Deadly Texas Reunion - Beth Cornelison (HRS #2060 - Oct 2019)

Series: Colton 911 (Book 4)
            Coltons (Book 97)

Two friends track a lethal murderer

As a childhood bond is put on the line

Disgraced FBI agent Nolan Colton returns home to lick his wounds…only to find death on his doorstep. After a woman's body is dug up in a parking lot, his longtime friend PI Summer Davies enlists his crime-solving expertise. Nolan can't help but admire all-grown-up Summer's tenacity, but new leads take their case in a killer direction -- one that threatens the future of their entire case…and their own lives.

Good book. The tension in Whisperwood continues to grow as the investigation into the death of a local woman goes on. PI Summer has recently opened her investigations business in town and is surprised when the woman's father and brother hire her to find the killer. They are not satisfied with the lack of progress made by the police department.

Meanwhile, Nolan is on administrative leave from the FBI while he is investigated for sexual misconduct. A fellow agent with whom he had a brief encounter made the allegations against him, complete with pictures. Angry, hurt, and disgusted, Nolan heads to Whisperwood to spend time with family and wait for the decision that will affect his future. There he is surprised to run into a childhood friend he lost contact with years ago.

I loved Summer's joy at seeing Nolan again. Her enthusiastic greeting took Nolan by surprise, at least until he recognized her. I ached for him because he first noticed her as a woman, then realized who she was, and pulled back because of the investigation against him. He wonders if he'll always second-guess himself now, even with friends. I enjoyed seeing them catch up with each other at the diner, learning about what they've been up to. Summer was surprised, yet cautious, when Nolan offered to help with her investigation. She's more than a little protective of her job, having suffered from sexist attitudes in the past. I liked how she laid out her conditions, making her expectations clear. Nolan did the same, determined to protect himself. Neither counted on the sparks of attraction that flew between them. Summer was more accepting of the feelings that grew between them. She worried about it changing their friendship, but she was willing to see where it would go. Nolan was far more resistant, both because of the accusations against him and because of his plans to go back to Chicago if his name was cleared. I ached for Summer when Nolan left without a word and wanted to shake him for treating her that way. Nolan's return to Chicago included some interesting events, not the least of which were the changes he saw in himself. I loved his big moment at the end. It was sweet and romantic.

The suspense of the story was good. The tension has built through the three previous books as Patrice's murder has gone unsolved. There were questions about whether it was related to a series of murders that had taken place years before. Each book has come closer to proving or disproving the connection. I liked seeing Nolan and Summer work together, balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses. As they assembled various pieces of the puzzle, a clearer picture began to emerge. I was glued to the pages as Summer and Nolan found themselves in dire straits, caught by the killer as they searched for evidence. The final confrontation was intense, and hearing the killer talk so casually about what he had done was chilling. I loved seeing him get what was coming to him and how it came about.

 

Baby's Bodyguard - Lisa Childs (HRS #2052 - Aug 2019)

Series: Colton 911 (Book 2)
            Coltons (Book 93)

From detective to daddy?

An ex-cop guards a vulnerable family

After an injury, Detective Forrest Colton is forced into early retirement. But Forrest isn't the type to sit still, so he volunteers to protect alluring single mom Rae Lemmon, whose life is threatened after a dead body is discovered on her property. When Forrest finds a note threatening Rae's infant son, his senses go on high alert. He needs to save this family even if it means his own “permanent” retirement.

Good book, second in the series. The tension continues to build as this book opens with the discovery of yet another body. The Whisperwood PD is already stretched thin because of the discovery of the first body, plus the hurricane recovery. Forrest agrees to help with the investigation as he's currently at loose ends thanks to the injury that forced his early retirement from the Austin PD. With years of experience, both as a detective and working cold cases, he is determined to bring the killer to justice. When a third body turns up at the home of single mother Rae, and she and her child are threatened, Forrest's protective instincts kick into high gear.

