REVIEW: Defending Hearts by Shannon Stacey

Defending Hearts by Shannon Stacey: Gretchen is trying to keep her family’s farm running so that she and her beloved grandma can continue to live there. In an effort to bring in more money, they decide to open up a room for rent. When Alex decides that the story of Stewart Mills isn’t finished, he decides to return and write the story of the town and football teams’ comeback. Staying at Gretchen’s farmhouse is the perfect solution for his stay.

Alex immediately fits into the household and wins over Gretchen’s grandma and their dog, Cocoa. Gretchen is determined to keep a more formal relationship since he is their boarder. But Alex’s charm, obvious affection for her grandma and Cocoa, and his willingness to help out begin to thaw Gretchen’s demeanor.

“If I kiss you, are you going to be all prickly about it later?”
“Probably.”
“Should I let that stop me?”
Gretchen rested her hand at his waist and shook her head. “I’ll probably be prickly about something later, whether you kiss me or not, so we might as well enjoy the moment while it lasts.”

Gretchen still tries to maintain some distance, however, since she knows it’s only a matter of time before Alex leaves to follow the next story. She has no desire to be left behind, but she’s also irresistibly drawn to the sexy photographer. Both feel the attraction, but they have two chaperones in Gram and Cocoa. Gram is more than willing to help Alex’s case when she sees little progress in their relationship.

“I’ll make a deal with you,” he said, pulling her back down onto the pillows. “You let me kiss you for a little while, and then I’ll order you an entire carafe of coffee.”
She actually looked skeptical, which might have offended him if he were awake enough to care. “Do you mean kissing or do you mean sex? Because I have a no-sex-before-coffee rule.”

Defending Hearts is a fun and entertaining story of two people so focused on their work to the exclusion of everything else. Shannon Stacey created a great story that I didn’t want to put down! Defending Hearts can be read as a standalone, but it does continue the story from Under the Lights. Ms. Stacey also provided colorful secondary characters in Gram and Cocoa. Fans of Jill Shalvis and Kristan Hannah will enjoy Defending Hearts!

Book Info:

Publication: Expected publication: October 27th 2015 | Jove | Boys of Fall #2

The New York Times bestselling author of Under the Lights presents a novel of past triumphs, present challenges, and future happily ever afters…

They were the golden boys of fall: Stewart Mills High School’s legendary championship football team. Fourteen years later, they’re back to relive their glory, save the team—and find themselves again…

Globetrotting photographer Alex Murphy returns to Stewart Mills for a football fundraiser, but stays to document the football team and the town’s changes. Since his project includes photos of the Walker farm, he rents a room there.

Needing money to save the family farm, Gretchen Walker doesn’t have time to deal with the sexy photographer in her house. After all, Alex is a man with no sense of home, and to her, home is everything. But when she finds herself falling for him, she’ll be forced to decide where her dreams really lie…