Kathleen Brooks (1)

I liked this book but not as much of the first and a lot of that is because I felt in some ways like I was still reading Kenna’s story and not Dani’s. I also think the author starting to realize this and sent Kenna off scene so the focus could actually shift to Dani.

My biggest issue was I didn’t like Mo/Dani together at all. I fell in love with Mo’s character in the first book and I guess I was just expecting more for him. I’m not saying I don’t like Dani but the romance was show more rushed and I didn’t get a real sense of the chemistry between the two characters.

I have to also let folks know who listen to the audiobook that 1/5th of the book is spent on a single flashback and much of that flashback was told in the first book. This was a really difficult thing to get through as an audiobook because I felt like I had heard it all before and it took away from the current story.

I know a lot of folks had issues with the cliffhanger ending. I didn’t because Kenna and Dani have been the two leads for this scenario and the cliffhanger setup the third book to be able to focus on someone else. I just hope the author can pull it off. show less

This was my first and last visit to the small town of Keeneston, Kentucky. The summary looked interesting and the rating was up there so I picked it up for one of my challenge books. I knew I was in trouble early on. Let's start with the very unrealistic characters.

Paige is a small town shopkeeper who designs hats and other accessories for women. She's also a too-good-to-be-true heroine who does everything perfectly...shooting, riding horses, administers first aid, drives like Daisy Duke, show more etc., etc. She takes a lunch break and walks toward the local diner to meet her friends when she sees a gun barrel appear on a roof across the street. Her mega-super vision sees the shooter's finger move to the trigger and she screams to warn her two friends who've just exited the courthouse, but it's too late. Instead of ducking for cover or running to check on her friends, she runs toward the shooter. Why? How in the world did she plan to stop him? Maybe she was going to sell him a hat to stall him, or dazzle him with her polka dot hair bow...who knows. By the time she caught up with him, I was too flabbergasted by the other characters that I no longer cared.

The shooter gets away and everyone gathers around the injured women. These people include, Sheriff Red, the Rose sisters-Violet, Lily and Daisy, and Deputy Dinky. No lie. Deputy Noodle and Deputy Smalls were securing the scene. The names in this book were just as rediculous as the dialogue, which was forced and awkward. The author needs to do a bit more research on hospital & law enforcement procedures as well. Every time I turned the page there was something bizarre to take me out of the story. At one point I laughed so hard at the stupidity that I had tears rolling down my face, especially during the scenes in the ER while Will and Mo (Mo's a sheik...for reals) hold vigil with Paige and Cole for their significant others. Here's an example:


"One of you Mr. Ashton?" the doctor asked as he pulled off the mask.

"I am." Will stepped forward, clearly worried.

"I am Dr. Kejewski. Your wife is awake and asking for you. She was shot through the shoulder. She was lucky. The bullet somehow missed all vital arteries and veins....."


Okay. She was shot with what I'm assuming is a high powered sniper rifle. It would have to be to cover that kind of distance. Her shoulder would be blown apart, but no...he makes it sound like she was shot with a precision laser beam that left a perfectly clean hole from one side to the other. The doctor goes on to answer questions about the other girl and then as he's leaving, stops abruptly and announces:


"Oh. Mr. Ashton, you don't need to worry. The baby is fine."

"Baby?" Will choked out.

The group stopped. No one moved. They all stared at Will.

"She's eight weeks along, didn't you know?" The doctor paused and looked at the stunned faces of the group. "Well obviously not by your reactions. The heart beat is strong. I don't think you have to worry abut a miscarriage."

Right. Like a doctor is going to make that kind of statement about the future, or announce private medical information to an entire waiting room of people. And hearing a fetal heartbeat is iffy that early on. There are more idiotic scenes, including one where the characters rifle magically becomes a gun, but my review is already long enough.

The book is one page after the other of cliche and overdone material. Cole's character was completely flat. I have no clue about who he is or what his past is all about. He just sort of "appeared." This is a series...shocking... so maybe that was covered in the first two books. If you're in a reading humdrum and just want to read a really disjointed, poorly thought out story, grab this and a quart of Ben & Jerry's. On the other hand, just skip the book and enjoy the ice cream with a bestseller that actually makes sense.



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Grinning from ear to ear!

I'm so happy I could burst. Reading this book was truly like Christmas morning and my birthday all rolled into one!! I honestly feel like a kid again LOL. It's not necessarily imperative you read all the previous books in this series first, HOWEVER it will give you a better understanding of who all the players are. Not to mention you'll understand some of the more hysterical parts in the book *wink*. FINALLY we get to see Abby and Dylan's story, and oh boy was it show more worth the wait! One humongous scumbag... check ✔! One insanely overprotective father with the skills to kill someone without getting caught.... check ✔! An entire town filled with ex special forces operatives, gun toting, and rolling pin hitting grannies .... check ✔.... And oh SOOOOOO much more! Commence the excitement!!!! If you haven't yet read the other books... I HIGHLY recommend you check them out!!!! You will find books filled with action, suspense, lots of laughs, a truly "unique" southern town with many connections to royalty, models, judges, presidents, and others... Lots of family, and a highly amusing ongoing betting pool on babies, marriages and more! I for one can't wait to see who the next book is about 😉💗. Bravo Ms. Brooks, may this series continue for MANY years to come! show less

This is a fun and funny book that I'd call a "meta rom com" -- practically as much romance & comedy as a book about romance books and publishing. Chock full of subverted tropes, in amusing ways. Now I've got to go get the next in this series!