Publisher: Self
Date of publication: December 2015
Taken from his parents and bounced from one foster home to the next, former Navy SEAL turned math teacher, Callum "Mac" Mackenzie had a rough childhood. The only time he's let himself get attached to anyone has been with his military "brothers". He's convinced he doesn't know how to love and certainly doesn't "do" relationships. He's spent fourteen years in the Navy and now he gets to live out his other dream: teaching.
Her thirtieth birthday fast approaching, science teacher, Raine Thompson feels as if her time to find "the one" is running out. She knows life is short, especially after dealing with breast cancer two years ago, and wants to experience her own happily ever after. But is it in the cards for her?
Finally acting on the simmering attraction they have long ignored, Raine and Mac decide to have a fling and they discover what it's like to have someone who knows you inside out also be the one who makes your body come alive.
But it was only temporary…
My thoughts:
Wildest Dreams is the debut book for this author. For a debut, I thought it was a very enjoyable read. The story included a good mix of humor and romance. It was also rounded out nicely with a great cast of characters with meshed will together. It was fun getting to know them and I look forward to their stories.
Mac and Raine are the focal point of this first story. What I loved about this couple is that they developed a great friendship first. Their relationship was comfortable and believable. I could understand their reluctance to not want to move beyond that friendship because it was so good. The only thing that I felt I was missing was really more in depth discussion about both of their baggage. I didn't feel like it was enough for me. I was also frustrated toward the end when they were apart. When Mac finally tries to tell her he loves her and that he is sorry, Raine tells him it's too late since it was weeks later. The problem was she never let him get close enough in that time to let him say it. She spent weeks dodging his efforts. So that was a little WTF moment for me. Despite that, this is a cute couple that I was rooting for from the beginning. I know you will too!
Excerpt:
Mac was sitting across from him with
Tina's chair situated flush against his, her mouth close to his ear. Probably
whispering gross, sexual things to him. Yuck.
Taking a sip of her drink, ‘Talk
Dirty To Me' began playing and she reached out her hand to Zach. "Come on
and dance with me," she called out to him. Jokingly, she added, "It's
our song!"
He shook his head, giving her a
rueful smile. "Next one," he yelled back.
Raine blew him a kiss before she
returned to the dance floor. Just as she had resumed dancing on her own, she
felt hands strongly grip her hips from behind and a body press flush against
her, moving suggestively. Raine froze, certainly not enjoying the sudden
invasion of her space by a stranger. Then, a voice spoke in her ear, "Move
with me, baby."
No. Just, no.
Before she could remove herself from
his grip, Mac appeared in front of her, holding out his hands for her to grasp.
He gave a hard glare to the guy behind her that must have communicated
something in man-speak to make the creeper let go of her. She mouthed
"thank you" to which Mac merely winked.
He pulled her close as he danced
with her, looking down with a wide grin on his face, that dimple of his making
itself known. Twirling her quickly, he swung her back, close to his body as
they continued to dance together.
Usher's ‘Yeah' came on next, causing
her to squeal in excitement, making Mac shake his head in laughter, as he
watched her begin to dance with vigor. He cast out an imaginary fishing line
and she pretended to get hooked, with him reeling her in. They did the
‘lawnmower' and ‘shopping cart' moves, each of them bursting with laughter
at each other's antics.
"Now, we're going to slow it
down a bit for this next one," came the DJ's voice as the beginning of Ed
Sheeran's ‘Thinking Out Loud' began to play.
Mac offered his hand to her.
"May I?"
Eyes shining up at him, she took his
hand. "You may."
They slow danced together like they
had a dozen times before. Like she had done with Zach or Lawson or even Foster.
Suddenly remembering that Mac hadn't
arrived alone tonight, she looked in the direction of their table. The guys
were sitting there in conversation, but Tina was nowhere to be seen.
Her head swinging back toward Mac,
Raine opened her mouth to ask about the absence of his ‘friend' when he
simply told her, "She left."
Brows furrowed, Raine looked at him,
waiting for further explanation. He simply shook his head. "Just dance
with me." He twirled her out and back again, but this time, she stumbled
on the return and, off balance, came flush against his chest.
She looked up at him to apologize
but suddenly faltered as she met his gaze. The way he was watching her was
unlike the usual way in which he looked at her. His gaze was noticeably
different; heated and full of interest and with a hint of yearning?
No. That couldn't be. She wasn't even
his type.
With her low heels on tonight, the
top of her head still barely came up to his chin. She suddenly became aware of
his hard body pressed against hers. She knew from when they went running
together or to the beach that beneath his clothes was a well-defined chest and
abs. But she felt more awareness in the air between them. Raine felt
breathless, realizing her breasts were pressed against him, feeling his
hardness against her stomach.
Mac leaned in closer, his hooded
gaze locked onto her lips as her tongue slid out to wet them. Her breath
hitched in anticipation. Just when she thought their lips would meet, she felt
Mac press his forehead against hers instead. Raine exhaled slowly, trying to
calm her own breathing.
What the hell just happened?
She had almost crossed the line with
her friend. Willingly. Wanted to, even. And that was not okay.
"Mac?" she whispered to
him with what she knew was a confused look on her face. He released her as the
song ended and gave her a forced smile. "I've got to run to the restroom.
Guard those hips of yours from creepy guys." With a wink, he was gone.
Which left her to wonder whether she
was upset about what had almost happened between them…or disappointed that it
hadn't.
***
RC Boldt is the wife of Mr. Boldt, a
retired Navy Chief, mother of Little Miss Boldt, and former teacher of many
students. She currently lives on the coast of North Carolina but dreams of
relocating to a tropical island. When she's not writing, she can be found
daydreaming of relocating to a tropical island, at the beach, going running
with her family (and contemplating *gently* tossing her daughter out of the
jogging stroller to reduce weight resistance), singing karaoke, harassing her
husband or relaxing with a good book. And, let's be honest. Most of those
activities listed probably include wine or a good microbrew. Except for the
running. In that case, the drinks come afterward. :)
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