Sandy M’s review of Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy, Book 1) by Lorelei James
Contemporary/New Adult Romance published by Ridgeview Publishing 19 Jun 16
What a very special gift it was to have this book release the day before my birthday this month. Like all of Lorelei James’ fans, I’ve been waiting for Boone and Sierra’s story ever since he broke her heart, leaving her behind to join the military and let go of his unhappy life. Seven years have passed for them, and now Boone is back, better than before – in his mind, where it counts anyway. Only problem? Sierra isn’t over her mad at being abandoned with hardly a goodbye. The man has a huge and important job ahead of him to give both them the life they’ve wanted since they met.
It was knowing he could never have given her anything she deserved – especially happiness – is what drove Boone away. Being a changed man now has made him determined to get what he wants out of life. What he wants is Sierra. That hasn’t changed. The woman herself, however, has – she’s smart, independent, and successful; knows her own mind – except when it comes to Boone, it seems. Because she tries her best not to give him even the time of day when he follows her from Wyoming to Arizona, avoiding him at all costs. Remember that determination I mentioned? Boone has a plan and he’s sticking to it. Which is very good news for Sierra, though she doesn’t know it yet.
Having been through a broken heart and all its consequences, Sierra won’t allow herself to be vulnerable to that state again. Thus, keep it all business when Boone finagles his way into her life little by little. ‘Course, she’s only fooling herself, because he still turns her on with just a look, and now that he’s got some life experience under his belt? Boone knows how to work her to get what he wants. On top of that, he takes it slow and easy, reeling her in at a pace she has no defense against. Like I said, she’s smart. So it doesn’t take her three-quarters of the book to figure out life would be better with him than fighting him off at every turn. There’s better ways to keep a reader on edge, along with the characters, than dragging out the same old theme page after page, and I’m so very happy Ms. James has a huge arsenal of those ways to keeper a reading interested. That gives more time for happiness and quickies (well, some long, drawn-out lovin’ sessions too) and keeps me happy and reading in the process.
Once Sierra realizes Boone isn’t going away, he’s in for the long haul, that’s when the real fun begins. I enjoyed how they learn each other anew, from the bedroom to the kitchen, what makes each other happy or disgruntled just from a look, how they talk to each other instead of letting details slide and thus resentment grow, how they help each other through a bad day. They’re young but have good heads on their shoulders to make a great life for themselves. Well, at least once all the secrets are on the table. Boone’s secret is a doozy, and once Sierra learns about it all, she has his back, no matter what. I love how they each go out of their way, miles and miles, to be there for the other to lean on when dealing with serious issues, so they’re not alone at such times. Wonderfully done.
Because this is a new series, a spin-off, so to speak, of the Rough Riders series, we’re dealing now with the new generation of McKays. We see Kyler, Haydon, and Anton – the McKay-kateers – on their own, away from that huge McKay family and getting into fun and trouble as youngsters are wont to do at their first taste of freedom. I’m glad they’re around, because there’s very few who can write family as well as Lorelei James, and these youngsters have that McKay motto of family first down pat. That first generation has done a terrific job of raising them. There’s also new characters written into the mix, this time friends of both Boone and Sierra, Lu and Raj, who are good sounding boards for our main couple and great laughs for the reader.
While I don’t read a lot of New Adult romance – that 18 -25 age range is really, really young for me – Ms. James’ characters are more emotionally mature compared to a lot of others out there, which is one of the main reasons I will always read her books. Both Sierra and Boone have been through a lot for their age, though their circumstances are quite different, and their demeanor and affect reflect that. They’re never TSTL or cause me to roll my eyes at antics that should never have happened, which is the quickest way to get to put a book down and never pick it up again. I can guarantee that will never happen when reading Lorelei James.
Grade: A
Summary:
The right love is worth the wait.
Sierra
Seven years have passed since I fell for Boone West. The brooding bad boy. We were friends, even when I secretly wanted more, but I settled for what he offered. After he left Wyoming—and me—I grew up. Moved on. Or so I believed until he blew back into my life with the scorching force of an Arizona desert wind.
I’m not that innocent sixteen-year-old girl anymore—I’m a businesswoman who swore never to settle again. But this older, wiser, hotter version of Boone unsettles me. How am I supposed to resist his megawatt smile and his built-army-strong body? Especially when he’s inserting himself into every aspect of my life? Now he’s determined to prove he can offer me everything that he couldn’t before—and he’s the only man that can fix the heart that he broke.Boone
Joining the army? Best decision I ever made. Even though it meant I had to leave her behind. Sierra McKay. The wide-eyed beauty, who saw more in me than I saw in myself. I didn’t dare offer her anything more than friendship, because one kiss, one touch and I wouldn’t have had the guts to go.
I’ve worked hard to become the man I am. I have a career. A purpose. After a chance encounter with the one woman I never forgot—I’m not leaving anything else to chance. Now that I’ve chased her across three states, I’m ready to demonstrate that the passion we couldn’t act on before burns hotter than ever between us. And I’ll use every weapon in my arsenal to show Sierra McKay that she’s always been mine.
No excerpt available.
