In Christina Lee’s adult contemporary romance debut, Two of Hearts, former sweethearts are brought together under tragic circumstances. However, they are soon able discover the beauty of getting a second chance with the one that got away.
Because they grew up on a Native American reservation together, Dakota and Shane share the same culture—a culture that Lee does a respectful and thorough job of representing. But after college, Dakota remains on the reservation while Shane leaves in order to become a U.S. Marshal, a decision both of them can’t seem to forget. Though years have passed since they last saw each other, Shane immediately returns to the reservation upon hearing about the murder of Dakota’s father, a man who was cherished in the community. With the excuse of checking out the questionable circumstances of his death, Shane finds a reason to stay on the reservation with Dakota a little while longer.
Left in charge of her father’s casino, Dakota, along with her Dutch mother, must fend off those that either wish to demolish the casino completely or turn the business over to someone with full Native American blood. Independent and headstrong, Dakota becomes the foundation for her family, though it’s Shane who is there as her safety net. Soon, the temptation of the love they once shared proves to be too great to resist.
As the local council gets closer to voting on whether or not Dakota and her family get to keep ownership of the casino, threats against Dakota become physical. And when Shane discovers evidence that the death of Dakota’s father wasn’t just a wrong-place-wrong-time scenario, the threat of losing the love he’s only just rekindled becomes very real.
Two of Hearts is a tale of love and loss—and how the former can help to soften the latter. Not many people get a second chance with their first love, and Lee expertly blends Dakota and Shane’s earnest longing with the hesitation of something seeming too good to be true. Dakota, self-sufficient and determined, isn’t used to feeling vulnerable, but Shane provides the perfect complement by giving her the space she needs, as well as affection when she’s too scared to ask for it. Lee shows readers that a great love may never really end, and that sometimes, the second time is the charm.
