Colton Family Rescue - Justine Davis (HRS #1916 - Oct 2016)

Series: Coltons of Texas (Book 10)
            Coltons (Book 59)

A brokenhearted cowboy finds his second chance with a single mom under siege in the newest Coltons of Texas romance!

Being rich and powerful didn't save T. C. Colton from painful betrayal. His beloved Jolie Peters walked out on him for cold, hard cash offered by his controlling mother…or so he believed at the time. Now, with a killer hunting down her young daughter -- a witness to a murder -- Jolie turns to T.C. to keep them safe.

But trusting her again isn't easy for T.C. at first…although their attraction is still hotter than a Texas summer and he's crazy about little Emma. For a short time in a remote cabin hideout, T.C., Jolie and Emma feel like family, until the killer closes in, threatening every dream they're building together…

Good second chance story with some action and suspense thrown in. Jolie and TC had been very close four years earlier until she took the money his parents offered and ran. He still has not forgotten or forgiven Jolie for that betrayal, nor has he seen Jolie since then. Until she and her daughter walk into his office asking for help.

Jolie had loved TC with all her heart, but she couldn't stand up to the threats made against herself and her daughter. After leaving the Colton ranch, she has made a new life for herself and Emma. Then Emma witnesses a murder and the killer comes after her, leaving Jolie nowhere to turn for help except TC.

The initial meeting between TC and Jolie is pretty rough. He's still bitter over her departure and not inclined to be very helpful. His walls against being hurt again are built pretty high.  Jolie is still hurt that he let them go so easily and never even came after her for an explanation. I liked Jolie's fierce mama bear persona as she let him know exactly what drove her away. Her explanation set him back a bit because it differed quite a bit from his mother's version. He's still wary though, and ready to refuse his help, when he comes face to face with little Emma. He had loved the little girl, and much of his pain was wrapped up in how much he missed her too. He can't bring himself to refuse anything that will keep her safe. TC whisks them away to his "refuge," a cabin on a distant part of the ranch where he's sure they will be safe.

It was interesting to see the rekindling of TC and Jolie's relationship. Both of them are wary at first, with too many memories and too much hurt between them to be easy with each other. Both are determined to make the best of things for Emma. There are some really sweet scenes between TC and Emma as she wiggles her way back into his heart, and opening the door for his feelings for Jolie. The chemistry between them is still as strong as it had been before, and when they are together that way, everything else fades into the background. However, the memories of what happened before are never far from their minds, making both of them a little oversensitive and prone to take remarks the wrong way. With TC realizing that his feelings for Jolie never went away, it's pretty clear that a confrontation with his mother isn't far off. I loved that face-off when it happened, especially seeing TC and Jolie stand up to her together. It will be interesting to see if those results hold. The confrontation also made TC and Jolie realize that they belonged together. The icing on the cake was their return to the main ranch house, where they were met by the rest of the family. I loved the support they received from the "good" Coltons - Reid, Zane, Piper, and Alanna. The best part was seeing Fowler and Jolie go head to head and Fowler being the one to back down.

The suspense of the story had two parts. The main one being the murder that Emma witnessed and keeping her safe. Most of that occurred at the beginning and end of the book, with the first attack and then laying low while they tried to find the murderer. Things got very intense at the end when Emma was grabbed again. My heart was in my throat as TC and his horse Flash went up against a murderer in a car. There was a surprising twist to the resolution that I hadn't seen coming at all.

The second part was the continuing question of what had happened to Eldridge Colton. Once again, Fowler has a theory and doesn't hesitate to take it to the police. His victim of choice this time is Jolie, whom he accuses of killing Eldridge because she wants more money. I liked TC's belief in her innocence on that point and his help in clearing her name. It was amusing to see his reaction to where she was and who she was with the night in question. It was satisfying for them both to be able to thwart Fowler's intent. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop him from setting his sights on someone else, which is the lead into the next book.

High-Stakes Colton - Karen Anders (HRS #1912 - Sept 2016)

Series: Coltons of Texas (Book 9)
            Coltons (Book 58)

What's a cowboy to do when he falls for the woman he's investigating? Find out in the latest Coltons of Texas romance!

