Review: Hold onto your Heartstrings
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 26, 2013
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review.Once again Morgan Kearns has delivered a winning combination in this fifth book in the Deadlines & Diamonds series.  Taking us back into the television news world to follow photojournalist Ian McCallister through some pretty rough times.  Morgan grabs us on page one with some 'hot and steamy' that starts the roller-coaster ride of Ian's story and his love for his beautiful next-door neighbor, Kayla Black.Ian has had a serious crush on Kayla ever since he moved in next door to the Black's.  He has kept his feelings carefully hidden because he genuinely cares for her husband and her 3 children as well.  Though Kayla's husband, Leon, sees through Ian like he's a big picture window, he knows that Ian would never act on his feelings.  Being a cop, and facing danger every day, he also knows that Ian would be the best person possible to help Kayla and the kids if anything should happen to him.When Kayla and the kids lives are turned upside down by Leon's sudden death, Ian steps up and does his best to help them through the crisis.  Kayla fights him at every turn, feeling that she needs to be strong and handle things on her own, but she soon realizes that she's not doing that well on her own and begins to accept Ian's help.My emotions were all over the board in this book.  Kayla had me tearing up, angry, laughing, and ultimately cheering for her.  I found her to be so very 'human'.  And Ian, while not exactly a saint, is the kind of man every girl dreams of finding someday.  He's funny and caring, a true gentleman, and he loves Kayla's kids like they were his own.  I think the children is this book were really my favorite characters.  Their personalities totally shine and they become very 'real' as you get to know them as Ian knows them.I think the reason this book touched me so much was because it was not a 'fairytale' romance, but showed true human struggles and emotions.  Everyday life, with its injustices, trials, and eventually, its victories.  I felt like I was working through the grief right along with Kayla, the kids, and Ian, because he was grieving too.  Life isn't always 'fair', but that doesn't mean we can't ever reclaim the joy of it and continue moving forward.  This book is a reminder of that.  Thanks Morgan, for another great read!