Review: 4 1/2 stars- tough guy + goofy woman = great book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 23, 2013
Okay - I have lost count of how many of Ms. Ashley's books I read this past month. I hit a few that I wasn't too thrilled about, but this one HIT THE SPOT.Ty is a 1/2 African American man that has just been released from jail (from which he was wrongly imprisoned). I only mention his race b/c this is relevant to the story and affects people throughout the book. His goal is vengeance against the people that set him up. Yes, Ty is an alpha-male, but his hearts melts quickly from Lexie's nurturing. And he realizes it. Doesn't try to fight it.Lexie is a 'goofy' woman (acts more like a kid sometimes) that has had a HUGE string of bad luck, yet she is an eternal optimistic and a great sense of humor. She is goofy, not ditzy. She is perceptive as heck. She and Ty end up together and her sunshine-y personality and goofiness break through the broken Ty's shield.I LOVE Lexie's character. Yes, she acts really young, but I love that part of her. She is truly goofy. But she does that because she truly wants to be happy and break through all the darkness of her past. She is totally honest, candid and funny. I love characters like that. No "uhmm-ing" No fibing. No games. No insecurities. No super dark angst. A strong, independent and positive woman.Ty is hot. His hotness radiates from the digital words on my Kindle. The guy works out religiously. Yet he has a sweet tooth. Hate when the male character is described as having a 8-pack, but never works out. Ty works at his body. Oh boy. He not only loves Lexie, but he really GETS how she loves him. He notices the little things she does for him and appreciates it. Ugh - yeah - no man on earth is like this, but it is so much fun to imagine!!!The plot is strong. Ms. Ashley's books seem to have the following rhythm. Spends a lot of time on character development. Getting the couple together. Has lots of steamy sex. The antagonists/villains are a steady presence in the book, but nothing huge. THEN in the last 20% of the book, things explode. People get killed, kidnapped, missing, injured etc. Happens fast.Again, I don't mind it - love reading about the characters - get really invested in them.What I loved about this book:- the characters. Both of them. Ty's macho and vulnerability. Lexie's strength and goofiness. And their honestly towards each other.- the plot was interesting. this was not a theme that was see in the other books where the villain is someone that is obsessed by the heroine and then goes on a killing spree- loved how the town rallied around Ty and supported him. Good, mushy feelings.- The part where they had a HUGE fight - it really hits you in the guts.- the steamy sex scenes. hawt- strong roles played by Tate, and others. Great to have them in the books (from the first part of the series)- no cliff hangers- epilogue. Kristen's epilogues are the best!!!What I didn't love:- the way the heroine was saved at the end. I didn't buy it. Didn't really feel real to me. Not plausible. But - hey, went with it and still loved the book- the book talks about how much shopping and spending Lexie does - ewww. Didn't like that. Want my heroine to be fiscally responsible. yes she works hard, but she should be better with spending her money. The same with the extravagant gifts Ty purchases for her. Should save more. Also - diamonds are artificially inflated.- to keep 'value' high.- wish the villains were a bit meaner. Love it when the book gets your blood boiling.Would I read this again?Heck YES.You don't have to read this series in order - but you should because of how great the series is and how the stories flow from one to another.Enjoy this book!!!