Title: The Heights
Series: Lakeshore: Book One
Author: Amy Aislin
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 235 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: There were a couple little things that I felt didn’t get covered, or got glossed over, but, overall, I enjoyed this one a TON.
Reviewed By: Jules
Blurb: Twenty-one years ago, a four-year old child was kidnapped from his front yard. He was never found. Until now.
All Nat Walker wants is to make his late father’s dream of running a father/son woodworking shop come true. And he had the perfect building in mind—until the new guy in town came in and bought the place right out from under him. The fact that the new guy is adorable means nothing. For all Nat cares, he can take his new dance studio and waltz back to New York City.
Professional dancer Quinn Carroll couldn’t be happier that he made the move to the small town of Lakeshore, Oregon. Sure, it’s not New York, but now he’ll be living closer to his adoptive brother. And since his studio will be the only one in the area, he should get enough business to keep him busy. Besides, there’s something about this place that seems familiar…
He doesn’t expect to fall hard for the local, grumpy woodworker who won’t even smile at him.
Or find out that his entire life is a lie.
Review: I was so excited for this book when I first found out about it, and now, after reading it, I’m even more excited for more books in the series. I LOVED Nat and Quinn so much, and am so impressed with the story that Amy Aislin wove together here. The Heights has intrigue, romance, a bit of mystery and suspense, and a couple of sassy, sexy characters who had me smiling and swooning and rooting for them for two hundred pages.
When we first meet Nat, he is basically standing in the middle of the street, arms crossed, glaring at the new dance studio that just opened in the building he was interested in buying, to open a storefront for his woodworking projects. It is the grand opening celebration for the studio, and Nat is glaring at the balloon arch that’s over the door like it has personally affronted him somehow. Poor Quinn doesn’t even figure out until almost three quarters of the way into the story what was wrong with Nat that day!
Quinn has just moved from New York City to the small town of Lakeshore, Oregon, to open a dance studio, and be closer to his brother Shay. He loves the quaint town and his new neighborhood. He doesn’t know why Lakeshore seems so familiar or have any idea of the mystery he’s about to find himself wrapped up in. He does know that he is incredibly attracted to Nat Walker, though, and is interested in getting to know him better.
There were so many things I loved about this book. First and foremost were the characters, both main and supporting. Nat and Quinn were both amazing and so sweet. I adored them immediately and was also immediately on board with how perfect they were for each other. Both were dealing with heartache and guilt, albeit for very different reasons, and both needed someone to tell them that how they were feeling was ok, and to show them how to get past it. Also, in case you were wondering, their chemistry?? One word: FIRE. There is a scene at Quinn’s dance studio, after hours, where Quinn gets Nat to dance with him, and oh my god, you guys… It was one of the most vivid, sexiest scenes I’ve read in a lonnng time. Like I said, total fire.
There were a couple little things that I felt didn’t get covered, or got glossed over, the main one being a factor regarding Quinn’s kidnapping; that was a fairly big deal but was never worked out. And, the other was to do with the Mitchell’s, i.e., Quinn’s birth parents. Where the hell were they as their sons were in turmoil?!? Ha. But, overall, I enjoyed this one a TON. I was happy with where all the characters ended up, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
You can buy The Heights here:
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