about plans. These two are drawn to each other again and again, even as life’s grief, pressure, and expectations threaten to pull them apart.
They make mistakes. They hurt each other. They choose wrong before they choose right. And through it all, the book keeps asking: Can love survive the weight of real life? Does love actually conquer all?
If you love love, small‑town vibes, and military romance, this book is absolutely for you.
And honestly? I can’t wait for book two—to continue Jade’s and Easton’s journey, to see where their hearts lead next, and to watch Joie James’s writing grow even stronger with every story she releases.
In Confidence of Crashing Waves by Joie James dives straight into that question through the intertwined journeys of Jade and Easton. I received this book as an ARC, and for a debut novel, it’s an absolute accomplishment—you can feel the author’s heart stitched into every chapter. This indie author debut novel is a 5‑star read for me.
Jade is a young woman carrying more trauma than anyone her age should. She’s unsure if she can still love the way she once did, unsure if she can open herself up without breaking. Then she meets Easton—who brushes her off at first, not out of cruelty, but because he knows exactly where his life is headed and fears she could derail everything. But chemistry doesn’t care about plans. These two are drawn to each other again and again, even as life’s grief, pressure, and expectations threaten to pull them apart.
They make mistakes. They hurt each other. They choose wrong before they choose right. And through it all, the book keeps asking: Can love survive the weight of real life? Does love actually conquer all?
If you love love, small‑town vibes, and military romance, this book is absolutely for you.
And honestly? I can’t wait for book two—to continue Jade’s and Easton’s journey, to see where their hearts lead next, and to watch Joie James’s writing grow even stronger with every story she releases.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! What an incredible story! It made me smile and it made me shed a few tears. It takes so much courage to tell someone goodbye and if they come back to you....
I think this book was so well done! Bravo!!
I think this book was so well done! Bravo!!
February 22, 2026
This book!!!!!! Joie outdid herself with this one 👏🏻👏🏻 Easy 5⭐️ read for me!!! It was a page turner and left me wanting more!!!! It will have you feeling all the emotions of being sad, happy, and even mad!!! This story will resonate with everyone’s life one way or another!!!! The little Easter eggs she leaves throughout the book makes you keep questioning why???? I need book 2 asap!!!! Loved everything about this book!!!!! It’s a must read for everyone!! Thank me later 🖤🖤 Joie thank you for sharing this story with the world!!! I don’t cry in a lot of books but this one got me 😢🫶🏻 you have written this so beautifully!!!! You did the damn thing girl 👏🏻👏🏻
February 21, 2026
Review from Advance Reader Copy received from Author.
This book draws you in right from the start. It’s something that once you start reading you just have to finish to know what happens in the end. You can feel the emotion that was put into writing this book. This book is relatable, sad, funny and made me mad at times. But it’s 100% worth the roller coaster. I cried, laughed, cursed out the characters, stopped reading in anger then hurriedly continued and felt butterflies. I will 100% recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
Joie my friend you did amazing and if I haven’t said it enough I’m so excited and happy for you and so ready for the journey onto the next book.
This book draws you in right from the start. It’s something that once you start reading you just have to finish to know what happens in the end. You can feel the emotion that was put into writing this book. This book is relatable, sad, funny and made me mad at times. But it’s 100% worth the roller coaster. I cried, laughed, cursed out the characters, stopped reading in anger then hurriedly continued and felt butterflies. I will 100% recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
Joie my friend you did amazing and if I haven’t said it enough I’m so excited and happy for you and so ready for the journey onto the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jade and Easton’s love felt so real, tender, and deeply emotional. The loss of Jade’s father was something I truly related to, and it made me understand her on a deeper level. That loss defined her in quiet, heartbreaking ways. You could feel how it shaped her fears, her strength, and the way she loves. Watching her try to open her heart again after that kind of grief made every moment between her and Easton feel even more meaningful.
And Easton… I absolutely adored him. His love for Jade was steady and intentional, the kind that doesn’t waver even when everything else does. His dream of joining the military wasn’t just ambition; it was part of who he was. Watching him wrestle with loving her while knowing he was meant to leave added such an ache to their story. The way they tried to hold on to each other despite the distance and uncertainty felt painfully authentic.
Their love wasn’t perfect. It was tested. It was stretched thin. But it was always there.
