Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 3/17/2024 + 2616 more book reviews

Good book that kept me guessing to the end. Alaina is a lawyer who, along with her two sisters, has inherited a house in the tiny town of Calais, Louisiana. She and her sisters were separated and sent away by their stepfather after their mother died. The stepfather has recently died, and the terms of their mother's will state that each girl must live in the house for two weeks before they can inherit. Alaina had just been passed over for a promised promotion at work and decided to take those two weeks to reevaluate her future.

Carter is the sheriff of Calais and, as a favor to a family friend, agreed to supervise Alaina's adherence to the terms of the will. As a cop, the last thing he wants to do is babysit a big city defense lawyer. He's none too happy when his first glimpse of Alaina triggers an unwelcome attraction. But when strange things happen, he's determined to keep her safe.

The suspense of this story kept me hooked from start to finish. Strange sounds, evidence that someone has been in the house with her, topped off by a possible ghost, have Alaina and Carter on edge. Then, they learn that trouble may have followed her from Baton Rouge. This story had multiple twists, sometimes with more questions than answers, as they tried to identify the culprit. The building tension kept me glued to the pages with a surprising conclusion. Though the immediate mystery was solved, some unanswered questions remain for the following books in the series.

I enjoyed watching the development of Alaina and Carter's relationship. Neither was looking for it, but the sparks between them were undeniable. Carter is a good guy who takes his job seriously. Despite the professional antipathy between cops and defense lawyers, he finds it easy to connect with Alaina. He is protective while still respecting her abilities and independence. Alaina is strong and independent, but she isn't stupid. I liked that she didn't take unnecessary risks. Carter and Alaina grew closer as they worked together to identify the threat, but initially, they weren't looking at a future together. But when the final confrontation was over, they realized they didn't want to be apart.

I'm curious now to read the other books and see how the series turns out.

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