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Lost Hearts #3
Close to You
Who knows the truth about her family? Who wants to keep her past hidden forever?
Caitlin Prescott was only a baby when her parents disappeared. Adopted by a wealthy Texas oil family, she became Kate Montgomery, and grew up with no memory of her parents or her two older sisters and brother, who have been searching for her, hoping to right a terrible wrong that was committed twenty-two years ago in a small Texas town.
Now an ambitious news reporter, Kate realizes she is being stalked soon after landing her dream job at an Austin TV station. Why did a car try to run her down? Who would want to kill her? Turning her precarious situation into a story, she takes on a bodyguard and follows him on the job. But she didn’t plan on the cool, blade-sharp strength of Teague Ramos or the attraction that sizzles between them. When Teague connects the death of an Austin socialite to unanswered questions about Kate’s childhood, she finds herself unlocking dangerous doors to her past. Now, with only her mysterious bodyguard to protect her, Kate is on a high-stakes chase that may lead her to the family she has never known — or into the trap of a ruthless killer.
Caitlin Prescott was only a baby when her parents disappeared. Adopted by a wealthy Texas oil family, she became Kate Montgomery, and grew up with no memory of her parents or her two older sisters and brother, who have been searching for her, hoping to right a terrible wrong that was committed twenty-two years ago in a small Texas town.
Now an ambitious news reporter, Kate realizes she is being stalked soon after landing her dream job at an Austin TV station. Why did a car try to run her down? Who would want to kill her? Turning her precarious situation into a story, she takes on a bodyguard and follows him on the job. But she didn’t plan on the cool, blade-sharp strength of Teague Ramos or the attraction that sizzles between them. When Teague connects the death of an Austin socialite to unanswered questions about Kate’s childhood, she finds herself unlocking dangerous doors to her past. Now, with only her mysterious bodyguard to protect her, Kate is on a high-stakes chase that may lead her to the family she has never known — or into the trap of a ruthless killer.
396 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
156 people are currently reading
872 people want to read
About the author
Christina Dodd
101 books5,910 followersUpcoming:
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.
(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
June 16, 2016
4.25/5
After 2 long years, I finally finished the entire 'Lost Hearts' series.
This book is very well written so I had a hard time putting it down. I tried to keep myself calm while reading this story, but as always, Christina Dodd's writings never fail to cause my heart skip a beat.
I loved that at the end of this book, after years of sorrowful separation, the long lost siblings were once again a family.
This was my awesome read!
After 2 long years, I finally finished the entire 'Lost Hearts' series.
This book is very well written so I had a hard time putting it down. I tried to keep myself calm while reading this story, but as always, Christina Dodd's writings never fail to cause my heart skip a beat.
I loved that at the end of this book, after years of sorrowful separation, the long lost siblings were once again a family.
This was my awesome read!
June 18, 2018
The last book and the last sister. I thought maybe she woulda gave Gabriel a love interest in another book, but no such luck. I enjoyed reading Kate's(Caitlyn's) story. Of all 3 sisters I think I enjoyed Pepper the most. A very good trilogy.
December 23, 2016
Really good first half, ordinary second half. Romantic suspense with a pleasant ending.
STORY BRIEF:
Caitlin’s parents are killed in an auto accident when she was a baby. She is adopted by the Montgomerys who are told she was abandoned at the door of a church. Her siblings are sent to foster families. The Montgomerys name her Kate. 22 years later Kate is a TV news reporter. She knows she is adopted but doesn’t know anything about her parents or siblings. Someone is stalking her and tries to hit Kate with a car. Teague has a private security company. He stays with Kate as a bodyguard due to the stalker. Although Senator Oberlin is married, he is intensely attracted to Kate.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I really liked the first half, but the second half seemed a little more ordinary to me. I didn’t want to stop reading it. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kate and Teague, but I did not like the methods used to create conflict between them, described in spoilers below. It was still a good book, but it could have been better.
DATA:
Story length: 396 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 17. Setting: current day Austin, Texas. Copyright: 2005. Genre: romantic suspense.
OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I’ve read one other book by Christina Dodd. My 4 star review for “Danger in a Red Dress” copyright 2009 was posted 3/8/09.
STORY BRIEF:
Caitlin’s parents are killed in an auto accident when she was a baby. She is adopted by the Montgomerys who are told she was abandoned at the door of a church. Her siblings are sent to foster families. The Montgomerys name her Kate. 22 years later Kate is a TV news reporter. She knows she is adopted but doesn’t know anything about her parents or siblings. Someone is stalking her and tries to hit Kate with a car. Teague has a private security company. He stays with Kate as a bodyguard due to the stalker. Although Senator Oberlin is married, he is intensely attracted to Kate.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
I really liked the first half, but the second half seemed a little more ordinary to me. I didn’t want to stop reading it. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kate and Teague, but I did not like the methods used to create conflict between them, described in spoilers below. It was still a good book, but it could have been better.
DATA:
Story length: 396 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 17. Setting: current day Austin, Texas. Copyright: 2005. Genre: romantic suspense.
OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I’ve read one other book by Christina Dodd. My 4 star review for “Danger in a Red Dress” copyright 2009 was posted 3/8/09.
September 12, 2017
Good conclusion to the series. I read the first two books years ago, so it was great to finally get to read this one and get closure on the mystery. It opens with the scene of Kate's adoption, which you can immediately sense is not on the up-and-up. It then moves on to Kate as an adult, beginning her long anticipated career as a television reporter. While taking the "newbie" job of reporting on a hurricane, she comes to the attention of the man responsible for the deaths of her parents and the splitting up of her siblings. He recognizes her because of her resemblance to her mother. He arranges for her to be hired at the station in Austin and to be assigned to work stories at the capitol. His motives are most assuredly not good.
I really liked Kate. As she begins her job, she has to deal with jealousy and attitude from her coworkers, who think she has bought her way into the position. I loved her determination to show them that they are wrong, and how hard she works. I loved how observant she is and how that enables her to find ways to relate to everyone she talks to. She also has a stubborn streak that comes in handy during her pursuit of stories but also causes her to take some unnecessary risks later in the book. She has a loving relationship with her mom, though she admits to sometimes wondering about her birth family.
When Kate leaves work one night and discovers her tires slashed, she's disturbed but not worried. But when she is nearly hit by a speeding car, Kate has to admit that she may have picked up a stalker. Her boss sends her to do a story on the head of security at the capitol as a cover for the man serving as her bodyguard until the stalker is caught. The meeting between Kate and Teague is slightly contentious and very heavy on sparks of attraction flaring between them.
Teague is a man with a dangerous aura about him. He had a miserable childhood and grew up in a gang, fighting and doing drugs. He turned his life around after joining the Marines, then started his security company. He is a ladies' man, well known for his avoidance of commitment. He is cynical about people, especially those who come from money.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Teague is super-protective of Kate, and not just because she's a job. She fascinates him the way no other woman has before. I loved the way his employees could see it, but Teague was in complete denial. But Teague was also a man haunted by his past, a past that made him believe that he doesn't deserve a relationship with a decent woman. Kate is just as intrigued and attracted by Teague. His air of danger appeals to her, and she spends a lot of time trying to find a way to get him to sleep with her. She has a brief period when she witnesses the violence he is capable of, and it disturbs her enough that she pushes him away. I loved his patience and understanding as he finds a creative way to get her to relax around him again. They part ways when they believe that the stalker has been identified, but neither can get the other off their mind. But something happens that makes Kate believe that she is still in danger and Teague agrees. I loved how it gave them the excuse they needed to get back together. At this point, Kate is also determined to get past Teague's walls. One way is to take him home with her and introduce him to her mom. I loved this scene. I was laughing out loud at what appeared to be Teague's complete fear of Marilyn. As the days went on, Kate and Teague got closer, but there were still some serious issues between them. Kate knows that she has fallen for him, but doesn't know how he feels about her. Then his overprotective attitude has him making some rather boneheaded mistakes that hurt and anger her. Even after nearly losing each other, Teague still tries to push her away, though the last attempt backfires on him. I loved seeing Kate take the initiative to clear things up between them.
The suspense of the story is really good. We know from the outset that the senator is the man behind the trouble, but the details of why and how are still unknown. Besides the fact that he is responsible for her parents' death, there is a definite creep factor in his attitude toward Kate. The way he watched her around the capitol really made my skin crawl, and even she sensed that something wasn't quite right. Though Kate and Teague initially discounted the wild story told to them by the senator's wife, later information made them reconsider. This sent them on an investigation that put Teague, especially into the senator's crosshairs, resulting in an almost deadly attack on Teague. Kate's insistence on getting involved probably saved his life, but also caused Teague to interfere in her job. This, unfortunately, brought Kate's stubbornness out and she did something monumentally stupid. If it weren't for the fortunate, though oddly carried out, intervention of Kate's two sisters and their husbands, it would have ended very badly. Instead, the end was an incredibly intense series of events that brought long-awaited justice for what had happened to the Prescott family. There was a slightly weird scene involving the deceased, but it too brought closure of a sort.
The reuniting of the siblings was satisfying. I liked the support that they all provided to Kate when Teague was injured, and their inclusion of her mother into the family. The epilogue was great, though I am left wondering if their brother Gabriel has ever had his story told. I am curious about him.
