Murder on Mustang Beach (Outer Banks Bookshop Mystery, Book 2)

 ALICIA BESSETTE

How acquired: Borrowed from my local library.

First line: Running the Mustang Beach footpath was the sweetest kind of torture.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I think I liked this second book in the series a little better than the first book. Partly because I really liked the friendship that developed between Callie and Geri-Lynn, the caretaker of the Mustang Beach sanctuary. Geri-Lynn was a great addition to the cast of characters, and her love for and dedication to the mustangs made me appreciate her. Callie really needed a good friend, and while I had hoped during the first book that Officer Fusco would become one, it didn’t happen.

The story opens eleven months after the events of the first book, and Callie and Toby have spent a lot of time together, learning everything there is to know about each other. Toby’s one year self-imposed moratorium on romantic relationships is about to come to an end, and Callie is very much looking forward to having a first date and a first kiss. So of course a dead body is found in Toby’s martial arts studio and the heat – a different kind of heat – is on. And of course Callie can’t sit idly by and let the police solve the murder, so her investigative journalist skills are called upon once again as she begins her own investigation. And of course she puts herself in danger again.

I’m really hoping there will be a third book.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When a killer stirs up trouble in the Outer Banks, amateur sleuth and bookseller Callie Padget is on the case, in a new beachside mystery from author Alicia Bessette.

Cattail Island in the Outer Banks is a popular destination for honeymooners and nature lovers alike. So it is a huge blow when the murder of a newlywed grinds the pre-summer season to a screeching halt. Bookseller Callie Padget launches her own investigation, after mysterious customer Geri-Lynn Humfeld, caretaker of the island’s protected wild horses, brings in an irresistible piece of information.

Determined to restore order and safety to her beloved hometown, Callie searches for answers—even as those answers cast suspicion on her soon-to-be boyfriend, Toby Dodge, whose martial arts studio was the scene of the crime. As she digs deeper, Toby becomes the police’s prime suspect. The truth raises troubling questions and sends her scouring the bookshop’s shelves for guidance.

Meanwhile, a well-loved member of the mustang herd—a pregnant mare whose anticipated foal is a symbol of summery hope for locals and visitors alike—may be facing dire circumstances. With help from Geri-Lynn, Callie unearths startling secrets surrounding not only the compromised mare, but the murdered newlywed, too. And when another body shows up, this time on isolated Mustang Beach, she must race against time to stop a killer from claiming any more innocent lives.

Smile Beach Murder (Outer Banks Bookshop Mystery 1)

 

ALICIA BESSETTE

Stats: Hardback, Berkley, 2023.

How acquired: Library.

First line: I ran for Smile Beach with the tangs of summer in my nose and an ache in my heart.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: The cover of this book caught my eye while browsing the shelves at the library, and while it looked maybe it’s a cozy mystery, which I’m not generally a big fan of, it sounded interesting. I’m not sure if it is officially a cozy, though it is tagged that way on Goodreads, but it didn’t really read like one to me. Or maybe I just enjoyed it so much compared to other cozies I’ve read.

Cattail Island seems like such a great place to live, filled with quaint sounding shops and quirky residents – but not so quirky to be caricatures. Callie’s mother died when she was young, under mysterious circumstances (ruled a suicide), and Callie left the island as soon as she grew up and hasn’t been back since. But now she’s been laid off from her job, and has moved back in with the uncle who raised her after her mother’s death. The fact that Callie is a reporter may also contribute to why I enjoyed this more than other cozies. When two deaths occur, Callie investigating seems more natural than for a pastry chef, or a cheese maker, for example. Though I will admit as it becomes obvious that someone seems to be gunning for her, I sometimes thought what the heck are you doing meeting this person in that place alone at night!

The first death that occurs after Callie’s return, in the same manner as Callie’s mother’s death, is a woman on a treasure hunt, which becomes an integral part of Callie’s investigation. But in between her snooping around looking for clues and information, she gets a job at the local bookstore (her duties include posting pictures and observations to the bookstore cat’s Instagram account), and she meets a man opening a martial arts studio, who offers her lessons in self-defense. Lessons that eventually come in pretty handy.

