Killer Colton Christmas - Regan Black, Lara Lacombe (HRS #1971 - Dec 2017)

Series: Coltons of Shadow Creek (Book 10)
             Coltons (Book 71)

Good conclusion to the Coltons of Shadow Creek series.

Special Agent Cowboy by Regan Black

When hackers strike Colton, Inc., they put executive Marie Meyers in their crosshairs. FBI agent Emiliano Ortega is charged with protecting the beautiful city girl on his ranch. But keeping their mutual attraction professional under the mistletoe is impossible…

Excellent story. Marie is the Chief Digital Officer for Colton, Inc., and works hard in appreciation of the trust her bosses have placed in her. When hackers strike at the company, Marie is the one in the greatest danger. In order to protect her, FBI agent Emiliano takes Marie out of the city to his family's ranch in Shadow Creek. As initial evidence is gathered, there is some question as to whether Marie is the victim or a participant. Part of Emiliano's job is to verify which it is.

From the moment they met, there were sparks of attraction between Marie and Emiliano, even though they are so different. Marie is a workaholic, with no family to distract her from her job. Bounced from foster home to foster home, she has developed a self-contained independence. She is also pure city girl, and the wide open spaces and quiet kind of freaked her out. Emiliano grew up on the ranch with his brother and his veterinarian parents. He splits his time between the city and the ranch. I loved seeing the development of their relationship. Emiliano is wary at first, because of her status as a possible suspect, but he quickly realizes that there is no way that she would be involved. Marie isn't happy with the situation, but she doesn't create problems in her frustration. She's understanding of the situation, and that also helps her case with Emiliano. I loved seeing the two of them get to know each other, especially as Emiliano introduces Marie to the joys of ranch life. Their feelings for each other grow quickly, but neither is sure how a relationship could work. I especially ached for Marie, who has little experience with love, only with abandonment. Her fears cause her to pull back, and it's only Emiliano's refusal to give up on her that brings them back together. I loved their big moment at the end, and the help they got from the little dog, Scrabble.

The suspense of this part was fantastic. The speed and depth of the attack were believable in this day of cyber crimes. The focus on Marie as both target and suspect kept me hooked as I waited to see how it would play out. I felt for Emiliano and Marie as lead after lead came to a dead end, even as the threats against Marie became more intense. I loved seeing them take proactive steps to draw out the bad guys. The final confrontation was intense, with a twist that I sort of saw coming, but the details surprised me anyway. I also liked the realism that the good guys aren't always supermen who come through unscathed.

One of my favorite characters in the story was the little dog, Scrabble. I loved how she took to Marie right away, cementing Emiliano's belief that Marie is innocent of the cyberattack. It was fun to see his jealousy over Scrabble's defection to Marie (Scrabble is HIS dog!). It was sweet to see how Marie went from so wary of the dog to totally in love with her. The scene with Scrabble interfering with Marie's packing was adorable. 

The Marine's Christmas Case by Lara Lacombe

When Dario Ortega meets Felicity Grant, the lovely Marine-turned-PI spurns his advances. Instead, Dario offers his tech expertise to help Felicity solve the Colton, Inc., hacking. Working the case together softens Felicity's steely heart and makes Dario rethink bachelorhood. But can they catch a killer Colton in time for Christmas?

Good story. Felicity is the newest member of Adeline's detective agency and has been put to work on the Colton, Inc., hacking case. After twelve years in the Marines, she's happy to be back in Shadow Creek where she can put down roots. Dario is Emiliano's brother and home for the holidays. He's a computer whiz and something of a playboy. I loved their first meeting. Felicity is at the ranch for Emiliano and Marie's engagement party. She's still adjusting to being a civilian, so she is hanging out around the edges of the party. Dario is watching his brother and Marie with a bit of puzzlement. He doesn't understand the whole "happy-ever-after" thing and is much happier with his casual, short-term relationships. Felicity catches his eye, and he attempts to charm her in his usual manner. He's surprised at her resistance to going out with him but doesn't give up. Felicity has no intention of getting involved with a man who just wants a fling. She's amused by his attempts but keeps up her resistance.

I liked the development of the relationship between Dario and Felicity. The sparks between them are apparent from the start, though Felicity does her best to ignore them. When she accepts her need for his professional assistance on the Colton case, she makes it clear to him that their time together will be business only. That doesn't last too long, as Felicity gets to know the man behind the reputation. I loved the scene at the Colton's cookie party, with Felicity's reaction to Dario and little Joseph. It made her realize that there was more to him than she thought. It softened her resistance a bit as her mind wandered down a fantasy route of her and Dario together. Dario was equally intrigued by her, and I loved the way he watched her and noticed little things about her. It was fun to see the committed bachelor suddenly thinking of long-term ideas. He as slightly disturbed by those thoughts and tried to shake them off.  As the two of them get more deeply involved, each has to come to terms with the changes to their feelings. Dario surprised me with his acceptance and readiness to see where it goes. I ached for Felicity, who knew she was falling but believed that Dario didn't feel the same. I liked the way that Dario didn't give up, and his big moment at the end was pretty sweet.

