Barb Han

Terrific, fast-paced story that hooked me from the first page and kept me intrigued to the end. The book opens with Tiernan walking his dog Loki (perfect name for the pup!) on his ranch and Loki finding a dead body. A paper with a woman's name and address is found in the victim's pocket. Tiernan rides along with the sheriff to see her.

Melody has just finished a job interview when she finds a mysterious note on her windshield. She's unsure if it is meant for her, or a mistake, or somehow show more related to her father's crimes. When she stops at home, she's met by a sheriff's deputy and Tiernan and told that she's wanted for questioning by the sheriff. She's confused and concerned but goes along with them.

I already liked Tiernan at this point. His instincts tell him that there is no way Melody could be the murderer. I also appreciated his immediate protectiveness as he watched the sheriff do everything he could to pin the murder on Melody. I loved how he told her to stop answering questions while he made a phone call and got her a top-notch lawyer. He takes her back to his house, where she meets Loki. Tiernan's sensitivity to her fear of dogs and explanation of Loki's history were a good look at the kind and compassionate man he is.

I ached for Melody as the truth of her trouble hit hard. The meeting with the lawyer helps some, but hearing the sheriff is searching her house adds to that feeling. Then, the twist of the victim's identity adds to the situation's complexity. I liked how Tiernan offered to let Melody stay with him when she didn't want to be alone.

Though the lawyer and the sheriff have people investigating, Tiernan and Melody decide to do a little sleuthing themselves. I loved Melody's determination to be fully involved and Tiernan's desire to help and keep her safe. The twists and turns of their searches, combined with the sheriff's determination to pin the murder on Melody, kept me as deeply invested as they were. Even as the clues piled up, I was kept guessing about who was behind the attempt to frame Melody. The final confrontation surprised me and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Tiernan and Melody. They were attracted to each other from the moment they met but tried to resist because of their situation. Both also have trust issues from previous relationships, which take a little while to overcome. I especially liked Tiernan's protectiveness and the sweet way he cared for Melody. At the same time, she felt protective of him and tried to keep from being too disruptive to his life. I liked seeing the similarities in their attitudes towards wealth and privilege. I loved the ending and seeing them admit their feelings for each other. I wish there had been an epilogue because I would have liked more about Tiernan and his family.

Loki was my favorite secondary character. I loved how Tiernan told Melody Loki's story and its effect on her. Tiernan's love for the dog was undeniable, and I loved seeing them together. I also liked Loki's protectiveness toward Tiernan and Melody. I've had two labs, and the author nailed the breed's personality.

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Good start to the series, with a nice mix of romance and suspense. The story opens as Payton barely escapes from a serial killer. She's kicking herself for not trusting the instincts that warned her against trusting the softspoken man who offered help with her groceries. She's left Austin for Cider Creek and the house her aunt left her, looking for somewhere to keep a low profile until the police catch the killer. With her is Atlas, her newly adopted dog, who doesn't like men.

Callum has show more been called back to the family ranch by his mother and grandmother. He and his five siblings left the ranch behind because of issues with their grandfather. Now that he's gone, his mother wants them all back on the ranch, but they all have their own lives and businesses. Callum is the oldest and is tasked with finding out what is happening. He plans to stay a couple of weeks and then leave again. Then, he meets the lovely lady in the house across the road.

I loved seeing Callum scurry over to Payton's place with a batch of his grandmother's muffins, mainly to escape being interrogated by his mother. It was an interesting first meeting with Atlas trying to attack him, then Callum rescuing Atlas after a wild hog attacks him. When Callum hears what Payton has been through, his protective instincts are aroused. I liked how he and his mom and grandmother insisted she stay with them. Protectiveness isn't all that Callum experiences with Payton. He's never felt such an instant connection with another woman and is wary of risking his heart after a previous betrayal. Payton feels the same intense attraction but also has trust issues, thanks to her parents' volatile relationship. But the more time they spend together, the easier for them to believe they have something special.

Callum is determined to protect Payton and accompanies her back to Austin for a meeting with the police, only to discover that it was a trick from the killer. I was glued to the pages as Callum and Payton put their heads together to investigate who the killer could be. Their methods made a lot of sense, and they had a good chance of success. The intensity ramped up thanks to a strange encounter and new information. The final confrontation had a twist I didn't expect, and I loved Callum's handling of it.

