Series: Eagle Mountain Murder Mystery (Book 2)
A child witnesses a murder
And becomes a killer’s target…
Murder doesn’t belong in the peaceful town of Eagle Mountain, Colorado. Yet Deputy Gage Walker has a brutal double murder on his hands and a missing deaf child. Gage’s only hope to find the little girl is her aunt, Maya Renfro. But nothing has prepared Gage for the intense chemistry between them…or just what happens when love gets mixed with murder.
Terrific continuation of the series. When Gage and his partner had been called to check on a campsite, they didn't expect to find two people brutally murdered. The town was just starting to get over the murder of a young lawyer (Saved by the Sheriff). It wasn't until Gage contacted the female victim's sister that he found out the couple's five-year-old daughter had been with them and was now missing. Devastated by the news and terrified for her niece, Maya immediately drove to Eagle Mountain, determined to join the search for Casey. There she delivered the complicating information that Casey was deaf, making finding her that much more difficult.
The first meeting between Maya and Gage was a little tense. Maya has a city dweller's disdain for small-town life and lets her attitude show. Gage is a bit taken aback by the young woman with the blue hair and flamingo earrings. But Maya quickly recognizes Gage's determination and capability, and he sees past her prickliness to the worried aunt. And underneath it all is an unexpected spark of attraction.
I liked both Gage and Maya. Gage is a good man who is devoted to keeping the people he cares about and his hometown safe. He has a good heart and would like to have a family of his own, but thanks to a woman who broke up with him because of his job, he believes it would be unfair to commit to someone. He's well known for his varied dating, but he wants more. Maya rubbed me a little wrong at the beginning because of her attitude about small towns, but that changed pretty quickly. I loved that she had a close relationship with her sister and that Casey was her niece first and deaf second. She is smart and determined and won't let anything or anyone get in the way of finding Casey.
I enjoyed the development of Maya and Gage's relationship. The attraction is there from the beginning, though both try to ignore it. Maya has no intention of sticking around once Casey is found, so getting involved with the local Romeo isn't in her plans. Gage knows she isn't staying, and figures that she wouldn't be interested in a small town cop anyway. But, Gage also can't deny that the protectiveness he feels toward Maya feels a lot more personal than anything he has felt before. I loved the way that he watched out for her, and could sense when she needed comfort and when she needed to feel like she was doing something. I also loved how Maya's feelings toward Gage changed as she got to know him. The scene with the photo album was great. I loved the ending as both of them realized that all they needed was the right person to overcome their fears.
The suspense of the story was just as much of a page-turner as the first book. First was the intensity of the search for Casey and the fears of what might have happened to her. Once she was found, knowing that she had seen the men who killed her parents had put a target on her back. It was fascinating to see the various methods used to help Casey recover and for her to help Gage and the others figure out who the murderers were. The intensity of the attacks on Casey increased, and the last one had me glued to the pages until it was all over. I wasn't terribly surprised at the identity of the killers, but there are still questions that need to be answered. There were a couple of things that I think might hint at what is happening, and I can't wait to see if I am right.
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