Review: Really good read - solid but not great-knock-your-socks-off
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2013
Games of the Heart was a solid, really good read. The H/h (Mike & Dusty) didn't grab me the way Cal & Vi did in At Peace (#2 in the 'Burg series) but their story was rich in family detail, such as the relationship between Mike's kids (the oddly nicknamed 'No'/Jonas and Reesee/Clarisse) and Dusty's nephews (Fin/Finley and Kirby). Kristen Ashley often uses a broad cast of characters to set up dramatic tension and she did so here, including Dusty's sister, Debbie, the town bullies, developer Bernie McGrath & his goons or Dusty's fading-away sister, Rhonda. All meld together in a solid, re-readable story. Hero Mike is a typical alpha and Dusty is a strong, independent woman. They have history (as did Colt & Feb, Tanner & Rocky) and they have great chemistry but I think the formula got a little stale here, which is why I took a star off. If I'd read Games of the Heart first, I may have given it the full 5 stars. As with all of KA's books, it's far better than average and edited very well for a self pub - it's just not knock-my-socks-off great. I'll probably reread this and can't wait for Benny & Frankie's story in #5.