Three months after his family is notified that his brother Jake is MIA Lane Matthews decides to change his enlistment from the army reserves to a full time active enlistment and with some help he manages to ensure that his first overseas posting is to Jeddah, the posting that his brother was at when he disappeared.

 

I can truly believe that it’s the not knowing that’s the worst for any family in this situation and I didn’t find it hard to imagine Lane doing what he did to try and find his brother. When Lane gets to Jeddah his sole purpose is to try and find his brother or at least find information about what happened to him and where he might be. Entering into a relationship isn’t even on his radar and when he first sets eyes on Tristan it’s lust on first sight…seriously it’s maybe 24 hours between ‘hello’ and ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am …I mean man…see lust at first sight but as the days pass Lane and Tristan get to know each other building on their initial attraction as the relationship quickly slides from lust to friendship to lovers.

 

I think I just needed things to be a little longer with a bit more time and focus spent on both the relationship and Lane’s search for his brother…so yeah, I guess this is me saying I’m greedy and I just needed a little bit more to take this from a good and enjoyable story to something even stronger. However, what was here for me was really solid. I really liked Tristan and Lane as a couple but as individuals I have to admit that Tristan was my favorite. Lane had moments when I have to admit I was fairly certain he’d left his brain in bed that day and I feared for his well being but for the most part those moments were tied to his fear and anxiety over his missing brother so honestly the poor life choices really didn’t seem inappropriate either.

 

There were also a couple of secondary characters that I’d love to see get their own stories. First off is Ben Martins…Tristan and Lane’s housemate. I liked Ben and he just struck me as being a big ole teddy bear a big, muscular, built like a tank…yes, I have the feeling this is a big, muscular, sexy teddy bear that we’re talking about here…*sigh* Ben so needs a story and then there’s Lewis…he was a new member of Tristan’s team and we only saw him briefly and while Tristan indicated that he maybe wasn’t a great guy, he wasn’t on page long enough to give the reader as true sense of his character…so what can I say but ‘enquiring minds want to know?’.

 

I have to admit for personal reasons I was immediately drawn to this story because as a child I remember my grandmother telling me about her sons who went to war. She had six sons, 3 of them stayed home, 3 of them went overseas to fight in WWII and of those 3, one son came home, she buried another and the third one was listed as MIA. I remember her telling me that this was the hardest thing to deal with…the not knowing. If he was dead than she wanted to bury him, to grieve his death, if he wasn’t than she was left to wonder where he was, was he ok, why didn’t he try to come home if he was able to? And I have to admit I occasionally still find myself wondering what became of my missing uncle.

 

Now the only thing that I haven’t address is the ending and I have to admit the ending was definitely one of the best parts of the story for me. It worked there as solid dose of the real world in it and that’s all I’m going to say about that.

 

‘Guarding His Heart’ is only the third story that I’ve read by this author and while ‘Miracle on Three Kings Day’ is still my favorite I really enjoyed this one and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author to see if that changes. 

 

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An ARC of  “Guarding His Heart” was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing good ever comes from secrets. Especially the harmful and heartbreaking kind. Liam and Georgie are learning this the hard way. Both are left blindsided by secrets that people they love have kept from them. Each of them are dealing with repercussions and consequences the secrets have brought about. To escape the sorrow and pain both are trying to outrun it. Not acknowledging that the only way to conquer it is to face it. Maybe if given a chance, they'll find in each other what they have been searching for all along. Guarding His Heart by Annie Seaton is a beautiful story of finding your way in times of sorrow and pain. I was given an ARC for an honest opinion.

Synopsis:

 

Some people get under your skin.

Some get into your heart.

Bestselling author Liam Wyndham needed an escape, and Half Moon Bay, with its small town charm and beautiful ocean, is the perfect place to hide out from the scandal surrounding his estranged dead wife. A place where he can enjoy his writer's block in sweet isolation. But all of his plans to become a surly recluse disappear when carpenter Georgie Sacchi marches into his house…

Georgie wants an adventure, and she has a plane ticket that promises her everything she needs—excitement, independence, and a way to escape the memory of her last ruined relationship. Still, she has one last job to complete before she can leave the country. The last thing she needs is a recalcitrant author with a gorgeous face (and a hot body) distracting her from her plans.

But life doesn't always give you what you think you need…

 

 

My thoughts:

 

 This was a fun and quick (for me) read. I really enjoyed this book, the setting and the characters.

I really liked Liam; he is a very likeable and relatable character. Even with the past, he never gives up.

 

You can find my full review here

 

 

As most people, who know me, know i absolutely adore the Forever love series and that is where we first met, the one and only Leo Maxwell, who happens to be Zane Beaumont's best friend. The one he trusted to watch/guard Lucky.

 

Anyhoo.... Leo's dad wants Leo to work for the family company, Maxwell Corp, its not Leo's ideal job but he agrees that he can't be a bouncer/doorman for the rest of his life.

On his first day, on his way up to the floor he meet Hannah in the elevator. Who is very vocal about her new boss and how he stole her job. Hannah doesn't know she is actually talking to her new boss. She'd never met him or knew what he looked like. Yet even then there is sparks of attraction with a hint of embarrassment.

 

The chemistry between Leo and Hannah is intense. The flirty banter is cute, funny and sexy. Leo was already a well rounded character, who totally shone through. Yeah he was a little closed and guarded but he had been hurt before and didn't want to let anyone close again. Hannah is smart, witty and gives as good as she gets. Leo has met his match.

 

I have laughed so much at Leo and Hannah's banter and at the text messages and the emails. Things like that make the story much more real and believable.

 

There is some hot sexy scenes and a disastrous attempt to have elevator sex. Which had me giggling. Its good to read that not everything always works out in a book.

 

The duel points of view are a very big hit for me. I enjoy finding out how the other person is seeing the same situation. It opens up a whole different perspective.

 

I really enjoyed this book. I hope there is another book, maybe the wedding or a birth. I am not above begging, even on bended knees.