Rebel at Heart
Rebel at Heart is my first Zoe York book–I can see why other AAR reviewers have so enjoyed her work. Very sexy, nicely funny, and with leads you’d like to hang out with, this book is a smokin’ good time.
Josh Kincaid is minding his own damn business when, due to a social media moment that has very little to actually do with him, someone comments “He’s married to the Fischer Racing heiress, you know.” Josh couldn’t give a sh*t about TikTok but this comment throws him. Hardly anyone knows that, three years ago, for two glorious weeks, he was indeed married to Monica Fischer but that marriage was annulled and he’s never spoken to her again.
Said TikTok gossip has also found its way to the gossip papers where it catches the eye of Monica’s best friend who alerts Monica. Monica is at first pissed–as an heiress she loathes being in news–but then, as she thinks about it, she’s baffled. That marriage was annulled so why can reporters find any records of it being extant?
Less than one week later, Monica’s on a private plane heading to Pine Harbour, the tiny Canadian town where Josh and his brothers–all of whom have had their own love stories in this series–all live. Her plan: tell Josh she’s sorry about the annulment or lack thereof, explain why she left him three years ago, “make it right” between them, and then head off to Italy for her best friend’s wedding.
This, however, is not what happens.
You see, three years ago, Monica, 21, was determined to prove herself in the world of racing so that one day she could take over her family’s car racing empire. At one of her father’s California garages, she sees Josh, an ambitious 30-year-old mechanic–he dreams of running his own high-end car refurbishment garage. She asks him to teach her about racing, and after they flirt for a while, even as Josh knows it’s a very bad idea to do anything with the big boss’s daughter, that night he takes her for a very fast ride. The evening ends on an overlook under the stars and before you can say start your engines, the two are exchanging life changing orgasms in the back of Josh’s ’69 Gran Torino.
Their insta-sex turns into insta-love which culminates in a spontaneous Vegas wedding just two weeks after their first tryst. But Monica suddenly requests an annulment, leaving their both their hearts in shambles. Why did she do this? Josh bets it’s just because she was a spoiled rich girl. The reader is sure her evil father is to blame but whatever the reason, it’s left Josh a wreck.
Thus, when Monica ventures to Pine Harbour, Josh tells her to get lost. And she tries to but there’s a snow storm, a non-life threatening car accident, and the next thing you know the two are forced to share Josh’s small apartment for three days. Guess what happens next?
Look, this plot may not break new ground, but York makes it bunches of fun to read. The pages practically sizzle with the scorching chemistry between Josh and Monica, both of whom are impossible not to cheer for. And once Josh’s family–they’re all pretty great–decide to get involved, the book becomes funny as well as smokin’ hot.
Rebel at Heart is thoroughly entertaining and hits all the right notes. Josh and Monica both have to find their way to both romantic and professional happiness and they do so in ways that feel appropriate to the plot. The ending is satisfying (although there’s an auction I could have done without) and lets Josh and Monica each wield the power they have earned. I very much enjoyed my time in Pine Harbour and look forward to reading other Kincaid love stories! (Here’s hoping there’s at least a novella about Bianca, Monica’s mom, and the time she came to Pine Harbour…..)