And that ending? It crushed me. Completely shattered me. I’m still thinking about it, still feeling it, the kind of ending that lingers long after you close the book.
This one will stay with me for a long time. 💔
And Easton… I absolutely adored him. His love for Jade was steady and intentional, the kind that doesn’t waver even when everything else does. His dream of joining the military wasn’t just ambition; it was part of who he was. Watching him wrestle with loving her while knowing he was meant to leave added such an ache to their story. The way they tried to hold on to each other despite the distance and uncertainty felt painfully authentic.
Their love wasn’t perfect. It was tested. It was stretched thin. But it was always there.
And that ending? It crushed me. Completely shattered me. I’m still thinking about it, still feeling it, the kind of ending that lingers long after you close the book.
This one will stay with me for a long time. 💔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2026
Wow!! This book had me feeling all the feels! I’m not usually a contemporary romance reader and instalove isn’t my thing either. But this book put 2 things I’m usually not into, and turned into something so beautiful and so frustrating. (In a good way of course) there were times I wanted to yell at this characters and other times I was swooning! All in all this was a good debut novel and I can’t wait to see where Jade and Easton will go next!
March 22, 2026
Love the vibes and the relatability. I think every one of us can see a bit of ourselves in Jade and Easton.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t even know where to start with this one because it didn’t just make me emotional it reached into a place I guard carefully. From the dedication alone, I could tell this story was going to mean something. But I wasn’t prepared for how personal it would feel. Jade’s grief over her father wasn’t just something I read about.. it was something I recognized. I’ve lived it. Losing your dad shifts something inside you. It’s not loud all the time. It’s quiet. It shows up in the way you protect your heart, the way you brace for more loss, the way you love a little more cautiously because you know how badly it can hurt. Watching Jade navigate life without her father felt less like fiction and more like looking in a mirror. There were scenes that had tears streaming down my face because I understood her in a way I wish I didn’t have to. Grief doesn’t leave. It just changes shape. And this book captured that so beautifully. Then there’s Easton. His love for Jade wasn’t dramatic or over-the-top. It was steady. Intentional. The kind of love that tries, even when it’s hard. His calling to the military created this constant tension between holding on and letting go, and that push and pull felt painfully real. And when I found out his dad was a truck driver? That hit home in a completely different way. My husband is a truck driver, and being a trucker’s wife is not easy. The long stretches apart. The worry. The loneliness. The sacrifices that people on the outside don’t always see. I found myself feeling protective over his dad because I know that life. I know the weight of it. That detail added another layer of authenticity that made the story feel even more grounded. This book isn’t just about romance. It’s about loving someone while carrying grief. It’s about choosing connection even when you’re afraid of losing it. It’s about resilience in the middle of uncertainty. There were moments I had to put the book down because the emotions were too close to my own reality. And that ending absolutely broke me. Not in a dramatic, flashy way but in that quiet, aching way that lingers. This wasn’t just a story I enjoyed. It was one I felt. And for me, that makes all the difference.
April 3, 2026
A powerful, heartfelt story of young love. The FMC, Jade, experiences one of the worst losses I could imagine one could experience, the death of her father, while she was in high school. She leaves town to do some healing and not long after she returns, she meets Easton. Little did she know, her heart would soon be given away.
Easton, the MMC, has had his mind made up to not fall in his Father’s footsteps and take over his Father’s business. He has a plan and it’s to become a Marine. Nothing is going to stop the plan he has laid out for himself.
There was no going back for Jade and Easton … they fell in love and made a vow to each other to make it work. The two of them suffered through the training that Easton had to go through. Persevered through the long lengths of time where all they could do is write or get one, short phone call. But the time came, where Easton didn’t want Jade giving up on what she had planned for her life by following him to wherever he got stationed, if it wasn’t near the water or the school she would be attending to become a Marine Biologist. So, the time came where he had to make a decision and it would be to give her the freedom of not being tied to go where he went … even if it meant being harsh and ending it all.
Heartbroken, Jade chooses to fly to New York to see her best friend. To run from the heartache she is enduring. And upon arrival, she knows she will ultimately go back home because the big city is definitely not where she wants to be.
The love between Jade and Easton won’t just fade away. No amount of pretending can change what their heart wants. While Jade is determined to protect her heart from anymore heartbreak, Easton is battling to win her back.
