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Heroes of New York #1
The Paramedic's Rescue
When a strikingly handsome paramedic finds Kara Larsen's lost toddler, only to lecture her for failing to mind her child, Kara is embarrassed and relieved she'll never have to deal with him again... no matter how good looking he is. Doesn't he know being a single mom is a lot harder than it seems?! But when baby Nadia has trouble breathing one night, Kara's frantic 911 call brings that same intense first responder right to her door...
FDNY paramedic Reid Bennett has a compulsion to help frantic parents. But after the way he reacted to the beautiful woman in the department store that day, she wants nothing to do with him. But when they bump into each other for the third time in a week, they both know there's a spark that can't be ignored...
And Reid thought he had no interest in long-term commitment. But when Nadia's father calls out of the blue, Reid realizes he has some triage to do if he hopes to keep his girls...
THIS BOOK WAS PREVIOUSLY TITLED: His Touch
Heroes of New York series
Book 1: The Paramedic's Rescue by Patty Blount
Book 2: The Rebel's Redemption by Jolyse Barnett
Book 3: The Doctor's Love by Jennifer Gracen
FDNY paramedic Reid Bennett has a compulsion to help frantic parents. But after the way he reacted to the beautiful woman in the department store that day, she wants nothing to do with him. But when they bump into each other for the third time in a week, they both know there's a spark that can't be ignored...
And Reid thought he had no interest in long-term commitment. But when Nadia's father calls out of the blue, Reid realizes he has some triage to do if he hopes to keep his girls...
THIS BOOK WAS PREVIOUSLY TITLED: His Touch
Heroes of New York series
Book 1: The Paramedic's Rescue by Patty Blount
Book 2: The Rebel's Redemption by Jolyse Barnett
Book 3: The Doctor's Love by Jennifer Gracen
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2015
388 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
About the author
Patty Blount
18 books780 followersPatty Blount grew up quiet and a bit invisible in Queens, NY, but found her voice in books. Today, she writes smart and strong characters willing to fight for what’s right. She’s the award-winning author of edgy, realistic, gut-wrenching contemporary and young adult romance. Still a bit introverted, she gets lost often, eats way too much chocolate, and tends to develop mad, passionate crushes on fictional characters. Let’s be real; Patty’s not nearly as cool as her characters, but she is a solid supporter of women’s rights and loves delivering school presentations.
Patty is best known for her internet issues novels, SEND, a 2012 Junior Library Guild Fall Pick and TMI, a 2014 Watty winner, and her #MeToo novels, including SOME BOYS, a 2015 CLMP Firecracker winner and SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW, a 2019 double Athena Award winner. Visit her website at pattyblount.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter. She blogs at YA Outside the Lines and is also active online. She loves hearing from readers, especially when they tell her she’s cool (even though she knows it’s not true), and is easily bribed with chocolate. Never underestimate the power of chocolate.
Patty is best known for her internet issues novels, SEND, a 2012 Junior Library Guild Fall Pick and TMI, a 2014 Watty winner, and her #MeToo novels, including SOME BOYS, a 2015 CLMP Firecracker winner and SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW, a 2019 double Athena Award winner. Visit her website at pattyblount.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter. She blogs at YA Outside the Lines and is also active online. She loves hearing from readers, especially when they tell her she’s cool (even though she knows it’s not true), and is easily bribed with chocolate. Never underestimate the power of chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 27, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
WHY DO FEEL GOOD BOOKS HAVE TO MAKE ME CRY!
Kara Larson is a very prestigious Financial Advisor, she also has a little girl named Nadia. Kara is a single parent of Nadia who is almost 2 years-old, her father Steve bailed when he found out Kara was pregnant. The jerk!!
Kara decides to take a CPR course for babies and toddlers, this is where she meets the beautiful Reid Bennett. He's a FDNY paramedic and hot to boot :)
Reid likes how Kara handles herself in the class....until....later when they are faced a few times with some problems that arise with Kara and Nadia. Reid thinks Kara is not a good mom. But there is a reason for this, Reid lost his little girl Erin, she died and his wife Lynn left him. I won't say any more.
But Reid and Kara keep running into each other. It seems they always meet at the 911 Memorial as Kara's mother died on that day and Reid's brother. They both go to the little park to talk to their family members that have passed :(
Finally, Reid sees the error of his ways in blaming Kara for some things that have happened to Nadia. They start to form a bond and this eventually leads to love.
There are some more important things that happen in the book, but I don't want to give away too many spoilers. This is a short, sweet book and I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved the book. I'm always a little weird reading flat out romance, but this was so very good. I look forward to the other books, although I'm not sure they continue on with Kara and Reid or someone else that was in the book..ooops..I didn't read that far into the other ones :)
*I WON'T HAVE THE BOOK UP ON MY BLOG UNTIL THE BLOG/BOOK TOUR ON OCT 30!*
WHY DO FEEL GOOD BOOKS HAVE TO MAKE ME CRY!
Kara Larson is a very prestigious Financial Advisor, she also has a little girl named Nadia. Kara is a single parent of Nadia who is almost 2 years-old, her father Steve bailed when he found out Kara was pregnant. The jerk!!
Kara decides to take a CPR course for babies and toddlers, this is where she meets the beautiful Reid Bennett. He's a FDNY paramedic and hot to boot :)
Reid likes how Kara handles herself in the class....until....later when they are faced a few times with some problems that arise with Kara and Nadia. Reid thinks Kara is not a good mom. But there is a reason for this, Reid lost his little girl Erin, she died and his wife Lynn left him. I won't say any more.
But Reid and Kara keep running into each other. It seems they always meet at the 911 Memorial as Kara's mother died on that day and Reid's brother. They both go to the little park to talk to their family members that have passed :(
Finally, Reid sees the error of his ways in blaming Kara for some things that have happened to Nadia. They start to form a bond and this eventually leads to love.
