Complicated

First things first..... The last line of this book, gutted me in the most beautiful way.Tears hit me, immediate and I didn't' even try to hide them. I freaking love this book, soso, much and if you're going to whine about my gushing, just stop reading now. This is your only warning.So, in this one, we have Hixon and Greta... great names, right?Hixon is the county sheriff, living in Pleasantville. Crime was pretty much non-existent there. Everyone knew everyone and gossip ran ramped anytime anyone sneezed, let alone something juicy like the towns golden boy and his princess filing for divorce and her jacking him around the last year and dragging her kids along with her. Gonna say now, you're not going to like the ex wife, brace.Then we have Greta, who might be one of my most favorite heroine in any story, it just makes it better that it's a Kristen Ashley story. She ran to the little town to get away from her ex husband and her mother. Another warning, you REALLY won't like her mother. Shes the worst kind of person and never lets you forget it. I honestly couldn't believe that some of the lengths she'd go to make Greta's life a misery. Especially when it came to her little brother, Andy... who you'll love, because you can't not.Now, we start off rocky because Hix is freshly divorced, even though he's been seperated from his wife for more than a year before they made it final.... and everyone, including him and the wife, expected things to work themselves out.... until they didn't and Hixon met Greta. And of course, being the alpha man that he is (emphasis on the man part of that :P jk, kinda but not really), but he puts his foot in it a time or two. He hurts Greta, and I really hated that, because he pulled an epic Mike from Games of the Heart move and acted before he had time to think and he did it ugly. I cried a lot for these fictional people I didn't know and I loved every second of it.Now, there's a lot going on in this one, because not only does Hix have a jealous ex-wife causing problems and kids he's trying to guide through that and Greta has a brother to take care of a mother bent on making her life misery and a whole town of meddling people, there's also been the town's first murder in 2 decades where HIxon is wrapped up in all of that. Including Greta.It's tough... I tried my hardest to read so slow, so it wouldn't end, but this is thankfully a lengthy book....It really seems like when one thing gets worked out, something else happens, meanwhile Greta and Hix are falling for each other and it's amazing. It's amazing, because Hix's kids are awesome... Greta's bestie, brother and boss are awesome... Hixon is amazing, as are his deputies.. (yes, even Hal, who I wasn't sure about at first and Bets, whom I didnt care for at first...I even ended up loving them) and even though most of Kat's men are the domineering, overbearing, over the top alpha's that they are... Greta, I felt like was the one that held everyone together, event though Hixon most definitely done his part to hold her together, I felt like she was the middle. The piece that fixed it all, no matter what it was and Hix needed that.Now, the villain's in this one, are good villains.... they don't redeem themselves, at least I don't think they did, but I'm petty and a smidge psycho... so I didn't relent... so it bares repeating that I didn't like them at all and I hated what they put everyone through, collectively... I was glad that it gave the respected partner a chance to show they were willing to back the other... It was needed, especially with Greta and when you read it, you'll know. Shed been fighting alone for a long time and with Hix, she didn't' need to anymore. #Relateable.Anyway, again, with a reiteration.... that last line... I hadn't even knew that I needed that, but when I got it, it was the sweetest heartache. What an absolute genius Kristen Ashley is. Iv'e read over 30 of her books and I haven't read a single one I didn't absolutely adore. So, maybe I'm biased, and you'll be justifed to thumbs down my review....because there's always one that does... but I can't even care... because I told you to stop reading a long time ago.... <Finger funs> ehhh?? LOL you're fault....juss sayin.Anyway, overall, the book was amazing, and I'm sad that its over. I wish I could erase my brain and go back and experience it all over again.... no doubt, I'll try to in a month or two...5, perfect, well deserved stars from me. I can't for more!

