A steamy, emotional romance from USA Today Bestselling Author Alexa Padgett. “Two strong, battle-scarred people grapple with how to make a relationship work in the forceful first Austin After Dark contemporary.” ~ BookLifeRemembering the music I love… lets me forget a past that haunts me.I thought realizing my dream of country music stardom would chase away the ghosts of the past. But I didn’t … me.
I thought realizing my dream of country music stardom would chase away the ghosts of the past. But I didn’t understand how the horrors of war would imprint their scars on my heart… leaving me a shadow of the man I used to be.
Haunted by regret, filled with a rage I can’t control, I destroy my favorite guitar.
A J. Olsen original. The only instrument that allows my fingers to caress my music into creation.
Now, I need a new one, and in order to get it fast, I have to work with her–Jenna. She stirs something deep inside me. Something I haven’t felt in years.
When I stare into her breathtaking eyes for the first time, I see struggles that echo my own. The kind of torment that colors a woman’s soul. But I’m drawn to her–I just can’t stay away.
As our emotions start to blossom, creating a magic that rivals the music, Jenna’s dangerous ex reappears to play a reckless game. Between his lust for revenge and the unreasonable demands of my record label, we can’t catch our big break.
And unless we can both heal the wounds that remain shuttered in darkness, we’ll lose everything.
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This is a great start to a new series, this is Camden and Jenna story he is a former Army Ranger who left the service after being injured and found music helped his recovery and is now a country and western singer, she builds custom guitars these two meet when he goes to her shop. The attraction between these two is immediate but she does not want to be in the spotlight and they both have some past issues that will cause them problems. This was a super read I really enjoyed it.
This is such an emotional and heartfelt story of tragedy, loss and love. I absolutely loved this new story from Alexa Padgett!! This is a well written story with some wonderful characters. I loved Cam and Jenna!! Very touching romance between these two. I loved how this story progressed and the relationship between the two developed. In more than one way these two are very strong characters. I loved this story from the very beginning until the very end. These two have to deal with so much but finally get their happiness.
I absolutely loved this book. Jenna makes custom guitars for celebrities when she meets a country music star named Cam in need of a new guitar. Both have suffered terrible blows in their past and don’t know how to deal with the instant chemistry they feel. Jenna and Cam are emotionally fragile and unaccustomed to highly emotional or overwhelming situations. This book leads a reader down the dark path of panic, uncertainty and fear. And yet, these 2 individuals find the courage and strength to endure what life throws at them. In essence, they discover they are better together.
Well done, Alexa Padgett. A 5+ star read!
She has trust issues and he has just took out his anger on his guitar! Scarred by the War in Iraq, Camden uses music to soothe his soul. He has a dysfunctional family that is trying. When he presents Jenna with the task of making him a guitar in a time frame that is impossible to achieve, she takes up the challenge and the man! As these two form a bond someone is trying to come between them. Will they succeed or will this solidify their relationship making them stronger? This is a story that gets to your heart and have you cheering for Camden and Jenna!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Emotional, intense, dark and difficult to read at times. Deep In The Heart is about two damaged people who struggle through life … can they somehow help each other to find their HEA? This book is not for the faint hearted, nor is is an easy, feel good read but it will tug the heartstrings.
This is an amazing story that’s hard to put down once you begin.
Full of emotion and passion this book will cause you to shed a few tears.
This story chronicles PTSD and mental problems and the anguish they cause. Heart-warming and heartbreaking. Well-written with complex characters and an engaging read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book for Hidden Gems
This is an achingly beautiful love story of two lost souls finding each other, perfectly. Jenna is broken, scarred, and more lonely than she knows. Cam is so beautiful inside and out, heart of gold and settling to a life as a single man. Alexa wrote a beautiful story, set in my wonderful home state, amazing characters that dig deep into your soul and never let’s go! This needs to go to the top of your TBR!
Jenna Olsen has worked with her grandfather for years to hone her craft of custom guitars. When Camden Grace, former Army Ranger and the latest country western rock star, visits her grandfather’s shop to order a custom guitar he is surprised to find that J. Olsen is Jenna…a woman. He is immediately attracted to her, somehow knowing that her past has left her cautious and unsure of herself. Jenna is curious about Cam, his past as a ranger and his life on tour as a country star. She prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but is intrigued by her feelings for him. When a former friend begins to threaten Jenna, Camden will do all that he can to protect her. Camden has other issues in his past that he will need to deal with after the death of his father. These two wounded souls will try to forge a new future and put the past to rest. I thoroughly enjoyed this romance with tones of suspense as they try to remove the threat from Jenna’s life. I look forward to the next book in the series and liked the way Ms. Padgett made her characters so genuine and slightly flawed. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
I love starting out the new year with a new book series. This time it’s the new Austin After Dark series by Alexa Padgett titled Deep in the Heart. This series begins with Jenna, a small town girl with a talent for making custom guitars and a big time case of PTSD that keeps her close to her shop. When Ben, an old boyfriend, comes in making an unwelcome advance and some nasty accusations, Jenna is rescued by a stranger with a story of his own. Camden Grace, the country star that everyone loves, the one that your mother warned you about, right there in her shop. And he wants a guitar made by Jenna. Things get interesting when these two start working together. Is it just a business deal? And what’s with Ben anyways? Can Jenna keep her past from ruining her future?
I really loved this story.
From the beginning we realized that Jenna is a fragile girl, because of some traumatic events in her life. She then returned home to work with her grandfather, who is a wonderful character in this story, and has become one of the best guitar craftsperson.
