Are a dead woman’s secrets
enough to kill for…?
Hank Savage has always believed his old girlfriend was
murdered. Now he’s come home to Cardwell Ranch and, with the help of PI Frankie
Brewster, is determined to find the killer. Trying to keep their feelings at
bay, Hank and Frankie quickly learn that every lead reveals a life steeped in
secrets—and danger. And that someone from Hank’s past will do anything to keep
the truth from being revealed.
Very good book. Hank Savage left his home in Big Sky
after the death of his girlfriend and a blowup with his father. Hank was certain
that his girlfriend was murdered, but his father, Marshal Hud Savage, agreed
with the coroner that Naomi committed suicide. Haunted by the certainty that he
was right, Hank enlists the help of PI Frankie Brewster to help him discover
the truth. To disguise their intentions, Hank and Frankie pretend to be a
couple.
I liked both Hank and Frankie. Hank is a good man,
honorable and loyal. It was his love for and loyalty to Naomi that made him stand
up to his father regarding her death. He is also stubborn, which is what kept
him away from Big Sky for so long. He misses his home and his family and his
life as a rancher. Frankie is an excellent PI with a talent for reading people
and asking the right questions. She feels a bit guilty for deceiving Hank's
parents about their relationship, but it is part of the job.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Hank
and Frankie. There are sparks between them from the start that grow hotter with
each passing day. The show that they put on for his parents becomes all too
real as those sparks burst into flame. But Frankie isn't too sure that Hank has
moved past his grief for Naomi enough to start living again. She is also a bit wary
of the speed of their feelings, as her previous relationship also happened fast
and did not end well. Hank is surprised by his feelings for Frankie, but he
can't deny the strength of them. I liked his sensitivity to her fears, and his
willingness to be patient as she works through them. I also liked his
protectiveness when someone from her past made an unwelcome appearance.
The suspense of the story was excellent. For every
question that they asked and got an answer to, more questions appeared. It
quickly became evident that Naomi was not the girl that Hank thought she was. The
closer they came to uncovering the truth, the more determined someone was to
stop them. There was the added complication of someone from Frankie's past
ending up in the middle of the investigation. The final confrontation had me on
the edge of my seat as Frankie had to use every trick in her book to save
herself and Hank. I loved the resolution and seeing Hud have to eat a little
crow. I like him, but he should have had more trust in Hank's knowledge of
Naomi.
Bonus book included:
Justice at Cardwell Ranch
Series: Cardwell Ranch (Book 2)
Montana Mystique (Book 4)
CARDWELL CHARM WAS ALL HE'D EVER NEEDED...UNTIL NOW
Six years ago, Dana Cardwell found her mother's will in a
cookbook and became sole owner of the Cardwell Ranch in Big Sky, Montana. Now
happily married, Dana is surprised when her siblings, Stacy and Jordan, show up
on the ranch...and trouble isn't too far behind. As danger draws closer to the
ranch, deputy marshal Liza Turner quickly realizes that Jordan Cardwell isn't
the man the town made him out to be.
Very good book. Jordan has come back to Big Sky to
investigate the truth behind his best friend's suicide while they were in high
school. The day he arrived one of his high school friends who might have
known something was murdered. Liza Turner is tagged to investigate and
soon finds that there are troublesome secrets coming to light. Even
though he's a suspect, Liza is attracted to Jordan. Her instincts tell
her that he is not the murderer but that he can be dangerous to her
heart.
I really liked both Liza and Jordan. Liza is doing
a great job as deputy. She remembers Jordan from the whole will problem
six years earlier and not in a good way. Though she doesn't trust him at
first, she quickly realizes that he has changed for the better. When he
explains why he is in Big Sky and how it might impact her murder investigation
they start working together to investigate. Liza also discovers that she
is very attracted to Jordan, but doesn't expect him to stay around. I
liked Liza's intelligence and the way she was able to put things together.
Jordan was great too. I loved the way that he had
changed for the better. He had been devastated by his friend's suicide,
and when he found out it may have been murder he had to come back and check
into it. He was attracted to Liza right away and found himself looking for any excuse to be with her. Investigating how the suicide and then
murder were connected gave them a lot of time together. I loved the way
he accepted the fact that he was going to have to earn people's trust and how hard
he worked to do so. I liked the way that he respected Liza's job as
deputy but still wanted to protect her. The mystery of the suicide and
murder was well done and had a tense ending.
