Nicole Helm

Terrific start to the series. The Hudson siblings started their cold case investigation firm, motivated by the disappearance of their parents without a trace. Each of the six siblings takes turns when a new case comes in while running the family's successful ranch.

Dahlia came to Wyoming in search of her missing sister, Rose. She has few solid clues, but what she does have leads her to believe that Rose is nearby. She meets with Grant Hudson, who promises to investigate but refuses to show more believe Dahlia's conclusions.

Grant is still adjusting to being home after his years in the military. His experiences changed him, and the memories created a distance between himself and others. Even though he believes Rose won't be found
, he promises to do his best.

The twists and turns of this case kept me hooked from start to finish. I ached for Grant as a nightmare from the distant past is resurrected, and he is forced to face painful memories. Dhalia's determination to follow her instincts puts her in the crosshairs of a dangerous cult. Finding Rose creates further complications. I was on the edge of my seat during the final confrontation as Grant and Dahlia fought for their lives and Rose's. The resolution was intense and satisfying. I do wonder if there will be any more about the Hudson's parents' disappearance and if it is somehow linked to the cult.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Grant and Dahlia. There is antagonism in the beginning, as Dahlia's belief in cult involvement butts up against Grant's insistence that it no longer exists. But underneath the antagonism are sparks of attraction that cannot be denied. Grant is surprised by the extreme protectiveness he feels for Dahlia and tries to explain it away. Dahlia, who is usually very independent and self-sufficient, is unexpectedly willing to lean on Grant for support. I liked seeing the trust develop between them and seeing them share their fears and pasts. I liked the ending and seeing them look toward a future together.

I liked getting to know the other Hudson siblings and can't wait to read their stories.

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Terrific book that I read in one sitting. This is the first book in this series I have read, but there is enough backstory provided that I didn't feel lost while reading it. I plan to read the earlier books and get the details I've missed.

Quinn recently escaped her dangerous cult family after decades of abuse and fear. She now lives on the Thompson ranch with her twin sister, whose life she saved and is recovering from the injuries she received. Quinn has trouble adjusting to "normal" life show more and uses biting wit and sarcasm to hide her discomfort. She also has her share of pride and hides her inability to read from everyone except her eleven-year-old niece, who is teaching her. Quinn's life in the cult has taught her many skills, including observing and recognizing patterns.

Dunne Thompson is one of the brothers whose ranch this is. Former military, he is still recovering from an injury on his last mission. He isn't as able to do ranch work as the others because of it, leaving him too much time for his latest obsession. After spending years trying to atone for his serial killer grandfather, Dunne is now trying to track down a copycat killer. He's dismayed when Quinn finds his "murder board" and stunned when she spots patterns neither he nor his brothers saw.

A keen observer of human nature, Quinn quickly realizes that Dunne plans to go off on his own to stop the killer. I loved watching her foil his attempt to leave her behind and make a case for going with him. It doesn't take long for Quinn to prove her worth and for Dunne to accept her help. It doesn't come easy for him, as he knows the danger and fears for her safety.

From here to the end, the action is fast, furious, and creepy to terrifying. I loved seeing the teamwork between Dunne and Quinn, balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses. The twists and turns led to a development I never saw coming. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.

The romance between Quinn and Dunne was pretty mild. Quinn has noticed Dunne among all the brothers but doesn't recognize the feelings he stirs in her at first. Dunne is surprised by his reaction to her and tries to bury it. But the more he gets to know her, the more he sees the vulnerability beneath the attitude, which speaks to his lonely heart. Despite his recognition of her abilities, he is very protective of her. Neither expects the attraction that flares between them, but Dunne is careful to keep it slow and easy. I loved the ending and her surprise at being asked for something as normal as a date.

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Good mix of intense suspense and a long-building romance. K-9 handler Serena Lopez gets a shock when the Tactical Crime Division's latest case hits close to home. They must track down a trio of escaped prisoners, one of whom is her half-brother. Her partner for this op is the frustratingly calm and efficient Axel Morrow.

In the series's earlier books, I felt a certain amount of tension between Serena and Axel. That tension becomes more evident in this book as they work together to track the show more escapees. Serena is well aware of the effect Axel has on her, but a previous workplace relationship turned out badly, so she is wary of giving in to it. Axel is equally attracted to Serena and has his own doubts and conflicting emotions to deal with, which he does by burying them deep.

