Boho Book Reviews: Blog Tour: Heart of Light by T.K.Leigh

Title: Heart of Light

Author: T.K. Leigh

Release Date: August 25, 2014

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES EIGHTEEN AND UP DUE TO EXPLICIT SEXUAL SITUATIONS, STRONG LANGUAGE, AND GRAPHIC VIOLENCE. Twelve years ago, Jolene’s adoptive mother died. Twelve years ago, a man showed up at Jolene’s door and promised to take care of her. Twelve years ago, Jolene was happy. Then it all changed… Jolene Bergio has spent the last twelve years of her life asking one question… Why? Why was she left in the custody of a man who would sell her each and every night to the highest bidder? After a few years, she shut off, giving up hope that anyone would ever find her. Until her luck changed one night and she escaped. Twelve years later, she finally feels something she hasn’t felt in a long time… Free. Scared that her past will find her unexpectedly, she hides away in a rented beach house, trying to distance herself from everyone… Until Dr. Cameron Bowen enters her world and slowly tears down the walls that she has built up over the past twelve years of her captivity. Jolene begins to learn to love again. And trust again. But when a man from Jolene’s past emerges, will she be able to keep her identity hidden? When lies are told and hearts are broken, will the truth surface in time to bring Jolene back from the shadows that threaten to expose who she really is? Heart of Light is a captivating story of love, strength, and survival.

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Excerpt

“Why don’t you like being touched?” he asked quietly in a bold move. Jolene stopped dead in her tracks, glaring at him. “I just don’t, alright?” she hissed, her voice raised. “And it’s none of your fucking business why I act the way I do. I see what you’re trying to do, Doctor.” She spun around and stormed back toward the house, wanting to get far away from his prying, yet consoling, eyes. “What, Jolene? What am I doing? I just want to get to know you. I want to spend time with you, and I need to know why certain things set you off so that I don’t do them!” He ran along the shore, catching up to her, stopping short when he almost reached out and grabbed her arm to force her to talk to him. Feeling him approach behind her, she reeled around. The expression on her face was fierce. “You’ve been a therapist for far too long. You need to get it out of your head that you can help me.” The ocean wind whipped her hair in front of her face and her voice rose in anger. “You can’t! No one can! So just stop! Stop taking an interest in me! Stop with the whole nice guy act because, based on my experience, that’s all it is!” she cried through her tears, her voice becoming barely audible. “A fucking act.” She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before opening them, the pain of what she had experienced the past decade of her life visible in the look of unease on her face. She took a step closer, her eyes remaining glued to Cam’s. “You show up on my doorstep acting like my savior when the world has gone to shit. You tell me how you’ll look after me and protect me. And you know what those are?” She could see the hurt that her words were causing him, but she didn’t care. “Lies, Cam,” she said quietly. “Just lies. You say you’ll help me and watch over me, but you’ll turn. I can’t… I can’t go through that again. Please. I beg you. Just stay away from me.” She spun around and began walking briskly away from him. “You don’t have to do this, Jolene!” he shouted, running to catch up with her. “You don’t have to choose fear.” “Yes, I do,” she insisted, turning to face him once more. “It’s the only way that he won’t…” “You can choose me instead,” he interrupted. Her breath caught at his unexpected reply. “Cam, I…” She trailed off, hiding her tear-filled eyes. “Don’t let your fear control you, Jolene,” he implored, his voice soft. He brought his body close to hers. “Please, choose me, not fear.”

MY REVIEW:

Jolene Bergio has lived a life of fear. Losing two mothers and a dad, she has spent the last decade of her life trapped in a miserable hotel filled with despair and the screams of the other girls. When the chance to escape comes, Jolene takes it and doesn't look back. Too bad her past follows her.

Cameron Bowen fell in love with a girl years ago who loved another. A licensed psychiatrist, even he cannot move on from his past. When a girl shows up at his beach house to rent the property, she looks so much like the girl he once loved it hurts, but when he realizes this little spitfire is nothing like her, he finds himself caring about Jolene and wanting to help her. Can he save her from the past and be her light or will the darkness be too much?

In this incredibly beautiful, touching story T.K. Leigh doesn't shy away from the topics that are real but instead embraces the strength of the survivors. Heart of Light is a story of moving forward and not letting the past define you. The past may have helped to make you who you are, but it can't break you unless you let it.

Full of angst, but also hope, romance, and love, Heart of Light is a book that stays with you long after you finish reading the last page. Heart of Light is a book that will leave you with a smile and tears in your eyes, which only the very best books can do.

T.K. Leigh's Heart of Light is real and it's raw. There are sensitive subjects mentioned, but there is also hope for the future. With characters that are strong, compassionate, and genuine, Heart of Light is the perfect blend of angst, hope, survival, and love. Jolene and Cam both have their flaws, but their strength is admirable, especially Jolene's. Jolene is a woman that every woman can look up to. She was in a bad situation for years, but instead of letting it break her, she rose above it. She escaped and made a life for herself, instead of letting the demons weigh her down.

Heart of Light is a touching five star book that everyone needs to read. Kudos to T.K. Leigh for shedding light on a topic that seems unapproachable, but that truly needs more awareness brought about.

About the Author

T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is the USA Today Best Selling author of the Beautiful Mess series. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). She always had a knack for writing, but mostly in the legal field. It wasn’t until recently that she decided to try her hand at creative writing and is now addicted to creating different characters and new and unique story lines in the Contemporary Romantic Suspense genre. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found running and training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall). Unlike Olivia, the main character in her Beautiful Mess series, she has yet to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

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