Ho, Humbug, Ho - Kate Angell (Smashwords - Sept 2012)

Series: Richmond Rogues (Book 5)

Big city ballplayer meets small town sweetheart. Richmond Rogues baseball star Alex Boxer speeds through a school zone on a Sunday in Holiday, Florida. He gets a ticket and faces forty hours of community service. That service includes playing Santa Claus at a local mall. He's one unhappy man, until he realizes local Holly McIntyre could be the best Christmas present ever. She's sugar and spice and all things nice.

Fun story, but too short. Alex got caught speeding through a school zone in a small town. It was Sunday, but the judge didn't care. Even if it weren't a school zone, it would have been speeding. The judge gave Alex a fine, plus forty hours of community service.

Alex did not make a good first impression on me. He is full of himself, just shy of creepy with his innuendo-laden remarks, and unwilling to put any effort into being Santa. I spent a fair amount of time wanting to kick him in the butt.

Holly is the local resident assigned to ride herd over Alex and keep him in line. She loves Christmas and is involved in many events around town. She also owns the local ice cream shop. She is one of Santa's helpers and dresses as a nutcracker.

The development of the relationship between Alex and Holly is fast. It starts confrontational, as Holly is the court-appointed monitor of his community service. Alex makes no secret of the fact he doesn't want to be there and his unwillingness to perform his role. He looks at Holly as a potential bedmate who can make his stay there bearable. Holly is not impressed with his attitude, nor his attempts to hit on her. Neither can deny the sparks that fly between them. I liked watching the effect that Holly had on Alex as he learns the spirit of Christmas. There were some sweet scenes where Alex demonstrates that spirit, including fun cookie decorating with some senior citizens. When Alex earns an early release, he's a bit freaked out to realize that he's going to miss Holly, and is determined to force his life back on track. Holly is sad to see him go and realizes that she fell in love with him. I liked Alex's big moment at the end. Admitting his feelings wasn't an easy thing for him to do, and his condition showed what he'd been through on his journey of self-discovery.

Originally published in Santa, Honey (Oct 2009)

 

Meows and Mistletoe - Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Kristal Hollis, Sharon Buchbinder, Candace Colt, Debra Jess, Kerry Evelyn, Mia Ellas, Darcy Devlon (CPC Publishing - Nov 2019)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 4)

Eight holiday tales in the magical town of Cat’s Paw Cove 

COLLYWOBBLES FOR CHRISTMAS by Sue-Ellen Welfonder - The fate of star-crossed lovers falls into the magical paws of a time-traveling kitten determined to right an ancient wrong and claim the greatest Christmas gift of all - love.

Terrific story of a love that spanned the centuries. It opened as a captured knight is aided in his escape by the daughter of the house, who is also the woman he loves. Treachery and tragedy prevent their reunion and the fulfillment of their love. Centuries later, an adorable kitten brings a modern-day couple together for a much happier ending. I loved both Gaby and James. His nickname of "Sir Galahad" is well-earned, as he is known for his protectiveness - which comes out in a terrific scene with Gaby's ex. I loved the connection they experienced from the beginning, and that it didn't surprise them or freak them out. The continuing revelations of secrets and histories brought them even closer. The ending was fantastic as their story came full circle.

CHARLOTTE REDBIRD, GHOST COACH by Sharon Buchbinder - With the help of hunky real estate agent, Dylan Graham, life coach Charly Redbird and her new kitten have found the perfect home next to a cemetery. Charly gets a new client right away, who happens to be her neighbor—and a ghost. What could possibly go wrong?

Fun story. When Charly and her code of ethics runs up against a rich woman who will stop at nothing to get her daughter into Harvard, Charly's dream career goes down in flames. Determined to get her life back on track, she heads for Cat's Paw Cove and her grandmother. Local real estate agent "Big D" helps her find the perfect home, albeit one that has a few more quirks than she expected.

