A tiny premature infant is delivered into the caring hands of NICU nurse, Annie Billodeaux. His father, Matthew Keaton,is the newly hired running back for the New Orleans Sinners football team. His mother is deceased, victim of a stray bullet fired in a gang war. Matt blames himself for having brought his wife to the city. Annie’s heart goes out to little Daniel and his suffering father. As she … she teaches Matt the ins and outs of the NICU and the handling of his child, her affection for both grows into a love she cannot confess so soon to the grief-stricken man. Matt feels the pull of Annie’s tenderness, but won’t act on it out of respect for his wife’s recent death. When Daniel is able to go home, how can Matt keep Annie near until the right time comes for him to voice his love for the Angel of the NICU?
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This is a pleasant, easy read but rather predictable. What’s missing is some twists and turns in this romance that the reader couldn’t see coming. It jogs along very pleasantly at a very easy pace and whilst you can feel the chemistry between Annie and Matt, you don’t sense Matt grieving or holding back as you feel he should after his wife is killed and as a result his son being born prematurely. There is quite a few characters to get to grips with, hot alpha males and a strong family, which as I had not read previous books in the series was rather difficult to keep up with. However, if your looking for light reading then this does fit the bill.
A heartbreaking and heartwarming read both. His wife is killed and he ends up with a premature baby in NICU. The nurse who takes care of his baby helps him to learn a lot in a lot of ways. She falls in love with him but his wife just died so is it too soon and will he ever return the feelings? Tender, exciting, emotional and so much more. I was given a review copy by booksprout and voluntarily review it.
The Heart of a Sinner by Lynn Shurr is a sweet romantic and heartbreaking story of love and loss. Famous football player Matt Keaton loses his wife to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the doctors are able to save the young baby that she was carrying. Since the baby was forced into the world much too soon, he’s kept in the NICU. Matt is dealing with the devastating loss of not just his wife, but his extended family as well. They blame him for her death and believe he chose the child over the mother. Despite his grief, life goes on and he has a contract to fulfill with his new team. He has help though. Annie Billodeaux had just met Matt and his wife before tragedy struck. She works in the NICU and is kind-hearted enough to help teach Matt’s the ins and outs. Interest begins to bloom between them, but Matt chooses to pace himself out of respect for his wife. But waiting becomes harder when Daniel is able to finally go home.
The Heart of a Sinner by Lynn Shurr is the first book that I have read by this author and I honestly was in my feelings almost the entire time. This story truly tugs at your heartstrings from the beginning and never lets up. The author starts the story off with the heartbreak of Matt having to say goodbye to his wife and the anger from her family. Annie makes an immediate appearance as well as she takes care of the small child. I love the interactions between the characters. Annie is so kind, caring, and genuine. I absolutely love her as a character. My heart practically melts concerning Matt and his interactions with his small son. I adored his awkwardness when he’d sit down to talk or just simply gently touch his child. I was honestly torn between melting into a puddle of mush or bursting into tears behind his heartbreak.
There is nothing that I don’t like about this book. The storyline flows so smoothly and it just lures the reader in to read and read and read. This is book five in the series, but it is also the first that I have read. I can honestly say that this book can be read as a standalone, in my opinion. I will also say that I enjoyed this book so much that I will be going back to read the previous books. I want to learn about the other characters that have their moments in this book. I’m sure that their stories are just as engaging.
At the end of the day, I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. The author weaves an excellent story and develops fantastic characters. You’ll find yourself loving and adoring these characters as you read their story. Sweet, romantic and heartbreaking, but there is healing in the end. A definite must-read novel.
**I received a copy of The Heart of a Sinner from Net Galley and Wild Rose Press in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. **
The Heart of a Sinner by Lynn Shurr is the fifth book in her A Sinner’s Legacy series. This is my first book and won’t be my last because now I need to get the others so I can place the adults and siblings from previous books in the Billodeaux family. This is Annie and Matthew Keaton’s story which is worth all five star and then some.
Annie Billodeaux receives little Daniel Keaton who has arrived three months early after his mother was killed by a stray bullet. As NICU nurse caring for him it’s her TLC that will bring Matthew out of his grief and teach him how to care for his newborn son. Even his late wife’s parents who’s own grief leads to harsh words his mother-in-laws words lead to estrangement between them. When Danny can be released home it will be Annie Matthew will ask to care for his son while he shows the NOLA Sinners his running back skills. But will he figure out that Annie is already in love with him? When his sister-in-law Dre shows up how will he send her back home or give her a place to live with love and understanding?
Matthew Keaton is the newest member of The Sinner’s football team and doesn’t expect to lose his wife to a stray gang war bullet. Since he was adopted as a child he’s willing to do what it takes to learn how to care and raise his preemie son. Even if it’s against his late wife’s family he looks forward to visits with Danny and soon starts to have feelings for Nurse Annie. But he’ll have to deal with her twin sister Jude when it comes to convincing Annie that he loves her and the new addition of both Dre (Andrea) their soon to be child?
I loved the sense of family that Joe and Nell Billodeaux show all of the children and the men and women who marry into their loving family and look forward to more stories in the future.