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Heart of Gracetown
Broken Daddy
She isn’t just younger.
She’s my best friend’s daughter…
And her baby has my hazel eyes.
Decades in the Marines trained me to be ready for just about anything.
Until two years ago…
Audrey’s beautiful eyes had me hooked.
And I will never forget the wild night we shared.
My search for a missing person led me to her again.
And discovering who she really is shocked me–big time.
Audrey isn’t her real name.
Turns out she’s the daughter of my old buddy.
She thinks I’m an enemy, as dangerous as her father.
But I won’t let her run away this time.
Especially when I’m tempted to feel her soft skin under my sinful hands again.
But she’s kept a big secret.
Her one-year-old is mine.
Now my mission is to gain her trust.
Be the man she wants.
And be the daddy our baby needs.
Or I could risk losing everything...
She’s my best friend’s daughter…
And her baby has my hazel eyes.
Decades in the Marines trained me to be ready for just about anything.
Until two years ago…
Audrey’s beautiful eyes had me hooked.
And I will never forget the wild night we shared.
My search for a missing person led me to her again.
And discovering who she really is shocked me–big time.
Audrey isn’t her real name.
Turns out she’s the daughter of my old buddy.
She thinks I’m an enemy, as dangerous as her father.
But I won’t let her run away this time.
Especially when I’m tempted to feel her soft skin under my sinful hands again.
But she’s kept a big secret.
Her one-year-old is mine.
Now my mission is to gain her trust.
Be the man she wants.
And be the daddy our baby needs.
Or I could risk losing everything...
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2022
142 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 5, 2022
Kayla is running from her stalker with her young son. She assumes it’s her father’s doing, because she saw and heard something she shouldn’t have when she was in her father’s compound last time. The latest of her stalker turns out to be Monty, her baby daddy. Monty is stunned when the feisty woman his friend asks him to look for is his old friend’s daughter, his one-night stand, and she has a different name from when they met. Then he looks in to her baby’s eyes, he knows that is his son. Monty moves Kayla and their baby to Gracetown, gives her a stable environment to raise a child and write the stories she wants to, protects them from stalkers, and hopes to have a family. Monty himself is battling PTSD from his days with Marine, but deems the therapy useless. Stalker finally strikes and kidnaps Kayla when Monty is not around. He is her father’s former employee who is into human trafficking now. The showdown brings life or death matter in focus, which make both of them realize their love for each other. It is hard to find a therapist that you can trust to download your brain and emotions. Love comes all shape and forms. It is up to us to grab it with both hands. I enjoy the story.
July 30, 2022
Untangling the Past from the Present with Hopes of an Unfettered Future
It is advised that if an individual lies down with dogs, he will get up with fleas. Unfortunately for Kayla, the only child of a military veteran, whose return to non-military life and civilian employment, chose a pathway that would allow him to use the skills he had gained during a series of deployments—the ability to provide security, electronic monitoring and trained guards—for individuals in need of such protections. But the clients’ dangerous businesses exposed his family to a dark underside of society. The drug lords, gangs and sex traffickers who needed protection to safeguard them from their rivals in their dark underworld’s competition for territory and business. And so, unwilling to continue to live in such an environment, Kayla left her home in Louisiana, fleeing from her dad, whom she had come to see as a monster
Relocating from Louisiana only one state over to Mississippi, she rented an apartment, gained a job as a waitress and reinvented herself as Audrey. And, she chose to hide in plain sight, but with a slightly altered image. While her eyes remained brown, she is now sporting purple hair and several ear-piercings. And, she was no longer is a single teen on her own—she is now the mom of a 1-year-old hazel-eyed son, Hunter. And while life is not easy—she struggles financially to provide housing and care for Hunter on the small salary and tips from her waitressing, she is determined to never return to her former life and the danger was woven into the affluence.
And unfortunately, Kayla/Audrey cannot fully relax and enjoy her new life with her son. She is constantly looking and watching for She is always fearful of the past finding her, and as fate would have it, the past comes in the form of the one person she most fears finding her. The man she most fears is the man who gave her the greatest gift—her hazel-eyed son. So, when Kayla looks up and sees the same brown pickup truck driving slowly through the small town that has become her haven from the past, she panics that she has been found. The past may have found her, entered her present world, but she is not the same girl who left her former life. She will do whatever is necessary to prevent her young son, Hunter, from being pulled back into her past nightmare.
I have read other romances by the author and wanted to fall into the world of Kayla, but the author crafted a novel that required many threads of the past to be reconnected. Perhaps an initial chapter set in the past could have been used to set up the initial romance, then allow the dueling narrators to bring the story forward. Also, some careful editing would have been helpful. The author allows both narrators to have flashbacks from which key lessons or life altering experiences are revealed. An editor to help untangle the multiple threads would have improved the telling of the tale of the second chance at love romance.
