REVIEW: A Choice of Fate by Jezz de Silva

A Choice of Fate by Jezz de Silva is the second story in his Outback Hearts series, set in Australia and featuring a diverse family of adopted siblings. This particular romance is about two career oriented people whose devotion to their families has left them with little time for relationships – until they are thrust into a family wedding and find themselves caught up in a whirlwind affair with long term consequences.

Dr. Olivia Williams is ready to see her sister Abi get married to the man of her dreams in the Australian outback. She’s in need of a vacation too, before starting her new dream job back in L.A. A vacation fling would be even nicer – except that the one man she’s attracted to is none other than the best man for the wedding, and brother to her soon to be brother-in-law.

Jarrah Harper, high priced and successful attorney has never forgotten his indigenous roots, or the family that adopted him. Protecting the family’s ranch land in Wingarra is his top priority, as is helping out his family in any way, including being the best man for his brother Ryder’s wedding. Helping see the maid of honor to the family home is the least he can do. Olivia is smart, insightful and super sexy – and definitely off limits. Yet somehow, the warm and comforting atmosphere of home leads both Olivia and Jarrah to throw caution to the winds and indulge in a steamy, no strings attached affair. Olivia has every intention of returning to L.A for her new job, and Jarrah has cases awaiting his attention. Can a vacation romance lead to something more?

I enjoyed this trip into the Australian outback! The setting is authentic and I really enjoy reading about the large and diverse Harper family, as well as the townspeople of Baroona. The author is Australian and writes with a believable voice.

The romance between Olivia and Jarrah moves at a slow pace to start as while they are both attracted to each other, they know that getting involved is not the best plan. Still they can’t resist their attraction to each other for long. Their eventual love scenes are sexy and emotional. There is a tree close to Wingarra that has the reputation for giving psychic visions, which takes the story on a bit of a supernatural bent, though it’s definitely a contemporary romance.

Sometimes the story drags a bit with the tendency to over dramatize the characters internal musings. Also, the cover model does not reflect Jarrah’s appearance as described in the story as an indigenous Australian. But overall, it’s an enjoyable, entertaining, and sexy story with an emphasis on the importance of family. The next story in the series looks to feature one of Jarrah’s sisters and an old ‘frenemy’ of the family. I’m looking forward to continuing the series!
 

Book Info:

Publication: Jan 29, 2018 | Entangled Publishing | Outback Hearts #2

Los Angeles based Doctor Olivia Williams has everything she’s ever dreamed of—a healthy sister, the job of a lifetime, and more freedom than she knows what to do with. And she’s kicking off her new life with a month-long adventure Down Under to celebrate her sister’s wedding and meet the in-laws. But when the groom’s brother shows up to retrieve her from her hotel, the drop-dead gorgeous lawyer is everything and nothing she expected, and she’ll have to make a choice she never anticipated.

Australian Jarrah Harper has an Aston Martin parked beneath his penthouse, an overflowing little black book, and an obscenely lucrative legal practice that ensures he’ll never have to wrangle cattle or wipe sweat from his forehead ever again. But he still feels empty. When he sees his family’s home through the eyes of the entrancing Olivia, suddenly he’s rethinking everything. Including the fact that the alluring Olivia spells nothing but trouble.