Hide Your Heart
by Tracey Alvarez
Synopsis:
Love will bring them together. Distrust will tear them apart…
Alexandra Lauren Knight has reinvented herself in the safety of her rural New Zealand hometown to become Lauren Taylor. She’s cut all ties with her past as a former model whose ex-husband turned out to be ruthless in both the boardroom and the bedroom. While Alexandra allowed other’s expectations to propel her into the spotlight, Lauren prefers the safety of anonymity; restoring classic cars with her brother, and snuggling with her four-year-old son.
Nate Fraser, a burned-out photojournalist, plans to fix up the property next door to Lauren and sell it as a celebrity retreat. Always on the move, Nate is only comfortable with short-term assignments and even shorter-term relationships. But it’s not just his buyer’s tight deadline or that the restoration is far beyond his expertise which turns a short-term project into an ordeal. Nate’s plan of travelling the globe is in jeopardy—created by the intensity of his growing feelings for Lauren and her little boy.
As the sparks of passion ignite between them it reawakens Nate’s long forgotten dream of having a home and family. Lauren must find a way to trust Nate not only with her secrets, but with her heart—before her safe haven is exposed and she can no longer hide in the shadows.
Review:
Such a sweet read! I loved the characters–Lauren and Nate, naturally, but also Lauren’s brother Todd and sister-in-law Kathy and Drew, of course–he is absolutely adorable, with his monkey-roni and the Superman picture–too cute! 🙂
Lauren’s fighting some pretty big demons–she and her son escaped an abusive relationship and a life she’d never asked for in New York City, seeking refuge in rural New Zealand. Once a world-famous model, she’s dyed her hair, changed her look, and keeps herself apart from everyone but her immediate family. She’s afraid of being recognized, afraid of the paparazzi, and afraid to let anyone outside her family in. She originally befriends Nate somewhat reluctantly in order to get him to change his plans for the property next door, but the more she gets to know him, the more she wants him, even though she knows their relationship can’t last…
Having recently lost his mentor, Nate’s taking a break from his photojournalism to rehab a house he’s bought sight unseen. (Okay–he saw pictures, but they were misleadingly old and hugely inaccurate.) He’s in way over his head, so he enlists the help of a neighbor–a neighbor who’s less than thrilled to notice his new boss’s interest in his sister. Nate’s drawn to Lauren and charmed by his son, but has always believed that his would be a solitary existence–leaving a family to chase work around the globe just wouldn’t be right, after all. That’s what his mentor always told him…didn’t he?
I loved watching Lauren and Nate grow closer, and seeing Drew work his magic on the confirmed bachelor. Tracey’s new series is starting out beautifully–this book doesn’t quite have the same lighthearted feel to it that her Due South series does, but it’s written with her same trademark humor. I loved every minute I spent reading this one, and look forward to book two–which will star Nate’s equally famous (and in at least one aspect, equally infamous) cousin.
The audiobook version added the extra dimension of an awesome New Zealand accent–so fun! The narrator did a nice job of bringing Tracey’s story to life–here’s hoping that the duo will get together in the future to bring more of her books to audio!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.