Review: Murphy's Law by Sandy James

Murphy’s Law (Damaged Heroes, #1) by Sandy James

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Seth Remington had a fortune at his fingertips, but something was missing in his life. Purpose. Knowing he has one last chance to redeem his son, terminally ill Sterling Remington rewrites his will. To earn his inheritance, his son Seth must labor as a groom for a horse trainer.

Katie Murphy's orderly existence is turned upside down by Sterling Remington's will. Raised on hard work and dedicated to her harness racing stable, Katie agrees to take Seth on as a groom. How can she ever fulfill the challenge of instilling a work ethic in Seth and still keep her faltering stable running?

Kept at arm's length by the strict terms of Sterling's will, Seth and Katie are forced to struggle with their growing attraction until a devastating racing accident forces them to take a hard look at their relationship. How much is he willing to risk for her love?

Kris’ Review

Sandy James is off to the races, in the first book of her Damaged Heroes series, entitled “Murphy’s Law.” The setting of the story is the racing industry and Sandy gets a chance to really shine, as she shows readers her first hand knowledge of all things racing. If the rest of the books in the series are as good as this one, then Sandy James will quickly become a well-known author in this genre. Right from the gate, this book starts off fast and the excitement never stops until the finish line. The epilogue is the equivalence of Sandy’s ride around the winner’s circle.

Katie Murphy is hoping to one day own her own farm. In the meantime, she’s barely making ends meat, renting stalls and sleeping in her office, at somebody else’s farm. Seth Remington is a twenty-nine year old, rich playboy with no incentive to settle down and grow up. He’s never worked a day in his life and doesn’t ever intend to. His father, Sterling Remington’s dying wishes will change Katie and Seth’s lives forever.

Katie and Seth meet under the weirdest of circumstances – in a law firm watching the dead man’s video outlining the terms of his will. In order to receive his inheritance, Seth must abandon his glamorous life in Chicago, move to Indiana and work for Katie Murphy for the next nine months. In return for a two-year Indiana-sired stakes colt, and a $200/month stipend, Katie Murphy is stuck taking Seth under her wing and training him to be ‘a groom’. At the end of the season, if Katie feels that Seth has earned his inheritance, he walks away a very rich man, and she gets a substantial monetary bonus. For the first time ever, Seth will have to work for his money. He’ll do everything for the horses from shoveling out their stalls, to feeding them hay, all for a measly ‘groom’s salary’. Knowing Seth’s playboy habits, Sterling puts in a stipulation that under no uncertain terms is Seth to attempt to seduce Katie to get his money. Furthermore, there is a no-contact clause for a period of five years after the season.

When sparks ignite into flames between Katie and Seth, their mutual attraction can no longer be denied. As they throw caution to the wind, neither is ready for the repercussions of their actions. Just like Murphy’s Law, everything that can go wrong, will go wrong, during the season as one obstacle after another is thrown in their path.

Sandy James eloquently writes a brilliant bittersweet love story of two people who seem destined to be together, yet are continuously forced apart by the reality of money. Is Seth willing to give up his inheritance for Katie? Would Katie allow him to, even if he offered?

The best part about the book for me is the character development. The transformation of Seth from a whiny rich boy to a man mature enough to realize that it means something to actually ‘earn’ money is beautifully written. Katie is also such a believable character. A woman scorned by a lover in the past, who is given a chance at love and something she never thought she could have.

What it all comes down to though, is what makes a person happier, money or love?

For me, this book by Sandy James is another winner. The book earns 5 Tea Cups and a heat rating of 3. Although it tips the scale at 325 pages, the story keeps you turning the pages at a steady pace, making it well worth the long ride to the finish line.

5 Tea Cups!