Tyler Anne SnellReviews

Intense story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The book opens with a scene from Lily and Anthony's past - the abduction of Anthony's sister, Ida. Both teens witnessed the abduction but could not stop it, and each carries the guilt from it to this day.

Fourteen years later, Lily has returned to Kelby Creek as a detective, hired to work on the town's cold cases. Ida's kidnapping is one of those cases, and when she discovers a new lead, the first person she calls is Ant. Though they haven't seen each other during that time, they have stayed in touch. As soon as he hears the news, Ant quits his job in North Carolina and heads back to Kelby Creek, determined to find the truth. Lily was not happy to have Ant show up on her doorstep. She had expected him to wait until she followed up on the new information, while Ant made it clear that wasn't happening. There were some harsh words exchanged before she sent him off.

Meanwhile, Lily gets a call about a puzzling scene she and the sheriff had seen earlier that day. Ant follows her as she rushes off to follow up on the call. A terrifying time follows as she and Ant hear a woman's voice screaming from beneath the ground. As they attempt to dig her out, Lily is attacked by a shovel-wielding man who seems determined to stop them. It's a tense few minutes until Ant subdues the man, and they can get back to the digging. The situation turns odd when the woman turns out to be a recording.

This begins a convoluted and interconnected investigation that links two missing-person cold cases with one current case. Attempting to locate a person of interest gets Ant and Lily almost blown up. Every time a new piece of information is uncovered, it creates a new twist in the investigation. A carnival clown, a missing roommate, and a married lover led to a confrontation at the local fair. I was on the edge of my seat as Lily found herself in the crosshairs of a desperate man while racing to rescue a woman buried alive. The final confrontation was intense, with a full-circle moment for Lily and Ant. I loved the unpacking of the timeline when it was all over, with the last pieces of the puzzle coming from a surprising source.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Lily and Ant. They hadn't seen each other since they were teens, so their first face-to-face meeting was a bit of a shock. The boy Lily had crushed on had grown into a big, sexy man, and the girl who was his friend was now a beautiful woman. Their first meeting was somewhat contentious, partly because of Lily's reaction to him. Under the antagonism that flared between them was an attraction they each tried to deny. But Ant can't deny the protectiveness he feels when Lily is hurt and is determined to keep her safe. Lily's independence makes it difficult to accept his help, but she can't help admitting she feels safer with him around.

Ant and Lily still feel immense guilt over their inability to stop Ida's kidnapping. I liked that they finally had an honest conversation about those feelings and realized that neither was at fault. With that out of the way, their attraction and bond continue to grow. But it took nearly losing each other for them to realize the depth of their feelings. The epilogue was great, and I loved seeing couples from the other books and catching up on their lives. Ant was sweet with the surprise he had for Lily.

Terrific book and conclusion to the series. I loved the opening prologue of the book. Jones never expected to be back in Kelby Creek five years after the death of his wife Helen, much less to be asked to run for sheriff. He takes himself off to a hotel for a distraction-free place to decide. While in the hotel bar, he meets Cassandra, who is there for a teachers' conference. She's having a rough day too. She and Jones start talking. I laughed at her idea to help him decide, but it worked. He took her to dinner to thank her, and matters progressed from there.

Fast forward several months. Jones has been asked to reinvestigate the town's notorious Annie McHale case. He knows that feathers will be ruffled when it becomes public knowledge. The town has come a long way since the exposure of the deep corruption in the town government and law enforcement communities, but trust is still a fragile commodity.

The action in the book gets off to a quick start. Cassandra is a kindergarten teacher at Kelby Creek's elementary school. She foils a kidnapping attempt at the school involving Jones's daughter and another student. When Jones arrives at the school, he's stunned to find Cassandra, the woman he couldn't forget and obviously pregnant. Later that evening, when they meet to talk about it, Jones is called away on an emergency that turns out to be a setup. He's run off the road and into a creek. Lucky for him, Cassandra happens along right after and saves his life.

