Title: Kestrel
Series: Hart Brothers #3
Author: A.M. Hargrove
Release Date: March 29, 2015
Synopsis
Kestrel (A Hart Brothers Novel)
**Though is part of the Hart Brothers Series, This is a Stand Alone Novel
**Not intended for readers under the age of 18 due to its mature content and strong language.
Two lives with horrific pasts. One chance meeting that changed them both forever.
“One look at her and I want to run. Frizzy hair, thick glasses, mom jeans, and ruffles up to her neck. Who the hell wears shit like that? What decade is she living in? My mother doesn’t even dress like that!”
Raised by a monster, Kestrel Hart somehow survived. Now that the monster is dead, he’s trying to move on, to pull himself together. Struggling with issues no one can imagine, he moves away from his family, from the brother who loves him and the sister-in-law who supports and understands him the best.
Charleston, South Carolina is his new home. And he has a purpose. He’s opening up a new division of his brother’s corporation. But a surprise awaits him. Her name is Carter Drayton.
Carter’s past is also a painful one. She is dealing with the tragic death of her family. She’s healing in the only way she knows how.
Carter needs love. Kestrel craves human contact. Neither of them recognizes what’s right before their eyes. Will they see it before it’s too late?
Excerpt
As we walk back to his place he says something to me that I’m not sure how to take.
“Carter, I was so wrong about you.”
“How’s that?”
“Remember the day we met and you asked me if you weren’t good enough and I said you weren’t bad enough?”
“Yeah, I remember.”
“I don’t want you to be bad.” He stops and turns me to face him. “I need good in my life. I need an angel, a human angel, like you. I’m sick of all the bad.” Then he kisses me. We’re in the middle of King Street and people are everywhere, having to move around the obstacle we’ve created. But Kestrel doesn’t give a damn. He ends it as quickly as he started it and I’m walking with him, stunned by his comment.
“Kestrel?”
“Yeah?”
“Will you tell me your story someday?”
“Yeah. But it may be a while.”
“Okay.” I wrap my arm around his waist as we walk. “Do me a favor though.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t hurt me. I’m sort of fragile and I don’t think I can deal with that.”
“Same here, Carter.”
“Do me another favor, please.”
“Sure.”
“Whatever you do, don’t let me fall in love with you.”
He stops walking. “Why’s that?”
“Because someone always loses in love.”
Andrea's Review
*ARC recieved in return for an honest review
A massive 5 stars, love, love, LOVED IT!!
***Although Kestrel can be read as a stand alone, I'd recommend reading Freeing Her and Freeing Him first to give you more background on the Kestrel and his brothers.***
I had the honour and privilege to be a part of this story right from the beginning at it's beta stage and I was totally surprised with the direction Kestrel's story went. It was an incredibly touching and highly emotional story and saying I loved it doesn't seem enough for how I feel about Kestrel. I'm a huge fan of A.M. Hargrove and her work and this, in my opinion, is her best yet.
I have to admit, when I first met Kestrel in Freeing Him, I didn't much like him. He was too much under his father's influence and, dare I say, I didn't trust him. Saying that, I knew he was going to be more messed up than his brother, Kolson, and I couldn't wait to dive into his story. It promised to be full of dark twists & turns. How wrong was I??
The story opens with quite an emotional introduction to the female lead, Carter Drayton, and I have to say my heart was in pieces over her grief. And just like that I was hooked.
Kestrel wasn't just one story, it was two. It was also about Carter. Nerdy, naive Carter who is on the verge of a break through in the medical world but has suffered a terrible tragedy, one which she can't see ever getting over. She exists only for her work until she meets Kestrel. One look and she's a goner, but she's not ready to admit it just yet.
Kestrel wasn't just one story, it was two. It was also about Carter. Nerdy, naive Carter who is on the verge of a break through in the medical world but has suffered a terrible tragedy, one which she can't see ever getting over. She exists only for her work until she meets Kestrel. One look and she's a goner, but she's not ready to admit it just yet.
I loved the way Kestrel's story played out. Instead of giving us a similar, tortured story to Kolson's but darker, A.M. Hargrove decided to show us Kestrel after he'd worked through most of his issues which, for me, was a great move. I now adore Kestrel, I find him even hotter than Kolson!!
Yes, Kestrel still had a few issues to overcome but he was working on them. I found it a refreshing and enjoyable change to see the male main character willing to discuss his traumatic past without going all caveman & broody insisting 'you wouldn't understand' at every turn. Kestrel was more open and honest (most of the time) with Carter when it came to his feelings and his past, he didn't shy away from them. Carter couldn't talk about her past quite so easily and wasn't ready, or willing, to let go just yet.
Kestrel and Carter are drawn together, recognising in each other, the tragedies and traumas in their pasts. In an effort to help Carter come to terms with her grief, Kestrel tried to get her open up and talk about it, confront it but it hurt so much and Carter was still fragile, not ready, or willing to let go just yet.
As the couple inevitably became closer, their feelings for each other developed into something deeper but danger lurked in the shadows threatening their relationship.
Kestrel and Carter are drawn together, recognising in each other, the tragedies and traumas in their pasts. In an effort to help Carter come to terms with her grief, Kestrel tried to get her open up and talk about it, confront it but it hurt so much and Carter was still fragile, not ready, or willing to let go just yet.
As the couple inevitably became closer, their feelings for each other developed into something deeper but danger lurked in the shadows threatening their relationship.
Of course, Kestrel wouldn't be an A.M. Hargrove novel without plenty of heat...Jeeez, was there some heat?? Kestrel and Carter nearly burned up my kindle they were so hot!! And also plenty of nail biting danger & suspense and tug-at-your-heartstrings, emotional drama. I was totally gripped throughout. I couldn't put my kindle down, I had to keep on reading until I reached the end.
I can't recommend Kestrel highly enough. Go 1-click now!!
I can't recommend Kestrel highly enough. Go 1-click now!!
Well done Annie, on a truly awesome story. I'm now waiting with baited breath for Kade's story, wherever that takes me.
Andrea gives this a rating of...
Andrea gives this a rating of...
Exclusive
Other books in the series
Freeing Her (Book #1)
Freeing Him (Book #2)
About the Author
One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss, and quit her job. Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).
So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author. Her books include the following: Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge and Kissing Fire (The Edge Series); The Guardians of Vesturon Series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent, and Beginnings); Dark Waltz, Death Waltz, Tragically Flawed (Tragic 1), Tragic Desires (Tragic 2), Exquisite Betrayal, Dirty Nights; and lastly Freeing Her, Freeing Him, and Kestrel—all part of the Hart Brothers Series.
Other than being in love with writing about love, she loves chocolate, ice cream, and coffee and is positive they should be added as part of the USDA food groups.
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