My Spy - Dana Marton (HI #1453 - Oct 2013)

Series: HQ: Texas (Book 2)

A mission gone wrong forced injured soldier Jamie Cassidy to start anew…and run right into the path of deputy sheriff Bree Tridle. The sassy, sexy Texan was as determined to uncover a local money-laundering scheme as Jamie was to keep her safe from the stalker hot on her trail. But Jamie, now an undercover operative, was also on a covert mission of his own: track smugglers threatening to bring terrorists into the U.S. Could Jamie's and Bree's cases be related? When a deadly attack on Bree's home escalates the danger and their attraction, Jamie and Bree must face their enemies together to save not only their country, but their one chance at love. 

Good book.  Jamie is working undercover trying to find the smugglers who are planning to bring terrorists into the country.  Unfortunately, he inadvertently ends up trying to use a counterfeit bill which brings him to the attention of deputy sheriff Bree.  She is determined to stop the counterfeiters and Jamie's story isn't adding up.  When they are ordered to work together Jamie also discovers that Bree is being threatened by a stalker.  As they worked together to see if their cases are connected they discover a much more personal connection.

I loved Jamie and Bree together.  Their initial meeting is a lot of fun as she is there when his money is discovered to be counterfeit.  Jamie is surprised that she is a deputy and not inclined to cooperate with her.  I loved the way that she uses her appearance and a sweet attitude to encourage him to do as she wants.  He's following along before he realizes what he's doing.  I loved her actions at the station and the way she surprises him with how good she is.  She is surprised at the orders she receives to let him go and is curious about his real reasons for being there.  I really liked the way that his injuries don't faze her at all.  She accepts him just the way he is.  She feels she doesn't need his help when she starts getting things from a stalker as she is quite independent and used to doing things on her own.  She is also guardian of her autistic sister.  When the actions of the stalker affect her sister she accepts Jamie's help.  She is impressed with his treatment of her sister.  She is attracted to Jamie, but has had some bad experiences with men who want her to choose between them and her sister so she has sworn off any relationships.  Jamie's acceptance of and kindness to Katie make her think that maybe she has a chance at love after all.

Jamie is working undercover when he gets caught with a counterfeit bill.  I loved his first reaction to Bree, noticing her beauty and "cheerleader perkiness".  His surprise at her being a deputy was great.  Because of his past and his injuries he tends to be a brooding and short-tempered man.  When he turns that attitude on Bree she does what she is good at which is using that cheerful attitude to get people to do what she wants.  He is surprised and not happy when he realizes that it is working on him.  His attempts to retain his undercover identity with her don't work, as she is a lot smarter at her job than he realized.  The initial scene at the police station between them is great and shows just how perfect they are for each other.  He is impressed with her abilities and surprised when she doesn't react in the usual way to the discovery of his injuries.  His attraction to her is strong but his feelings about his past cause him to reject the idea of a permanent relationship with anyone. I loved the scene in the bank when he opens up his feelings to try to connect with the shooter.  The emotions were strong and real. His connection with her causes him to step in to protect Bree and her sister from the stalker.  I also loved the way that he treated Katie, showing Bree that not all men were afraid of being with someone like her. I really enjoyed seeing the way she got under his skin.  He had to deal with his growing feelings and her work.  I loved the ending with their give and take and compromises.

Most Eligible Spy - Dana Marton (HI #1448 - Sept 2013)

Series: HQ: Texas (Book 1)

Moses Mann didn't need to be in an interrogation room to be intimidating. Molly Rogers found that out the hard way. Her brother had been accused of smuggling and murder, and now Moses considered her a suspect, as well. But what type of dirty little secrets did he expect to find in a single mother's life?

Moses was no ordinary agent poking around Texas border country. And he kept finding new reasons to bring his investigation to Molly's farm. Yet trusting him -- especially around her son -- came so easily. She finally had someone who would speak up for her. Even if he was an undercover agent with secrets buried deep in his soul….