When country star Camdem Grace appears in her store and orders a guitar in a relatively short time, Jenna accepts the challenge but ends up giving her heart to him as well.
Both have various problems from the past and have to deal with them in order to fully indulge in the feelings that arise. But when a threat from Jenna’s past continues to torment them, will they be able to escape unharmed, or will the damage be irreversible?
This story is full of excitement and some surprising twists. All the characters are really interesting.
I loved the story and the characters. I highly recommend the reading.
I received a ARC copy for honest review
This book has characters that deal with real life issues with anxiety, mental illness and ptsd. I would classify this book as romantic suspense. It is a good, quick read and I would definitely recommend this book
I have come to realize that this author can write one that keeps me in the heart of it until I get my answers. This one turned into a mix with the characters leading the way to pushing my curiosity that turned into intrigued. Jenna has a craft that truly is a craft losing ground with whom can do it. When pride is picked at by Camden pushing her buttons it is on with you stuck like glue to these two. As they grow so does relationship filled with the drama to pull you to the edge. It is not only the feelings per say it is the chemistry that builds and boils. Also see how emotions need to be resolved and healed with the challenges that they face. The heights this author takes you is just the beginning.
I received this book for my honest review. In “Deep in the Heart” by Alexa Padgett, you meet the character Jenna Olsen. Jenna had some terrible choices in love all growing up and being a skilled guitar craft-person helped her anxiety. The only thing is in a man asked her to make a custom guitar in a horrible time-frame. The problem is Jenna also falls in love with the man. Camden Grace is the man who loves his music and fans. He has his own wounds that he suffered from Iraq both physical and emotion. He didn’t expect to find a strong-willed women who not only gives him a guitar but captures his heart.
This book has so much potential from the beginning. So I was so glad to be selected to review this book for the author Alexa Padgett. This book has so many emotions that leaves you wanting to read more about these characters. The characters were rounded for the most part though at times they fell flat. I felt like some of the background of Jenna and even Camden could have been left out of the story. As it got confusing and I often wonder why they were even falling in love with each other. There are also parts that were confusing which character you were in the mind of for the scene even though each chapter they told you. I recommend checking this book out and seeing if this is your cup of tea.
Ok, I just went on a mini-Alexa Padgett binge read. First up was a re-reading if Hold You Close, the most recent of her wonderful Seattle Sound series (it’s Book 3). This installment of Mila and Murphy’s Rockstar Romance was as much of an emotional roller-coaster as ever with true suspense and stalker-terror to complement the “basic” (superb already) “Bad Boy” romance. Once finished I simply had to have more, and since there are no more books ready yet in the series I turned to the author’s Deep in the Heart (An Austin After Dark Book Book 1) to satisfy my craving. On the one hand Jenna and Cam’s (Camden’s) story definitely scratched the itch. On the other hand though, while the ending was a HEA, I feel like I’m left “waiting for the other shoe to drop” – and fear that I will feel this way until the next book in the series comes along. Each of these stories (and their underlying series) is great even though they’re actually so very different that you could imagine they’d have been written by different authors. I’m viewing that as another mark of quality, as these books are both very much high quality. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises. Both of these books definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that each book is most definitely “one to read”, and it is easy to highly recommend both of them. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in each series.
The book is a good romance read. The story has a good story line, and the story is a well written read. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cameron Grace is a mega country music star and US Veteran. He is haunted by his past and is focused on his career and having fun. When he needs a new guitar made he meets the talented grand daughter of his guitar maker Jenna Olsen. Jenna has only been back in Austin and has ghosts from her own past to deal with. When one of those ghosts confronts Jenna in her shop the same day that Cameron comes in to get his guitar designed. After helping Jenna to discourage her unwanted visitor, Cam finds her talent with guitar making, her intuitiveness appealing. As they get to know each other, the spark grows to a flame. But will those ghosts from the past kill the chance at a real future Cam and Jenna have?
This book is well thought out, well written, and the characters are very likable. I found the reactions of both very believable and expected with the trauma both survived. This book handles the aftermath of violence, betrayal and the scars its leaves behind with so much compassion and understanding. I found myself crying at some parts with total understanding of the pain the characters were experiencing. I am looking forward to the rest of the series!
Jenna has some serious issues but has found solace in making guitars. When Cam, an ex vet also with issues asks her to make him a guitar the attraction is instant however her past complicates their relationship. Cam is overly confident & quite pushy with his intentions towards her.
There is definitely some drama & a bit of suspense plus some hotness. The secondary characters are also great.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. 3.5*
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2E2F7JG80PFTK/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8
I love the real world problems you included into this book. PTSD, panic, anxiety are real and millions suffer from them everyday. Thank you for including them, and how to deal with them in your book.
Deep in the Heart (ARC) by Alexa Padgett: ***** A sweet, heartfelt, messy, emotional story
I just finished this book, and…wow. Five stars all the way! Written with sensitivity, raw emotion, depth, and realism. Life is messy, and emotions are real — I think the author captured that in this book…. where bad things happen to good people, and the fallout/regrets haunt. Pain and fear, and learning to cope with PTSD/panic situations. It changes everything, but both Cam and Jenna find a way together, amidst their pain. Both strong, both very talented/renowned in their fields. Jenna is a good person – sassy, feisty, and independent – but choices she’s made in her past have had painful consequences and a manipulator from her past is out to hurt her. Cam is deeply scarred too, from a really messy relationship, and from his military service, and a family secret that comes to light. Their story evolves with staggering events and surprises and ends with a beautiful HEA. Loved it!