Review: Tanner Layne gives Tate Jackson a run for his money!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 8, 2013
I had initially overlooked this book as I read on some reviews that it is told entirely from the heroes POV. However, during a reading lull I decided to give it a go and I am so glad I did.The book is told in third person from Tanner Layne's POV (likes to be known as Layne). Kristen Ashley is excellent at writing men. I thought Tate Jackson from Sweet Dreams was my favourite KA hero but Layne is on equal footing. I loved him.What I found refreshing about this KA book is that Layne doesn't talk in the stilted way of most of KA's heroes. He also doesn't say 'babe' every two seconds nor 'babe, mouth'. Further in the story he does say 'eyes on me' but I think this only occurs twice. Yes he has a nickname for the heroine like most of KA's alpha males but the nickname in this book is not too annoying and not used constantly.18 years ago Tanner Layne and Raquel 'Rocky' Merrick had been happy and in love until one day Rocky ended it and Layne never found out why. A week later and with her father not letting Layne speak to Rocky, he had got drunk and had sex with a girl called Gabrielle, who reminded him of Rocky. Six weeks later Gabby told him she was pregnant so they got married, had a son named Jasper and then another son called Tripp, but Layne was never happy because he still loved Rocky, so they split up and he spent a long time living away from his Sons, but moved back to 'the burg' when he found out his wife was living with a new man. Since being back in the burg he had not spoken to Rocky who was now married.The book starts after Layne had been shot 3 times. He wakes in the hospital to see Rocky by his side and thinks he is dreaming. Once he is back home, she turns up and invites him to dinner at her fathers but he's not happy and tells her so. At this point he still believes she is married, but when he goes for the dinner (and Rocky had made an excuse and left) her brother tells him that she had left her husband four months ago because he had been unfaitful to her. Her brother then tells him that Rocky has ideas of helping with an ongoing police investigatiion. Layne is not happy with this and confronts Rocky but then decides she may be of some help so to aid the investigation they pretend they are back together. However, it's not long before the pretence turns real.Although we never get Rocky's POV, I still felt I knew her and I liked her. She's vulnerable and maybe a little insecure. There is a lot going on in this book and a lot of investigations including corrupt Police and a paedophile ring, plus Layne needs to sort out his exes new man and he also has to help Rocky get what she deserves from her ex. There is so much going on in this book, which is a long book ,that I felt it was maybe a bit too long. The investigations drag out for a long time.In between the investigations Layne and Rocky reconnect. This leads to some very emotional moments, some sexy moments and some loving moments. Layne tries to find out why Rocky left him all those years ago. He senses her father and her brother know but they won't tell him. This dragged on a bit also and we don't find out why Rocky left him until 80% or so into the book. It took that long to find out, I was imagining all sorts but when we find out, I was a bit surprised at the reason and felt maybe it wasn't a good enough reason for her to leave him, but then I remembered that a week after Rocky had left him he was with another woman, so if Rocky had wanted to change her mind, it was too late.His ex in this is not as bad as some of the exes in KA's stories. At some points I felt quite sorry for her. Even in the epilogue I felt a bit sorry for her!If you have read 'At Peace' about Cal and Vi then you will be pleased to know that Vi's daughter Keira features in this book as the girlfriend of Layne's Son Jasper. Both Jasper and Tripp are lovely boys and as usual KA has a knack for writing teenage children. Colt and Feb and Vi and Cal feature as do some new characters who are all wonderful additions (loved Dev and Ryker!).If you have reservations about this book being from the heroes POV, I recommend you to give it a go and I doubt you will be disappointed. I loved it! This is on a par with Sweet Dreams, which is my favourite KA book. I defy you not to love Layne..and Rocky..and Jasper and Tripp..even the dog Blondie!