“One night eight years ago and you ran, angel. One night now and you’re gone again. I won’t let you run this time without giving chase.”
Eight years ago Evangeline Rowe met her ice-blue eyed, perfect cowboy, but she was running from a past he would have kept her trapped within. One night of unbelievable passion, a lost and consequently broken heart, and only memories that haunted her dreams and … dreams and made all subsequent liaisons fall short. By the time she is called back to Auckland to tend her dying father, she has only just managed to vanquish the ghosts of her past enough to settle down. Her time as a cowgirl-in-the-rodeo-ring is coming to an end – and then she sees him. Standing across the crowd at Sweet Seduction, listening to her sing. With his arm wrapped around his fiancée. Try as she might to refuse him access to her heart again, Nick Anscombe has never forgotten that night eight years ago either. And sets out to prove to Eva, his angel, that their hearts are indeed meant to be one.
Old grudges, disgruntled relatives, and a past that haunts as much as hurts, chases Eva down. Gunshots, attempted kidnappings, hostage situations, hot investigators and just as hot police detectives, everything comes to a head when Eva faces her past and accepts who she is inside. And who she is began that day eight years ago – but was it truly the same for her ice-blue eyed cowboy? And can she still be the cowgirl-in-the-rodeo-ring she desires and let him back inside her battered heart?
Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.
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Sweet Seduction Serenade is book two in the Sweet Seduction series, and takes us back to Auckland, New Zealand and the Sweet Seduction shop. This series has grabbed hold of me and continues to not let me down by generously letting me delve into love at first sight, explosive action, steamy sex scenes, and plenty of seriously fine alpha males. 😉
Summary:
Evangeline “Eva” Rowe hasn’t had an easy life. Eight years ago, she fled the only home she ever knew and built a new life in Nashville, Tennessee. Fleeing was her only option if she wanted a chance at her dreams of becoming a country singer. With an absentee father and a mother too concerned with her love-life, Eva felt disconnected and forgotten in her family. Her growing up years were filled with torment from her five older boy cousins for no apparent reason other than they figured she thought herself too good for them. Eva didn’t only leave behind her haunted past when she left Auckland. The night before she left, she gave her heart away to a true cowboy, and despite eight years, she’s never felt the same way again. Now Eva has come home to tend her dying father, and her past is about to erupt and take over the person she’s become. Music is Eva’s lifeblood, especially Garth Brooks. It can soothe her and fills the gaps she pretends doesn’t exist in her heart. Being home isn’t anything like Eva thought it would be. Her father seems just as distant as he was in her youth, but every once in a while, she gets a glimpse of a softer man who cherishes her company instead of loathes it. With her brother in prison, she is responsible for her father’ send of days, but she cant leave her music back in Nashville. Rounding up her old band, Eva arranges to play at Sweet Seduction for Gen, whom she went to high school with. The vibe she gets playing with familiar people gives her a thrill she wont soon forget, but coming face to face with the man she’s loved for eight years after one night will be enough to stop her heart. Nick Anscombe is Eva’s ice-blue eyed, perfect cowboy and he’s never forgotten the passion filled night they shared. Terrified of being pulled back into the past she has fought to escape, Eva tries to deny him access to her heart, but Nick still holds a piece of it, and he’s determined to show Eva that they are destined to be as one. Unfortunately, Eva’s trailer trash family are determined to seek revenge on what they perceive as Eva’s “hoity toity” behavior, and endeavor to claim the small amount of money Eva’s father has saved, when he passes. It’s also more. A wrong Eva committed unknowingly against her oldest cousin Levi, and he’s finally prepared to make her pay for. Through attempted kidnappings, hostage situations, international plane flights, gunfights, and life altering epiphanies, Nick and Eva will have to trust in the strength they possess as a couple and the love that’s always been between them in order to overcome an enemy gone feral with the need for revenge and attention. If they survive, Eva might just learn that true love means never having to pigeon-hole yourself into others’ expectations, but finding a partner that not only recognizes your uniqueness, but also nourishes and encourages your dreams and life goals while loving you unconditionally and passionately.
Eva was a riot. I loved how much she embraced country music and that way of life, although sometimes her cowgirl persona seemed a bit overdone for me. I applaud her for taking care of a parent that she swore never benefitted her childhood. It couldn’t have been easy before her eyes were opened to some harsh truths. When Nick first made his appearance, I was sure I’d hate him with his cool demeanor and scathing conversation, but he was so much more. He was protecting himself, too, and when he decided to lay claim, watch out! His very real need to physically claim Eva was sexy as hell (bathroom scene? Yes please). I couldn’t for the life of me see him as a cowboy, though. I just couldn’t visualize it. Lol. To me, he needed black cargo pants kitted out with badass necessities, skintight black tee, and black motorcycle boots. Still, cowboys can be badass, so if pressed, I could probably make myself see him that way. I do wish we got to see what happened eight years ago. They referred to it a lot, but we didn’t know how they met, where, and no sexy details. I think a short flashback prologue could have made this story even better, but even so, with all the action and lovin’ going on, it didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment of the story unfolding. Eva’s family was bat-shit crazy and not a little bit creepy, but other supporting cast was amazing. I fell in love with the stalker, Adam. Lol. A fantastic, sweet, funny, sexy guy, I cant wait for his book. I’m looking forward to Ben’s story next, although I will miss the inner workings of the Anscombe clan (like when they are all together), but I’m really impatient for Jason and Katie’s book. There’s something about them and I just know it’s gonna be great! Wonderful job by Ms. Claire and every one definitely keeps me coming back. <3
Evangeline Rowe left Australia eight years ago to return home to see to her dying father. The only time away she gets is agreeing to perform at her friend Gen’s coffee bar. That is where she sees the man she spent one night with eight years ago and he still has not left her thoughts.
Nick Anscombe never forgot Eva, he tried but no one held a light to her memory. Now Eva is back and Nick is not letting her go. He did not plan on relatives wanting her gone, or a man who wants more from Eva in a relationship. Nick isn’t gonna let anything stand in his way though to keep Eva by his side.
So I liked aspects of this book and then I was confused about some of the things in the book though. Great chemistry, I did like Eva but I thought the timeline in some of the story did not make sense to me.