There are some more important things that happen in the book, but I don't want to give away too many spoilers. This is a short, sweet book and I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved the book. I'm always a little weird reading flat out romance, but this was so very good. I look forward to the other books, although I'm not sure they continue on with Kara and Reid or someone else that was in the book..ooops..I didn't read that far into the other ones :)
*I WON'T HAVE THE BOOK UP ON MY BLOG UNTIL THE BLOG/BOOK TOUR ON OCT 30!*
July 14, 2015
The first in the Summer in New York series, His Touch was another enjoyable offering from Patty Blount. Whilst easily a standalone read, it's also linked to the Christmas in New York series released last year and if you read these, you'll have already met Kara and her daughter, Nadia so I was pleased to see she got her story.
Sweet, romantic and full of emotional moments, Kara and Reid are both lonely, haven't had it easy over the past few years and both suffered loss in the 9/11 atrocities. Whilst I felt their romance seemed to be paced a little oddly; they go from nothing to full-on fairly rapidly, they were lovely together, Reid's relationship with Nadia brought a serious dose of cute, and it did bring plenty moments to pull on the heart strings.
If an easy but emotional read with likeable characters is what you're after, this ticks the boxes. 3.5 stars.
Copy received courtesy of Tule Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Sweet, romantic and full of emotional moments, Kara and Reid are both lonely, haven't had it easy over the past few years and both suffered loss in the 9/11 atrocities. Whilst I felt their romance seemed to be paced a little oddly; they go from nothing to full-on fairly rapidly, they were lovely together, Reid's relationship with Nadia brought a serious dose of cute, and it did bring plenty moments to pull on the heart strings.
If an easy but emotional read with likeable characters is what you're after, this ticks the boxes. 3.5 stars.
Copy received courtesy of Tule Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.
July 2, 2015
Kitty's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
I had so much fun with this book. I smiled, I laughed and just really enjoyed reading "His Touch" the first in the Summer in New York Series. Patty Blout just made this such an easy and lovely read that I am looking forward to His Kiss and His Love and really hope that the authors that wrote them make me fall in love with their characters too.
I love reading quick, summer reads especially when the the leading man happens to be a hot paramedic with FDNY. **swoon** Mix that with his scruffy attitude and precious little girl and you have me hooked. And, believe me, Reid was one hot male. He may have had some hardships and wore them on his sleeve but, he turned out to be just was the doctor ordered for Kara.
Kara was a strong-willed, loving women. Even though she had a hard past, she stood up on her own two feet and made a life for her and her daughter. She may have had some "woe-is-me" times but they were well deserved. Enter Reid and her life becomes totally complicated. Then bring in the ex with some horrifying news and Reid becomes her rock.
Together, they save each other. Kara makes Reid take a good look at his life and face the past and his grief. Reid lets Kara know that she doesn't have to go through life alone.
I loved this story. Patty Blount made you feel for both of the main characters in the book and she surrounded them with loving, fun friends that would do anything for the other, especially in times of need. She moved the story along and didn't drag out anything that would have had you wondering when she was going to get to the point. Reid was handsome, strong and vulnerable. Kara was loving, caring and fragile. Put them together and you had an HEA that was touching and beautiful.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
I had so much fun with this book. I smiled, I laughed and just really enjoyed reading "His Touch" the first in the Summer in New York Series. Patty Blout just made this such an easy and lovely read that I am looking forward to His Kiss and His Love and really hope that the authors that wrote them make me fall in love with their characters too.
I love reading quick, summer reads especially when the the leading man happens to be a hot paramedic with FDNY. **swoon** Mix that with his scruffy attitude and precious little girl and you have me hooked. And, believe me, Reid was one hot male. He may have had some hardships and wore them on his sleeve but, he turned out to be just was the doctor ordered for Kara.
Kara was a strong-willed, loving women. Even though she had a hard past, she stood up on her own two feet and made a life for her and her daughter. She may have had some "woe-is-me" times but they were well deserved. Enter Reid and her life becomes totally complicated. Then bring in the ex with some horrifying news and Reid becomes her rock.
Together, they save each other. Kara makes Reid take a good look at his life and face the past and his grief. Reid lets Kara know that she doesn't have to go through life alone.
I loved this story. Patty Blount made you feel for both of the main characters in the book and she surrounded them with loving, fun friends that would do anything for the other, especially in times of need. She moved the story along and didn't drag out anything that would have had you wondering when she was going to get to the point. Reid was handsome, strong and vulnerable. Kara was loving, caring and fragile. Put them together and you had an HEA that was touching and beautiful.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
July 6, 2016
Eh. There were some well written parts that I enjoyed, but for the most part the characters and their behavior bugged me. This was just not a style I could enjoy. If you read all the others in the series maybe it would work better for you. I don't personally like info dumps that are irrelevant to the current story. I felt like this style of writing was more "telling" than showing and sometimes way too wordy. Others enjoy having every little detail described, but I do not (ie. he pulled out the bread and grabbed 2 slices. He handed the bread to the baby. He carefully let the baby put the slices in the toaster. He pushed the button on the toaster vs. He made toast.
Kara wants to be a good mom to her daughter Nadia:
Her whole life had become one extended juggling act. In the eighteen months since Nadia’s birth, she’d already had two nannies. The first had quit when Nadia was seven months old and the second, soon after she’d started walking. Okay, yes, Nadia was a little on the, ah…energetic side. And yes, she was prone to outbursts of temper. And she didn’t care for naps. Or bedtime. But she was a bright, beautiful, perfect little girl who— “Ma!” Another toy hit the wall—this time, her farm animals See N Say. It bounced and let out an off-key moo. Kara smiled. Nadia was a bright, beautiful, perfect little girl who ruled her world with pudgy hands and sticky kisses. If that was insane, Kara wouldn’t trade a second of it.