Will Jade give in and hear him out? Or will she continue to avoid him at all costs?
Now that I have given away wayyyy too many spoilers … I will just say, the ending is not what I would have expected but I loved every second of it.
An awe inspiring story of love, heartache, determination and total brokenness that will have you feeling all the feels. Don’t pass this story up!
Easton, the MMC, has had his mind made up to not fall in his Father’s footsteps and take over his Father’s business. He has a plan and it’s to become a Marine. Nothing is going to stop the plan he has laid out for himself.
There was no going back for Jade and Easton … they fell in love and made a vow to each other to make it work. The two of them suffered through the training that Easton had to go through. Persevered through the long lengths of time where all they could do is write or get one, short phone call. But the time came, where Easton didn’t want Jade giving up on what she had planned for her life by following him to wherever he got stationed, if it wasn’t near the water or the school she would be attending to become a Marine Biologist. So, the time came where he had to make a decision and it would be to give her the freedom of not being tied to go where he went … even if it meant being harsh and ending it all.
Heartbroken, Jade chooses to fly to New York to see her best friend. To run from the heartache she is enduring. And upon arrival, she knows she will ultimately go back home because the big city is definitely not where she wants to be.
The love between Jade and Easton won’t just fade away. No amount of pretending can change what their heart wants. While Jade is determined to protect her heart from anymore heartbreak, Easton is battling to win her back.
Will Jade give in and hear him out? Or will she continue to avoid him at all costs?
Now that I have given away wayyyy too many spoilers … I will just say, the ending is not what I would have expected but I loved every second of it.
An awe inspiring story of love, heartache, determination and total brokenness that will have you feeling all the feels. Don’t pass this story up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2026
A heartfelt, emotional romance that was hard to put down.
From the very beginning, this story pulled me in. It’s one of those books where you tell yourself “just one more chapter,” and before you know it, you’ve stayed up way too late because you’re so invested in the characters.
The author did a wonderful job building depth and emotion throughout the story. We follow Easton and Jade from their first love through the challenges of life pulling them in different directions Easton on his path to becoming a Marine while Jade focuses on her education. Their relationship felt incredibly real, and I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from showing that love isn’t always easy.
Jade carries a lot of trauma and has built strong walls around her heart. She’s definitely someone who runs when times get tuff. Easton, on the other hand, isn’t afraid of the challenge. Watching them slowly work through their emotions, their fears, and their struggles made the story even more powerful. I’ll admit there were moments when I wanted to shake Easton 🤣, but honestly that just shows how invested I became in their journey.
What made this book especially meaningful to me was how relatable it felt. The long distance relationship and the letters instead of constant communication really hit home. I’m married to my first love and lived the Marine wife life myself, so the moments around boot camp and the emotional ups and downs brought back so many memories.
The teaser for book two left me immediately wanting more, and I’m already looking forward to the next installment.
If you enjoy emotional love stories with real life struggles, character growth, and a relationship that feels genuine, this is definitely a book worth picking up.
From the very beginning, this story pulled me in. It’s one of those books where you tell yourself “just one more chapter,” and before you know it, you’ve stayed up way too late because you’re so invested in the characters.
The author did a wonderful job building depth and emotion throughout the story. We follow Easton and Jade from their first love through the challenges of life pulling them in different directions Easton on his path to becoming a Marine while Jade focuses on her education. Their relationship felt incredibly real, and I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from showing that love isn’t always easy.
Jade carries a lot of trauma and has built strong walls around her heart. She’s definitely someone who runs when times get tuff. Easton, on the other hand, isn’t afraid of the challenge. Watching them slowly work through their emotions, their fears, and their struggles made the story even more powerful. I’ll admit there were moments when I wanted to shake Easton 🤣, but honestly that just shows how invested I became in their journey.
What made this book especially meaningful to me was how relatable it felt. The long distance relationship and the letters instead of constant communication really hit home. I’m married to my first love and lived the Marine wife life myself, so the moments around boot camp and the emotional ups and downs brought back so many memories.
The teaser for book two left me immediately wanting more, and I’m already looking forward to the next installment.
If you enjoy emotional love stories with real life struggles, character growth, and a relationship that feels genuine, this is definitely a book worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me in all my feels!
