A sexy new standalone novel from the Vested Interest series.When love turns to hate—that’s where I come in.I’m Halton Andrew Smithers, attorney. Hal to my clients and friends.Messy divorces, deadbeat dads, runaway wives, cheating partners—I handle them all.I know the seedy side of love, and it isn’t pretty. I avoid emotional attachments—I’ve seen all too often when hot passion turns to frozen … hot passion turns to frozen tundra.
I satisfy myself with helping people behind the scenes. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that completes my life.
Until she enters it and everything I believe is turned upside down.
She fills a void I never knew existed, and I know without her, my life will never be the same again.
For the first time, I want to try.
For her.
But am I strong enough?
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A beautiful story about a grumpy “monster” and a “princess”
I found this story very engaging so I had big problems putting the book down.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Lots of funny, but also deep dialogues
The chemistry between Fiona and Halton is not momentarily but it’s building nicely when they interact more and more. There’s some sweet moments of showing trust in each other.
At some point in the last part of the story I ended up in tears, it was so beautiful written.
All the secondary characters is so great to meet again in this book, although briefly.
I would love to read Rene and Joanna’s story.
This was a book filled with hope, love and joy.
5 stars
Melanie Moreland is my go-to author for swoony, feel good romance.Halton (Vested Interest, #6) will pierce your heart with all the feels and a story that’ll leave you with a smile on your face. Highly recommend this ENTIRE SERIES.
I adored this story. As always Moreland writes a brilliantly protective male H and another sweet but sassy heroine. Halton likes to fight for the underdog, he has his own personal insight into securing the best care for children, but is closed off to the idea of a permanent relationship himself.
I loved watching as Fiona found herself after coming out of her oppressive marriage and how she broke down Hal’s barriers without him even noticing.
secondary character Rene is a total sweetheart. I love this Vested Interest world and all its lovable characters.
Sometimes the growly guy just needs the thorn in his paw removed
Love, love, LOVE Hal & Fee’s story. I think I’ve always seen Hal as the old curmudgeon instead of the hot, sexy, still pretty young, curmudgeon he is. He fights for the good people, but he doesn’t see himself as a good guy. Just a believer in justice. When he finds himself helping Fiona, Fee, divorce her husband, his nemesis, he finds so much more. Full of the feels!! Passion, a dash of sorrow, a pinch of drama, and a lot of the warm, feel-good of friends and family and love. Lots of love. I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This is the sixth book in this phenomenal series, and is Halton and Fiona’s story. Halton is a broody, jaded attorney, who does not believe in love due to his past. Fiona is strong and feisty, and is soon to be divorced from her ex, but she can see through Halston and is determined to convince him that he is loved. It was great to have all of the “BAM” characters in this story as they extend their comradery towards those they class as family. This is a beautifully written story which is a fantastic addition this amazing series. This story is humorous, emotional, heartfelt, sweet, and with suspense and drama, which all lead to an all round entertaining read. I was totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I highly recommend this gifted authors’ work for all.
I love a gruff and growly hero and Halton definitely falls into that category. But He wears such a tough and grouchy persona that even he himself has begun to believe it.
“But right now, you’re lying to yourself and to me. You’re not afraid to fail. You’re afraid to feel.”
Fiona comes to Halton at her lowest point, needing a hand to get her back on her feet. But she ends up being the one person who really gets under his skin. With a little help from his assistant Rene, Fee gets Halton to break that hard shell and discover the kind and generous man he is at heart.
There were times I wanted to slap some sense into Halton, but I’m glad Fee had way more patience with him than I did!!
-4.5 Stars!-
What is it with Melanie’s men that makes you fall in love even when they don’t believe in it? There is something sweet when a man starts to realize he is capable in doing so and he gives everything to the woman who is worth of that change.
Halton has one priority in his life and that’s to make sure kids are well taken care. Nothing is more important than that.
When Fee appears in his life, she will help him to see what he is capable of but Halton won’t accept anything good they have to say about him.
I didn’t expect this book but I am so glad we got it, Halton and Fee are everything and we still get more of the BAM boys! Win-Win
Halton has only ever seen the devastating effect of what happens when love goes wrong and the effect it has on the innocent parties, especially the children. As a result, when he decides which clients he will offer his legal services to he chooses the people who have been wronged and will fight to the end to ensure that they don’t become casualties.
