Title: Stealing Hearts
Series: Magnolia Bay #4
Author: Erika Marks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 9, 2015
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Story Blurb:
Bartender Mick Atwell has one more commitment before he leaves Magnolia Bay for Colorado: help his best friend, Tim, get his new wine bar POUR ready in time for its Valentine’s Day grand opening. But when Tim’s little sister Lucy breezes into town unexpectedly from New York for a visit, Mick doesn’t see how they’ll keep to their tight schedule—any more than he sees how this beautiful, spirited woman could possibly be the same irresponsible “kid” Tim has been complaining about for years…
Despite her carefree smile, Lucy Waverly hasn’t come back to Magnolia Bay for a vacation—she’s come home to hide. After discovering her boss at the gallery is selling forgeries, she needs to lay low and figure out a plan to get herself out of this dangerous mess—a plan which can’t include falling for her brother’s sexy best friend, no matter how safe he makes her feel, or how his smoldering eyes turn her inside out.
Mick has one foot out the door, but when Lucy’s troubles follow her to Magnolia Bay, they are thrust together to keep one step ahead of danger and get POUR open in time. Soon the man who lives by his plans is wondering if the woman who lives by chance may not be worth breaking his rules for.
Read on for my thoughts on Stealing Hearts. No true spoilers, promise
Some people just have bad luck. They get over it and move on. Unfortunately, Lucy is the poster child for an old country song lyric.. “if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all”.
Finally after years of screw-ups, bad choices and having her big brother always rescue her from her best laid plans, Lucy thought she had the ideal job in NYC. And it was… until she discovered her boss was a crook and she was on the run from his threats. So she came home – ran home – to big brother Tim’s protectiveness and a town where she knew every available hiding spot should she need them. Only… she didn’t mention, at first, just how much trouble she was in — and she certainly didn’t expect to run to Mick, her brother’s best friend, for help too.
Mick has his hands full. POUR,the trendy new bar he’s helping his friend get ready for launch, is supposed to be ready to open it’s doors in days. But no liquor license, no staff, no bar set up, and no Tim who’s stuck out of town due to the weather. Plus.didn’t it just make his life perfect that his best friend’s little sister breezes back into town, hiding trouble badly and tempting him into more trouble than he’s wanted for a long time. And his feelings toward Lucy have nothing to do with brotherly affection.
It’s been awhile since I’ve read of two people who really need a break more than Mick and Luce – these two really have had a crapshoot dealt to them recently. They need a break. And they need each other.
I completely enjoyed Mick and Lucy’s love story. Full of tension, sexy banter, smokin’ hot love scenes, pure fun, annoying older brothers and pesky villainous bosses. Our couple will find their happy ever after – and we have the fun of watching them make it there. I won’t spoil your fun, but I will highly recommend this one. It gets a 4 outta 5 rating from me.
*I received an e-ARC of Stealing Hearts from Tule Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
This is available for the Kindle at Amazon.
