The Avid Book Collector: Book Review & Book Tour ~ His Rebel Heart by Amber Leigh Williams

His Rebel Heart

by Amber Leigh Williams
Publisher: Harlequin (Superromance)
Pages: 380
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Being a single mother and successful florist is tough, especially when your new next-door neighbor is the man who shattered your heart. Eight years ago, bad boy James Bracken walked away from Adrian Carlton…and their unborn child. Now he's back. And Adrian's desire to protect her son from the truth of his biological father isn't enough to hide the wild blue eyes of father and son, or to keep Adrian from surrendering to the raw passion between her and James. But is he truly the changed man he claims to be? Maybe this time his rebel heart really is home to stay.

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I must admit that I was surprised on just how good “His Rebel Heart” was. This was my first experience reading anything by Amber Leigh Williams, but this woman can write a seriously good story. Going into this book, I thought it was just going to be your typical run-of-the-mill romance story, but it was so much more. It’s a story of finding forgiveness and learning to forgive. It’s about facing the people who had given up all hope on you and proving that change for the better is possible – even for the biggest rebel. Most of all, it’s a story of true love that was always meant to be despite a very long interruption.

I really enjoyed most everything about “His Rebel Heart”. The only thing I couldn't get past is that Kyle, Adrian’s son, came across much older and wiser than his young age of seven. He just appeared way more mature than most seven year old kids that I know. Besides this small detail, he was the cutest little boy ever! James character has a special place in my heart with his needing to be firmly placed in Kyle’s life regardless of whether or not he was able to be in Adrian’s. Of course, this story wouldn't be complete if there were characters involved that were created for the soul purpose of being despised by the reader and those two for me were Adrian’s abusive ex-husband and her mother. There was no love whatsoever for these two – at all.

Amber Leigh Williams delivered with a page-turning, angst-filled experience that was both captivating and intriguing. I was really impressed by the plot and how the author managed to suck me right into the story. I love a no-nonsense story with characters I can relate to and this one did not disappoint. From the very first page, I didn't want to put this book down – it was just that good - and I loved every minute of it!

4 stars

“I need you to go.”

“I can’t—”

“We’ll be fine,” Adrian told him firmly. “I just need some peace and quiet so I can—”

“I can’t leave you alone,” James told her. “Either of you. Not now that I know what you’ve been through.”

“We’ll be fine,” she said again. “I’ll keep Kyle’s BB gun close.” She paused, wrestling over the next words. “And…and you can come by tomorrow morning. For breakfast, if you want.”

James looked at her, his eyes skimming between hers, then over her cheeks, the line of her jaw. “I don’t want you to be alone,” he murmured.

She sighed. “James, I have been alone, for a really long time.” You made sure of that, she added silently. When you left me. The resentment and anger that were usually brought to life by the words didn’t stir. Tired. God, she was so tired.

“Adrian, I’m so sorry,” he said again. When he drew her into his arms, she was helpless to stop him. She had nothing left to fight him with so she closed her eyes as the chest she had fantasized about burrowing herself against moments before rose up to meet her. She felt his lips come to rest on the top of her head. His arms wrapped around her back, closing her in, tightening.

He held her, simply held her, for what seemed like ages. Long enough for the tension to drain from her body. Long enough for her to lean into the hard, strong line of him without scruples, to breathe in the work shirt permeated with the sweet scent of grass and the slight tinge of motor oil. At some point, her arms rose to his waist, folding around to the small of his back to complete the embrace.

A small eternity passed in the space of moments. A hundred unspoken words. Memories stirred, whispering to life, ghosts of what had been.

He moved first, just enough to move one hand up to the nape of her neck. He made a noise in the back of his throat, drawing her attention upward. When his lips touched hers, it felt so natural for her mouth to receive the firm, yielding line of his.

Minutes before, she’d felt drained. Fatigued. The simple press of his lips brought her back to life. Her heart fluttered, lifting and soaring in a way she hadn’t felt since…well, since being with James.

She should have pushed him away. After everything, she should shove him back, make him leave. Instead, she let the moment stretch, slide, deepen until she felt him brush up against the soul she’d buried from everything and everyone.

Amber Leigh Williams lives on the Gulf Coast. A southern girl at heart, she lives for beach days, the smell of real books, relaxing at her family’s lakehouse, and spending time with her husband and two children. When she’s not keeping up with rambunctious little ones and two large dogs she can usually be found reading a good romance or cooking up a new dish in her kitchen. She is represented by D4EO Literary Agency.

Her latest book is the contemporary romance, HisRebel Heart.