Denise Reynolds’s tightly controlled life is thrown off kilter when she’s given custody of her young cousins. There are days she has a hard enough time getting herself out of bed, never mind two precocious kids.
If that wasn’t enough, Chris Nolton comes strolling back into town as suddenly as he left it. She’d broken her own rules and given him a chance once before, only to have him ghost on her. But he’s not there for her this time. No, he’s leading the FBI Task Force intent on capturing the kids’ biological father. A man who was sent to prison for manslaughter. A man who was released five years too early. A man who wants his kids back.
The past has a way of repeating itself and once again, Denise finds herself defending the innocent against the evil of world. One wrong decision, one second guess, could have devastating consequences. To protect the most important people in her life, she’ll need to trust the one man with the power to break her.
Review:
From the summary alone Tarina Deaton's Locked-Down Heart seemed like the kind of book I would love. I mean, a second chance romance AND a FBI Investigation? I couldn't wait!
Luckily, my predication was straight on - I LOVED Locked-Down Heart. Thrilling, romantic, and heartwarming, Locked-Down Heart is a book that had me hooked from page 1.
One of my favorite parts of Locked-Down Love was the characters. There were so many good ones; however, my top two favorites would have to be Denise and Chris. Denise is strong willed and fearless, and when it comes to K-squarded - the nickname for her niece and nephew - she's the ultimate mother bear. She'll do anything to keep them safe, even if it means reconnecting with a man from her past - a man whose memory still haunts her to this very day. Denise takes on so many roles within this book - mother, friend, business owner, protecter - and I loved seeing her kick butt in all of them. What I enjoyed even more, though, was how she wasn't always fearless. She had a lot of doubts, especially when it came to raising two children on her own and letting her heart be open to love again. Her doubts were realistic and even a bit heartbreaking and they made me love her all the more. Chris, on the other hand, is the stereotypical alpha male. Like Denise, he's willing to protect the ones he loves. His past actions regarding Denise made me angry, but at the same time, I could understand that some of it was out of his control; however, I loved how far he went to make it right this time around. His interactions with Denise were always fun to witness, especially when her claws came out in full force. Plus, it warmed my heart to see him interact with Denise's niece and nephew. It was adorable, which made Chris all the more swoon-worthy, in my opinion. In addition to Chris and Denise, there's a bunch of great additional characters. I especially loved Denise's best friend Bree who always managed to give Densie the wake up calls she desperately needed.
The plot in Locked-Down Heart was so much more than just a romance. It included mystery as well as tension. There were so many times I was on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next in regard's to K-squared's father. He was such an evil, cunning man, and I couldn't even begin to stomach some of the horrible stuff he did. Additionally, I loved seeing a family develop between K-squared, Denise, and Chris. It brought the laughs as well as the sugar to the book. Some of the stuff those kids said/did had me laughing out loud even! Last but not least, the romance was HOT. The chemistry between Denise and Chris was incredibly evident, and better yet, I liked that it took a while for them to feel comfortable with each other. It wasn't an instant, "Okay, I forgive you, let's be together forever and ever" and I appreciated that.
In all, Locked-Down Heart has ample heart, romance, and suspense. It's a book I highly suggest!
From the summary alone Tarina Deaton's Locked-Down Heart seemed like the kind of book I would love. I mean, a second chance romance AND a FBI Investigation? I couldn't wait!
Luckily, my predication was straight on - I LOVED Locked-Down Heart. Thrilling, romantic, and heartwarming, Locked-Down Heart is a book that had me hooked from page 1.
One of my favorite parts of Locked-Down Love was the characters. There were so many good ones; however, my top two favorites would have to be Denise and Chris. Denise is strong willed and fearless, and when it comes to K-squarded - the nickname for her niece and nephew - she's the ultimate mother bear. She'll do anything to keep them safe, even if it means reconnecting with a man from her past - a man whose memory still haunts her to this very day. Denise takes on so many roles within this book - mother, friend, business owner, protecter - and I loved seeing her kick butt in all of them. What I enjoyed even more, though, was how she wasn't always fearless. She had a lot of doubts, especially when it came to raising two children on her own and letting her heart be open to love again. Her doubts were realistic and even a bit heartbreaking and they made me love her all the more. Chris, on the other hand, is the stereotypical alpha male. Like Denise, he's willing to protect the ones he loves. His past actions regarding Denise made me angry, but at the same time, I could understand that some of it was out of his control; however, I loved how far he went to make it right this time around. His interactions with Denise were always fun to witness, especially when her claws came out in full force. Plus, it warmed my heart to see him interact with Denise's niece and nephew. It was adorable, which made Chris all the more swoon-worthy, in my opinion. In addition to Chris and Denise, there's a bunch of great additional characters. I especially loved Denise's best friend Bree who always managed to give Densie the wake up calls she desperately needed.
The plot in Locked-Down Heart was so much more than just a romance. It included mystery as well as tension. There were so many times I was on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next in regard's to K-squared's father. He was such an evil, cunning man, and I couldn't even begin to stomach some of the horrible stuff he did. Additionally, I loved seeing a family develop between K-squared, Denise, and Chris. It brought the laughs as well as the sugar to the book. Some of the stuff those kids said/did had me laughing out loud even! Last but not least, the romance was HOT. The chemistry between Denise and Chris was incredibly evident, and better yet, I liked that it took a while for them to feel comfortable with each other. It wasn't an instant, "Okay, I forgive you, let's be together forever and ever" and I appreciated that.
In all, Locked-Down Heart has ample heart, romance, and suspense. It's a book I highly suggest!
Grade: A
Locked-Down Heart is now out!
Source: eARC provided by publicist
Buy Links:
Stitched Up Heart: Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Amazon UK | iBooks
Rescued Heart: Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Amazon UK | iBooks
Half-Broke Heart: Amazon
About the Author:
Tarina has spent her entire life in and around the military - first as a dependent and then as an enlisted Air Force member.In 2015, a friend challenged her to complete NaNoWriMo. She dusted off one of the many stories she'd started over the years, threw it in the trash, and started all over.Her debut novel, Stitched Up Heart, released in September 2016. The military gives her plenty of material to work with and she strives to create characters who authentically represent all facets of the military life - the good and the not so great.Tarina is still active duty and a single mom of five-year-old twins. Her favorite hobby is sleep. She has delusions of retiring from the military and being a stay-at-home mom.
Author Links:
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