by Kay Hooper
First published 2009
Kendall James has perfected the art of appearing helpless. Her blonde hair and innocent smile mask years of global travel and painful farewells. She uses this deception as armor against a world that has hurt her too many times. On a secluded island, she encounters Hawke Madison, a perceptive man who refuses to accept her carefully constructed performance. While others see only surface beauty, Hawke recognizes the wounded woman hiding beneath the act. He methodically dismantles her protective barriers with patience and insight. Kendall finds herself caught between the safety of her familiar disguise and the terrifying vulnerability of being truly seen. As Hawke draws closer to her authentic self, she realizes escape may no longer be possible. The story examines how genuine connection can heal old wounds and transform those brave enough to lower their defenses.
Genres: romance, contemporary, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Island
224 pages · Kindle Edition · Fanfare