Cross My Heart

Heat Level: 2 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Cross My Heart by Catt Ford is an interesting story set in Paris, France. It is a love story where the main character Roland Reynolds/Lana Renault hides behind her beautiful dresses. Always different Roland has been protected by his three childhood friends. Creating a new life with a career in high fashion, Roland/Lana has given up on ever finding love. Tired of the rejection and the attacks she is resolute in living her life alone. Only her three best friends aka the three dwarfs know her secret and will do everything to protect her. When a stranger makes eye contact with the beautiful mysterious woman, he tries to find out who she is. Daniel Hunter realizes too late that in his attempt to find out who the beautiful woman is he has become a creepy stalker. He also realizes that he may be drawing unwelcome attention to himself. Having his own secrets, he treads lightly while he attempts to win Lana’s heart and get the three dwarfs to back down. This story is an insta love romance. The more Lana tries to keep Daniel away, the more she wants to be with him. Daniel is very patient and will continue to woo Lana, but not wanting to scare her, he may have to leave Paris so he can give her up. There is a smoldering chemistry between Daniel and Lana. The pacing of this story was a little drawn out for my taste. Many repetitive conversations over meals, drinks, coffee and the phone. I enjoyed the ending proving that everyone deserves love and there is someone out there for everyone. If nothing else this story is strong on character development. We get a very detailed account of the characters past as well as their present.

PLOT: 4 Stars
CHEMISTRY: 4 Stars
PACING: 3 Stars
ENDING: 4 Stars
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5 Stars

Review Copy of Cross My Heart provided by the Dreamspinner Press I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club

Cross My Heart by Catt Ford is a heart-warming story about two individuals trying to be true to themselves and happen to find love at the same time. The book was well written and nicely edited, and I couldn’t stop reading it. The characters were complex and damaged but still very much lovable, and they had wonderful supporting characters. The storyline was a new one for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This book has so many twists and turns and trust issues and walls to break down, and I loved how the author uncovered and got us through them. And so many hot, hot, hot scenes. Yummy. I can’t wait to read more books by Catt Ford.

Roland Reynolds – or Lana Renault, as she is now known – has always been a feminine boy and has always wanted to wear girls’ clothes since she was five years old. She loves the colors, textures, accessories and makeup that goes with being a female. However, she doesn’t hate her real body or being a boy. She isn’t transgender she’s a gay cross-dresser. She doesn’t think that she will ever find true love or anybody that wants to date a gay man that’s more comfortable dressed as a woman. She’s known lots of hardships in her life and has built up some very high walls. She also has three childhood friends that she affectionately calls her dwarfs and three musketeers. Her dwarves are there to protect their princess, and they are very protective especially after she’d been attacked in the past by one of her dates.

Daniel has been many things in his life and not all of them good. He’s moved to France to get away from his past. He is currently a painter, and he also has some pretty high walls. When he sees Lana across a busy street, it’s love at first sight for him, and he must find out who she is because he desperately wants to paint her. He becomes kind of a stalker trying to find her until he realizes exactly how creepy he’s become and backs off.

When they finally meet, they’ll tread carefully, but the chemistry between them won’t be denied. All they have to do is learn how to trust and break down some walls.