She meets Reid the paramedic at a First Aid class he teaches and is annoyed by some "groupies":
“Press down only about this far,” he said, demonstrating on the dummy’s chest. “Compress fast. It helps to think of the song Staying Alive and do compressions to that beat.”
This time, whatever one of the triplets said had all three of them dissolving into bawdy laughter. Reid snapped up straight, but before he could say anything, the blond in the back stood up.
“Excuse me but some of us would actually like to learn how to save a child’s life today.”
Reid’s heart almost stopped. The woman was pretty enough as it was, but when she was all riled up like she was now, she was breathtaking.
“Oh, okay there, Buffy.” Candy sneered.
To Reid’s astonishment, the blond charged down the aisle with fire in her eyes. He managed to quickly step between the little spitfire and the three Weird Sisters before first blood was drawn.
Reid has lost his daughter Erin and wife Lynn divorced him. It haunts him every day so when he sees Kara lose track of her daughter 2x in 30 minutes, he goes off on her:
“Stop,” he snapped out the order that had mother and child blinking up at him in shock. “She wasn’t taken or kidnapped or murdered. She was toddling along by men’s shoes, completely unsupervised while you’re over here chatting on your friggin’ cell phone! Do you have any idea what could have happened to her?”
“You know, people like you don’t deserve kids.” Huge brown eyes slipped shut and he knew he’d gone too far, knew he’d hurt her. He’d wanted to hurt her and that scared the tar out of him. Her face—already bloodless—went paler.
She nodded and sniffled. “You’re right. You’re completely right. I don’t deserve her. Thank you for saving her.”
She even smelled like Erin. Adjusting her comfortably to one hip, he stalked toward her insane mother.
“You,” she sneered, snatching her daughter from his arms.
“Twice in thirty minutes,” he taunted with a pointed glance at the large watch he wore on his left wrist. “Must be some kind of record.”
“Look. This strap you’re using is a joke. You need to buy her a safety harness she can’t wriggle out of, understand?”
She spun around, her eyes all but exploding from her face. “Of course I understand! I am a certified financial advisor who holds two graduate degrees. Do not speak to me like I’m one of those three air-heads in your class.” She whirled again and Reid had to admit, a pang of guilt prickled his conscience until her cell phone buzzed and she took it out to answer the call. That’s when his already high blood pressure shot to red line levels. He grabbed the phone out of her hand.
“I don’t think you do.” He stepped up, invading her personal space. He knew he was being rude and condescending and didn’t much care. This was about preventing tragedy and she was going to damn well listen to him whether she wanted to hear it or not.
“In my line of work, I know exactly what happens to kids whose parents spend too g-damn much time with their cell phones and shopping trips and selfies and trust me, lady, it ain’t pretty.” He slapped the phone back into her hand and shoved his sunglasses back on.
“Turn off the friggin’ phone and pay attention to your kid.”
Then we spend time in their heads questioning "signs" ...... then suddenly they are attracted to each other quickly....
“Oh, please. He can’t stand me. He thinks I’m a bad mother.”
Elena rocked her head from side to side. “I admit, he’s opinionated about the way things should be done. But I didn’t see disapproval in those very nice eyes of his. He checked out your boobs. And you kept looking at his butt.”
“Oh, God, Laney.” Kara shut her eyes and lowered her head. “I’ve been out of high school for a very long time, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a Look.”
“What look?” Elena’s smile widened. “The look, Kara. The one like a full page ad screaming, I want you.”
She keeps sending me you. The CPR class. The department store. The Memorial. And then I called 911 and they sent—” her voice cracked.
When her eyes slipped shut, he sighed. “They sent me.”
She snorted. “Yeah. Mr. Judgmental.”
He jerked at the spike of pain in his gut. Judgmental. That had been Lynn’s favorite word toward the end of their marriage. He thought he’d been past that. Thought he’d learned some things since then. He blew out a heavy sigh. “Kara. I’m so sorry.” He stood up. “I promise I won’t bother you again.”
Nadia ran to him and dropped into his lap. He caught her just before she neutered him. She reached up a hand, rubbed the scruff on his face. When she puckered her lips and kissed his cheek with a loud “Mwah,” he almost wept. He didn’t speak for a long moment. When he looked at Kara, she was staring at him with eyes as soft as melted chocolate. He nuzzled her daughter and sucked in a breath for courage.
“Okay, here’s the thing. I like you and God knows why, but you obviously like me, too.”
He ignored her snort of derision. Nadia decided to pull off her shoes and play with her toes. He laughed. Couldn’t keep shoes and socks on Erin if you’d glued them to her feet.
“The thing is I’m not looking for anything…long term. I, ah, just got out of a relationship and I’m not over her.” He didn’t bother explaining it was Erin he was talking about, not Lynn. He figured he was getting through to Kara because she finally sat on the grass next to him. “But I want to give this a shot, see where it takes us.”
Wow, who could resist that? Not Kara. He brings her dinner once and they are ready to hit the sheets, but then we get all her insecurities, giggling:
“Think I’m lying?”
She squirmed under his scrutiny. “No. I think you’re being nice and—”
“Kara, I’m not nice. When I like something, I say so. When I don’t like something—oh, say like the woman I just made love to accusing me of lying—”
“Reid, I never said you were lying. I just think maybe you’re exaggerating and I don’t need that, okay?” Still scowling at her, he threw up his hands.
“Fine. Get your sagging tits and dimpled ass back here.” He slapped her on said ass—it wasn’t the least bit dimpled—and she giggled.
