Review - Star Crossed (Battered Hearts, Book 2) by Kele Moon

Title:Star Crossed
Author: Kele Moon
Publisher:Loose Id, LLC
Publication Date:July 3, 2012
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61118-940-7
Length: 374 Pages
Series: Battered Hearts, Book 2
Heat Level: Blistering Hot (explicit)

Blurb:  

Heavyweight UFC fighter, Romeo Wellings comes from the hard streets of New York where his family ties to the mafia cause him nothing but pain. His life takes a surprising detour when he crosses paths with the twin sister of his long-time enemy. After a steamy, one-night stand, he faces the fight of his life, but it’s not in the cage. The secret relationship that blooms between Romeo and his real life Juliet has him battling his family and a dark past rather than let her go.

The only lawyer in her hometown of Garnet, Jules Conner is also a volunteer Sheriff’s deputy and co-owner of a successful MMA training center. Strong and dependable, Jules is always there for those who need her. Until one forbidden night in Las Vegas with Romeo leaves her feeling so alive she can’t stop reaching out to the sexy, bad boy of the UFC, even knowing the forbidden love affair could jeopardize everything.

As the tide rises against them and the people they love work at keeping them apart, Romeo and Jules hold onto a dream for a better life together and vow to go down fighting rather than accept a tragic ending.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: violence. 

My Review:  

Fighters, and Mobsters and Cops - OH MY!  Star Crossed by Kele Moon is an incredibly hot, superbly written erotic romance which grabbed my attention from the first page and never let go.  It's an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end with a hotter than hell romance and a story about friendship and family love.  The characters are well developed and so realistic you feel as if they are real and if you're lucky they might be your neighbors.  While this book can be read as a standalone story, I highly recommend reading  Defying the Odds first as many of the secondary characters in this book are introduced there.  You'll also get to know more about the citizens and the city of Garnet, the setting for the first two books.  

Romeo Wellings, a six-foot six inch, heavyweight (280 lbs) fighter is contending for the UFC Championship title as this story begins.  He's got two younger half-brothers, and an entourage, who are all "connected" to a New York mob family.  While Romeo has been asked to "throw" the fight, he fully intends  to win regardless of the consequences.  Loosing the fight was bad enough, falling for one of the members of the winner's team was not a part of his plan, but then he never planned on meeting Juliet "Jules" Conner. I really liked how Ms. Moon developed Romeo's character; while it's easy to see why he's a professional fighter, there's a lot more to him than meets the eye.  He genuinely cares for his younger brothers, and wants to get them as far away from the mob as they can get.  He wants to live life based on integrity and honor.

Juliet "Jules" Conner is young, beautiful and out-spoken.  A lawyer by trade, she's also physically fit due to her involvement in martial arts training and part time deputy sheriff status.  Trash talking Romeo Wellings was natural since he was fighting her friend, getting to know the man in a more intimate way and falling for him was never a part of her plan.  Ms. Moon did an excellent job developing Jules character; I really identified with this thirty-ish woman who felt love and romance had passed her by.  Watching her femininity blossom as she fell in love was great to see.

Romeo and Juliet had incredible chemistry from the very start and it only gets hotter as their story develops.  While they try to keep their romance low key, due to their backgrounds and family situations, it soon becomes obvious they can't stay apart.  While the sex scenes between Romeo and Juliet are burn the paint off the walls hot; it's Ms. Moon's emotional development between the characters which kept me turning the pages.  I simply couldn't get enough of Romeo and Juliet.  

The secondary characters in this story are very well done and really contribute to the plot.  From Romeo's two younger brothers, "Nova" and "Tino", to Juliet's brother Wyatt, they help to move the plot along and provide additional tension.  As we get to know more of the residents of Garnet, and Jules life, I found myself falling in love with this fictional town.  

As the mob tries to pressure Romeo about his fighting career, he'll have to make a choice.....give in to the mob or stay with Juliet and fight for the life he now wants?  If you want to know what he decides, you'll have to read Star Crossed to find out.  I loved this book and have only one question for Ms. Moon, "When can I get my hands on the next book?"

My Rating:  5 out of 5 Stars