Fee has been married to her husband for 10 years until he throws her out with no income or resources, and she is left stunned and reeling. As he is a lawyer, she knows that she needs to fight fire with fire and that meaning hiring his nemesis to protect her interests.
As they work together the feelings and chemistry between them ignite but is Fee ready for another man in her life and is Halton willing to leave the baggage in his past and consider letting a woman in his life and his heart permanently?
Full of heat and emotion this is a story of a man who never believed in love until he met the right woman and a woman who never stopped believing in love despite what live threw at her. This is a great series and this book is no exception.
Oh, Halton!! I just want to give him a big ole hug for the way he sees himself and what he thinks.
I super enjoyed watching him fall without realising. Fiona had such strength and grace, I loved her!
Fun story, bit quick of an ending and coming to terms with it all, but great overall!
I loved Halton! This book was a surprise addition to the Vested Interest series and it fit so perfectly with the other books in the series. And with each book that is released I love this growing family more and more because family and love is always the main theme and gets me every time. Halton is just as sexy as all of the other BAM men and he has the innate sense of needing to help others in need. Who doesn’t love a good looking man needing to help others? But can he help himself move past what he thinks defines him for every relationship? Melanie Moreland brings another wonderful story and character to life with Halton and his immediate friends.
Halton is book six in the Vested Interest series by Melanie Moreland. This can easily be read as a stand alone. As is normal, the characters do recur from the previous books but will not take away from this one if you haven’t read them. Thus far, I have only read the previous book, Van. I fell so in love with him and thought there was no way I could love another Hero more. Until this book, until Halton.
We first met Halton (Hal) Smithers in the previous book when he was hired as a lawyer for Van and Olivia. He is thirty six years old and has dedicated his life to his profession. He helps those that have been hurt by the one that had promised to love them forever. He sees the worst side of marriage, the ugly side. Halton doesn’t believe in love, in happy ever afters. His own past and his career have proven it doesn’t exist time and time again.
Fiona (Fee) Hutchings needs help. And she is convinced that Halton Smithers is the best person for the job. Her husband is divorcing her and has taken everything from her. Who better to represent her than her husband’s greatest adversary?
“I wanted to take away her pain and ease her stress.”
Halton has never felt an emotional connection to any woman he has dated. Especially not to any of his clients. But as soon as he met Fiona, he needed to ease her stress, take away her pain. This feeling baffled him. He had no idea what to do with these feelings.
As Halton and Fiona spend time together, their connection deepens. What Halton is feeling breaks every one of his rules. But he can’t help himself. She is so much stronger than she gives herself credit for. And somehow when she is near him, he felt peaceful for the first time in years.
As Fee’s situation escalates, she and Halton are thrown together even more. It becomes impossible not to cross that final thread they were both hanging on to. But, Halton still insists, I am not a long term man. I am only a here and now. Fee deserves her own happy ever after and he knows he will never be able to give that to her.
This book was amazing, Halton was everything. I think I started falling in love with him before the end of the first chapter. There were so many twists and turns in this. I know I gasped more than once. But, I also swooned, I sighed, and I smiled, a lot! Halton was one sexy beast. I absolutely loved the epilogue. Melanie Moreland writes the BEST epilogues.
In closing, I just want to say, “Read…This…Book!!! Halton is waiting for you! I do plan to go back and read the first four books in this series. I loved these last two so much I am going to HAVE to get the other character’s stories. I can’t wait to see what Melanie is going to do next.
“You made a dream I didn’t even know I had come true, Fee.”
Ooh. Forbidden romance? Possibly. Sexy alpha male denying his feelings? Most definitely. As an attorney to every relationship issue you can think of Halton Smithers has seen it all, and he’s lived it too (but he doesn’t discuss his past, ever). He never getting involved, he doesn’t do relationships or love. He’s got a hard hat around his heart. Along comes Fiona Hutchings, a lost lamb, too trusting, too beautiful, inside and out, and even though she’s willing to put her trust in Hal, well, he’s not giving in to anything. Yes, he may trust her with his business, his life and his body, but he won’t ever trust her with his heart. Wonderful characters (I loved catching up with those cheeky BAM boys), perfect writing, and a fantastic story. Thank you Melanie Moreland and team for entrusting me with an early copy. I loved it utterly and completely. This is my honest review.