I really liked Kate. As she begins her job, she has to deal with jealousy and attitude from her coworkers, who think she has bought her way into the position. I loved her determination to show them that they are wrong, and how hard she works. I loved how observant she is and how that enables her to find ways to relate to everyone she talks to. She also has a stubborn streak that comes in handy during her pursuit of stories but also causes her to take some unnecessary risks later in the book. She has a loving relationship with her mom, though she admits to sometimes wondering about her birth family.
When Kate leaves work one night and discovers her tires slashed, she's disturbed but not worried. But when she is nearly hit by a speeding car, Kate has to admit that she may have picked up a stalker. Her boss sends her to do a story on the head of security at the capitol as a cover for the man serving as her bodyguard until the stalker is caught. The meeting between Kate and Teague is slightly contentious and very heavy on sparks of attraction flaring between them.
Teague is a man with a dangerous aura about him. He had a miserable childhood and grew up in a gang, fighting and doing drugs. He turned his life around after joining the Marines, then started his security company. He is a ladies' man, well known for his avoidance of commitment. He is cynical about people, especially those who come from money.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Teague is super-protective of Kate, and not just because she's a job. She fascinates him the way no other woman has before. I loved the way his employees could see it, but Teague was in complete denial. But Teague was also a man haunted by his past, a past that made him believe that he doesn't deserve a relationship with a decent woman. Kate is just as intrigued and attracted by Teague. His air of danger appeals to her, and she spends a lot of time trying to find a way to get him to sleep with her. She has a brief period when she witnesses the violence he is capable of, and it disturbs her enough that she pushes him away. I loved his patience and understanding as he finds a creative way to get her to relax around him again. They part ways when they believe that the stalker has been identified, but neither can get the other off their mind. But something happens that makes Kate believe that she is still in danger and Teague agrees. I loved how it gave them the excuse they needed to get back together. At this point, Kate is also determined to get past Teague's walls. One way is to take him home with her and introduce him to her mom. I loved this scene. I was laughing out loud at what appeared to be Teague's complete fear of Marilyn. As the days went on, Kate and Teague got closer, but there were still some serious issues between them. Kate knows that she has fallen for him, but doesn't know how he feels about her. Then his overprotective attitude has him making some rather boneheaded mistakes that hurt and anger her. Even after nearly losing each other, Teague still tries to push her away, though the last attempt backfires on him. I loved seeing Kate take the initiative to clear things up between them.
The suspense of the story is really good. We know from the outset that the senator is the man behind the trouble, but the details of why and how are still unknown. Besides the fact that he is responsible for her parents' death, there is a definite creep factor in his attitude toward Kate. The way he watched her around the capitol really made my skin crawl, and even she sensed that something wasn't quite right. Though Kate and Teague initially discounted the wild story told to them by the senator's wife, later information made them reconsider. This sent them on an investigation that put Teague, especially into the senator's crosshairs, resulting in an almost deadly attack on Teague. Kate's insistence on getting involved probably saved his life, but also caused Teague to interfere in her job. This, unfortunately, brought Kate's stubbornness out and she did something monumentally stupid. If it weren't for the fortunate, though oddly carried out, intervention of Kate's two sisters and their husbands, it would have ended very badly. Instead, the end was an incredibly intense series of events that brought long-awaited justice for what had happened to the Prescott family. There was a slightly weird scene involving the deceased, but it too brought closure of a sort.
The reuniting of the siblings was satisfying. I liked the support that they all provided to Kate when Teague was injured, and their inclusion of her mother into the family. The epilogue was great, though I am left wondering if their brother Gabriel has ever had his story told. I am curious about him.
November 16, 2020
The Prescott siblings finally get justice in this last book of the series that focuses on the youngest, Kate's story.
Kate was adopted when she was a baby, so she doesn't remember her family or what was done to them. She grew up in a loving home, and grew up to become a confident, self-assured woman.
She has just started her new job as a news reporter, when her past catches up to her.
When it becomes clear that she has a stalker, , her boss, , pairs her up with Teague Ramos, a security expert whom she is supposed to write an article about, while he makes sure she is safe and catches her stalker.
The attraction between them is instantaneous, and although they try to fight it, they inevitably succumb and become lovers.
Unfortunately, Teague has demons in his past that he hasn't gotten over, and Kate has become a psychopath's obsession, and the two have to face both before getting their happily ever after.
If it wasn't for Kate's stupidity, where she , I would have enjoyed their romance more, but at least she handled herself and her relationship quite well, so she gets cookie points for that.
Enjoyable story that wraps up the overarching story nicely, with a happily ever after for all the siblings that are a happy family once again.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Almost Like Being in Love (Lost Hearts, #2) ~ ★★★ (24/05/2018)
✦ Just the Way You Are (Lost Hearts, #1) ~ ★★★ (24/02/2018)
Kate was adopted when she was a baby, so she doesn't remember her family or what was done to them. She grew up in a loving home, and grew up to become a confident, self-assured woman.
She has just started her new job as a news reporter, when her past catches up to her.
When it becomes clear that she has a stalker, , her boss, , pairs her up with Teague Ramos, a security expert whom she is supposed to write an article about, while he makes sure she is safe and catches her stalker.
The attraction between them is instantaneous, and although they try to fight it, they inevitably succumb and become lovers.
Unfortunately, Teague has demons in his past that he hasn't gotten over, and Kate has become a psychopath's obsession, and the two have to face both before getting their happily ever after.
If it wasn't for Kate's stupidity, where she , I would have enjoyed their romance more, but at least she handled herself and her relationship quite well, so she gets cookie points for that.
Enjoyable story that wraps up the overarching story nicely, with a happily ever after for all the siblings that are a happy family once again.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Almost Like Being in Love (Lost Hearts, #2) ~ ★★★ (24/05/2018)
✦ Just the Way You Are (Lost Hearts, #1) ~ ★★★ (24/02/2018)
August 3, 2015
19/6 - This is another 'quick read, review and redonate' romance that I picked up at my library's used booksale. I didn't bother to look at the synopsis as I know Christina Dodd's books pretty well, well her romance books that is. If I'd taken five seconds to read the synopsis I might have realised that this is not only the end of a series (how many times must this happen to me before I learn my lesson on impulse borrowing?), but also not a pure romance, it's a romantic thriller. Now, I have no problem with romantic thrillers as long as they don't leave the poor romance reader waiting till the last 20 pages for any sex to happen. This one looks like it'll have plenty of possible romantic interludes between all the stalker-scariness, I just hope Dodd made good use of them.
Twenty-three pages in and I'm reminded of Pamela Clare's I-Team books - romantic thrillers with the continuing thread of one of the main characters of each book being part of the I-Team, an investigative-reporter team for a newspaper - those books ranged between three and four and a half star, so if I continue to get the same kind of vibes from this one that bodes well for its star rating. To be continued...
20/6 - Okay, so there's a pretty equal balance between the romance and thriller sides of things. If a book's going to be categorised as romance, or part romance, there'd damn well better be some romance.
I'm not sure about Kate falling in lust and imagining all kinds of sexual situations with a suspicious-looking man whose eyes she meets from across a room. It's not like she immediately picked him out as being something other than what he was pretending to be, she believed he was some kind of gang member, but still she was instantly fantasising about sex with him, despite the danger she recognised him as being capable of. Not a smart 'woman who's a reporter with university degrees's behaviour.
This is a 400 page book, and at 180 pages we already know who the stalker is - that seems like an epic fail for the mystery thriller side of the book. The mystery is pretty much over, leaving just the romance part of the story, which no longer has a reason for continuing because the mystery was the reason for bringing Kate and Teague together as bodyguard and client. She doesn't need a bodyguard anymore, so what reason is there for their relationship to continue? I suppose either of them could create fake, easily seen through reasons for seeing each other, but that could lead into the territory of silliness and farce. Hmmm... To be continued...
22/6 - Looks like I spoke too soon, the romance/mystery wasn't really balanced at 50/50, it was more like 70/30 on the mystery's side. The romance pretty much petered out from the halfway point onwards leaving us with the hunt for evidence to prove Oberlin's guilt and a lot of misunderstandings due to the differences (some perceived, some real) between their upbringings. The constant theme of 'he says something, she takes it the wrong way' and vice versa got a bit tiresome towards the end. I just felt like shaking whichever one of them was misunderstanding what the other was saying - they seemed to be doing it wilfully - and telling them to think for just a second before blurting the first thing that comes into their heads. Got very close to the end of the book error-free, and then I came to
"That bullet severed Juanita's spinal chord."
on page 386. I was pretty certain when I first read it, then I looked it up and became absolutely positive, that spinal cord is never spelt with an H (no matter which country you're in). That particular spelling is restricted to geometry, music, truss construction, aircraft parts, and a few other specific examples researchable via Wikipedia. It is never used in medical terms to discuss the bundle of nerves running from the base of our skull to the middle of our back. This kind of mistake really irritates me, as it's so easy to fact check via the internet.
While this was a solid 3.5 (four on GR because at some point during the reading I was feeling generous), it's not something I'd rush back to read or, a month from now, be dreaming about re-reading (unlike some library books I've borrowed in the near past), so (and my groaning library shelves breathe a sigh of relief) this one'll be going back to the library, to find a new home where it can be loved better than it would be here.