I loved both Charly and Dylan. Charly has a magical talent that she is unaware of until she gets to the Cove - she doesn't just see ghosts, she can also talk to them. This comes as quite a shock to her when she makes the acquaintance of the former residents of her new home. Once she recovered from that shock, I loved the way that she put her talents as a life coach into helping Marjorie and Cecil find their way back to each other. I ached a little bit for Dylan, who believed that his magical contributions were quite minor. Personally, I think a man with the gift of empathy is pretty darn special. Add in his ability to sense magic in other people, and I thought he was pretty talented. I did feel bad for him when Charly overreacted to his empathy, but fortunately, she moved past that pretty quickly. I liked how he supported her through all of the revelations about her life and family. The sparks between them were intense and amplified by Dylan's talents. I liked how they came together at the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed the assorted residents of the retirement home and their interactions. The scene with the loud music and the hearing aids was hilarious, as was the "courtroom" scene with Charly's father. I also loved the cats, from Charly's kittens to the ones that served as enforcers.

GNOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Kristal Hollis - When an empath who’s failed at every relationship impulsively kisses an enchanted garden gnome, he magically turns into a real man. Together they must find his one true love and end the curse by Christmas or he’ll be forever alone and trapped within his stone prison.

A misfit in her own magical family, Lily frequently found herself at Coquina Castle, pouring out her troubles to the garden gnome figure there. When she discovered the figure for sale at the local antique shop, she bought it and brought it home. She's shocked when the figure turned into a very human, very attractive man. Several centuries earlier, Nick was cursed by a woman he rejected and turned into a stone figure. Now he needs to find the one true love who can break the curse.

There were so many times I wanted to shake Lily. She was so convinced that she was wrong for him that she wouldn't see the truth. After listening to Lily for so many years, Nick is already mostly in love with her, but Lily truly believes that she is not the woman he needs. However, she cares for him and is determined to help him find the right woman. There are some great scenes as she introduces him to various single women, but none of them appeal to Nick.

Things get complicated when they visit the estate where he worked and the scene of his cursing. Evil forces are determined that Lily won't succeed in her mission, and the effect on her is chilling. Nick is determined to show Lily that she is the one for him, but first, he has to save her. The ending was quite exciting as Nick enlisted help from unexpected sources. I was on the edge of my seat until the evil one was defeated and Nick showed Lily that she was his and always had been.

RING MA BELL by Debra Jess - In 1979, Michael Bell fell in love with high seas radio technician Dvorah Levi's voice as she guided him to safety, but their marriage was cut short by a bullet. Forty years later, Dvorah still mourns him. Can a special holiday and a magical Sherwood cat bring him back?

Good second chance story. Dvorah and Michael met during an exciting adventure. Michael, a PI, was kidnapped by drug dealers. Partially rescued by his magical cat, it was Dvorah's voice on the ship's radio that brought him the rest of the way home. Something about her voice touched him deeply and he proposed marriage on the spot. But they'd only been married a week when he was murdered. Dvorah spent the next forty years mourning him, never willing to move on with her life. Over his many incarnations over the years, Michael's cat watched her grieve and worried about her loneliness. Finally, he made a decision to try to change history, knowing it could have unintended consequences.

I loved Goliath and his love for both Michael and Dvorah. His decision was not an easy one. I was glued to the pages as I followed the events leading up to the situation that had resulted in Michael's death. I liked seeing Michael and Dvorah grow closer, their love deepens. I was on the edge of my seat, knowing what was coming and wondering how Goliath would prevent it. The final confrontation was exciting and not what I expected. I ached for Goliath but cheered for the results of his actions. The move back to the present day was heartwarming and showed the results of Goliath's actions.

FAMILIAR BLESSINGS by Candace Colt - A gifted medium, Theo Blessing renounced her magic, tired of being hounded by the greedy dead. Former Army Ranger Ethan Cooper promised to repay a debt to a man whose wise counsel brought him out of war's dark shadow. Ethan appears on Theo's doorstep with a puzzling letter. If what it says is true, the reluctant medium and skeptical Ranger must travel back to 1720 to save a young boy from the gallows.