The suspense of this story was good also. Felicity and Dario are rapidly closing in on the person behind the hacking. Dario's abilities get him into the "dark web" spaces where he goes to search for more clues. The action heated up when the office was broken into, but questions arose when it appeared that nothing was damaged or stolen. The reason became obvious a short time later, but I found it a little hard to believe that a computer expert hadn't thought of that possibility immediately. The threat left on Felicity's car brought home the fact that, though they were closing in, the danger was also closing in. A couple more clues involving Livia and Jade came to light and had Dario going off alone to check on something. What happened then had me on the edge of my seat with the intensity of that confrontation. There were some unexpected twists as the last of the questions were finally answered.  

Billionaire's Colton Threat - Geri Krotow (HRS #1967 - Nov 2017)

Series: Coltons of Shadow Creek (Book 9)
            Coltons (Book 70)

Single, pregnant and nearly bankrupt, Halle Ford makes a deal with a sexy Scottish devil: she'll marry billionaire Alastair Buchanan. Why? For the sake of their baby -- conceived after one night of passion -- and to save her beloved Bluewood Ranch. They plan to divorce after one year, but their burgeoning Lone Star love might just surprise them!

But no sooner do the cowgirl and her Scotsman say, "I do," than their very livelihoods are threatened. Someone begins sabotaging Halle's ranch, while Alastair's family whiskey empire comes under siege. Drawn together by passion and danger, can the newlyweds protect the family they've both come to cherish?

Good book that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The effects of criminal mastermind Livia Colton continue to haunt the town of Shadow Creek. Halle's father was killed in a hit-and-run accident that she blames on Livia Colton. Her father's death brought Halle back to Bluewood Ranch and the family trail tours business sooner than planned and she struggles to keep the business afloat. When a neighbor sets up a four-day trail tour for a friend of his, Halle jumps at the chance to show Scotsman Alastair Buchanan the wild and beautiful side of Texas. Alastair is a billionaire with plans for some investments in Texas. The trail ride is his chance to learn more about the area as well as take some time to relax.

Alastair and Halle strike sparks from each other from the moment they meet. The attraction they feel is mutual, but neither intends to do anything about it. Getting involved with a client is a bad idea, and Halle has enough problems without risking that kind of trouble. Alastair only plans to be in Texas for a short time, and he senses that Halle is not the fling type of woman. I loved the interactions between Halle and Alastair during the ride. Alastair occasionally comes across as an arrogant know-it-all, but that's mostly his natural confidence expressing itself. He is polite and appreciative and has a dry sense of humor that appeals to Halle. He also likes to tease a bit, which gets him into trouble. I liked watching Halle introduce Alastair to the land she loved. Her love of that land shines through in everything she does. I enjoyed seeing her tweak Alastair about his phone habit. When that same phone causes a nearly fatal accident, the subsequent reactions result in a passionate night on the trail. But nothing can come of it, so when the ride is over, they part ways.

However, Fate has something else in mind. Alastair hasn't been able to forget Halle, though his attempts to stay in contact with her are shot down. That is until the stick turns blue, and Halle knows that she has to tell Alastair that he's going to be a father. He's shocked, and not too happy with Halle's stated plan to raise the baby on her own. His inability to forget her runs into his natural protectiveness, and he rushes back to Texas with a plan in place. He'll propose a temporary marriage that will give the baby his name and legitimacy and provide Halle with the funds she needs to keep her ranch going. I enjoyed the back-and-forth as Alastair needed every bit of his negotiating skills to convince Halle to agree to his plans.

