Sandy M’s review of In the Cards by Jamie Beck
Contemporary Romance published by Montlake Romance 9 Dec 14
This is one of those books that you come across once in a blue moon that you think is not your thing. As I was reading the first chapter, I told myself more than once that this story was not going to work for me, maybe I should just put it down and move on. Fortunately, I decided to keep going, and I’m very glad I did.
Levi and Lindsey have a history, albeit a very short one. Her family is on vacation when she’s a teenager, she’s taken by the older bartender she meets. He definitely puts her in her place and then they each go about their lives in different parts of the world. Years later Lindsey’s near-perfect life blows up, her fiance not the person she’s always thought. Needing distance from him and her parents, who can’t see anything wrong with the situation, Lindsey heads to the west coast. She ends up discovering what a small world it truly is.
Having been on his own for quite a while now, Levi doesn’t let anyone get close. His father’s life of conning people at every turn wasn’t for Levi, and he’s made his own way once he left his dad behind. He’s done quite well for himself financially, but emotionally he’s as closed off as can be. When the chatty and beautiful woman moves in next door, he has no idea how his world is about to change.
Lindsey recognizes Levi immediately when they meet again. He’s the one who’s a bit blindsided when he figures it all out later, cementing his belief he’s better off without any entanglements. But when he has a motorcycle accident, there’s no one to help him out when it’s time to go home. Lindsey steps up at this point, bringing them closer together, as they still try to figure out what’s going on between them.
Their lives so far have been the very opposite of each other. Lindsey is from a wealthy background, letting her parents make decisions for her while seeing nothing wrong with that. But with a cheating future husband, that changes in small steps the more she gets to know Levi. He comes from a one-parent background – his mother abandoning her family years before – never having anything stable in his life. Even in his current life, he doesn’t have real friends, anyone he can turn to when needed. When his fathers passes away, though, Levi does know he was loved.
During all of this, Lindsey has to decide if she’s going to go back to her scum of a fiance. This takes a bit longer than it should have, as far as I’m concerned. She’s too wishy-washy when she should kick the guy to the curb, especially after finding Levi again, though it takes a little bit for those feelings to come to fruition. And she has to get through Levi’s shields. They definitely have to go through plenty of pain to find their happiness together, but you know they’re going to be solid for the long haul when they finally come to grips with their feelings.
This is a book I highly recommend to you. I’ve not read Jamie Beck before, and I really enjoyed the story and the characters, especially considering this is her debut book. I look forward to her next release, Worth the Wait, which will hit the shelves in just a few days. Pick this one up. Get through that first chapter, and I can guarantee you’ll be glad you’ve met Levi and Lindsey.
Grade: B
Summary:
Lindsey Hilliard flees her charmed life in New York, searching for answers after her fiance’s betrayal fills her with self-doubt. Unfortunately, her rented Malibu home is next door to Levi Hardy, the sexy but insufferable man who humiliated her years ago.
Hardened by a grim past he keeps concealed, Levi prefers keeping a comfortable distance from folks, especially a nosy princess like Lindsey. But then a motorcycle collision brings him to his knees, forcing him to accept her assistance with his recovery.
Sparks begin to fly when the woman who doesn’t believe in herself teaches the cynic how to have faith in others. Levi realizes his body will recover, but his heart won’t if Lindsey returns to the ex who wants her back. In the biggest gamble of his life, he teaches her to trust her own voice, and hopes she’ll use it to say goodbye to her past and hello to a future with him.
No excerpt available.
