I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Heat of the Moment by Lori Handeland Series: Sisters of the Craft #2
Published by St Martin's Press on June 30th 2015
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Buy on Amazon, B&N
Goodreads
A spell that tore three sisters apart is broken four hundred years later, when the magic in their blood reunites them. Now, one of them will discover her gift-and reignite a love long thought lost...Flame-haired Becca Carstairs was born to be a veterinarian. Since childhood, her affinity for animals has been special, and her healing touch nothing short of magic. But only Becca knows the truth-that she alone can hear the creatures' voices. She's always trusted her sixth sense...until a string of missing pets, an attempted murder, and a face from her past converge into one explosive mystery, with her at its center. Is haunted Owen McAllister, the boy who broke her heart ten years ago, related to the sinister crimes that have peaceful Three Harbors, Wisconsin, on its guard? Or is his reappearance part of the answer to questions that have troubled her all her life? As Becca delves into her strange heritage, she'll have to fight for her life...and the man she will always love. In the second book of this spellbinding new series, New York Times bestselling author Lori Handeland delivers breath-taking danger, desire, and the dark heart of magic.
Heat of the Moment is the second installment of the Sisters of the Craft series.
Owen, a recently gravely injured soldier from Afghanistan, returns home to face his past and the increasing likelihood he may never be healthy enough for active duty. He struggles with returning to a town where he was little more than a trouble maker. It doesn’t help he will see the girl he abandoned once he went away for training.
Becca never expected to see Owen again. She tries to forget what happened between them and moved on with her life as best she can. A chance meeting brings all those memories to the forefront and reminders of history long buried arise.
The ex lovers come together just in time for the bad guys to find Becca and attempt her life. They know who she is, what she is and wish he dead. Life long secrets will be revealed, betrayal will cut deep and lives will be ruined. Can Owen and Becca set aside their past to keep her safe, or will she succumb to the fate Raye was able to escape from?
That scent of lemons overshadowed the scent of death, and Owen breathed in, out and in again. From the moment he’d met her, she’d cleansed him, healed him, elevated him. He’d become so much more while he’d been with her. He’d become so much more because of her. She had loved him. She had saved him. He’d always wanted to tell her that, but he’d never been quite sure how. What he saw in her gaze made Owen tighten his fingers—to push her away, or pull her closer. He never knew, because she leaned over—so quick he had time to do nothing but say her name. A whisper. A plea. A prayer. And then she was kissing him; he was kissing her. The years fell away. It was their first kiss. Their last. That first one had been tentative—soft, a little afraid, yet so full of hope. The last had been shocked, a little tearful and full of despair. This one tasted of both. How strange. What did she hope for? What did she fear? Why did she despair?
I enjoyed Heat of the Moment because much like In The Air Tonight the paranormal and witchcraft elements were light threaded throughout the story. We see characters return and the larger picture becomes more clear. There are huge plot developments that I can’t really get into without spoilers – but it’s really exciting!
Unfortunately, I didn’t like any of the characters except for the dog Reggie. Splode! I didn’t understand Owen because he was very committed to being a solider. I feel like readers with a military background or pro-military stance would click more with his character. I didn’t even believe in Owen’s reasons for joining the military were legitimate.
I also disliked Becca. I didn’t really make any emotional links with her because she was so different. I personally couldn’t find a common thread to work with. Her reactions to some of the huge revelations about her past bothered me. She’s a very selfish character, but to Handeland’s credit a completely different character from Raye.
Handeland weaves a beautiful story but unfortunately for me this wasn’t a winner. I felt empathy during Owen and Becca’s father’s discussion and I felt concern for Reggie’s health.
I felt this book was filler to introduce sister number two and set up meet if sister three. I couldn’t enjoy the characters, but the story was just as well written as book one. The massive development at the end of the book has made book three look like one that will have tons of action. The end is nigh and I am so excited!
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy paranormal, romance, books involving witches and stories about finding lost familial connections.
About Lori Handeland
Lori Handeland has written over fifty novels, novellas and short stories in several genres–historical, contemporary, series and paranormal romance, as well as urban fantasy–for such publishers as: Dorchester, Kensington, Harlequin, St. Martin’s Press, Harper-Collins, Simon and Schuster and Penguin/Putnam
She is a New York Times, USA Today, Waldenbooks and Bookscan Bestselling Author and the recipient of many industry awards, including two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America for Best Paranormal and Best Long Contemporary Romance, a Romantic Times Award for Best Harlequin Superromance, the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, the Write Touch Readers Award, the National Readers Choice Award and the Prism Award.
Published world wide and known for her popular and highly acclaimed Nightcreature paranormal series, as well as the Urban Fantasy series – The Phoenix Chronicles, and the historical fantasy series, Shakespeare Undead, Lori also writes gritty, sexy western historical romance under the name Lori Austin. Look for her Once Upon a Time in the West series.
| Rating Report | |
|---|---|
| Plot | |
| Characters | |
| Writing | |
| Pacing | |
| Cover | |
| Overall: | |
Leave a Reply