Very good book that picked up where last year's The Spy Wore Spurs left off.  The SDDU team is working along the border to stop terrorists from coming across the border with Mexico.  Molly's brother Dylan was killed in a shootout and has been accused of kidnapping, murder and drug running.  Molly is being questioned about anything she may have seen or known.  Mo is the one doing the interrogating and he is very good at being intimidating.  Nothing he does causes her to change her story and he has to admit to himself that she is probably innocent of any wrongdoing.  When Molly begins getting intruders at her farm during the nights Mo steps in to protect her and her son.  

Molly doesn't understand how her brother can be accused of these terrible things.  He was always there for her when she needed him and was a terrific uncle to her little boy.  She is sure that there has been some mistake.  She is angry that Mo is accusing her of being involved also.  She can't wait to be done and get away from him.  She doesn't expect him to suddenly start watching out for her and Logan when she starts having problems with intruders.  Now that he's no longer treating her like a suspect she's feeling an unwelcome attraction to him.  That attraction becomes something more when Mo starts taking an interest in her son, teaching him how to protect himself against the bullies that are bothering him at school and playing video games with him.  Molly doesn't trust her own judgement because of the mistake she made with Logan's father and tries to keep her feelings under control.  I really liked her loyalty to her brother, misguided though it might have been.  She is also very independent and doesn't like to depend on anyone else.  After several problems with intruders she begins to trust that Mo will protect them.  When he suggests that she and Logan stay at his apartment where they will be safer, she accepts for Logan's sake, but feels intimidated by the differences she feels between them.  When Logan is taken hostage to force her cooperation in the recovery of the missing drugs she does the stupid thing and doesn't go to Mo for help.  The final confrontation with one of the bad guys was pretty hair-raising.

Mo is very focused on his work.  He has his life plan and nothing is going to distract him from it.  He is pretty sure that Molly must know something about her brother's activities and has no trouble with the idea of using intimidation to get the answers he wants.  What he doesn't expect is the distraction of feeling attracted to her.  I loved seeing the way that he had to keep forcing his attention back to what he was doing.  He eventually had to admit that she was most likely innocent of knowing anything about what her brother had been up to.  When she started having problems with intruders he stepped in to watch out for her and Logan, not understanding why he felt so protective but helpless to stop it.  I also liked the way that he went to Logan's school with her and stood up for Logan to the principal accusing them of not doing enough to stop the bullying.  It took him awhile to realize what it was about Molly that appealed to him so much because he had been raised without any female influence in his life.  I really liked the way that he trusted his instincts when something felt off with her and he was able to rescue her and Logan.  I also enjoyed seeing the way that the rest of the team backed him up without question and the way that it made him feel.  I loved the epilogue and Mo's solution to their living arrangements.

I really enjoyed the action in the book and the way things built toward the conclusion.  The immediate mystery of who was behind the trouble on her farm was solved by the end of the book.  The culprit wasn't too much of a surprise.  There is still the ongoing mystery of who is behind the terrorist threat and how they are going to stop them.  

For the Love of Magic - Janet Chapman (Jove - Sept 2013)

Series: Spellbound Falls (Book 5)

After forty years of marriage, Rana Oceanus has done the unthinkable and run away from her mighty, magical husband. Not that she ran very far, having purchased a house in Spellbound Falls right on the shore of the Bottomless Sea, where she intends to prepare for the scariest battle of her life. The only flaw in her plan, however, is that she is still very much in love with Titus... 

Shocked and deeply shaken that his wife really has left him--though he still can't fathom why--Titus sets out to win her back. But when grand gestures of his esteem don't seem to further his cause, he conjures up some of his original courtship magic. 

But his plan backfires when Titus discovers that dealing with demons is far less threatening than the little secret his very mortal wife has been keeping from him...