This puts Cassandra right in the middle of Jones's investigation. She is more than a little stubborn and insists on helping Jones when he has to interview a couple of her students' parents. Her involvement makes her a _target of those unhappy about Jones's investigation. Having read all of the previous books in the series, it is easy to see there are mixed feelings about the events of that time. I was glued to the pages because I wanted to know what had really happened. Jones and Cassandra uncover a web of lies that shed new light on the actions of those involved, and each new piece of information leads to more questions. Puzzling abductions and escapes, glimpses of a new player and his motivations, and a stunning revelation lead to a gripping conclusion. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as a trap was set for the bad guy. The resolution was well done, and I loved how it turned out.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Jones and Cassandra develop. After losing his wife as he did, Jones has no intention of risking his heart again. He didn't count on being unable to forget Cassandra. When he reconnects with her, he makes it clear that he wants to be involved in his child's life, but a relationship between him and Cassandra is out of the question. However, with the time they spend together, it doesn't take long for their initial attraction to grow into something more. Jones realizes that he feels more than protectiveness toward her, though it takes him a while to admit it. Cassandra was somewhat wary herself. She lost her fiancé in a tragic accident and is hesitant to get involved with a man who has a dangerous job. But the heart wants what it wants, and they realize they belong together.

I loved the book's last section and seeing the series' couples four years later. Kelby Creek is healing, and its population is growing.

Terrific second chance romance. The small town of Kelby Creek still suffers from the aftereffects of The Flood - the revelation of the rampant corruption in their law enforcement and local government. Five years have passed, but the memories are long. Mel and Sterling were no exception.

Mel still feels a lot of guilt over the discovery of her ex-husband's part in the scandal. She knew nothing of his horrific crimes until after the fact, but the town's people didn't believe it. After divorcing her husband, she tried to move on with the help of childhood friends Sam and Sterling Costner. She and Sterling became more than friends until the day she left Kelby Creek without a word of explanation.

Sterling has his own guilt to deal with. After the investigations were done and he was cleared of wrong-doing, he left Kelby Creek. Desperate to escape the memories and unable to find work in law enforcement, he spent a couple of years doing construction before going back to police work. After some time doing so in Georgia, he heard about the revitalization of Kelby Creek's department and went back to help. He feels guilty about abandoning his hometown and is now determined to help its rehabilitation.

Mel never planned to return to Kelby Creek, much less in the back of an ambulance with no memory of how she got there. Nor did she expect Sterling to be one of the first people she saw. It quickly became evident that their attraction was as strong as ever, though each tried to ignore it. But when strange things began happening to Mel, Sterling's protective instincts kicked in. As they spend time together trying to figure out what is going on, their feelings continue to grow. But they can't move on until they address the past, and Mel fears what will happen if she tells the truth. Things look increasingly bad for Mel, but Sterling never stops believing in her innocence. I loved the ending as they fought for each other and came out with their love even stronger.

The suspense of the story kept me hooked from beginning to end. From the car accident to the dead body in her house to kidnappings, it becomes increasingly apparent that someone has it in for Mel. The question is who and why. I ached for Mel and the suspicion she faced and the accusations she endured. By the time the final confrontation came, I was glued to the pages waiting for the explanation. The plan's twists, turns, and utter evil took my breath away when the bad guy bragged about what he'd done. I loved that his arrogance was part of what brought him down. The resolution was a nail-biter as Mel fought to save those she loved against terrible odds.

This is the third book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. The books' common denominator is the town's recovery from "The Flood," a massive corruption scandal involving the town's leaders and law enforcement. In this book, Detective Kenneth Gray has returned to the sheriff's department to help sort out cases that may have been affected by the corruption, including going over cold cases. One of those cases was the murder of his wife several years earlier.

Willa Tate works for a construction company. One evening she discovered a partially buried box on one of their sites. After opening it, she believed that it contained evidence of an old crime, but investigating on her own got nowhere. So she took it to the newly formed cold case task force - Kenneth.

