Sunday Review: A Hero's Heart by Amber Daulton

Title  A Hero's Heart

Author: Amber Daulton
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Novella

Published: November 3, 2013
Source: Free Copy from author for an honest review
Purchase Link: AMAZON

Blurb
Ten years ago, Jarrett Brandt left home and abandoned everyone of importance. After a hard reality check, the irresponsible young man matured into a ballsy DEA agent with a kickass Harley Davidson and a million-dollar bounty on his head. Ordered by his superior officer to take refuge at a safe house just days before Christmas, he headed back home to Washington State, instead, to make peace with his deceased brother’s memory.

Marissa Reinn Brandt never expected to see Jarrett again. Best friends since childhood and lovers as teenagers, immaturity, over-demanding parents and illicit drugs ripped them apart. Now a successful chef at a posh restaurant, the young widow and her son offered Jarrett a place to stay for the holiday. Even though she expected nothing from her former lover—the twin brother of the man she married—fate intervened.

As Jarrett and Marissa rekindled the flames of love and lust that once bound them together, an enemy from his past and a trusted mentor from his present vied their time in the snowy dark and threatened to destroy everyone he held dear. He needed a Christmas miracle to save his family and the love of a good woman to heal his battered heart. Nothing, no one, would stand in the way of his second chance with Marissa. Come hell or high water, he would cherish her body and her heart for all time.

Excerpt
Jarrett seethed. Ready to hit the highway on his Road King Classic and find a biker bar where he could bloody his knuckles, he turned and headed back toward the caretaker’s station. He reached the cracked sidewalk just as someone called out his name. His heart somersaulted as he flipped around. He’d know that voice anywhere. The woman who haunted his dreams skidded down the small hill in clunky shoes with damp auburn hair cascading around her shoulders. He expected her to stop a few feet from him just as his parents did but she jumped into his arms, instead, and knocked him back a few steps. She wrapped her arms around him. Her sweet scent filled his nostrils. He buried one hand in her curly hair and pressed her close to his chest with the other.

This one moment made the trip worth it.

“Marissa,” he breathed her name like a talisman. God, it felt so right to hold her again. She fit against him perfectly. Just a few inches under six feet, while he was a few inches over, their bodies meshed like a work of art. He should have married this woman, fathered children with her and lived his life to make her happy. Instead, he chose something just as intoxicating, just as beautiful to his ignorant mind, and abandoned her on the curb outside his family’s home. More than anything, he regretted that he’d left her behind. 

Review
Ms. Daulton wrote a great little tale about a man who turned his life around and was trying to prove to not only himself but his family that he was now worthy of them. After conquering a drug addiction he finds himself in the middle of the DEA, head deep in trouble. Now he must find a way to save the ones he loves.

This was an easy read that didn't take me long to fly through. It flowed smoothly and there were plenty of times I found myself smiling at the characters. I felt bad for Jarrett, always so hard on himself. Marissa was a delight. I enjoyed their banter quite a lot. 

I think it was the son though that stole my heart. He was a sweetie. Although parts of the dialog with him felt like he should have been older than seven. He seemed very mature for a young child.

I enjoyed the father, coming around to claiming his son. Jarrett had a hard life and his father was harder on him than anyone else. It was a great joy reading how the family dynamics evolved.

I give this read a 4 star review because it is deff one that left me feeling good and smiling.

 
About the Author:
Writing is the fruit to happiness.
Author of Forever Winter and A Hero’s Heart, Amber Daulton lives her life by that one belief even though she normally isn’t so Zen.
She lives in the beautiful foothills of North Carolina with her punk-rocker husband and their five crazy kitties. Writing takes up most of her time, aside from her day job in the retail industry. As a fan of contemporary, paranormal and historical novels alike, she can’t get enough of feisty heroines and alpha heroes. Her mind is a wonderland of romance and adventure, laughter and awesome ways of kicking a guy when he’s down. She probably wouldn’t be too sane without her computer and notebooks. After all, what’s a girl to do when there are people jabbering away in her head and it’s hard to shut them up? Write! Nothing else works.


Social Media Links:

Blogsite – http://amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook Author Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author
Facebook Friend Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.5
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1
Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624921.Amber_Daulton