From my understanding, this is only the first installment with these characters, and we will continue on as they get older. This is their high school experience and oh, did it take me back! Many times, throughout reading, it felt as if the author had taken a piece of my past and thrown it on paper.
This book is about first love and all that it entails. The butterflies, the break ups, the make ups and everything in between. It felt real! It felt honest and the characters can be seen as yourself and your best friends.
I adored both the FMC of Jade and the MMC of Easton. They both have plans for after college and did not expect to fall this fast and hard. They go through many ups and downs and as the reader, we can feel all the feelings that they have while navigating through their relationship.
Jade is a strong FMC. She learns how to stand up for herself, and she learns how to face her problems head on instead of running away from them. Easton is charming and witty. He is an over thinker and learns that he just needs to go with the flow.
Told in dual POV, the ending leaves us with a flash into these characters future with the perfect set up for the next book in the series which I am completely invested in and looking forward to!
From my understanding, this is only the first installment with these characters, and we will continue on as they get older. This is their high school experience and oh, did it take me back! Many times, throughout reading, it felt as if the author had taken a piece of my past and thrown it on paper.
This book is about first love and all that it entails. The butterflies, the break ups, the make ups and everything in between. It felt real! It felt honest and the characters can be seen as yourself and your best friends.
I adored both the FMC of Jade and the MMC of Easton. They both have plans for after college and did not expect to fall this fast and hard. They go through many ups and downs and as the reader, we can feel all the feelings that they have while navigating through their relationship.
Jade is a strong FMC. She learns how to stand up for herself, and she learns how to face her problems head on instead of running away from them. Easton is charming and witty. He is an over thinker and learns that he just needs to go with the flow.
Told in dual POV, the ending leaves us with a flash into these characters future with the perfect set up for the next book in the series which I am completely invested in and looking forward to!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a raw & beautiful story. Keeping in mind that this is a debut novel, this one was done so well. While I do feel some parts felt rushed and I would have loved to see a little more, this one was still so good. A story of first love, heartbreak, healing, and dealing with past struggles. This was a story about first love & how beautiful, yet truly messy navigating it can be. Life comes with struggles and growing into your own, but when you add the difficult aspect of a military relationship, this one captures those struggles. I loved Jade & Easton and feel like we grew up with them. While this one does leave you wanting more, it absolutely made me excited for what is left to come of their story. The ending was such a beautiful message and one that truly resonated with me. Thank you Joie James for allowing me to be apart of getting to know these characters! Truly such a heartfelt story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Right from the dedication this book pulls you in. My heart took the roller coaster ride of emotions while reading this beautiful book. The author takes us on a journey or first love and all the heartbreak and trauma that goes with it. I was spellbound by the excellent writing and resonance with the characters. Remembering what it was like to first fall in love with my husband and being together when we first began. Ahh had me in my feels. I cried many times throughout this story but the love between a daughter and her father is what first had my heart fluttering with so many emotions. This book is so well done and an absolute must read! I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have been able to read this and fall in love with first love and this authors writing. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book from the author. If you love emotional 1st love romance that is all consuming and HURTS in the best way, then you need to read In The Confidence Of Crashing Waves by Joie James.
It feels like you’re standing in the ocean during a storm—beautiful, overwhelming, and impossible to ignore. This book is so appropriately titled. And as a beach girly, I felt it deep in my soul ❤️. It’s raw, emotional, and explores love, loss, and healing in such an intimate way. The characters are flawed but so real and relatable. The way their stories crash and become one is pure perfection! If you like stories that make you feel all of the emotions—this one’s for you. Please check your triggers and bring your tissues! I am so looking forward to the novella coming next!
It feels like you’re standing in the ocean during a storm—beautiful, overwhelming, and impossible to ignore. This book is so appropriately titled. And as a beach girly, I felt it deep in my soul ❤️. It’s raw, emotional, and explores love, loss, and healing in such an intimate way. The characters are flawed but so real and relatable. The way their stories crash and become one is pure perfection! If you like stories that make you feel all of the emotions—this one’s for you. Please check your triggers and bring your tissues! I am so looking forward to the novella coming next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4⭐
I think we all remember our first love. That all encompassing love that you think will last forever and ever. We also all remember our first heartbreak, our first betrayal and all the tears we cried.
This book really brings back those memories. It’s a beautiful story of young love and finding yourself. Its about navigating growing up and balancing life, responsibilities and relationships. Its about heartbreak and learning how to heal.