The first meeting between Kenneth and Willa did not go as she'd hoped. After showing him the box and its contents and explaining her theory, Kenneth remained skeptical of her claims but promised to check into them. After a conversation with the sheriff, he had more questions for Willa. He quickly becomes less skeptical when Willa's home is ransacked, and she is attacked by someone clearly searching for something. Willa had some tense moments as she wondered if she would survive the encounter. I was glued to the pages as they investigated each item they found in the box and drew closer to the person responsible. There were also brief sections from the killer's viewpoint showing his determination to keep his secret. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with an unexpected twist that put Willa in his crosshairs. I loved how Willa kept her head and played a big part in her rescue and solving the mystery. I liked the ending and seeing how everything was intertwined.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Willa and Kenneth. Willa's sunshiny nature made an impression on him from the start, and he had difficulty getting her off his mind. His wife's murder still haunts Kenneth and Willa lights up the dark corners of his life. Willa is equally attracted to Kenneth, who is different from the men she's been involved with before. Kenneth's protectiveness kicked in when Willa was attacked. Their forced proximity gave them a chance to get to know each other and their attraction the opportunity to grow. I liked how Kenneth opened up to Willa about his wife's death, and Willa's compassion was beautifully shown. There were some sweet scenes of them together as their feelings deepened. I liked the ending, and the peace Kenneth found so that he could move on with Willa.

Kelby Creek is still suffering the aftereffects of "The Flood," the name given to the exposure of the corruption discovered in the town's government and law enforcement two years earlier. What's left of the sheriff's department is determined to regain the town's trust. The department's newest hire, Deputy Marco Rossi, has his reasons for choosing Kelby Creek while keeping his heart closely guarded.

The suspense starts quickly before Marco has officially started working when he comes across Bella broken down on the side of the road. Though taken by her beauty, the fear in her eyes as he approached got his attention. Marco won my heart immediately with his sensitivity to her anxiety and willingness to work with it. Bella's first worry when she saw the stranger was whether he was the author of the messages she'd been receiving. She relaxed a little after seeing his badge but remained wary.

Marco didn't see Bella again for two weeks, though he couldn't stop thinking about her. Not only was he attracted to her, something about her situation that day had been niggling at his instincts. So when he saw her at the local bar, he decided to ask her about it. Unfortunately, before he could do that, he stuck his foot in his mouth over one of her building projects. Bella was a little quick to take offense, and heated words were exchanged. They were interrupted by Marco's partner as a call came in they had to answer, leaving his question unasked. Eventually, Marco got his answer, but it left him feeling that something was off.

The suspense heats up when Bella gets another one of the creepy messages - this time on her bathroom mirror. Around the same time, Marco becomes the victim of a hit-and-run driver, and the reader discovers the connection between the two. The intensity ramps up as the stalker escalates his attempts to get his hands on Bella. Meanwhile, Marco is equally determined to keep Bella safe and find the stalker. I loved following his investigation as he and his partner and Bella dig into her past to see who has it in for her. I was glued to the pages to see if my suspicions were correct, though it took a couple of unexpected twists before I found out. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how it turned out. I loved Bella's strength of will and her faith that Marco would come.

I enjoyed the development of the romance between Marco and Bella. Because of his past, Marco keeps his heart closely guarded. He dates but ends relationships before they can get serious. Something about Bella gets past his walls from the beginning. Their relationship gets off to a slightly rocky start thanks to Bella's oversensitivity about being a woman in a male-dominated profession. Fortunately, both retain their senses of humor and can move past that awkwardness. Marco surprises himself when he shares things about his past that he's always kept to himself. Despite her initial tendency to jump to conclusions about him, it doesn't take long for Bella to realize that she can trust Marco. I liked watching the attraction build between them as they spent more time together, and Marco's protectiveness became more personal. There are a couple of fun scenes where his protectiveness runs up against Bella's independence and stubbornness, and Marco learns which battles are worth fighting. I loved the ending and seeing how well they understand and support each other and the love that made it possible.

Good start to the new series. Foster returned to his hometown of Kelby Creek to help turn around the sheriff's department. A few months earlier, the town was rocked by the exposure of massive corruption throughout the local government and law enforcement. As an experienced detective, Foster is assigned to look at cold cases and others that the corrupt officials may have impacted. One of the first cases he tackles is a missing person.

Millie's brother Fallon has been missing for six months. Her initial reports got nowhere as deputies didn't believe her brother was missing, thanks to some trouble in his past. Millie continued to investigate on her own. She had high hopes when she learned of the arrival of a new detective.

The suspense of the story grabbed me from the beginning. From the moment we learn of Fallon's disappearance and the lack of cooperation from the sheriff's department, there's a feeling that perhaps not all of the corruption was stopped. When Millie shows up at the sheriff's office on Foster's first day on the job, she hopes that he will be someone without preconceived ideas and will listen to what she has to say. Unfortunately, one of the other deputies stops Foster and warns him about Millie before she gets a chance. The meeting in his office ends up going the way she expects, with Foster relying on previously recorded information. I liked Millie's rebuttal and the effect it had on Foster. Though he told her nothing could be done, something kept pulling him back to Fallon's case file.