I acquired a copy of this romance from Kindle.
It is advised that if an individual lies down with dogs, he will get up with fleas. Unfortunately for Kayla, the only child of a military veteran, whose return to non-military life and civilian employment, chose a pathway that would allow him to use the skills he had gained during a series of deployments—the ability to provide security, electronic monitoring and trained guards—for individuals in need of such protections. But the clients’ dangerous businesses exposed his family to a dark underside of society. The drug lords, gangs and sex traffickers who needed protection to safeguard them from their rivals in their dark underworld’s competition for territory and business. And so, unwilling to continue to live in such an environment, Kayla left her home in Louisiana, fleeing from her dad, whom she had come to see as a monster
Relocating from Louisiana only one state over to Mississippi, she rented an apartment, gained a job as a waitress and reinvented herself as Audrey. And, she chose to hide in plain sight, but with a slightly altered image. While her eyes remained brown, she is now sporting purple hair and several ear-piercings. And, she was no longer is a single teen on her own—she is now the mom of a 1-year-old hazel-eyed son, Hunter. And while life is not easy—she struggles financially to provide housing and care for Hunter on the small salary and tips from her waitressing, she is determined to never return to her former life and the danger was woven into the affluence.
And unfortunately, Kayla/Audrey cannot fully relax and enjoy her new life with her son. She is constantly looking and watching for She is always fearful of the past finding her, and as fate would have it, the past comes in the form of the one person she most fears finding her. The man she most fears is the man who gave her the greatest gift—her hazel-eyed son. So, when Kayla looks up and sees the same brown pickup truck driving slowly through the small town that has become her haven from the past, she panics that she has been found. The past may have found her, entered her present world, but she is not the same girl who left her former life. She will do whatever is necessary to prevent her young son, Hunter, from being pulled back into her past nightmare.
I have read other romances by the author and wanted to fall into the world of Kayla, but the author crafted a novel that required many threads of the past to be reconnected. Perhaps an initial chapter set in the past could have been used to set up the initial romance, then allow the dueling narrators to bring the story forward. Also, some careful editing would have been helpful. The author allows both narrators to have flashbacks from which key lessons or life altering experiences are revealed. An editor to help untangle the multiple threads would have improved the telling of the tale of the second chance at love romance.
I acquired a copy of this romance from Kindle.
July 10, 2022
On the Run . . .
Kayla Brown knew immediately she was being followed. She was sick of having to run. She knew her father was trying to capture her to make sure she didn’t say anything about something she had seen. But he should already know she had kept her mouth shut. This wasn’t necessary. Her father didn’t know about her son, Hunter, so she had to lose her stalker before she picked her son up. Racing down alleys, she made her way to the older woman watching him. The woman was not happy that she owed back rent and was late getting Hunter. She apologized and started toward her apartment when she felt watched again. She ran to a friend’s place and asked her to watch Hunter. Then she took off to lose her stalker. Feeling safe in a playground, she slowed and was grabbed – but not by her father’s men. She looked into the confused eyes of Monty who called her “Audrey”, the name she used when they had met and had a one-night-stand he never forgot.
Monty was a PI hired by a friend of hers, Faith, to find Kayla. Before she said a word, she hit him in the eye and ran. He easily caught her and she used arms and legs to injure him and would have done so if he hadn’t had 20 years of training in the Marines. He threw her over his shoulder and it became clear that she thought he had been stalking her on her father’s orders. She wouldn’t believe him and had thought Faith was dead, so he called her and let them talk. Faith wanted to see her, so Monty agreed to take her there. Would he get her back to her son when the visit was over? Would he see the baby and realize Hunter was his? And was he ready to keep his new family safe as the bad guys were closing in?
Kayla Brown knew immediately she was being followed. She was sick of having to run. She knew her father was trying to capture her to make sure she didn’t say anything about something she had seen. But he should already know she had kept her mouth shut. This wasn’t necessary. Her father didn’t know about her son, Hunter, so she had to lose her stalker before she picked her son up. Racing down alleys, she made her way to the older woman watching him. The woman was not happy that she owed back rent and was late getting Hunter. She apologized and started toward her apartment when she felt watched again. She ran to a friend’s place and asked her to watch Hunter. Then she took off to lose her stalker. Feeling safe in a playground, she slowed and was grabbed – but not by her father’s men. She looked into the confused eyes of Monty who called her “Audrey”, the name she used when they had met and had a one-night-stand he never forgot.