This was another fun trip to Spellbound Falls.  I have loved Titus and Rana since their first appearance.  Titus is the usual alpha male in god form, always certain that he is doing the right thing and determined that things go his way.  Rana is his mortal wife of forty years, strong in her own right and very good at guiding Titus in the direction she feels is right for the situation.  But now there's trouble in paradise as she has moved out of their home into one of her own, claiming she needs "a breath of fresh air".  

Rana fell in love with Titus and married him when she was fifteen.  She went from being protected and cared for by her father to being protected and cared for by Titus.  She has decided that she needs some time on her own to see what she can do and experience without his help.  She doesn't go far, just to a small cottage on the shore of the Bottomless Sea.  She wants to stay close to her family and friends.  Rana has come to love the community of Spellbound Falls and has gotten involved in several local projects.  I loved seeing her hanging out with the ladies, being just another one of the group.  In her current status with Titus she has let him know that she still loves him but that she feels he needs to start paying more attention to the little things in life not just mankind's big picture.  Until he does that she's going to concentrate on her own wishes.  I really loved seeing the two of them together.  She obviously knows Titus very well and does a fantastic job of making him toe the line where her wishes are concerned.  When he ignores her requests she shuts him down, leaving him wondering how he's going to get her to come home.  There are several great scenes with her learning how to do things an ordinary woman of the time would do.  Her driving lesson with Peg was fun, but also gave a glimpse of some trouble that is brewing in Spellbound Falls.  I also loved the scene where she lends a hand as a waitress, taking orders and dealing with an obnoxious customer.  Throughout the book her interactions with Titus show that her love for him is just as strong as it ever was but that she needs more from him than she has been getting lately.  When Titus starts giving her the type of attention she has been craving from him she starts to have hope that things will be okay.  When their boat race encounters supernatural problems the secret she's been keeping from him comes out and she has to deal with the consequences.  I loved their trip through the woods and the rekindling of their closeness.

Titus is a man who is used to things going his way.  He is stunned when Rana moves out and can't figure out why she has done it.  He is determined to win her back and the story is full of his attempts to do so.  He knows her very well after forty years together and makes some pretty bold attempts to show his feelings.  When those attempts backfire on him he thinks back to when he was first courting her and changes the way he's doing things..  I loved that peek into their past and how it showed so much about who they are.  There are also memories of their early marriage and the way that they supported each other as Titus cemented his position as a god and created the world of Atlantis.  I really loved the way it showed how much Titus appreciated Rana and the perspective that she brought to their lives.  Although he didn't understand why Rana had left I loved the way that he supported her in her desire to try new things and the ways he tried to make things easier for her.  I loved her trip up the mountain in her new car and the reason for it (I sense this will be important in a future book) and the way that he helped her get back down the mountain without making a big deal about it.  I loved the way he teased her into the boat race and his tactics during the race were fun to see.  When the race came to an abrupt end I loved his protectiveness and the way he cared for her.  I was really amused by the way he decided to imitate the highlanders he so often grumbles about as they walk their way back to civilization.  It is during that trip that he opens up to Rana about the secret he has been keeping from her and his plans for their future.  His love and regard for her is shown by this passage:
"I'm explaining that the transfer began that day.  It won't be complete until I decide it is."
"And...and you've decided?"
"Almost."
She glared up at him. "What do you mean almost?"
"I'm waiting to hear the opinion of my most valued adviser and confident."
She went back to scowling at the ground.  "Who?" she whispered.
He pulled her to a stop and gathered her in his arms again.  "That would be my stubborn, opinionated, irreverent, lusty, terrible wife."

Also part of the book is the presence of a group of people who are attempting to bring a new god into existence.  The magical people of Spellbound Falls are waiting to see if the new entity will be one of good or evil.  I see this being a large part of a future book.  There are also some new arrivals to the area - a doctor to work in the new women's clinic, a twelfth century highlander who will be the new police chief (that should be a trip!) and a female escapee from those people trying to raise a new god.  There's a funny scene where Carolina goes into labor and the men deal with the idea of being in the labor room.  I also love the concurrent scene where Titus lets Mac and the others in on his plans and their reaction to it.  I'm really looking forward to the next book.