Twenty-three pages in and I'm reminded of Pamela Clare's I-Team books - romantic thrillers with the continuing thread of one of the main characters of each book being part of the I-Team, an investigative-reporter team for a newspaper - those books ranged between three and four and a half star, so if I continue to get the same kind of vibes from this one that bodes well for its star rating. To be continued...
20/6 - Okay, so there's a pretty equal balance between the romance and thriller sides of things. If a book's going to be categorised as romance, or part romance, there'd damn well better be some romance.
I'm not sure about Kate falling in lust and imagining all kinds of sexual situations with a suspicious-looking man whose eyes she meets from across a room. It's not like she immediately picked him out as being something other than what he was pretending to be, she believed he was some kind of gang member, but still she was instantly fantasising about sex with him, despite the danger she recognised him as being capable of. Not a smart 'woman who's a reporter with university degrees's behaviour.
This is a 400 page book, and at 180 pages we already know who the stalker is - that seems like an epic fail for the mystery thriller side of the book. The mystery is pretty much over, leaving just the romance part of the story, which no longer has a reason for continuing because the mystery was the reason for bringing Kate and Teague together as bodyguard and client. She doesn't need a bodyguard anymore, so what reason is there for their relationship to continue? I suppose either of them could create fake, easily seen through reasons for seeing each other, but that could lead into the territory of silliness and farce. Hmmm... To be continued...
22/6 - Looks like I spoke too soon, the romance/mystery wasn't really balanced at 50/50, it was more like 70/30 on the mystery's side. The romance pretty much petered out from the halfway point onwards leaving us with the hunt for evidence to prove Oberlin's guilt and a lot of misunderstandings due to the differences (some perceived, some real) between their upbringings. The constant theme of 'he says something, she takes it the wrong way' and vice versa got a bit tiresome towards the end. I just felt like shaking whichever one of them was misunderstanding what the other was saying - they seemed to be doing it wilfully - and telling them to think for just a second before blurting the first thing that comes into their heads. Got very close to the end of the book error-free, and then I came to
"That bullet severed Juanita's spinal chord."
on page 386. I was pretty certain when I first read it, then I looked it up and became absolutely positive, that spinal cord is never spelt with an H (no matter which country you're in). That particular spelling is restricted to geometry, music, truss construction, aircraft parts, and a few other specific examples researchable via Wikipedia. It is never used in medical terms to discuss the bundle of nerves running from the base of our skull to the middle of our back. This kind of mistake really irritates me, as it's so easy to fact check via the internet.
While this was a solid 3.5 (four on GR because at some point during the reading I was feeling generous), it's not something I'd rush back to read or, a month from now, be dreaming about re-reading (unlike some library books I've borrowed in the near past), so (and my groaning library shelves breathe a sigh of relief) this one'll be going back to the library, to find a new home where it can be loved better than it would be here.
July 4, 2013
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Kate was handed over to the Montgomerys, a wealthy Texas oil family, when she was only ten months old. She has no memory of her birth parents. Kate grew into an energetic young news reporter, one with the determination to confront even powerful men such as Senator Oberlin.
Oberlin takes one look at Kate Montgomery and swears he’s looking at a ghost. There in front of him is a woman who is the spitting image of Lana Prescott, a minister’s wife with whom George Oberlin fancied himself to be in love. Twenty-three years before, George stole the church treasury to fund his beginning political campaign.
Unfortunately, Pastor Prescott discovered the loss and his wife simply got in the way. Oberlin killed them both, then split up their children among every charitable organization he could think of. Now, little Caitlin Prescott, now known as Kate Montgomery, has come back to haunt him.
However, Kate is not alone this time. At her side is Teague Ramos, a tough Hispanic from the wrong side of the tracks. Teague is good at keeping other people safe. His security company is top notch and when Kate suspects she’s being stalked, Teague decides to help her.
Over the course of weeks, Teague and Kate grow closer, each breaking down the other’s barriers. What started out as just another assignment soon becomes something much more enduring. Nevertheless, can Teague set aside the demons of the past to embrace a future with Kate? George Oberlin covets Kate, as well, and if he cannot have her, he swears that no man will!
Filled with intrigue, suspense and steamy romance, this novel holds your interest from beginning to end.
Oberlin takes one look at Kate Montgomery and swears he’s looking at a ghost. There in front of him is a woman who is the spitting image of Lana Prescott, a minister’s wife with whom George Oberlin fancied himself to be in love. Twenty-three years before, George stole the church treasury to fund his beginning political campaign.
Unfortunately, Pastor Prescott discovered the loss and his wife simply got in the way. Oberlin killed them both, then split up their children among every charitable organization he could think of. Now, little Caitlin Prescott, now known as Kate Montgomery, has come back to haunt him.
However, Kate is not alone this time. At her side is Teague Ramos, a tough Hispanic from the wrong side of the tracks. Teague is good at keeping other people safe. His security company is top notch and when Kate suspects she’s being stalked, Teague decides to help her.
Over the course of weeks, Teague and Kate grow closer, each breaking down the other’s barriers. What started out as just another assignment soon becomes something much more enduring. Nevertheless, can Teague set aside the demons of the past to embrace a future with Kate? George Oberlin covets Kate, as well, and if he cannot have her, he swears that no man will!
Filled with intrigue, suspense and steamy romance, this novel holds your interest from beginning to end.
March 22, 2016
Close to You (Lost Hearts, #3)
by Christina Dodd
Contemporary Romance / Romantic Suspense
Twenty-three years ago, in a small Texas town, a vicious crime tore a young family apart. The children were scattered, the baby given up for adoption…
Kate Montgomery’s (24) loving, adoptive parents taught her to overcome every obstacle. Now an ambitious news reporter, she faces the greatest challenge of her life; she is threatened by a malicious stalker who knows too much about her mysterious past. She gets a bodyguard, but the cool, blade-sharp intensity of Teague Ramos both menaces and attracts her. When her own investigation unlocks some dangerous secrets, she and Teague go on a high-stakes chase that may lead to the family she has never known — or into the trap of a ruthless killer.
I liked the first half, but the second half was kinda annoying as the romantic conflicts and misunderstandings between Kate and Teague were too weak for my tase (Teague's hang-ups about his past, Kate's stubbornness when Teague wanted to protect her, etc). I was also disappointed that the villain was revealed early on.
But the biggest dissapointment for me was when all 3 siblings and their foster brother are finally reunited - I'd read all two previous books and I was looking forward for the "big reunion" but we don't get a scene of that moment when they are all together at last, instead we get a scene of the villian's death and what happened to him after his death. Somehow it was so dissapointing and strange.
by Christina Dodd
Contemporary Romance / Romantic Suspense
Twenty-three years ago, in a small Texas town, a vicious crime tore a young family apart. The children were scattered, the baby given up for adoption…
Kate Montgomery’s (24) loving, adoptive parents taught her to overcome every obstacle. Now an ambitious news reporter, she faces the greatest challenge of her life; she is threatened by a malicious stalker who knows too much about her mysterious past. She gets a bodyguard, but the cool, blade-sharp intensity of Teague Ramos both menaces and attracts her. When her own investigation unlocks some dangerous secrets, she and Teague go on a high-stakes chase that may lead to the family she has never known — or into the trap of a ruthless killer.
I liked the first half, but the second half was kinda annoying as the romantic conflicts and misunderstandings between Kate and Teague were too weak for my tase (Teague's hang-ups about his past, Kate's stubbornness when Teague wanted to protect her, etc). I was also disappointed that the villain was revealed early on.
But the biggest dissapointment for me was when all 3 siblings and their foster brother are finally reunited - I'd read all two previous books and I was looking forward for the "big reunion" but we don't get a scene of that moment when they are all together at last, instead we get a scene of the villian's death and what happened to him after his death. Somehow it was so dissapointing and strange.
June 21, 2010
After falling in love with Hope Prescott in the first volume in this series, I dutifully read through the second and third volumes to get some closure on the mystery of what did happen all those years ago in the Texas town. Ten-month-old Kaitlin (now Kate) is all grown up, a 24-year-old reporter trying to make a name for herself. Then a senator begins to stalk her and she begins to uncover truths that will lead her to her long-lost family.
After 24 years and the resources of an extremely wealth and influential man had failed to produce any truth in the small town in Texas, I frankly expected the conclusion to this mystery to be something pretty special. In the end, the revelations were unconvincing, the underlying motives that had driven the entire series turned out to be cheesy, and I couldn't think of any reason that it had taken 23 years to get the people of that small town to talk when they seemed so willing to do so in this book.
The romance of this book was ok, nothing special.
After finishing the series, I realize that the structure of this trilogy was a problem. I've read plenty of family romance series before, but never one that had a mystery reaching across three books. In my mind, that mystery was always a part of Hope's story -- the heroine from book one. I was never fully invested in her sisters stories because I just wanted to finish reading hers.
After 24 years and the resources of an extremely wealth and influential man had failed to produce any truth in the small town in Texas, I frankly expected the conclusion to this mystery to be something pretty special. In the end, the revelations were unconvincing, the underlying motives that had driven the entire series turned out to be cheesy, and I couldn't think of any reason that it had taken 23 years to get the people of that small town to talk when they seemed so willing to do so in this book.
