Hesi-Dating by Zoe Forward – a Review

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Description:
I warn all my dates: Don’t fall for me.
I’m good for a date or two of no-strings fun, but then I’m a ghost.

Until the sheriff. He saves me from a jerky ex-date. Now I owe him a favor. Almost a decade older than me, funny, and insanely attractive, my chemistry with Seth is off the charts. His post-divorce hurt makes me want to heal his wounded soul. For the first time in ever, I say no. He doesn’t deserve my heartbreaking ways. I tell myself I must walk away since me dating law enforcement is a no-can-do. I’m not a felon, but I do have connections from my past that make it dangerous. If I’m truthful, it’s self-preservation. Seth threatens to awaken the desiccated organ inside my chest.

Then he needs a favor.
Calling in favors becomes our not-dating game.

I should have stopped helping him. I should have left well enough alone. But I just couldn’t resist. I have a connection to this guy. One that has me acting irrationally. One that snags the attention of the gang leader I wished would leave me alone.

I want to nurture our burgeoning spark, but I must protect us from the deadly dangers of my past.

Hesi-dating features a hesitant sheriff, a player girl hiding a big heart and dangerous past, a lame horse, and the world’s worst home security dog. It stands alone and comes complete with sibling meddling, an awkward naked handcuffs scene, and a sweetly satisfying happily ever after.

Review:

Hesi-Dating by Zoe Forward was a wonderful romantic story line. We meet Joley Krieger at the start, when she is trying to dump a blind date; and pretends to walk up to a boyfriend (stranger). Seth Briscoe, who happens to be the town sheriff, willingly plays the game, and helps Joley out.  He finds her attractive, and is just coming off of a divorce. Now Joley knows she owes him a favor.  Joley is a wild card, with a lot a baggage, living a dangerous life; Seth is 10 years older, but she does find him fun and attractive.  A friendship starts, with both just being friends and help each other at times. 

There were a number of subplots, with Joley and her “brothers/sister”, always flirting with danger, especially with all of them fearing Nosh, a leader of a gang.  Nosh, always protected Joley and her group during their early days in foster care; but now he keeps control of what they do. I really liked how Joley and her siblings had a bond, and always protected each other; there were a number of triggers.

There was a lot of humor between Seth and Joley, even if she was determined to not allow herself to fall in love with him.  Joley knew that if Nosh found out about her seeing Seth, it would be dangerous.  Weeks would pass, and every time one of them needed a favor, either one of them would be there.

Hesi-Dating had multiple sub-plots, with complex and serious issues, as well as a budding romance that was sweet and engaging.  I loved both Seth and Joley, as they were so much fun together.  Seth was determined to get as much information about Joley’s background and her siblings, to stop Nosh and protect them.

This was a slow burn romance, with Seth falling hard for Joley, and she doing her best to stay away, since she feared, harm will come to Seth or even her siblings.  As we reach the last quarter, the tension escalates, as lives are in danger.  Will Seth be able to save Joley?  

Hesi-Dating was very well written by Zoe Forward, with lots of action, suspense, very good secondary characters, as well as a wonderful couple we rooted hard for.  If you enjoy romance, with potential plot triggers, you should read Hesi-Dating.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied by Author