REVIEW: "Without Borders" by Amanda Heger (New Adult, Romance)

Without Borders by Amanda Heger
	Publisher: Diversion Publishing Genre: New Adult, Romance Publication Date: April 19th 2016 Series: Wanderlove, #1 Standalone: Yes
Other Books by Amanda Heger
Wanderlove #2
Description from Publisher:
For Annie London, a month in a Central American rainforest means handing out mosquito nets, giving medical aid, and teaching children about the birds and the bees. With any luck, it will also land her application in the “accepted” pile at a top tier medical school. But as soon as she steps off the plane, Annie realizes her bug spray, feeble Spanish, and medical supplies won’t help her deal with her new feelings for Felipe—her best friend's older brother, who's much hotter than she remembers, and who also happens to be the doctor in charge of the trip. Gawking “volun-tourists” may keep his family’s medical clinic afloat, but Dr. Felipe Gutierrez doesn’t have to like them. Or the way they make snap judgments about his practice and the people he cares for. But when his old crush, Annie, shows up to volunteer, her killer curves and kind smile fan the embers of a flame Felipe didn’t realize he’d been carrying. A flame that makes him question all his preconceived notions. As ideas and cultures clash, Annie and Felipe must decide how far outside their comfort zones they are willing to go—both for their work and for one another.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
My Musings:
Very fresh story with a great dose of reality. The setting of the Nicaraguan jungles felt so very real, I wasn't at all surprised to learn Amanda Heger had been on a brigade to Nicaragua herself. The descriptions are vivid and so very well written that you really become immersed in the world and culture of the story. This will likely sound odd to say, but I kept finding myself reading with a Latin American/Spanish accent (this was likely helped by the fact that my brother-in-law is from Venezuela). For this reason, I would have preferred the character of Phillip to not be named Phillip since I kept reading it as "Philippe." That's my own fault, of course, haha. :) The sprinkled Spanish throughout the book was generous enough to help bring you into the world, without being too much. I don't know much Spanish, like Annie herself, but I still understood quite a bit of it and literally laughed out loud at this line: “¡Es rojo como una bruja! ¡Una bruja!” Which brings me to the next thing that I liked: the emotions brought up throughout. This story was funny, touching, suspenseful, sad, and sexy. I had gone in expecting more of a romance with a Latin American angle, but was pleasantly surprised to find a story that was focused on Annie and Felipe as people than just as a couple. Most of their relationship is built up in a very natural way, without as many grandiose declarations of "You're The One." As a result of this, it's fairly tame in the steaminess department, but the depth of the bonding otherwise is so enchanting you don't mind. And, rest assured, it's not without some sexiness. Sex itself just isn't the focus. The side characters all added some extra depth and stood on their own without feeling like plot contrivances. Marisol, Phillip and Juan are all great characters. I liked this story and the character development quite a bit. The scene where the woman gives birth - just wonderful. It said so much about the characters and their growth, and made me smile.
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

About the Author: Amanda Heger
Amanda Heger is a writer, attorney, and bookworm. She lives in the Midwest with three unruly rescue dogs and a husband who encourages her delusions of grandeur. She strongly believes Amy Poehler is her soul mate, and one of her life goals is to adopt a pig and name it Ron Swineson.