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.
I wasn’t too sure about this book as I didn’t really get a feel for Stephan in the first book. But in saying that this book was beautifully heart wrenching with a kind of sweet not seen very often. 4.5 “as it made me cry” stars. I actually didn’t sleep very well last night as I was thinking on how to put my feelings into writing without making the review sound lame or even cheesy. So if it does then please forgive me.
Stephan McKinney is a 32 year old playboy millionaire. He works in a cut throat industry where greed rules and men as well as women can be ruthless. Living 5 years of pure hell as he lost someone lead him to the comfort of the bottle, then women and then work and women. Stephan has it all but yet he has nothing.
For him life isn’t exactly grand but a facade to the outside world can only help so much. He is not the man he used to be and nor will he ever be that man again.
“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” – James Baldwin-
Hannah Walker at 26 years old has survived her hell and has the scars to prove it. Being kept for 42 days and surviving is a miracle in itself, piecing your life back together hard as hell. She was brought up by her four older brothers (Nick, Zach, Dallas and Luke) and has been wrapped in cotton wool ever since the accident. She is a physical therapist and works with disabled children and horses on the farm that she kind of inherited. She is tired of her life and wishes to live and love rather than watch. Hannah realizes that life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
A chance encounter at a supermarket where two lost souls meet change the course of their situation. How do you open up? Can you trust again? It starts with a teardrop, grows with a kiss and leads to love with a smile.
Stephan is a tortured soul and without realizing it he opens up and heals with Hannah’s help. As Hannah also heals with Stephan’s help.
It is a rollercoaster of ups and downs and of hope that the couple get it together with their love and gut wrenching loss but face their future. The chemistry between the two was really good but sometimes the joint navigation wasn’t always right. Stephan’s family sees him as broken, Hannah likes the “him” now and not then.
William Wordsworth said
“There is a comfort in the strength of love;
‘Twill make a thing endurable, which else
Would overset the brain, or break the heart.”
Which pretty much sums up this book but there is also much, much more. Whereas the first book was light, a fun and spontaneous read this book goes straight to the heart and shines light in the darkest places of our souls.
I don’t want to give the ending away but what Stephan gave up to be with Hannah colour me impressed. In the end Hannah and Stephan came to realize that
Love offers no guarantees or blueprint, but the joy of intimacy is worth the risk. Trust yourself and step out in trust. The world is waiting to meet you halfway and open doors to exciting new relationships.
Fingers crossed that there is a book planned for J.T. And I hope and please hear my plea Ms. Connor that the hawt, funny, alpha Walker Brothers get books as well.
