Review: Second chance love story...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 5, 2013
(Quote)Life has certain things planned. I find, for some people, it takes you places you don't want to go but the path leads to where you need to be.Zara and Graham "Ham" Reece had a special connection. They were on again, off again long distance for years. They broke it of and came back together just to fight. But now Ham is back in Gnaw Bone determined to keep her safe. Zara tried to get over Ham before, but her whole life just ended up in tatters. She is alone and has lost everything, so she really does not have a choice to accept Ham's help.As long as they have known each other, Ham has always been a rolling stone with no roots. He moves around working at bars. But he never really wanted to lose the connection to Zara but was willing to do it for her. Ham makes no apologies for who he is. He is bossy, outspoken, protective and he has reasons for the way he is. But being almost killed apparently can make your priorities change. Ham moves back to Gnaw Bone and takes Zara back under his protective wing. Slowly we see them starting over with a new beginning.(Quote)He'd been her one. It took him years to realize she was his.I admit that book was a slow build up for me. I had a hard time connecting with them at first. Not sure if it was the nature of their long distance on/off again thing or the nicknames Ham, Cookie, Darlin'. But maybe a third of the way in, I really started to like them together. Ham grew on me. I enjoyed seeing Ham step up and them finding their way back. Ham was a typical KA possessive, bossy, no-nonsense alpha. he had a past that shaped his decisions. He had regrets. But he knew what he wanted and was not backing down again."Cookie, pay attention, I'm gonna give you everything."Zara had her past issues bleeding into her present, but Ham was there to help her pick up the pieces. But she was likable, sweet, loving, and the whole town loved her. She was not a wimpy, sniveling heroine. She had been through so much and was just trying to keep it all together. And it was hard for her to believe that she might actually get her happiness after being beat down so long."...love is a show, it's not a tell. "There was drama. Mostly family drama, some tension, and some relationship growing pains. They did face challenges. But not as much nail biting, heart stopping, life or death drama as others in this series or other KA books. It was actually kind of funny to me as she recounted the dangerous stories of some of the previous characters to remind us, and how over the top they almost sounded when written down that way. This one got kidnapped, that one was buried alive, that man was murdered, that one went to jail, etc.I liked seeing the cameos of other characters from Gnaw Bone especially Max and Nina. But also Maybelline, Wanda, Cotton, Arlene, Kami, among others. It was like returning to visit old friends. But I admit it took me a bit to warm up to Zara and Ham. We did not really know much about Graham Reece before this, just what we got in For You from the Burg Series where he was involved with February Owens and ended up a target for an ax murderer. Zara's history was slowly revealed throughout the book so we developed more of an understanding of what she had been through as the book went on."We got a shift to get through, baby, moving us to somethin' we've never had. You promise to hold on to me, I'll promise to hold on to you and we'll make it through."They did have chemistry and that usual "KA tough man, tough chick finding their way together vibe." It was a sweet, second chance love story. But it just did not have all of the intense drama and emotional impact as some others. But I still liked it. The plot was interesting. I enjoyed the stories going on within it. I was satisfied. But it is not my fave of the series. It is hard to top Tate and Ty. I have read Sweet Dreams and Lady Luck several times. This one will leave me with a fond memory of the characters and story, but it might be awhile until I feel the need to reread it. But it was still a good book. I just think sometimes that I place high expectations on every Kristen Ashley book since some of hers are my favorite comfy reads that I can reread, so it is hard to settle for good when I am used to loving them. The next in this series will be Kaleidoscope about Jacob Decker.