Good story where the past meets the present. Ethan is a former soldier on a mission to deliver a letter. An elderly neighbor back home helped Ethan deal with the traumas he experienced during the war. In return, Ethan will deliver this letter to the man's granddaughter. Theo has run away from her gift as a medium, tired of being hounded day and night by those who want more than she can give. Ethan's arrival forces her to make some decisions about her future.

Ethan was pretty closed off when he arrived, determined to drop the letter and leave. Once Theo read the letter, she knew she had to keep Ethan with her. The challenge was getting Ethan to believe the truth, and then to agree to help. It was especially interesting when Theo's cat, Wishes, got involved. I enjoyed seeing the resolution of the problem and the steps they had to take to accomplish it. The ending was adorable.

PURRFECTLY CHRISTMAS by Mia Ellas - Faerie Sormey Johnson moved to Cat's Paw Cove to live a quiet life as a human until a sexy werewolf deputy needs her help tracking down a murderous monster. When Sormey offers herself as bait, the cost may be more than she bargained for.

A faerie and a werewolf make an unusual team. Sormey has been hiding out in Cat's Paw Cove for five years, desperate to remain out of the hands of her uncle Oberon. To do that, she has disguised herself as an old woman. That disguise starts to fall apart when she is adopted by one of the town's magical cats. Then her best friend's grandson comes to town, looking for a monster that killed his sister.

There was a connection between Sormey and Max right away, with Max stirring up feelings that she hasn't had for quite a while. It's obvious that Max feels the same about her. With the need to stop the monster becoming more urgent. Sormey offers to act as bait and draw him out. Things get intense when events move faster than expected, and Sormey is in more danger than they had planned for. Help came from an unexpected source, arriving just in time. When it was all over, it was time for Sormey to make some decisions about her future. Would Max be part of that future or would he move on to the next case?

One of the secondary characters was Sormey's brother. I didn't like him at all, especially the way he talked to his sister.

CHRISTMAS AT MOON MIST MANOR by Kerry Evelyn - Lanie and Matt Saunders return to Cat's Paw Cove two years after their first disastrous Christmas there. When a mysterious kitten leads Matt back in time, can he right the wrongs of the past and give his expectant wife the perfect Christmas?

Matt and Lainie have spent more time apart than together during their marriage, thanks to his job as a rescue worker. They have big plans for this Christmas - a few days in Cat's Paw Cove, then up to Maine to spend the holidays with his family. Lainie is very pregnant, and her emotions are all over the place - mostly feelings of guilt over the way she acted during their last trip to the Cove. She is also suffering from some hormone-driven insecurity.

Matt is happy to be home with Lainie. He's nervous about becoming a father and senses that something is bothering Lainie. Matt irritated me a bit because he seemed totally wrapped up in his need to be active in the rescues and oblivious to the idea that Lainie needed him, too.

I liked their arrival at the Cove this time. Lainie is less judgmental about the unique Southern traditions and lack of cold and snow. Though the baby isn't due for a while yet, she is more and more uncomfortable. The help she received did more than relieve her discomfort; it opened her eyes to the uniqueness of the island. There were some interesting situations that brought out new revelations to both Matt and Lainie, and I liked seeing how they dealt with them. The kitten, Pippi was the catalyst to several of them. I liked how both Matt and Lainie learned something new about themselves and each other, things that made their relationship stronger. There was some excitement at the end that had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.

NEW YEAR’S KISS by Darcy Devlon - In order to overcome a family curse, Griffin Brooks, the town's hotshot assistant fire chief, must earn his true love's trust. Trina Lancaster knows she can release Griffin's curse, but will her magical family baggage be a deal-breaker?

True love rescued by a trip through time. Griffin and Trina have a history. They'd been a couple for a short time, but then Griffin broke it off for no apparent reason. He hasn't moved on to another relationship, and Trina is still in love with him. Even the Cove's cats know that they belong together, but until Griffin wishes for something to change, they can't help him.