“It’s not dimpled…is it?” She twisted around, tried to get a look at it.
He flopped to her bed with a dramatic sigh and tossed his arm across his face.
She lifted a hand, traced the muscles on his abdomen. “I really love this.” She drew her finger along the V of his abdominal muscles.
“Do you?” He flexed, made her giggle. Something else flexed and he reached for his wallet and her belly flipped.
“Again?” She wasn’t sure she could bear it that way again.
He angled his head but his eyes met hers and held. “Oh, yeah. Again. Saggy tits really turn me on.”
Dun Dun Dun. Just like on a soap opera, the minute the deed is done the #$$# hits the fan and we have ex drama:
“So let me get this straight,” Gene interrupted when he reached the part about the heart defect. “The guy that left Kara pregnant suddenly shows up because Mommy’s in a padded room and he figures he can have a life now and then adds, Oh by the way, your daughter may have this life-threatening heart defect?”
“Yeah.”
“That is seriously whacked.”
Reid tries to help Kara deal with this drama, but then has a moment of panic which leads him to leave for a day to go deal with the loss of his 3-year-old daughter. Kara feels abandoned and forgiveness may not be her strong suit - maybe overreacting and melodrama are???
“Let me up, Reid.”
“Uh uh. Kara, I’m never letting go of you again,” he blurted. “I’m sorry for hurting you, for walking out yesterday and for the pain I put in your eyes. I’m sorry.” He held her face in his hands, forced her to look at him, to see his sincerity but she wasn’t buying it.
She looked up at him, brown eyes flat and swimming with tears. “So why did you?” It wasn’t the words that slashed him. It was the tone. Arctic cold and lifeless and he knew he’d done that to her. “I was scared.”
She sent him a look so derisive, he felt his balls shrink.
“She… died about three months after this was taken. And it was my fault.” He took a deep breath and let the pain shatter him. Tears fell from his eyes, embarrassment burned his cheeks and the chronic ache he’d lived with for years became acute agony. Since his baby girl died, he never talked about her, never looked at pictures of her, and every time he thought of her....
“I never talk to her the way I do Kyle. I don’t visit her grave. I don’t look at pictures. I don’t even think about her if I can avoid it because I’m—God! I’m too damned scared, Kara. I don’t want her to tell me what I already know.” He slapped a hand over his heart again.
She shook her head, inched closer to him and put her hand over his. The gesture broke him.
“Kara. Oh, God, baby, I’m so sorry.” He clutched her tight and when her arms came around him, vowed to never let her go again. “When Nadia…, I couldn’t do it again. I wouldn’t survive it a second time.”
“This is—you are the first time I’ve been happy since I lost my kid.”
She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears again. “Then why did you take off without a word?” “Because of this.” He opened the bag beside him on the bench, took out a book.
“The Velveteen Rabbit?” “This was my daughter’s favorite story. I was at the Memorial, talking to Kyle and I saw this image. It was a woman reading this book to my daughter. I’ve never seen any pictures of your mother but I know it was her. Kyle told me to help you, but you said—”
“You were my sign.”
“And I believed it. It was so easy to believe it. Until Steve showed up, put the fear of hell in you. All I could think was I’m going to lose another child. I can’t do that again.” He shook his head slowly, hypnotically. “I took that call, sitting in that waiting area and there was a book on the floor. This book.” He took out the second copy of The Velveteen Rabbit from the bag, waited for her to say something. To tell him if he was bat shit crazy or not.
“It’s a sign, Reid.”
“Yeah, it is. I thought it was a sign telling me to run—fast and far. So that’s what I did. But I think that was a mistake, Kara.”
“Oh, you think?” Her biting tone cut him to the bone, but he was determined to finish this.
He laughed once at her impatience, a tiny huff of air. “I started wondering, what if I’m wrong? What if the book isn’t a warning, but an invitation? So yesterday, I went to Erin’s grave, Kara.” Kara pressed both hands to her mouth, cried for him. Encouraged, he rambled on.
“For the first time since she died, I visited her grave, I read her favorite book to her. And I cried, Kara. I cried like a two-year-old and the whole time I was there, I didn’t feel guilt or blame. I felt…kind of lost. And so alone. When I thought of you and Nadia, I swear to you, I heard a voice say Go.” She didn’t say anything and Reid sighed. “I can’t spend another minute away from either of you. I love you, Kara. I love you both. I spent all night trying to figure out how to make this right and I don’t know if I can, but please,” he begged with a squeeze of her hands. “Please believe that.” Kara shook her head. “Reid. I do believe it. And I’m in love with you, too.” The lead weight in his gut eased. “But I don’t know if that’s enough.” And just like that, it crushed him again. “Reid, I was happy, too. The happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I had you and I had my daughter and I was learning to be a good mother and then you left us. How do I know you won’t leave again? How could I trust you? If we got together, I’d want to make brothers and sisters for Nadia and then what? Will it be a concussion during baseball practice? A fall during cheerleading? You’ll blame me for not watching our children and we’ll be just like you and Lynn, and I…” she trailed off, her lip quivering. “I can’t do that.”
He swallowed hard. “Kara, please. Please.” He fell to his knees in front of her. “Don’t do this, baby.”
“I’m not saying no, Reid. I just… I have to think about this. It’s not just me. I have to do right by Nadia, too. I need time.”
“Yeah. Okay. You’re right.” He shoved the books back in the bag. “Coffee’s yours. I was on my way to your place and—” he shrugged and didn’t bother finishing the sentence. “I’m sorry, Kara. I am so sorry.”
He turned, walked away. She let him.
She realizes that the ex/baby daddy is a douche and then
That was too much for me. Others will probably enjoy it.
