Hero Complex (Bluestone Series Book 3) by Isobel Reed – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

Hero Complex by Isobel Reed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hero Complex is Book Three in the Bluestone Series. Ivy is struggling to save the studding ranch left to her by her grandparents. When Ivy is approached by a local business owner with a proposition to save her business, she tries to hear him out. That is, until he opens his mouth and starts acting like a male chauvinistic jerk who knows more than she does and treats her like she does not know anything about how to run a ranch. That is when Ivy learns the true reasons behind why her business is failing. With her being single, it seems that men do not want to bring her their business because their old-fashioned way of thinking makes them believe that a woman is not capable of running a business.

Retired Marine, Ace, has been living on Ivy’s ranch and helping her in exchange for room and board. When he learns of Ivy’s meeting with the local businessman, he goes to the meeting with her to act as moral support. Ace gets upset at the way Ivy is being treated and, in an effort, to placate the businessman he informs him that Ivy and he are engaged and that he is helping her run her business. Now the rumor is circulating in the small community that Ivy and Ace are engaged, and things begin to get messy. Ivy is horrified about the rumors but goes along with them because she needs to save her ranch.

As Ivy and Ace play the part of being engaged the sparks fly between them. Ivy is attracted to Ace but wishes that he would stop trying to save her all the time. She is independent, smart, and strong so she does not feel as though she needs a hero running to her rescue. Ace is attracted to Ivy as well, so he only wants to protect her. He would love for the relationship to be more but feels as though his battle scars will turn off Ivy. Both Ivy and Ace do their part in their engagement and try to fight off the intense chemistry between them but find the attraction becoming more undeniable as time goes by. Can there ever be a real relationship between Ivy and Ace?

I loved this entire series and have fallen in love with this author’s writing. I could not put the book down and found the storyline and the characters amazing. The characters of Ivy and Ace are believable and relatable. Ivy sees herself as an independent and strong woman who does not need a man running in to save her. When Ace tries to come to her rescue, she is offended yet realizes that she must accept help, or her ranch will fail. Ivy has trauma from her past that she needs to deal with and is carrying a huge secret that she has not told anyone about. This secret could prevent her from having the future life she deserves. Ace feels damaged and unlovable due to the scars he suffered during his time as a Marine. Neither Ivy nor Ace feel that they are good enough for the other. The events that ensue are gut wrenching and take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Be prepared to laugh, cry, scream, and maybe even swear out loud a bit as Ivy and Ace struggle through the demons from their past and try to push forward.

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