Jade & Easton were inseparable. Their love was so deep. When you love that hard the heartbreak can be unbearable and we, as readers, get to experience that.
Joie my friend, you DID THE DAMN THANG and I’m so proud of you!!!!!
I think we all remember our first love. That all encompassing love that you think will last forever and ever. We also all remember our first heartbreak, our first betrayal and all the tears we cried.
This book really brings back those memories. It’s a beautiful story of young love and finding yourself. Its about navigating growing up and balancing life, responsibilities and relationships. Its about heartbreak and learning how to heal.
Jade & Easton were inseparable. Their love was so deep. When you love that hard the heartbreak can be unbearable and we, as readers, get to experience that.
Joie my friend, you DID THE DAMN THANG and I’m so proud of you!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had an opportunity to receive an arc for this book. This book will have you going back in time when you met your first love. You will see the love Jade & Eaton have for each other from a young age and the trials they will face. I could feel myself relate to a lot of aspects in this book especially taking me back when my husband went through basic training. This is a story about first love, heartbreak, & healing. Can Jades dreams and Eaton plans line up for a lifetime worth of commitment? I can’t wait for you guys to absorb these characters and their lives, coming soon March 19th.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC from the author. Here are my thoughts:
I think the author did a great job portraying the reality of first love. Navigating all the new emotions in a relationship for the first time. There were some heavy topics in here that were so relatable, personally, for me.
I will say, I wish there had been maybe a little more buildup in Easton and Jade getting to know one another.
Absolutely loved the epilogue!
So proud of my friend for doing the dang thing and publishing her first book.
I think the author did a great job portraying the reality of first love. Navigating all the new emotions in a relationship for the first time. There were some heavy topics in here that were so relatable, personally, for me.
I will say, I wish there had been maybe a little more buildup in Easton and Jade getting to know one another.
Absolutely loved the epilogue!
So proud of my friend for doing the dang thing and publishing her first book.
March 2, 2026
ARC Review: I wanted to enjoy this book a lot more but Easton kept making me mad. I definitely think he needed to grow up more before they continued after his mishap with Sydney. Although I probably would have done the same thing as Jade I also think he deserved to know her secret before he found out at the cemetery. Overall I liked the story. I liked that he decided to change his mind about dating her even though he didn’t want to be involved with anyone when he left for the Marines. I just think he should have waited till he got his assignment before making decisions. Jade had been through a lot and I know you can’t just always do things based on other feelings but I feel he could have done it differently. I look forward to the second book coming out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t even know where to start with this one because it didn’t just make me emotional it reached into a place I guard carefully. From the dedication alone, I could tell this story was going to mean something. But I wasn’t prepared for how personal it would feel. Jade’s grief over her father wasn’t just something I read about.. it was something I recognized. I’ve lived it. Losing your dad shifts something inside you. It’s not loud all the time. It’s quiet. It shows up in the way you protect your heart, the way you brace for more loss, the way you love a little more cautiously because you know how badly it can hurt. Watching Jade navigate life without her father felt less like fiction and more like looking in a mirror. There were scenes that had tears streaming down my face because I understood her in a way I wish I didn’t have to. Grief doesn’t leave. It just changes shape. And this book captured that so beautifully. Then there’s Easton. His love for Jade wasn’t dramatic or over-the-top. It was steady. Intentional. The kind of love that tries, even when it’s hard. His calling to the military created this constant tension between holding on and letting go, and that push and pull felt painfully real. And when I found out his dad was a truck driver? That hit home in a completely different way. My husband is a truck driver, and being a trucker’s wife is not easy. The long stretches apart. The worry. The loneliness. The sacrifices that people on the outside don’t always see. I found myself feeling protective over his dad because I know that life. I know the weight of it. That detail added another layer of authenticity that made the story feel even more grounded. This book isn’t just about romance. It’s about loving someone while carrying grief. It’s about choosing connection even when you’re afraid of losing it. It’s about resilience in the middle of uncertainty. There were moments I had to put the book down because the emotions were too close to my own reality. And that ending absolutely broke me. Not in a dramatic, flashy way but in that quiet, aching way that lingers. This wasn’t just a story I enjoyed. It was one I felt. And for me, that makes all the difference.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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