Publisher: Loveswept (February 3, 2015)
Series: The McKinney Brothers, 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
When a McKinney brother falls in love, powerful emotion and overwhelming desire are never far behind.
Two hearts locked away . . . Hannah Walker spends her days coaching children through injury and trauma, one therapeutic horseback ride at a time. She knows all too well how violence can change a child and leave scars that never heal. It’s easy for her to relate to the kids; what isn’t easy is the thought of facing her own harrowing past.
Millionaire playboy Stephen McKinney could use a little coaching himself. Five years ago he encountered his most horrible nightmare—and the nightmare won. No matter what he achieves, nothing can make up for that awful night . . . or so he believes.
Both desperate for a second chance . . . Stephen is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hannah. So when she turns him down, he’s intrigued. What he doesn’t know is that her secrets will lead him to a place he never wanted to go again . . . to a side of himself he’s tried to forget . . . a side that would scare Hannah away from ever loving him. Now his only chance to win her trust is to bare his soul, risking everything he tried so hard to protect.
Two hearts locked away . . . Hannah Walker spends her days coaching children through injury and trauma, one therapeutic horseback ride at a time. She knows all too well how violence can change a child and leave scars that never heal. It’s easy for her to relate to the kids; what isn’t easy is the thought of facing her own harrowing past.
Millionaire playboy Stephen McKinney could use a little coaching himself. Five years ago he encountered his most horrible nightmare—and the nightmare won. No matter what he achieves, nothing can make up for that awful night . . . or so he believes.
Both desperate for a second chance . . . Stephen is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hannah. So when she turns him down, he’s intrigued. What he doesn’t know is that her secrets will lead him to a place he never wanted to go again . . . to a side of himself he’s tried to forget . . . a side that would scare Hannah away from ever loving him. Now his only chance to win her trust is to bare his soul, risking everything he tried so hard to protect.
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Kame's Review:
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They say you can meet your true love anywhere. Stephen stumbles upon a crying Hannah in the grocery store and in that moment his life has been changed. His family has tried for years to get him back to some version of himself before he pulled away; but all it took was a beautiful crying woman who refused to give him her phone number.
Okay done?
They say you can meet your true love anywhere. Stephen stumbles upon a crying Hannah in the grocery store and in that moment his life has been changed. His family has tried for years to get him back to some version of himself before he pulled away; but all it took was a beautiful crying woman who refused to give him her phone number.
“Hannah, I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you. I still want you.” And if he pulled her a little closer, she’d feel exactly how much. Before he could force himself to create some space between them, she lifted her face and pressed her lips to his. It was a soft meeting, a kiss so profound it brought tears to his eyes. Because she mattered. Everything about her, everything about being near her mattered when he hadn’t wanted anything to matter for so long. Wasn’t entirely sure he did now. Because he wasn’t good for her and she was undoubtedly smart enough to know that.
Hannah and Stephen have both suffered incredible heart ache in their lives. The depth of Hannah’s suffering was not revealed all at once but when I understood the scope of her pain I was awed by the progress she has made to her new normal. Hannah found a safe place in Stephen’s arms and was able to make more progress than her brothers ever dreamed. The previous book in the series alluded to Stephen pulling away from his family, it takes Hannah to make him want to join in on family occasions again. His heart immediately senses a difference with Hannah and I enjoyed how he recognized that and approached their relationship so differently than he had with other women in his past. There was a forever connection from the moment he saw her. Their blossoming relationship was well crafted. There was a fair amount of steamy scenes that solidified the reader’s belief in the special bond and love they shared.
Secondary characters are plentiful in this book. We again see the extended McKinney family – who I love. Wonderful glimpses of the children brought smiles to my face; I don’t think the book would have been complete without a look at Grace or Jack. Claudia Connor also introduced us to Hannah’s brothers, I for one hope they are a sign of many books to come! I think Nick Walker is in desperate need of an HEA.
“Why are you so afraid to love her?”
“I’m not.” He was afraid to ask her to love him.
“I think you are. I think you’re terrified of loving to the point you’re brought to your knees, to the point you risk it all.”
Regarding the plot, if you are looking for a hearts and flowers story where the hero and heroine fall instantly in love completing each other, having earth shattering sex from the first time they meet until they pledge their undying love to each other in the most romantic way and then proceed to have 2.5 children go find another book. Hannah and Stephen have both suffered in life, they each have endured things many could not even fathom; but they are on the road to recovery and when they find each other they are able to take that recovery to a place they never thought was possible again in their lives – a place of love. I applaud Claudia Connor for allowing Stephen to show the reader that sometimes you can not fully recover unless you acknowledge your greatest fear and by doing so realize the demon you feared inside you is not there. Without this Stephen and Hannah would never have truly had and HEA.
You thought Abby and Matt and all those adorable kids burrowed into your heart - well be warned Hannah and Stephen will just squeeze it so tight it will be hard to breathe.
5 STARS!
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Kame received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for her honest opinion.
*Note: The quotes used belong to Claudia Connor; Kame and TBQ's Book Palace do not claim them.
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Thanks for the review, Kame! WOW -- I really need to read this book. :)
Have you read Claudia Connor before?
Remember, as a Royal Pick, you can WIN an ecopy of this book over on our January Royal Picks Giveaway Post!
Remember, as a Royal Pick, you can WIN an ecopy of this book over on our January Royal Picks Giveaway Post!
Enjoy!
Until Next Time,
*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!
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Okay people - did you notice this is a #RoyalPick - and you can go to the Royal Pick post and enter to WIN it!
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