Wow, Lara Van Hulzen’s writing just keeps getting better and better! Have you checked out her books? I thoroughly enjoyed her Men of Honor series, but Loving Kate, the second book in the Silver Bay series, is definitely my favorite book of hers so far. And don’t you just adore that cover? 🙂

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The Cover Story~

Kate MacIntire is determined to live life on her own terms. No muss, no fuss. But when motorcycle riding, free spirit Jack Harden enters the picture, she has no choice but to reconsider.

Moving from Boston to the charming town of Silver Bay, California was supposed to be Kate’s fresh start from a painful past relationship, and she’s happy with the life she’s building for herself. Order and structure, just the way her somewhat-control-freak self likes it. Until Jack.

Never one to turn down an adventure or a challenge, Jack wants nothing more than to see Kate let loose and embrace the carefree woman she used to be.

But when her past catches up with them, can loving Kate be enough for Jack to break through the walls she’s built to protect herself?

Let’s Chat~

With Loving Kate, Van Hulzen lives up to her brand, Simply Sweet Romance. From the minute Adventure-loving Jack runs into Control-freak Kate, this sigh-worthy hero does his absolute best with clever date ideas to tease Kate into letting her hair down.

Favorite quote: 

He nudged her shoulder with hers. “Come on. Admit it. It feels good to let go and live a little, doesn’t it?”

“What makes you think I don’t?”

“Huh. No comment.”

Her instinct was to fight him on that point, but why? He wasn’t wrong. “Alright. Fair enough.” She put her hands in the air, stretching out her fingers, trying to place them on stars now emerging in the dusky sky. “But what If I do let go? What if I let go and everything falls apart?” She wiggled her fingers and let her hands fall back to her stomach.

His arm rubbed against hers as he shrugged. “What if you let go and everything falls into place?”

See what I mean? Not that Jack was trying to change Kate, only bring out the Kate that was lost under the baggage of an emotionally damaging relationship. Her abusive ex-husband still annoyed her with occasional texts. Since she was divorced and starting over in a new place with no ties to him, ie children, I don’t understand why Kate didn’t block his number sooner.

I enjoyed the witty dialog, the tight friendships and close knit community, and laugh-out-loud scenes like the post-kissing “hair” scene. Don’t ask. You’ll just have to read it. lol. If you read Christian romance, you’ll appreciate the subtle faith thread, but be aware there’s a smattering of curse words as well. Overall, Loving Kate is the perfect title for a book that I had a hard time leaving to do…well, you know, sleep and eat. 🙂

TO PONDER: Kate lost her sense of self in her prior relationship because her ex-husband continually put her down. Why do we allow people to talk to us this way? Conversely, why do we do this to others? If we’re in such a relationship, what can we do to reclaim our self-esteem? Where or in whom do you find your self-worth, your identity?

Disclaimer: I purchased my own copy of Loving Kate. This review is my fair and unbiased opinion, and I was in no way compensated.