The romance of this book was ok, nothing special.
After finishing the series, I realize that the structure of this trilogy was a problem. I've read plenty of family romance series before, but never one that had a mystery reaching across three books. In my mind, that mystery was always a part of Hope's story -- the heroine from book one. I was never fully invested in her sisters stories because I just wanted to finish reading hers.
May 1, 2015
Um lado de Christina Dodd que eu não conhecia. Um suspense bem escrito. Caitlin era apenas um bebê quando foi adotada por uma família rica e se tornou Kate Montgomery. Foi uma adoção meio estranha pela forma como o pastor agia. Mais como seus pais adotivos desejava demais adotar um filho, aceitaram sem questionar nada. Alguns anos depois Kate se tornou uma reporter e aí as coisas começam acontecer com ela. E quando alguém a persegue a ponto de machucá-la, ela se ver forçada a contratar um guarda-costa. Teague Ramos é um hispanico que é dono de agencia que trabalha com a segurança, é um homem atraente e que tem alguns segredos que o impede de se entregar a essa paixão. Quando ela sofre outro ataque de agressão, e eles descobrem quem a atacou, sabem também que o mistério está na adoção e no passado de Kate. A morte do seu agressor é o inicio para que eles comecem a descobrir o que está por trás da infancia dela.
É um suspense que te mantém presa na trama para descobrir o porque da adoção dela, quem está por trás disso e quem são as pessoas que há anos procuravam por seu paradeiro. Um porém é sobre a cena muito similar ao filme Ghost, que achei que era desnecessária.
É um suspense que te mantém presa na trama para descobrir o porque da adoção dela, quem está por trás disso e quem são as pessoas que há anos procuravam por seu paradeiro. Um porém é sobre a cena muito similar ao filme Ghost, que achei que era desnecessária.
September 12, 2009
1st review: Suspense and romance in one sizzling book! Sexy and thrilling, would make you wonder what would it be like since the characters were very interesting and unpredictable
2nd review: Read this the second time and I still loved it! Since I've read the first two books in this series, I now understand the story better. Pepper is still my favorite of the three sisters but Kate also has that heroine quality in most books. She's independent, has a good head on her shoulder, not a quitter, and definitely not a pushover. It's great that Teague's background and character was well written and blended well with the Prescott family reunion, and his relationship with Kate gradually developed into something more serious. I loved the recurring characters and how consistent they are with the story. Excellent suspense and drama, a little action and it's great that no matter how tense the atmosphere is, Christina Dodd could set something that calmed my nerves, because this book is nerve-wracking. No loose ends here, just happy endings.
2nd review: Read this the second time and I still loved it! Since I've read the first two books in this series, I now understand the story better. Pepper is still my favorite of the three sisters but Kate also has that heroine quality in most books. She's independent, has a good head on her shoulder, not a quitter, and definitely not a pushover. It's great that Teague's background and character was well written and blended well with the Prescott family reunion, and his relationship with Kate gradually developed into something more serious. I loved the recurring characters and how consistent they are with the story. Excellent suspense and drama, a little action and it's great that no matter how tense the atmosphere is, Christina Dodd could set something that calmed my nerves, because this book is nerve-wracking. No loose ends here, just happy endings.
March 12, 2013
It was not bad, but it was not good enough also.
Actually, towards the end I felt like giving 4 stars, however, I could not ignore the major part of the book.
I'm really sick and tired of those tall, broad-shouldered, rough heroes. And I'm even more sick and tired of uncontrollable lust from the first sight. I like when desire goes together with emotions. Here it happened only towards the end of the book. Before that I really did not see a reason for Kate to fall in love with Teague.
I'm a sucker for tortured heroes but here I was not convinced enough.
And I'm pretty sure Dodd's largest sexual fantasy is about a man with extremely large "thing". Because all (or large part of) her heroes are emphasized to be just like that. Ugh.
Also the suspense part did not quite interest me. Well, maybe except that last part in Hobart. All in all, I was rather dissappointed because I loved other series of her. This book mostly bored me, and sometimes irritated.
Actually, towards the end I felt like giving 4 stars, however, I could not ignore the major part of the book.
I'm really sick and tired of those tall, broad-shouldered, rough heroes. And I'm even more sick and tired of uncontrollable lust from the first sight. I like when desire goes together with emotions. Here it happened only towards the end of the book. Before that I really did not see a reason for Kate to fall in love with Teague.
I'm a sucker for tortured heroes but here I was not convinced enough.
And I'm pretty sure Dodd's largest sexual fantasy is about a man with extremely large "thing". Because all (or large part of) her heroes are emphasized to be just like that. Ugh.
Also the suspense part did not quite interest me. Well, maybe except that last part in Hobart. All in all, I was rather dissappointed because I loved other series of her. This book mostly bored me, and sometimes irritated.
August 26, 2009