I ached for Griffin, who still loves Trina but is convinced that the family curse will only cause him to hurt her. Five years after their breakup, Trina has asked for advice from her mother and has a plan. She's nervous about it because it means she'll have to face her biggest fear, but she'll do anything to win her man.

I liked the guidance that Trina and Griffin received before they left - learn what you can but don't do anything that will change history. Neither realized how hard that would be. Finding out the origin of the family curse gave Griffin the courage to fight it. Trina, too, realized that she had a tendency to psych herself out of actions by overthinking them. I loved the surprise message that Griffin found in an old photo album and the effect it had on him. The ending was sweet and showed that love can conquer all.

Gambling on the Artist - Wynter Daniels (CPC Publishing - Oct 2019)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 3)

Artist Samantha Cartwright arrives in Cat's Paw Cove for a visit with her great Aunt Emma, hoping to get clarity about Emma's cryptic prediction. Instead, Sam finds out she must mind her aunt's metaphysical shop while Emma is away on vacation. The temporary job proves impossible for Sam because unlike Emma, Sam possesses no magical powers. Lucky for her, tall, dark, and handsome help enters the shop just in the nick of time.

Eli Kincaid managed to get on the bad side of a ruthless loan shark. Now his life depends upon his ability to con an innocent woman out of the only thing of value she owns -- a precious jewel she inherited. If he can get close to Sam, maybe he can figure out where she's keeping the gem. What he hadn't counted on was falling for his mark. Can he escape the web of deception and protect Sam as sinister forces close in on both of them?

Fun book. Sam arrives in Cat's Paw Cove expecting to spend time with her Aunt Emma. Instead, Emma has left on vacation, leaving Sam in charge of her shop. This puts Sam in a tough spot because she has none of Emma's magical powers. She's grateful for the tall, dark, and hunky guy who steps up to give her a hand. Unknown to her, Eli isn't just a chance acquaintance. A professional gambler, a run of bad luck put Eli at the mercy of a loan shark. His debt will be forgiven if Eli acquires (through fair means or foul) the sapphire brooch that Sam inherited from her father. All he has to do is get close enough to find it.

I liked both Sam and Eli. Sam is an incredible artist with very little confidence in herself. Her childhood was spent with a mother who always put her down. The only good parts were the times she spent with her Aunt Emma, who encouraged Sam's creativity. Sam went out on her own when she was seventeen, determined to make it on her own. She knows she has made mistakes, but she learns from them and moves on. Eli is a good guy at heart. His childhood wasn't all that great either, and when his mother died he was raised by his older sister. He may be a gambler, but he's an honest one until this situation puts his sister's life at risk.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sam and Eli. There are sparks between them from the start, but Sam is wary. She's been hurt before by men who have lied and cheated, so trusting Eli won't be easy. Eli lays the charm on pretty thick, which works against him a bit. Once he dials it back a little, Sam is more willing to accept his help in the shop. I liked watching them get to know each other and share bits of their pasts. This posed a problem for Eli because he quickly realized that he was falling for her. When the threats against him extend to his sister and Sam, Eli knows he has to do something to end it. There were some intense moments when the bad guys show up in Cat's Paw Cove, and Eli has some decisions to make. I ached for Sam when she learned the truth. I liked the way that everything worked out. The epilogue was great.

I enjoyed seeing more of the town's residents. Each one is intriguing, which leaves me hoping that they all get stories of their own. I especially enjoyed seeing more of Jordan and her ability to communicate with animals.

A Witch in Time - Catherine Kean, Wynter Daniels (CPC Publishing - Sept 2019)

Series: Cat's Paw Cove (Book 1)

Welcome to Cat’s Paw Cove, Florida—an enchanting seaside town and favorite tourist destination. But there’s something unusual about the locals, both human and feline. The popular Shipwreck Museum might just take you back in time, and the historic Sherwood House holds secrets, old and new. Adopt a furever friend at the Cove Cat Café, treat yourself to a psychic reading at Eye of Newt metaphysical shop, pick up a special trinket from Black Cat Antiquities. And don’t be surprised if you find your heart in the magic of Cat’s Paw Cove.

