Book Review | Stealing Hearts – Lex Martin (Wild At Heart Series, Book One)

Stealing Hearts
By: Lex Martin

Series: Wild At Heart
Book # in Series: 1 of 2
Genre: Western/Frontier Romance
Trope: Age Gap, Marriage Of Convenience, Single Dad, Small Town, Cowboy/Rancher Romance.
Publisher: Indie
Publication Date: January 30th, 2025
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
My Reading Format: I received an eArc to review honestly.

Synopsis:

A marriage of convenience might save his ranch, but will it break her heart?

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love Rhett Walker, which is complicated since he’s ten years older and my brother’s best friend. After a falling out, we didn’t speak for years—until today, when he found me sleeping in my car, threw me over his shoulder, and dragged me “to safety.”

He’s grumpy and overprotective and even more handsome than I remembered. I’m shocked to learn he’s in trouble. Someone is sabotaging his ranch, which is thirty days from foreclosure. He needs a loan from a friend who won’t extend the funds unless he’s married. Only Rhett’s now a single dad with no plans to fall in love again.

When his brother suggests I marry Rhett for health insurance so I can rehab an injury, my first reaction is hell no. I can’t afford to catch feelings for someone who won’t see me that way.

But spending time at the ranch reminds me how much is at stake—the family business, the welfare of Rhett’s children, and the happiness of a man I’ve always longed for.

Rhett says we’ll keep things platonic in private, even though I’ll be sleeping in his bed. He refuses to mix business with pleasure.

Except when the lights go out in his bedroom, our chemistry is too explosive to contain.

Would it be so bad to fall for Rhett? Or will he steal my heart all over again?

One thing’s for sure—the clock is ticking on our divorce.

Stealing Hearts is an age gap, marriage of convenience, single dad romance. If you enjoy grumpy cowboys, sweet but sassy heroines, a family of rowdy brothers, and secretive small towns, this book is for you!

honey-script.light

Stealing Hearts is the first book in the Wild At Heart Series by Lex Martin! You may recognize Paige from Lex Martin’s Varsity Dad’s Series! It looks to be that the Wild At Heart Series is going to be following a band of dirty talking cowboy type brothers! And Paige Lewis is the first lucky leading lady to claim a Walker brother’s heart! It should come as no surprise to the fact that Lex Martin stole my heart once again with her words! I can’t even begin to tell you all how excited I was to read this book! My heart resides in the country setting, and with the addition of cowboys/ranchers, my heart grew even more for Stealing Hearts and the Wild At Heart Series!

I loved the romance in this novel, but even more than that, I really enjoyed both Rhett and Paige’s point of views. I loved the inner thoughts and feelings each character brought to the story. I loved the fear of falling in love with Rhett and being dismissed like she had been long ago that paige felt. And I loved how Rhett had this underlying fear of this relationship turning out with the same ending as his last. My heart really felt for these two characters.

As individual characters, I would have to choose Rhett’s point of view as my favorite. I don’t know what it is, but a man putting his heart on his sleeve, sucking it up, and showing his vulnerable side is my favorite moment in most romance novels. I love watching these characters fall helplessly in love with their leading lady. And watching Rhett grow and evolve from his burned past had me falling even more for this story.

But let’s give credit where credit is due. Without Paige, I don’t think Rhett would have ever moved on from his past heartbreak and anger. It takes a strong woman to piece back together a stubborn man’s heart and his pride. I adored Paige Lewis and her playful banter, but I also loved the strength she showed in this novel. This woman wasn’t going to let another person walk all over her as she had let happen in the past. And that includes Rhett. I loved how determined she was. But there was also a vulnerable side to Paige as well. Paige went through A LOT in the past with Rhett. My heart broke for her and her whiplash of emotions where this man is concerned. Let’s just say, it took a lot of growth on her end to open her heart back up to the one man who unknowingly claimed it many years ago and then broke it.

I gave Stealing Hearts by Lex Martin a 5 star rating due to the fact that Lex Martin grasped each one of my heartstrings. My emotions were all over the place in the best of ways. I haven’t felt this invested in a novel in a very long time. When I say I couldn’t put this one down, that is the wholehearted and honest truth! I also gave it 5 stars due to the slight suspense vibes woven through this story. I loved the mysterious aspect that kept popping up at random times. These moments kept me on the edge of my seat! It has to be said, I can’t wait for what’s to come in the Wild At Heart Series! I have a feeling the emotions in this next book are going to be brought up a level! I’m so ready for this!!

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