Title: Slow Burn
Series: Breathing Hearts #2
Author: A.K. MacBride
Genre: Angsty Romantic Comedy
Release Date: February 25, 2021
BLURB
My new neighbor ticks all the right boxes.
Tall – check.
Muscular – check.
Tatted – double check.
Until he opens his mouth.
Adam is grumpy, rude, and obnoxious as hell.
He’s the kind of guy who deserves double fisted middle fingers.
And I really should tell him exactly where he can shove his insults.
Instead, I bite my tongue.
He intrigues me and I can’t fight the need I have to find out what caused the pain so evident in his dark eyes.
Soon the thick hungry flames surrounding Adam consume me.
I should’ve known better.
Because when you play with fire, you’re bound to get burned.
REVIEW
Rating: 4.5*
Vulnerability. Hiding in the shadows. Despair. Tragic. Sad. Consumed. These are the words I would use to describe Adam and the way that he is living. There is no doubt that he has experienced a tragic loss which has left him scarred. For him, the easiest thing to do to escape it all is to hide himself away and limit his social contact but this leaves him living in a perpetual circle of nightmares, loneliness and self-loathing.
Vulnerable. Wanting acceptance and to follow her dreams. Persistent. Strong. Courageous. These are the words to describe Maddie. After her dance career didn't take off, Maddie returned home to work in the family's hardware store, whilst still dancing in her spare time. She has only ever wanted acceptance and love from her family around who she is and what her dreams are. She finds solace in her dreams and her dancing.
It is Maddie and her dancing (plus her dog Sheldon) that slowly brings Adam out into the light and the possibility of living again. Whilst sad and emotive, this was also hopeful and joyful and made my heart sing. Beautifully written.
PURCHASE LINKS
Free in Kindle Unlimited
EXCERPT
“Sorry,” was my weak reply. In my defense, having him all up in my space like he was was a little bit unnerving. It also gave me the perfect opportunity to notice things I hadn’t before. Like the fine lines framing his eyes or the light dusting of freckles that spread from one cheek to the other. And then the stubble covering his jaw that seemed to have a mixture of dark brown and golden strands.
I wanted to drag my palm over it and feel if it was as prickly as his personality. My gaze slipped to the scars on his neck. The thick welts covered his left side and disappeared into his shirt. A quick glance confirmed that they spread all the way to his left elbow.
What happened to you?
The question was there on the tip of my tongue. It was a damn miracle I didn’t voice it.
“Did your momma never teach you it’s rude to stare?” His voice boomed, pulling me out of my musings. I blinked once, twice, then two more times. The jaw I’d been studying seconds ago was set, the muscle ticking away like a timer of a bomb.
Then his words registered.
Squaring my shoulders, I tilted my head back and gave him a glare of my own. “No. Just like yours never taught you any manners.”
A thrill danced down my spine when his eyes widened just a smidge at the tone of my voice. I was pretty sure Mr. Big and Intimidating wasn’t used to people calling him on his BS.
Like he’d done the other day, he thrust Sheldon into my arms. Our hands touched for a fraction of a second, but it was enough to set my pulse on fire.
“Next time I see him on my property, he won’t be so lucky,” my grumpy ass neighbor growled.
I hugged my dog closer, feeling a mixture of relief and something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on. “If you hurt him, I’ll hurt you.”
His lips twitched. I wasn’t sure if he was holding back a smile or a snarl. “I’d like to see you try.” Spinning on his heel with grace no man his size should have, he strode to the fence between our properties and hopped right over it with zero effort.
Big, loud sirens went off in my head. That man was trouble with a capital T.
I think I like trouble.
ALSO AVAILABLE
Free in Kindle Unlimited
COMING SOON
Releasing October 28
AUTHOR BIO
Author of romances that leave you with ALL the feels.
She likes her coffee big and strong and her chocolate sinfully dark.
Living in a small town in South Africa, she’s afforded the luxury of being surrounded by mountains and waking up to birds singing their morning songs.
In addition to her coffee and chocolate obsession, she can’t say no to cheesecake or pastry.
When she is not creating emotional reads that tug on heartstrings, she’s busy being a wife to her best friend and a mom to a sassy little girl (whom she wouldn’t want any other way).
She just so happens to love stalkers, so don’t be shy and get your stalk on.
AUTHOR LINKS
GIVEAWAY
No comments:
Post a Comment