High Country Christmas - Joanna Sims (HSE #2448 - Dec 2015)

Series: Brands of Montana (Book 2)

This cowboy's in a family way!

It was supposed to be a harmless summer fling. Until a night of passion leaves ranching student London Davenport with an unexpected preholiday gift. And although wedlock wasn't in Tyler Brand's immediate plans, the footloose rancher is ready to step up and do the honorable thing by the stunning woman he secretly adores. The only obstacle is the stubborn mother-to-be.

London can't let anything stop her from returning to Virginia at the end of the semester…not even the irresistible father of her unborn child. How can she tell Tyler the truth about why she can never live happily-ever-after on his cattle ranch? But London's about to find out how far one determined cowboy will go to fight for her and the future of their family.

Good book. London is a summer intern on the Brand ranch. She loves the work that she does, especially working with the horses. She's also very attracted to Tyler Brand. One night of giving in to the attraction, and a malfunctioning condom, leaves her pregnant and conflicted. On the one side she wants to stay in Montana, but on the other side is her need to return to her home in Virginia. Tyler has been drawn to London from the beginning. The rules of the ranch are to stay away from the interns, but that hasn't been possible for Tyler. Resisting her that night had been impossible. 

One of the things I really liked about this book was that they handled the whole pregnancy issue in a mature manner. Tyler made sure that London knew that they were in it together. I thought he showed a great deal of sensitivity when they got the tests, and how he knew she needed the privacy to deal with them. I loved the description of where he took her. Tyler wants her to marry him, but London insists that it isn't possible. 

I felt bad for London because of the conflict she was suffering. When she finally gets up the courage to tell him about the son she has back home, she worries that it will change the way he looks at her. She never really got wholehearted support from her family with her first pregnancy. I loved Tyler's complete acceptance of her past and how he handles the details. He continues to tell her that he wants her to marry him, but is also wise to the fact that if he pushes she'll dig in her heels.

It was really sweet to see how Tyler takes care of her when she's sick, and helps her to see that she has to put off finishing school. He's always there when she needs him. London slowly begins to realize how much she cares for him, but needing to get back to her son is always at the back of her mind. If she could convince her son that living in Montana was a good thing, she'd be able to have the life she wants. I loved Tyler's plan to invite JT to the ranch for Christmas, and show him what it would be like.

I loved the whole visit to the ranch. JT is a typical teenager and his attitude at the beginning is less that cooperative. It was great to see how the whole family got involved in the visit. London was worried that Tyler and JT weren't connecting, but Tyler was confident that it would happen. I loved seeing that bonding moment when it came, and the difference it made to London's hope for their future. The ending was sweet and romantic and perfect for Tyler and London. 

My only dissatisfaction was that there were mentions of possible trouble with JT's father, but nothing more was said about it.

Fortune's Secret Heir - Allison Leigh (HSE #2449 - Jan 2016)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune's Children (Book 1)

A Change In Fortune

Cool, confident and in control: that's Ben Robinson, the billionaire COO of Robinson Tech. With his imposing height and sharp blue eyes, he can convince anyone to do anything, but suddenly he feels like a fraud. The handsome Texan has just discovered his entire life has been a lie.

With the news that his father might actually be a long-lost -- and very prodigal -- Fortune, Ben trains his laser focus on determining the truth. He persuades sweet, earnest Ella Thomas to help him in his research; no one would ever suspect the part-time college student of subterfuge. Ella is sensitive and highly intuitive…in other words, Ben's total opposite. And as she digs for his Fortune roots, she may also uncover the billionaire's long-shuttered heart…

Great beginning to this year's Fortunes series. In the third book of the previous series Mendoza's Secret Fortune, it was revealed that there may be more Fortunes out there, with more information revealed in the epilogue of Fortune's June Bride. Now the Robinson siblings are dealing with the fact that their father has lied to them their whole lives, and that he is a Fortune. This hits Ben really hard, especially when he discovers that his father has also had multiple affairs and that there may be more siblings out there.

The book begins with Ben confronting the matriarch of the Fortune family with what he knows in the middle of a big party. Though he isn't looking for any part of the Fortune wealth, he does want their acknowledgment. While at the party, Ben meets Ella, with whom he has an instant connection. He hires her to do the research to help him find the truth of the connection and also to help him track down any siblings that he might have.

Ella works various temp jobs to earn the money she needs to complete her accounting degree. She lives at home with her mother and her sixteen year old brother, who has cerebral palsy. She is attracted to Ben from the moment she meets him, but doesn't see any future in it.

