Slow, Southern second chances never burned so hot… ever,
he’ll let Emerson patch him up, good as new,
so he can get back to business.
Nice and easy.
Emerson Montgomery has secrets.
No way is she going to tell anyone why she left
her job as a hotshot physical therapist for a pro football team
to come back to Millhaven.
Especially not sexy, steady, still-pissed Hunter.
Except then she spends time with him.
Starts to trust him.
Definitely remembers why she fell for him.
But will her recent diagnosis of MS
keep her world upside down?
Or will she discover that second chances
really are sweeter…
*****
From USA Today best-selling author Kimberly Kincaid comes a slow-drawl small-town second chance romance. Crossing Hearts contains a laid-back hero who works with his (ahem!) hands, a guarded heroine with a bruised heart, and a scorching standalone romance loaded with sexy, Southern HEA.
Cross Creek series (in reading order):
Crossing Hearts
Crossing the Line
Crossing Promises
Crossing Hope
more
Not your typical cowboy book I will say that. Hunter and Emerson are high school sweethearts who unfortunately lose touch when Emerson gets out of her small town, that does not stop the sparks from flying when she comes back into town on her own accord due to health reasons. Hunter helps her learn that it is ok to ask for help and no one is going to judge you for that. Emerson learns that her family isn’t as hard as she thinks they are, while it takes them time to adjust to the circumstances they have her back more than she knew. A story where everyone learns from each other and it strengthens all the parties involved.
A Second chance love between high school sweethearts. After a bad shoulder injury, Hunter must have physical therapy. Big surprise when he find out that is PT will be is old flame. The chemistry is there but Emerson is keeping a secret. She doesn’t want anybody to know about her multiple sclerosis. Easy to read. Steamy and page-turner. I received a arc in exchange for a honest review.
This is a good book, but part of me was heart broken for Emerson and her disease. It had to be so hard for Emerson to come back to her small town, especially with her ex love Hunter there. Her parents are rich and seemed very snobbish and liked to tell Emerson what to do. I was glad that Emerson was a physical therapist since Hunter needed one and she was his best hope. They had to work together everyday for four weeks. There are some tender moments between Hunter and Emerson throughout the book. Hunter’s family were wonderful to be around except when Hunter’s two brothers were fighting, I enjoyed the book and encourage you to read it, I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
Loved it
4 star Review Crossing Hearts (Cross Creek #1) by Kimberly Kincaid
This is a second chance at love story for Emerson Montgomery and Hunter Cross. It was, at times an emotional read as Emerson struggles with her recent diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
Returning to her home town is the last thing Emerson planned on doing but sometimes fates throws you a hand and you have no choice but to deal with it. When she comes face to face with her first physical therapy patient and it turns out to be Hunter, a man she had a relationship with in the past, she knows that this is only the beginning of the hurdles that she will need to overcome.
I had a hard time relating to Emerson, for the life of me I cannot understand why she did not reach out to others for support; although I found Hunter likeable enough. Helping Hunter with his shoulder injury means that they have to spend a lot of time in one another’s company. As they rekindle their friendship the sparks they once shared come to life.
They both have baggage from how their relationship ended previously. Can they come to terms with it and forge a future together? However what happens when the secret that Emerson is hiding is revealed? Will Hunter forgive her?
Crossing Hearts reconnects a hot farmer whose arm needs therapy with a beautiful therapist who just happens to need a patient for her new practice.
Hunter has just suffered an injury to his arm while baling hay on his family farm. This puts him out of options to work the farm while needing to mend. When he finally makes it to see the local doc, she recommends he begin physical therapy with her new hire. Walking into the PT office, he is knocked off kilter again as he comes face to face with the one gal that basically skipped town when he proposed to her all those years ago.
Emerson was basically forced back to her small hometown as she had run out of employment options elsewhere. She was diagnosed with a debilitating disease and once she confided in her famous big town boyfriend, the dirtbag dumped her. And when her big town dream job became too difficult, she headed home looking to pick up the pieces with a low intensity small town practice.
As Hunter works out with Emerson to get the bum arm back in shape, they begin to rekindle their friendship, which you guessed it, rekindles all the coupling sexy times. Emerson struggles with lots of internal head drama involving all the peeps in her circle. She was keeping her diagnosis from her new boss, parents, friends, and frenemies. It got a little too angsty for me, but I was relieved when she confessed it to Hunter, and he did not even blink – she was still his “one”.
Crossing Hearts is being re-released by Kimberly Kincaid under her new indie publishing company and it is book #1 of her Cross Creek series. I am assuming some of the side stories involving the tension between Hunter’s brothers were set up for the next books in the series. Maybe one will be a love interest for Emerson’s BFF Daisy? Crossing Hearts is a charming small town second chance contemporary romance with a side of medical drama that our authorette is so excellent at in her storytelling.
