Single mother Carly Reynolds knows struggle. She also knows she can’t trust her heart when it comes to men. So when up and coming rock star, Derek Taylor, asks her out she turns him down. Repeatedly. Between working at the hospital and raising two boys, Carly doesn’t have time for a man. Let alone a younger, famous, probably has a new woman in his bed each night kind of man. She’s interested in … man. She’s interested in someone who fits into her life, not flips it on its axis.
But fate has other plans and the more she runs into Derek, the more captivated she becomes. Not by his rock star status, but his kind heart. Carly begins to hope for more, but will she ever truly be able to move on from her past?
Uncovering Hope can be read as a standalone or start with Evie and Tate’s story in Uncovering Love.
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Carly is a single mom who works on a pediatric oncology floor at the local hospital. She had a bad situation with her previous significant other (violent, crime-committing drug addict) that makes her wary to get into another relationship, especially with her young sons.
Derek is the typical bad boy, a drummer in an up-and-coming band (3 Ugly Guys- which is featured in other Shea books). He is tatted and pierced— all over if you catch my drift. But he has a soft spot- for his mom, a specific patient that he visits at the children’s hospital, and for Carly.
The past and present psychotic ex situation puts Carly and her relationship with Derek in danger. Is she able to move past what happened to her, or will she play it safe?
I felt for Carly and Derek. Both had some shitty situations in the past that really affected their present. In an opposites attract way, they were perfect for each other. Add the supporting characters from books 1-2 of the series, the ex, and a plot twist, and you have an interesting page-turner with an HEA. While this can be read as a stand-alone, it is nice to know the history of the other background characters in the story.
Having read all three books in the Uncovering Love series, I can say I have experienced Kacey Shea honing her craft and giving her readers all that she has. The story lines have become more engrossing, the passion hotter, and the characters more loveable. With each couple I have fallen more in love and I ended Uncovering Hope with a happy heart and tears in my eyes. Carly and the man who wins her heart are funny, full of heart, and panty dropping action.
Carly was first introduced in Uncovering Love and has evolved as a woman of strength with a admirable combination of nurse nightingale working with children diagnosed with cancer and who dons a super mom cape during her off hours. Kacey teased us with this amazing character and I was impatiently waiting for her to receive her happy ever after. Life has been hard on her having suffered at the hands of an abusive ex husband. Not trusting her own judgement in men, she decides to only have her two sons and her brother Tate as the men in her life. That is until both the hot drummer and debonair doctor appear asking for far more than she wants to give.
Derek Taylor oozes raw sexuality with his rippling tattoos and pierced tongue that delivers promises that leave Carly with a blush on her cheeks and an elevated heart rate. He became intrigued with Carly during Uncovering Desire the second book in the series and was intent on seducing her. I was enchanted by his naughty words from the beginning but quickly fell for his sincerity and big heart that shine throughout the story.
Dr. Garrett Brooks is new to the Children’s hospital and with his white coat status and GQ good looks he has nurses panting and hearts melting. He exudes a certain boyish charm that appeals to Carly and he seems like he would be the perfect match for her…or would he?
Kacey delivers humor, steam, suspense, and touching subject matter. Uncovering Hope will have you on the edge of your seat, tied up in knots of need, and left with a case of the feels. I highly recommend for lovers of romance with intrigue, love triangles, and a story line that will tug on your heart strings. I look forward to reading any and all future works by Kacey Shea in anticipation of where she will take us next and what characters we will fall head over heels with.
4.5 Stars – I loved Carly and Derek’s love story. It was by far my favorite in this series. The story and characters had more depth than the previous books, and the characters were more likable. Though I will admit, it took me a while to warm up to Derek. It was clear that he really liked Carly, but he always put up this cocky, single-minded, rock star front with her. Even after she let him know she was a single mom, he continued to push her for an easy lay when it was clear that wasn’t what she wanted. His dirty talk in the beginning wasn’t sexy in my opinion and would have turned me off if I had been the recipient. I was glad Carly held her ground forcing Derek to work for her attention. And once he dropped his rocker facade, she could finally see his kind and giving heart, one full of hope and sweetness that he kept hidden. And Derek turned out to be the man that Carly deserved.
The added story lines regarding Luis’ cancer, Derek’s family history, and Carly’s ex-husband were perfectly incorporated. I loved the added suspense of Carly’s past bleeding into her present even if it was a little fanciful. And I adored the friendship Derek built with Luis and Carly’s boys.