My only quibble with the book is that there are a lot of really short chapters. Like two to four pages long. And for some of those chapters it didn’t make sense for one to end and another to begin, it felt like they could have been combined into longer chapters. And I can’t even really explain why the short chapters were irritating, other than mentally disrupting the flow of the story maybe. But overall, I very much enjoyed the book, and I’m sad that there are only two books in the series.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

From author Alicia Bessette comes an all-new mystery series featuring Callie Padget, a former reporter turned bookshop clerk in the Outer Banks who is pulled into a deadly web of secrets when a mysterious fall at a lighthouse echoes a tragedy from her past. 

When Callie is laid off from her reporting job, she returns to her hometown of Cattail Island and lands a gig at the local bookstore—the same one where she found comfort after her mother died. 

In fact, the anniversary of her mother’s infamous death is approaching. Years ago, Teri Padget tumbled from the top of the lighthouse. As islanders are once again gossiping about the tragedy, devastating news strikes: the lighthouse has claimed another victim. Eva Meeks, of Meeks Hardware. 

The police are calling it suicide, but Callie does not believe Eva jumped any more than she believes her mother did—especially because Callie knows that before her death, Eva had dug up a long-forgotten treasure hunt that could have put a target on Eva’s back. 

In Callie’s search for answers, she enlists the help of some beloved books and several new friends, including the handsome local martial arts instructor, Toby Dodge. But when another death rocks Cattail Island, Callie must face her fears alone. As she earns enemies in pursuit of the truth, Callie knows she will either uncover the killer or become a victim herself.

Someone Else's Skin (DI Marnie Rome, Book One)

 

SARAH HILARY

Stats: Trade paperback, Penguin Books, 6/24/14.

How acquired: Birthday gift.

First line: They’ve cordoned off the house by the time she gets home.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I struggled a bit to get into this book. The author's writing style did not appeal to me at all. But eventually I fell into the rhythm, and it no longer bothered me. Much.

The lead, DI Marnie Rome, has some serious PTSD over her parents' brutal deaths, and while I gathered she attended some counseling afterwards, I still find it hard to believe that she was allowed to immediately return to work, and I believe she still needs a lot of counseling. DS Noah Jake, Marnie's partner in the current investigation, is the best character in the book, who Marnie could have treated with a little more respect regardless of her higher rank.

Also, speaking of Noah, it really bugged me that at one point early in the story he picked Marnie up at her house, but then just a few pages later Marnie was the one driving the car.

The plot got a bit convoluted, and a bit graphic and violent for Noah. But I did get very caught up towards the end, thus the book earning a higher rating from me than I anticipated in the beginning.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Five years ago, a shocking and bloody crime left Detective Inspector Marnie Rome’s parents dead. Not even her partner, Detective Sergeant Noah Jake, knows much about Marnie’s past. Though as one of the few gay officers on the force, Noah’s not one to over-share about his private life either.

By chance, Marnie and Noah are at the domestic violence shelter when Hope Proctor stabs her husband, Leo. It should be an open and shut case of self-defense, but none of the eight witnesses tells quite the same story. And the question remains: How did Leo get into the secure building? As the violence spirals, Marnie finds herself drawn into a place where the past casts long shadows and she must tread carefully to survive.

Crimson Lake (Crimson Lake, Book One)

 

CANDICE FOX

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Forge, 2020.

How acquired: Borrowed from my mom.

First line: I was having some seriously dark thoughts when I found Woman.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: A unique plot, with Ted, an accused child rapist/murderer (his case was dropped for lack of evidence that could sway a jury) teaming up with Amanda, a convicted murderer turned private investigator, to look into the disappearance of a local well known author. Told in first person POV by Ted, a former police detective, we get a deep dive into what his life is like after having spent eight months in prison and losing his job, his reputation, his wife, his baby daughter, and all of his friends. While working with Amanda, a strange and quirky woman who pled guilty to her crime, he begins to secretly look into her case and stir things up.

I love stories set in Australia, though mostly what I've read was in the Outback, so I did not expect to read about people in cities and towns living with crocodiles practically in their back yards. The author did a wonderful job setting the atmosphere, and convincing me I do not want to live anywhere near a croc. Though I wouldn't mind having a goose and her babies for pets, as Ted finds himself doing.