The tension begins to increase almost immediately. That evening Foster, who discovered that Millie lives next door to him, noticed her leave her house carrying a flashlight and a baseball bat. He immediately suspects trouble and follows her. Millie's hopeful side sends her to one of Fallon's favorite spots in the woods, believing that he might show up there. Instead, she encounters a man who is also looking for Fallon. She barely escapes him before running into Foster. Foster begins to suspect that there is something to Millie's story. That suspicion is borne out the next night when the man from the woods breaks into Millie's house, this time with a gun. I loved Millie's presence of mind as she tried to find a way to escape. Foster's providential appearance not only saves her but convinces him that she is in danger.

I loved that Foster began to trust his instincts when it came to Millie. After their initial encounters, they have trust issues to overcome. As they worked together, each brought a different perspective to the hunt for the truth. The suspense intensified as Foster and Millie were drugged and kidnapped, left on a boat miles from home, and nearly shot. They continued to have questions about people who may be involved, and pursuing those answers stirs up more questions and trouble. An unexpected twist at the end provided some answers, but there are still questions left hanging. I can't wait to read the next book and see where they go.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Millie and Foster. Despite the initial antagonism, the sparks of attraction between them are evident. I loved that Foster quickly began to trust his instincts where Millie was concerned. I especially liked the scenes where he stood up for Millie against those who spoke against her or cast suspicions on her honesty. It didn't take too long for Millie to realize that she could trust Foster. There were a couple of occasions when Foster would waver, and I ached for Millie when that happened. I could feel her hurt, but I also cheered when she pushed back. The intensity of their time together made the rapid growth of their feelings believable. I loved the ending and seeing the depth of their feelings for each other.

Good book with romance and some intense suspense. The Tactical Crime Division is sent to investigate biological terrorism in an unexpected place - a local Amish community. Someone spread deadly anthrax around three Amish farms, killing cattle and murdering two people. As the team's biological weapons expert, Carly becomes the lead agent for the investigation. She runs into trouble right away because the local Amish don't trust outsiders, especially law enforcement, and no one will answer questions. Fortunately, they find Noah Miller to help them.

Noah is a former Amish farmer who left the community when he was sixteen. He has a tenuous relationship at best with his family and keeps mostly to himself. The Amish community trusts him, and he often serves as a link between them and the English world. Though reluctant to get involved at first, Noah agrees to help them get the answers they need.

I liked seeing Carly and Noah together. Not only did they work well as a team, there were sparks of attraction too. Both of them have events in their pasts that made them who they are today, things that they don't share with others. As they spend time together, they get to know and trust each other. I especially liked how Noah was protective toward Carly but also respected her abilities. I loved seeing him call out his father on his attitude toward Carly and the rest of the team. Noah's ability to listen and understand Carly led to several sweet and emotional scenes. I loved the ending, and seeing how nearly losing each other opened their eyes to what is important. Noah's big moment was beautiful (I loved the ring).

The suspense of the story was excellent. The anthrax angle reminded me of the stories years ago of mysterious white powder mailed to prominent people. The knowledge of how deadly anthrax gave an added layer of intensity to the book. There were some interesting twists as the team began unraveling what happened. A boneheaded move on Carly's part put her in extreme danger, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over. I loved the instincts that told her that something didn't add up and the team's persistence in figuring out what it was. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with Carly in the hot seat again.

Fantastic conclusion to the series. I have been looking forward to this book since the beginning because Nikki Waters is a fascinating character. Anyone who can go from secretary to owner/operator of a successful security firm must be a powerful force, and so she proved in the earlier books. In this story, Nikki saw her best agents and friends finding love and settling down. Orion Security has been her life, but now she's ready to look for more. But her first attempt at a speed dating event was crashed by a man with a grudge. Andrew Miller was her boss before she left to start Orion and he holds her responsible for the loss of his job and reputation. He was blunt about his intention to make her suffer before he kills her.

Jackson is the newest member of Orion Security. The book opened with Jonathan standing up to Nikki in defense of his latest recruit. Jackson has a lot of baggage from his past, and Orion is likely his last chance for the life he wants.