Wow, what a great love story - easy, functional, funny, and so freaking hot! With all of the charm, drama, passion and romance of old-school KA, this book once again gives us a strong heroine, an amazing alpha hero, a crew of awesome and quirky friends and family, and a mystery as well! I loved every moment of it!Hixon Drake is a small-town sheriff who, at 42, finds himself newly divorced after 19 years of marriage. He never wanted to be divorced, and he is still coming to terms with the fact that he is divorced, but his ex is a selfish, entitled witch who forced the issue, so he is adjusting to his new reality, working hard to create a good life for his three children who are also struggling with the change. The last thing he needs is any more complication, so when he meets a smart and beautiful woman in a bar and takes her home, not even their intense connection and the hottest sex of his life is enough to make him consider her anything more than a one night hook up, so going against all of his feelings, he ends it and walks away.Greta moved to Nebraska after her own divorce to escape a difficult family situation and to get a fresh start for herself and her younger brother. She has found peace and contentment in a way she hasn’t experienced before, and she loves her small-town life. She is a hair stylist who sings in an upscale bar on weekends, and it’s there that she meets Hixon. Of course she knew who he was – the sheriff and his wife were the darlings of the town, and everybody watched as their marriage imploded – but she never thought she’d have a chance to get to know him, let alone experience the best night of her life with him. But then he left, and she never thought she’d get to feel that again.But the pull between these two isn’t so easy to ignore. Hix finds himself drawn back to Greta again and again, and their chemistry is absolutely combustible! They are seriously on fire together and the sexy time in this book is sensational! They try to keep things simple, but their complicated lives are about to become even more so. Ex dramas, family dramas a murder mystery, and a whole town watching them with interest all intrude on what Hix and Greta have between them, and there are a lot of ups and downs as they figure out their feelings and what it is they want. Hix stuffs up – more than once – but if there’s anything better than a KA hero going after what he wants, it’s a KA hero going after what he wants while making amends for the mistakes he’s made.Hix may not have wanted to get involved with anybody so soon after his divorce, but he accepts that he can’t stay away from Greta. But he wants simple, and he makes that clear to her. She may want more, but she gives him what he needs, and in a way that she never seems like a doormat. She is strong and she is sassy, and she doesn’t put up with any crap, and she is the person that Hix needs in his life, and it all slowly builds from there.And cue the swoon because this is the KA romance that we all know and love! Super functional, natural and easy, seriously sexy, and so funny! Hix and Greta have a great dynamic and there is a lot of joking around between them, and I laughed so many times while reading. Once they get themselves sorted and on track, the drama is handled brilliantly, with no unnecessary stupid, and they are a united force – together and committed and dealing with everything around them in their own way. Awesome.There’s a strong sense of family with Hix’s kids and Greta’s brother, Andy, all playing a big part in the story, and I thought they added so much. I loved the relationships that developed between them all, and love how their individual stories contributed to the book. The difficult relationships (or lack of) within their families are also explored really well, and I like how those situations were handled.The mystery storyline is intriguing and surprisingly emotional, and though there is quite a bit of time devoted to the case that Hix is working, it doesn’t take away from the main storyline.Simply put – there’s lots of stuff going on and it’s all blended together beautifully to give us a great read that is full of everything that KA fans love. On the KA scale, it’s definitely up there among my favourites.

Hixon (Hix) Drake is the town Sheriff, newly divorced he's focusing on his kids and job. When he hooks up with hairstylist and lounge singer Greta, he is adamant that it was a mistake and nothing else can occur, he may be feeling way more than he should, but he’s firm that nothing else can happen. Part of me wished Hix and his ex-wife Hope hadn't been positioned as the golden couple, and he had been entirely over her once the ink was dry on the divorce papers, and he probably would have been if he knew why she ended things.The reason for Hixon's ex going for a divorce was so very ridiculous, and her trying to win him back - urgh.For me I wish Hix had been called out on his crummy behaviour with Greta sooner, I was happy when she blocked him, but of course, him getting back into her good graces happened rather quickly.Hix kids were an excellent addition to scenes.This was a re-read, and Hix again had me frowning in the first half of the read, luckily in the second half things with Hix improved a fair bit. Overall an enjoyable read that I'll pick up again at some point, even if it's not a prolifically as some of the other KA books I have.Potential Triggers: Physical assault and attempted rape. Reference to child neglect.

If you love the small town America that Ms Ashley conjures up in her books then this is the perfect romance for you.Hixon is the much liked, revered and talked about Sheriff of McCook County -a place where everyone knows everyone AND their business . He has been separated from his wife for over a year and signed on the divorce paperwork's bottom line three weeks earlier. Hope and Hix were the McCook golden couple. Married nineteen years. Three kids. And Hix fought tooth and nail against the divorce until it became clear they were done. Yet, he still had no idea why they were done.Greta is relatively new to Town. She is a hairdresser and sings at night at the Dew Drop club which is owned by Gemini Jones....and if that isn't classic KA, I don't know what is!Greta and Hix meet. They connect and have scorching hot sex but Hix practically runs out the door after. He redeems himself, kind of, but then acts in a really idiotic way and how he spoke to Greta made me want to slap him upside the head. Eventually he grovels (not enough for my liking) and they get back together. Drama, danger, passion and some lighter moments ensue.Good story. Ties up all the loose ends and leaves you feeling happy about the world.HEA? YesCheating? No

Hix is the sherriff and has been married to Hope for 19 years, they have three children. He thought it was all good until she told him to move out and divorced him a year later. That week Hix met Greta when she was singing in the Dewdrop Inn. Their chemistry is obvious but Hixon handles it badly.Between his ex wife's attitude and her mothers shenanigans will they get their HEA???

I have read everything Kristen Ashley has on Amazon. I have enjoyed reading and re-reading all her books and I have absolute favourites! Complicated has inserted itself to my favourites list! It reminded me of the Colorado mountain series. The small town community. It really is worth more than 5 stars! I can only keep my fingers crossed that this becomes a series!

I enjoyed this read along with the plot and characters but it definitely isn't one of my fave KA books, granted it seem them most realistic of her books but it just didn't excite me the way her others have!