Kara wants to be a good mom to her daughter Nadia:
Her whole life had become one extended juggling act. In the eighteen months since Nadia’s birth, she’d already had two nannies. The first had quit when Nadia was seven months old and the second, soon after she’d started walking. Okay, yes, Nadia was a little on the, ah…energetic side. And yes, she was prone to outbursts of temper. And she didn’t care for naps. Or bedtime. But she was a bright, beautiful, perfect little girl who— “Ma!” Another toy hit the wall—this time, her farm animals See N Say. It bounced and let out an off-key moo. Kara smiled. Nadia was a bright, beautiful, perfect little girl who ruled her world with pudgy hands and sticky kisses. If that was insane, Kara wouldn’t trade a second of it.
She meets Reid the paramedic at a First Aid class he teaches and is annoyed by some "groupies":
“Press down only about this far,” he said, demonstrating on the dummy’s chest. “Compress fast. It helps to think of the song Staying Alive and do compressions to that beat.”
This time, whatever one of the triplets said had all three of them dissolving into bawdy laughter. Reid snapped up straight, but before he could say anything, the blond in the back stood up.
“Excuse me but some of us would actually like to learn how to save a child’s life today.”
Reid’s heart almost stopped. The woman was pretty enough as it was, but when she was all riled up like she was now, she was breathtaking.
“Oh, okay there, Buffy.” Candy sneered.
To Reid’s astonishment, the blond charged down the aisle with fire in her eyes. He managed to quickly step between the little spitfire and the three Weird Sisters before first blood was drawn.
Reid has lost his daughter Erin and wife Lynn divorced him. It haunts him every day so when he sees Kara lose track of her daughter 2x in 30 minutes, he goes off on her:
“Stop,” he snapped out the order that had mother and child blinking up at him in shock. “She wasn’t taken or kidnapped or murdered. She was toddling along by men’s shoes, completely unsupervised while you’re over here chatting on your friggin’ cell phone! Do you have any idea what could have happened to her?”
“You know, people like you don’t deserve kids.” Huge brown eyes slipped shut and he knew he’d gone too far, knew he’d hurt her. He’d wanted to hurt her and that scared the tar out of him. Her face—already bloodless—went paler.
She nodded and sniffled. “You’re right. You’re completely right. I don’t deserve her. Thank you for saving her.”
She even smelled like Erin. Adjusting her comfortably to one hip, he stalked toward her insane mother.
“You,” she sneered, snatching her daughter from his arms.
“Twice in thirty minutes,” he taunted with a pointed glance at the large watch he wore on his left wrist. “Must be some kind of record.”
“Look. This strap you’re using is a joke. You need to buy her a safety harness she can’t wriggle out of, understand?”
She spun around, her eyes all but exploding from her face. “Of course I understand! I am a certified financial advisor who holds two graduate degrees. Do not speak to me like I’m one of those three air-heads in your class.” She whirled again and Reid had to admit, a pang of guilt prickled his conscience until her cell phone buzzed and she took it out to answer the call. That’s when his already high blood pressure shot to red line levels. He grabbed the phone out of her hand.
“I don’t think you do.” He stepped up, invading her personal space. He knew he was being rude and condescending and didn’t much care. This was about preventing tragedy and she was going to damn well listen to him whether she wanted to hear it or not.
“In my line of work, I know exactly what happens to kids whose parents spend too g-damn much time with their cell phones and shopping trips and selfies and trust me, lady, it ain’t pretty.” He slapped the phone back into her hand and shoved his sunglasses back on.
“Turn off the friggin’ phone and pay attention to your kid.”
Then we spend time in their heads questioning "signs" ...... then suddenly they are attracted to each other quickly....
“Oh, please. He can’t stand me. He thinks I’m a bad mother.”
Elena rocked her head from side to side. “I admit, he’s opinionated about the way things should be done. But I didn’t see disapproval in those very nice eyes of his. He checked out your boobs. And you kept looking at his butt.”
“Oh, God, Laney.” Kara shut her eyes and lowered her head. “I’ve been out of high school for a very long time, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a Look.”
“What look?” Elena’s smile widened. “The look, Kara. The one like a full page ad screaming, I want you.”
She keeps sending me you. The CPR class. The department store. The Memorial. And then I called 911 and they sent—” her voice cracked.
When her eyes slipped shut, he sighed. “They sent me.”
She snorted. “Yeah. Mr. Judgmental.”
He jerked at the spike of pain in his gut. Judgmental. That had been Lynn’s favorite word toward the end of their marriage. He thought he’d been past that. Thought he’d learned some things since then. He blew out a heavy sigh. “Kara. I’m so sorry.” He stood up. “I promise I won’t bother you again.”
Nadia ran to him and dropped into his lap. He caught her just before she neutered him. She reached up a hand, rubbed the scruff on his face. When she puckered her lips and kissed his cheek with a loud “Mwah,” he almost wept. He didn’t speak for a long moment. When he looked at Kara, she was staring at him with eyes as soft as melted chocolate. He nuzzled her daughter and sucked in a breath for courage.
“Okay, here’s the thing. I like you and God knows why, but you obviously like me, too.”
He ignored her snort of derision. Nadia decided to pull off her shoes and play with her toes. He laughed. Couldn’t keep shoes and socks on Erin if you’d glued them to her feet.
“The thing is I’m not looking for anything…long term. I, ah, just got out of a relationship and I’m not over her.” He didn’t bother explaining it was Erin he was talking about, not Lynn. He figured he was getting through to Kara because she finally sat on the grass next to him. “But I want to give this a shot, see where it takes us.”
Wow, who could resist that? Not Kara. He brings her dinner once and they are ready to hit the sheets, but then we get all her insecurities, giggling:
“Think I’m lying?”
