Three Times a Hero

Wildly successful British rock group ShadowsForge is on the American leg of its world tour. After a successful performance in Mirada, California bass guitarist Ty Sinclair just wants some peace and quiet to climb off the adrenaline high. He has tired of the rock star life with the easy women, easy booze and lack of substance to his relationships. One marriage and subsequent divorce under his belt has taught him that he is looking for someone who will see past the money and glory of his job to the man underneath. A quiet drive into the mountains in a borrowed car seem like the ideal alternative to the after concert partying he once favored.

Alexis Rivers has suffered through her abusive relationship long enough. She plans her escape, drugs her boyfriend one night, and leaves in her trusty Nova. Hopes of starting a new life in Oregon and staying manless is the intent. But Fate throws a curve when she loses control on the icy road and runs into a kind and loving man.

Holed up in a cabin in a blizzard these two wounded souls find a connection that each has been missing. But now can both find the courage to reach for what they have been yearning for in their lives?

We do not usually come across a depiction of a rock star as quite so down to earth. The fame and the character being in his twenties would easily lend itself to arrogance, grandstanding, and ego. What we get from Ty is a man contemplating the truly important things in life, like family and home. He is completely ready to uncover “the One” and we find ourselves wanting to witness the magic of love happening for him.

Our heroine is very sympathetic. Alexis is smart enough to make the decision to leave a bad situation and brave enough to take the actions required to do it. However, it is curious then that she goes about putting herself into danger at one point in the story when there is no need for her to have done so.

Something else that may bring readers out of the story a bit is a supposed head injury for the heroine that results in blindness. Strangely this does not seem to cause either character much concern and though the effect proves temporary the feel of that situation is decidedly unrealistic.

The progress of the relationship between Ty and Alexis is heartwarming to watch as they are forced to wait out the poor conditions. Readers will feel the sexual tension between them and enjoy the way they get to know each other. One can nearly see the bond forming before us.

All in all this is a pleasant read with characters with which one easily empathizes. It is a worthwhile story and makes us want to see the further installments of the ShadowsForge series.

January 2007