Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed Missing at Christmas (West Investigations, Bk 2) (Harlequin Intrigue, No 2023) on + 2614 more book reviews
Good book with a nice blend of suspense and romance. Addy went to the small New York town looking for her missing sister. Addy doesn't go long without talking to Cassie, and she doesn't believe those people who tell her that Cassie decided to quit her job and move back to New York. No one takes her concern seriously, but Addy refuses to give up her search. When she's attacked on the street one day, she's shocked when Shawn West comes to her rescue. She hasn't seen or talked to him since the one night they spent together six months earlier.
Shawn can't believe the woman he rescued is Addy. He still remembers the night they spent together and his frustration at how she's ignored him ever since. Shawn came to town to look into some counterfeit computer chips. When he learns about Cassie's disappearance, he offers to help Addy find her while using that investigation to disguise his own.
Neither Shawn nor Addy forgot the night they spent together, and it's obvious from the start that the sparks between them still burn hot. Addy avoided Shawn after that night because she feared that seeing him again would interfere with her plans for the future. She still feels that he would be too much of a distraction. Shawn didn't want a relationship either, but he did want to spend more time with Addy. Working together to find Cassie gives their attraction a chance to grow. I enjoyed seeing Shawn and Addy together. Addy is an intelligent, driven, and independent woman. She knows what she wants and goes after it. While she appreciates Shawn's offer of help, Addy doesn't just sit back and let him take over. She insists on being fully involved and has no problem taking action if she thinks Shawn isn't moving fast enough. Shawn discovers he is quite protective of Addy and gets frustrated when she puts herself in danger rather than waiting for him. I liked the scenes where they worked together because they balanced each other - Shawn kept Addy from going too far, while Addy moved Shawn a little faster than he would typically go.
The more time they spent together, the closer Shawn and Addy became. Each found themselves thinking about the future but fought against admitting their growing feelings for each other and what it meant. After an eye-opening conversation with her boss, Addy faced a life-changing decision. Meanwhile, nearly losing Addy forced Shawn to admit his feelings. I liked seeing Addy support Shawn when he had to follow up on his investigation while giving him hope for the future. The ending was terrific with Shawn's surprise appearance and emotional confession of his feelings.
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from start to finish. Addy knew her sister wouldn't move without letting her know and felt stonewalled by the sheriff and the company Cassie worked for. Her refusal to give up gets her unwanted attention, strengthening her belief that something fishy is going on. Shawn needs to keep his investigation of the counterfeit chips secret, so helping Addy gives him the perfect cover. Their investigation heats up as Shawn suspects there may be a link between Cassie's disappearance and his case. The intensity increases as attacks on Addy and Shawn escalate and the fake chips near shipment time. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that put Addy in the bad guy's crosshairs. The resolution was fantastic.
Shawn can't believe the woman he rescued is Addy. He still remembers the night they spent together and his frustration at how she's ignored him ever since. Shawn came to town to look into some counterfeit computer chips. When he learns about Cassie's disappearance, he offers to help Addy find her while using that investigation to disguise his own.
Neither Shawn nor Addy forgot the night they spent together, and it's obvious from the start that the sparks between them still burn hot. Addy avoided Shawn after that night because she feared that seeing him again would interfere with her plans for the future. She still feels that he would be too much of a distraction. Shawn didn't want a relationship either, but he did want to spend more time with Addy. Working together to find Cassie gives their attraction a chance to grow. I enjoyed seeing Shawn and Addy together. Addy is an intelligent, driven, and independent woman. She knows what she wants and goes after it. While she appreciates Shawn's offer of help, Addy doesn't just sit back and let him take over. She insists on being fully involved and has no problem taking action if she thinks Shawn isn't moving fast enough. Shawn discovers he is quite protective of Addy and gets frustrated when she puts herself in danger rather than waiting for him. I liked the scenes where they worked together because they balanced each other - Shawn kept Addy from going too far, while Addy moved Shawn a little faster than he would typically go.
The more time they spent together, the closer Shawn and Addy became. Each found themselves thinking about the future but fought against admitting their growing feelings for each other and what it meant. After an eye-opening conversation with her boss, Addy faced a life-changing decision. Meanwhile, nearly losing Addy forced Shawn to admit his feelings. I liked seeing Addy support Shawn when he had to follow up on his investigation while giving him hope for the future. The ending was terrific with Shawn's surprise appearance and emotional confession of his feelings.
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from start to finish. Addy knew her sister wouldn't move without letting her know and felt stonewalled by the sheriff and the company Cassie worked for. Her refusal to give up gets her unwanted attention, strengthening her belief that something fishy is going on. Shawn needs to keep his investigation of the counterfeit chips secret, so helping Addy gives him the perfect cover. Their investigation heats up as Shawn suspects there may be a link between Cassie's disappearance and his case. The intensity increases as attacks on Addy and Shawn escalate and the fake chips near shipment time. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that put Addy in the bad guy's crosshairs. The resolution was fantastic.