Can He Be Her Hero Once Again?Hunter Diaz, scraped and fought his way out of the gangs of East LA to serve honorably as a SEAL in the United States Navy. He has become one of the most dangerous men on the planet. When his adopted grandmother tells him his childhood sweetheart is in trouble back home, he returns to the place he vowed to leave firmly in the past.Aliana Novak spent most of her … past.
Aliana Novak spent most of her school years being bullied. Her only refuge, was Hunter Diaz, until the day he graduated and left her to deal with the tormentors herself. Those horrific experiences molded her into what she is today and made her the perfect candidate for Vice Principal of one of the toughest schools in East LA. As she fights for her students to live the best lives they can, she is targeted by one of the most dangerous gangs in the city.
Hunter Expects to find the same awkward and fragile girl he once knew, instead he finds a beautiful and strong woman who is willing to risk anything for the children under her care. As Hunter tries to rekindle the deep feelings they once had for one another, Aliana withdraws further into herself. What happened to her while he was gone? Can Hunter break down her walls and prove to her he is still her knight in shining armor before she ends up dead?
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Another entertaining winner from this author.
Former victim of school bullies is now a school Vice Principal and is under attack by local gangs. Her knight in not so shining armour is her former school friend and now a SEAL. Can Hunter protect
Aliana from these gangs and make everything right in their world? They need this second chance romance after the hell they’ve been through. Great story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I really love this series. It has adventure, true life problems to deal with, and tragic to keep you turning the pages to find out the ending. Aliana is forced to suffer at the hands of a gang and Hunter is called in from his grandmother to help with the problem and get it solved. A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start.
This is the second book I have read in this series, and loved it just as much as book 2.
This time the story centers around Navy SEAL Hunter Diaz, and Aliana Novak. They were best friends in their youth. He was her protector from the bullies she encountered in school and she was the girl with the “funny accent and dresses”. He loved her with all his heart. He leaves the LA gang with a broken heart when Aliana sends him away. She was fighting her own demons but never forgot him. He becomes a Navy SEAL and he too never forgot her.
Now a vice principal of a HS, Aliana has blossomed but has also acquired enemies within one of the local gangs. When Hunter gets a call from his grandmother telling him Aliana needs him , Hunter comes back to help her and hopes to find out why she sent him away.
It’s a story with an engaging main plot, as well as the sub-plots. The main characters are complex and the secondary characters well developed. It’s filled with suspense and bad guys, but also with honorable men, humor and a group of seniors that will make you chuckle.
In addition to a story that will keep you reading into the night, it’s a story about overcoming obstacles. The author reminds us that the gangs do exist and those individuals in them are not always free to leave that life. That our childhood and what our parents say to us, will affect us through all our lives but also that love does conquer all.
I have to add that I truly appreciate the fact that the author gave us people with imperfections, a world that is different shades of gray and that family, isn’t always that we are born into. Last but not least, we frequently read stories about Navy SEALs that are all about the sex, their prowess etc. Ms O’Leary makes them real and with a heart. Thank you.
I was gifted this copy. The opinions are solely my own.