I never knew where the plot would go next, and the last 30 pages or so had me on the edge of my seat. I need the second book immediately!

Goodreads synopsis: How do you move on when the world won't let you?

12:46: Claire Bingley stands alone at a bus stop
12:47: Ted Conkaffey parks his car beside her
12:52: The girl is missing . . .

Six minutes in the wrong place at the wrong time--that's all it took to ruin Sydney detective Ted Conkaffey's life. Accused but not convicted of a brutal abduction, Ted is now a free man--and public enemy number one. Maintaining his innocence, he flees north to keep a low profile amidst the steamy, croc-infested wetlands of Crimson Lake.

There, Ted's lawyer introduces him to eccentric private investigator Amanda Pharrell, herself a convicted murderer. Not entirely convinced Amanda is a cold-blooded killer, Ted agrees to help with her investigation, a case full of deception and obsession, while secretly digging into her troubled past. The residents of Crimson Lake are watching the pair's every move . . . and the town offers no place to hide.

Night Work

 

STEVE HAMILTON

Stats for my copy: Hardcover, Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin’s Press, 2007.

How acquired: Borrowed from library.

First line: I was scared to death that night.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: At the library browsing the shelves I picked this book out. My first time reading this author, so I didn't really know what to expect. I was sucked in pretty quickly. Joe is a juvenile probation officer, going on a date for the first time since his fiancé was murdered two years ago. Later, his date turns up dead. And then another woman he cross paths with dies. The only connection seems to be Joe.

Told in first person narration, I enjoyed being in Joe's head as he begins to realize he may become a suspect, and then sets out to figure out who the real killer is. I laughed when his best friend, a detective, told him don't say find the real killer, you sound like O.J.

I gotta tell you, I started to wonder if Joe could possibly be the killer, like maybe he was having blackouts and didn't realize it. And then the last part of the book I was on the edge of my seat and my eyes actually kept darting ahead because I couldn't read fast enough. Talk about twisty turny.

Looking through my TBR, I realized I have one of the author's books, but it's the sixth book in a series, and I can't read a series out of order. But I do want to read more from him.

Goodreads Synopsis: Joe Trumbull is not a man who scares easily. As a juvenile probation officer in Kingston, New York, he's half cop, half social worker to the most high-risk youth in the city. And when he's not pounding the streets, trying to keep his kids out of jail, he's pounding a heavy bag in the gym to stay in shape. But tonight Joe Trumbull is scared to death. It's been two years since his fiancée, Laurel, was brutally murdered. Two years of grief and loneliness. On this hot summer night, he's finally going out on a blind date, his first date since Laurel's death. He's not looking for love, just testing the waters to see if it's possible to live a normal life again. The thought of it is turning his knees to jelly.

Marlene Frost is a beautiful woman. She's warm and funny, with a smile to match. After the first awkward minutes, Joe finally starts to think this isn't such a bad idea after all. In fact, maybe this blind date will turn out to be one of the best things that ever happened to him.

He couldn't be more wrong. Because somehow, for reasons Joe can barely understand, this one evening will mark the beginning of a new nightmare. A nightmare that will lead him to the faceless man in the shadows, and to the most terrible realization of all.…

For Joe Trumbull, the past is never past. And the worst is yet to come.

Under the Blood Tree

 PJ GRONDIN

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, PD House Books, 2017.

How acquired: From the author through The Review Crew.

First lines: A distant lightning flash lit up the western night sky as four boys frantically ran through the wooded acreage bordering Cypress Lake Mobile Home Park. 

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book. The prologue got off to a good start, with four boys racing through the woods to their "clubhouse", which was an old tree, and making a pact of silence sealed against the tree with their blood.

Chapter One picks up sixteen years later, and we are introduced to the men those boys have become, and their current lives. Two of the men are married with children, and living happy, successful lives. One is married to a very fragile wife. One is an alcoholic, in and out of jail. Incarcerated at the moment, and part of a chain gang cleaning up debris around a lake. A drought has shrunk the lake, turning up all sorts of items once covered by water, and finally revealing a car with a body inside. From there, we meet the police captain and a newspaper journalist who are both investigating the crime, and we slowly learn more about those four men and their connection to that car.