I liked both Rae and Forrest. Both have been hurt by those they loved, making them wary of trusting their hearts to anyone, but from the moment they met, there was a connection between them. Forrest suffers from some insecurity, thanks to his injury and being let down by the one who should have stood by him. He tries to keep Rae at a distance, believing that she pities him. At the same time, Rae has been let down by the men in her life so many times that she isn't looking for anything long-term. Her son is the focus of her life, and she stubbornly believes that she can handle anything on her own.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Forrest and Rae. Their encounter at his brother's wedding was awkward as he misunderstood her overtures, but he couldn't forget her. Though initially somewhat suspicious of Rae once he discovered the body, it didn't take long for his protective instincts to rise up. Rae clung to her independence until her baby was in danger, then reached out to Forrest. I loved seeing them grow closer and begin to trust each other. There were some adorable scenes of Forrest and baby Connor - especially the late-night one with the diaper change. The attraction between them also continued to build. But it took nearly losing each other for them to realize how much they needed to be together. I liked the ending and how Forrest showed Rae his vulnerability, and the difference her belief in him made to his view of the future.

The suspense was terrific. Running through the series is the investigation into the bodies that turn up around Whisperwood. It is Forrest's job to investigate and track down the killer. His frustration is evident with the lack of leads. I found the reaction of one victim's brother very interesting. His anger seemed a little excessive and Forrest felt he was hiding something about his sister. As the book went on I found myself developing a suspect. It will be interesting to see if I am right about this person. At the same time, Rae began receiving threats against her and Connor. When Forrest stepped in to protect them, he also came under attack. The tension mounted with each attack, especially as there were a few bits from the bad guy's point of view. The final confrontation was a nail biter with an unexpected twist to it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

 

Cowboy's Rescue - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #2048 - July 2019)

Series: Colton 911 (Book 1)
            Coltons (Book 91)

Amid disaster, a rancher is her only hope…

When Magnolia “Maggie” Reeves receives a puzzling map from her former father-in-law, she can't resist searching for clues -- even in a hurricane! Fortunately, search-and-rescue cowboy Jonah Colton is there to save the day. But when the duo find a mummified body, they're plunged straight into an abyss of danger. And even as they stumble headlong into a dazzling attraction, they're also fighting for their lives…

Good start to the new series. Divorced from her former husband, Maggie was surprised to receive a strange map from her former father-in-law after his death. Though there was a hurricane bearing down on the area, Maggie gives in to her curiosity and goes looking for clues. When she turns up missing, search-and-rescue cowboy Jonah goes looking for her.

I liked the rescue scene when Jonah found Maggie. Though the situation was intense because of the storm, Maggie and Jonah had a sense of humor in spite of it. It was fun to see the teasing between them. They knew each other somewhat because they grew up in the same small town. Jonah had had a bit of a crush on her when they were in school but felt that the beautiful girl was out of his league, so he never pursued it. He's surprised to find that some of those feelings are still there. The grown-up Jonah made quite an impression on Maggie also, and she couldn't keep her eyes off him. A stop at Jonah's cabin to escape the worst of the rain gave Maggie a chance to show Jonah the map and note. Maggie is determined to find out what it means. After showing it to the local police chief and being told to leave it be, Maggie is more intent than ever to discover the truth.

I liked the mix of romance and suspense. Set against the town's recovery from the hurricane, both Maggie and Jonah show what they are made of. Jonah is a good man with a big heart. I loved the depth of caring he shows to the victims of the hurricane and his humbleness over his part in the rescue efforts. I liked the way that Maggie got involved in the rescue efforts also. I ached for her because people often believed that just because she was beautiful, that's all there was to her. She threw herself into helping Jonah, which also gave them a chance to get to know each other better. The more time they spent together, the hotter the sparks between them were until they burst into flame. They are both a little wary of putting a name to what they feel until unexpected danger makes them realize what's important. I loved the scene at Maggie's sister's wedding, with Jonah's awkwardness and Maggie's bewilderment.