Her Passionate Hero Black Dawn Book 3
by Caitlyn O’Leary
Seriously, I cannot stress this enough I am a huge fan of Caitlyn O’Leary books. This book Her Passionate Hero is book number 3 in the Black Dawn series, it pretty much clinches it for me, everyone of her books I absolutely adore and enjoy reading. I know of one person who will be reading whatever she publish going forward. I promise if you enjoy military romance like I do than you will feel as I do, Caitlyn O’Leary is a romantic genius! This book is Hunter and Aliana story. I don’t know too many authors who can keep me on edge with a character who dealing with the things that Aliana character is dealing with and make me laugh at the antics that main characters get into. Aliana internal dialogue is witty, sassy she has lots of confident when she is in her Vice principal role. Her interactions with her friends is very entertaining. Aliana Novak is fabulous plus this character is incredible and she rocks in this book. At first glance it may not seem she is a proud, strong and lovable. This is what I enjoy about Caitlyn O’Leary, she writes about women you will enjoy reading about oand ones that you can easily look up to, you may even want to emulate these women. I always enjoy the fact she doesn’t make Aliana’s character perfect by any means, because who would enjoy reading about someone who is perfect. Sometimes she could be a little weak and I think she is kind of stubborn but everyone has their flaws. Aliana is described as beautiful, curvy, and strong,I think she is all of those things plus she is vulnerable inside. Sometimes she trys to protect herself from being vulnerable so she lashes out. I really enjoyed Aliana. Now Hunter Diaz Wow I absolutely enjoy a gorgeous, sexy, man who wants to be your shining knight. Hunter is quiet, and endearing? I can imagine him talking to Aliana in his gruff, normally ok low, voice. My ovaries may have exploded a time or two when he said things to her. When Aliana does finally confront Hunter, it’s so real, it made all that waiting worth it. Oh my, if this book isn’t proof that anticipation makes everything worthwhile I don’t know what could. Not only did Hunter and Aliana chemistry make the pages burst into flames, their scenes are blazing hot. Every time he took Aliana in his arms I could have swooned, of course by now I have hearts in my eyes. You know what else I enjoy that Caitlyn O’Leary does well? The East LA atmosphere where the characters live. I enjoy that she makes East LA just comes to life and explodes right off the page, It makes you want to go visit the place. I have to shout out to the secondary characters goodness gracious, they made the story flow just right. This book is absolutely perfect, I hope I have I given you enough about this book , to make you want read it do you think? If you’re not convinced yet, I can add a lot more about how I really really really really enjoyed reading it and this is one book that I want everyone to read. I really have enjoy talking and laughing about it. I want to thank Caitlyn O’Leary via Booksprout for providing this entertaining book. I highly recommend this series it’s a great read.
Her Passionate Hero (Black Dawn #3) is a powerful and emotional read. A beautiful romance that is blended with drama, danger and a bit of steam. A love that can last a lifetime is forged in a harsh world of bullying and gang violence. Not only is this book an amazing romance it offers a strong message about some very hard things that have to be dealt with in real life: bullying, gangs and violence. I loved Hunter and Alaina’s story. It is well written, reads easily and was just a pleasure to read. I’m posting an honest, voluntary review after reading an advance copy of this book.
Aliana and Hunter was in the same school. Hunter protected her til he left school. He wrote letters and she sent them back unopened. His grandmother called him so he could protect her.
Her Passionate Hero is a powerful story that brings together a terrified young woman, and her most unlikely knight in shining armour. Aliana is constantly tormented and abused for her appearance and her roots, enduring anguish and fear at the hands of her peers. But for a short time she cherished the devotion of her unexpected knight who willingly lived to serve and protect, so she began to hope that everything would somehow be all right. But Hunter knew his time with Aliana was limited, as boy immersed in the life of the gangs, he was set on a path, and to waiver would mean his ultimate demise. Yet during the time he spent as her guardian angel, a bond was formed that could never be broken; but dreams don’t last, and reality is cruel and unending.
Caitlyn O’Leary has never been an author to shun the hard stuff; she’s more incline to drag it kicking and screaming into the light. So it’s not surprising that Her Passionate Hero will deeply impact anyone who has suffered the consequences of being different, bullied, and subjected to self-doubt.
Aliana’s suffering will make your heart swell for the precious innocence of youth that was ripped away by hurtful, vile people, and a love that was shattered by the one person who should have loved her unconditionally. I was moved to tears many times during this story, but marvelled at the resilience and determination of this remarkable woman and the man who became a Navy SEAL, saw her strength, and never gave up hope of their future together.
If you haven’t read Caitlyn O’Leary’s books, you are missing stories of true-life situations and the passion she pours into each and every word. So get reading, cause every book will live on in your heart long after the last page is turned.
Hunter and Aliana have been friends since they were in grade school. She was always bullied and Hunter was her protector. This friendship always had an underlying thread of love in it but they never acted on it.
