Series: Coltons of Shadow Creek (Book 3)Coltons (Book 64)
A cowboy puts his life on the line for the woman expecting his child in The Coltons of Shadow Creek!
Determined to steer clear of the horrors his villainous mother brought on his family, rancher Thorne Colton keeps to himself. That means resisting Maggie Lowell. The last time he succumbed, passion took control. But when an explosion nearly claims her life, Thorne discovers their night together yielded more than sizzling memories.
Pregnant and under Thorne's protection in Shadow Creek, Maggie isn't sure where the bigger threat lies. Out in the open, she's a killer's target. On his ranch, she's in close quarters with the man who's driven to keep her and their child safe, but broke her heart once and might do it again…
Another good entry into this Coltons series. Thorne is the son of Livia Colton, a criminal mastermind who has recently escaped prison. He has spent the last ten years keeping mostly to himself, away from the gossip caused by his mother. He'd rather spend his time with the horses.
I loved Thorne. He is a quiet, gentle man. Raised mostly by his father, Mac, he had a fantastic example of a parent to counteract the misery caused by his mother. Thanks to Mac's example, he also has close relationships with all of his half-brothers and -sisters. He has also had quite the crush on his father's bookkeeper, Maggie. He hasn't done anything about it for two reasons. First, his father would likely frown on him getting involved with someone who works for them. Second, he doesn't want the gossip around him to affect her life.
I loved Maggie, too. She is smart, loving, and kind. Maggie has had a crush on Thorne for several years, but she has hidden it well. She has a few insecurities that keep her from believing that he would be interested in her anyway.
I loved the development of their relationship. After all the time of them harboring their secret crushes, fate steps in and creates a chance for them. When Maggie's car dies at the ranch during a storm, Thorne invites her to his apartment to wait for the tow truck. One thing leads to another, and they spend an amazing night together. But instead of it being the start of something wonderful, Maggie discovers that Thorne is suddenly avoiding her. I liked the fact that she allowed herself a short time to be sad about it, then determined to move on. That might have continued, except that Thorne was nearby when her car exploded. It was obvious at that point that Thorne cared deeply for her. I loved how he stayed with her to the hospital. That meant that he was there when Maggie got the unexpected news that she was pregnant.
Though Maggie is quite ready to brave the trials of being a single mother, she is also very willing to have Thorne be a part of the child's life. His determination to be everything that Livia wasn't just makes her love him more. I loved the way that Thorne's protectiveness kicked in and he took Maggie home with him to take care of her. All that time together gave them a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other better. I loved watching Maggie settle in to ranch life and gain deeper insights into what makes Thorne the man that he is. I loved seeing all the sweet things that Thorne did for Maggie to make her stay easier, and how they showed the depth of his feelings for her. I loved how he was able to tell Maggie about his childhood and how it influenced his actions after their night together. Their feelings for each other grew in spite of the danger around them. I loved how they got together at the end, and the epilogue was especially sweet.
The suspense of the story was great. From the moment Maggie's car exploded to the final confrontation, the intensity continued to build. Because of Livia's escape from prison, and the type of person she is, she is the prime suspect in the attacks. My heart was in my throat during the snake scene, and I wasn't sure how Thorne was going to get Maggie out of that situation. There were several instances from the attacker's point of view and I began to suspect who it was. The final confrontation was intense, and I loved Thorne and Knox's teamwork to bring it to a successful end.
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