Saturday, April 24, 2021

Review: Tempting Fate by Pamela Clare

Title: Tempting Fate
Series: Colorado High Country
Author: Pamela Clare
Read copy: eBook (Kindle)
Published: June 28, 2017
Publisher: Pamela Clare
ASIN: B073H5H959

A woman with no roots...

Naomi fled the cult-like nightmare of her childhood and learned to rely on one person—herself. Her resourcefulness keeps her alive during a catastrophe in the mountains, but it’s no help at all when it comes to Chaska Belcourt, the sexy EMT who saves her life. Raised to feel shame about her body and sex, she is putty in Chaska’s hands as he strips away her armor, exposing the vulnerable woman beneath, awakening desires in her that she’d been taught to ignore.

A kiss that changes everything...

Chaska Belcourt grew up on the reservation, the son of a hereditary Sun Dance chief. He left all of that behind for a new life in Colorado as an engineer with an aerospace firm and a member of the elite Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. He doesn’t share his sister’s belief that fate led him to find Naomi. But from the first moment their lips touch, he can’t get enough of her.

A love that transforms...

As the passion between them turns into something more, Chaska is forced to admit that his sister is right. There’s no other way to explain the depth of his feelings for Naomi—or the fact that he and his people might hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of her past. But she will have to learn to trust again before the two of them can find the answers she needs—and claim this once-in-a-lifetime love.


My rating:

Jewelry designer, Naomi Archer, comes to Colorado for inspiration for her work and to relax, only to be attacked while camping alone. Barely escaping with her life, she's found, wounded and injured by Chaska Belcourt and his sister Winona and taken under their wing until she's fit to travel.

But there is something more between Chaska and Naomi. A connection as if they were meant to be. As if they were meant to meet, as if he was meant to find her. As if fate had intervened to give Naomi what she's been looking for all her life. Acceptance, love and family.


Oh, wow. For someone absolutely clueless about Native American culture and customs, this story, though a romance at its core, offered a rare and precious glimpse into that "world". The connection to nature, to the spiritual world, the rituals...They were only touched upon, but presented an "experience" for someone from the other side of the world.
Ms Clare didn't pretend to be an expert, but more a humble observer and presenter of that culture, nations and people. Even the voice was different from the previous books in this series, especially when Naomi, Chaska, Winona, or later their visitor, shared a scene. The conversations, interactions, even descriptive language flet different, more...respectful and dignified. "Old world" comes to mind.

I loved how the differences in Naomi and Chaska and Winona's upbringing, the differences in their connection to their "world" played in this story, how, as Naomi and Chaska grew closer to each other, Naomi was slowly pulled into the world and culture that were supposed to be hers from the beginning and how, alongside Naomi, the reader got those precious little glimpses into the Lakota culture and customs.

The romance was, though rather fatalistic, thanks to the events leading to the two meeting, cute and sweet, with previous little pinches of humor, and a tad of drama and misunderstandings at the beginning. Even the sex scenes read differently than the previous installments. It was all about establishing the connection, strengthening their bond, physically and spiritually.

As I said, this book was an experience. A wonderful, sweet, sexy, learning experience. Highly recommended.



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