REVIEW: Adam by Roxanne St. Claire

In Adam (7 Brides for 7 Soldiers #2) by Roxanne St. Claire, After a stint in the Coast Guard as a rescue swimmer, Adam Tucker is back in his small hometown working alongside his twin brother Zane in their watersports business. But there’s a cause that’s near and dear to his heart after being unable to save a troubled teen when a rescue mission went bad. Adam is determined to open his own camp for young men, much like the one he couldn’t rescue in time and teach them to love the water and mountains and use that as an outlet for their problems. But in his hurry to complete the renovations on time, Adam hires a stunningly beautiful but seemingly shady woman, Jadyn McAllister. He wants to believe she’s not hiding anything from him, but he knows better. And as he falls even farther for her, he hopes he’s not making a mistake trusting someone who is obviously holding so much back from him.

“I’m not sharing my deepest and darkest secrets with you, Adam. My body? Yeah. Please. But that’s all.”
Disappointment thudded. “I want more,” he admitted in a husky voice.

On the run from a man who is threatening her life in Miami, Jadyn has been pressured by an FBI agent to hide out somewhere on the west coast for a while. With not much money and no idea where to go, she travels to a tiny town in Washington and ends up falling in love with its rich sense of history. Jadyn then somehow falls for a brave Coastie named Adam who is always ready to save anyone in need. They admittedly don’t start off on the right foot when they both botch an interview where she hopes to put her interior design skills to use. But it doesn’t take long for her to realize what a great team they make–and not just in revamping the building. With her life up in the air, never knowing when she might get a call to go back to Miami or if she might be tracked down by criminals, Jadyn knows it’s not the time to fall in love, but she fears it’s already too late.

“You obviously need a job and are hiding out and afraid someone will find out who you are, which is why I can’t ask questions and you want cash, and for all I know, Jadyn McAllister isn’t even your name.”
She felt the blood drain from her face and prayed he didn’t notice.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”

Adam was the exciting second book in the new 7 Brides for 7 Soldiers multi-author series. This particular romance was by Roxanne St. Claire, who threw her characters into all kinds of danger while they were falling completely and utterly in love.

I was so happy to get to read Rocki’s latest book, especially since it’s part of this incredible series which features so many big name authors. And this story had all of the elements I love in her work: passionate, genuine romance, a tight knit group of friends and family, and really interesting backstories for each character. Jadyn and Adam were two people who I connected with right away. There was something about how they both had risen above their troubled childhoods and recent personal setbacks to become strong, hardworking, caring individuals. And let me just say that it was an absolute pleasure to watch the guy who rescued people for a living get rescued himself, and the woman who made people’s homes beautiful learn how beautiful she was inside and out. *Sigh*

It was a blast seeing Jadyn and Adam meet for the first time as it didn’t go smoothly at all and left him looking like a grumbly alpha guy. But the awkward situation helped Jadyn meet a bunch of locals, getting in their good graces before Adam could even apologize. I loved their connection and how she was enamored of not only him, but of the the town and its wonderful history. We got to meet a bunch of the townsfolk (or meet again if you’ve read book one!) and saw some super funny interactions between Adam, his twin brother Zane, and most of the five other soldiers this series is based around. Oh, and there was also a nice edge of suspense as well as a bit of mystery in this plot which kept the pages turning quickly. I had fun figuring out who was really out to get Jadyn and how it would all work out.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable romance filled to the brim with adventure, a nice thread of action–especially towards the end–and the warm feeling of coming home, Adam is just the book for you. Highly recommended.
 

Book Info:

Published October 31st 2017 | South Street Publishing | 7 Brides for 7 Soldiers #2

7 Brides for 7 Soldiers

Fall in love with seven sexy and irresistible soldiers who find their courage and heart tested like never before in the battle for love! This multi-author collaborative series of contemporary romance novels is brought to you by bestselling authors Barbara Freethy, Roxanne St. Claire, Christie Ridgway, Lynn Raye Harris, Julia London, Cristin Harber and Samantha Chase. You won’t want to miss a single one!

ADAM – Book Two

Adam Tucker is a man on a mission. After failing to save a troubled teen from drowning, Adam traded being a Coast Guard rescue swimmer for the dream of starting a youth adventure camp in his hometown. Adam is willing to do whatever it takes to help other kids navigate the deep, dangerous waters of adulthood. He’s even bet his twin brother that he can finish the transformation of a boathouse into camp living quarters before the summer season puts their watersports business in full swing. But when the key to winning that bet turns out to be an interior designer who is as enigmatic as she is gorgeous, things get complicated for Adam.

With its soaring mountains and rushing river, Eagle’s Ridge is the perfect place for Jadyn McAllister to stay “off the grid” until things settle down in Miami. No one from her old life would expect her to hide out in a small town, working for cash and keeping her real name—Jane—a secret, but that’s exactly what the FBI told her to do. They also told her to trust absolutely no one, which isn’t a problem until she meets Adam. From the first moment, sparks fly and temperatures rise every time they’re together. She’s determined to keep him at arm’s length and in the dark…but the more time they spend together, the more she longs to wrap her arms around him and hold him close all night long.

With her aura of secrets and her tough façade hiding a vulnerable sweetness, Jadyn calls out to the rescuer in Adam. But he learned the hard way that total honesty is the only way to live and he senses Jadyn is lying to him. But she knows the truth could risk more than her heart – it could cost her life. As the whitewater of danger swirls around them, it will take more than a strong swimmer to save them both…it will take love.

Don’t miss any of the sexy soldiers of Eagle’s Ridge in the 7 Brides for 7 Soldiers multi-author series!

Ryder (#1) – Barbara Freethy
Adam (#2) – Roxanne St. Claire
Zane (#3) – Christie Ridgway
Wyatt (#4) – Lynn Raye Harris
Jack (#5) – Julia London
Noah (#6) – Cristin Harber
Ford (#7) – Samantha Chase

Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fifty romance and suspense novels. In addition to being a nine-time nominee and one-time winner of the prestigious RITA™ Award for the best in romance writing, Roxanne’s novels have also won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense four times, as well as many others industry awards. A frequent speaker and teacher on writing craft, Roxanne lives in Florida with her husband, and still attempts to run the lives of her two kids even though they’ve left the nest. She loves dogs, books, chocolate, and wine, especially all at the same time.