Tracey Alvarez

In the first Bounty Bay novel, former runway fashion model Lauren Taylor is hiding out in the wilds of New Zealand with her four-year-old son. Except for her family, no one in the small town of Bounty Bay knows about her celebrity status and the abusive ex-husband she left in the States. When a famous photojournalist buys the dilapidated property next door to hers, she fears her carefully crafted little world will soon fall victim to the paparazzi.
Nathan Fraser bought the rat-infested house and overgrown property to make into a celebrity hideaway, and he’s sinking every penny he has into fixing the place up. With the profits, he’ll be set for life and will no longer have to travel to war zones. After he rescues Lauren and her son Drew from being stranded on the road in the middle of a storm, he finds himself drawn to the mysterious woman and the adorable boy, but settling down is the last thing he wants.
Both Lauren and Nate are stubborn and emotionally withdrawn people. She’s still living in fear because of the trauma she suffered at her ex’s hands, and he’s so much of a loner that he doesn’t realize how much he actually needs and wants a family and home. Trust, friendship, and romance bloomed slowly between them. Her little boy Drew is completely adorable (my favorite character in the book) and it’s easy to see why Nate fell head over heels for him.
The sex scenes were brief and sweetly sensual rather than explicit, and furthered the H/h’s budding romance. I normally read stories that have a lot of fast-paced action and mystery, but this one was slower and focused more on family ties, emotional turmoil, and simple, small-town living. Nothing big really happened, but I enjoyed the story and the beautiful descriptions of New Zealand.
3 Stars
… (altro)

"I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own."

Don't begin reading this book until you've got lots of time because you'll find it difficult to put down! This is the 7th book in the Due South series - Harley and Bree's reunion story. "Drawing Me In" is the perfect title, as Tracey Alvarez draws the reader in to the lives of the residents of Oban, New Zealand, so that you feel that you really know them and they seem real. There were a few surprises and plot twists, and Ms Alvarez does a great job of integrating the Maori culture throughout the book. Harley and Bree have loads of chemistry and I found myself laughing and crying and feeling the angst right along with them. The integration of all of the secondary characters right from the beginning gives you a sense of familiarity with Oban and its residents if you've read some of the other books in the series and if not, will make you want to read their stories too.
… (altro)