Ben is definitely obsessed with his mission, but also finds himself increasingly drawn to Ella. Though he could have taken the final steps in two of the searches by himself, instead he wants Ella with him. He had suffered a devastating blow a few months earlier, but spending time with her has lessened the pain. Their trip to Boston was great. Ben is focused on finding out if their quarry is one of his unknown siblings, but also discovers that Ella is starting to be more than just a research assistant. It was really sweet to see him get into showing her around Boston. He also found himself feeling very possessive of her when another man appeared to be flirting with her. He made a bit of an idiot out of himself, but it was pretty amusing. Ben also makes the effort to get to know her family. I loved her stunned surprise when he showed up at her brother's chess match, and how wonderful he was with her brother.

Ella has also realized that she is in danger of falling for Ben and is sure to get her heart broken. Even though he keeps telling her that he is not a nice person, and that he is selfish to the extreme, she doesn't see him that way. She sees the way that he worries about other people, how he wants to make sure any unknown siblings are okay, and how he looks after her in London, and knows that there is really a good and caring man under the gruff exterior. Giving in to the attraction between them is something she can't resist. But things come crashing down when she overhears him saying something that makes her believe that he doesn't care.

Ben has to face his fears from the past before he can let himself believe that he could have a future with Ella by his side. He fears that he has ruined everything when she stops coming to work. I loved his big moment at the end, as he exposes his vulnerabilities to her and speaks from his heart. It is all very intense and romantic, though there is a bit of comic relief provided by her brother. 

I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Finding out more about why their father walked away from his heritage should be very interesting. I'm also looking forward to seeing what progress is made in the search for more siblings.

Lone Star Holiday Proposal - Yvonne Lindsay (HD #2415 - Dec 2015)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Lies and Lullabies (Book 2)

A sexy Texan has the holidays to decide: close the deal or open his heart

Royal, Texas, native Nolan Dane's homecoming is bittersweet -- he'd once lost everything here. But he's eager to finalize a key real estate deal for his mysterious boss by Christmas -- even if making it happen means cozying up to local shop owner Raina Patterson. Falling for the beautiful single mom isn't part of the plan. But when Nolan's secrets catch up with him, he realizes his true feelings for Raina run deep. Now, can he prove he's worthy of her -- before it's too late?

Very good book about two people with painful pasts who have a chance at happiness, if they can put that pain behind them. Nolan has returned to Royal to finalize several real estate deals for his secretive boss. He had left years earlier, after the deaths of his son and wife made staying too painful. He plans to finish his work and go back to LA. 

There's one property that is resisting the buyout and Nolan goes there to see if he can find out why. In the process, he meets Raina, one of the shop owners. He's immediately attracted to her and thinks nothing of getting closer to her to see what he can find out. But it doesn't take long for Raina and her three year old son JJ to work their way past his walls.

I liked Raina. She has worked hard to get her life back together. but she is wary of men these days. She has proved to herself that her judgment about them hasn't been good. Her ex-husband cleaned out her bank accounts and left her while she was giving birth, but continues to pester her for money on a regular basis. Her antique store is finally beginning to recover from the effects of the previous year's tornado when rumors start circulating that the land could be sold and the tenants evicted. She has much to be worried about, and Nolan's attentions are a pleasant distraction.

I had a little trouble warming up to Nolan at the beginning because of the way he seemed to be planning to use Raina. I couldn't entirely dislike him because he was so wonderful with JJ right from the moment JJ dumped his ice cream on Nolan's suit. It quickly became obvious that he was developing feelings for Raina that conflicted with his job, and that conflict caused him to question what he was doing. I loved seeing what he did about it, though it came too late to keep Raina from finding out.

I ached for Raina and her feelings of betrayal. She had that pain to deal with, as well as the increasingly insistent demands for money from her ex. Her feelings for Nolan had grown quickly, and she was left feeling that she had failed again. Nolan was hurting also, as he knew what had happened was his own fault. I liked the way that he turned his hurt into action, finding a way to protect Raina and JJ. I also liked that he didn't give up, and was finally able to explain what had happened to Raina. The only thing he had left to confront were his memories of the past and telling her about them, which he keeps putting off. I loved that he admitted his feelings to himself, but also knew that it might be too fast for Raina, and had the sensitivity to give her time to think. His big moment at the New Year's Eve party was sweet and romantic.