The Doctor Returns - Stella MacLean (HS #1877 - Sept 2013)

Series: Life in Eden Harbor (Book 1)

Secrets and second chances

Sherri Lawson seems to be the only person not welcoming Dr. Neill Brandon back to Eden Harbor, Maine. She has moved on from their shared past. Yet a part of her has never quite gotten over Neill -- or the baby she lost. The baby he didn't even know about….

She can't imagine a new relationship with Neill, much as she might want it. But it turns out that Neill wants it, too, and he believes they can make it happen. And to Sherri's surprise, so does his daughter, Morgan!

First of all, this was a bad blurb.  Neill DID know about the baby and his daughter Morgan DID NOT want them together until the very end.

I had a hard time connecting with Neill and Sherri.  Both of them seemed to be rather immature and selfish at the beginning, though they did change somewhat.  They had dated through their senior year in high school, when Neill went off to Boston to med school.  He wanted Sherri to go with him, even though he had no way to support her and he was going to school.  Meanwhile, she had been accepted to nursing school in Maine.  When she discovered she was pregnant she called and told him right away.  He was shocked, distracted and made a half-hearted invitation for her to come to Boston.  She refused and then refused to take his calls when he tried to reach her after that.  She married another man who offered to take care of her and the baby.  The baby died shortly after birth and her husband awhile after that.  Meanwhile Neill went on with his life, becoming a doctor, marrying and divorcing another doctor and having a daughter with her.  Now he's back in Eden Harbor.

Sherri has never really recovered from her relationship with Neill.  All those feelings come out when he moves back to town with his daughter.  When they meet to talk of the past she blames him for not coming to see her after her phone call.  She doesn't accept any responsibility herself for the fact that she refused any contact with him after that, to give him a chance to make things right.  She starts out still holding that all against him and not wanting anything to do with him.  When she is diagnosed with diabetes and has an episode that puts her in the emergency room, suddenly she's willing to give him another chance.  I can sort of understand the "life changing event" that makes her want to try again, but claiming love so suddenly seems a bit much.  She and Neill want to be together, but she also has to deal with his nine year old daughter who doesn't want Sherri anywhere around her father.  I liked the fact that Sherri realized that her plans to move to Portsmouth were a form of running away and that she changed those plans when she realized it.  As her relationship with Neill took off she also has to deal with his daughter's hostility.  She lets him know that she doesn't want to be caught in a battle with her and that until he can stand up to his daughter she won't be seeing him.  I did think that the conclusion was well done.

Neill had been upset back when he left for med school and Sherri didn't drop everything to follow him.  He had only been thinking about himself and how much he needed her.  When she called to tell him about the baby  he didn't react well and when he tried to reach hr multiple times later she wouldn't answer the phone.  He finally gave up and let it all slide.  He later married another doctor and then divorced her after realizing how self-centered she was and how she neglected their daughter.  Now he has moved them back to Eden Falls.  After seeing her again, he wants to rekindle his relationship with Sherri.  He is surprised by her anger, then remorseful when he finds out everything she went through.  She didn't like the way that he tried to blame her for their breakup because she wouldn't come to him in Boston.  He did admit that he'd been a panicked idiot.  He doesn't seem to understand that because of his actions she doesn't trust him and doesn't want to get involved with him again.  His fear when she has her diabetic episode seems to get the strength of his feelings through to her.  He finally gets her to start seeing him again and tries to take things slowly with her.  Besides trying to revive a relationship with Sherri he also has to deal with his daughter and the way she wants her parents back together.  He doesn't seem to be able to see that she has become quite good at manipulating both of them to get her way.  He did some halfhearted explanations to her but it wasn't until he was thorough and blunt with her at the end that she started to accept Sherri's place in their lives.  