I love the Vested Interest series and although you don’t need to read the other books to enjoy Halton, you should definitely read them all!!
Hal is a bitter divorce lawyer. He has no room in his life for love. Fee has been completely burned by her soon-to-be ex husband. They are thrown together by necessity and chance but soon find themselves as friends and lovers.
I loved both of these characters. Fee is so sweet and yet so strong. Hal is so kind and yet so jaded. They seem like they could never work together but they bring out the best in each other. Another great Vested Interest book!
We only thought we were done with the boys of BAM! Ms Moreland brings the boys back with a story for Hal, the lawyer who has been a secondary character in the series previously.
Hal’s story is one that is surprisingly emotional. It was entertaining to watch him with Fiona and see them both flourish as their relationship develops over time.
Well written, I enjoyed getting to know Hal and Fiona better. From the little quirks that they shared to seeing them both grow emotionally, this was a story that pulled me in and wouldn’t let go!
Halton a divorce attorney who fights the battle hard but always for the good of his clients. Hal also works behind the scenes to help those who need it.
Fiona is the soon to be the ex-wife of Hal’s rival Scott Hutchings and is desperate for Hals help.
Fiona sees things in Hal that he doesn’t things he doesn’t think he’s capable of but I so enjoyed their journey. I loved watching Giona grow into the person she thought she lost and Hal with the exceptions of a couple bumps in the road he also comes into himself!
Oh my goodness! Hal is so swoon worthy!! Hal and Fiona’s story is definitely one of my favorites in this series! Hal is the good guy, he just hasn’t quite realized it yet. He feels he has so little to give, yet Fiona makes him realize just how much he has to offer! This story is romantic, emotional and freaking amazing!! Absolutely loved it!!
What an incredibly heartfelt story this was!
Granted a definite surprise but a great one nonetheless!
I loved the characters and the way they interacted, the whole storyline was rather wonderful and I really felt for the characters in certain moments!
Certainly a great addition to the Vested interest series! The support network is something else and the BAM people have those around them’s backs!
A story so worth reading!
I think Halton and Fiona’s story might be my favorite one yet of Melanie Moreland. There is something to be said about a brooding man who feels like love is a mythical creature that doesn’t exist, and a strong woman who unknowingly proves him wrong. Their story will have you cheering for them from the beginning. Halton and Fiona are two people that are honest and genuine, but can’t see in themselves what others see. Hal is like a knight in shining armor who wants to protect the innocent and right any wrongs that have been done by fighting the battles in the court room. Fiona is a woman who has been mentally defeated by someone she loves, yet still believes that there is always good in everyone. These two find themselves intwined in each others lives for what seems like the better, only time will tell if they live happily ever after!!
This is my favorite couple in the Vested Interest series to date.
Halton is a successful lawyer who fights for the underdogs.
Fiona is one such underdog but she threatens the rules he has set for himself. If that is not enough, she is the wife of his biggest rival.
Is it possible to mix business with pleasure? Or, is it just plain bad business?
I was completely invested in Hal and Fiona’s journey and the story Melanie Moreland created for them. Their connection is strong and filled with passion. While the sexy times are hot and heavy forging a strong bond between them.
I loved the electricity, attraction, spark and sizzle between them. It was real, sexy and did not feel forced. It was seamless and had the perfect blend of spice, sensuality and romance.
The beginning, for me, was slow but once the pace picked up, it was perfect.
Halton was a broody, sexy and sincere alpha male. He was written to perfection. Kind when he needs to be but also rough and tumble when the need calls for it.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Halton and Fee are one of the best couples that Melanie Moreland has written, coming a close second to my all time favs, Richard and Katie.
Halton is a lawyer and friends with the boys over at Bam, he works hard and fights harder… for his clients. He’s got a closed off heart thanks to his early years and isn’t interested in relationships.
Until he meets Fiona.
Fiona’s needs help divorcing her husband and has turned to Halton to find it. Soon, Halton has more than a simple wish to help his client and Fee is getting under his skin. His rules are flying out the window and his lonely heart is leaping for joy.
Halton’s desire to protect Fee and keep her safe could land him in hot water. But, the chemistry and attraction is just too strong to fight.
I loved this book, it’s definitely one of my favorites of this year. Grab your copy today and let Halton carry the load.