Review: A perfect balance between romance, drama, and humour - my kind of read!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 18, 2014
Complimentary copy given by the publisher in exchange for an honest reviewSecond-chance love stories…*happy sigh* Yes, I admit it, I love this theme in romance novels, but only if written well, of course. And, truth be told, only if I can feel that the characters have evolved since their break-up, learning from their mistakes, and, most importantly, willing to truly let the past go in order to move forward. I am very happy to say that this book fits all my criteria which is why I am giving it my highest rating possible.This is the first book in a new series by Miss Aycart, and the story centers around Mike and Kyra who grew up together in the town of Alden. From the first day they met, they shared a very special bond despite their age difference (Mike is four years older than Kyra) – and despite their different social status – and as they grew older, that bond turned into a fierce and deep love. They were together for five years until the night Mike proposed and Kyra turned him down: not because she did not still love him deeply, but because she wanted to become a professional dancer, showing everyone that despite her being a child in foster care, she could succeed in reaching her dreams. Naturally, Mike did not take her refusal well, and after hurtling insults and extremely hurtful things at each other, they broke up.Now, seven years later, Kyra is back in Alden, having suffered personal and professional humiliation, and she has her 7-year-old daughter, Samantha, with her. Needless to say, Mike is less than thrilled that she is back in town, bringing up all the hurt again, because it forces him to acknowledge one crucial fact: that he still loves her. That the fact that she got pregnant and married another man so soon after their break-up still cuts him to his core.Wherever Mike turns, he cannot seem to avoid bumping into Kyra, and that is the OGs fault – the Original Grandmas. Now, that name alone will let you to believe that these grandmothers are…the…best! And you would be right. Rebecca, Mike’s grandmother, is part of the crew and despite being old (in her late eighties) she is most definitely still very much alive, doing everything she can in order to force Mike and Kyra to talk everything out and acknowledge that they still love each other. But can they find it in their hearts and minds to let go of their past hurts? Read the book. That is the only way you will know.I have read the other series this author has written, The Bowen Series, and I enjoyed it immensely, so I had a feeling that Miss Aycart would reel me in once again – and I was not wrong. Honestly, there is not a single thing about this book that I do not love.To me, Mike is a typical alpha male: proud, hard-headed, protective, but he can be sweet, caring and is, in fact, very vulnerable when it comes to Kyra. She is his drug. He may have acted like a complete douche-bag in the past, but only because he was hurting. I loved getting his point of view and although his thoughts and actions made me cringe more than once, I could understand his reactions. That does not mean that I did not want knee in the groin, however, but…well, he is a man, after all, and a very temperamental one at that.As for Kyra: I admire her tenacity, and I find her to be very sweet, smart and even though her stubbornness can be exasperating from time to time, her reasons are not unfounded. Just like Mike, she has quite the temper, but she learns from her mistakes and makes the best life she can for her and her daughter.The feelings of anger and hurt both Mike and Kyra harbour toward one another are very brutal and fierce. And, to me, very honest and realistic. They have both held on to their resentments for years but will have to learn to leave the past behind - and this is easier said than done. In the real world, not many people are able to forgive each other for past wrongs, but a few manage to do so and I am of the opinion that the author portrays the thoughts of the persons involved in a very belieavable way. Never, while reading this book, did I not feel connected to the characters or feel that certain scenes were farfetched. No, every emotion, every sorrow and joy are written in such a truly heartfelt way that you cannot help but keep reading, hoping that everything will turn out the way it is supposed to in the end.This may be smut but it is very well written smut. Miss Aycart gives us characters filled with passion and flaws, and that is what makes them feel so real to me. Whenever Mike and Kyra are together, you can feel their intense chemistry, and you cannot stop hoping that they will end up together. Allow me to mention the OGs once again: they may seem carefree and harmless, but these ladies are a force all on their own; their hidden agenda becomes clear early on in the story, and I found myself laughing so hard whenever they made an appearance. This author knows how to mix a bit of humour with all the drama, and I love that!So to sum up: if you love second-chance love stories as much as I do, I heartily recommend “Deep Down”. There is passion, incredibly steamy scenes that will make you blush and tingle, and the emotional connection between Mike and Kyra is so palpable that you almost believe that these characters are real. I know I will read this book many times and I can hardly wait until Miss Aycart gives us the next installment in the OGs series.