The suspense of the story was good. As the first book in the series, some time was spent setting up the background. A local man is in prison, convicted of being a serial killer. When Maggie and Jonah discover another body, there is some question about whether that man is responsible. Maggie is determined to discover the truth and Jonah is equally determined to protect her, especially after she receives some threatening texts. It was intriguing to follow their investigation and see what they uncover. Their visit with the imprisoned killer was creepy, and I could feel the waves of evil rolling off him. Things got more complicated when they received unexpected news during their next visit, and Maggie got caught up in a prison riot. Another threatening text shows that someone is serious about not wanting Maggie involved in whatever is going on. The ending of this book came with a confrontation that I never saw coming and had me on the edge of seat until it was over. While one mystery was solved, the door is left open on the question of who killed the woman that Jonah and Maggie found. The epilogue does a good job of setting up the next book with a disturbing discovery.

 

Target in Jeopardy - Carla Cassidy (HRS #2056 - Sept 2019)

Series: Colton 911 (Book 3)
             Coltons (Book 95)

A prodigal Colton comes home…

…to the shock of his life!

Grieving the loss of his late wife, Dallas Colton rarely lets his guard down. The one time he indulges in a wild night of passion, it yields unexpected results. Seven months later, Dallas finds himself expecting twins with prosecutor Avery Logan -- and working to protect Avery from criminals who want her dead. But when long-buried secrets rise from the grave, their growing family is soon under siege.

Very good book. Dallas and Avery had an unusual start to their relationship. They met in a bar, both of them trying to escape the pain of recent losses. There was an immediate connection between them, including an especially strong attraction. Uncharacteristically for both of them, they spent the night together. The next morning, though Avery would have liked to see where it would go,  Dallas was overcome with guilt and made it clear that it was a one time only event. Seven months later, Dallas was back home to stay. He was stunned to encounter Avery and discover that she was pregnant.

I loved Dallas and Avery. Avery makes it clear that she isn't out to trap Dallas and is quite able to handle things on her own. I loved that she was honest in her desire that he be a part of the babies' lives, but only if that's what he wants. I ached for Dallas and the grief that he still suffers. It has sucked the joy out of his life, but news of the babies brings a faint flicker of hope to his heart. I loved how he stepped up right away, intent on being involved. It was interesting that neither Avery nor Dallas is looking for a relationship between them because of the babies. Both prefer their single lives but agree that they need to get to know each other and hopefully become friends if they are going to be successful as parents.  

I loved seeing them get to know each other, sharing bits of their lives and beliefs about raising children. Just as they are at the beginning of this process, Avery begins to receive threats against her life. As a prosecutor she is accustomed to being disliked by those she puts in jail, but when the threats escalate into physical attacks, Dallas steps in. I loved his protectiveness and determination to keep Avery safe. Becoming her 24/7 bodyguard adds a complication to their determination to maintain their single lives. Avery's grief over the loss of her brother made her determined not to risk her heart on loving someone else. Dallas's grief over his wife's death made him believe that he had had his one and only love of his life. But the more time they spent together, the deeper their involvement became, and the harder it was to keep their distance. I loved the gradual way it happened, as their caring built day by day. But both of them had fears to overcome before they could accept that they belonged together. There was also someone determined to keep Avery from that happy outcome.

The suspense of the story was terrific. Avery is on a mission as a prosecutor to bring as many drug dealers as possible to justice. She has succeeded in angering more than a few people and once again receives threats against her life. The first physical attack on her was a nerve-wracking event, and I was on the edge of my seat, hoping that she would get out of it safely. I loved Dallas's reaction of moving in with Avery to protect her. Dallas is also involved helping the sheriff's department with the ongoing investigation of a serial killer, and Avery gets involved with that while she is on leave from her job. There is an interesting turn to that case that she is instrumental in discovering. At the same time the attacks on Avery intensify. The final confrontation is intense, with an unexpected twist in who was behind it all.  There were some terrifying moments, but it all ended well. The scene in the hospital was a beautiful ending to the story.