This is a really sweet romance between Kate and Teague. The mystery of the four orphans keeps the pages turning swiftly. The culprit is truly a surprise and of course, gets his in the end. I didn't know that Christina Dodd even wrote romantic suspense...and rather well too! Her other romances are wonderful so I thought I'd give this one a try. This is the conclusion of the series - Just the Way You Are and Almost Like Being in Love are the previous books.
January 21, 2025
หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือเก่าเก็บค้างนานหลายปีค่ะ (ตั้งแต่ปี 2005) ที่แม็กซ์ปฏิญาณกะตัวเองว่าจะไม่ยอมอ่านจนกว่าคริสติน่า ดอจจ์จะเขียนเรื่องราวของตัวละครสุดท้ายที่เหลือเอาไว้ในเล่มนี้ออกมาเสีย��ี
สำหรับคนที่ไม่คุ้นกับเรื่องชุดนี้ก็ขอท้าวความย้อนอดีตนิดหน่อยแล้วกัน
คริสติน่า ดอจจ์ซึ่งเป็นนักเขียนแนวย้อนยุคที่มีชื่อเสียงพอตัว ได้หันมาเขียนหนังสือชุดแนวปัจจุบันโดยใช้ชื่อชุดว่า Lost Texas Hearts ซึ่งเป็นเรื่องราวของพี่น้องสามสาวในตระกูลเพรสค็อตต์ที่พ่อและแม่ถูกกล่าว หาว่ายักยอกเงินของโบสถ์หนีไป ก่อนที่จะรถคว่ำตายทั้งคู่ ทำให้ทั้งสามสาวถูกจับแยกกัน และถูกส่งไปเลี้ยงดูโดยไม่ได้มีโอกาสได้พบหน้ากันอีกเลย เรื่องราวในชุดทั้งสามเล่มเล่าเรื่องราวของสาวน้อยแต่ละคนที่พยายามต่อสู้ ชีวิต และค้นหาพี่น้องของตัวเองให้พบ โดยรวมแม็กซ์ชอบหนังสือชุดนี้มากค่ะ
แต่นอกจากสามสาวพี่น้องแล้ว ก็ยังมีกาเบรียลซึ่งเป็นลูกเลี้ยงของตระกูลเพรสค็อตต์ ในชุดเขาเป็นตัวละครที่ค่อนข้างมีบทบาทสำคัญไม่น้อย แต่เรื่องราวของเขาไม่เคยถูกเล่าออกมา นั่นเพราะคริสติน่าเปลี่ยนสำนักพิมพ์จากที่เคยเขียนให้กับสนพ. พ็อตเก็ต ไปเขียนให้กับสนพ.ซิกเน็ต เธอจึงไม่ได้เขียนเรื่องของกาเบรียลออกมา
กระนั้นเธอก็ยังให้ความหวังแฟนหนังสือโดยบอกว่า เธอจะนำกาเบรียลไปเป็นตัวละครในนิยายชุดใหม่ของเธอ ซึ่งก็คือ The Fortune Hunter ด้วย
สำหรับแม็กซ์แล้ว มันไม่ใช่ข่าวที่เราอยากจะเชื่อนัก เราเจอนักเขียนที่อยู่ในสถานการณ์เดียวกับคริสติน่า และเข้าใจนะคะว่า มันยากที่จะเปลี่ยนสนพ. แล้วจะเริ่มต้นเขียนเรื่องราวของตัวละครที่ทิ้งค้างมาจากสนพ.เดิม สนพ.ส่วนใหญ่มักไม่ต้องการเรื่องที่เกี่ยวข้องกับชุดที่พิมพ์อยู่กับอีกสนพ. นึง (เพราะเหมือนตัวเองไปทำการตลาดให้อีกสนพ.) บอกตามตรงว่าไม่ค่อยอยากเชื่อคำพูดของคริสติน่าเท่าไหร (แต่ไ่ม่ได้โกรธอะไรเธอหรอกนะคะ)
ดังนั้นเราจึงตั้งใจเอาไว้ว่า จะไม่อ่าน Close to you เล่มนี้ซึ่งเป็นเล่มสามในชุด Lost Texas Hearts จนกว่าเรื่องของกาเบรียลออกขาย
เวลาผ่านไปสี่ปี ในที่สุดเรื่องของกาเบรียลก็ออก และแม็กซ์ก็ได้ฤกษ์เปิดหนังสือเล่มที่เราบอกตามตรงว่าอยากอ่านมากเรื่องนึง
Close to you ของคริสติน่า ดอจจ์
อย่างที่บอกค่ะ เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มที่สามในชุด Lost Texas Hearts บอกเล่าเรื่องราวของน้องนุชสุดท้องอย่างเคทลิน เพรสค็อตต์ ที่เป็นเพียงเด็กวัยสิบเดือนในเวลาที่พ่อและแม่ของเธอเสียชีวิต เคทลินถูกพรากออกจากอ้อมอกของพี่สาวที่รักเธออย่างโฮป และเพพเพอร์ แต่ก็ยังเป็นโชคของเธอที่ผู้อุปการะเลี้ยงดูเธอมาเป็นอย่างดี
ในนามของเคท มอนต์โกเมอรี่ เธอเป็นนักข่าววัยยี่สิบสี่ปีผู้มีอนาคตไกล เธอเริ่มต้นทำงานในสถานีโทรทัศน์ขนาดเล็ก แต่แล้วการรายงานข่าวพายุเฮอลิเคนก็ทำให้เธอเป็นที่เตะตาของศัตรูในอดีต คนที่คลั่งไคล้เธออย่างมาก
มากขนาดที่จะวางแผนและนำตัวเธอกลับมาทำงานใกล้ชิดกับเขา เคทเริ่มต้นทำงานในฐานะนักข่าวสายการเมืองซึ่งทำให้เธอได้มีโอกาสได้รู้จัก ผู้ทรงอิทธิพลหลายคน แต่ในขณะเดียวกันก็มีคนตามปองร้ายเธอเช่นกัน และนั่นนำเคทไปรู้จักกับทีค รามอสซึ่งกลายมาเป็นผู้รับผิดชอบในเรื่องความปลอดภัยแก่เธอ ซึ่งเช่นเดียวกับเรื่องแนวโรแมนติคสืบสวนทั่วไป หญิงสาวผู้ตกอยู่ในอันตรายก็ตกหลุมรักบอดี้การ์ดของเธอ
ในแง่ของพล็อตมันแทบจะไม่มีอะไรใหม่เลย แต่อาจเพราะนี่เป็นสูตรสำเร็จที่แม็กซ์ชอบอยู่ก็เป็นได้ มันถึงไม่ได้เป็นปัญหาแก่เราในการอ่านเล่มนี้ เราชอบคาแร็คเตอร์ของทั้งเคทลินและทีค ที่มีความลึก และมีเหตุผลในการกระทำของตัวเอง การกระทำที่อาจจะไม่ใช่สิ่งที่คนฉลาดทำ (อย่างการที่เคทตัดสินใจเดินทางไปโฮบาร์ตตามลำพัง) แต่เป็นการกระทำที่เราเข้าใจได้ (ในเมื่อเธอไม่รู้ว่ามีอันตรายรอคอยอยู่) เรื่องราวอาจจะขาดความลึกไปบ้างในส่วนของภูมิหลังของทีค ที่เราคิดว่าน่าจะมีประเด็นให้เล่นได้มากกว่านี เพิ่มความลึกซึ้งให้กับคาแร็คเตอร์ของเขา แต่มันก็ไม่ถึงกับทำให้เรื่องราวเสียหาย ทีคยังคงเป็นตัวละครที่น่าจดจำ
ปัญหาที่เราพบกลับเป็นตัวร้าย สำหรับเรื่องราวที่ต้องอาศัยหนังสือสามเล่มในการค้นหาคนร้ายผู้นี้ แม็กซ์รู้สึกว่าทุกอย่างมันง่ายดายเกินไป ผู้ร้ายไร้ประสิทธิภาพเกินไป เมื่อคิดว่าต้องอาศัยพระเอกนางเอกจากเล่มหนึ่ง สอง และสามในการเอาชนะเขา คนร้ายดูไม่น่าจะมีแววเก่งอะไรเลย ไม่น่าที่จะอยู่เบื้องหลังการกระทำที่เลวร้ายหลายอย่าง (ที่ไม่เฉพาะแยกครอบครัวเพรสค็อตต์ออกจากกันเท่านั้น แต่ยังแบล็คเมลล์ผู้มีอำนาจใหญ่โตมากมาย) แม็กซ์อ่านไปทั้งเรื่อง ไม่เห็นจะเจอเลยว่าผู้ร้ายมีลูกน้องที่ทำงานแทนตัวเอง ความชั่วร้ายที่เกิดขึ้น เขาทำตามลำพัง และเมื่อคิดถึงฐานะ และความยิ่งใหญ่ที่เขาเป็น มันไม่น่าเชื่อค่ะว่าจะไม่มีลูกน้อง
แล้วยังเรื่องโกหกที่เขาสร้างสรรขึ้นมาอีก ไม่ว่าจะเป็นวันครบรอบแต่งงาน จำนวนปีที่แต่งงาน มันไม่น่าเชื่อว่าคนร้ายจะมองข้ามจุดพวกนี้ไป เพราะเขาโกหก โดยจัดงานครบรอบแต่งงาน ทั้งที่ยังไม่ถึงวันนั้น แถมโกหกเรื่องจำนวนปีอีก งานเลี้ยงนั้นใหญ่โต เป็นข่าวหน้าหนึ่งหนังสือพิมพ์ มันเสี่ยงเกินไปสำหรับวุฒิสมาชิคที่จะทำอย่างนั้น คนอเมริกันไม่ชอบให้นักการเมืองของตัวเองโกหก เขาไม่น่ามองข้ามจุดนี้ไปน่ะ โดยเฉพาะเมื่อคิดว่าเรื่องพยายามนำเสนอว่า นี่แหละคือตัวร้ายสูงสุดที่ทั้งเลวและชั่วชนิดที่ใครก็เอาผิดเขาไม่ได้
สรุปก็คือ เป็นตัวร้ายที่ไร้น้ำยาค่ะ
และนั่นทำให้ตัวเอกดูไม่เก่งเท่าที่ควร ซึ่งก็เป็นเรื่องที่น่าเสียดายค่ะ
ส่วนที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดก็คงเป็นการเอาตัวละครจากเล่มก่อนมามีบทบาท ช่วยกันในการวางแผนเพื่อเอาผิดคนร้าย เรื่องชอบความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพี่น้องของสามสาวพี่น้องที่น่ารักมาก
แต่คงเป็นเพราะเรามีงานของคริสติน่าที่ชอบมากกว่าเล่มนี้อยู่หลายเล่มก็ได้ มั้งคะ เราจึงไม่รู้สึกว่าเล่มนี้เป็นผลงานที่โดดเด่นอะไรนัก (ซึึ่งมันก็ไม่ใช่ความผิดของนักเขียนหรอกค่ะ ที่เขียนหนังสือให้แม็กซ์ชอบได้เยอะมาก) คะแนนเล่มนี้จึงอยู่ที่ 70
ป.ล. สำหรับคนที่สนใจเรื่องของกาเบรียลอยู่ในหนังสือที่ชื่อว่า Danger in Red Dress
สำหรับคนที่ไม่คุ้นกับเรื่องชุดนี้ก็ขอท้าวความย้อนอดีตนิดหน่อยแล้วกัน
