Series: standalone
Tropes & Traits: wrong side of the tracks hero; protective hero
Genre/Setting: Contemporary; Suspense; Wilmington, NC, USA
Publication Date: 10.13.15
Heat Level: 1/5, all behind closed doors
Rating: 5/5
Narration Rating: 4/5
Colin Hancock has a troubled past plagued with anger issues, but he’s learned to manage his aggression and is working to make the most of his second chance. He’ll go straight to prison if he screws up again and he’s determined that won’t happen. He’s focused on his college classes, working toward a teaching degree, avoiding known triggers, and taking out any aggression during workouts and MMA fights. He’s making good progress, but not looking for any serious relationship.
Maria Sanchez has been successful in her career, most recently landing a position at a prestigious law firm in her native Wilmington. But she returned home because of a traumatic incident that left her reeling and questioning her beliefs about her job, among other things.
When Maria and Colin meet by chance, they wind up developing a close bond that soon leads to a relationship which challenges them both. They begin to tentatively think of what sort of future they could have together, just as threats from Maria’s last position follow her into her new life.
I remember reading and loving this a couple years ago, despite not being a Nicholas Sparks fan (which is almost sacrilege for a fellow NC native), so I decided to revisit it in audio. I tend to not care for Sparks’ work because I prefer happy endings in my romance as opposed to being left with tear-jerking emotion and he seldom delivers a no strings HEA in my [somewhat limited] experience of his writing. So, the reasons I loved this one are likely things Sparks fans hated. With the suspense going on here I found I did enjoy it more in audio and kept looking forward to my commute to work so I could listen. I’m also usually left feeling unfulfilled by a story when intimate moments happen behind closed doors, but I liked the characters enough here that it didn’t really bother me. I loved that Colin was so unconventional and rough around the edges. He had anger issues, but his methods of dealing with them, his kindness, and his protectiveness of Maria just made him endearing. Maria was the perfect foil for him, and I loved the suspense here, even if it did mean that the romance took somewhat of a back seat. I could still see Colin and Maria growing closer through all that strife and so it worked. I only wish that the end had seen Colin getting more credit for his heroism and a bit more time with Colin and Maria being together in a normal time; I think that would’ve made Colin’s redemption storyline a bit more complete for me. The supporting characters here were lovely and charming and I really enjoyed this reread, enough to bump up my previous rating. I still wouldn’t consider myself a Sparks fan, but if he keeps putting out books in this vein, I’ll revisit his work until he breaks my heart again (looking at you, Rescue Me).
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1961981758
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