There isn't a lot of action, and there is quite a bit of description. Some inner musings from the characters as the four men nervously watch the news coverage of the investigation, worrying about their part in the events leading to that car ending up in the middle of the lake, worrying about each other and the pact they made, and who will be the first to break the pact, and whether their lives are about to be ruined. It's almost a character study. Almost, because despite all we learn about each man and his life, his thoughts and feelings, there isn't a lot of characterization. Two of the men and their wives were practically interchangeable for me, as I had trouble remembering which was which until quite a ways into the book. We learn a lot about the characters, without really getting to know them. 

The writing is adequate, sometimes painting evocative and vivid pictures, such as the description of that tree in the prologue, the dried up lakebed, the condition and ambience of the various mobile homes some of the characters live in. The plot is a bit convoluted, but not necessarily in a bad way, as it kept me guessing until practically the very end. About who actually killed the man in the car, but also about the secrets being kept by the the residents of the mobile home park.

It took me a little longer to read this book than it should have, but that was probably due more to my life and my job getting busy, because despite my somewhat negative review, at no time did I consider setting the book aside or not finishing it. It kept me interested and entertained enough to stay til the end, and that's a good thing.   

Goodreads synopsis: Severe drought ravages the Southeast. There is no end in sight as residents of Central Georgia brace for more of the same; unbearably hot, dry weather. <br>The fears of four young men are realized when the shrinking water level of Cypress Lake exposes a dark secret, hidden under the lake’s surface for sixteen years. Long ago, when they were best friends, they made a pact to never speak of the secret to anyone. Now their livelihoods, their marriages and possibly their very lives, hinge on keeping a childhood promise. Will they be able to maintain their silence or will the pact be broken …Under the Blood Tree?

Malice in Miami (Jamie Quinn Mystery, Book Six)

 

BARBARA VENKATARAMAN

Stats for my copy: Kindle edition, 2020.

How acquired: Gifted from the author.

First lines: “For God’s sake, Kip, just admit. You’re an adrenaline junkie!”.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: I’ve enjoyed all the Jamie Quinn mysteries, and this entry was as much fun as the others. Jamie is a self-deprecating narrator, who always manages to see some humor in the situations she finds herself in. Now that she has her new job running an art foundation, she’s trying to wrap up her last few active cases so she can close down her law practice. But despite herself, she gets dragged into a big paternity case, which, thanks to her process server, Duke, blows up in her face.

Duke has been one of my favorite supporting characters throughout the series, as he reminds me a bit of a private investigator/process server I’ve known and worked with for many years.

Jamie has misadventure after misadventure, with anything that can go wrong doing so, sometimes hilariously. And I learned some stuff, about art and how art foundations work, and in one of my favorite bits of the book, about snake wrangling. I’ll say this, Jamie is a braver woman than I. If my boyfriend took me out at night to hunt snakes, well, I probably would refuse to get out of the car and he might not be my boyfriend the next day!

I enjoyed the banter between Jamie and Kip, and Jamie and Duke. The plot was unpredictable, I never knew what to expect next. Jamie’s life sometimes resembles the old screwball comedies. If you’re new to the series, I recommend you start from the beginning. Each book is a fun and breezy read.

Goodreads synopsis: Reluctant family law attorney Jamie Quinn is loving life--and why wouldn't she? Her boyfriend Kip is back from Australia, her long-lost dad finally has his visa and she's about to start her dream job at an art foundation. But it all falls apart when Jamie is accused of stealing priceless art from a rare book collection. If she can't find out who framed her, she can kiss her dream job good-bye--and her law license too. Meanwhile, Kip has problems of his own. Now an environmental activist, he uncovers a deadly secret--one that just might get him killed. Jamie's in trouble, Kip's in danger, and Duke Broussard has gone AWOL. How could Jamie's favorite P.I. abandon her at a time like this?

Present Danger (Rocky Mountain Courage, Book 1)

 

ELIZABETH GODDARD

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, April 2021.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program

First line: Chance Carter should have known this last delivery wouldn’t go down without a hitch.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: Elizabeth Goddard has quickly become a favorite author for me, after having read her Uncommon Justice series, and I’ve since acquired several books from her back list. So I was thrilled to get this first book in her new Rocky Mountain Courage series, set in the same area of Wyoming as the Uncommon Justice series. In fact, in one scene a couple of characters from that series make a brief and welcome appearance.