In a violent storm in 1645, Colin Wilshire’s Barbados-bound ship is swept off course. He’s sure he and his pregnant bride are fated to drown when he’s tossed into the sea. He wakes in a strange land and is saved by a blue-haired angel.

Twenty-first-century witch and cat rescuer Luna Halpern has fallen for more than her share of unsuitable guys—including one with a long-distance fiancé, and another who was more interested in other dudes than in Luna. Finally, a safe, drama-free guy is interested in her, and she’s confident that she’ll muster up an attraction to him. When she stumbles upon a handsome, mysterious man who speaks oddly, seems not to know where he is, or even what century it is, her first instinct is to help him.

Certain he’s either stuck in a crazy dream or in limbo between life and death, Colin stays close to Luna. As his feelings for her grow, he’s forced to choose between his obligations in the past and his hopes for the future.

Fun start to a new series. Luna is a twenty-first-century witch, baker, and cat rescuer. She also has terrible luck with men. This year, for Founders Day, she is determined to avoid repeating past mistakes. But when she stumbles across a man who is a dead ringer for the one who has haunted her dreams, her good intentions go right out the window.

Colin is very confused. The last thing he remembers is being on a ship bound for Barbados, along with his pregnant wife. He's looking to start a new life and get away from the troubles he inherited. A freak storm washed him overboard, and now he's in a world he doesn't recognize. If not for the blue-haired angel who comes to his rescue he would be in even deeper trouble.

I liked both Luna and Colin. Colin is an honorable man who wants to make a good life for himself and his pregnant wife. Even when tossed overboard, he attempts to save others before being sucked underwater. He's understandably confused when he stumbles out of the water into a strange new world. His reactions are fun to see. Luna is a talented baker and also runs a cat rescue. She's a bit tired of dealing with the weirdos that come out for Founders Day, but she'll deal with it. I liked how she thought Colin was just another of them and wanted to help anyway.

It was fun to watch the relationship develop between Colin and Luna. There were sparks between them from the start, but Colin was determined to get back to his own time. I liked seeing the two together as they were drawn to each other. Colin was surprised by his unexpected jealousy and wondered what it indicated about his relationship with his wife. As they worked together to get Colin onto the Ship Museum, the connection between them grew. There are some surprising twists in store that will affect Colin's plans for the future.

There is also a bit of suspense as there are rumors that there is a treasure aboard the museum ship. Colin wants to see if the item he hid on board is still there. They run into unexpected trouble, and the confrontation is pretty intense. The identity of the culprit is a surprise. I liked Colin's decision about the item he found. The epilogue was great, and I loved the surprise he added to his latest invention.

This was an entertaining read, and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

 

Naughty or Nerdy?/The Husband Hotel - Elise Title, Darlene Gardner (Harl Duets #68 - Jan 2002)

Naughty or Nerdy? by Elise Title

His inner Don Juan is itching to get out...

Judd Turner hated college. He'd been a geek, and had been in love with the gorgeous -- and taken -- Lucy Walker. Things have changed, though. His 10-year reunion is fast approaching, and Judd's now a hot and sexy P.I. But when he has to go from naughty to nerdy to bust Lucy's fiancé for embezzlement, he's not thrilled. It's hard enough keeping his mind on work in this getup without fantasizing about the girl of his dreams. His only hope? Lucy sees past the disguise and falls for the new and improved him!

This was a fun story. Judd is really looking forward to his ten-year reunion and a chance to reconnect with the girl he loved back then. He's ready to show her that he's no longer the shy, awkward geek she knew, but had matured into a fit and sexy PI. So he's not at all happy when his boss informs him that he's attending his reunion undercover, and back in geek mode. One of his classmates is an embezzler, and it is up to Judd to get the goods on him. The fly in the ointment? The man is Lucy's fiancé. She'll be even less inclined to give him the time of day if Judd busts the man she loves.

