I came across the little gem a couple of weeks ago. Man I love my Amazon 99 cent book bargains. Before I read this book many people compared it to the sweet gum tree by Katherine Allred which I absolutely loved. Needless to say I was excited about starting this small town love romance gone wrong.
This is Nick and Clea's story. Honestly when I started I was thinking ok good girl falls in love with bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks heard the story line before. However Mrs. James's version packed a killer punch with so many WTH moments it was exciting.
Ten years have passed since Clea last laid eyes on Nick. Left to raise their son john alone, clea does what's best for her and her son, moves on with life. BUT do you really get over your first love? In Clea's case her world is turned upside down as nick comes back In town to attend his mother’s funeral. Oh ya and to fight for what he lost so many years ago, his FAMILY.
Let me back track. Nick has been away in prison for the last ten years for murder and the man who helped put him there is now Clea's fiancé. Not to mention helping raise his son. The unspoken pain between clea/nick in this book was so intense at times it was heart wrenching. BUT of course there are always SECRETS and OMG this town was swarming with them. Think cover ups, pay offs, murder/self defense, and true paternity. Mrs. James gave the reader not only a rekindling of a romance but a thriller/mystery as well.
Clea/nicks chemistry was great. At times it seemed like they never missed a beat despite they had ten years of separation between them. I loved nicks character. He fought to have his life back that was TAKEN from him so many years ago. The decisions he made he owned them and never regretted them. He only hoped for forgiveness from the two people he loved most in the world HIS FAMILY. Clea’s character was great as well. I can honestly say you don’t read too many books were the heroine thinks with majority of her head and not her heart. Well Clea was that woman and it was amazing. She didn’t let the opinions of herself; town’s people and family affect her decisions for her son. He was her number one priority and his happiness came first.
I liked this book. For the majority of the book the story line held my attention but there were a few moments were it didnt. It was a quick read and all the secreats/drama kept me turning the pages. I'm not going to lie the ending had me in shock/disbelief. Good job Mrs. James!
Dr. Books
Book rating: 3.5 Stars/C