The plot hits the ground running as the story opens with a small plane losing power and the pilot desperately trying to safely land, only to crash, leaving him injured and fearful of what will happen if he’s unable to complete delivery of a package. From there we’re off and running. We’re then introduced first to Grayback County Sheriff’s Detective Jack Tanner, and then US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors (along with other characters sporting long awkward titles!).

I’ve never been to Wyoming, but Ms. Goddard’s descriptions of the landscape make me wish I could travel there some day. Terra has vast knowledge of the mountains, which makes her an asset in Jack’s investigation of the murder of a local insurance salesman whose body is found at the bottom of a cliff.

As much as I loved the book, I will admit that the plot seemed a little more convoluted than the author’s other books, as I sometimes had to reflect back on previous happenings to understand what was going on, or felt a little confused. But that may have been an issue with my own concentration, especially since work has kept me so busy lately that I often could only read two or three chapters at a time (with sixty-five chapters most of them are fairly short). But that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. Along with the evocative descriptions, Ms. Goddard does a wonderful job with characterization. I love a good character study, and prefer character driven stories over plot driven, but Ms. Goddard’s books fall into both camps.

PRESENT DANGER is a well written and suspense filled story with a second chance romance. I can’t wait for the next book!

Goodreads synopsis: Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He's committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors.

When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn--one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he's failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.

Join bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth Goddard as she plunges you into a web of deceit made of hidden crimes, open threats, and long-buried family secrets in this gripping first book of an explosive new series.

The Escape (US Marshalls, Book One)

LISA HARRIS

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2020.

How acquired: From the publisher for review, through the Revell Reads Blogger Program.

First line: There is a razor-thin edge between justice and revenge, where the two easily blur if left unchecked.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: This is officially my favorite of Ms. Harris’ books. It’s only the third book of hers I’ve read, but still. I love plane crash/survival stories, so I had high hopes, and the author delivered. When we meet Madison, a US. Marshall, she is still grieving the senseless murder of her husband five years before. She’s dated occasionally over the years, but her heart was never in it. Every year on the anniversary of his death, she would visit his grave, and every year she would find a black rose left there. This year she did not go to the grave site, but coming home after her morning run she found a black rose on her bed. She doesn’t have time to deal with that though, as her boss calls her in to help transport two prisoners from Seattle to Colorado. She is partnered with Jonas for the flight. When Madison was training to be a Marshall, Jonas was her instructor, but their acquaintance never went beyond that. Like Madison, Jonas is focused on work and has no interest in dating or relationships, especially with a co-worker. He’s been down that road before, and it did not end well.

The plane carrying them to Denver crashes in the Idaho wilderness, and this is where the book really took off. Both pilots and one of the prisoners are killed in the crash. The other prisoner, Barrick, facing a life sentence for murder, manages to escape, and Madison and Jonas are determined to hunt him down.

I sailed through this intense book in two days, despite my full time job. The descriptions of the land, the forests, the river, are vivid, as Madison and Jonas hunt the prisoner, who sometimes hunts them. There are lots of near misses, with Barrick somehow managing to stay two steps ahead. The action is non-stop, and I never knew what to expect from one chapter to the next. The wilderness aspect only lasts for about half the book, and then they are back in civilization, with other law enforcement officers involved in the man hunt, but I was just as riveted, and stayed that way until the very end.

This book is part of Revell’s romantic suspense line, but there’s much more suspense than romance. As Madison and Jonas work together, they learn more about each other, and come to admire each other, but neither is looking for romance, and they don’t have time for those kind of thoughts regardless. However, I did expect the two Marshalls to come to term with and admit their feelings at the end, and I was not prepared for the book to end on a bit of cliff hanger! The story line with Barrick is thankfully wrapped up, but the mystery of those black roses still needs to be solved, and there is no happily ever after, or even a happy for now, leaving me very eager for the next book in the series.

Goodreads synopsis: US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are thrust into a high-profile case when they are called on to transport two prisoners across the country on a private plane. But when the plane experiences engine trouble en route from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado, the pilots crash-land the aircraft deep in the heart of the sprawling Salmon-Challis National Forest.