I felt so bad for Judd getting stuck in a fat suit, fake braces, and nerd glasses after working so hard to leave that persona behind. The scene with his boss, Roz, as she explained, was a riot as Judd tried desperately to rescue his plans. It was especially painful for him as his mark, Kyle, was still the "golden god" that he'd been in college. Kyle got on my nerves from the beginning with his condescending treatment of Judd. I was immediately ready to see him go down.

Lucy was not all that happy about going to the reunion. She's an investigative reporter leaving on an assignment and not very interested in reliving the past. But Kyle guilts her into going, so she makes the best of it. The one plus is getting to see her old friend, Judd again. She's a little surprised at his appearance, but he's still the same terrific guy she knew in school.

I enjoyed the development of Judd and Lucy's relationship. Poor Judd. He feels terribly guilty about deceiving Lucy about his appearance and about who he is. As circumstances throw them together, keeping his secret gets more difficult. Lucy is happy to see Judd again and remembers how good a friend he was, especially during her frequent breakups with Kyle. It's easy to see the sparks between Lucy and Judd, but there are obstacles that stand between them. There is Judd's deception and his investigation of Kyle. There is also the slight chance that Lucy is as involved as Kyle in the embezzlement, though Judd doesn't want to believe that's true. Lucy is engaged to Kyle and comfortable with their relationship most of the time. Lucy is also somewhat suspicious about Judd, and her imagination goes a little wild as she tries to put the pieces together. As the investigation takes off, misunderstandings abound. Judd may be a hottie now, but when it comes to Lucy, he still carries some residual insecurity, making it hard for him to believe that she wants him. Lucy's world comes crashing down when everything is revealed, and she has to face up to her mistakes. I ached for Judd, who stepped back to give Lucy the time she needed, and for Lucy, who had conflicting feelings. The end was sweet and fun as they finally put the past behind them.

The suspense part of the story was hilarious. There was Kyle, the embezzler, who was convinced of his own superiority. He had no morals whatsoever, both in his professional and personal lives. Danielle, Kyle's ex-girlfriend, was more than just the class vamp. Rico, the local mob boss, had his fingers in a lot of pies. Judd had to sort out all of their roles while maintaining his cover. And Lucy, whose reporter senses told her there was something fishy going on, was on the right track but had some of the essential parts mixed up. I laughed out loud so many times as Judd tried to get the information he needed without revealing the truth. Once Lucy's suspicions were aroused, there was no holding her back. The scene in Judd's room, as Lucy hid under the bed, was hilarious. Things did get a bit intense when Rico's thugs got involved, and Judd was in extreme danger. Even that part had its fun moments with Lucy trying to explain the unexplainable to the cops. I liked the final resolution, though it did seem a bit anti-climactic.

 

The Husband Hotel by Darlene Gardner

The fix is in!

Jay Overman, inventor of the Impeccabra, has a job to do: keep eligible fellas away from hotel manager Tara Patterson. No way was she to get distracted from climbing the corporate ladder. Sounds easy enough, but not for Jay! It turns out that undercover work is not his thing, 'cause the only thing this would-be maintenance man can maintain is a healthy male interest in his sweet 'n sexy boss. And little does Jay know that he'll become Tara's biggest distraction...ever!

Fun book. Tara recently graduated with a degree in hotel management and scored her first job running a hotel near Washington DC. She likes making the visitors feel at home, even flirting a little bit with the men while still remaining professional. The only fly in her ointment is her father, who pushes her to stay focused on her career and leave romance until she is at least thirty. She's so fed up with his nagging that she informed him that she uses the hotel to shop for a husband.

Jay is a civil engineer who used his engineering skills to design a better bra. He's helping his sister with the family lingerie business when he gets a call from their father's old friend. Cliff wants Jay to go undercover at his daughter's hotel and keep her from latching onto any eligible men. Jay will be onsite as the maintenance man, ready to discourage any man who gets too close.