I was given an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this second chance romance. It has a wonderful small town draw that pulls you into the beautiful scenery along with the story of high school sweethearts who had an abrupt ending to their happiness when Emerson Montgomery suddenly left after high school to attend a very prestigious college and follow in the footsteps of her father in the medical field. Family demands and expectations send her running from town, from Hunter, vowing to never return. Devastated, feeling betrayed and heartbroken, Hunter Cross’s views of forever and happily ever after died on the day Emerson left him high and dry. Never in a million years did he expect her to walk back into their hometown, his life, or decide to stay.
After a medical diagnosis that left her reeling along with the abrupt ending of a job she loved and her current relationship, Emerson sneaks back into the town she thought she left behind to start again. Her burdens are many, her secrets are great, her emotions are tattered, and she’s struggling with her recent diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis along with starting a new physical therapy practice from scratch. The last thing she expected was to see her high school sweetheart standing in the doorway of her new office as her first patient. Suddenly she’s come full circle and her past crashes into her present and a tidal wave of emotions and memories unfold. She’s determined to keep her diagnosis a secret from her family and Hunter no matter the cost. Rules are made from the start – professional only, nothing personal while she treats Hunter for his injury. However, rules are made to be bent and even broken.
Hunter’s world ended once when Emerson walked out of his life. He thought she was his forever then she broke his heart. Now she’s back, more gorgeous than ever, but guarded and keeping secrets. Well, that’s fine with him since he just wants get through the therapy and get back to his life on his family farm, helping his dad and his brothers. Yet as they get reacquainted, memories stir, old feelings reignite and lines blur. Family drama on both sides draw Hunter and Emerson closer together rebuilding their trust and sharing burdens but when Emerson’s health takes a bad turn everything comes crashing down around them. Will she push him away when she needs him most?
This was a wonderful, heartwarming story with forgiveness, second chances, enduring love, sweet moments, sigh worthy moments, and plenty of steam. I loved the characters and the natural flow of the story. I was also intrigued by Hunter’s brothers – Eli and Own, and Emerson’s friend Daisy. I’m looking forward to reading more about these characters as the series unfolds.
Emerson and Hunter’s story is sweet. It’s full of heartache, family issues, and misunderstandings. This second chance romance takes us on a journey with a strong female character who is facing her demons alone and the man from her past wanting to show her that she doesn’t have to . A great read.
A second chance romance story that tugs at the heart strings. There are misunderstandings, family expectations, debilitating illness, small town life, heartbreak and strong characters to enjoy.
Emerson and Hunter were high school sweethearts but when he proposed at 18 she turned him down and ran as far away as she could to college breaking both their hearts. Now after receiving the life changing diagnosis of MS Emerson is back in town, trying to make sense of what life has thrown her and her fears for the future. Devoted to the family farm Hunter thought he was over Emerson a long time ago but he soon realises that his heart has different ideas and he is far from over her. Can Emerson trust Hunter with her life changing news and put aside her fear and can Hunter put aside past hurts so they can grab a second chance at happiness?
Enjoyable read, emotional in places, heart-warming in others and I highly recommend you read it!
I received a free copy of this book.
Wonderful Second Chance story. Emerson and Hunter had been high school sweethearts and then she decides she’s leaving town and not coming back just when Hunter is proposing to her. Now Emerson is back as a physical therapist after leaving a high profile PT for a football team. Why is she back? That’s her secret to keep. Hunter hurts his shoulder in a near accident on the family farm. His doctor sends him to do physical therapy and surprise – it’s Emerson! They decide they can work together in order to get his shoulder back in shape without having to have surgery. But as they work together, they grow closer again. There are so many dynamics in this story from Emerson’s relationship with her parents and the secret that she’s keeping to Hunter’s feelings for Emerson. I always like Kimberly Kincaid’s writing. I enjoyed this story a lot. I will read the other books in this series. I received an ARC of this book’s new release with no expectations. I’m leaving my honest review.
Emerson Montgomery left town right after graduating from high school with no thoughts of returning. Life threw her a curveball and landed her back in her hometown carrying a secret. Hunter Cross loved working on his family’s farm, but an injury sidelined him temporarily. He came face-to-face with his past when he started PT with the new therapist in town. I loved the storyline and the wonderful characters. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one.
Emerson and Hunter were small town, high school sweethearts and she broke his heart when she left him for med school. But now she’s back in town determined to not show her weaknesses to her strict, controlling parents or the town busybodies. Hunter crosses paths with her after an injury on the family farm lands him in her physical therapy office. I loved the dynamics of the Cross brothers and I really enjoyed reading this book.
