Sandy M’s review of Hero by Samantha Young
Contemporary Romance published by NAL 3 Feb 15
This is my first Samantha Young read. I’ve wanted to delve into her On Dublin Street series, but I’ve hesitated at this point just due to time restraints to start a multi-book series. So when given the chance to read and review Hero, my hesitation was a thing of the past. I’m so very glad she’s written this non-series book so I was able to finally sample her work. Now what’s a reader-reviewer to do when she wants more?
Alexa has just returned to her job as a photographer’s assistant. Her mother’s death and the subsequent secrets that were revealed has left her reeling. So when she comes face to face with Caine Carraway on a current shoot, all hell breaks loose in her world again. Caine has been also been affected by her family secrets, even more so than herself. But when she confronts him, with somehow helping him deal with it all in mind, she’s not quite prepared for the fallout.
Wealth doesn’t take away pain, as Caine can attest to, so when his life is once again interrupted by his past, he reacts by lashing out. Alexa loses her job and her former boss loses his clients. Alexa tries to apologize so he’ll help her get her job back, but she’s still unemployed. But then Caine offers her a job in his organization – as his personal assistant. She knows he won’t make things easy for her, and he heartily agrees with her assessment, but she’s a determined and persistent woman.
And thus begins the fun – and the ultimate healing – between them. Caine holds true to making Alexa work in her new position and then some. She takes the punches like a woman, though. Her humor and brains are a big plus when interacting with this heroine, as Caine soon finds out. They fall into a rapport that is wonderful to read. Their banter is laugh-out-loud funny at times. They also begin to face their mutual feelings head on, leading Alexa to hope, more than she should, that perhaps they can truly build something between them. Though we discover her past little by little and how it has affected both her and Caine, we’re kept on a string as to his past. I always hold my breath when the huge final reveal is made in romance novels, because usually it’s never bad enough to warrant all the goings-on and emotional ups and downs that happen before the reveal. In this case, however, I have to give Ms. Young props on Caine’s confession as to why he keeps Alexa at bay much longer than anyone wants. But their push-and-pull game until that time is filled with humor and emotion that draws you further into their lives with each page.
Then unexpectedly there’s a twist late in the book that throws everyone for a loop. Especially Caine. It’s the beginning of the eye-opening you’ve been hoping he’d have. He deserves love just as he believes Alexa does, but he won’t give in and allow himself to succumb. But when it comes, it’s worth every bit of anger, sorrow, doubt, and vulnerability.
As much as I want to read more of Ms. Young’s work, this is one of those situations where I love this book and characters so much, I’m afraid to read other books and perhaps not enjoy them because of my reaction to this story. That has happened to me more than once over the years and I don’t do well with disappointment when it comes to my romance books. But I also love Ms. Young’s writing, the way she pulls the reader in from the first and never lets them go. So I’m pretty sure I won’t be disappointed in any of her other books.
Be sure to pick this book up very soon. I know you will love reading about Caine and Alexa and their road to love as much as I do.
Grade: A
Summary:
Alexa Holland’s father was her hero—until her shocking discovery that she and her mother weren’t his only family. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets. But when she meets a man who’s as damaged by her father’s mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.
Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa’s efforts at redemption, but it’s not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and explosive affair.
Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for. And when they’re on the precipice of danger, he finds he’ll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again…
No excerpt available.
