Karen Whiddon

Good book. Ellie receives two surprises in one morning. First, she spots her long-lost childhood best friend on a subway platform - a friend that has been missing for sixteen years. After chasing after Aliana but not catching her, Ellie proceeds on her way to work. Seeing Aliana reminded Ellie of her high school boyfriend, who she hadn't seen in years. She impulsively calls him, thinking he's the only one who'd believe her about Aliana. On her way to meet him for coffee, someone takes a shot at her. Liam is there to pull her out of any further danger.

Ellie is surprised by her reaction to Liam. They had been close during high school until Liam started getting into trouble and ended up in prison. She hasn't seen him since then but feels immediately attracted to him. Liam is also attracted, but it is his protective instinct that takes center stage. That protectiveness kicks up when she receives an anonymous cup of poisoned coffee. Thus begins a roller coaster ride of trying to find Aliana before she succeeds in killing Ellie.

The suspense of the story was good. I could feel Ellie and Liam's frustration at being unable to lock down where Aliana was and feeling one step behind as they dealt with the attacks against Ellie. I understood when Ellie proposed setting a trap for Aliana using herself as bait and when Liam feared for her safety if she did. The tension ramped up as Aliana's attacks escalated in intensity. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was impressed by Ellie's ability to fight back. The only downside was that I never got a real sense of why Aliana was so determined to kill Ellie when it would have been easier (and safer) just to disappear again.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Liam and Ellie develop. The chemistry between them was intense, and neither had any hesitation in giving in to it. However, neither was prepared for the feelings that also developed. Liam believes that a permanent relationship isn't in the cards for him, thanks to the reasons for his failed marriage, so he tries to keep things casual. It was entertaining to see Liam get teased by his siblings. The intensity scared Ellie, who then tried to put some distance between them before realizing that she loved him. I liked seeing them finally overcome their fears and insecurities and admit their feelings for each other.

I liked both Liam and Ellie. Liam's reaction to his parents' deaths sent him down a wrong path that ended with him being sent to prison at age eighteen. Fortunately, he had the intelligence to see what would happen if he continued down that road and turned himself around. I loved that he then turned to speaking at schools, hoping to keep other kids from making the same mistakes. Ellie is an intelligent and valued member of the CSI lab. She has a reputation for successfully providing the evidence needed to convict criminals. She is also headstrong and stubborn, which sometimes puts her at odds with Liam's protectiveness. With both of them, I liked their closeness with their families.

There is also some progress in the overarching series mystery of what happened to the Coltons' friend/guardian Humphrey, who disappeared without a trace in the first book. New evidence makes them believe he disappeared on purpose, but they don't know why. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing their progress.… (more)

Good book that grabbed my attention from the start, and didn't let go until I was finished. The book opens as Jake arrives at Edie's bakery, looking for the daughter who was kidnapped four years earlier. Edie is stunned by the resemblance to her adopted daughter, Laney, but sends the man on his way without telling him anything. What follows is a parent's worst nightmare, as Laney is abducted as she gets off the school bus.

Edie immediately suspects Jake, and he is horrified to discover that he'd been that close to finding his Noel only to have her disappear again. Jake has been on a leave of absence from his Houston police job for four years while looking for Noel. His website has received several tips, the latest pointing him to this small town. Desperate to find Laney, Edie teams up with Jake to search for her themselves.

The determination, tension, and fear leap off the pages as Amber Alerts and Jake's website provide hints that don't pan out. With both focused on finding Laney/Noel, they soon find themselves giving support and encouragement to each other. Neither expects the sparks of attraction that flare between them or the need that drives them to find comfort in each other. Nor can they forget the question of who will end up with Laney/Noel once she is found.

The tension ramps up when they receive a credible hint from someone who claims they have Laney/Noel. The hope and fear leap off the page as they face someone who believes they have a better right to Laney. I didn't see the unexpected twist in this person's claim coming. The final confrontation was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.

I loved the ending, and the epilogue was terrific. I loved seeing Jake and Edie getting to know each other better. Seeing Jake with Laney was sweet. I was rooting for good news for Jake and loved how things turned out.

#netgalley… (more)

There are many reasons why I don't hesitate to grab a Karen Whiddon book. And this book was a perfect example of all of them! It had everything you want in a book and then some. There was plenty of action to keep you hooked, suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, and romance to have you swooning! The chemistry between Jared and Marissa was off the charts and I loved the dynamic between them along with the progression of their relationship.

I love when the two main characters have a past from before the beginning of the book. While Jared and Marissa haven't seen each other in five years, when Jared returns to town, the chemistry between the two of them is as hot as ever. But there was also some hurt between the two of them that they needed to deal with before they could even think about anything happening between them. Plus, Marissa is in a relationship with someone else at the beginning of the novel. But she is kind of just going through the motions of her life until Jared makes a reappearance back in town,

Jared's been hurt in a rodeo accident and needs Marissa's expertise as a physical therapist to get better. But Jared blowing back into town isn't the only thing on Marissa's mind as she discovers shortly after that she has a dangerous stalker after her. Things continue to escalate and leave Marissa reeling and wondering who she can really trust. There was consistent action throughout the book along with the perfect amount of romance and spice. I also found myself continuously guessing as to who was stalking Marissa for a better part of the novel. I strongly recommend this book for romantic suspense lovers and lovers of Karen Whiddon as well.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.… (more)

Good second chance love story mixed with an engaging suspense plot. Marissa and Jared were a couple throughout high school and college until Jared decided to quit school and join the rodeo circuit. He was hurt and angry that she wouldn't drop everything and go with him. Marissa was heartbroken when he left despite their plans for the future. She pulled herself together, finished school, and started her physical therapy business in their hometown. Five years later, she has a successful business and is dating the local veterinarian. She's shocked when Jared shows up at her office, needing physical therapy for a bull-riding injury and expecting to be friends.

After five years on the circuit, Jared is ready to come home. He's shocked at the condition of his father's ranch and heartbroken at the changes he sees in his father, who has early-onset dementia. He looks forward to seeing Marissa again and is surprised at the cold reception he gets.

I enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Marissa and Jared. Each believes they have moved past their broken relationship - until they see each other again. Both are surprised by the resurgence of their old attraction. It doesn't take long for Jared to realize that his feelings for Marissa have never disappeared, and he wants her back in his life. He also knows he has a long way to go to regain her trust. Marissa also realizes that she still loves Jared but is wary of risking her heart again on someone who could leave her behind again.

Complicating matters, Marissa has a boyfriend she has been dating for several months. David is a nice but very busy man, so they don't see as much of each other as they could. It doesn't take Marissa long to realize that what she feels for David is a pale imitation of her feelings for Jared, and she knows she must end things with him.

Adding to Marissa's troubles, she realizes she is being stalked. At first, it felt like being watched, but then matters escalated. She received a threatening note attached to a brick thrown through her window, a hit-and-run driver t-boned her car, and her home was torched. Jared's protective instincts are aroused despite Marissa's insistence that she can take care of herself. I loved that Jared was there to support her, even when she tried to resist him. As the attacks increased in intensity, I had a couple of suspects in mind, and I was happy to see that my top suspect was the guilty party. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with an unexpected resolution.

I enjoyed seeing Jared and Marissa grow closer and look at ways to make both of their dreams come true. Marissa is finally starting to trust Jared again when he receives an unexpected offer. Marissa immediately concludes that he will bail on her again without giving him a chance to talk it over with her. I wanted to shake her for her lack of confidence in him and his feelings for her. Jared knows he needs to do something to show her the truth and comes up with an over-the-top demonstration of his feelings and intentions.

#netgalley… (more)