In this book, the person behind the land purchases is revealed, but his motivations are not. He definitely does not come across as a very nice person, but there are hints that he may be due for some surprises of his own. 

Courting the Cowboy Boss - Janice Maynard (HD #2409 - Nov 2015)

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Lies and Lullabies (Book 1)

For one wealthy rancher, it's an upstairs/downstairs affair!

As new president of the Texas Cattleman's Club, Case Baxter has his hands full. He needs a housekeeper, but he's been burned before by gold-digging employees. Still, when fiery redhead Melinda Winslow shows up, his attraction is undeniable.

Mellie has big plans for her small cleaning service. A powerful client like Case Baxter is a boon to her business. But falling for him could mess everything up. Mellie knows how to handle a mess…if Case isn't too hot to handle!

Very good start to the new series. Case has just been elected as the new president of the TCC and is feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything he has to do. He has a busy ranch, his investments to track, and now the TCC. Unfortunately, his house falls at the bottom of the list and it is beginning to show. He needs to hire a housekeeper to replace the one who retired. 

Case is a very private person who has trust issues. Long ago he had fallen in love and married an employee, who turned out to be interested only in his money. Since then he has kept his liaisons superficial, and women are not invited to his home. Mellie's company comes highly recommended, so he decides to take a chance. He doesn't expect his new housekeeper to be a beautiful redhead who piques his interest.

Mellie has devoted all her time and energy to her business, with big plans for eventual expansion. Having a client like Case would be an excellent advertisement. The last thing she needs to do is fall for a man who is way out of her league, but she can't deny that he tempts her.

I loved the relationship that developed between Case and Mellie. There were sparks from the beginning, but not all of them were good. Case was kind of obnoxious with his attitude about his privacy, and sort of put his foot in it when he asked his friend the sheriff about her. I loved seeing her stand up to him and let him know exactly how she felt. It also added to the sparks of attraction he felt for her. They came to a cautious truce over the next few days, though Case had a disconcerting way of flirting with Mellie that left her off balance. 

Things got really interesting when she arrived one day to discover Case down with a bad case of flu. It was pretty amusing to see her try to help him while attempting to maintain her distance from him. A feverish Case was pretty funny, as was his conversation with his doctor friend when he started to recover. Mellie had some pretty interesting conversations with herself as she was caring for him. It really broke the ice between them, and as he was recovering they spent a lot of time together. Case really started laying on the flirtatiousness, determined to get her into bed with him, and Mellie was finding it harder to resist him. The night of his TCC party finally brought them together, but not without some later doubts on her part. She's afraid that she's falling in love with him and that she'll end up with a broken heart. The night's problems are capped by the appearance of Mellie's father.

Mellie's father is an alcoholic, a gambler and a man who takes advantage of Mellie's love for him. We see several instances of the way he treats her, and it isn't pretty. There's definitely a feeling that he is going to find a way to ruin anything she might have with Case, and that feeling turns out to be accurate. His actions that night are really terrible and leave Mellie caught in the middle. But it gets even worse after he sobers up.

In the prequel, Reclaimed by the Rancher (reviewed at the end), there is an oil company that is buying up land all around  Royal. In this book, Mellie's father, whose company owns properties around Royal (including the land on which the TCC stands) suddenly uses his position to threaten Case and the TCC. He also claims that Mellie knows and approves of what he is doing. This plays into Case's fears about being used, and he makes a real ass out of himself, saying some really terrible things to Mellie. Though devastated and heartbroken by his attitude, I loved that she doesn't just fall apart. Mellie takes action, and I loved what she did. It was really satisfying to see Case, once he got over his own feelings of betrayal, to realize what he had done. Then "all" he has to do is find a way to apologize and see if he has succeeded in ruining everything. I loved his big moment and seeing him properly grovel in front of her. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and finding out what the story behind the land grab is.

Reclaimed  by the Rancher by Janice Maynard

Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Lies and Lullabies (Book .5)

Only the fiancé she left in the dust can help her!

To fend off a mysterious oil company's aggressive buyout offer and save her family land, Lucy Peyton can only turn to one man for help. Yes, she'd practically left Jeff Hartley at the altar, but she'd had her reasons. Such as catching the rich rancher kissing her best friend before the wedding! But now, face-to-face with Jeff on his doorstep, she realizes the chemistry between them is as strong as ever and panics.

If Lucy wants his help, she'll have it—on his terms. She'll also receive a lesson in what she missed when she ran. Because in the end, Jeff Hartley always gets what he wants…no matter how long he has to wait.

Short story/prequel to the series, found on the Harlequin website and in the back of the November Desire books. It begins with Lucy showing up at Jeff's for the first time in two years, ever since she cancelled their wedding the day before it was to happen. Jeff is stunned, and none too happy to see her, remembering what her desertion felt like.

Lucy is desperate to keep her cousin from selling their family land to an oil company, she goes to Jeff for help. She's still hurt by the way he betrayed her, but believes that he'll be willing to do what's needed to protect the land. She doesn't think that the man she's worked so hard to forget can still attract her but he does.

Jeff can't believe that Lucy had the guts to come to him for help, but has to admit she knows which buttons to push to get him to agree. He's not going to make it easy for her, though, and lays down some conditions. He's determined to either get her out of his heart forever, or take the future they should have had from the start.

I liked the way that Lucy wanted to protect the family land. She seemed to have a realistic view of her cousin, though he insists that this time will be different. I'll be interested to see if there's any followup in future books. When she confronts Jeff about what happened at the rehearsal dinner, I could see the problem from both sides. Lucy felt betrayed that Jeff was kissing her maid of honor, and Jeff was furious that she never gave him a chance to tell her what happened. She simply reacted, without showing enough faith in him to want the truth. Jeff made his own mistakes by giving in to wounded pride and not insisting.

The heat between them when they met for dinner to discuss the deal was intense. Jeff was determined to show her what she had missed. Though his method was a bit underhanded, if she hadn't been willing I'm sure he wouldn't have done it.

The confrontation with Kristin went just the way I expected to and I didn't feel badly for her at all. I did feel for Lucy, whose feelings of betrayal were brought back to the surface, but with a different focus. The ending was good, especially with Jeff insisting on not waiting to get on with their future.

A Baby for the Boss - Maureen Child (HD #2421 - Jan 2016)

Series: Pregnant by the Boss (Book 2)

Is it a baby trap or will the boss become a dad?

When Jenny Marshall meets gaming tycoon Mike Ryan, she thinks she's met The One. But when he realizes she's his competitor's niece he believes she's spying on him! Jenny thinks she's done with Mike…until she gets a new job -- and he's her boss!

His angelic-looking employee is more temptation than Mike can resist -- even if he still can't trust her. Now, she's pregnant with his baby. Is she playing the most elaborate game of all…or could mother and child be his if only he opens his guarded heart?

Mike and Jenny made their first appearances in the first book in the series Having Her Boss's Baby. Mike and his two partners own a video game company and have decided to branch out by developing three hotels based on their best-selling games. In this book, Mike is in charge of the Nevada hotel, and Jenny is the artist in charge of doing the themed murals. But there is an undercurrent of tension between them that makes working together difficult.

More than a year earlier, Jenny and Mike had met at a convention and been immediately attracted to each other. But the next morning Mike discovered that Jenny is a rival's niece and accuses her of using him. They part angrily and don't see each other again until Mike's brother hires her as one of the artists for their company. Mike is furious and still doesn't trust her, but won't tell his brother why. 

There were so many times I wanted to grab Mike by the ears and just shake him. He has huge trust issues that really have nothing to do with Jenny and everything to do with his parents. Something that happened when he was thirteen has had a profound impact on the way he looks at other people, and Jenny gets caught in that. His judgmental attitude and leaping to conclusions would have been funny if it wasn't so infuriating. He's so sure that he's right that he doesn't listen to anything she has to say. What makes it worse for him is that he is still incredibly attracted to her. When he visits her at her house to try to convince her to back out of her work on the hotel, he continues to accuse her of using him. Then the passion of anger turns to passion of another kind and they end up in bed again. And he's a jerk yet again the next morning, and still can't get her to quit.

I really liked Jenny. She knows what she wants and she's very good at what she does. From the very beginning, I loved the way she stood up to Mike and refused to accept his attitude. She could have made trouble for him with his partners, but she didn't, though they could see that there was something going on between them. It was great to see how she could put their differences aside when it came to work, even though the attraction was a big distraction. She has some relationship issues of her own, thanks to being pretty much abandoned by her parents who dumped her on her uncle to raise. She always felt as though she had been an obligation when all she wants is someone who will love her for who she is. 

As they worked together on the Nevada hotel, both there and after they got back, it felt as though they were growing closer. I liked seeing them able to coordinate their efforts so well, and that Mike seemed to be developing some level of trust. Unfortunately, Jenny's pregnancy sends him right back to his paranoid jerkiness. Conversations with his brother and his parents start the realization of his stupidity, but even then he hasn't fully accepted the truth. Jenny has some decisions of her own to make when Mike comes to see her. I loved seeing her stand up for her own needs and those of the baby. The final scene with her Uncle Hank was great, causing Mike to have to work harder to win Jenny's heart.

The epilogue was fantastic, and continued the build up to book three. Seeing California surfer dude Sean having to deal with winter in Wyoming will be wonderful. Add in a strong willed female contractor, and I expect the sparks will really be flying.

His Christmas Countess - Louise Allen (HH #1260 - Dec 2015)

Series: Lords of Disgrace (Book 2)

A Christmas baby…

Grant Rivers, Earl of Allundale, is desperate to get home in time for Christmas. But when he stumbles upon a woman all alone in a tumbledown shack, having a baby out of wedlock, it's his duty to stay and help her.

…leads to wedding vows!

Grant knows all too well the risks of childbirth, and he's seen enough tragedy to last a lifetime. So once he's saved her life, Grant is determined to save Kate's reputation too…if she will consent to marrying a stranger on Christmas Day!

Very good book. Grant was introduced in His Housekeeper's Christmas Wish, as one of four friends known as the Lords of Disgrace. He's a widower who is headed home from Belgium to spend Christmas with his son and grandfather. At the beginning of this book, he's been delayed on his journey by an injury, has received word that his grandfather is ill, and is desperate to get home before he passes. He doesn't expect to come across a woman in labor, with no one to help her except him.

Kate fell for a rake who refused to marry her when she got pregnant. Her brother decided to use her pregnancy to blackmail the man in question, and threatened to take Kate's baby if she didn't cooperate. When she manages to escape from her brother, her troubles continue when she is robbed and ends up alone and in labor. Help comes in the form of a man who claims to be a doctor.

Grant has been plagued by the memory of his grandfather's wish for him to marry again. He feels guilty because he's been putting it off, not really wanting to go through all that again. Kate's predicament as an unmarried gentlewoman gives him the idea of marrying her. It will fulfill his grandfather's wishes, give his son a mother, and himself the wife he knows he needs. When he makes his proposal to Kate, she is surprised, but the practical side of her knows that marrying him would be a good thing. He's willing to accept her daughter, she would have a safe place to live, and wouldn't have to face her brother or ex-lover again. So she accepts thinking that Grant is a country doctor. As they are still in Scotland at this point, a statement of their intentions in front of witnesses sees them married.

The next day, as they make their way to Grant's home, both are a bit stunned at what they have done and unsure if it was a good thing or not. Discovering that Grant is the heir to an earl that has just passed away is an even bigger shock to Kate, but what is done is done. Grant gets Kate settled in his home, but heads for London a few days later because of the things that must be done about his inheritance. He tells Kate that he'll be gone for several months, but it's her home now and to do as she wishes.

Over the next several months they correspond, but the letters are pretty superficial. Grant starts to feel guilty about abandoning Kate and finally goes home, only to discover a far different woman than the one he remembered, one that he finds extremely attractive. Kate also realizes that the rescuer she remembers pales before the handsome man she has married.

I liked both Kate and Grant. From the time they are reunited they are  determined to make their marriage work. I loved the fact that they talked about their expectations calmly and honestly. Their chemistry is there from the start, and their compatibility in the bedroom is a great foundation for the rest of their relationship. Though both have been honest in their expectations for their marriage, each of them has secrets that have influenced their behavior. I also liked the way that even when angry words are exchanged, after things calm down they are able to talk about what caused their anger and deal with it.

Grant's first marriage was an arranged one and was not happy. His wife's death is something that he tries to keep buried in his past, though it still gives him nightmares. He refuses to talk about it with Kate, though she can see that it haunts him. She is determined to get him to see that only by facing those memories will they stop controlling his future. At the same time, Kate has flat out lied to Grant about her own past and her baby's father. She feels that, as long as they stay away from London, she will be safe from any repercussions. Of course, Grant is an earl and they have to spend time in London because of it. 

Over the months they spend together at home, they slowly get to know each other. I loved seeing their relationship grow, as Kate gets more confident in her role as countess, and Grant realizes that she is nothing like his first wife. I really enjoyed the visit from Grant's three friends, including Alex and his wife from the first book. It was great to see how well Kate fit in with them, and I loved how much alike she and Tess were. I also loved the way that Tess and Alex could both see the love that Grant and Kate had for each other, even if they refused to admit it.

When Grant and Kate go to London, she is very nervous about what could happen. She knows she has to confess the truth to him, but she worries about what it will do to their relationship. Instead of just trusting him and telling him straight out, she takes some rather risky actions that could put her in danger. Meanwhile, Grant has realized that something is really bothering her, and because of his past with his first wife has some trust issues going on. His actions end up on a collision course with hers, and there was a real worry about what it was going to do to their marriage. But once again, the maturity of the characters shines through, and they work things out in a most satisfactory manner. There are actually some rather amusing results from the whole thing that made the ending even more enjoyable. The book ends one year from the beginning with a very romantic Christmas gift from Grant to Kate.

Arresting Developments - Lena Diaz (HI #1614 - Jan 2016)

Series: Marshland Justice (Book 2)

A mysterious beauty had nursed him back to health -- and attracted the attention of some very bad men…

Somewhere over the Everglades, the airplane's engine failed and Dex Lassiter plummeted into the swamp's murky depths. Amber Callahan didn't expect to find any survivors in the wreckage, but Dex was about as tough as they came. And too smart not to dig into why a woman like her had run away to settle in remote Mystic Glades. Or why a killer circled their every move. As floodwaters rose, deputizing Dex was just what this lawless small town needed. Because escape wasn't possible. And the only thing Dex did better than starting things was defending them.

Good book with plenty of suspense. We first met Dex in Missing in the Glades, as Jake's partner in the new PI firm. At the beginning of this book, he is flying down to Florida to stop his friend from marrying a woman he's just met. But a frank conversation convinces him that Jake has never been happier, so he gives up that quest. Finished with his conversation, he notices that his instrument panel has malfunctioned, and then his engine quits. He crash lands in the swamp, with a cut on his leg to complicate matters.

Amber saw Dex's plane go overhead, then heard it crash. She has been hiding out in the swamp for two years, running from the trouble she's in. But she can't leave an injured man to fend for himself, especially when the cut on his leg rapidly gets infected. She gets him back to town and nurses him back to health, only to find herself arrested for the murder of her grandfather.

The first half of the story deals with Dex's determination to repay Amber for saving him by helping her out of her difficulties. Though he barely knows her, he's quite certain that there is no way that she would have killed the grandfather she loved so much. With his money he can afford to hire the best lawyers and investigators and he is determined to find out the truth. The difficulty is that he can see that she is hiding something from him, something that might be able to clear her. I loved seeing how Dex seemed to be able to read Amber so easily. Amber is very protective of those she loves, and she believes that it was an accident. I did find it a little odd that the original autopsy didn't come to the same conclusion as the second one right away, but Dex did pay for the best. We also get to know both Dex and Amber a little bit. Amber definitely comes through as a very caring young woman, willing to risk her freedom to help someone who needs it. Dex starts out more self-centered, focused on what makes him happy. He's an admitted womanizer and doesn't always think about the effect of his actions on others. He isn't mean though, and his conversations with Amber while in the swamp are pretty funny.

The story switches directions once Dex has recovered and solved Amber's legal troubles. He has discovered that his crash was not accidental, but the result of sabotage on his plane. He's staying with Amber for a few days to help her get settled in her grandfather's house, and prepare for a storm that is bearing down on them. While they are there, several local friends stop by and are stranded there because of the storm, as are four of Dex's friends. While all are trapped in the house, Dex's ex-fiancee is murdered and it has to be one of the people staying there. As Dex and Amber investigate, it is hard to tell who has the most motivation to kill Dex. Between the rising waters and the search for the killer, the intensity continues to build. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

I enjoyed the development of the romance between Dex and Amber. Dex was quite a flirt, but ended up being far more honorable than I expected at the beginning. I liked his protectiveness toward Amber, even when he was trying to protect her from himself. Amber sees past Dex's flirtatiousness to the good man that he is. She is far more worried about the danger to him than any problems she might have. The attraction that flared between them was something that neither one could resist. I liked seeing how the attraction led to more. Both changed thanks to the other's influence, with Dex becoming more aware of the people around him and how he treats them, and Amber discovering that living her life according to the guilt she felt was no way to live at all. The ending was sweet and romantic. I can't wait to see what's next for the people of Mystic Glades.