คริสติน่า ดอจจ์ซึ่งเป็นนักเขียนแนวย้อนยุคที่มีชื่อเสียงพอตัว ได้หันมาเขียนหนังสือชุดแนวปัจจุบันโดยใช้ชื่อชุดว่า Lost Texas Hearts ซึ่งเป็นเรื่องราวของพี่น้องสามสาวในตระกูลเพรสค็อตต์ที่พ่อและแม่ถูกกล่าว หาว่ายักยอกเงินของโบสถ์หนีไป ก่อนที่จะรถคว่ำตายทั้งคู่ ทำให้ทั้งสามสาวถูกจับแยกกัน และถูกส่งไปเลี้ยงดูโดยไม่ได้มีโอกาสได้พบหน้ากันอีกเลย เรื่องราวในชุดทั้งสามเล่มเล่าเรื่องราวของสาวน้อยแต่ละคนที่พยายามต่อสู้ ชีวิต และค้นหาพี่น้องของตัวเองให้พบ โดยรวมแม็กซ์ชอบหนังสือชุดนี้มากค่ะ
แต่นอกจากสามสาวพี่น้องแล้ว ก็ยังมีกาเบรียลซึ่งเป็นลูกเลี้ยงของตระกูลเพรสค็อตต์ ในชุดเขาเป็นตัวละครที่ค่อนข้างมีบทบาทสำคัญไม่น้อย แต่เรื่องราวของเขาไม่เคยถูกเล่าออกมา นั่นเพราะคริสติน่าเปลี่ยนสำนักพิมพ์จากที่เคยเขียนให้กับสนพ. พ็อตเก็ต ไปเขียนให้กับสนพ.ซิกเน็ต เธอจึงไม่ได้เขียนเรื่องของกาเบรียลออกมา
กระนั้นเธอก็ยังให้ความหวังแฟนหนังสือโดยบอกว่า เธอจะนำกาเบรียลไปเป็นตัวละครในนิยายชุดใหม่ของเธอ ซึ่งก็คือ The Fortune Hunter ด้วย
สำหรับแม็กซ์แล้ว มันไม่ใช่ข่าวที่เราอยากจะเชื่อนัก เราเจอนักเขียนที่อยู่ในสถานการณ์เดียวกับคริสติน่า และเข้าใจนะคะว่า มันยากที่จะเปลี่ยนสนพ. แล้วจะเริ่มต้นเขียนเรื่องราวของตัวละครที่ทิ้งค้างมาจากสนพ.เดิม สนพ.ส่วนใหญ่มักไม่ต้องการเรื่องที่เกี่ยวข้องกับชุดที่พิมพ์อยู่กับอีกสนพ. นึง (เพราะเหมือนตัวเองไปทำการตลาดให้อีกสนพ.) บอกตามตรงว่าไม่ค่อยอยากเชื่อคำพูดของคริสติน่าเท่าไหร (แต่ไ่ม่ได้โกรธอะไรเธอหรอกนะคะ)
ดังนั้นเราจึงตั้งใจเอาไว้ว่า จะไม่อ่าน Close to you เล่มนี้ซึ่งเป็นเล่มสามในชุด Lost Texas Hearts จนกว่าเรื่องของกาเบรียลออกขาย
เวลาผ่านไปสี่ปี ในที่สุดเรื่องของกาเบรียลก็ออก และแม็กซ์ก็ได้ฤกษ์เปิดหนังสือเล่มที่เราบอกตามตรงว่าอยากอ่านมากเรื่องนึง
Close to you ของคริสติน่า ดอจจ์
อย่างที่บอกค่ะ เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มที่สามในชุด Lost Texas Hearts บอกเล่าเรื่องราวของน้องนุชสุดท้องอย่างเคทลิน เพรสค็อตต์ ที่เป็นเพียงเด็กวัยสิบเดือนในเวลาที่พ่อและแม่ของเธอเสียชีวิต เคทลินถูกพรากออกจากอ้อมอกของพี่สาวที่รักเธออย่างโฮป และเพพเพอร์ แต่ก็ยังเป็นโชคของเธอที่ผู้อุปการะเลี้ยงดูเธอมาเป็นอย่างดี
ในนามของเคท มอนต์โกเมอรี่ เธอเป็นนักข่าววัยยี่สิบสี่ปีผู้มีอนาคตไกล เธอเริ่มต้นทำงานในสถานีโทรทัศน์ขนาดเล็ก แต่แล้วการรายงานข่าวพายุเฮอลิเคนก็ทำให้เธอเป็นที่เตะตาของศัตรูในอดีต คนที่คลั่งไคล้เธออย่างมาก
มากขนาดที่จะวางแผนและนำตัวเธอกลับมาทำงานใกล้ชิดกับเขา เคทเริ่มต้นทำงานในฐานะนักข่าวสายการเมืองซึ่งทำให้เธอได้มีโอกาสได้รู้จัก ผู้ทรงอิทธิพลหลายคน แต่ในขณะเดียวกันก็มีคนตามปองร้ายเธอเช่นกัน และนั่นนำเคทไปรู้จักกับทีค รามอสซึ่งกลายมาเป็นผู้รับผิดชอบในเรื่องความปลอดภัยแก่เธอ ซึ่งเช่นเดียวกับเรื่องแนวโรแมนติคสืบสวนทั่วไป หญิงสาวผู้ตกอยู่ในอันตรายก็ตกหลุมรักบอดี้การ์ดของเธอ
ในแง่ของพล็อตมันแทบจะไม่มีอะไรใหม่เลย แต่อาจเพราะนี่เป็นสูตรสำเร็จที่แม็กซ์ชอบอยู่ก็เป็นได้ มันถึงไม่ได้เป็นปัญหาแก่เราในการอ่านเล่มนี้ เราชอบคาแร็คเตอร์ของทั้งเคทลินและทีค ที่มีความลึก และมีเหตุผลในการกระทำของตัวเอง การกระทำที่อาจจะไม่ใช่สิ่งที่คนฉลาดทำ (อย่างการที่เคทตัดสินใจเดินทางไปโฮบาร์ตตามลำพัง) แต่เป็นการกระทำที่เราเข้าใจได้ (ในเมื่อเธอไม่รู้ว่ามีอันตรายรอคอยอยู่) เรื่องราวอาจจะขาดความลึกไปบ้างในส่วนของภูมิหลังของทีค ที่เราคิดว่าน่าจะมีประเด็นให้เล่นได้มากกว่านี เพิ่มความลึกซึ้งให้กับคาแร็คเตอร์ของเขา แต่มันก็ไม่ถึงกับทำให้เรื่องราวเสียหาย ทีคยังคงเป็นตัวละครที่น่าจดจำ
ปัญหาที่เราพบกลับเป็นตัวร้าย สำหรับเรื่องราวที่ต้องอาศัยหนังสือสามเล่มในการค้นหาคนร้ายผู้นี้ แม็กซ์รู้สึกว่าทุกอย่างมันง่ายดายเกินไป ผู้ร้ายไร้ประสิทธิภาพเกินไป เมื่อคิดว่าต้องอาศัยพระเอกนางเอกจากเล่มหนึ่ง สอง และสามในการเอาชนะเขา คนร้ายดูไม่น่าจะมีแววเก่งอะไรเลย ไม่น่าที่จะอยู่เบื้องหลังการกระทำที่เลวร้ายหลายอย่าง (ที่ไม่เฉพาะแยกครอบครัวเพรสค็อตต์ออกจากกันเท่านั้น แต่ยังแบล็คเมลล์ผู้มีอำนาจใหญ่โตมากมาย) แม็กซ์อ่านไปทั้งเรื่อง ไม่เห็นจะเจอเลยว่าผู้ร้ายมีลูกน้องที่ทำงานแทนตัวเอง ความชั่วร้ายที่เกิดขึ้น เขาทำตามลำพัง และเมื่อคิดถึงฐานะ และความยิ่งใหญ่ที่เขาเป็น มันไม่น่าเชื่อค่ะว่าจะไม่มีลูกน้อง
แล้วยังเรื่องโกหกที่เขาสร้างสรรขึ้นมาอีก ไม่ว่าจะเป็นวันครบรอบแต่งงาน จำนวนปีที่แต่งงาน มันไม่น่าเชื่อว่าคนร้ายจะมองข้ามจุดพวกนี้ไป เพราะเขาโกหก โดยจัดงานครบรอบแต่งงาน ทั้งที่ยังไม่ถึงวันนั้น แถมโกหกเรื่องจำนวนปีอีก งานเลี้ยงนั้นใหญ่โต เป็นข่าวหน้าหนึ่งหนังสือพิมพ์ มันเสี่ยงเกินไปสำหรับวุฒิสมาชิคที่จะทำอย่างนั้น คนอเมริกันไม่ชอบให้นักการเมืองของตัวเองโกหก เขาไม่น่ามองข้ามจุดนี้ไปน่ะ โดยเฉพาะเมื่อคิดว่าเรื่องพยายามนำเสนอว่า นี่แหละคือตัวร้ายสูงสุดที่ทั้งเลวและชั่วชนิดที่ใครก็เอาผิดเขาไม่ได้
สรุปก็คือ เป็นตัวร้ายที่ไร้น้ำยาค่ะ
และนั่นทำให้ตัวเอกดูไม่เก่งเท่าที่ควร ซึ่งก็เป็นเรื่องที่น่าเสียดายค่ะ
ส่วนที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดก็คงเป็นการเอาตัวละครจากเล่มก่อนมามีบทบาท ช่วยกันในการวางแผนเพื่อเอาผิดคนร้าย เรื่องชอบความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างพี่น้องของสามสาวพี่น้องที่น่ารักมาก
แต่คงเป็นเพราะเรามีงานของคริสติน่าที่ชอบมากกว่าเล่มนี้อยู่หลายเล่มก็ได้ มั้งคะ เราจึงไม่รู้สึกว่าเล่มนี้เป็นผลงานที่โดดเด่นอะไรนัก (ซึึ่งมันก็ไม่ใช่ความผิดของนักเขียนหรอกค่ะ ที่เขียนหนังสือให้แม็กซ์ชอบได้เยอะมาก) คะแนนเล่มนี้จึงอยู่ที่ 70
ป.ล. สำหรับคนที่สนใจเรื่องของกาเบรียลอยู่ในหนังสือที่ชื่อว่า Danger in Red Dress
August 23, 2021
Kate Montgomery was adopted as a baby in an arrangement that seemed slightly sketchy to her parents. She grew up happy and secure with no problems with the adoption. She is now an adult beginning a career in news broadcasting when she gets a sudden call to an Austin station covering the state house. It’s an unexpected career builder resented by her new co-workers.
As Kate works on her reporting, she receives some unwelcome attention – a slashed tire, anonymous calls at night, a graffitied car, and a hit and run attack. She has a stalker. Her station manager assigns her a story on Ramos Security, the company contracted to protect the state house and now to help ferret out Kate’s stalker. She can prep the story while waiting for her cuts and bruises to heal. A man she had seen earlier and been disconcerted by, Teague Ramos, is her new guardian.
There is much more to the story than a stalker, and powerful people have secrets to protect. The suspense is palpable. The romance is steamy. And this volume ties up the trilogy of the Prescott sisters; a fourth volume takes up the story of their adopted brother. Recommended.
