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Opposites Attract #3
Two Hearts Denied
Each bearing a different painful past-Claire, a lovely, young lawyer and Ryker, a hardened detective--what can break the barriers that stand between them and a future together?
Brand-new lawyer, Claire Oberlin, wishes she could put the past behind her. She hasn't been able to rid herself of feelings for her best friend’s husband. They dated in high school and she never completely got over him. When they host a party at their place to celebrate her passing the bar exam, something unexpected and horrible happens. Her best friend’s husband never turns up. And within midnight hours his abandoned truck is found near a Chicago area forest preserve.
Ryker O’Neil, the detective who finds the truck, leads the investigation. Has the man disappeared of his own accord or has he been kidnapped? As this mystery proceeds, Claire and Ryker are thrown together over and over. Ryker has his own secret freezing his emotions in the past. And he believes that the missing husband has disappeared of his own accord—something Claire vehemently disagrees with. Will he be found and prove which one's right? And will both Claire and Ryker be able to put away their pasts and win a future together?
Brand-new lawyer, Claire Oberlin, wishes she could put the past behind her. She hasn't been able to rid herself of feelings for her best friend’s husband. They dated in high school and she never completely got over him. When they host a party at their place to celebrate her passing the bar exam, something unexpected and horrible happens. Her best friend’s husband never turns up. And within midnight hours his abandoned truck is found near a Chicago area forest preserve.
Ryker O’Neil, the detective who finds the truck, leads the investigation. Has the man disappeared of his own accord or has he been kidnapped? As this mystery proceeds, Claire and Ryker are thrown together over and over. Ryker has his own secret freezing his emotions in the past. And he believes that the missing husband has disappeared of his own accord—something Claire vehemently disagrees with. Will he be found and prove which one's right? And will both Claire and Ryker be able to put away their pasts and win a future together?
- GenresRomance
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2019
171 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Lyn Cote
121 books588 followersLyn grew up loving books. Her favorite night of the week was Friday night, when the Bookmobile came to her neighborhood in Illinois. She’d spend those two hours chatting with the driver of the Bookmobile and the librarian and making the big decision of the week — which books to check out! In those distant days, children were limited in how many books they could check out. Lyn could only take home six a week — and there were so many to choose from. Her favorites were Cotton in my Sack by Lois Lenski, The Little House series and the One of a Kind Family series. Later, she discovered Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances!
This love of books led to a desire to write. Lyn won prizes in high school and college for her poetry and, not surprisingly, Lyn became a history and English teacher. When she became a mother, she gave up teaching, and while raising a son and a daughter, she began working on her first novel. Then she wrote her second and third. Long years of rejection followed — as it does for most writers. Finally in 1997, Lyn got "the call." Her first book, Never Alone, was chosen to appear in the first year of the new Love Inspired line. Lyn has written many articles on writing and the emerging Christian Booksellers Assoc. (CBA) fiction market. In 2006, Lyn's book, Chloe, is a finalist for the RWA's RITA, the highest award in the romance genre in the inspirational category.
Now, Lyn spends her days writing books that show the power of divine as well as human love. Her nest is empty and she and her real life hero, her husband, have more and more time to spend together in their home on a lake in the lovely northwoods. And books are still dear to her heart.
This love of books led to a desire to write. Lyn won prizes in high school and college for her poetry and, not surprisingly, Lyn became a history and English teacher. When she became a mother, she gave up teaching, and while raising a son and a daughter, she began working on her first novel. Then she wrote her second and third. Long years of rejection followed — as it does for most writers. Finally in 1997, Lyn got "the call." Her first book, Never Alone, was chosen to appear in the first year of the new Love Inspired line. Lyn has written many articles on writing and the emerging Christian Booksellers Assoc. (CBA) fiction market. In 2006, Lyn's book, Chloe, is a finalist for the RWA's RITA, the highest award in the romance genre in the inspirational category.
Now, Lyn spends her days writing books that show the power of divine as well as human love. Her nest is empty and she and her real life hero, her husband, have more and more time to spend together in their home on a lake in the lovely northwoods. And books are still dear to her heart.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 18, 2021
In Two Hearts Denied, both Claire and Ryker are stuck on past loves. As they work together to find Claire's best friend's husband, they come to value being near each other. This well written book has well developed characters, a satisfying mystery, budding romance, disillusionment by Claire's over her branch of law , and more. I did not put it down!
July 13, 2019
This novel started out as a mystery but ended up being more of a romance. Claire is the main character and when the husband of her good friend goes missing, the police detective Ryker comes into the picture.
The fledgling romance is an interesting exploration of the lasting effects of prior romance. Claire had been infatuated with the man now missing and had never really let go of her strong love for him, even though he had married her best friend. Ryker's wife had been kidnapped and murdered. He was sure he would never take a chance on love again.
I was expecting some good detective work in Ryker solving the mystery of the missing man. But the investigation stalled without any evidence to follow. I was a little disappointed in the resolution to the mystery in the end, feeling it came a bit out of left field.
