Review: Beautiful! I want more!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 16, 2014
MELTING INTO YOU is the second book in TRACEY ALVAREZ’ Due South series, set on the beautiful little island Stewart Island off of New Zealand. While I really enjoyed reading about Piper’s and West’s story in INTO THE DEEP, a book with just the right amount of suspense, drama and passion – I literally devoured this one! I mean, I almost expected this, as I had a crush on Ben, Piper’s grumpy and close-mouthed brother, from the beginning of the series and I also adored Kezia and her smart and statistics loving little daughter Zoe. So for me their story ended much too soon.Ben Harland owns a dive business together with his sister Piper and now, after finally having repaid all debts he is living a pretty much carefree life. That changes rapidly when a fling from about nine years ago appears on the island and drops an eight year-old girl onto his doorstep, claiming she is his daughter who needs to get to know her real father. Completely caught off guard and absolutely baffled and overstrained Ben turns to his neighbor Kezia, a young widowed schoolteacher with a daughter almost the same age, for help to cope with a frightened abandoned little girl who has no idea why her mother left her with a daunting stranger.Kezia brings along her lively daughter Zoe, who of course is more than excited to have another girl her age to play with. Soon the little girl, Jade, warms up to her new surroundings and Ben starts to take her into his heart.But his heart wants even more: He always has been attracted to Kezia, but as he does not do relationships she always has been off limits for him. Kezia, on the other hand, always puts her daughter at first, she cannot allow herself a fling with a man who might be seen as a new daddy by her little daughter too soon and who would be left heartbroken if this daddy left again.Only with their two girls spending more and more time together they are forced to see each other more often as well…Ben being a responsible and caring daddy? Huh – who would have thought? Me definitely not and was more than surprised to see this womanizer being forced to take care of his eight year-old child. How will he cope with that?But after overcoming some teething troubles and with a lot help of Kezia, he manages to learn how to be the best possible dad to a little girl he only just met and who thinks that nobody wants her. The Ben – Jade interactions are some of the funniest and adorable moments in this story as Ben realizes he does not want to lose his kid ever again.Kezia is a strong, selfless and independent woman – and she would like to keep it that way. Having suffered some bitter curveballs already in her life, she does not want to rely on another person ever again. Therefore she tries to avoid Ben as hard as she can, even if her hearts tells her otherwise, but he is a risk she cannot take – even if it is only for Zoe’s sake. Still, she cannot walk out on Ben, leaving him to deal with his new daddyhood all alone.The chemistry between Kezia and Ben is incredible. As long as they both try to fight it, it is always lurking below, waiting for its chance to get out. Becoming a dad definitely changed Ben’s life for the better, not only because he opens up some more but also because otherwise he and Kezia would never have happened otherwise.The two little girls are also adorable! I loved Zoe ever since! Being so young, having just learned how to read and still she already is interested in statistics, no matter how harsh a topic might be. She is so happy and carefree, always speaking her mind – the complete opposite to what Jade is like when she meets her. Jade is scared and shy with little self-esteem thanks to her mother and it is just lovely how she turns into this carefree girl in the end.I love Tracey’s witty writing style. It is beautiful and captivating, bringing a smirk on my face all along. Add the stunning location that is Stewart Island – or New Zealand altogether for that matter – to the mix and you have a story that keeps you enthralled all along the way!Piper’s and Ben’s little sister, Shaye, will get her book next – and I cannot wait to return to that paradise in Oban, Stewart Island!