I loved the first meeting between Nikki and Jackson. The sparks between them darn near set the room on fire, though both maintained a professional attitude. Nikki wasn't exactly thrilled with the feeling, as she was still not convinced of Jackson's suitability for the job. Her attitude was still pretty snippy when Jackson was tagged to pick her up because of her "car trouble." I loved Jackson's intuitiveness when it came to her, and how he immediately sensed that she was in more trouble than she would admit. He immediately felt protective of her. As the danger to Nikki escalated, Jackson's determination to keep her safe also increased, as did the attraction that burned between them. Though they tried to maintain the boss/employee relationship, when Nikki punched a cop who was abusing Jackson, he couldn't help but kiss her. I loved seeing the relationship between them develop. Each recognized in the other the same loneliness that came from the roads their lives had taken, and those similarities drew them closer together. The danger to them both accelerated the growth of their feelings for each other, and by the end, it was easy to see how much they cared. I loved the scene at the burned-out headquarters where Jackson showed just how well he knew and understood her. The chapter ended with the feeling of the potential between them. The epilogue was an excellent wrap-up to the series. I loved seeing each of the four couples and the changes to their lives.

The suspense and action of the story were fantastic. We know who the bad guy is from the beginning, as well as his motivations. This did not detract from the story, but instead gave it an extra layer of menace. Nikki wasn't too worried about the threats at first, but that changed quickly after the first physical attack on her. I loved how Jackson's instincts made sure he was there to save her from it, and that he wouldn't leave her side from then on. I was glued to the pages through the entire book, as Nikki and Jackson struggled to stay ahead of the danger. I liked the realism that showed both Jackson and Nikki suffering injuries, rather than coming through it all like superheroes. Andrew was much more devious than anyone gave him credit for, and there were multiple twists to the action that kept everyone on edge. The scene at the construction site was nerve-wracking, and the final confrontation at Orion headquarters was terrifying. The conclusion was well done, leaving me satisfied that everyone got what was coming to them.

Good book with plenty of action and romance. Jonathan was one of the original members of Orion and has had a satisfying career as a bodyguard. But as he watched his friends fall in love and settle down, Jonathan realized that he was ready to plant some roots of his own. Before his boss gives him the desk job he wants, Jonathan had one more assignment to complete.

Kate was a brilliant scientist who made a breakthrough that could change the face of law enforcement. As she prepared to present her findings at a special convention, Kate received letters threatening her work and her life. She didn't take them seriously and believed that there was no need for a bodyguard. Fortunately, her father disagreed and hired Orion to watch over her.

I really wanted to shake Kate at the beginning. She was adamant in her belief that the threats against her were not serious and made her feelings clear to Jonathan. He accepted her disbelief, but also made sure she knew that he would do his job regardless of her belief. Kate thought she was so clever when she ditched Jonathan until she ran into a situation when she felt threatened. Though her relief was real, she quickly convinced herself she imagined things.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Kate and Jonathan. There was a connection between them from the start, one that Kate especially tried to resist as she preferred to concentrate on her work. Jonathan was intrigued by Kate, and his customarily detached attitude quickly turned personal. I loved the extra layer of protectiveness it brought out in him. I liked seeing them wiggle past each other's walls as they spent time together. But even though the feelings between them grew, neither believed anything could come of it because their jobs were half a country apart. I ached for Jonathan, who thought that Kate was way above his level, and missed her when he returned to Dallas. The scene at Mark and Kelli's wedding reception was sweet and romantic. I loved Jonathan's surprise and his realization that he now had everything he could wish for.

The suspense of the story was excellent. The intensity started pretty low but escalated rapidly once Kate arrived in New York. It seemed that no matter what Kate and Jonathan did, the bad guys were always right on their heels. I was glued to the pages when Jonathan had to trust an outsider to help when Kate was drugged. I loved the scenes with him and Jake and their uneasy alliance until Kate recovered. There were some unexpected twists as Jonathan, Kate, and Jake got closer to the truth. The final confrontation was fantastic and had me on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

Good book that had me hooked from the first chapter. A bodyguard situation went horribly wrong, leaving Kelli a widow and Mark suffering from intense guilt over not being able to save Victor. It was so bad that Mark left Orion Security, and cut himself off from his former friends. He never expected Kelli to show up at his door two years later, asking for his help.