Her Wyoming Hero - Rebecca Winters (HAR #1471 - Oct 2013)

Series: Daddy Dude Ranch (Book 3)

Rancher To The Rescue
At the magnificent Wyoming dude ranch run by Ross Livingston and two fellow ex-Marines, families of fallen soldiers find hope and healing. When lovely widow Kit Wentworth and her son arrive, Ross immediately finds himself drawn to them. Soon he's able to bring young Andy out of his shell--and touch Kit's heart as no other man has. 

But this isn't just a vacation for Kit. She is running from her domineering father-in-law--a situation Ross understands all too well. After Kit reveals her terrible secret, Ross realizes his love alone won't be enough. Charles Wentworth is a man who will stop at nothing to control his family. Can Ross convince Kit to stand her ground--and help her fend off the forces that threaten to tear them apart?

Fantastic book.  Kit is a woman in need  of a hero.  Kit married young to a man who turned out to be pretty spineless when it came to standing up to his father.  When he died overseas her life became even more difficult.  Receiving the invitation to the ranch was just what Kit needed to escape from her father-in-law.  The ranch also gave her son a chance to be a normal little boy.  Ross found that Kit was very different than what he had expected.  He is drawn to Kit in a way he'd never felt before.  He doesn't know if he can get Kit to accept his help to get away and be able to stand on her own.

Kit had married her husband when she was very young.  At the time she knew nothing of his background.  When his parents found out that he had married a "nobody" they were angry and he was constantly trying to compensate for disappointing them.  They lived with his parents in their mansion and they pretty much forced Kit to conform to their wishes.  She had no ability to stand up to them.  Her husband joined the Marines and used that as a way to escape his domineering father, leaving Kit and their son behind.  After his death, Kit's father-in-law became even more controlling.  Kit was thrilled to receive the invitation to the ranch and made plans to escape when their week was done.  She was worried about the effects that lifestyle was having on her nine year old son Andy.  When she arrived at the ranch she was amazed at the beauty of it.  She was also thrilled at the way Ross was able to connect with Andy.  The changes in her son began almost immediately under the attention of Ross.  She didn't expect the attraction she felt to him.  When her father-in-law started creating problems for her almost immediately she was afraid for Ross and his friends, knowing just how ruthless he could be.  I really loved the inner strength that Kit showed.  She was determined to escape and give her son the loving environment he needed.  She was thrilled with the changes the ranch made in him and the difference in his attitude just from being around Ross.  I liked the way that she told Ross what her life had been like for ten years. Her attraction to Ross was strong and seeing how great he was with Andy and the other kids just made her feelings grow stronger.  But she was afraid of giving control of her life to another man and kept pushing him away as anything more than their host.  I loved the way she stood up to her father-in-law at the end and how she then made changes in her own plans before going to Ross.  I loved the conclusion.

Ross was the only one of the three left unmarried.  He is somewhat envious of his friends and hopes to find someone of his own.  In the meantime he is assigned to be the host for Kit and her son Andy.  He doesn't know what to expect from Kit because of her wealthy background.  It doesn't take long for him to realize that she's nothing like what he thought she'd be.  He's impressed with her apparent joy at being on the ranch and her determination to give Andy a week to remember.  I loved the way that he connected with Andy right away.  He did a wonderful job of being able to relate to Andy and his attitude because he saw so much of himself in the boy.  I really liked how he got Kit to open up and tell him what her life had been like.  His need to help and protect her was strong and he had a bit of a hard time accepting that she wanted to do things herself.  I really enjoyed seeing him tell her what his background was and how it helped him relate to Andy.  I also loved the way he had made the decisions to live his own life and walk away from his old life.  He was struggling now with feeling like he belonged, though he did finally find a way to make his own mark on the ranch.  I liked the way that he was upfront about his feelings with Kit.  He also respected her wishes even when they went against what he wanted.  He gave her the support she needed without taking over and in the end got everything he could wish for.