This was clearly a disaster waiting to happen. Jay may be a civil engineer, but as a maintenance man, he is awful. It doesn't help that, from the first moment he met her, Tara is one huge distraction. Though he has no plans to marry anytime soon himself, he quickly finds that he's all too willing to scare off any man showing interest in Tara. There are some pretty funny scenes of those attempts because Jay isn't the kind of guy who likes to intimidate people. It isn't long before his attraction to Tara has him feeling guilty about the deception. At the same time, Tara feels drawn to Jay, which puts her in a quandary. She is attracted to him, but he is an employee, which means that a relationship is out of the question. Things get even more complicated when Tara becomes suspicious of Jay and discovers the truth. Her reaction and subsequent actions add another layer of hilarity on top of what was already there. I did like Jay's efforts to make everything right again.

One of my favorite characters was Tara's assistant Sadie Mae. She was delightfully klutzy, with a huge heart. I liked the way that she stepped in to help Jay with his repair duties, without betraying him to Tara. I also enjoyed her attempts to stop Tara's revenge scheme, even though she also helped set it up. She had more common sense than was apparent at the beginning.  

Tangled Threat - Heather Graham (HI #1875 - Sept 2019)

Some things you can't forget.

A body hanging from the infamous History Tree unraveled their teenage love. Now Maura Antrim is again tangled up with Brock McGovern. Twelve years later, they're back where that murder occurred -- where Brock had been arrested and then released, where Maura had run, too scared to stand by his side. But with two women missing, and Brock now an FBI agent, Maura is determined to help. Together, they'll have to confront a threat that never died and see if their passion has withstood the test of time.

Terrific book that sucked me in right from the start. It began with a prologue when Maura and Brock were eighteen-year-olds working at a local resort. They were in love and had plans for the future. But the horrific sight of a body hanging from the notorious History Tree, and Brock's subsequent arrest as a person of interest, derailed their plans. Even though he was released almost immediately, Maura's parents had taken her away. Now Maura is back at the resort filming videos and fighting the memories. Brock, who followed through with his plans and became an FBI agent, is sent to the resort to investigate the disappearance of several women and the remains of another.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the romance between Maura and Brock. They were stunned to see each other again after so many years. Their initial interactions were awkward. Brock remembered his heartbreak as Maura disappeared from his life, and she spent years hurt and angry that he never contacted her. But underneath the awkwardness and anger burned the feelings that never went away. I liked seeing them reconnect and get to know the people they have become since the events twelve years earlier. As they spent time together working on the disappearances, the chemistry and feelings between them continued to grow. Brock was protective of Maura and worried about her as the investigation heated up. Meanwhile, Maura worried just as much about him. I felt Brock's fear over Maura's safety at the end, and Maura's confidence that he would find her. I liked how they came together at the end, with their young love maturing to match who they are today.

The suspense of the story was very good. I was drawn in immediately by Maura's recounting of the story of the history tree and the ghost Gyselle. The descriptions were vivid, and I felt as though I was there. The terror at the sight of the hanging body leapt off the page. Twelve years later, FBI agent Brock was specifically requested to come to Florida to help with the investigations. That the person doing the requesting was the same detective who had arrested Brock was a nice touch, and gave an extra layer of déjà vu to the story. Maura arrived at the same time to do a video about the History Tree with her client. The presence of so many of the people from that previous summer gave Brock a wide variety of possible suspects for his investigation as it began to look like the resort was at the center of the disappearances. Every time I thought I had the villain figured out, someone else would make me question my decision. The tension increased as Brock moved closer to solving the crime, and he became especially concerned for Maura's safety. I was on the edge of my seat as his fears came to pass. I loved Maura's presence of mind and determination as she refused to become a victim. The final confrontation had an unexpected twist to it, as my suspicions about one character proved true, but I was blindsided by the involvement of another.

I liked catching up with the characters from that first summer. Besides the changes that Brock and Maura went through, it was interesting to see what transpired for the others. Some truly surprised me while others hadn't changed at all. I also liked the bit at the end about Brock's life in New York and his connection with Finnegan's.