Kelli grieved for her husband but made a new life for herself and her daughter Grace. When she found a hidden journal belonging to Victor, she realized that his death was more than just an accident. After a disturbing meeting with Victor's former editor, Kelli went to Mark. Mark was suspicious of the circumstances of Victor's death from the beginning but had never been able to prove anything. He was reluctant to get involved again, but when Kelli was attacked his protective instincts awakened.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Mark and Kelli. There were sparks between them from the first, though Mark tried to ignore them. The guilt he still felt over what he saw as his failure made him think that he was not good enough for her, though he was determined to keep her safe. The more time that he spent with Kelli and Grace, the more the walls around his heart began to crumble. I loved seeing him interact with Grace - the scene with the building blocks was adorable - and ached for him and the loneliness he felt. Kelli seemed to be more open to the feelings she experienced. She still grieved for Victor, but she also knew that it was possible to love again. I liked how Kelli was able to break through Mark's bonds of guilt and show him that he deserved a happy future. The ending was sweet, funny, and romantic.

The suspense of the story was excellent. From the moment Kelli discovered the journal the questions multiplied. As Mark and Kelli investigated, it was clear that someone wanted them to stop and would do anything to make it happen. I loved seeing Mark reconnect with his Orion friends and how they helped. The closer that Mark and Kelli got to the truth, the more the danger to them grew. The final confrontation was intense, with several surprises. I especially loved Kelli's strength and resourcefulness. Bad guys watch out when Mama Bear gets cornered! The resolution was highly satisfying.

The secondary characters were terrific. I loved Kelli's friend Lynn, who was always there when Kelli needed her. She was a lot of fun and provided some light-hearted moments, especially in her interactions with Grace. She could also be as fierce as Kelli when it was called for. I liked seeing more of Mark's Orion friends and their support of him. Nikki irritated me at the beginning with her attitude towards Mark's pursuit of answers, but she came through in the end.

Terrific second chance story with enough action and suspense to keep me turning the pages. Billy is a tough but fair sheriff who has the respect of his deputies and the people of the county. Two years earlier he was responsible for bringing down a local drug lord thanks to the help of the man's daughter. While working together, Billy and Mara grew close, in spite of their vastly different lives. Then Mara left him, with no warning and no explanation. Though he tried to move on with his life, he has never forgotten her. The last thing he expected was for her to show up on his doorstep, asking for his help to protect the daughter he didn't know about.

Mara had left Billy and Riker County behind in an attempt to separate her world from those she loved. She couldn't bear for her past to cause them trouble. But now trouble has found her. Someone believes that she knows where her father hid a stash of drugs and money and will do anything to get his hands on them. Billy is the only one she can trust to help her, but will he forgive her for the secret she kept?

I liked both Billy and Mara. Billy is a good man, a little rough around the edges, but with a kind heart. I liked the way that he is protective of his people, putting them before his own needs and comfort. Mara is a strong and independent woman, but she also carries a lot of guilt over the things that her father did. She gave up her own chance of happiness to do what she thought was right.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Billy and Mara. His shock at her reappearance was real. Finding out he was a father left him stunned. I loved that he accepted it without any big blowup of anger or accusations, but he also expected an explanation when they finally had a chance to talk. One thing was evident from the moment Mara came back - the sparks between them were as strong as ever. Both Billy and Mara fought against their feelings for as long as they could. Billy didn't need the distraction while he tried to put an end to the resurging drug problem. He was also reluctant to trust that she wouldn't leave again. Mara needed to find a way to separate herself from her father's actions if she wanted to believe she was worthy of being loved by Billy. Billy's big moment at the end was sweet.

The suspense of the story was terrific and kept me hooked all the way through. The drug problem that Billy thought had ended with Mara's father's arrest was making a comeback. Then Mara arrived with trouble right behind her. Though she had nothing to do with his drug deals and was partly responsible for his arrest, someone out there believed that Mara knew where her father had stashed money and drugs. Billy was determined to keep Mara and their daughter safe, but whoever was after her was just as determined. It seemed that no matter what Mara and Billy did, the bad guys were right on their heels. I was glued to the pages with each attack, as they escalated in danger. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Billy raced to rescue Mara.

