Rita Herron

Good combination of suspense and romance. The book opened with a flashback to the night of the fire at Whistler's hospital from Peyton's perspective. We see that she knew something was wrong in a case earlier that week, and that she received a threatening phone call about it. It is also clear that keeping quiet eats at her conscience, but fear for her mother gives her no choice.

Five years later, special agent Liam Maverick gets a break in the case of the hospital fire that killed his father. show more The man that he talks to points a finger at Peyton. When Liam questions her, he is immediately suspicious because he senses that she is hiding something. Peyton is determined to keep her secret, but she knows she needs help when she receives a new threat against her mother.

I liked the development of the relationship between Liam and Peyton. Though he was suspicious of her at first, Liam also sensed that she was scared. His protective instinct kicked in quickly, and he was determined to keep her safe. Peyton was wary of Liam at the beginning because she could tell that he didn't believe her. But when she needed help, she knew that she could trust him. Neither expected sparks of attraction, especially in the middle of such a perilous situation. I loved seeing them grow closer. Liam discovered that Peyton filled an empty space in his life, and Peyton found herself dreaming of a life she'd given up on after the fire. However, there are still some obstacles between them. Peyton kept one other secret from Liam because she was burned by others who knew it. When Liam found out, he was hurt and a bit angry that she didn't trust him. It took a push from his three brothers to make him see the truth. The ending was sweet, and I loved seeing them come together. There was a fun twist to the end of it.

The suspense of the story was intense all the way through. The threats against Peyton picked up right after Liam questioned her. Those threats escalated quickly from verbal to attempts on her life and that of her mother. Once Peyton decided to help Liam, it sometimes seemed there were more questions than answers. Several suspects had means and motive, and there were a few twists before the final confrontation. I was on the edge of my seat as it played out, especially as I did not see part of it coming. show less

Very good book with action from the beginning and a couple with a second chance to get it right. Brett has returned to Pistol Whip for two reasons, first to make peace with his dying father, and second to decide what to do with his future. He's been on the rodeo circuit for twelve years and his body has about had enough, but he's not sure what's next. Then his father tells him that he's sorry for splitting up Brett and his girlfriend Willow, and that he's worried about Willow because of her show more husband. He makes Brett promise to check up on her.

Willow is aware that Brett is home for a visit, but she tries to avoid seeing him. They had been in love during high school, but she knew he wanted more than being stuck on the ranch, so she wasn't surprised when he left. She saw him again five years ago and they had one passionate night together, then he disappeared back to the rodeo circuit. When she discovered she was pregnant, she didn't contact him, not wanting to trap him in a situation he didn't ask for. Instead, she married another man, one who seemed charming and caring, only to discover that he was abusive, controlling and unfaithful. They've been separated for three years and she had just gotten him to agree to a divorce when she came home to discover that he'd been murdered in her house and her son had been kidnapped. Told not to contact police, Brett is the only person she feels she can turn to.

When Brett responds to Willow's hysterical phone call, he's horrified by what he finds in her house. He knows he should call the sheriff, who is also his brother, but knowing that her son could die if he does, he agrees to help cover it up until they can rescue Sam. The descriptions of what they did were vivid enough that I felt I was there, and could feel Willow's terror for the safety of her son. I loved Brett's protectiveness as he took care of Willow and promised that they would find Sam. Willow feels tremendous guilt over not telling Brett about Sam, but she still keeps her secret, fearing that he would be too angry with her to continue to help.

I really enjoyed seeing how Brett and Willow found their way back to each other. Brett had never forgotten his feelings for her, but believing that she had moved on, he hadn't tried to see her again after that one night. He had taken advantage of his rodeo stardom to drown his memories of her with booze and rodeo groupies, but finally realized that it didn't help. Being near her again showed him that he was ready to move on to a new stage in life and that he wanted Willow to be part of it even before he knew the truth. When he found out about Sam, he was afraid that Willow hadn't told him because she didn't think he would be a good father. I loved seeing how happy he was to be a dad and how quickly he and Sam took to each other. Willow had admitted to herself that she had never really loved her husband but had been looking for the stability of a family of her own. Being near Brett again shows her that she had never stopped loving him, but she doesn't believe that he'll ever want to settle down. She doesn't want to trap him, so she doesn't say anything to him about her feelings. I loved the ending and seeing how everything worked out.