Years later, Aliana is in trouble and someone wants her dead. The grandparents get involved and ask Hunter to return home and protect her. He doesn’t think twice, Aliana turned him away once and he was determined to find out why.
I really liked these characters. Unlike most books that I have read their love wasn’t explosive. It wasn’t the “first time they see each other” type thing, there was history and familiarity, love and devotion already there when the book started. In my opinion these two were already in love emotionally. They just hadn’t acted on the physical yet.
I loved that Aliana was so strong in a profession that was difficult. I would image it could break most anyone. Yet here she was standing strong and trying to do right by her students. She is a remarkable woman!!
I also do want to add that one of the funniest scenes I have read in awhile was when Hunter went to the ladies book club!!! I don’t know why but it tickled my funny bone visualizing this huge SEAL sitting around talking to a bunch of old ladies. He was a perfect gentleman but it was funny!!
If you read this without shedding tear, uttering a mouthful of profanity or laughing like a loon occasionally then you must be dead! A fiery mix of unrecognised love, inner strength, resilience Aliana always felt she was not good enough, an outsider. The only person who made her whole was Hunter. But she decided that she wasn’t good enough for him and slipped out of his life.
Now older but no less self effacing and with a self esteem in the minus, she at least now has coping mechanisms and she ours her heart into the kids in her school. but Aliana has put a great big target on her back and she may just have taken on the local gang leader!
Hunter hates that he lost Aliana when he went into the Navy but hen he gets word from his grandma that she is in trouble, he has no intention of letting her say No to him this time. He may be a big badass SEAL but he had a tender heart and has seen more of the depravity of mankind that is good for him. He escaped the gang life once and has no intention of letting it suck in more of his life. Aliana is older, but still his Aliana.
He may not know all that has befallen her since they were parted but Hunter knows Aliana has some serious ghosts. But then he has some of his own.
OMG this book is full of the feels! There are some triggers in this book that may be uncomfortable for some: bullying, attempted sexual assault, gang-related violence but all are handled with care and great love. The characters are full of life and challenges and of course that little nugget of “something” that makes you love them! Aliana is strength personified even when she cannot see it herself. Hunter may be all Alpha male but he has wonderful way of dealing with Aliana.
The background characters are all fabulously quirky. Mamie and Mrs J are forces of nature. We all get to check in with the “Dawners” and meet Zed – there is a man full of mystery! It would not be a Caitlyn O’Leary book if there was not a seam of humour throughout. Whilst the story has dark elements, the characters have a way of taking the darkness and turning light upon. Won’t say much accept to say “Bookclub”! OMG I snorted so much with that bunch of little old ladies!
Another winner. Ms. O’Leary never fails to offer great stories with characters you love and want to have their HEA. Bullying, gangs are very real problems. Here we see both and the effects on family, friends, and neighborhoods. Aliana and Hunter had been best friends in school. He’d been her protector against the mean girls. Then he left to join the Navy. Her life continued, however, she cut him out. Now the gangs, he well knew, were after her. She didn’t call him, but someone they loved did. Could he protect her again? Would she let him back into her life?
His back up SEALs were there as soon as he called. Even the biggest and baddest SEAL couldn’t take on a gang alone. One of my favorite aspects of the author’s books is the loyalty of the team, on a mission or personal.
The characters, even the minor ones, are heart grabbers. The humor, the book club, will have you laughing out loud. The sassy, strong women will make you proud, the guys will make you drool, well that and love their strength and bravery. The chemistry between Hunter and Aliana could fuel a chem lab.
Ms. O’Leary keeps it real with her treatment of the characters, sad and happy. Each book is my new favorite it the series. Can’t wait for my next favorite book.
Alaina is now a Vice Principal. She is being targeted by gang members who some are still students and others are ex students. Hunter was in a gang back in school. In elementary, he always stuck up for Alaina when she was picked on. Now he is back to protect her again even if she doesn’t want him there. Now he just needs to stop who is after her with a little help from his friends