I liked watching the development of the relationship between Axel and Serena. They've worked together for four years, and their attraction has simmered for almost as long. The intensity of their situation brings the feelings they've hidden so long to the surface. They are also more in tune with each other than either expected, which creates a few uncomfortable moments. Serena learns of the tragic past that set Axel on his FBI path and drives his compulsions when it comes to murderers. She aches for the guilt he feels and sets out to help him overcome it. At the same time, Serena shares her half-brother's story and its effect on her and her family. Axel helps Serena see that she has her own guilty feelings to deal with. One of the things I liked best was the respect each one had for the other's abilities. Axel had his protective feelings toward Serena, but he didn't let it interfere with her doing her job. That became even more Important as they closed in on the fugitives. When it was all over, Axel and Serena had to decide what to do about their future. I loved Axel's confidence in the face of Serena's worry over what their teammates would say. I loved the scene after Axel got out of the hospital and his friend/teammate Max took him home. The epilogue with the post-case party was terrific.

The suspense of the story was excellent. From the moment they learned of the escape, I could feel the TCD's determination to capture the fugitives before they could cross the border. With Axel, Serena, and her dog Blanca in the lead, it was fascinating to watch their plan unfold. The closer they got, the more questions they had about what the fugitives were doing. The first confrontation raised concerns about what kind of outside help they received, while Axel and Serena overheard something alarming. After a break to treat injuries and rest a little, Axel and Serena intensified their pursuit and came up with a plan to separate the bad guys. An unforeseen twist put Serena at the mercy of a man with nothing to lose. I was on the edge of my seat as the scene played out, wondering what would happen. The turning point came from an unexpected source, but it was still a close call.

Another essential part of the story was the relationship between Serena and her sister, Opaline, another TCD member. In the earlier books, the tension between the two women is obvious. In this book, we finally learn that it is rooted in family issues, mainly dealing with their half-brother. The two women's attitudes are very different, and it isn't surprising that they clash. There is a very rough patch near the end, but Opaline comes through, which goes a long way toward redeeming her. show less

Excellent and emotional book that sucked me in from the start. Cora is the single mother of a twelve-year-old boy and the survivor of an abusive relationship. With the help of her sister, Cora began a new position as a wedding planner. Her first job is to plan the wedding of Deb Tyler, the Tyler ranch matriarch. Unfortunately, she must deal with Deb's oldest son, Shane, who is very much opposed to the wedding.

Shane became the man of the family at the age of twelve when his father died in a show more ranching accident. He helped raise his younger siblings and still takes his responsibility to family and ranch very seriously. He doesn't trust his mother's fiancé, a man a decade younger than his mother, and makes his feelings very clear.

I loved the first meeting between Shane and Cora. While they disagree about the wedding, there's no doubt about the sparks that fly between them. Cora needs to succeed at this first wedding gig, and Shane and his siblings want to stop the wedding entirely. I liked how Cora refused to give in to Shane's attempt at intimidation, reminding him that Deb is a grown woman who knows her own mind. Shane can't let go of the idea that Ben wants the ranch more than Deb and will do anything to prove it.

I liked the development of the relationship between Cora and Shane. Though ostensibly on opposite sides of the issue, they connect over their common need to do anything to protect their loved ones. When Cora has problems with her son, Micah, Deb insists that Cora bring him to the ranch. She knows a thing or two about rebellious sons and that hard work and horses are an excellent remedy. Micah quickly bonds with the entire Tyler family, and Cora is pulled in also. The attraction between Cora and Shane continues to grow, and their flirty banter is fun to watch.

Cora is wary of letting things go too far with Shane. The abuse by her ex left Cora with some confidence problems. She works hard to be independent but frequently second-guesses her decisions. She keeps her past to herself, fearing that Shane and the others would look at her differently if they knew. This tends to make her relationship with Shane something of a yo-yo because she pulls back, then moves forward, then pulls back again. Shane suspects the truth and has a fantastic amount of patience. He often finds himself walking a fine line between pushing for answers and giving her space.

At the same time, Shane has his own demons to fight. His protectiveness frequently puts him at odds with his family. I ached for him when he shared the reasons behind that protectiveness with Cora and waited for her to do the same. Their joint issues come to a head when a crisis forces them to look at how they let their pasts control their presents. I wanted to shake Cora for pushing Shane away just when she needed him the most. It takes some straight talk from an unexpected source to open her eyes to the way she sabotages her own happiness. Shane gets similar advice and must decide how best to repair things with Cora. I loved the ending.

The secondary characters were great. I loved Cora's son, Micah. He was a realistic blend of sweet and sullen, typical of that age. The reader also gets a good look at the effect of his father's abuse on Micah and his view of the world around him. The dynamics between Shane and his siblings were interesting. Even though they are now all adults, Shane still tries to tell them what to do "for their own good." This especially doesn't sit well with his youngest brother, Boone, who joined the rodeo circuit in rebellion. One of the most interesting characters was Deb's fiancé, Ben. Initially, I understood Shane's reservations. Ben's attitude was annoying, smug, and "in your face," and I wondered what Deb saw in him. But as the book went on, there were hints that there was more to him. I liked how Cora encouraged Shane to speak honestly and without animosity to Ben and see if it made a difference.

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