Cold Hearted

Icy hot & couldn’t put it down!
This is so intense. From Ayla finding out her estranged half brother dies in a car accident and she’s his only next of kin, to going to New York to close his estate, to learning the shady circumstances surrounding his death, to meeting her brother’s best friend, to… everything, it’s all amazing and frustrating and steamy – very steamy.
I loved this book! It’s heartbreaking and sometimes dark but it is a fantastic ride!
Wow, I have a book hangover now.

Rhett & Ayla’s Story Is A Dark Dive Into Deceit Twisted With Grief! Ayla Hopes To Learn About A Half-Brother That Hated Her, But Learns There Is More To The Story Than She Had First Known. Rhett Turns Into A Crude And Cold-Hearted Monster As His Personal Life Crumbles.

Ayla Coldwell, twenty-five, never had a chance to meet her half-brother before the accident that took his life. At twenty-six, Bryce Renner was living the high life in New York. He was supposedly very popular with the ladies. His contract to play hockey for the New York Spartans had earned him a lavish lifestyle. As his only surviving family member, Ayla leaves her Los Angeles home and heads to New York to help settle her brother’s estate. She hopes to learn more about Bryce from his teammates. She had desperately wanted to establish a relationship with him since she had first learned of his existence twelve years ago, but Bryce had adamantly refused all attempts she made to contact him. He had hated her. He probably resented her existence, given that her mother nearly destroyed his parents’ marriage. But his mother had succumbed to a brain tumor years ago, and still he refused her. His father – the father that Ayla had never met – died more recently. So Ayla finds herself living in the apartment of a brother she has never met as she settles his affairs, trying to understand who Bryce was.

Rhett Carson, probably late twenties, likes his privacy and has no interest in PR stunts. That is why he chose to keep his engagement to Damiana Westwood – Victoria’s Secret Angel and highly sought after supermodel – out of the press. It was not common knowledge. Like so many of his teammates, Rhett had played the field when he first got his NHL contract, but he soon tired of it and sought something steady. He loved Damiana and looked forward to their future together. Bryce had been his best friend and his death hit Rhett hard. Bryce was the only person that really understood him, so his death left Rhett ungrounded. But the news that really sent him in a tailspin was the fact that Damiana had been in an accident, too. Lost and all alone in a world of pain, he vows never to get caught up in feelings again. He turns cold-hearted.

Ayla is not terribly surprised to learn that her existence had previously been unknown to Bryce’s teammates, but that doesn’t stop them from making her feel welcome. Between the services and Coach Harris’ desire to help her set up a foundation in her brother’s name, she ends up seeing the players occasionally even though it is the off season. She learns a few things about her half-brother – he is a slob and was sometimes difficult to get along with – but his teammates suggest his best friend Rhett will have more answers. Yet Rhett is strangely absent from the activities and there are hushed whispers that hint of a problem, but that only increases her curiosity about the mystery hockey player. She checks him out on social media, so she recognizes him immediately when she shows up to meet her college roommate Bostyn at the Prescott Club on a quiet Monday evening.

Rhett and Ayla begin a no-strings relationship that doesn’t involve much talking. It is how Rhett wants it. He is cold and demanding. Ayla struggles with the need to come clean versus helping soothe his troubled soul – because Rhett will certainly push her away once her identity is known. His feelings about Bryce are too twisted and fresh. Her mother’s saying – that the people who are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most – has her temporarily abandoning the need to reveal her identity. She wants to help him, but soon feelings begin to creep in, further complicating the matter.

Rhett and Ayla’s story is deep and dark. It is about loss and detachment. Rhett spirals into darkness as his personal life crumbles. He turns into a crude and cold-hearted monster. But his loss is real, and his reaction might be wrong but it is heartfelt. His plight is sympathetic, and his behavior is a misguided reaction that serves to humanize his dark side. Ayla senses that he needs love, but there is a real underlying connection that ties them together. But Ayla will eventually need to return home to LA, and the truth has a way of coming out. What is already an unstable relationship built on a shallow foundation is destined to fail when tested. They each have to analyze their lives and work through their pain, and their road is full of challenges.

NOTE: there are hints of a story to follow in a Hearted series – Locke Hearted – but at this writing it is not to be found. Lock Carson, twenty-five, is Rhett’s younger brother and a millionaire playboy. He developed and sold several apps. Here he becomes a single dad and decides the best gift to his daughter will be to give her a mother. Bostyn Beckford, a writer and Ayla’s college roommate, enters the picture and there are signs of a story to be told.

Rhett and Ayla’s story is a dark dive into deceit twisted with grief. Ayla hopes to learn about a brother that hated her, but learns there is more to the story than she had first known. Their story is nicely written. The plot sucks you in as the truth is gradually revealed. The characters’ journey through grief is complex. Pairing it with a new relationship only adds fuel to the fire. Their story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Rhett and Ayla. I rate this book 4.5 stars.

This book has been on my kindle for what seems like forever, I don’t know why I have not read it. I’m glad I did,I enjoyed every single moment of this story. It is entertaining, a little frustrating, but overall enjoyable and heartwarming. I loved it!

I have not had a book in a while that I have gone to bed and thought ill just read to 50% cause I’m tired and you get to 50% and think ok 60% and before you know it you can’t put it down until you hit 100% and you think yep I’m going to be tired tomorrow. Well that happened need to me tonight I just couldn’t put Cold Hearted down. I am a big fan of Winter Renshaw so I’m not surprised this happened.

What a fantastic book had some angst in there and that was exciting I was like yes it’s happening no it’s not, yes it is, not it’s not and I just couldn’t put it down until I knew, I was hooked from the Prologue it certainly started off with bang.

Rhett was a hockey player but it was nice this book revolved around the personal lives and I really liked Rhett. Yes he could a pig and Nasty sometimes but all I had was sympathy for this character even when he was not nice. I never not liked him, just felt sorry for him the whole time. I loved Rhett I thought he was a really great guy who just loved too much and he got burnt numerous times.

Alya her character was also awesome, she was sassy and quick witted and I really liked how her character was written. She was just a girl who wanted to be loved and the rejection she got from her brother broke her heart.

The chemistry between the characters was so hot and you could really feel it while reading the book, they made us laugh with their banter and texting and made me cry with frustration and sadness.

This story was so awesome, it was different and it really did give me all the feels, it had surprises, it showed us forgiveness and fate played a big part.

Thank you for gifting me a copy, really appreciate it.