Burned by a Kiss by Tina Leonard (Star Canyon #1)
Released: May 3, 2016
Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by Mandi
The start of a new series, the blurb features Emma and Santana as our hero and heroine, but honestly, other characters stole the spotlight. Emma is Star Canyon’s new vet, as her father has recently passed away and she took over his business. She loves her job and the small town she lives in. Santana is recently home from the Middle East and he heads back to his family ranch, where his multiple brothers and sister, Sierra, help out. Their father also recently died, and when they go to read his will they are shocked to discover the entire five million dollar ranch was left to their cousin, Nick. Apparently, Santana’s father had big gambling debts, which led to his brother (Nick’s dad) helping him out, and then securing the ranch in his will.
So now Santana, his brothers, and his sister Sierra are out of their family legacy. But that is not all – they also found out they are all adopted (they had no idea) and their dad was a CIA agent in the witness protection program.
*scratches head*
Santana and Emma went to school together, and Emma always had a crush on him, he even kissed her once in school – but then he enlisted and they lost touch. But now he is back in town and their chemistry is back on the burner.
Santana and Emma’s chemistry and sexual tension start off well – it’s a cute start. But once Nick gets introduced, and they lose their family ranch, things go downhill quick. They story starts to almost entirely focus on Sierra and her rebellion against Nick getting the property, and Nick’s attraction to Sierra. Since they found out they were adopted, Sierra isn’t related to Nick. Pretty much the entire book is Nick and Sierra – and ALL of their problems. Once in a while we get a scene or two with Santana and Emma together. They jump into bed together but I needed much more focus on their romance and how they somehow end up with a HEA at the end. I assume Sierra and Nick get their own book next, so why they took up all the page time in this one confuses me.
The ranch leaving Santana’s family and the fact their father was CIA and they were all adopted was very much glossed over. Just felt out of place.
This one didn’t work for me.
Grade: D
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