Review: Holding out for a hero
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 12, 2011
Nick is my kind of hero, a real bad boy with a tender heart. Despite his tough appearance with the tats, piercings, gauges and the skull trim, Nick is a white knight, a true protector. From the moment he sees Halley, there is a connection there, an undeniable chemistry between them.Nick has a painful past, and for the past year he has been trying to numb the hurt, drowning himself in alcohol and meaningless sex. He doesn't want emotion or a relationship; he's just very empty and lonely inside. He wants desperately to forget what he's lost, but in walks Halley, herself hurting and lost and scared.After rescuing Halley from an attacker, Nick finds himself in the role of hero. For Halley, he is her safe place, and the only man whose touch she welcomes. Nick isn't Halley's usual type. She's never gone for the bad boy before, but something about Nick draws her. Halley's friend describes Nick as 'large, tatted and angsty,' but Halley sees more than than. She recognizes the deep pain in his eyes.I love the chemistry between Nick and Halley. It was so very sexy and sweet and intimate. As Nick tries to help Halley but not become involved with her, I could feel the sexual tension building. He wants her so badly, no matter that his brain tells him not to give in, and no matter that his numb heart is starting to feel again. Halley eases him, soothes him, and makes him smile again. Halley needs a protector, and Nick needs a second chance. They are what the other needs- sanctuary, a place of refuge and redemption.All the sex scenes were satisfying in this story. As I said, that build-up to the sex was erotic. In one scene, Nick has Halley on her kitchen counter while he stands between her legs. They don't have sex in this scene, but it was almost as good. It starts off with Halley asking to see the tats on his chest, her hands running down that ridged stomach and over those hard pecs, playing with his nipple rings. Nick has his hands at her waist, his head at the curve of her neck, his nose nuzzling and his lips teasing her skin. Just so sexy.I liked how the author wrote Halley as something more than a victim. As she is attacked and then stalked, I worried for her; I could feel her anxiety and fear. Halley manages to come across as vulnerable yet strong. And I really wanted her with Nick. I wanted them to be happy together. After all they have been through and continued to suffer, I was pleased the author wrote an epilogue for them.Nick is such a wonderful hero. I loved him. He makes this story for me, with all those rough edges and hard body, the tough bad boy appeal, and those sad, haunted blue eyes. He's just so rawly masculine. Some may be offended with Nick's language; he does use the F word a lot, but for me, it just shows how real he is. He's not eloquent or smooth; he doesn't play games. And I loved that. When he tells Halley "I f-ing love you,' you know he means it. It's so full of truth and raw emotion and exactly the way he should say it.This is such a sexy read, with some good suspense and emotion to it. And with one damn fine hero too.