Stonewall

Texas Wildfire #3

by Diane Roth

Stonewall: A large immovable object, rock hard, stalwart, divisive, protective.

Dr. Jackson Payne is all of the above ... and the best eye candy Madison Brooks has ever seen. He's also the most stubbornly honorable man she's ever met. And though Jack Payne has secrets that make him unavailable ... untouchable ... he's also undeniably the most delicious temptation Maddie Brooks has ever faced.

Dr. Jack Payne has been carrying a load of emotional baggage for six years now and has survived by keeping his shoulder to the wheel, head down, and his heart closed off. But Maddie Brooks has awakened some long-buried feelings that are harder to overcome than the tragedies and burdens of his past. He wants her bad, but he’s honorable to a fault, and sees no way he can keep his honor and have Maddie, too.

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2014

About the author

A Pediatric Nurse for the past twenty years, Diane wrote her first novel on a dare from her best friend while in Nursing School. Turns out, it was a pretty good stress reliever.

Married to the same handsome guy for the past thirty-six years, she recognized early on the value of his cooking skills, and he found out that her writing behooved him. It's still a darned good combination.

Diane is a proud Native Texan, who believes that Texas men are some of the strongest, smartest, sexiest men on the planet, and with that inspiration, she creates heroes who'll stay on your mind and in your heart for quite a while after you've flipped the last page.

Diane's debut series is a Contemporary Romance trio, Texas Wildfire Series, but she'll also release a Historical Romance in 2014.

Reviews

[Debbie Oxier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have given this book more than five stars if possible. Ran across it by accident and was hooked from the very start. Of course, I've gotten reeled in before only to end up disappointed when all is said and done. Not so, this time. Jack is an ER physician, Maddie in nursing school when she gets a job as a tech working alongside Jack. She's attracted to him immediately but the wedding ring on his finger keeps her from acting on that attraction. Jack too feels an attraction for Maddie, how can he not seeing as how she's beauty and kindness and strength all rolled into one. He wants to know her better but is caught up in an impossible situation not of his own making. Although he and his wife have been apart for six years, he's never forsaken his vows and has no intention of doing so with Maddie. Honor and integrity are important to him and though he's highly tempted by her, he refuses to give in to his feelings just for the sake of a few hours of pleasure. I can't say much more without giving a vital part of the story away and I don't want to spoil it, but the decisions Jack and Maddie have to make if they want a future together are heart-wrenching. You want so badly to see them together and you suffer right along with them in their struggles to do what is right. If faced with Jack's decision, who knows what a person might do? I found myself crying for him and his apparent heartache, even as I cheered for the eventual outcome I felt sure was going to occur. This story was gritty, full of angst and oh so touching. I didn't want to put it down even after reaching the end. The characters were so likeable, they sucked you right in to their story and refused to let you go when you reached the final page. My hope is that I will hear from them again, maybe in a future book. The author did a fantastic job with this story, inspiring a whole host of emotion as I was reading it. As such, I highly recommend you getting a copy so you can see for yourself what I mean.

[Janey · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely sweet read!, have to say it though the kissing!!, so much kissing but I could feel both Jacks and Maddie's desperation and heated hotness to go to the next step but their absolute resolve to do the honourable thing and wait, I've never read kissing described so deliciously and so steamy, very hot and heavy, this is the third book in the series and have enjoyed all three, who's next I wonder??

[Lisa A · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars...Great series...Author has great characters with a great story line. I loved the first book in this series and couldn't get enough of these characters that we do see throughout the series. This one, a Hot young doctor has a broken heart. Can Maddie, Cara's daughter from book one be the one to help heal him. Would love to see more of all these characters.

[Janet Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rapid fire read of life and love in the Texas Hill Country

I love the way the author blends characters and families from the previous books. Also she hints at possible future relationships in upcoming books, I hope!