Lucas Rockworth—a hard-driving force of nature has been ordered by his doctor to take some time off and get his blood pressure under control. You would think buying a cabin in the natural splendor known as Gray Horse Lake, Idaho, would do the trick. All that mountain greenery, crystal blue lakes and rivers, and nature-run-amok had to be exactly what the doctor had ordered. Enter Sarah Burke… The …
Enter Sarah Burke… The innocently enticing young entrepreneur who’s opening an equestrian camp for children with handicaps.
Her initial impression of him is clearly wrong. For some reason, known to the reader but unknown to him, Sarah mistakenly believes that Lucas Rockworth is a shy, sensitive man. After having to deal a lifetime with a dominating older brother and controlling father, she finds these traits very appealing.
Her recent breakup with someone who could best be described as a bully has Sarah longing for a kinder, gentler man in her life.
Lucas tells himself that, since he makes his living as a general contractor, he has the hands-on experience to make himself into anything Miss Sarah Burke is looking for.
It shouldn’t be that great a stretch to become a modern, sensitive kind of guy, should it? She wants Mr. Rogers… Well, darn, he can manage that for the short time he’s in Idaho.
How hard can it be to tame his darker, more cynical side?
As for Sarah Burke? She thinks she’s met a real life version of Mr. Rogers. But, the reader knows its Rambo who’s come a’courting.
Would the real Lucas Rockworth care to step forward?
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I will not retell the plot because you can read the jacket for a synopsis of the book. The 2 main characters, Lucas and Sarah, are wonderfully imperfect characters. The author has provided plenty of insight into their lives making them appear as old friends to the reader. It is a strong plot with likable characters. It is also a clean read with no sex scenes, nor swearing. In this sweet romance, she depends on the characters to drive the plot on the way to the HEA ending. Very good book.
After Lucas catches Sarah when she leaps from a cliff to escape a mamma bear and her cub when she’s camping, she thinks he’s a shy and sensitive guy. She had to pay him a penalty after she is the reason he lost a land deal and she was told by her new business partner, the woman who was selling the land and her brother that he’s a hard business man, but she doesn’t believe it. Sarah also saved herself for someone special and she was going to throw it away on a moment with a man she didn’t know very well. There were several funny and over the top moments in this enemies to lovers romance.
What a touching love story. Sarah Burke is starting a camp for children with her friend, Deborah. Sarah is tired of not living up to her family’s expectations in their business, Burke Realty. She has also broken up with her cheating fiance, Ned and has sworn off men.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the story where Sarah falls into the arms of Lucas Rockworth after a mother bear was chasing her. I enjoyed the humor and the sparring between Lucas and Sarah. I also enjoyed the fantasized view of who Sarah thought Lucas was.
Great characters and a fun story. I now want to see what else River Ames has written! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
Detour to Paradise has such a cute beginning. Sarah Burke’s life is literally teetering on the edge of a cliff and she is rescued by taking a leap of faith and landing into the strong arms of Lucas Rockworth. If it weren’t for such a charming start I most likely would’ve given up on this book.
You find out quickly that Lucas knows Sarah and has been lusting after her for awhile. Now that sweet, innocent Sarah needs help, Lucas takes the opportunity to seduce her, making her believe that he is someone he’s not. At the beginning I thought it was kind of endearing, but the more I read, and with every inappropriate encounter between the two of them, the more I despised Lucas, and eventually became incredibly annoyed with Sarah as well. If there would’ve been more depth to their relationship besides just the physical then maybe this book would’ve won me over.
I did, however, enjoy certain parts of the story and, not surprisingly, all of them had nothing to do with the main characters situation. The Grey Horse Camp that Sarah is building with her business partner that will be open for all children, including those with disabilities, is such a wonderful idea, and I wish the author would’ve put more focus on the other characters and their situations, and less on the physical confrontations between Lucas and Sarah.
If you can’t tell, I prefer clean reads, which I had originally assumed this was when I picked it up, but this is more on the steamy side, and was so focused on sex that it practically ruined this book for me, which makes me incredibly sad. With such a charming beginning, I wanted so much to love this book, but it fell flat for me.
Another wonderful book by River Ames. The character development is such that one feels they are a silent observer in the background of the story. Loved this story from start to finish.