Two of Hearts
By Christina Lee
ISBN: 9780451473257
Author’s Website: www.christinalee.net
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Spoilers – but not the mystery (just the love parts)
Synopsis:
Dakota Nakos was always the resilient, strong-willed achiever. But when her father dies and she’s entrusted with the family’s casino, she feels vulnerable, scared, and more than a little emotional —not exactly the best time to see an old lover she’s never really gotten over.
Dakota once meant the world to Shane Garrity. Then suddenly he left town to train as a U.S. Marshal, and their love for each other crashed into a memory. Now he’s come home for her father’s funeral, and one look at the girl he left behind stirs up both memories and regrets, and reignites a fire he feared he’d lost forever.
Dakota may be the same driven girl she always was, but she’s also changed in ways neither could have anticipated. She’s not just a young woman searching for own identity in the Native American community in which she was raised, but one questioning her new life outside her father’s shadow. Above all she wonders if Shane can push past her weakened defenses to rekindle what they once had, or whether the intense blaze between them will ultimately reduce her heart to ashes.
Review:
My first exposure of the writing of Christina Lee has been delightful!!! A very poignant love story…but this tale has other facets, which added depth to the story and was appreciated by this reader. A mystery surrounds the murder of Dakota’s dad. Dakota (his daughter) and wife (Mrs. Nakos) are devastated, but must carry on the family business….running a local casino.
The personal relationship of Dakota and Shane from years ago and now in the present was well written with sufficient depth. How each of their insecurities years ago was depicted certainly explained why they were not able to make a go of it in the past. Question is, can they get over themselves communicate and make a solid go of a relationship? Well, as we read, they certainly do have to learn communication skills. In the end, they learn enough to solidify their relationship one way or the other. But I must say, for two adults, the lack of decisiveness and direct communication was a tad bit frustrating. I really wanted to give them both a good talking to!
I loved it when Shane was speaking to Dakota in one of their intimate moments (seemed he clued in to communicating is good in a relationship idea before Dakota did). He was trying to get through to her that in order to make their relationship work…she had to give of herself and not be scared of what could be:
“First you gotta want it and show the other person that you want it. Time comes and you feel the same? You want me like I want you? So damn proud that you’re dying to hold my hand, to kiss my lips in public, the way that I am every day? You get to that point? Then we’ll make it work, no matter what.”
The intimate scenes are HOT and steamy! Whew…and that is all I am going to say. Okay…one quote…. Shane’s way of alleviating insomnia is interesting:
“What did I tell you about that? A good listen or a good fuck, whatever you need”.
I enjoyed the association with the native culture, but would have like to read more on customs, etc. The majority of this came in the last chapter.
The mystery of who killed Dakota’s father is tantamount in Shane’s mind. He is SO protective of Dakota and her family (after all – he has finally decided he wants Dakota in his life forever) that he brings in work buddies from his job as a Federal Marshal. This whole storyline was well written and intriguing. I did not even get an inkling as to who the bad guy was until close to the end…and even then I did not definitively figure it out (which is a quality in a mystery that I value).
For my first foray into the writing of Christina Lee my comment is…success! I have found a new to me author whom I enjoy reading and will certainly do so again. My advice is to get this book and have a great time reading! Mystery, sexy, hot, compassionate, enlightening…enjoyable and took this reader away to the written world. ☺