She squirmed under his scrutiny. “No. I think you’re being nice and—”
“Kara, I’m not nice. When I like something, I say so. When I don’t like something—oh, say like the woman I just made love to accusing me of lying—”
“Reid, I never said you were lying. I just think maybe you’re exaggerating and I don’t need that, okay?” Still scowling at her, he threw up his hands.
“Fine. Get your sagging tits and dimpled ass back here.” He slapped her on said ass—it wasn’t the least bit dimpled—and she giggled.
“It’s not dimpled…is it?” She twisted around, tried to get a look at it.
He flopped to her bed with a dramatic sigh and tossed his arm across his face.
She lifted a hand, traced the muscles on his abdomen. “I really love this.” She drew her finger along the V of his abdominal muscles.
“Do you?” He flexed, made her giggle. Something else flexed and he reached for his wallet and her belly flipped.
“Again?” She wasn’t sure she could bear it that way again.
He angled his head but his eyes met hers and held. “Oh, yeah. Again. Saggy tits really turn me on.”
Dun Dun Dun. Just like on a soap opera, the minute the deed is done the #$$# hits the fan and we have ex drama:
“So let me get this straight,” Gene interrupted when he reached the part about the heart defect. “The guy that left Kara pregnant suddenly shows up because Mommy’s in a padded room and he figures he can have a life now and then adds, Oh by the way, your daughter may have this life-threatening heart defect?”
“Yeah.”
“That is seriously whacked.”
Reid tries to help Kara deal with this drama, but then has a moment of panic which leads him to leave for a day to go deal with the loss of his 3-year-old daughter. Kara feels abandoned and forgiveness may not be her strong suit - maybe overreacting and melodrama are???
“Let me up, Reid.”
“Uh uh. Kara, I’m never letting go of you again,” he blurted. “I’m sorry for hurting you, for walking out yesterday and for the pain I put in your eyes. I’m sorry.” He held her face in his hands, forced her to look at him, to see his sincerity but she wasn’t buying it.
She looked up at him, brown eyes flat and swimming with tears. “So why did you?” It wasn’t the words that slashed him. It was the tone. Arctic cold and lifeless and he knew he’d done that to her. “I was scared.”
She sent him a look so derisive, he felt his balls shrink.
“She… died about three months after this was taken. And it was my fault.” He took a deep breath and let the pain shatter him. Tears fell from his eyes, embarrassment burned his cheeks and the chronic ache he’d lived with for years became acute agony. Since his baby girl died, he never talked about her, never looked at pictures of her, and every time he thought of her....
“I never talk to her the way I do Kyle. I don’t visit her grave. I don’t look at pictures. I don’t even think about her if I can avoid it because I’m—God! I’m too damned scared, Kara. I don’t want her to tell me what I already know.” He slapped a hand over his heart again.
She shook her head, inched closer to him and put her hand over his. The gesture broke him.
“Kara. Oh, God, baby, I’m so sorry.” He clutched her tight and when her arms came around him, vowed to never let her go again. “When Nadia…, I couldn’t do it again. I wouldn’t survive it a second time.”
“This is—you are the first time I’ve been happy since I lost my kid.”
She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears again. “Then why did you take off without a word?” “Because of this.” He opened the bag beside him on the bench, took out a book.
“The Velveteen Rabbit?” “This was my daughter’s favorite story. I was at the Memorial, talking to Kyle and I saw this image. It was a woman reading this book to my daughter. I’ve never seen any pictures of your mother but I know it was her. Kyle told me to help you, but you said—”
“You were my sign.”
“And I believed it. It was so easy to believe it. Until Steve showed up, put the fear of hell in you. All I could think was I’m going to lose another child. I can’t do that again.” He shook his head slowly, hypnotically. “I took that call, sitting in that waiting area and there was a book on the floor. This book.” He took out the second copy of The Velveteen Rabbit from the bag, waited for her to say something. To tell him if he was bat shit crazy or not.
“It’s a sign, Reid.”
“Yeah, it is. I thought it was a sign telling me to run—fast and far. So that’s what I did. But I think that was a mistake, Kara.”
“Oh, you think?” Her biting tone cut him to the bone, but he was determined to finish this.
He laughed once at her impatience, a tiny huff of air. “I started wondering, what if I’m wrong? What if the book isn’t a warning, but an invitation? So yesterday, I went to Erin’s grave, Kara.” Kara pressed both hands to her mouth, cried for him. Encouraged, he rambled on.
“For the first time since she died, I visited her grave, I read her favorite book to her. And I cried, Kara. I cried like a two-year-old and the whole time I was there, I didn’t feel guilt or blame. I felt…kind of lost. And so alone. When I thought of you and Nadia, I swear to you, I heard a voice say Go.” She didn’t say anything and Reid sighed. “I can’t spend another minute away from either of you. I love you, Kara. I love you both. I spent all night trying to figure out how to make this right and I don’t know if I can, but please,” he begged with a squeeze of her hands. “Please believe that.” Kara shook her head. “Reid. I do believe it. And I’m in love with you, too.” The lead weight in his gut eased. “But I don’t know if that’s enough.” And just like that, it crushed him again. “Reid, I was happy, too. The happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I had you and I had my daughter and I was learning to be a good mother and then you left us. How do I know you won’t leave again? How could I trust you? If we got together, I’d want to make brothers and sisters for Nadia and then what? Will it be a concussion during baseball practice? A fall during cheerleading? You’ll blame me for not watching our children and we’ll be just like you and Lynn, and I…” she trailed off, her lip quivering. “I can’t do that.”
He swallowed hard. “Kara, please. Please.” He fell to his knees in front of her. “Don’t do this, baby.”
“I’m not saying no, Reid. I just… I have to think about this. It’s not just me. I have to do right by Nadia, too. I need time.”