When Madison and Jonas regain consciousness, they find both pilots and one prisoner dead--and one fugitive on the run. They'll have to negotiate the rugged and remote backcountry through Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado while tracking a murderer who is desperate to disappear--and will do anything to stop them.

This high-octane game of cat-and-mouse from bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris will have your heart pumping as you try to catch a fugitive with nothing to lose.

Point of Danger

 

IRENE HANNON

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2020.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program

First line: The package was ticking.

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: That first sentence plunges us right into the plot, as Eve Reilly calls 911, and police officers and the bomb unit descend on her cul de sac. Eve is a radio host, a very controversial radio host, so detective Brent Lange begins looking into her listening audience for suspects. Which means he and Eve are thrown into each other's company, and sparks fly. I'm not a fan of insta love, I want to watch characters get to know each other, and I l loved how the attraction between Eve and Brent grew as their romance slowly played out. Revell is a Christian publisher, so it was tame, and sweet, and endearing and very satisfying. I'm also a fan of character driven stories, and the author did a wonderful job with both Eve's and Brent's characterization, as well as the supporting characters. I loved the interactions between Eve and her two sisters, and the suspects were all sufficiently creepy in their own ways. 

The mystery was well crafted, with some red herrings thrown in. I kept thinking I had an idea of who the culprit was, but in the end I was completely unprepared for the twist that led to the true culprit. Looking back, I realize that despite the fast pacing there was not necessarily a lot of action, and yet there was always something going on. I'd previously only read a couple of Ms. Hannon's books, both of which were Love Inspired romances, and both of which were enjoyable but (to me) fairly standard for the genre. With POINT OF DANGER, I'm much more interested now in reading more from her. This book is tag lined “A Triple Threat Novel”, so I hope another one will be coming soon.

Goodreads synopsis: Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently. 

But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive. 

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is back with a heart-stopping new series that will have you turning pages well into the night.

Cowboy Commando (Special Ops: Texas, Book One; Harlequin Intrigue No. 1123)

JOANNA WAYNE

Stats for my copy: Mass market paperback, Harlequin, 2009.

How acquired: Bought.

First line: “Welcome home, cowboy!”

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: I enjoyed this older Harlequin Intrigue. Cutter is a former Navy SEAL who misses his military days and feels a little lost now that he's back in Texas. He's half-heartedly job hunting and staying in his aunt's condo. She lives on the family ranch and would welcome Cutter back, but he isn't sure that ranching is for him. He comes home one evening to find Linney in his kitchen, with a small child who she admits that she “sort of kidnapped”.

This is an Intrigue, so there's a mystery – the child's mother, and Linney's best friend, recently drowned in her own pool, and Linney is convinced that her abusive husband killed her. Problem is, said husband is a cop, and Linney can't get anyone to take her seriously.

This is the first book I've read by Joanna Wayne, and I like her writing. Linney is a little foolish, determined to prove her friend was murdered but not going about it in a very sensible way, letting her emotions drive her. But she's goodhearted and worried about little Julie's safety. Cutter is reluctant to be pulled into Linney's investigation, but once it's clear that her life is now in danger, Cutter is all in, and not about to let anything happen to Linney, or young Julie.

There's a little history between them, a few days spent together several years ago, after which they didn't see each other again, and they both harbor bitterness toward the other for walking away. Those pesky misunderstandings, always driving a wedge between lovers.

The mystery was well plotted, with a surprise twist at the end. And of course, being a category romance, there's a happy ending. My only complaint is the cover photo. At no point in the book do I recall Cutter climbing over rocks shirtless. And why must cover models always have hairless chests?

Goodreads synopsis: On navy SEAL missions Cutter Martin had been a warrior. But when it came to Linney Kingston, he was just a red-blooded Texas cowboy with bad luck at love. Linney had walked out on him six years ago. Now she was back—with a motherless child and a crazy story.
Linney's theory of murder and scandal was as preposterous as her body's traitorous response to Cutter. Still, when she was shot at, the cowboy came to her rescue. Cutter—her hero. And the only man who could break her heart again. Trusting him a second time was more frightening than the killers stalking her every move….