Dallas
He was the beginning of my heart . . . and the end of it.
I was only fifteen years old when he claimed it and twenty when he took it with him.
They say what is meant to be will find a way. But when you have changed to the point of no return, how can anything ever be the same?
Seven years later, Dean Martin waltzed back into my life in hopes of resuming what I had fought so hard to forget, but he was in for a wake-up call.
I was no longer the naïve woman he had left . . . and I was no longer his.
I met the love of my life and my soul mate when I was fifteen. I knew that; he knew that. He wanted that girl back. I wanted to forget she ever existed.
Dean
What I thought was my pre-destined path was very much an illusion. Living seven years with regret, I realized too late that I was broken, and that I only had myself to blame.
I thought love could wait . . . but it didn’t.
We’d had it all those years ago, and then I foolishly left it behind.
She was all that mattered. She was all there ever was.
There was no life without Dallas, no reason . . . except her.
No matter how hard she tried to convince me, I knew I had to once again make her mine, to make her remember . . . the fall.
It made me cry! Dear lord, it made me cry!
Kate Stewart broke my cynical, sarcastic heart into a million little pieces & then glued it all back together again … and dammit, I loved it!
Although Dean drew me in at the prologue, it took me a few chapters to bond with Dallas. I wasn’t sure that I liked her, (as Dean points out later on) she’s not an easy woman to love. But I did warm up to her. In fact, I grew to love Dallas. An aptly nick-named Spitfire, she’s defiant and defensive. She puts on a pretty thick outer layer, attempting to hide her vulnerability. Witnessing her self-realization, her self-acceptance, gave me the connection I was looking for. By the end I was not only routing for Dallas, I was yelling at my Kindle in support of her.
Now, let’s talk Dean! YES! I’ve fallen in love with another fictional man, my husband will be so pleased. But, sincerely … Dean is more than just a sexy hunk of Spanish man meat. I found his character so easy to love. He’s humorous and intelligent. Honest and devoted. I love how respectable he acts, even as he (openly) tries to steal another man’s woman. I did not once fault him for any of his minor indiscretions. Were they supposed to bother me? I guess I was too busy being seduced.
I loved the tumultuous back and forth of Dean and Dallas. It was like watching two magnets try to stay apart. I loved their backstory & the way the author unfolded it piece by piece, like a trail of breadcrumbs.
There is some angst. Okay, there’s a lot of angst. But, in this book it actually works really well. I was completely captivated by the drama.
And, despite having an inevitably obvious ending, there were some shocking and unforeseen twists that had me reeling.
The elements of this book all aligned to create an incredible story.
It’s not quite a full 5 Stars for me … primarily because I felt at a (very slight) disadvantage, not having read Room 212. I know, I know! I’m working on it!
Despite all of that, this is still one of the best books I’ve read this year. And I truly cannot wait for the next book! Rose has my full attention.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.
AMAZON ~ B&N ~ KOBO ~ iBooks
Kate Stewart, a native of Dallas, now resides in Charleston, S.C. She moved to the city three weeks after her first visit, dropping her career of 8 years, declaring the city her creative muse. Since her move in 2010, she has published two novels, the third coming July 2015. She lives with her husband of 8 years, Nick who is featured on the cover of the novel, TITAN. (Set to re-release some time in 2015.)
Her other novels include Room 212, Never Me, and Loving the White Liar which are all available now.
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