The only issue I had with the book wasn't with the story or the author but with the publisher/editors.  As is the case in most of their books, Harlequin refuses to properly capitalize the word Marine when referring to members of the United States Marine Corps.  It is wrong and tends to pull me out of the story when I see it.

Big Sky Christmas - C.J. Carmichael (HAR #1470 - Oct 2013)

Series: Coffee Creek Montana (Book 4)

A Holiday For Healing
Jackson Stone will always be grateful to the Lamberts, who took him in when he was just a kid. But since the accident that killed his foster brother, Brock, he stays away from the family at Coffee Creek Ranch. Especially now that Brock's former fiancee, Winnie Hays, is back in town with her little boy. 

The simmering attraction between them may surprise Winnie, but Jackson fell for her at first sight years ago. Loyalty and guilt require he keep his distance...even as their feelings blossom into love. In the end, it's his own conscience Jackson must master. But with the help of the Lamberts, can this Christmas be a time of healing and a new beginning?

Very good book with some intense emotional issues.  Winnie has finally come back to Coffee Creek after the death of her fiance on their wedding day and the later birth of their son.  She arrives on the day of a family wedding and is having a hard time dealing with the memories and emotions.  Jackson helps her through it with his humor and understanding.  Jackson knows he should stay away from Winnie.  He's been in love with her for years but the guilt he feels over Brock's death is nearly overwhelming. 

I loved Winnie and Jackson.  Now that she is back in Coffee Creek she feels it's time to get on with her life.  She is trying to maintain her independence despite the efforts of her late fiance's mother.  Jackson has been a big help with that.  Being around him stirs up feelings she didn't expect to have.  At first she felt guilty about being attracted to another man, especially Brock's foster brother.  It really didn't take her long to realize that she deserves a chance to be happy.  I really liked seeing her open up herself to the possibilities with Jackson.  I also liked the way that she worked so hard, right from the beginning, to let Jackson know that he has no reason to feel guilty over Brock's death.  As their love grows she is willing to look at the future but she has to feel that Jackson is able to give his whole heart.

Jackson came to Coffee Creek Ranch as a foster brother to the others.  He felt welcomed and accepted by everyone except Olive who always treated him differently.  Brock had been his best friend.  Jackson still feels guilty over Brock's death, thinking that he should have been able to avoid the moose that they hit.  Now that Winnie is back he is suffering even more.  Not just about the accident but also the fact that he has been in love with her for years.  His guilt tells him to avoid her but his heart won't let him stay away.  I loved the way that he came to her rescue when Olive tried to guilt her into moving onto the ranch.  I really enjoyed the way that Jackson gave in to his heart and started spending time with Winnie and her son.  He still had issues with his guilt causing him to not open up completely to the idea of a happy future with Winnie.  He really panics when Winnie's son calls him daddy.  I also liked the care he was taking of Maddie.  It really showed what a caring man he can be.  It was great to see the way that the other Lambert kids helped Jackson deal with his guilt.  There was also a surprising twist at the end about why Maddie plans to leave her ranch to Jackson and also the identity of Jackson's father.

There is also more about the feud between Maddie and Olive.  I enjoyed seeing the efforts that everyone made to get it resolved.  Olive became a more sympathetic character by the end of the book.

Promise From a Cowboy - C. J. Carmichael (HAR #1460 - July 2013)

Series:  Coffee Creek Montana (Book 3)

A Cowboy With Something To Hide…

On the rodeo circuit, B. J. Lambert had plenty of chances to forget about his first love. Back in Coffee Creek, it's impossible. Savannah Moody is as irresistible to B.J. as when they were teens. He'd still do anything for her -- except give up the secret he promised to keep.