The mystery itself, of why Sam had been kidnapped and what the kidnappers wanted was really good. I could feel Willow's fear and desperation as they tried to find Sam. The steps they took to try to find out who was behind it only intensified the danger they were in. For total amateurs they were pretty good investigators. There was an interesting twist at the end with the identity of one of the kidnappers that I didn't see coming. The scene at the mine was really scary, but did bring Brett and his brothers closer together. It had a satisfactory resolution. show less

The Ice Sisters, the tenth book in the Detective Ellie Reeves series, delivers a gripping tale filled with mystery and suspense. Fans of police procedurals will be captivated not only by the story but also by the characters. Within this installment, readers will find themselves plunged into a web of secrets, lies, and murder. Let the rollercoaster ride begin.

At the start of "The Ice Sisters,", which picks up a few weeks after the end of The Sleeping Girls, Detective Ellie Reeves went hiking show more with plans to return in time for Thanksgiving dinner with her parents. During her hike on the icy and wet mountain, she stumbled across the corpses of twin girls in the snow. Where were their parents? How did they end up in the mountains, and how did they die? The situation becomes more complicated when the mother of the twins turns up dead and another individual associated with the victims has gone missing.

What an experience! From the very first page, the story will captivate the reader and hold their attention until the very end. The mystery, filled with numerous twists, proved challenging, making it difficult for one to ascertain the villain's identity. The plethora of suspects added to the challenge. At the point when one thinks they had it all figured out, Herron throws in yet another twist, leaving the reader utterly baffled. The secrets played an integral role in the plot, adding depth and intrigue. The revelation of these secrets elicits empathy for the affected parties, making the story even more compelling.

With regards to Ellie's personal life, it was heartwarming to see her taking charge. Her choice delighted the reader, and one hopes nothing happens to disrupt it. Overall, The Ice Sisters make an exciting addition to the series and one which I highly recommend. show less

Good book with intense suspense. Macy returned to her hometown for a school reunion and to dispose of her childhood home, hoping to put her past behind her once and for all. The book opens as Macy enters her home for the first time in years, determined to clear it out. Her mom clearly let the place go before entering a psychiatric facility for her mental issues. Macy tears through the house like a whirlwind, bagging things for disposal while fighting off the memories of her painful show more childhood. I ached for Macy as she remembered Lynn's volatility and abusiveness.

When Macy was a child, she was forbidden to go into the basement, but now it is one more place to clear out. I could feel her trepidation as she unlocked the door and went down the steps. The author's description was so vivid that I could almost smell the mildew and mustiness. And despite the book title, I nearly jumped out of my skin when Macy saw that bony hand sticking out of the wall. She quickly realizes that her departure will be delayed with the house now a crime scene. Recalling her childhood nightmares, she is also concerned that her mother may be a murderer.

As sheriff, Stone is first on the scene when she calls him. He and Macy worked together to solve the mystery in the series' first book, and he respects her abilities as an agent. He is also drawn to her as a person. He is slightly concerned about how she'd handle an investigation that involves her mother. When they arrive at the facility to question Macy's mom, they discover that she has disappeared. Finding her and getting answers becomes a high priority.

I was intrigued by the twists and turns of their investigation into past events. From identifying the body to tracking Lynn's activities all those years ago, each new revelation only created more questions. The intensity ramped up when someone knocked Macy out and set fire to the house with Macy in it. Stone's timely arrival saved her life but left her wondering if her mother tried to kill her. As Macy and Stone delved deeper into Lynn's past, an unexpected connection sent them on a new path. The final confrontation had one last twist and a revelation that would alter Macy's relationship with her mother.

I liked seeing the development of Macy and Stone's relationship. The sparks were there early, but with Macy due to return to her FBI post and Stone staying in Briar Ridge, neither planned to pursue the attraction. I loved Stone's kindness and compassion as he learned more about Macy's childhood and the protectiveness he couldn't help feeling. Macy is so used to burying her memories and feelings of her childhood that she isn't sure how to handle her reactions to his care. When everything was over, Macy had to decide whether to return to her old life or take a chance that Stone cared about her as much as she did him. I liked the scene with the rocks at the end. show less