An additional issue facing Claire concerned her work as a lawyer. Just out of law school, she was dismayed to find the firm she worked for seemed to deal with some shady characters. That issue helped fill out the plot with a little more intrigue.
I like Cote's writing style and found reading this novel a pleasure even though I wasn't too pleased with the overall plot structure.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The fledgling romance is an interesting exploration of the lasting effects of prior romance. Claire had been infatuated with the man now missing and had never really let go of her strong love for him, even though he had married her best friend. Ryker's wife had been kidnapped and murdered. He was sure he would never take a chance on love again.
I was expecting some good detective work in Ryker solving the mystery of the missing man. But the investigation stalled without any evidence to follow. I was a little disappointed in the resolution to the mystery in the end, feeling it came a bit out of left field.
An additional issue facing Claire concerned her work as a lawyer. Just out of law school, she was dismayed to find the firm she worked for seemed to deal with some shady characters. That issue helped fill out the plot with a little more intrigue.
I like Cote's writing style and found reading this novel a pleasure even though I wasn't too pleased with the overall plot structure.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.
July 7, 2019
This suspenseful book definitely held my interest. Addictions of any kind are harmful, and they usually hurt many people, not just the one with the addiction. Forgiveness and love serve important roles in this story. Each book in this series has been delightful. I can't wait for the fourth one!
I received a free copy of this book from the author, but I was not required to write a review.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, but I was not required to write a review.
October 25, 2019
Book three in the series. I'm looking forward to the fourth. It kept my attention and had me wanting to keep reading to see how everything turned out.
I was given an advance copy by the author, but was under no obligation to review.
I was given an advance copy by the author, but was under no obligation to review.
April 2, 2020
Heartwarming
The characters struggled with past hangups and habits of thinking. With the help of family and God's leading they forged new paths
The characters struggled with past hangups and habits of thinking. With the help of family and God's leading they forged new paths
February 20, 2023
I was very disappointed with this story. The story line was very predictable and very drawn out
January 30, 2025
Very good!
July 25, 2019
Two Hearts Denied by Lyn Cote
Opposites Attract Series Book Three
Claire Oberlin grew up next to Annie and Melissa Petrov...and Troy. As her friends throw her a party for passing the bar exam, the night takes a bad turn that keeps on going. Troy is missing. As Claire starts her new job in the law firm and helps Melissa at night...her life isn't quite as she expected it to be. And then there's Detective O'Neill.
Detective Ryder O'Neill has seen plenty of bad in his career. Experienced it firsthand in his own life. Missing persons were his top priority. He's doing his best with the leads he can find in his search for Troy...and it doesn't help that the beautiful, young lawyer keeps showing up pushing him.
Loving this series. The characters don't have it easy. Real-life intrudes in their lives. Marriage issues. Trust issues. Finding the people they thought they knew as upstanding...are only human after all. Annie's story is book one; Only Her Heart. Patience, their cousin, is book two; The Heart Hopes. And the reader can learn more of Melissa, Troy, and their twin boys in the previous stories too.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...
Opposites Attract Series Book Three
Claire Oberlin grew up next to Annie and Melissa Petrov...and Troy. As her friends throw her a party for passing the bar exam, the night takes a bad turn that keeps on going. Troy is missing. As Claire starts her new job in the law firm and helps Melissa at night...her life isn't quite as she expected it to be. And then there's Detective O'Neill.
Detective Ryder O'Neill has seen plenty of bad in his career. Experienced it firsthand in his own life. Missing persons were his top priority. He's doing his best with the leads he can find in his search for Troy...and it doesn't help that the beautiful, young lawyer keeps showing up pushing him.
Loving this series. The characters don't have it easy. Real-life intrudes in their lives. Marriage issues. Trust issues. Finding the people they thought they knew as upstanding...are only human after all. Annie's story is book one; Only Her Heart. Patience, their cousin, is book two; The Heart Hopes. And the reader can learn more of Melissa, Troy, and their twin boys in the previous stories too.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...
September 9, 2019
This suspenseful book will definitely hold your interest.
The heart that goes into Ms. Cote’s books just blew me away. Everyone that I have read has been full of emotion and beautiful drama. This one has death playing a major part in this suspenseful piece. The author does not make life easy for her characters and this makes it such an outstanding read. I loved this book I am in fully in Ryder and Claire corner. Hope you take a chance on this beauty.
The heart that goes into Ms. Cote’s books just blew me away. Everyone that I have read has been full of emotion and beautiful drama. This one has death playing a major part in this suspenseful piece. The author does not make life easy for her characters and this makes it such an outstanding read. I loved this book I am in fully in Ryder and Claire corner. Hope you take a chance on this beauty.
October 29, 2019
I've now read all the books in this series. They can be read in any order. I like this one that is a mystery-a husband is missing. The reason for his disappearance is not what I thought which surprised me. Add to that the romance that develops between Claire & Ryker making this an appealing story. All the stories in this series are very good. I received an ARC. This is my voluntary, honest opinion.
July 7, 2019
Strong emotions fill this story. Will there be a chance of love? Will the mystery be solved? Good story. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews