Tropical storm? Check.
Hoss, the gruff former Navy SEAL who definitely does not help her blood pressure settle? Triple check.
Terrific book that caught my attention from the beginning
and kept me hooked to the end. At just over one hundred pages, it was the
perfect length to make a short flight go by even faster. I loved that the main
characters are older (late forties and early fifties), showing that love and
adventure aren't just for the young.
Vanessa is a successful real estate agent who has been ordered
to take a vacation by her doctor. She needs rest and relaxation to destress and
lower her blood pressure. Heartbreak Key should be the perfect location with
its lack of internet and cell service, and she plans to lie on the beach and
read. Almost falling off the boat as she arrived was not the start she wanted,
but being rescued by a good-looking bystander wasn't so bad.
Hoss is a former SEAL who retired to Heartbreak Key after
his last mission went horribly wrong. He's haunted by the memories of his lost
friends and tends to keep to himself. He's unexpectedly drawn to the tourist he
rescued and isn't too happy about it.
I liked watching the relationship develop between Hoss
and Vanessa. The sparks were there from the moment they met and grew even
stronger when they shared a dance later that evening. But Vanessa is wary and
pulled back before it could go any further. Her life becomes more complicated
when she witnesses some drug traffickers at work, and she suddenly finds a
target on her back. Hoss is in the right place at the right time to save her
life, and they take refuge in his house while a tropical storm batters the
island. They know the bad guys are still out there, and Hoss is determined to
keep her safe. While trapped together during the storm, the sparks between them
burst into flame, and they give in to their attraction. They grow closer as
they deal with the danger, and when it's all over must decide if they want to
end things or see where their blossoming relationship goes. I loved their drama-free
discussion and frank talk about what they each wanted. The ending was terrific,
and I loved their big moment.
The suspense of the story was fantastic. Stumbling over
the drug traffickers was terrible luck, and trying to do the right thing got
her into even more trouble. I felt her fear as she tried to escape from the men
determined to kill her. I loved how Hoss happened to be there when she needed
to be rescued. There were some tense moments as they evaded the gunmen and took
refuge in Hoss's house. They had to wait out the storm while they figured out
how to get Vanessa off the island safely to report to the authorities. The
intensity ramped up after the storm, and I loved how Hoss and Vanessa worked
together. The twists and turns of their escape kept me on the edge of my seat
as I watched them struggle to make their getaway. The final confrontation was a
nail-biter.
Hoss's friend and fellow SEAL Cameron plays a significant
role in the book. I loved how he teased Hoss about Vanessa and gave him some good
advice. I liked how they used their SEAL experiences to work together during
the trouble. I'm looking forward to getting to know him better during the next
book.
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