CROSSING THE LINE (Battered Hearts Book #3) by KELE MOON

“Every fighter has a story that could break your heart. We lose, we get hurt, and everything comes apart. That’s when it’s so difficult to stay on the straight and narrow” – Barry McGuigan

Jenny:  Speechless. That’s the word I’m starting my review with because what I just experienced in Crossing the Line really left me completely and utterly speechless. This book reminded me why reading is a passion for me and not just a hobby.

“How’d you know you loved our mom?” – Wyatt
“To be honest, Wyatt, I can’t really remember a time when I didn’t love her.”

It was moving, funny, tragic, and beautiful and hot……it was everything.  A real treasure. At times it broke me and at times it lifted me. Every single word in this book was precious and Kele Moon has done Wyatt and Tabitha proud. This author has woven their lives together with storytelling perfection.  Kele Moon, you stole my heart with this story. This one certainly exceeded our expectations didn’t it Gitte?

Gitte: This is why I love reading, this right here Jenny!! I can’t give ‘Crossing the Line’ enough accolades, because I don’t have sufficient vocabulary to do so. This story is why I hold Kele Moon on a pedestal of Authors who I love beyond words.

She managed to capture my heart, my mind, my body and my soul with the story of Wyatt and Tabitha, but not only that, every single one of the characters who makes an appearance or star in this series. I can’t know enough, love enough or crave enough. I laughed, I cried, I felt the romance and the passion.

Kele Moon; I love you for reaffirming just why I read, for making me remember what true romance means,  for taking my heart and holding it in your hand for a while, for why I want to shout about it from the rooftops to make sure everyone gets to live the same experience I’ve just lived.

‘Between pain and regret, the sweetness still lingers and in that ray of light I cry out to you – Why.’

I feel as if I’ve lived a million lives, my heart breaking; being shattered by heartbreak only to be lovingly put back together by the caring hand of Kele Moon. However also, I was basking in the warmth, hope and inspiration; by heroism, by courage and strength.

Through flashbacks to the past we experience important childhood memories, friendships, innocence, love and protection. The impression left is so emotional and intense leading the reader into an understanding of the present agonising over circumstance, feeling every single word as it bleeds off the pages.

‘Every story had an innocent beginning, even theirs…’

Jenny:  This story really did have it all G, that’s for sure. Crossing the Line begins with Tabitha returning to Garnet where old wounds are reopened and reminders of the pain, the love, the desire and loss experience between Wyatt and her is brought to the surface.  Now if I ever I prejudged a character wrongly it was Tabitha.  I always thought her selfish and cold for leaving Wyatt when he obviously loved her so intensely. As Tabitha’s story unfolded my heart broke into a million pieces. I mourned their lost years and I ached for what should have been and I loved her with all my heart.

“I don’t wanna cry right now. Let me love you instead. We’ll take a rain check on the rest.”

Gitte, there were so many questions we wanted answered weren’t there?  Why did she leave and what made her stay away and remain elusive for so long? What drove her from the man who loved her so desperately?  Well, instead of just giving us mere answers Kele Moon weaved magic when she took us on a journey back to the beginning with Wyatt, Juliet, Clay and Tabitha. And what a journey it was!

“I’m not going away, Tabitha, and I’m not giving up.” 

Told through flashbacks, we get to experience first love, loss, friendship, pain and also get to witness the unique relationship and sixth sense between those no nonsense siblings Ju Ju and Wy Wy. In doing this we were able to fully experience the bonds formed and shared between them as children to adulthood.  I likened the telling of their story to watching a home movie of people we love. I was glued to every mesmerising moment. What did you think Gitte?

Gitte: Oh Jenny, the story of Tabitha as we learn of her life broke me. The consequences upon the love between her and Wyatt, what they had and what they lost. Broke my heart.

‘Their past loomed between them like a malevolent dark cloud, tearing open all the painful wounds that had never healed for either of them. It was obvious Wyatt hurt just as badly as she did, which made everything a thousand times more agonizing.’

There was a tremendous amount of loneliness and loss, heartache and guilt. But most of all there was love, a love that was never forgotten. Then there was passion, honest beautiful intense passion.

“Wouldn’t it be tragic for the hero to be in love with the one girl who could ruin him? What if one kiss was the end of the world? One sweet indulgence, a ray of light in her darkness and all it did was bring on the ruin.’

Wyatt was amazing, truly amazing. He is one of my all-time favourite heroes, because that is what he is; a true hero. He was an amazingly brilliant written character, he was strong, determined and had a huge heart of pure gold. He is fierce, protective and loves without boundaries.

‘Sometimes Wyatt said dumb things, but his heart was always in the right place. She knew her hero. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt someone with no reason.’

If ever there was a series which should be read, and read in order it’s this one. It’s as if ‘Crossing the Lines’ ties up a timeline, a history and past which has had consequences for the future lives, friendships and ultimately loves of Wyatt, Juliet, Clay and Tabitha. Reading ‘Crossing the Line’ has been an experience I’ll never forget and is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read.  This is a story of true heroes and heroines who burrow into your heart never to leave, their footsteps echoing in your heart and mind long after you’ve finished their story.

Jenny:  Absolutely agree G!  We know a few readers have been advised this can be read as standalones by those unfamiliar with the Battered Hearts Series.  I want to stand up and shout a big fat NO! DON’T DO IT!!  These books HAVE to be read as the author intended them. To do otherwise would be denying themselves a truly memorable reading experience!

Wyatt was a revelation. I love this hot MMA/Cop with the little or no filter. He stole my heart with how fiercely he loved and his loyalty, love and compassion for those around him. His passion and love for Tabitha never wavered and…..well, I bloody loved him.

“We can’t fix this. We’re broken, Wyatt.” – Tabitha

His blustery personality is overshadowed by the size of his heart. Heroes come in many forms and I met plenty of characters who earned that title in Crossing the Line. They all shone like a beacon and I adored them all and I’m desperately waiting on Nova’s book!

“There are heroes in the world, Nova, you just have to know how to look out for them.” Tabitha
“I don’t believe in heroes.” – Nova

I have to say though, Kele Moon….you are my author hero. There just aren’t enough superlatives to express how much I loved this book.  Your story stole my heart, broke my heart, mended my heart and then captured it forever. Simply breathtaking!

“I love her so dang much sometimes I feel like I can’t even breathe without her around.” – Wyatt

Kele stayed true to her characters and did them proud, she blended them beautifully and enhanced every moment of pleasure we gleamed from her previous books.  Crossing the Line had it all. Heat, heart, humour, beauty, wonderful character development, a  beautifully told and moving story, it was swoon worthy and gave me a bloody good cry.

‘Even if their souls were broken and fragmented, it felt like if they could come together again they’d fill in all those cracks and holes and be one whole, perfect soul instead of two damaged ones.’

If I had to sum up my reading experience in Crossing the Line it would be……perfection.  Because this was everything I could possibly want in a book.  We definitely want more!!!