Review: Very good addition to the series :D
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 16, 2013
4 starsThis was a very good story. I loved Ember and Gabe and really got sucked in to their story. There were some editing mistakes in this book but nothing that was bad enough to mess up the story. The worst mistake was once when about a paragraph or so seemed to have been duplicated. Other than that it's mostly small stuff like the word there instead of their, head instead of heat, or a missing quotation mark at the end of a sentence (maybe a total of around 10 editing errors that I noted).Ember is an athletic trainer and the best friend of Cheyenne (the heroine from book #1 Boomtown). Ember and her bother Mac lost their parent while Ember was in high school and she had to grow up fast. She had a Volleyball injury while in high school that propelled her in to her current career, which she loves. She's kind of unusual but I really liked her character. She's liked Gabe for the year that she's known him but he's never given her any sign he wants her in return. When Ember is attacked outside her work, her only thought is to call Gabe.Gabe is half Puerto Rican on his dad's side and has those dark good looks, except with his mom's blue eye....Yum! Unfortunately for him, after his dad died of cancer, his mom was struggling to get by and ended up marrying a man not because she loved him but because they needed him. Gabe's stepfather resented Gabe and spent years emotionally abusing him, telling he wasn't good enough. Gabe worked hard to prove him wrong, graduating high school with honors at the age of 16 and then entering the Army. That's something he has a hard time leaving behind him though and it convinced him he wasn't good enough for Ember, causing him to push her away for a year. Once she's attacked, Gabe isn't willing to stand back any more.Gabe and Ember had a tumultuous pre-relationship relationship and when we enter the story, Gabe and Ember are currently fighting and haven't spoken in a week. Ember is leaving work rather late and is attacked. She calls Gabe for help and he get her help before she's hurt badly. When she gets released from the hospital, she goes home to stay with Gabe. Unfortunately, the next day they find out from the cops that a local gang had this as part of their initiation and now she was in danger because the leader sees her as a threat. Gabe's determined to keep her safe and also tells her under no uncertain terms that he's done staying away from her and now she's his. Since she's been secretly in love with Gabe for a year, Ember doesn't object and is thrilled at the prospect of being with Gabe. One thing I really like about this story was how the PoV moved back and forth between Gabe and Ember (the switches in PoV are titled so you know when it's happening). I liked being able to understand what they're both feeling underneath their words, especially Gabe as he strives to make Ember his.Gabe and Ember start a relationship while Gabe and the rest of the guys (and the police too) strive to keep the danger away from Ember. Regardless of their efforts, there are multiple attempts made on her life some of which are close. While Gabe and Ember are dealing with the gang issue they have plenty of other things to deal with outside of working on their relationship that keeps things hopping. I loved when Gabe was forced to deliver a baby in an elevator during a power blackout...priceless! They deal with the unexpected and manage to get through things pretty well. At one point, there's a mis-understanding and Ember doesn't react well but it gets worked out while bringing Gabe and Ember closer and I loved the surprise that Gabe set up for when they got back. There is some tense moments in the action side of the plot but in the end, things get worked out and Gabe and Ember are able to start their HEA.This was s very enjoyable read. I loved Ember and Gabe and really all the characters...I think the characters are the best part of this series. They suck you in and you become invested in seeing what happens to them and how things work out. I'm looking forward to seeing where things go as the series progresses. I'd recommend this book. Thumbs up! :D