Review: Romantic hero, angst, surprises, plot twists, and a lot of drama
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 1, 2013
A Graceful Mess is my first experience with a Nacole Stayton novel, and it will definitely not be my last. Romantic hero, angst, surprises, plot twists, and a lot of drama are what I got while reading A Graceful Mess.I was taken in immediately by the prologue depicting a touching....almost torturous...scene of a small child in an orphanage who was terribly frightened by storms. The prologue set the tone and provided clues for what was to come later in the novel. I wasn't really sure how or where the prologue would fit into the story as I kept reading, but I experienced one of those rare aha moments when secrets were revealed and twists were unwound. If it had been a snake, it would have bitten me....expect the unexpected in this plot twist when all is made known. Don't you love it when that happens?Parker Porter. P-a-r-k-e-r P-o-r-t-e-r ← This man is all kinds of schmexy! He is so protective, caring, and compassionate. He was stuck in a job following in his father's footsteps as a private investigator, when he really wanted to manage a gym. But that job led him to Grace, the woman who captivated him with just a photo and a file. He is every woman's perfect dream man...especially when he calls Grace, "Sweetheart." *swoon* I adore Parker. Unfortunately, Grace is off limits to Parker, but the attraction and chemistry is too strong for him to fight it. He wants her, and no matter how he tries, he can't stay away from her.Grace Clearwater is obsessive compulsive, anal retentive, organized, neat, and ....a mess. She has a traumatic past that is kept hidden, leaving me guessing throughout most of the novel. I really liked that everything wasn't just laid out in a neat and tidy package with a pretty little bow on top. Grace's secret grabbed my attention and held on tight as the suspense and curiosity had me intrigued. When her secret is finally revealed, I was shocked. It wasn't at all what I was expecting or thinking. She has overcome some very high obstacles, and the last thing on her mind is a man. However, when she sees Parker at a bar while out with her best friend, the attraction is there and she just can't fight off his southern charm.Grace is shy and sweet on the outside, but when she and Parker finally come together....fireworks! She certainly fits the old saying of "Lady in the parlor and whore in the bedroom." Parker is in every man's Heaven when he learns just how sexy his sweet and shy Grace can be. So, how is Parker in the bedroom? This man will melt you into a puddle with his ...ahem...skills and dirty talk. Together, these two set off sparks that could light up a small town during a blackout. H-O-T.I honestly thought this was going to be a repeat of so many things we see in other novels, but I was happily proven wrong. There are a few things in the novel that are predictable, but they are very minor and in all honesty...they were meant to be predictable. I'm not really sure what I expected with A Graceful Mess, but what I got was a sweet love story with plot twists that will have your jaw dropping and your adrenaline pumping. A Graceful Mess has me sold on Nacole Stayton, an author I've never read before, but one who will be on my radar in the future.