"Tempting Love - Haley & Eddie" by Melanie Shawn

Independent, talented, and beautiful–inside and out–Haley Sloan knew exactly what she wanted out of life. With her designer lingerie business booming, her career was moving forward, but her heart stayed in the same place it had for four years…hopelessly in love with the single father across the street.

Former wild boy turned responsible adoring father, Eddie Thomas always made sure that the needs of his little girl Emily were his top priority. Being a single father meant sacrificing his wants and needs for that of his little girl and that meant sacrificing his want and need for Haley…no matter how tempting.

Will the oldest of the Sloan girls finally be able to break through to the heart of the man who has had hers prisoner for years? Will this single father finally realize that accepting his love for Haley may be just what his little girl needs to get the family they both deserve?

One choice. Three lives. All tempting.

*Intended for Adults 18+*

My review:

I've  read many, but not all, of the books in the Crossroads series and they never disappoint.  In Tempting Love Melanie Shawn shows us what true love really is.  Haley demonstrates throughout this book that the love you have for someone can be independent of circumstances or other relationships.  Haley's love for Emily and Haley's love for Eddie, each different but related, shows through in her words and her actions. Haley is a very likable character and it was easy to get to know and love her quickly in this book.  She stated her love for Eddie as a mere fact - not a huge declaration but a fact of life, like the sun rising and the sky being blue.  For her, it was as much as part of her life as the sun and the sky.

Eddie is a tougher nut to crack.  I really wanted to pummel him early on when he went on a booty call while Haley babysat his daughter.  As Krista said later in the book, "Eddie needed to get his head out of his a$$".  He never saw what was in front of him. What Eddie thought was noble, "not having a relationship while Emily was young," was no such thing - he was in a relationship and he just didn't know it.  Thus the "head out of his a$$" comment.  I did appreciate, at the end, his realization of the relationship he'd been having all along, and acknowledged that to Haley.  I laughed when Eddie asked Haley what her answer was, like he was uncertain as to her feelings. She indicated she hadn't answered because she didn't realize it was a question - her love for him was never in doubt.

Lacey is the woman you love to hate.  I really liked the dynamic that the author showed between Lacey and Emily.  It demonstrated that kids are more insightful than we give them credit for and many times, what they really need is just an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on. 

All in all, another great installment in the "Crossroads" series and with Haley's sisters all back in town, I'm sure there are more great ones to come!

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