Title: Mike’s Way Back (Finding Perfect #1)
Author: Amy Gregory
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: September 30, 2013
Cover Designed By: Davis Snodgrass
Synopsis
Detective Mike Sterling walked away from his dream job telling himself it was to honor the promise he’d made his mother, while lying in a Chicago emergency room. A year later, he’s still fighting the demons that followed him back to his boyhood town.
Taryn Watts is an award-winning designer, going from project to project, living from a suitcase. Her plan for Renlend Kansas was the same as always. Go in, get the job done and get out, just the way she likes it. Growing up as a cop’s daughter, her every move was controlled. When she escaped to college she vowed to never fall in love with a cop –ever. Until she found herself sitting across from the ruggedly handsome stranger. Looking into Mike’s ice blue eyes they pulled her, called to her, but there was a haunting in them she knew too well.
Mike is drawn to Taryn, her passion for her work and her stunning beauty left him breathless, but what surprises him most is the peace he feels when he’s near her. Maybe it’s because Taryn is a temporary addition to his town and his secret is safe, or maybe it’s because she makes him feel safe. Mike knows he can’t keep up this charade and when Taryn moves to Renlend for an extended stay he can’t hide the truth any longer.
Can Taryn forget he’s a cop and give him her heart, or will his demons drive them apart?
My Review
This is the first book I've read from this author, so I didn't quite know what to expect. Fortunately, I liked this one. Although it didn't exactly wow me, I did enjoy the story overall.
Mike Sterling is a cop who moved back to his hometown after a traumatic experience in the city. Taryn Watts is in town to remodel one of the older buildings in town. The two met at a local diner, struck up a friendship which evolved into something more. But the problem was that Mike has a secret he feels he needs to hide and Taryn doesn't do permanent, nor does she do cops. So this book basically follows their relationship as they both try to overcome their issues.
What I liked...
One. I liked that the fact that this was about two mature individuals who acted like two mature individuals. Meaning, there were no unnecessary drama or petty jealousies.
Two. I enjoyed both Mike and Taryn. The author did a great job with their characters. Mike is a wonderful hero. He's alpha without being too over the top. Taryn also was a great character. She wasn't annoying or whiny, and she can totally go toe-to-toe with Mike. Their banter was wonderful.
Three. Dual POVs. Gotta love those.
What I didn't like...
One. There were parts in the book that dragged for me. While I appreciate how Mike and Taryn took time to become friends first, I felt they took too long. Around 50%, I was still waiting for something to happen relationship-wise. It took a long time for them to get together and when they finally did, the whole thing just sort of fast-forwarded. They went from sleeping together, to spilling their secrets, and then meeting the parents to saying I love you shortly after getting together. It was like nothing was happening during the first half of the book and the suddenly, things picked up and everything was crammed into the second half.
But other than that, I have no other complaints. The writing is good and the length was just enough. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this series and more from this author.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
When asked ‘when do you have time to write’, Amy Gregory simply laughs. The real answer is, “in bits and pieces”. She and her husband live in Kansas City with their three fantastic kids that keep them running in three very different directions. Because she sits so much, she always carries a notebook with her at all times.
She has an off the wall, snarky, off the cuff sense of humor that often shocks even those who’ve known her for years. And she loves that her children have all been blessed that ability to make others laugh as well. At least she’s grateful most of the time! Her husband often teases her about how she “makes this stuff up” when he’s reading a piece of her work. … The answer—“it just comes to me when I’m typing”. Scary thought, huh!
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