I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Alastair and Halle's relationship. Halle is feisty and independent and doesn't like the idea of being indebted to Alastair. Alastair is protective and determined to make things as easy as possible for Halle, a feeling that only increases when strange things begin to happen on the ranch. A trip to Scotland removes Halle from immediate danger and gives the two of them more time together to get to know each other. Alastair's protectiveness leads him to keep his growing business troubles from Halle because he doesn't want to worry her, but Halle can see that he is keeping something from her. As her feelings for him grow stronger, that lack of sharing/trust makes her believe that his feelings are not as strong. After their return to Texas, Alastair compounds the problem with a business deal that goes against everything Halle believes.  I ached for her and her feelings of betrayal but also wanted to shake her for not letting him explain. When Halle's temper puts her in a dangerous situation, Alastair finally realizes the strength of his feelings. His feelings of helplessness were hard for him to face, and I loved the way that Halle helped him through it. I loved the scene at the hospital when he saw the baby on the sonogram and the effect it had on him. The final scene at Christmas was fun, with the gender reveal and Alastair's wedding gift to Halle.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. There seemed to be two different issues going on, both of which tied to the hard-to-believe possibility that Livia Colton is still alive. Right after the wedding, there were attacks made that appeared to be intent on making Halle sell her property. I ached for her at the discovery on her front porch and loved her determination not to give in to the threats. The booby trap on the trail was frightening, especially for Alastair who feared for Halle's safety. At the same time, Alastair has been trying to fight off a hostile takeover of one of his businesses. The increasing feeling that it was personal made Alastair even more intent on getting to the bottom of it. The security breach on his estate added another layer of questions to the puzzle. The final confrontation back in Texas was an intense series of events that had me on the edge of my seat wondering how it was all going to be resolved. There were several twists involved as the link between Halle's and Alastair's troubles became clear. I loved Halle's part in bringing the confrontation to a successful end. There is still one element left unresolved, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

The only problem I had with the book was a minor one, but every time it happened it pulled me a little bit out of the story. In Scotland, they distill and drink whisky, not whiskey. So every time Alastair's company, Clyde Whiskey, was mentioned, it grated on my nerves.

 

The Colton Marine - Lisa Childs (HRS #1951 - July 2017)

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.

 

Cold Case Colton - Addison Fox (HRS #1948 - June 2017)

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. 

Pregnant by the Colton Cowboy - Lara Lacomb (HRS #1944 - May 2017)

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.

Mission: Colton Justice - Jennifer Morey (HRS #1963 - Oct 2017)

Series: Coltons of Shadow Creek (Book 7)

When his wife, Tess, died, tech mogul Jeremy Kincaid's perfect world broke apart. Their young son is the light of his life, but Jeremy can't shake suspicions that her death was no accident. Did presumed-dead Livia Colton orchestrate Tess's car accident? Jeremy risks everything by enlisting beautiful PI Adeline Winters to uncover the truth.

Adeline once served as Tess and Jeremy's egg donor and surrogate. Giving up her baby was the hardest thing she'd ever had to do, yet she can't turn down Jeremy's plea for help now. But Adeline and Jeremy must push aside their slow-burning attraction when kidnappers place the ultimate bargaining chip on the table: their son.

This was an okay read, not as good as most of the Colton books. Jeremy and his wife, Tess, had been unable to have children and used a surrogate and egg donor to have their son Jamie. Shortly after his birth, Tess died in a car accident, leaving Jeremy to raise their son alone. However, he is certain that Tess's death was no accident and that the missing-but-presumed-dead Livia Colton is responsible. Try as he might, he can't get law enforcement to investigate, so he goes to a private investigator for answers.

Adeline was a poor college student when she agreed to help Jeremy and Tess by being their surrogate, but giving up the baby was heartbreaking for her. Since then she finished her education and now runs a successful investigation business. She is surprised when Jeremy comes to her for help discovering the truth about Tess's death, but can't turn him down.

I liked Adeline. She is feisty, intelligent, and determined. I liked the way that, although she empathized with Jeremy's wish to believe Tess was murdered, she doesn't allow emotion to affect her investigation. She will only accept hard evidence to convince her. I also felt for her reluctance to spend much time with Jamie. It hurt enough to give him up the first time; getting to know him now and then leaving him again would be even worse.

I had a harder time liking Jeremy. As the book went on, his refusal to believe that the accident was just that, in spite of growing evidence, seemed to be more about his guilty feelings than an actual quest for justice. I also felt that he didn't really consider Adeline's feelings when he insisted that she spend time with Jamie. Again, it was more about his feelings than hers.

There was no doubt that there was an intense attraction between Adeline and Jeremy. I was a little disturbed by the fact that Jeremy had been drawn to Adeline during the pregnancy process while he was married to Tess. That leaned a bit further into infidelity than I was comfortable with. Now that Tess is gone, he's free to pursue the attraction, but there are also guilty feelings from his marriage that cause him to hold back his emotions. Adeline finds it easy to fall for the man who is the father of her baby but fears his interest is only that of providing a new mother for his son. I liked the way that Adeline stood up for her own needs at the end, forcing Jeremy to take an honest look at his own feelings.

The suspense of the story was good. Jeremy's conviction that Tess's accident was murder led him and Adeline to ask questions that gained them some unwanted attention. Adeline and Jeremy uncover some unexpected information about Tess and her past, linking her with Livia Colton, but is it enough for murder? When their investigation starts to get too close for someone's comfort, Jamie is kidnapped to get them to back off. Their race to save him before the kidnapper can carry out his plans is intense and had me on the edge of my seat as I read. The identity of the culprit wasn't too much of a surprise when it came to the final confrontation.