Good start to a new series. Darling's day starts out rather rough, when she gets arrested for trespassing on the local millionaire's property. The deputy, who she used to date, is having a little too much fun at her expense. But the day goes from bad to worse when the millionaire's bodyguard comes to question her, and it turns out to be the same man who broke her heart eight years earlier.

The last place Oliver expected to see Darling was in a small town in Maine, and on the opposite side of a case from him. The suspected mistress of the local millionaire has been murdered and Nigel is the top suspect. Darling has been investigating Nigel for infidelity, but Oliver is certain he's innocent of both charges.

When Darling begins getting threatening notes, Oliver can't just step back and ignore it. It may have been eight years, but there's still something there between them. The problem is that Darling doesn't want protecting. She's done fine without him. But when one attack puts Darling in danger of dying of exposure, even she has to admit she may need his help.

Even though it has been so long, the heat is still there between Oliver and Darling. Both try to resist, since Darling's place is in Maine, and Oliver works out of California. When Oliver puts her safety ahead of the job he was hired to do, he finds himself with some decisions to make. I loved seeing how he managed to work the job and the girl into a promising future.

The suspense of the story was really good. Who killed the woman? Who was she really? Someone seems to be helping Darling with her investigation one minute, then turning around and threatening her the next. I had a pretty good idea of who was responsible for the murder early on, but I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't until an unexpected twist at the end that the motive was revealed and it was quite a stunner.

They've found the leak and Lara's secret is out. Will her team still trust her? Only time will tell but Lara doesn't have any time as she is once again fighting for her life. Another action packed installment of this series.

I find this series interesting since each installment is written by a different author. I could definitely tell that this one was written a little differently from the first. The character took on a more edgy feel and the descriptions were different. At first it felt like I was almost reading a different book until I started to get into the flow of the new authors style.

This installment seemed a bit rushed or like something was off. The main character was unraveling so perhaps I was experiencing her anxiety and how things needed to happen right now. I didn't like this one as much as the first, but it was still a fun read. I'm looking forward to the 3rd to see how that author handles things.

Good story. It starts with a rush as three women are reported missing in one day. One of those women is Sophia's sister. She arrives in town determined to find out what happened to her, and immediately confronts Braydon, who is the lead detective on the case. There's an immediate attraction between the two of them, but it's a distraction that could end up being deadly.

I liked Braydon a lot. He's one of those men who was a hell-raiser when he was young, but turned himself around after a tragedy struck. When he was seventeen, his sister was murdered and he blamed himself for not protecting her. Now he takes protecting the people of his hometown very seriously. When Sophia arrives he's sympathetic to her fears and her need to do something, but his attraction to her is a distraction he can't give in to. As the investigation continues Braydon discovers that Sophia is in danger and his attraction turns protective.

I had a little trouble warming up to Sophia at the beginning because she was so obnoxious when she first arrived in Culpepper. I understood that she was scared and worried, but once she made contact with Braydon and found out what was happening she could have backed off a little. Part of that attitude came from the guilt she was feeling because of the argument she and Lisa had had. She became more likable once she settled down a bit. One of the things I really liked about her was that she was smart and brave and was able to keep a good head on her shoulders. She also turned out to be a lot nicer of a person that I thought at the beginning. I really liked her understanding of Braydon's issues once she learned of the past tragedy.

I liked the relationship that developed between them. Once they got past their initial antipathy toward each other, they discovered they worked well together. Both were strong minded and tended to butt heads on occasion, but they were also reasonable and could see the other's viewpoint when necessary. I also enjoyed seeing the way that they were able to open up to each other emotionally. Braydon was able to tell her about what happened to his sister and the guilt that he still feels about it. Sophia was able to talk about her sister and her fears about her safety. I loved seeing the way that the small town grew on Sophia and the decision she made about her future at the end.

The suspense of the story was very good. We actually find out who the bad guy is early on and some of the story is told from his point of view. It's his goal to make Braydon suffer and the way he goes about it is very creepy. The buildup of intensity as the final confrontation approaches kept me glued to the story until I finished it. There was an interesting twist to the end that increased the danger to Sophia, but her own strength of will helped get her through it.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters who helped fill out the story. All of them felt like real people, not just props to help hold up the main characters. I ended up really liking Richard, who had rubbed me the wrong way at the beginning.