Series: Coltons of Shadow Creek (Book 5)Coltons (Book 66)
Hired to renovate his family's former mansion, River Colton hopes to find answers to his deepest questions. Plagued by memories of his fugitive mother, the ex-Marine finds danger to his life in the estate's secret chambers -- and danger to his heart in Edith Beaulieu, its beautiful new guardian.
But someone doesn't want Edith or River in the seemingly haunted house. When Edith falls victim to too many "accidents" -- and falls hard for River -- the Texas loner risks everything to protect her. If the ghosts of Coltons past lurk in the shadows, it's up to Edith and River hunt them down…
Good book. In Pregnant by the Colton Cowboy River discovered that the man he thought is his father isn't, leaving him with questions about who he is. Determined to find answers, he's sure that his family's former home holds the answers. All he has to do is find a way inside so that he can search. When the house is sold, he talks the new owner's representative into letting him help with the renovations.
Edith has worked for her real estate mogul boss and friend for years. She's not certain why he's so determined to have this property considering how much work it will be to fix it up, and why he insists on so much secrecy. Because of that, she is suspicious of River's presence on the property at first but quickly takes him up on his offer to help.
Good mix of suspense and romance right from the start. There were multiple things going on that kept interest and tension high. Throughout the series, Livia Colton has succeeded in avoiding recapture. There have been sightings and suspected activities, but her evasion continues. More and more of her crimes have been exposed. Edith's arrival at the property begins another intense episode. Edith's introduction to the house her employer has purchased began with a frightening experience that set the stage for the entire book, highlighting her dedication to her job and her stubborn independence. River is equally stubborn in his desire to find answers, and later in his determination to protect Edith. Edith's employer adds another layer of mystery as his reasons for buying the mansion are slowly revealed. Last, but not least, is the mysterious "watcher" who is so intent on keeping people out of the house.
I loved River's protectiveness as he responded first to Edith's scream, and throughout the book as the attacks continued to escalate. There is no doubt about the chemistry between him and Edith, though both have issues that make them reluctant to give in. Edith has problems with trust and believing that love really exists. She is suspicious of River at first but gradually comes to trust him. River is haunted by things that happened on deployment, plagued by guilt that he hadn't done enough to keep his men safe. He also believes that no one would want him now because of his scars. I loved seeing the two of them grow closer as they worked together on the house. I ached a bit for River, whose insecurities were aggravated by his jealousy over what he thought was the relationship between Edith and Declan. I also hurt for Edith, whose fears caused her to push River away when she really wanted to keep him close. The revelations of both Declan's and River's motivations felt like a betrayal to her. It took some hard-won honesty to finally put the past to rest and let River and Edith look to a future together.
The suspense of the intruder was very well done, with their point of view adding another layer of intensity. I could feel Edith's unease at the way she felt she was being watched, especially knowing that she really was. The escalating nature of the attacks increased the feeling of danger and kept me on the edge of my seat. The end confrontation was intense but left some things unresolved for the next book.
I enjoyed seeing other members of the family as they made appearances in this story. I especially enjoyed seeing more of Knox and his contemplation of a future job. Mac was also a big part of this book, as he and Edith take steps to repair their relationship. We also see more of Jade, who is now the only unattached Colton. She is convinced that Livia is after her and the fear makes a huge impact on her life. I'm looking forward to her story.
No comments:
Post a Comment