With her frayed jeans and cascade of tousled dark hair, Lynn Shaw looks more like one of the teenage residents of Horizon House than their counselor. So it’s no wonder State Senator Erik Gunther mistakes her for one. Not that he exactly fits the description of a politician, with his movie-star looks and athletic build. Even Lynn, cynical, stubborn, and decidedly not looking for a relationship, can’t ignore her body’s response to the man. Allegedly, he’s come to defend Lynn from angry locals who don’t want her home for delinquent girls in their neighborhood. But as far as Lynn is concerned, he’s looking for a photo op, a chance to play the hero–the last thing either she or her troubled girls need. What they need is understanding. Lynn knows teenage rebellion all too well. And she knows firsthand its heartbreaking price. She won’t touch the good senator with a ten-foot pole only to watch him disappear once he gets what he wants. Unfortunately, Erik refuses to go away. The moment Erik looks into her emerald eyes, his interest in work falls into serious competition with his interest in Lynn Shaw. Her rejection of his assistance only intrigues him further. He is determined to know her–and to help her. If that means practically moving into Horizon House, so be it. But as the two engage in a battle of hearts, it becomes clear that Lynn is waging a private war of her own, against demons of the past–and against her overwhelming desire for the one man who may be worth fighting for.
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"A romantic tale of love and trust and letting go of one's brutal past to find redemption in another person's arms. With all politicians were as hunky and compassionate as State Senator Erik Gunther. He's even a Demoncrat for crying out loud. Maybe the country wouldn't be in the mess it's in if all had a little Erik in them. Good read."
— Carol (4 out of 5 stars)
" This was a nice light read for a Sunday afternoon, while doing laundry and suffering from a cold. The characters were likable and the part of the story about the home for troubled teenage girls was interesting. I think it would have been a better book if we could have gotten to know the girls at Horizon House better. This book, being a romance, focuses mainly on the relationship between Lynn, the Horizon House counselor, and Erik the senator dedicated to their cause. "
— Shea, 2/20/2014" While it was an emotionally charged book and a pleasure to read, I found the heroin to be too self destructive for her own good. "
— Rebecca, 2/20/2014" Tami Hoag needs to stick with what she does best. This is too much like some kind of Harlequin romance - ugh. "
— Tammy, 1/23/2014" It was a fun little read I guess. It's only been two days since I finished it and the only reason I remembered to review it was because it was in my currently-reading list. Otherwise I'd have forgotten the whole thing. "
— Me, 1/15/2014" Very predictable... a quick easy read if you're looking for one. Not her best. "
— Dana, 1/13/2014" Very predictable, very 90s, but an OK way to pass time. "
— Christine, 1/12/2014" NOt one of my favorites, but an easy read. I like Hoag's suspense books but this was a romance. "
— Chriser123, 1/5/2014" I love Tami Hoag's thrillers, but this one was sadly lacking in everything--no plot, not much character development. The idea had great potential if she had developed it, but the concentration was on the sexual relationship only. "
— Bev, 12/23/2013" It was very boring. I was disappointed. I think romance books are not her forte. "
— Luz, 12/17/2013" Enjoyed the teenage support portion better than the romance. "
— Academicsupport, 10/5/2013" Gah. This book was ultra crap! No More Hoag books for me..... not even if I am desperate for a read on a long trip. YUCK! "
— Beanse, 9/27/2013" I picked this up from a give-away bin thinking Tami Hoag wrote suspense. Although there is a minor mystery, the book is mostly a romance - very cheesy and unrealistic. "
— Cindy, 9/27/2013" This was a typical romance. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad. It's the first Tami Hoag book I have ever read/listened to, and I'd say that I would try another. It was written many years ago, so her style might have changed since then. All in all, it was a decent story. "
— Margarks, 2/12/2013" I barely remember listening to this one, what does that tell you? "
— Chuck, 2/3/2013" Frustrated by her past, our heroine is wishy-washy about love when it comes her way. "
— Sandy, 1/6/2013" This book was an easy read. It was just ok for me. It wasn't bad....it wasn't a Pulitzer. It was just ok. "
— Marianne, 12/28/2012" I really enjoyed the storyline and there wasn't any unkind language. The reason I gave it 3 stars was because there were too many detailed sexual scenes. The details did not need to be in the book to make it a great story. "
— Jessica, 10/27/2012" It was great I couldn't put it down! "
— Courtney, 7/19/2012" I'm surprised there's no mention that The Last White Knight is in the same universe as Straight from the Heart. I happened to read the two within a few weeks of each other, so I picked up on it, but it makes me wonder about Tami Hoag's other books. Still, neither was particularly thrilling. "
— Sophie, 7/2/2012" I got this book on CD for my drive to the beach yesterday, it was entertaining and held my interest-- just what I needed for the drive! "
— Maggie, 4/30/2012" I picked up this book for some light reading. The story line is pretty predictable but it does fall into the romance category (so skim where needed). I think I read it in about 4 hours so it's definitely one for a road trip. "
— Emily, 4/16/2012" Eh... Not awful but not fabulous either. "
— Jena, 2/1/2012" So filled with cliches I couldn't even finish the first disk in the audio book. Ugh! "
— Lois, 12/19/2011" Not the worst novel Ive read .... The story just got old, fast. "
— Jessica, 12/9/2011" it was a fun read it was good "
— Serena, 9/18/2011" One of Hoag's early light romances. A good quick read when you aren't in the mood for dark and heavy. "
— Loretta, 8/28/2011" I did not realize that Ms Hoag wrote romance until I listened to this book. I had previously listened to a suspense thriller and picked up this audio CD becasue of the author's name. "
— Maria, 4/2/2011" Enjoyed the teenage support portion better than the romance. "
— Academicsupport, 3/10/2011" It was a fun little read I guess. It's only been two days since I finished it and the only reason I remembered to review it was because it was in my currently-reading list. Otherwise I'd have forgotten the whole thing. "
— MRS, 3/8/2011" He's too arrogant and there is no substance to the characters "
— Irene, 2/22/2011" Eh... Not awful but not fabulous either. "
— Jena, 1/14/2011" It was great I couldn't put it down! "
— Courtney, 11/18/2010" So filled with cliches I couldn't even finish the first disk in the audio book. Ugh! "
— Lois, 1/22/2010" Tami Hoag needs to stick with what she does best. This is too much like some kind of Harlequin romance - ugh. "
— Tammy, 1/21/2010" I picked this up from a give-away bin thinking Tami Hoag wrote suspense. Although there is a minor mystery, the book is mostly a romance - very cheesy and unrealistic. "
— Cindy, 9/3/2009" While it was an emotionally charged book and a pleasure to read, I found the heroin to be too self destructive for her own good. "
— Rebecca, 8/7/2009" I got this book on CD for my drive to the beach yesterday, it was entertaining and held my interest-- just what I needed for the drive! "
— Maggie, 6/25/2009" This was a typical romance. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad. It's the first Tami Hoag book I have ever read/listened to, and I'd say that I would try another. It was written many years ago, so her style might have changed since then. All in all, it was a decent story. "
— Margarks, 3/22/2009" This book was an easy read. It was just ok for me. It wasn't bad....it wasn't a Pulitzer. It was just ok. <br/> <br/> "
— Marianne, 3/6/2009" it was a fun read it was good "
— Serena, 12/2/2008Tami Hoag is known for combining thrilling plots with character-driven suspense in her fiction, and her novels have appeared regularly on national bestseller lists since the publication of her first book in 1988.