“Yeah. Okay. You’re right.” He shoved the books back in the bag. “Coffee’s yours. I was on my way to your place and—” he shrugged and didn’t bother finishing the sentence. “I’m sorry, Kara. I am so sorry.”
He turned, walked away. She let him.
She realizes that the ex/baby daddy is a douche and then
That was too much for me. Others will probably enjoy it.
January 13, 2018
Okay, this book was adorable. I really needed this book afte the ruins. Ahh! I can't wait to read another nook by Patty Blount now. She is one of my favorite authors ever! Full review to come soon.
July 9, 2015
Books that have babies in them are cute, and men with babies are equally as cute. This book is all about fate and why things happen. Everything happens for a reason in this novel.
In this book you meet Kara who is a struggling single mom of an 18-month-old baby. She's struggling everyday to be a good mom, and keep her career going. One day she goes to the local fire station to take a class on CPR, it's here she meets the instructor/paramedic known as Reid Bennet. At first, Reid comes off as a rude man in Kara's eyes.
Reid is a jaded man, seeing what he sees in his line of work and from personal experiences he has obvious issues with single mom Kara. He thinks she's just a mom who doesn't care about her little one when her little toddler, Nadia, escapes from her stroller in a busy mall. Reid finds the little one and gives Kara hell for letting Nadia out of her sight.
"In my line of work, I know exactly what happens to kids whose parents spend too goddamn much time with their cell phones and shopping trips and selfies and trust me, lady, it ain't pretty."
Kara and Reid keep bumping into eachother and chalk it up as it been fate and that it's Kara mom (who passed away) pushing them together from beyond the grave. They decide to be friends and Kara asks Reid on tips on how to parent better. Reid is a tortured soul who is suffering a loss of his own and is unsure if he can help Kara parent.
"His Touch" was a different read, the two took time to get to know eachother deeply, and well. This book didn't have very many love-y scenes but it did have emotional ones. Deep ones. Scenes that mattered. I would take that over sex scenes any day. I loved this book because of Reid and how he interacted with Nadia. I also loved it because of how well written Reid was, you could almost feel his internal struggle when it came to how he felt about Kara and Nadia. And when he spoke of his own loss, I almost lost it. The one drawback about this book was that I felt that Kara's character wasn't as well written as Reids. I felt like the book was more about Reid than Kara. This book is a dual P.O.V book and I feel like in books like those you should equally know the characters but I felt like I knew more about Reid emotionally, and mentally than
Kara. To me, all Kara was was a single mom. But Reid was so much more.
This book is a feel good read at some points, and then gets heavy. It is one of 3 books so far.
There are some funny lines to look forward too such as...
Overall, it is a great read and I highly recommend it to all you readers out there.
"Oh, yeah. Again. Saggy tits really turn me on"
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October 30, 2015
His Touch is one of those novels that grabs you from the very beginning. The main character Kara has a daughter, Nadia is eighteen months old. Kara is a struggling single mother and takes everything upon herself. She is trying to juggle her work schedule with caring for her growing daughter. Kara and Elena lost their mother at the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. They both believe in signs from deceased loved ones. Elena had been getting signs from their mother, but Kara hadn’t as much. She is waiting for signs from their Mom that she is a good mother to Nadia, especially since she doesn’t feel like one at the moment.She makes mistakes, gets flustered and progressively starts to lose faith in herself.
Reid Bennett is a NYC paramedic. Kara meets him at the child CPR class he is giving and there is immediate attraction between the two. There are a few times after they meet that Kara and Reid are in the same place, including the store where Nadia gets out of her stroller and Reid finds her. This starts a combative stance between the two as Kara feels like he is very judgmental of her mothering skills. Little does she know he is just trying to deal with his own hidden demons.
Patty did an amazing job of telling this story in such a way with the use of real problems facing many today. Being a single mother, living with a close loss etc. These characters still have a place in my heart.
This book has a lesson to take away while also be endearing and lighthearted. Although the novel deals with serious issues, the author is able to introduce them in such a way that the reader doesn't feel tension or real emotional sadness.
Grab a copy of this book and get ready to fall for Reid and Kara.
Reid Bennett is a NYC paramedic. Kara meets him at the child CPR class he is giving and there is immediate attraction between the two. There are a few times after they meet that Kara and Reid are in the same place, including the store where Nadia gets out of her stroller and Reid finds her. This starts a combative stance between the two as Kara feels like he is very judgmental of her mothering skills. Little does she know he is just trying to deal with his own hidden demons.
Patty did an amazing job of telling this story in such a way with the use of real problems facing many today. Being a single mother, living with a close loss etc. These characters still have a place in my heart.
This book has a lesson to take away while also be endearing and lighthearted. Although the novel deals with serious issues, the author is able to introduce them in such a way that the reader doesn't feel tension or real emotional sadness.
Grab a copy of this book and get ready to fall for Reid and Kara.
July 9, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In the beginning, I was a bit hesitant about this book. It didn't hold my attention that much. I thought the hero was a jerk. I mean, how can you say unkind things to someone you don't even know? And he judged the heroine more than once.I just wanted to smack him in the head.
He did redeem himself as the book progressed. I mean, I still found him to be a bit of a jerk, but he didn't annoy me as much as he did when I first started reading. The heroine was great.She was solid. I liked her, and I think she is doing a great job of juggling her career as well as taking care of her child.
I found this story to have surprising twists every now and then. While too much of of the events relied on their presumed "signs", it didn't really dwell into the paranormal stuff. Everything about the story was realistic. It's just like us when we ask out dearly departed for signs that could help us in making big decisions or even just the small ones in our day to day lives.
I liked this story. Parts of it were light, but some parts were also heavy. I always like books about single parents. I grew up in that environment, so I know the struggles of both parent and child. Also, I like knowing that these people get a second chance at finding true love. After all, that's what we're really all about, isn't it?