Monty was a PI hired by a friend of hers, Faith, to find Kayla. Before she said a word, she hit him in the eye and ran. He easily caught her and she used arms and legs to injure him and would have done so if he hadn’t had 20 years of training in the Marines. He threw her over his shoulder and it became clear that she thought he had been stalking her on her father’s orders. She wouldn’t believe him and had thought Faith was dead, so he called her and let them talk. Faith wanted to see her, so Monty agreed to take her there. Would he get her back to her son when the visit was over? Would he see the baby and realize Hunter was his? And was he ready to keep his new family safe as the bad guys were closing in?
August 9, 2023
HEA
Standalone, interconnected characters
Heart of Gracetown series Book 3
Secret baby, father's friend
*over 18 readers only*
Kayla/Audrey (mfc)
Monty (mmc)
Faith (friend mfc)
Vinny (married Faith)
Ella (babysitter)
Trigger warnings
Stalking
Past torture mentioned
Past fubar military mission flashback
Missing kid
Survivor's Guilt
Kayla is a single mom on the run from her father and his "people"; she knows something she shouldn't, and they want to keep her quiet. Monty has been hired to find her because of an old friend of hers, Faith. Monty was hired to find Kayla, but when he met her two years ago, she went by the name Audrey. She's shocked, and he's confused. But she doesn't want him to find her son, so she agrees to go with him to see Faith. While there, she gets the call that every parent dreads - her son is missing. By the time they get back to her town, the kid has been found, but now Monty know about him. What will she do?
These books don't go the way you first expect them to. They are fairly well written and thought out. I like that I don't immediately know who the "bad guy" is while reading.
Standalone, interconnected characters
Heart of Gracetown series Book 3
Secret baby, father's friend
*over 18 readers only*
Kayla/Audrey (mfc)
Monty (mmc)
Faith (friend mfc)
Vinny (married Faith)
Ella (babysitter)
Trigger warnings
Stalking
Past torture mentioned
Past fubar military mission flashback
Missing kid
Survivor's Guilt
Kayla is a single mom on the run from her father and his "people"; she knows something she shouldn't, and they want to keep her quiet. Monty has been hired to find her because of an old friend of hers, Faith. Monty was hired to find Kayla, but when he met her two years ago, she went by the name Audrey. She's shocked, and he's confused. But she doesn't want him to find her son, so she agrees to go with him to see Faith. While there, she gets the call that every parent dreads - her son is missing. By the time they get back to her town, the kid has been found, but now Monty know about him. What will she do?
These books don't go the way you first expect them to. They are fairly well written and thought out. I like that I don't immediately know who the "bad guy" is while reading.
July 8, 2022
Reunited For A Life Worth Living -
When Monty took the job to find the missing young woman, the last thing he expected to find was the woman from his past that he couldn’t forget and that she was also keeping a life changing secret from him. Kayla had been on the run for so long, that she didn’t trust anyone, so even though she discovered the person following her was Monty, she was still apprehensive. However, she would soon discover that the only way she felt safe was when she was with Monty.
This was an engaging, action-packed second chance romance, that had my emotions jumping all over the place, as I turned the pages. In my opinion, this was an awesome romance story that is a definite home run.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
When Monty took the job to find the missing young woman, the last thing he expected to find was the woman from his past that he couldn’t forget and that she was also keeping a life changing secret from him. Kayla had been on the run for so long, that she didn’t trust anyone, so even though she discovered the person following her was Monty, she was still apprehensive. However, she would soon discover that the only way she felt safe was when she was with Monty.
This was an engaging, action-packed second chance romance, that had my emotions jumping all over the place, as I turned the pages. In my opinion, this was an awesome romance story that is a definite home run.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 11, 2022
Kayla has felt like she has been followed for months. She thought it was her father trying to make her come back after she saw something he was doing. She's struggling to survive and to stay ahead of whomever is following her. Then she runs into Monty after she asks a friend to watch her son for her. Things get complicated when she learns that Monty was looking for her for her friend Faith. However, he hasn't been the one following her all these months. Its not long after that Monty learns that she had his son. Will they discover who is after her? Can Monty convince her to take a chance on him?