Soul-scarred Texas Ranger Jake McCord is no stranger to hardship and heartache. Assigned to solve a kidnapping case, Jake enters Colton Valley Ranch as a horse whisperer…and watcher. His primary suspect? The victim's daughter, Alanna Colton.

Alluring Alanna is the picture of competence and compassion as she trains horses and helps troubled teens work the ranch. Jake is immediately drawn to her, and their mutual attraction only intensifies as he struggles to keep a clear head on the case. But his troubles are just beginning, as others on the ranch arouse suspicion and threaten all Jake and Alanna hold dear.

The search for the missing Eldridge Colton goes on. Jake McCord is a Texas Ranger who has been sent undercover to the Colton ranch as a horse whisperer. His assignment is to keep an eye on Alanna Colton, daughter of the missing man and possible suspect.

Alanna runs the horse training section of the ranch and has started a program to help troubled teens. She butts heads constantly with her older brother Fowler, who has purchased a horse that Alanna believes is dangerous. She is skeptical of anyone who claims to be a "horse whisperer" and isn't happy that Fowler has hired Jake.

There are sparks between Jake and Alanna from the moment they met. First up is the fact that Alanna doesn't want Jake there and doesn't believe in what he does. She is bluntly honest and has no trouble telling him so from the beginning. Jake is equally honest when he tells her that she's wrong and that she will soon see it. There are also the sparks of attraction that fly between them. Jake takes advantage of those sparks and lays the cowboy charm on thick, flirting with Alanna. He has no trouble using those sparks to get closer to her. Alanna feels the sparks also, but she has no intention of getting involved with a footloose charmer. She has enough on her plate.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship. I liked the banter between Jake and Alanna as they got to know each other. Though his flirtation had started as part of the job, Jake quickly found it turning real. I liked the way that he paid attention to what was going on around her and saw how she was treated. It was sweet to see how he tried to be there for her, giving her a shoulder to lean on if she wanted to and encouraging her to believe in her dreams. It doesn't take long before he believes in her innocence, though he needs evidence to satisfy his superiors. He also feels increasingly guilty about his deception. Alanna is intelligent and determined to make her programs work. I liked her dedication to her teen program and the compassion and kindness she shows them. She is wary of Jake, but can't deny the attraction she feels to him. She is also surprised at how easy it is to open up about her dreams and frustrations when she talks to him. The heat between them is intense, and when they are together their problems fade into the background. I ached for them both when the truth came out. Alanna felt betrayed and used. Jake believed that what they had together had been destroyed by his deception. I loved Alanna's big moment at the end as she went after what she wanted most. Her surprise for Jake was awesome.

The suspense of the story was very good. Jake has his work cut out for him as he watches the various members of the Colton family, especially Alanna. His suspicions are aroused when someone accuses Alanna of having threatened her father, and he has to weigh the evidence against his personal feelings. After witnessing several confrontations among assorted Coltons, Jake realizes that most of them have the motivation and capability of being involved in Eldridge's disappearance. One character, in particular, seems especially motivated to deflect suspicion onto Alanna, which rings my alarm bells. But nothing is resolved, leaving everyone still wondering what happened to Eldridge.

There is a second issue giving Jake fits. There is a ranch hand there who Jake believes was involved in the death of his partner. Though told to focus on his assignment, Jake still keeps an eye on this man. Problems with him escalate as he involves Alanna's teens in whatever is going on. The final confrontation was intense, and I was glued to the pages until it was all resolved.

There are some deeply emotional parts to the book also. Jake is dealing with the death of his younger brother and his partner, which have had him tied up in knots for months, to the point where it affected his work. He is drowning in guilt over both. I ached for him as he finally confronted those issues and put them to rest. His conversation with his father was especially emotional for both of them. Alanna has tried burying her pain in her work with the horses. It is difficult when she is constantly undercut by her obnoxiously controlling brother. I liked how Jake helped her face the things that were holding her back, giving her the strength to go after what she wanted. I ached for her the day that she thought she saw her father in a crowd and chased after him.