In the beginning, I was a bit hesitant about this book. It didn't hold my attention that much. I thought the hero was a jerk. I mean, how can you say unkind things to someone you don't even know? And he judged the heroine more than once.I just wanted to smack him in the head.
He did redeem himself as the book progressed. I mean, I still found him to be a bit of a jerk, but he didn't annoy me as much as he did when I first started reading. The heroine was great.She was solid. I liked her, and I think she is doing a great job of juggling her career as well as taking care of her child.
I found this story to have surprising twists every now and then. While too much of of the events relied on their presumed "signs", it didn't really dwell into the paranormal stuff. Everything about the story was realistic. It's just like us when we ask out dearly departed for signs that could help us in making big decisions or even just the small ones in our day to day lives.
I liked this story. Parts of it were light, but some parts were also heavy. I always like books about single parents. I grew up in that environment, so I know the struggles of both parent and child. Also, I like knowing that these people get a second chance at finding true love. After all, that's what we're really all about, isn't it?
October 23, 2015
Another Great book
This writer really writes with her whole emotions. This is the second book I got from her and to give my honest opinion on and I have to admit I can't wait to read more. This story is of a single mother having lots of family and friends but feels lost trying to just be a good mom she meets a man and after the lose of his daughter and marriage he feel just as lost to gather they balance each other and happy ever after. But boy does this story have lost of heart.
This writer really writes with her whole emotions. This is the second book I got from her and to give my honest opinion on and I have to admit I can't wait to read more. This story is of a single mother having lots of family and friends but feels lost trying to just be a good mom she meets a man and after the lose of his daughter and marriage he feel just as lost to gather they balance each other and happy ever after. But boy does this story have lost of heart.
February 8, 2016
Very sweet and poignant story written in the style of a Harlequin romance. Fast paced and enjoyable read.
January 28, 2017
just lovely! !!
December 15, 2017
Nice romance without a lot of angst (a bit, but not overwhelmingly so).
February 5, 2017
Well...I dont know too many women who would put up with this much bad behavior. She feels inadequate as a mom so he sets out to teacher her how to be a good mom. You know, because after all, his son died while he was taking care of him. This may have been written by a woman but it is only for the most self-loathing.
October 16, 2017
This one was occasionally all over the place and I felt like characters were way too quick to lay into the other for blaming someone or whatever, but I did like the happily ever after and the fact that there are second chances everywhere.
I did enjoy the afternoon read and might pick up another Blount book sometime.
I did enjoy the afternoon read and might pick up another Blount book sometime.
April 30, 2022
*Sigh* Novellas. They kill me sometimes.
This book had promise, but the relationship between Reid and Kara was underdeveloped. They had a connection, but their relationship was based more on Nadia than each other. Who even are they without factoring in Nadia and Erin? Like I seriously do not know.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book had promise, but the relationship between Reid and Kara was underdeveloped. They had a connection, but their relationship was based more on Nadia than each other. Who even are they without factoring in Nadia and Erin? Like I seriously do not know.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2017
Great start to the Heroes of New York series.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Among other things, it put the 9-11 attacks into a more personal level - how they affected New Yorkers. Cannot wait to read the next one in the series and the next book by Patty Blount.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Among other things, it put the 9-11 attacks into a more personal level - how they affected New Yorkers. Cannot wait to read the next one in the series and the next book by Patty Blount.
January 8, 2018
Beautiful
This is as wonderful story about 2 people that find each other in quirky way. He is a paramedic for NYFD and she handles people portfolios. She takes his child CPR class, he can't take her eyes off her. Later they keep meeting in different accidents. Can it be fate.
This is as wonderful story about 2 people that find each other in quirky way. He is a paramedic for NYFD and she handles people portfolios. She takes his child CPR class, he can't take her eyes off her. Later they keep meeting in different accidents. Can it be fate.
July 18, 2019
2.5 stars
This was just okay. Things progressed really fast between the two main characters and I didn't buy how fast they could fall for each other especially since there didn't seem to be much that would help develop their story. It kind of felt forced and didn't really feel it.
This was just okay. Things progressed really fast between the two main characters and I didn't buy how fast they could fall for each other especially since there didn't seem to be much that would help develop their story. It kind of felt forced and didn't really feel it.
December 15, 2017
what the
August 1, 2017
Great book
This is a really great book. It has a perfect balance of romance and intrigue. The characters are very believable and interesting .
This is a really great book. It has a perfect balance of romance and intrigue. The characters are very believable and interesting .
October 30, 2017
Uma treta...
March 25, 2019
A can't put down book
Once I started reading this I couldn't stop. Great story line. Terrific modern love story without a lot of mush. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Once I started reading this I couldn't stop. Great story line. Terrific modern love story without a lot of mush. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
October 3, 2020
Sweet, emotional read
The characters are realistic and flawed, but learning to learn on each other in love. It had me in tears, but was a lovely story.
The characters are realistic and flawed, but learning to learn on each other in love. It had me in tears, but was a lovely story.
October 28, 2020
Enjoyed this book very much.
February 2, 2021
Not another cheesy romance
I appreciated the restrained sex scene. Not everything has to be detailed.
It also has an interesting spin on grief that I found relatable.
I appreciated the restrained sex scene. Not everything has to be detailed.
It also has an interesting spin on grief that I found relatable.
Read
February 27, 2021Amazing book
November 8, 2021
Same book different title. I enjoyed it.
December 15, 2017
Short and sweet.
March 21, 2017
The story I read was actually called The Paramedic's Rescue.
January 18, 2017
Lovely story. Author's ability to create dialogue was excellent. Easy and quick story to read but definitely a grabbing experience. I may want more from this author someday.
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