Taken by Love by Melissa Foster - Blog Tour, Book Review, Giveaway

Daisy Honey fled Trusty, Colorado, after years of battling rumors sparked by her gorgeous looks and lust-inducing name. Now a physician on the brink of a promising career, she reluctantly returns home when her father is injured in a farming accident. Daisy expects the small-town girls who hurt her in the past to take cheap shots again—but she’s completely unprepared for a run-in with tall, dark, and wickedly sexy Luke Braden, the only man who has ever stood up for her—and the man she’s never forgotten.

Luke Braden is handsome, wealthy, and the best damn gypsy horse breeder in the Midwest. After a restless youth, he’s finally ready to settle down—only connecting with women is nothing like connecting with horses, and he’s never met a woman worth the energy. After an arrest in a neighboring town, Luke’s past comes back to haunt him, and he realizes that his inability to find love runs deeper than he ever imagined.

A chance encounter sweeps Luke and Daisy into a world of passion. For the first time ever, Luke feels a connection, but Daisy’s life in Trusty is anything but permanent, and Luke can’t manage a future until he puts his past to rest.

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Love is not something you can turn on or off. It sneaks up on you and wraps itself around your nerves. It seeps into your soul, and it infiltrates the crevices of your mind so you can’t think past it.

I always have a soft spot for Braden men. They can be affectionate without being feminine. They can still exude that sort-of alpha-male vibe without being annoying, they love their family and they protect their own. And not to mention, I haven’t met a Braden who’s not good in bed. (That has to count, right?!) Who can blame me for going gaga over them? Have you met them yet? Ah, if not, you are missing half of your life.

This should have been the first book in the Braden Cousins Series. But I had the pleasure of reading Wes’ story first. I love Wes for being a prince charming, but I love Luke more for being a changed man. This is Luke & Daisy’s story – get ready to fall in love.

Have you ever been a victim of stereotyping? Daisy needed to darken her blond hair, and she needed to fled Trusty, Colorado just to get away from all the rumors and bullying caused by her looks and her name. Years after, she was back at Trusty (certainly not for good) and she was now a doctor with a promising future ahead of her. But she was needed back home because her father had an injury. She took a temporary job tending urgent cases at a clinic, and she tried to prepare herself to have run-ins with small-town girls who have been rude to her in the past. What she didn’t prepare for was to bump into the tall, dark and every sexy Luke Braden – the only man who can set her on fire, and the only man who had stood up for her in the past.

Luke Braden is handsome, rich and the best gypsy horse breeder in town. His past wasn’t really that sterling, but he was ready to tame his wild ways and settle down. Only that he has problem with connection – he was good with connecting with horses? But with women? That’s a lot of problem. He had never met a woman who was worth his time and energy until Daisy came along. Only that his not-so-stellar past might affect his chances with the beautiful doctor.

Fate brought them together, and spin their worlds off its axis. Luke may have finally felt the connection he was looking for, but Daisy’s stay in Trusty is just temporary. Can he make her stay?

Perhaps it was traumatic for Daisy to be the subject of the rumors during her high school days, but people change, or most of us do. They mature, and they learn from their mistakes. Daisy may have been bullied in high school, but it didn’t stop her from becoming a doctor and made her parents proud of her. Her hatred for Trusty, and her eagerness to go was palpable, and if she has probably a choice, she would go ASAP. But her family needs her. So she decided to stay.

Luke didn’t feel he was worthy of her. She had gone a long way, and he? He had been previously arrested, regardless of the fact that it wasn’t his fault at all. But being with her felt different, especially the fact that he can connect with her. He could have forced her, dropped some hints, maybe emotional blackmailed her into staying in town – but he didn’t. OMG. You will love what he did instead. I didn’t think I could have loved him even more.

I usually look forward to that “family scene” Melissa in stored for her readers. But I was looking for these Braden men once again. Don’t worry, they had their moments and I was glad to see Rex (my favorite cowboy) and Hal with Luke. But what touched me the most in this book is the scene where Daisy had that ‘talk’ with her dad. Awww. It was so touching, I think a tear fell ‘accidentally’ from my eyes. Nothing surpasses the feeling when a parent verbalizes how proud he/she is of you, and how much he/she loves you.

Every community, especially the small ones will always have its pros and cons. Trusty may not have been heaven to Daisy during her teenage years, but now, she sees beyond the gossip mills. She sees a place where everyone knows everyone, where anybody will be willing to help and lend a hand without asking for anything in return. She sees a town where she can be close to her family, and the people that love her. She finally sees a town she can live in and be happy for a very long time.

I may have not started with the first book in the series (but its okay since they are all stand alone), but reading about Luke and Daisy in Wes’ story made me look forward to this and I wasn’t disappointed. Many readers can relate to this story. Both characters struggled with their reputations, they couldn’t help but be affected about what others may think or say, - I guess it’s an ordeal, weak people may have been broken by it and disillusioned, but Luke & Daisy made through it, they were stronger and much better person than they were in the past. People will always say what they want to say regardless of what you do, so do what you think is good and be happy. As what Eleonor Roosevelt said: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"

Melissa Foster writes the best contemporary romance I have ever read. She does it in bundles, topped it with great plots, hot guys, strong heroines, and sprinkled it with family dynamics – you got yourself an amazing read.

Women can make even the strongest men realize their weaknesses.

 

✪Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.✪

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on  Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on The Women’s Nest, Fostering Success, or World Lit Cafe. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Connect with Melissa: Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | Socialnetwork for women  |  WorldLiterary Café  |  FosteringSuccess  |  FacebookMelissa Foster  |  Goodreads 

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