Heart Of Light By: T.K. Leigh

Hey ya'll
So I told you I would have the review for Heart Of Light Posted today, and here it is. 

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.

Almost.

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.

All I have to Say are good things about this book.

T.K. Leigh does a stunning job of bringing to light some issues that we as a society try to pretend doesn't happen.

I'm sure many of you have heard of human trafficking problems that have occurred in foreign countries. What many don't know or choose not to think about is the terror of human trafficking on our own soil. Because if you don't think about it, then it isn't happening? Right? Well this is a problem, and a book like this is just what was needed to open our eyes to such a horrific issue.

In 2012 alone there were over 20,000 calls reporting human trafficking alone in the United States.

*5% of calls made were about women. 

I don't know about you but this information is scary. And it is something that we all need to be aware of. Not only to stop what is already happening but to be aware that it is a problem and find ways to prevent it from getting worse.

Leigh not only does justice to this abhorrent topic, but also writes a beautiful story. I fell in love with Cam back during her Beautiful Mess series, and could not wait to read his story. While I did know Cam from previous reading, Jolene was a new addition to the story. I have to say that she might be one of my favorite heroins too. While her and Cam both have personal problems to deal with, the chemistry that blooms between them is absolutely sizzling and sweet in the best way possible.

With a book like this having such a dark topic it sometimes is hard to see past the initial shock of it. But with such a great story line it is easy to lose yourself in the stunning romance that is Cam and Jolene. While he tries to break down all her walls, she is working at letting a man into her life for the first time. And that sure as hell isn't an easy thing to do. While dealing with these things there are also outside forces acting against them. Jolene's past is fighting tooth and nail to be in her future and it or should I say he will stop at nothing to have her back in his clutches. 

I think the mix of sweet and tender, and thrilling on your toes suspense was great. It offered everything a good book should. I love it when a story can draw you in so fully and you can't escape it. It completely captivates you, and you are left waiting to see what will happen. Or in my case going a straight 48 hours with no sleep because you stay awake finishing said book hehe

This book is written very similarly to her Beautiful mess series in that it is written from an outside perspective. We get to see in all of the characters head at any given time, instead of getting only one perspective or maybe two that other books give. You get a chance to understand everyone in the stories thoughts and feelings to a situation and it gives you a deeper understanding of what is going on. While it is not a typical writing norm at least for many of the books I read, it works. You get every aspect and every angle. Plus you get to really see hwy a character acts or reacts to a particular thing happening. To me it really adds to the story. When you have a book written like this you loose the need to have something else to fill in the blanks like a novella. You see the way the secondary characters play their part in the story and get to see inside the heads of both main characters to see how they react to each other and to the threats and problems that occur. Overall it just makes it a great read, and gives you a 360 degree view of the story. I will admit though that way back when when I started reading the Beautiful Mess series it did take some time to get use to. But that has long since past before even picking up this book.

So lets talk characters. I love the dynamics in this book. While Jolene and Cam our the main focus Leigh's secondary characters offer just as much to the story. When looking at the dark side of things we have Falconi and the nasty Senator Murphy, along with Elsie and Benny who bring the light hearted and fun side. You are given characters that completely contrast with one another and yet play such huge parts in Jolene and Cam's lives. Besides who doesn't love seeing a story with a great bad guy, and some spunky friends willing to help. They add dimension to the story, and show how everyone is effected by even the littlest of things. The addition to of these characters also give you a small reprieve from the main story line. You get these small  little side stories that eventually all work to give you the overall picture, but at the time give you a break from drama, or intensity. For me a secondary character can almost be more important to a story. They help fill the gaps and give us something to relate to the characters. They make them seem more real. Even the smaller role of the housekeeper who helps Jolene gives us some needed back story to Jolene so we can better understand her. It all comes back to that dimension stuff I mentioned earlier.

Well what would a character discussion be with out the main ones?

So with that said Cam! Cam! Cam!

The sexy surfer we all came to love is back!!! (screams from excitement) While my heart broke for him when Olivia choose Alex I just couldn't see them together in the long run. Of course that could be because at the time I had my Alexander Burnham goggles on hehe. Any who now that he has a new girl in his life it is all good. We once again get to see the kind compassionate person this hottie therapist is. Not only that, but we get a glimpse at some more into his past. We get to see a bit of why he is who he is today. Like I said I loved Cam from from the start and was ecstatic when I found out he would have his very own book. I was definitely on team Alex before because of circumstances with that whole series but to be able to see both sexy men with people they love is great. I wanted to see him heal and be able to move on, to find his happiness instead of just helping others find theirs. He is such a sweetie, and shows so much passion for things and the people he cares about. And he is HOT HOT HOT to boot, so hey that's like a big ol' plus ;)

I also really enjoyed Jolene's character. She is smart and caring, but damaged in ways from her past. Seeing her really break open and let Cam in at least a little was truly great. She grew so much from the start of the book and we really were given the chance to see her inner strength. While being a victim in such a terrible crime I loved that she never fully broke. She was able to still make friends and better herself. So often we see victims of any crime not speak out or do anything to change their lives. But Jolene did just that, she showed strength in leaving and in many other ways. She gives us what we all want. HOPE. She was great and I am so happy to see her worm her way into Cam's heart. She is just the thing he needs.

I truly suggest to all of you, if you haven't had a chance to get this book yet go get it. It truly is fast paced, thrilling, and deeply romantic. T.K. Leigh writes some wonderful things and I think once you pick up one of her books you will want them all.

*****I give this book 5 stars.*****

I know that throughout this review I mentioned the Beautiful Mess series. While Heart Of Light is a stand alone I really encourage you to read the BM series first. You will have a better understanding of Cam and some of the beginning of the book will make a tad more sense. Plus I know ya'll will just love Alex and Olivia :)