Sheriff Savannah Moody knows B.J. is hiding something. Not his feelings for her -- it's obvious to both of them that the attraction is as strong as ever. But she simply can't afford to give in. She has her sister to care for, and the family land, and B.J. might be gone tomorrow. She also has a job to do: to pursue the truth and discover what really happened eighteen years ago when a barn burned and a man died. Even if it costs her dearly….

Very good book.  B. J. has been on the rodeo circuit for eighteen years, ever since shortly after his high school graduation, when he runs into Savannah Moody, his former girlfriend.  She is now the sheriff back home and looking for answers to an old mystery.  Seeing her again makes B. J. realize that he's getting tired of being on the road all the time and is ready to go home.  Once there he discovers that his feelings for Savannah are just as strong as ever.  Savannah feels the same but she has a lot more reasons to resist.  Besides her family responsibilities her instinct as sheriff tells her that B. J. is hiding something important.

B. J. has spent his years on the rodeo circuit basically running from his memories.  He and Savannah had dated for two years in high school, until shortly after the fire.  Because he cared for her so much, he had promised her twin brother Hunter that he wouldn't tell anyone what had really happened the night of the barn fire.  Savannah blamed B. J. for getting Hunter involved in whatever had happened which had put an end to their relationship.  Now that he's back B.J. wants to rekindle their relationship.  He has seen the heavy load of responsibility she carries and wants to do anything he can to make her life easier, but he is still unwilling to share what had really happened that night.  I really liked the way that B.J. has come home to stay.  He tells her right away that he has never forgotten her and would like to see if they can make a relationship work.  I loved the way that he tries to do things for her to make her life easier when he sees that no one is looking out for her.  He has been keeping his secret out of love for her knowing that the truth would be painful for her.  As more information about that night comes out he knows that the truth will have to be told but doesn't want to be the one to do it. The whole issue is still causing stress between B.J. and Savannah because she doesn't want to believe that he had a part in the man's death but she doesn't want it to be her brother either.  B.J. is also ready to take on more responsibility with the family ranch and steps in to take over the horse breeding side when his foster brother Jackson wants to leave.  It takes him a couple weeks to settle in and he butts heads with his brother Corbin a couple times but he's happy to be home. I liked the way that he finally accepted that running from his memories and problems doesn't work, though he still had to learn that trying to protect Savannah caused many of those problems.

Savannah has been the sheriff for three years and loves what she does.  It fits right in with her need to take care of people.  When she was younger she took over caring for her brother and sister because her mother was pretty much useless.  She is still doing the same thing with them eighteen years later.  But her brother only contacts her when he needs something and her sister is ready to be on her own.  Now that B.J. is back in town she is fighting her feelings for him.  She knows she still loves him but because he isn't telling her the truth about what happened she feels that she can't trust him.  With the investigation about to be reopened she is torn over who to believe.  I liked the way that her heart told her that B.J. was innocent of any wrongdoing.  Savannah also looks at her job as a way to show people that she is nothing like her father and brother who both had reputations for trouble when she was growing up.  She always went the other way and followed all the rules and kept herself on a straight path.  As more information about the fire came out she felt that the people of the town were judging her because of it and began to feel like she couldn't stay.  I liked the way that B.J. solved that particular problem.  The entire resolution of the mystery was well done.  It had a couple surprises in it but nothing too startling.  I was glad to see that Savannah finally saw how unfair she had been to B.J. all that time.

Also running through the book are a couple themes from the series.  One is the feud that has been going on between B.J.'s mother Olive and her sister Maddie.  A little more information comes out about the possible cause as B.J. makes the decision to get to know his aunt before it is too late.  There is also some kind of connection between Maddie and Jackson, who has left the Lambert ranch to go work for Maddie, who plans to leave her land to Jackson.  We also see more of Olive, who I still don't like at all.  She is way too controlling and makes it known that she doesn't approve of the women her sons have chosen.  I like the way that B.J. stood up to her, even though he went and apologized for being rude to her.  I would really like for her to wake up and realize that she is ruining her chances for a good relationship with her children's families.