Deputy Dana Birch has always been close with the Titan sisters, so close that she was considered part of the family. So, when someone started attacking the Titans, Dana did everything she could to bring get damning information on Garth Duncan. Their brother. However, now the sisters have decided to bring Garth into the family. He's their father's illegitimate child who's out to bring Jed Titan down. When Dana is sent by the sisters to keep watch on Garth, they start spending time together and Dana reluctantly starts to like him. Garth, Lexi, Cruz, Skye, Mitch, Izzy, Nick, and Dana decide to work together to bring Jed down when they find out that Jed is the one who set up the explosion that blew up the oil rig, temporarily blinding Izzy. As a result, Jed starts attacking Dana. She moves in with Garth and he and the other men decide to get extra protection for the Titan sisters. While working on their ultimate goal, Dana and Garth start having actual feelings for each other. Finally, Dana realizes she's in love with Garth. Imagine having this epiphany and going to talk to your best friend about how you feel only to hear the man you love say he doesn't love you and will never love anyone. As a result, Dana resolves to treasure every moment she has with Garth, until it's time to leave. Meanwhile, Izzy and Nick elope, and Izzy reveals that she's pregnant, while Skye continues to plan her wedding to Mitch. Shortly thereafter, Jed kidnaps Kathy, Garth's mentally disabled mother. Garth, Dana, and Nick follow them and retrieve Kathy. Jed is finally turned over to the police and gets put in jail. The very same night, Dana confesses her feeling to Garth and proceeds to walk away. He lets her. A few days later, after a conversation with his sisters and a revealing moment with his mother, Garth realizes his true feelings for Dana, and he asks her to come to the house where he professes his love and proposes. In the end, Skye ends up married to Mitch while Garth and Dana have plans to elope to Las Vegas. The Titan sisters, all four of them as Lexi says, live happily ever after with the loves of their life.
This story was very beautifully written. There was humor, solemnity, and love in every page of this book. I could feel the emotions of the characters and they were a tangible presence; they stayed with me the whole time I was reading. The happy endings that each of the couples received was more than I could hope for. I became emotionally involved with all of these people throughout the series, and they feel like family to me. I wish them the best.
I never expected to like Garth. I expected to have negative feels for him the whole series. So, color me shocked to find at the end of Straight from the Hip that I was actually coming to like him. From page one of Hot on Her Heels, Garth wormed his way into my heart and stayed there, will continue to be there. Garth Duncan was a beautiful character. He was a man who was simply looking for a family, people to love him, but he didn't know it until Izzy, Skye, and Lexi pushed their way into his life. With their love and support, along with the love and support of Dana, Garth became the man he should have been. He finally let go of his vengeance and illogical dreams, facing the reality of his life and accepting that he can be loved and love back.
In many ways, Dana Birch reminded me of Xhex of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series as I was reading this book. Dana was always the tough chick who protected herself and her heart from others as a result of her abusive past. When she finally let go and opened her heart, she realized that she can love and be loved, realized that she had the strength to open herself up and survive the heartbreak. In the end, Dana finally accepted that she belonged with Garth and the Titan sisters. She finally came into herself and, like Garth, became the person she always should have been.
One thing I liked very much about this book was how much Cruz, Mitch, and Nick were involved in it. After Under Her Skin, it seemed like Cruz disappeared almost completely for the next two books, making only very brief appearances, and the same could be said for Mitch after Lip Service. I loved Cruz, Mitch, and Nick, and was, therefore, very appreciative of their constant presence in Hot on Her Heels.
Thank God, Jed Titan finally got what he deserved.
With the end of this series, I find myself equal parts sad and happy. I loved this series so much, and I know I will re-read it many, many times. However, I wish there were more characters so the series could continue. Who knows, maybe we can have a next generation Lone Star Sisters series, with Erin, Kendra, and the other kids? Well, a girl can dream.