Readalikes/Similar Authors:
Lisa Kleypas’ Travis family romances; Cindy Gerard - To the Edge; Julie Garwood - Sweet Talk; Diana Palmer - Defender; Kat Martin - Against the Wind; Kay Hooper - Blood Dreams; Debra Webb - Dark Whispers; Karen Rose - Closer Than You Think; Linda Lael Miller - Don’t Look Now.
Pace: Fast paced
Characters: Strong females; Ambitious; Likeable
Story: Intricately plotted
Writing style: Engaging; Compelling
Tone: Steamy; Suspenseful
Frame: Austin TX; Contemporary
Theme: Too good to be true; Enemies to lovers
As Kate works on her reporting, she receives some unwelcome attention – a slashed tire, anonymous calls at night, a graffitied car, and a hit and run attack. She has a stalker. Her station manager assigns her a story on Ramos Security, the company contracted to protect the state house and now to help ferret out Kate’s stalker. She can prep the story while waiting for her cuts and bruises to heal. A man she had seen earlier and been disconcerted by, Teague Ramos, is her new guardian.
There is much more to the story than a stalker, and powerful people have secrets to protect. The suspense is palpable. The romance is steamy. And this volume ties up the trilogy of the Prescott sisters; a fourth volume takes up the story of their adopted brother. Recommended.
Readalikes/Similar Authors:
Lisa Kleypas’ Travis family romances; Cindy Gerard - To the Edge; Julie Garwood - Sweet Talk; Diana Palmer - Defender; Kat Martin - Against the Wind; Kay Hooper - Blood Dreams; Debra Webb - Dark Whispers; Karen Rose - Closer Than You Think; Linda Lael Miller - Don’t Look Now.
Pace: Fast paced
Characters: Strong females; Ambitious; Likeable
Story: Intricately plotted
Writing style: Engaging; Compelling
Tone: Steamy; Suspenseful
Frame: Austin TX; Contemporary
Theme: Too good to be true; Enemies to lovers
September 12, 2021
Suspense romántico, la tercera de la serie Corazones perdidos. Reconozco que si leí el segundo y este tercero fue sobre todo por averiguar el misterio de lo que les ocurrió a los padres de las protagonistas. A la periodista Caitlin la acecha un merodeador. Hasta intentan atropellarla. El encargado de protegerla será el peligroso pero sexi Teague Ramos. El tono general es el propio de Christina Dodd: sensualidad y su toque de suspense. Desde el primer momento en que Kate y Teague se ponen la vista encima, se sienten intensamente atraídos el uno por el otro. El problema radica en que tienen diferentes expectativas amorosas: ella cree que el amor duradero y él siente que no lo merece. La parte romántico-erótica está bien. La de suspense, menos, creo que lo desaprovecha. A los aficionados nos gusta comernos la cabeza, y que nos sorprendan, y Dodd no lo hace. Creo que por eso no seguí leyéndola. Bueno por eso y por no encontrarme otra vez con un misterio que necesitas leer tres novelas para que se resuelva.
April 6, 2020
Bonita historia de 2 personajes de distintas clases sociales que han sufrido mucho, la apariencia no lo es todo. A medida que vas leyendo conoces un poco de cada personaje Kate una chica adoptada que tuvo una familia amorosa, que sufrió una gran perdida, que la fortalece para seguir adelante luchar por lo que quiere, conoce por accidente a Teague lo juzga por su apariencia se llevara una gran sorpresa al ser su guardaespaldas al tratar con un acosador, que en si lo que trata es de prevenir que se repita la historia. Al fin se conoce quien fue el malvado que le hizo tanto daño a la familia Prescott, siempre hay una segunda oportunidad para unir estos hermanos, con sus respectivas familias que han crecido con el correr de los años. Teague por fin supera su mayor miedo, sus errores y logra ser feliz tiene a la chica de sus sueños.
Read
April 9, 2021This book was a lot of fun. Kate Montgomery was adopted when she was 10 months old, and knew nothing about her birth parents. She becomes an on-air reporter, and gets an incredible job offer to work at a station in Austin Tx, which she jumps at. Pretty soon, however, she finds herself being stalked. So the station hires Teague Ramos to protect her and find the stalker. Teague also works for the State of Texas as their chief security firm at the capital. When they meet, sparks fly. but Teague had a very bad childhood, which influences his relationship with women. Can he overcome his past to admit he loves and needs Kate? Will they figure out who is after her and why? does this have anything to do with her adoption?
I read the first book, but missed the second book, so now I have to go get it. I really enjoy anything Christina Dodd writes.
I read the first book, but missed the second book, so now I have to go get it. I really enjoy anything Christina Dodd writes.
April 27, 2023
This is a very average romance/thriller. The writing is fair to middling. Nothing special here and no additions to my Day Book.
The two main characters are OK, again nothing special. I did not feel that any of the characters in this book ( and there were alot of them) were particularly well developed. I did not know that this was the third book in a trilogy, so maybe that was the problem.
There is only one sex scene in the book. It was a good one, but still a little thin for a 400 page romance book.
My real problem with this book was the plot. It ill conceived, poorly developed, choppy and at times downright confusing. There were holes in the plot as big as the Grand Canyon. There were very few thrills and not much of a mystery. The ending was sappy and trite.
The two main characters are OK, again nothing special. I did not feel that any of the characters in this book ( and there were alot of them) were particularly well developed. I did not know that this was the third book in a trilogy, so maybe that was the problem.
There is only one sex scene in the book. It was a good one, but still a little thin for a 400 page romance book.
My real problem with this book was the plot. It ill conceived, poorly developed, choppy and at times downright confusing. There were holes in the plot as big as the Grand Canyon. There were very few thrills and not much of a mystery. The ending was sappy and trite.
October 28, 2011
Sister # 3 - Caitlyn, only 8 months old when the family tragedy struck. And we get the whole story of what happened to the Prescotts 23 years earlier...
George Oberlin, poor but married money and position... but his father in law would not finance his state senate run... he took money from the church treasury... he admitted to the pastor's wife that he loved her... and when her husband confronted him about the money, and would not listen to his plans to repay the church, he killed him - and when she came in on them, he killed her... and then made it look like they had been in an accident on their way to Mexico with the church pilfered money... and he used money, blackmail, and threats to bully his way to a quick concurrance from the church treasurer, the police, etc. He had Pepper sent to the west coast, Hope sent to Boston, Gabriel back to Texas foster care, and he arranged for the adoption of Caitlyn through a fake adoption agency to a couple with money who would be leaving the country for his oil job.
23 years later we meet Kate (well loved by her adopted parents - a genteel Texan and a commanding oil man - who traveled the world, did good where they could, and her dad lost his life 5 years earlier to terrorists)... she has master degree in journalism and political science... she has her first job at a news station - and she was sent out to cover a hurricane... and a drunk Mrs. Oberlin sees her, points her out to her husband (she looks just like her real mom)... and Senator George Oberlin pulls more strings for a job offer at the Austin TV news, political desk.
She's a bit fearful because of her father's experience, she faces hostility from others at the station thinking she pulled strings, but she proves herself... and Oberlin is watching her - when she gets threatening calls & notes, and then someone hits her with their car, the news boss arranges for Teague Ramos, head of security at the state capitol, to protects her.
Teague - ex special forces, carries anger at a mother who despised him and guilt at not protecting his younger cousin in a gang fight, who is now paralyzed from the waist down, and works for his security company.
He reads people well... and there is an instant attraction between them - and trust. it ends up that Mrs. Oberlin is giving her the warnings, and when she goes to her drunk, with a knife, and says she is protecting her from being killed Lana (her mother, though she doesn't know it), and that now he'll kill her - they don't give her words much credence... until after 3 months in rehab, she goes home and drunk, falls down the stairs and dies.
Teague had stayed away from Kate, but she goes to him when she hears Mrs. Oberlin is dead, and they try to figure out what is going on. The Senator is fixated on Kate - in his mind, he has her mixed up with his mother, and he is making plans to use Zack's money (next paragraph) and run for president with Kate as his wife. Teague uses his servelliance to keep her away from him.
In the meantime, her family has figured out that Senator Oberlin is the fulcrum to what happened, and they manipulate him to see Zack's CAO as a patsy, to trap him into illegal actions & blackmail... with the expectation that he will trade information about where Caitlyn is for his freedom...
And things are hot and heavy between Teague & Kate - though Teague doesn't believe that she'll stay with him when she learns the truth about him (his mother's version) and when she is safe... though he makes the mistake of asking her editor to send her somewhere safe for a story, and when the editor does it, he tells her that Teague wanted him to do it (along with the fact that the Senator required him to hire her in the first place)... so she goes to Hobart (her parent's home town)... meets an older woman in the diner who thinks she is her mom, and she finds out she has sisters and foster brother...
then we faze to Hope & Pepper and gang, and Zack, Gabriel, & Dan approach Teague (knowing he was doing searches on the Senator), and he and Kate's mom are going to the FBI (Kate's mom figured out the Senator is the 'minister' who arranged the adoption), so Dan drugs him to stop him for tipping of the Senator.