Coming back to the hometown Emerson swore she would never step back in only gets worse when her first PT patient that walks into her office just happens to be the one person she walked away from all those years ago. But Hunter is in desperate need for her help, so she puts her professional hat on and helps his shoulder injury. Close quarters and lengthy conversations re-ignites the sparks that were always there bringing the two lost souls together. Can they fall in love all over again knowing the way it ended in the past? Or will the secret Emerson is hiding be the tragedy that they cannot overcome? With a heart wrenching storyline that is also filled with family antics and family love, this was a great read. I cannot wait to see what Kimberly Kincaid has instore for her readers with the rest of the brothers.
I received this novel as an ARC but I am already a big fan of Kimberly’s!
This novel is about Emerson returning to her home town after her diagnosis of MS. She gets a job in her local clinic as a physical therapist because of the lighter work load. Hunter is the boy she left behind when she went to college and it’s about the trials they go through to reconnect.
I won’t lie, Emerson aggravated me a few times. But not because she was cruel or a doormat or anything. Because she was so convinced that she was a lost cause and felt to her very bones that people would view her as broken and useless if they knew the truth. And if that isn’t utterly human and something that people feel regularly, I don’t know what is. But she was stronger than she thought, and people managed to surprise her when the truth came out. And they surprised her in a great way.
Hunter was just as stubborn as Emerson, but he was also perpetually afraid of rocking the boat too much. While he definitely did exactly that when Emerson needed him to, even if it meant losing her, he needed confidence in what they had together also. Who knew it would take Eli to bring him to his senses? But there’s obviously more to Eli than meets the eye, so I wasn’t too surprised. And thanks to Eli, Hunter decided that he wasn’t giving up. He was done giving Emerson space. And he was winning the woman back, no matter what.
I think this series has some serious potential and I can’t wait to see Eli and Owen find their women. And I really can’t wait for Daisy to find someone worthy of her heart, too. So here’s to hoping for more from this town and these faces!
This was such a powerful (to me) 2nd chance romance because not only do Hunter & Emerson go way back, but Emerson also has health issues that she has kept to herself. Emerson does her best to keep to herself especially to Hunter who needs her services as a physical therapist. He had a hard time accepting her help but I liked how they finally dropped their defenses and talked to each other. I also loved Hunter’s relationship with his brothers & dad.
I enjoyed this story because it made me laugh and made me cry. When I realized I was on the last page I almost cried again because I didn’t want it to end yet! Great story of love and lies and hurt and…did I mention love? 😉
And one more thing…HUNTER! Just throwing him in there….
For a city girl, Kimberly Kincaid can sure write country.
Crossing Hearts is the first story in a new series that deals with the Cross family from Cross Creek Farms and their small town neighbours. When Hunter Cross aggravates an old football injury during a farm mishap, the doctor suggests he see the new physiotherapist for rehab. Thing catch is that the new therapist is Emerson Montgomery, the girl who broke his heart when she left town right after high school. He needs her help, but he’s not about to lose his heart again which suits Emerson just fine. She came back to work, and to hid secrets she doesn’t want anyone in town to know about – even Hunter.
Crossing Hearts is a sweet and sometimes steamy second time around story that will pull you in and not let you go until the last page. It’s central characters are both strong – one might even say stubborn yet both are vulnerable passionate and thoroughly engaging and they are complimented by a supporting cast of characters including the the Cross patriarch and Hunter’s two brothers, Emerson’s demanding doctor dad and society mom and a whole cast of Milhaven small towners including newly divorced fledgling entrepreneur Daisy, sherriff Lane Atlee and the gossip girls at the Hair Lair.
Ms Kincaid says in her Acknowledgments that she’s a city girl, but as a small town farm girl, I can tell you she’s done her homework. For me, Crossing Hearts was like a trip home. The Cross boys, the townies, the Watermelon Festival, and even the endless stress of farmers worrying about bad weather, manpower shortages and the uncertainty of the supply chain felt very real and immediate to me. They felt like old friends and I loved getting reacquainted.
If you’re a small towner, or if you’ve ever wondered what falling in love in a small town might be like, you need to read this book.
I received this book via Netgalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I always know that any book by Kimberly Kincaid is going to be fantastic but Crossing Hearts is straight out amazing. I can not even describe how much I loved this book. Emerson and Hunter were high school sweethearts. Hunter even proposed after graduation but Emerson turned him down and left town soon after. Hunter has spent the last 12 years working on his family’s farm and trying to forget Emerson. Emerson went to college, became a physical therapist for a football team and dated famous football players. But now she is back in town, the last place she ever thought to find herself and sets up a small therapy practice. Emerson and Hunter find themselves thrown together time after time and the old feelings resurface. Hunter is afraid to trust again and Emerson is holding onto to some big secrets.
I loved Hunter. Honestly, he is perfect. I really liked Emerson-she was determined to live on her own terms but she wow was she stubborn! The secondary characters are very interesting and I look forward to reading more about Hunter’s brothers!! Highly recommended!!
I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and this book delivers in spades!