Star Crossed by Kele Moon (Battered Hearts #2)
Erotic Contemporary
July 3, 2012
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Reviewed by Mandi

Kele Moon is has definitely hit my radar as a solid erotic contemporary author. She has two series that I follow: Her Eden series which is a darker, bdsm, m/m/f and Battered Hearts, a more straight up erotic contemporary. (She also has one book in a m/m series that I’m keeping my eye on). She writes the dirty sex really well and gives us some interesting characters along the way.

Romeo Wellings, a UFC fighter just lost a fight, and he is not happy about it. He also saves the life of Melody, his rival’s (Clay) girlfriend after the fight, getting injured in the process (all of this takes place in the first book of this series, Defying the Odds. But this can be read as a stand alone). Jules, is good friends with Clay, is also a lawyer, volunteer sheriff and Clay’s wrangler of sorts. To thank Romeo for all he has done for Clay she takes him out to dinner. Dinner turns into a heavily charged sexual tension hour, and they both head to a hotel for a night of passion. They go their separate ways, but they continue their relationship with lots of phone sex. When Clay invites Romeo to come to his small town and train with him, Romeo can’t resist.

I think what stands out in this book is the way Kele Moon writes her sex scenes. Romeo and Jules pretty much hop into bed from page one, yet I never felt like their chemistry lacked, nor did the sex scenes feel repetitive. Also in this book, they fall in love pretty quick. I think by the 40% mark there is love on both sides and again, it felt organic. Granted, time passes with each chapter, but I still felt like we are shown their love, not just told.

I liked Romeo as a hero. He is gruff, his Italian heritage really comes through (as with his two brothers) and being a UFC fighter, I find that extra sweaty, muscle, fighter attitude quite sexy. His family has connections with the mafia that comes into play in this book. He is very close with his two brothers, who at times I felt were a little much in this book. Van is this super smart (like really, really smart guy) that the mafia uses and abuses. He is caught up in some bad stuff. I wish the mafia stuff had been explained or shown to us a little more. Tino, his other brother is caught up in it too, and as a backlash, Romeo is pressured to throw his match. I like the mafia angle, but I think I needed to be told more about them.

As for Jules, she isn’t my favorite heroine. She is a lawyer/volunteer sheriff’s deputy/911 dispatcher/part-owner of the local training center. Yeah, she has a lot going on. I liked her personality, but I never felt like she was a lawyer. She felt more like Clay’s lackey. It was hard to get a good grasp on her. I did like that she is a taller heroine, with muscle. Not a petite girl, hooray! Her relationship with her brother (sheriff of the town) was a little intense. They are twins and sometimes she would lay in bed with him to watch tv with him just in his underwear – I don’t know. It just felt a little too close sometimes. Her brother also withholds a secret late in the book from her that I didn’t like at all.

This book is full of really alpha men. I mean- really, really intense, alpha boys. I kind of liked that. I feel sorry for any other poor souls who live in their small town. They don’t stand a chance. The supporting characters were a little too much for me in this one, but looking forward to more from this series.

Rating: B-

Recent Reviews:
Fiction Vixen – A
Leontine’s Book Realm – 4.5/5
Pearl’s World of Romance – 10/10
Happily Ever After – 4.5/5
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