Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good book with terrific suspense and a quick romance. James West recently left the military, medically retired after an injury made it impossible to continue as a sniper. He's working for the family security firm while he decides what he will do with the rest of his life. His current assignment is to check out Erika Powell and ascertain whether she and her son are the missing heirs of a New York businessman. It's going slowly because Erika is very private and seems wary of strangers.
When Erika's rich, spoiled, and emotionally abusive husband died, his controlling father kicked her out of her home. She had just discovered that she was pregnant and was afraid her father-in-law would do anything to take her child if he knew about it. So, she changed her name and moved away from the city, landing in the small town of Carling Lake. When the story starts, she's been there for almost ten years and has begun to put down roots. She bought a house that she is turning into a B & B.
The story starts with a bang as Erika is injured in a fall on her property. Her hiking companion runs for help and brings James, who lives in the house next door, to Erika. He helps her while they wait for an ambulance, but the circumstances seem suspicious to him. When he foils an intruder attempting to break into her house, he suspects something untoward is going on. When she hears about the intruder, she has two suspects in mind - that her father-in-law has found her or that a rival B & B owner is attempting to keep her from opening her inn. Erika, a part-time reporter for the local paper, is also investigating some possibly missing grant money, which is also motivation for trouble. Erika reluctantly accepts James's offer to help with the house renovations while simultaneously serving as protection against whoever is behind the trouble.
Neither Erika nor James expected the sparks of attraction that flared between them. Both try hard to resist, but it does no good. James isn't ready for a relationship when he has no idea what his future looks like. Erika isn't going to enter a relationship when she can't be honest with the other person about who she is. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist. I liked watching James and Erika get closer. James's support helps Erika restore the self-confidence that her late husband damaged. At the same time, Erika helps James see an unexpected path to his future. It doesn't take long for James to realize that he wants Erika and her son in his life permanently, but he's reluctant to say anything because he still has no plan for his future. Erika can't look at a future with James until she faces her past - which comes sooner than expected. I did not see that twist coming. I loved James's sweet and romantic big moment at the end.
The suspense of the story was excellent. The "accident" on the rope bridge was nerve-wracking, and I loved how James's suspicions were immediately raised, which led to his watchfulness. I could feel his frustration at not being able to catch the intruder. Erika's confrontation with Ellis, the other B & B owner (and town mayor), moved him to the head of my list of suspects. The story that Erika was investigating also provided a possible motive for the attack, as there was clearly some cover-up happening. The family connection was low on my suspect list. The tension built as Erika's son Marcus disappeared. Erika did what any mom worth her salt would do, even if it complicated matters. The final confrontation came from a previously unknown player. I was glued to the pages watching Erika's mama bear protectiveness take over. The resolution was very well done.
I liked the secondary characters. Erika's son Marcus was terrific. He's just as protective of Erika, and it was sweet to see the ten-year-old as the man of the house. I also liked how he and James connected so quickly. I also liked the sheriff, Lance, who was such a good friend to Erika. I suspect he may have been romantically interested in her, but she never saw him that way. Other people in the town played small but significant roles and gave the town some of its personality.
When Erika's rich, spoiled, and emotionally abusive husband died, his controlling father kicked her out of her home. She had just discovered that she was pregnant and was afraid her father-in-law would do anything to take her child if he knew about it. So, she changed her name and moved away from the city, landing in the small town of Carling Lake. When the story starts, she's been there for almost ten years and has begun to put down roots. She bought a house that she is turning into a B & B.
The story starts with a bang as Erika is injured in a fall on her property. Her hiking companion runs for help and brings James, who lives in the house next door, to Erika. He helps her while they wait for an ambulance, but the circumstances seem suspicious to him. When he foils an intruder attempting to break into her house, he suspects something untoward is going on. When she hears about the intruder, she has two suspects in mind - that her father-in-law has found her or that a rival B & B owner is attempting to keep her from opening her inn. Erika, a part-time reporter for the local paper, is also investigating some possibly missing grant money, which is also motivation for trouble. Erika reluctantly accepts James's offer to help with the house renovations while simultaneously serving as protection against whoever is behind the trouble.
Neither Erika nor James expected the sparks of attraction that flared between them. Both try hard to resist, but it does no good. James isn't ready for a relationship when he has no idea what his future looks like. Erika isn't going to enter a relationship when she can't be honest with the other person about who she is. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist. I liked watching James and Erika get closer. James's support helps Erika restore the self-confidence that her late husband damaged. At the same time, Erika helps James see an unexpected path to his future. It doesn't take long for James to realize that he wants Erika and her son in his life permanently, but he's reluctant to say anything because he still has no plan for his future. Erika can't look at a future with James until she faces her past - which comes sooner than expected. I did not see that twist coming. I loved James's sweet and romantic big moment at the end.
The suspense of the story was excellent. The "accident" on the rope bridge was nerve-wracking, and I loved how James's suspicions were immediately raised, which led to his watchfulness. I could feel his frustration at not being able to catch the intruder. Erika's confrontation with Ellis, the other B & B owner (and town mayor), moved him to the head of my list of suspects. The story that Erika was investigating also provided a possible motive for the attack, as there was clearly some cover-up happening. The family connection was low on my suspect list. The tension built as Erika's son Marcus disappeared. Erika did what any mom worth her salt would do, even if it complicated matters. The final confrontation came from a previously unknown player. I was glued to the pages watching Erika's mama bear protectiveness take over. The resolution was very well done.
I liked the secondary characters. Erika's son Marcus was terrific. He's just as protective of Erika, and it was sweet to see the ten-year-old as the man of the house. I also liked how he and James connected so quickly. I also liked the sheriff, Lance, who was such a good friend to Erika. I suspect he may have been romantically interested in her, but she never saw him that way. Other people in the town played small but significant roles and gave the town some of its personality.