A secondary mystery involving threats and vandalism at the ranch is ongoing. This is part of why Callum's mom wants her family back at the ranch. I liked seeing Callum reordering his priorities and finding a way to have the best of both worlds. I liked the ending and seeing him and Payton moving forward together. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, seeing his siblings' stories, and following what is happening with the ranch. show less

Good start to the new series. Quint and Ree are ATF agents assigned to work together on an undercover investigation. Quint is infamous for being intimidating, and Ree is a little nervous about working with him. I loved her call to her brother for advice on appearing married. The suggestions were good, and the conversation gave some excellent insight into Ree and her abilities. Her background of having four older brothers comes in handy when dealing with Quint.

I loved the first meeting show more between Ree and Quint. She comes out swinging, setting up a position of strength before Quint can even open his mouth. He isn't happy about working with a partner, especially a woman. He recently lost his partner and best friend, and his guilty feelings over the event pop up at inconvenient times. He and Ree only have a few minutes during the initial conversation, and their tension is palpable. Quint's response to her "rules" leaves them both reeling.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Quint and Ree develop. The sparks between them are real and make their cover as a pair of newlyweds more authentic. However, the attraction is also a complication because they know doing anything about it is a bad idea. I liked seeing them get to know each other as they carried out their mission. Despite his intimidating appearance, Quint has a surprisingly soft side that he keeps well hidden. It was sweet to see how he cared for her after her shifts and the protectiveness he couldn't deny. There's an emotional scene where Quint shares what happened to his partner, and Ree's reaction sets him on the road toward healing. They got quite close after only a few days, but with the quick end to the case, their "marriage" is over, and they go back to their everyday lives.

Because this is only the first of four books starring Quint and Ree, the development of their relationship leans on the slow-burn side. At thirty-six, Ree's relationships tend to be short-lived flings rather than genuine relationships. Her time with Quint makes her re-examine her attitude. Quint is forty-two and also sticks to short-term affairs. Their reluctance to part ways is evident at the end of this book, but the door is open for future contact.

The suspense of the story was good and kept me turning the pages. The lead on the weapons trafficking came out of the case that resulted in the loss of Quint's partner, and Quint is determined to shut it down. In an unusual twist from most of these stories, Ree has the most direct action, while Quint mostly does surveillance. I got a kick out of the beginning when Ree deals with Quint's doubts about her undercover skills in a straightforward manner. There were a few worrisome moments when Ree's impatience for results tempted her to push faster than she should, but Quint and her common sense kept her to the plan. Quint's attention to detail helped narrow down the suspects. An unexpected twist precipitates a dangerous confrontation that had me glued to the pages until it was all over. And while this investigation was successfully concluded, there are still some loose ends from the original case. I can't wait for the next book to see where it leads.

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Good start to a new series. This is a second chance love story. It's been almost a year since Mitch's wife's death left him to raise their twins alone. Because her body was never found, Mitch never lost that little bit of hope that she was still alive, but he's still shocked when she shows up at his house. After hearing her story, he's also angry and hurt that she didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth from the start. He's not sure he believes her tale, but he's not willing to risk show more the lives of his children if he's wrong.

I liked both Mitch and Kimberly. I loved how Mitch is devoted to his children. I ached for him and his worry over Andrea's health issues. He also still grieves over his wife's death and how the twins will grow up without a mother's love. I also hurt for Kimberly. She didn't want to abandon her babies, but their safety and Mitch's was more important than her feelings. I loved the strength of her determination to keep them safe.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Mitch and Kimberly. Mitch's anger at Kimberly at the beginning was believable and understandable. He could also see her love for the babies and that she believed she did the right thing, which softened his anger a little. He was surprised to discover that his feelings for her hadn't died, but he was also wary of trusting her with his heart again. Kimberly regrets her deception and the way she left, but she was still convinced she did the right thing. She never stopped loving Mitch, but leaving was the only way she could protect him and the babies. As she and Mitch went on the run, the intensity of their situation amplified the attraction they felt for each other. But could Mitch forgive her enough to let her back into his life, and can Kimberly believe that his love is enough to overcome her past?

The suspense of the story was terrific. Kimberly's fear for Mitch and the babies leaped off the pages. I could see how desperate she was to convince Mitch that she was telling the truth. The rapid escalation of the danger that they were in kept me glued to the pages. The final confrontation was a nail-biter and I couldn't wait to see how it would be resolved. Also, there was an incident involving a mutilated cow at the beginning of the book that I suspect is a hint of something that will come up in the following books.

I liked how the rest of the Kent family rallied around them and joined forces to find the truth. I especially enjoyed how they welcomed Kimberly back and didn't judge her over the things she revealed. There was a sweet scene at the end where the Kents showed how important family is to them. show less