Title: Brokedown Hearts
Series: Foster Siblings, #3
Author: Cameron Dane
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: Long Novel (332 Pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62300-373-9
Publisher: Loose Id (August 12th, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Blurb: Ex-con David Joyner returns home knowing he must atone for his past sins. Working at an animal shelter, David keeps his head down, desperate to prove to a hostile town he’s a new man. The one time David looks up, he spots fellow motel dweller Ben, and is terrified by his attraction to the man. David doesn’t want to feel anything. He can only damage what he loves.
On a forced vacation, PI Ben Evans accepts a job to tail a recently released prisoner. What begins as an easy gig turns complicated when Ben, a controlled man, can’t deny the pang of empathy he feels for his subject, David. Ben can’t suppress his aggressive sexual desires whenever he’s near David either.
Repeatedly crossing paths, David and Ben do their best to fight their growing attraction. When passion explodes, and secrets are revealed, both men have to conquer inner demons in order to accept the others love.
Someone has turned the tables on David, though, stalking him and leaving threatening notes. Will anyone believe David if he tells? And when David’s stalker raises the stakes, can Ben find the man who has become his world in time to save their love?
Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/brokedown-hearts.html
Reviewer: Tootsie
Review: I have always been a huge fan of Cameron Dane, HUGE. I have all of her titles and I could not wait to get started on this newest release. With that said, it pains me to say I had a really hard time getting through this story. In my opinion, it was not her best work to date. There were places I felt the story was too amateurish. The storyline seemed to drag and although the plot had a suspense/mystery to it, it was a bit stifling, almost stagnant at times.
David Joyner has just been released from prison and returns to his hometown to not only make amends, but to live his life and start anew. A lot of people turned against him after many of his secrets were exposed. He came out to his family and the entire town, at the same time, after stalking an ex and then trying to commit suicide. He only wants to atone for his past transgressions, find a steady job, and keep his head down.
He did find a job at the local animal shelter but keeping his head down has not worked for him. He gets into more than one raucous in town drawing unwanted attention to himself. What he doesn’t realize, however, someone is watching him very closely. He tries to figure out, on his own, who the mystery person is leaving him threatening notes. He’s not comfortable reporting these threats because of his record. No one will believe him, so he thinks, and maybe he deserves this anyway after what he put everyone through.
Because of the turmoil David caused in the past, Ben Evans, a private investigator has been hired to follow him and see if he is, in fact, a changed man. Ben has been forced to take some needed vacation time and put his own life into perspective. He hates not being able to work or staying busy so when he gets the phone call to help an old friend he jumps at the chance. What Ben doesn’t expect is to be attracted to David, the person he is to follow.
After meeting David, coincidentally they share the same motel, he recognizes immediately an attraction. Never in his professional career has he had such feelings towards his client. He knows he shouldn’t have those feelings now but he can’t seem to pull himself back. Each day, Ben and David spend a little more time together, learning about their pasts, what they want for their future and they have great chemistry. Ben is torn with decisions he knows he has to make. The first one being he can no longer follow David and report back his findings.
Will David even want to continue seeing Ben when he find out is true purpose? How will this affect his progress with his therapy? Ben knows he has to come clean with David. He really likes him and honesty is important to both of them.
David has made a lot of progress with his insecurities and his obsessive behaviour since he has been released. This time when he messes it up, he recognizes what he’s doing and immediately pulls back. Hopefully, this will pay off for him and give him the strength and courage he needs when the person threatening him ups the ante and takes it one step further. Will Ben be able to save David or will David finally step up, do what is required, and save himself?
Even though there were places within the storyline I had trouble, this is still a good story. It won’t keep me from buying the next one this author releases because Cameron Dane is an amazing author. She writes very hot sex scenes between her characters and she doesn’t hesitate to include them frequently. In this story, you could certainly see the characters growing and reaching a different level of maturity.
For me, the prose wasn’t as tight as what I am use to reading from this author. I know what Ms. Dane is capable of, and for that alone I will always read anything and everything she releases. This story is part of the Foster Siblings series but it can definitely be read as a standalone. Characters from previous books make a small appearance but if you haven’t read the others, it will not hinder you here.
I would recommend this novel to anyone because what bothers me may not bother you. And it is, after all, Cameron Dane. Just her name alone will always pull me in, without pause, allowing me any and every opportunity to add her books to my shelf.