ARC Review – Love at First Sight (Cupid, Texas #1) by Lori Wilde

I look forward to the others in this series. If you haven’t read anything by Lori Wilde I hope this will be the one you pick up to read. I highly recommend it. ~ Amanda, Guilty Pleasures

Description:
From the author of the Twilight, Texas books comes the first in a dazzling new Cupid, Texas series. Lori Wilde welcomes us to Cupid, where every wish for love comes true…

Natalie McCleary couldn’t believe her eyes-a lean-muscled, darkly tanned, nearly-naked man stood in her path…and then it hit her: love. Everyone always told her it’d hit like a thunderbolt, and she never believed them. But now she knew: practical, sensible Natalie was head over heels in love-with a stranger.

But ex-Navy SEAL Dade Vega wasn’t about to be a stranger for long. He’d ridden into Cupid on his motorcycle, vowing to keep a promise he’d made to a military buddy. But a single glimpse at Natalie-soaking wet and unexpectedly tempting-changed his life forever.
But how can he offer her is love, when he can’t even promise to stay in one place for longer than a week?

Review copy provided for an honest review

Love at First Sight is Lori Wilde’s first full length story in her new series Cupid, Texas and it was a delight. The setting is a small town in southwest Texas that has an interesting history of romance and love due to a Cupid shape formation in the caverns nearby. Do wishes come true? Maybe they do but this town has the faith and hope that they do and love is at the heart of it. A group of ladies have taken it upon themselves to write replies to letters left behind for Cupid and take it very seriously.

Natalie McCleary is the heart of the story in wanting to believe in love at first sight but has never been in love. Contemplating her thoughts on what to reply to one of her letters she is suddenly struck by the sight of a man who absolutely leaves her speechless and motionless. She’s never reacted that way before and it left her scared of these new thoughts and feelings. I liked Natalie very much. She cares for others and puts their needs before her own, she cares deeply for family and sees the good in people and realizes her shortcomings and fears and wants to do something about it. She takes her responsibilities seriously since her parent’s tragic death which has also left her with a limp. She’s let her limp define her and she’s scared to change.

Dade Vega, interesting name, is in town to find his friend and foster brother Red, who has gone missing from his home at the Cupid B&B. Dade doesn’t stay in one place for long but when his ex-Navy SEAL friend texted him with a mayday message, he takes it upon himself to do what he can and find him. Dade has had a hard life and doesn’t trust anyone or let anyone get close to him. He catches Natalie riding her bicycle one morning and he too was struck by something he’s never experienced. It took him awhile to realize what he was feeling and what he was going to do about it. Dade was attracted to Natalie and was patient with her and didn’t rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for. I like heroes who are strong and gentle. With Natalie’s help he’s learning to let go and look to the future with hope and not skepticism.

Together these characters were meant for each other. Natalie would tease Dade and was very playful with him. Dade was patient with Natalie they first time they made love, and then took it a step further to show her she could have it all if she opened herself to more. The scene with her shoes was beautiful. Once Dade trusted her with his identity and his search for Red they worked together and found themselves both falling for the other. The combination of a romance and a mystery story had me glued to the pages with trying to figure it out. It was an easy read and a fantastic uplifting ending. Natalie learned to believe in herself to overcome her fears. Dade realized he wanted a home and love for the first time. It was a bit sappy ending but I happen to love sappy. I look forward to the others in this series. If you haven’t read anything by Lori Wilde I hope this will be the one you pick up to read. I highly recommend it.

4.5 Stars