Brenda Gayle

Two very different people ... a child advocate and a chef/restaurant owner ... a private cooking lesson ... a growing attraction for each other ... family drama ... and a past that has danger written all over it ...

Nora Cross is a successful child advocate executive with CAN (Children's Action Network), who is too wrapped up in her career to have or want a social life.

Hunter Graham is a renowned chef who has a reputation for being a playboy.

When Nora's younger sister Karen wins a private cooking lesson at a charity auction, she pressures Nora into taking the private cooking lesson with the hot young chef, Hunter Graham. After a successful debut in NY, Hunter is back in Santa Fe to open a new restaurant. Opposites attract and sparks fly when Nora and Hunter meet, but she tries to resist his advances, while he finds her annoying yet intriguing and wants to get to know her better.

When Nora's apartment and office were broken into and it wasn't a random occurrence, Hunter rushes in to be her protector ... but can Nora's troubled past and their family dramas smother the flames of attraction, or can they fulfill the desire of their hungry hearts?

The Hungry Heart is a fast-paced contemporary romance story that has a suspenseful twist added into the mix. Written in the third person narrative, author Brenda Gayle weaves an intriguing tale of how two people who are opposites become attracted to each other, only to have a troubled past and family issues rear its ugly head and threaten their budding relationship. This story has something for everyone: romance, mystery, suspense and family drama. This is not an ordinary or typical romance story, it has many layers with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing what will happen next.

The author creates an intriguing, realistic and complex cast of characters who draw the reader into their lives. I really liked Nora's strong and tough personality, her vulnerability simmers below the surface, she has a depth about her that I find intriguing. Hunter may have been portrayed as a player, but I found him to be a charming guy that has an endearing sweet side that won me over. I really liked the opposites attract dynamic of their relationship, there is the sizzle of attraction between them that I always like to read in romance stories, but I really liked how their different personalities provided a balance in their relationship. With a great supporting cast of characters who add to the mystique and intrigue of the subplots, engaging dialogue and interactions, palpable romance and cooking scenes, and an engrossing mixture of romance and suspense within a multi-layered storyline, The Hungry Heart is an entertaining story that will keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.

The Hungry Heart is not your typical contemporary romance story! This story has enough romance with a twist of mystery and suspense that will be a pleasant surprise for diehard romance fans!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Novel Publicity Tours.

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