Book: Vanishing Dreams
Series: Devil's Bend #2
Author: Nicole Edwards
Genre: Country Romance
Dalton Calhoun hadn’t always planned on a life up on the big stage, beneath the bright lights, but that was where he found himself. A second chance of sorts. An opportunity that had come along after his real dreams vanished when he was eighteen years old. Although country music was more than he could’ve expected, he’d never dismissed the notion that there was still something missing.
When Dalton followed his buddy Cooper Krenshaw to Devil’s Bend, Texas, it didn’t take long before Dalton realized just what that was. But just because he has topped the country music charts, and made his fair share of women swoon, doesn’t mean that everything comes easy to him. And when he sets his sights on the black-haired, gray-eyed waitress at The Rusty Nail, Dalton realizes he might just have to work for what he wants.
Katie Clarren’s life has been a series of unfortunate events, starting from the time her mother left on her eighteenth birthday. Not exactly how she had planned to spend one of the major turning points in her young life. Nor had she planned to spend the next five years dealing with the fallout. Somewhere along the way, Katie adapted, doing exactly what she needed to do in order to survive. But Katie has secrets that even her closest friends don’t know. Secrets she has worked hard to protect.
Although she longs for handsome, charming, country music sensation, Dalton Calhoun, she knows that anything that starts between them can’t last. Too bad her heart doesn’t seem to be on the same page. Katie gives in to her love for Dalton, needing that human connection that has been missing for so long. But when it comes time to make the hard decisions, Katie forces herself to walk away from him. To protect her secrets, and him. The last thing she wants to do is hurt Dalton, no matter how much pain she has to endure in the process. She loves him.
Can the two of them overcome the secrets and lies? Can they look to the future and stop living in the past? Or will they keep dwelling on the dreams that vanished, not seeing what is right in front of them? Each other.
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Katie Clarren was walking on a cloud, the big, puffy white kind that dotted a brilliant blue sky on a beautiful summer day. Or at least that’s what it felt like as she floated across the rustic, hardwood floors in what had become her favorite bar, taking drink orders and chatting it up with the customers. They were unusually busy tonight, but she knew who to thank for that.
Unlike her mood, the weather outside was dreary, the sky a dull gray, and the dark, heavy clouds were threatening to open up at any time. But that hadn’t stopped anyone from coming out to The Rusty Nail, even on a Monday night. They were here to see him and she certainly couldn’t blame them.
Up on stage, Dalton Calhoun was gearing up to play for the small gathering, laughing with a group crowded by the edge of the stage while he set up, his wondrous smile making him even that much more attractive. And that was saying something. The way he moved reflected his excitement and stirred the energy in the room, and yes, even Katie was infused with it. Yeah, the guy certainly loved to entertain a crowd which was a good thing considering he was so freaking good at it.
Dalton was exactly as he appeared on television and in magazines, his picture probably hanging on the walls of teenage girl’s rooms everywhere. Having gotten to know him on another level, Katie had learned early on that there wasn’t anything fake about him. He was a country music phenom, one who had garnered the attention of women of every age. From his sexy dark hair usually hidden by his signature, black Stetson, to his drool-worthy ass, there was no question as to why everyone loved him. Including her.
However, Katie’s love was a little deeper than theirs was. Or at least she liked to think so.
Not only was she drawn to all six foot two inches of him, and his intense, dark brown eyes, Katie had managed to establish a friendship with the man known for his quick smile and charming drawl. Aside from a few make out sessions, it hadn’t gone much farther than that. Yet.
And each night that she watched him up on that stage was a little different from the last time Katie had watched him play. He was more at ease with every performance, befriending the locals and becoming an integrated part of the town. However, she still recalled the first night she saw him walk into The Rusty Nail. Not to sound like a bad cliché, but that night had been the night that had changed her life.
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Foxy Rating = Five 'cowboy' stars!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
This is Dalton and Katie’s story and the second book in the
Devil’s Bend series. This follows on from Chasing Dreams which was Cooper and
Tess’ story and although this can be read standalone I would recommend you read
the series in order.
Dalton first appeared as Cooper’s best friend and fellow
country singing star in Chasing Dreams where the reader was given hints of Dalton
and Katie first getting together.
Each of them are heading down different paths they had
originally planned out for their hopes and dreams, however was this fate’s plan
that would eventually bring them both together?
This was a great storyline and I found it at a much more
engaging pace than Cooper and Tess’ story. I felt there was a lot more depth
and grit to focus on, especially in Katie’s life. But it is over a year since I
read that book! I found myself having a
great deal of empathy for Katie and what she has gone through in her young
life. With all her struggles and worries she has remained a strong and resilient
woman. I liked her a lot. Now as for Dalton, he was off the charts smoking hot
but also an absolute sweetheart. I just loved everything about him. From his
sexy stage persona to his sweet and tender ways that he cared for Katie. He was
also not afraid to acknowledge his feelings either which made him all the more
sexy to me!
There was some fantastic angst and frustration thrown in for
good measure which I love in my romance reads. I am a lover of Ms Edwards’
erotic series but this one is a lot more contemporary which is a refreshing
change. However dear reader do not worry as we still get plenty of steam and
passion between Dalton and Katie, it is still smoking hot. Rawr!
Even though I adored this book I still did not think the
hidden secrets were too bad to be revealed to each other and their friends. Maybe
I’m a little more jaded and nothing shocks me anymore, I don’t know but I was
just thinking after I found out what it was ‘Just tell him already woman!’ but
then I was annoyed at Dalton’s initial reaction. Sheesh!
I love my cowboys and when they are sexy superstar country
singers too well that just makes it a winner for me and this series is certainly
giving me my country romance kink. I am really looking forward to Jack’s story
next, I can feel it in my bones that is going to be scorching hot because I love
who his pairing will be.
Oh Yay!
Five ‘cowboy’ stars.
Nicole is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who was born and raised in Texas. Married with three kids and four dogs, she has plenty of interaction to keep her imagination brewing. Her books have been featured in USA Today’s Happy Ever After segment as well as Indie Reader’s best seller list. She has forged her way as an independent author.
Although she has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, she prefers to be hiding out in her writing cave, talking to the fictional characters that have built up in her head over the years.
When she isn’t writing or plotting her next book (sometimes translated to “playing on Facebook”), Nicole loves to read and spend time with her family and her dogs.
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