This is an amazing story that once I started it I couldn't' put it down. This is a well written and very entertaining story. This is a book for any book lover to enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is an amazing story that once I started it I couldn't' put it down. This is a well written and very entertaining story. This is a book for any book lover to enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 16, 2022
Good book! You will fall in love with Kayla and Monty. She has stayed on the run thinking the worst of her father for years. While moving around she runs into Monty and they have the best one night together. But then she gets pregnant and it becomes harder on her to hide her and her son until, her one night stand finds her for a friend of hers. She thinks her son has been kidnapped and Monty finds out he's a dad. He will do whatever it takes to protect Kayla and her son. But when she's kidnapped she thinks she will die but Monty finds her and they vow their love to each other forever.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 23, 2022
Kayla is on the run with her little boy after she witnesses something she shouldn’t have and has acquired a stalker. An old friend asks Monty to find his daughter, only to find out that the woman he spent a steamy night with, is the woman he is searching for, plus the little boy has the same eyes as his. Monty will do whatever he must to protect and keep Kayla and his son safe. This is a well written 2nd chance, age gap romance, with secrets, family, trust, action, emotions, suspense, danger, intrigue, and love, which leads to a compelling page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 5, 2022
I thought this was a good story, sensitive to PTSD. People often meet at different stages of life and age is just one factor. Kayla was smart and deserving of respect - getting out of an abusive relationship and later keeping herself and her son safe on her own. There was also a lot to admire about Monty. Despite his PTSD, he was a protector and stand up guy. I loved how Kayla wouldn’t give up on him, even when that would’ve been easy to do.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 9, 2022
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review. This love story has secrets, danger, twists and turns. Kayla and Monty have some history together. A lot has happened in the time frame they were apart. There were many struggles for them both. I thought their story was more than a second chance. It is about finding a family and future together. Kayla is a strong young mother, scared to trust. He wants to be strong enough for them both. Good characters and suspenseful love story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 11, 2022
This ran the gamut of my emotions...
I won't go into the story itself as that has pretty much been covered in the blurb & by prior reviewers. It was a seriously good page turner with interesting characters & a little bit of everything to keep you engaged...age gap, hero with ptsd, heroine on the run with her son, the image of the one night stand hero. Really enjoy this author's work. I received an arc & this is my honest & voluntary review.
I won't go into the story itself as that has pretty much been covered in the blurb & by prior reviewers. It was a seriously good page turner with interesting characters & a little bit of everything to keep you engaged...age gap, hero with ptsd, heroine on the run with her son, the image of the one night stand hero. Really enjoy this author's work. I received an arc & this is my honest & voluntary review.
October 6, 2022
Good
Ok so the title throws you off .. This is not a DD/lg book .. He is the actually daddy and he has been to war and is broken ... So that aside , I loved the book , I have to go and start at the first book in the series , but they meet fell in love , she made assumptions about him and that began the story .. At times it was long winded and some of it could have been shortened but It was a good read
Ok so the title throws you off .. This is not a DD/lg book .. He is the actually daddy and he has been to war and is broken ... So that aside , I loved the book , I have to go and start at the first book in the series , but they meet fell in love , she made assumptions about him and that began the story .. At times it was long winded and some of it could have been shortened but It was a good read
July 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this well written, enemies to lovers, second chance, extreme age gap romance. Lots of drama, angst, distrust, secrets and love which makes a pretty steamy page turner. It’s a captivating and emotional story that’s definitely worth a read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 7, 2022
This book is full of suspense as someone is after Kayla. Monty is searching for a friend's friend not knowing who it really is. He has issues with PTSD so beware as it could be a trigger for some.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 9, 2022
The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Monty, Kayla and her son, Hunter, and does not let go. The story keeps us turning the pages with secrets, suspense, danger and love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 10, 2022
Really enjoyed the twists& turns in this book. Kayla & Monty get a second chance but both are dealing with a lot. Kayla, a stalker & Monty, ptsd. There’s secrets, drama & a one night stand. With all of this, you get a great story.
July 15, 2022
Broken Daddy
Great story. Woman constantly on the run, thinking her dad has people after her. Then she finds a man to help her, or is he. Awesome story, exciting, full of drama, love and emotions ❤️.
Great story. Woman constantly on the run, thinking her dad has people after her. Then she finds a man to help her, or is he. Awesome story, exciting, full of drama, love and emotions ❤️.
August 27, 2022
Didn’t love it. Plot holes everywhere. A lot of the main plot lines concluded within one or two pages. Little explanation, little closure. It seemed to skip over all of the important things? It felt rushed and like the author couldn’t decide on a plot.
July 9, 2022
Awesome book
A fast-paced and intriguing book with a captivating plot and interesting characters. I enjoyed it a lot and would love to read more about Kayla and Monty.
A fast-paced and intriguing book with a captivating plot and interesting characters. I enjoyed it a lot and would love to read more about Kayla and Monty.
August 12, 2022
Monty & Kayla were good characters. Good age gap book. Am voluntarily leaving my review.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews