Series: Coltons of Shadow Creek (Book 4)Coltons (Book 65)
The most shocking Colton family secret yet is revealed!
Claudia Colton has always felt different from her siblings. But the fashion designer doesn't expect a PI with knowledge of her family to show up in her tiny Texas hometown. The tall, blond stranger on her doorstep announces Claudia might not be the daughter of criminal mastermind Livia Colton…but then who is she?
Widower Hawk Huntley, hot on the trail of a cold kidnapping case, is stopped dead in his tracks by Claudia. He vows to protect her in any way possible -- heart, body, and soul -- as they track down the truth of her identity. But will Claudia's hidden past -- and a gun-wielding stalker -- change everything for Colton?
Good book. Claudia has returned to Shadow Creek after living in New York and pursuing her fashion design dreams. Now she has her own boutique in town, where she also tries to live down her relationship to her criminal mother. Though she hasn't told her family, she was also escaping a relationship that had turned abusive. She was surprised to receive a visit from a private investigator with the news that she might not be Livia Colton's daughter after all.
I liked both Claudia and Hawk. Claudia is beautiful, intelligent, and talented. In previous books, her love for her family is clear and that continues in this one. She is also protective of them and doesn't want her troubles to intrude on their lives. I ached for her too, because although she had the love of her siblings, she never felt like she really fit in with them.
Hawk is a man driven by the events of his past. He feels guilty about the death of his wife, haunted by the idea that he had failed to protect her. Because her murderer was never found, he has devoted himself to working cold cases, hoping to bring closure that he never had to families of other victims. He has also closed himself off emotionally, unable to deal with the pain of his loss.
The relationship between Claudia and Hawk was a fast one. From the moment Hawk appeared in her shop, the chemistry between them was hot. But more than just attraction, there was also a deeper connection that was evident from the start. I loved how Claudia could see past Hawk's public persona to the hurting and vulnerable man beneath. I really liked the way that she embraced what was happening and was honest about her feelings to Hawk. She wasn't going to let him hide behind his past and let something special slip away. I ached for Hawk, who had closed down and pushed people away for so long that allowing himself feel again was a painful process. I loved seeing him let Claudia in and start to heal. The conversation between them about not forgetting his wife was sweet and heartwrenching.
The suspense of the story was also good. There were several things going on. First, as with all the books in the series, is the missing Livia Colton and the concern over where she is and what she is doing. Second is Claudia's fear that her ex is going to show up and make trouble for her. Third is whether the news that Hawk brought is true. Fourth is whoever is behind the troubles that Claudia is experiencing, which may be linked to the others. Each attack on Claudia raised new questions about who it could be. The growing intensity of those attacks increased the fear for Claudia's safety, and the occasional glimpses of the attacker's point of view intensified those fears. My suspicions were all over the place as I tried to decide who it was. The final confrontation had me glued to the pages as I waited to see how it was going to turn out. The identity of the attacker was not one I had thought of, which made the conclusion even more satisfying. The revelation of Claudia's parentage was not a surprise and was handled very well. I especially loved Mac's reaction to it.
I enjoyed the continuing theme of the importance of family. In spite of, or maybe because of, the reality of their mother's crimes, the Colton siblings are very close. I loved the way that they watch over each other and support each other.
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