When Teague comes to, he listens to his voicemails - and they all realize that Teague's Kate is the Prescott's Caitlyn, and that she is in danger... Zack gets them on a helicopter, and to town, where Oberlin has shot Hope's classmate who intervened for her - and Teague takes the cop's car, and gets to the cemetary, just as Oberlin is figuring out Kate is not seeing things his way... and he tries to stop Oberlin, who aims a gun at him... and Kate grabs the shotgun out of the sheriff's car and shoots him... and follows a bit where Oberlin looks down at himself, and sees he is dead... and mom and dad Prescott are there, and then is wife... and his wife tells him to look into the grave, and his hell is nothing - he is observed into blackness.
and Kate's family surround her as they are waiting for word on Teague - and Zack intervenes to get Kate in to see him (though only family)... and a week later, Zack is released, and sure that Kate will be leaving him when he finds out the truth... and he takes her to his cousin (not knowing that Kate spent a lot of time with her during his hospital stay)... and Kate listens to him, acknowledges he screwed up but made up for it... and that she loves him... and vice versa... and 4 months later they are married, with her family there - and she is 4 months pregnant - with apparent twins... ahhhhh
George Oberlin, poor but married money and position... but his father in law would not finance his state senate run... he took money from the church treasury... he admitted to the pastor's wife that he loved her... and when her husband confronted him about the money, and would not listen to his plans to repay the church, he killed him - and when she came in on them, he killed her... and then made it look like they had been in an accident on their way to Mexico with the church pilfered money... and he used money, blackmail, and threats to bully his way to a quick concurrance from the church treasurer, the police, etc. He had Pepper sent to the west coast, Hope sent to Boston, Gabriel back to Texas foster care, and he arranged for the adoption of Caitlyn through a fake adoption agency to a couple with money who would be leaving the country for his oil job.
23 years later we meet Kate (well loved by her adopted parents - a genteel Texan and a commanding oil man - who traveled the world, did good where they could, and her dad lost his life 5 years earlier to terrorists)... she has master degree in journalism and political science... she has her first job at a news station - and she was sent out to cover a hurricane... and a drunk Mrs. Oberlin sees her, points her out to her husband (she looks just like her real mom)... and Senator George Oberlin pulls more strings for a job offer at the Austin TV news, political desk.
She's a bit fearful because of her father's experience, she faces hostility from others at the station thinking she pulled strings, but she proves herself... and Oberlin is watching her - when she gets threatening calls & notes, and then someone hits her with their car, the news boss arranges for Teague Ramos, head of security at the state capitol, to protects her.
Teague - ex special forces, carries anger at a mother who despised him and guilt at not protecting his younger cousin in a gang fight, who is now paralyzed from the waist down, and works for his security company.
He reads people well... and there is an instant attraction between them - and trust. it ends up that Mrs. Oberlin is giving her the warnings, and when she goes to her drunk, with a knife, and says she is protecting her from being killed Lana (her mother, though she doesn't know it), and that now he'll kill her - they don't give her words much credence... until after 3 months in rehab, she goes home and drunk, falls down the stairs and dies.
Teague had stayed away from Kate, but she goes to him when she hears Mrs. Oberlin is dead, and they try to figure out what is going on. The Senator is fixated on Kate - in his mind, he has her mixed up with his mother, and he is making plans to use Zack's money (next paragraph) and run for president with Kate as his wife. Teague uses his servelliance to keep her away from him.
In the meantime, her family has figured out that Senator Oberlin is the fulcrum to what happened, and they manipulate him to see Zack's CAO as a patsy, to trap him into illegal actions & blackmail... with the expectation that he will trade information about where Caitlyn is for his freedom...
And things are hot and heavy between Teague & Kate - though Teague doesn't believe that she'll stay with him when she learns the truth about him (his mother's version) and when she is safe... though he makes the mistake of asking her editor to send her somewhere safe for a story, and when the editor does it, he tells her that Teague wanted him to do it (along with the fact that the Senator required him to hire her in the first place)... so she goes to Hobart (her parent's home town)... meets an older woman in the diner who thinks she is her mom, and she finds out she has sisters and foster brother...
then we faze to Hope & Pepper and gang, and Zack, Gabriel, & Dan approach Teague (knowing he was doing searches on the Senator), and he and Kate's mom are going to the FBI (Kate's mom figured out the Senator is the 'minister' who arranged the adoption), so Dan drugs him to stop him for tipping of the Senator.
When Teague comes to, he listens to his voicemails - and they all realize that Teague's Kate is the Prescott's Caitlyn, and that she is in danger... Zack gets them on a helicopter, and to town, where Oberlin has shot Hope's classmate who intervened for her - and Teague takes the cop's car, and gets to the cemetary, just as Oberlin is figuring out Kate is not seeing things his way... and he tries to stop Oberlin, who aims a gun at him... and Kate grabs the shotgun out of the sheriff's car and shoots him... and follows a bit where Oberlin looks down at himself, and sees he is dead... and mom and dad Prescott are there, and then is wife... and his wife tells him to look into the grave, and his hell is nothing - he is observed into blackness.
and Kate's family surround her as they are waiting for word on Teague - and Zack intervenes to get Kate in to see him (though only family)... and a week later, Zack is released, and sure that Kate will be leaving him when he finds out the truth... and he takes her to his cousin (not knowing that Kate spent a lot of time with her during his hospital stay)... and Kate listens to him, acknowledges he screwed up but made up for it... and that she loves him... and vice versa... and 4 months later they are married, with her family there - and she is 4 months pregnant - with apparent twins... ahhhhh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
Close To You
Caitlin has a new job and a stalker. Teague Ramos, owner of a security company is hired as her bodyguard. The stalker is caught but was trying to scare her to leave town to save het from being killed by the same man that killed her parents. Kate, as she's known, and Teague are gathering evidence to have this rich powerful man prosecuted. At the same time the Prescott family has found their own evidence and everyone heads to where it all started, Hobart, Texas. The family reunites and Kate and Teague are married with a baby on the way.
Caitlin has a new job and a stalker. Teague Ramos, owner of a security company is hired as her bodyguard. The stalker is caught but was trying to scare her to leave town to save het from being killed by the same man that killed her parents. Kate, as she's known, and Teague are gathering evidence to have this rich powerful man prosecuted. At the same time the Prescott family has found their own evidence and everyone heads to where it all started, Hobart, Texas. The family reunites and Kate and Teague are married with a baby on the way.
September 27, 2024
I loved this book. It had everything: great H/h, suspense, intrigue, steam - the hero is soooo hot, and a touch of the afterlife.
I dropped my 5 star rating by 1/2 a star because it would have been a better read if I'd known this was the third book in a trilogy and read the first two first. Under the title it should say - Lost hearts #3.
Also, Kate does something in anger that is extremely stupid and dangerous, that puts her safety at risk, makes it impossible for Teague to protect her, and causes Teague unnecessary stress.
I dropped my 5 star rating by 1/2 a star because it would have been a better read if I'd known this was the third book in a trilogy and read the first two first. Under the title it should say - Lost hearts #3.
Also, Kate does something in anger that is extremely stupid and dangerous, that puts her safety at risk, makes it impossible for Teague to protect her, and causes Teague unnecessary stress.
June 14, 2019
Stunning finish
I loved this book, because it was the perfect end to a fantastic series. We found Kate and saw a little of her life as a child but it was seeing her as a grown woman that you really get to appreciate her. Teague was her match the moment they laid eyes on each other and I really enjoyed their developing relationship. Could hardly put this book down. Thankyou for a great read.
I loved this book, because it was the perfect end to a fantastic series. We found Kate and saw a little of her life as a child but it was seeing her as a grown woman that you really get to appreciate her. Teague was her match the moment they laid eyes on each other and I really enjoyed their developing relationship. Could hardly put this book down. Thankyou for a great read.
August 18, 2017
TV news reporter, Kate Montgomery, has no idea why she is being stalked so soon after taking a new job in Austin, TX, or why she has such strong feelings for Teague Ramos, the dangerous looking man who has been hired to be her bodyguard. As Kate begins to investigate her past (she was adopted as a baby), she uncovers some information that someone wants to keep hidden at all costs.
June 21, 2017
The personalities of the characters in this story is much more likeable than the first two. Throughout reading the three books, I honestly just wanted to read Gabriel's story since he's very mysterious but approachable.
June 27, 2017
I am sure I read this years ago in a paperback from the library, and this re-read showed it was just as creepy and compelling, with an almost overwhelming alpha hero and a heroine who called "bullshit" on his behavior.
August 24, 2021
Love this trilogy. The stories are so engaging and intricate, the characters like friends you want to continue to hang out with. Ms Dodd can really draw one into these tales of love and loss and the strength of human spirit in pursuit of family and justice.
October 14, 2024
entretenido
De la mitad en adelante es super rápido y entretenido aunque el personaje de Teague Ramos no me gustó nada
Muy machista y engreído pero había que terminar la historia de los hermanos
Pero de verdad que Ramos era insoportable
De la mitad en adelante es super rápido y entretenido aunque el personaje de Teague Ramos no me gustó nada
Muy machista y engreído pero había que terminar la historia de los hermanos
Pero de verdad que Ramos era insoportable
May 25, 2017
Great romantic suspense.
April 4, 2018
X. Not bad but not on my favorites shelf either. Perfect summer read though :)
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