Search - Blood Kin (Tawes Bay, Bk 1)

Frozen beneath the treacherous ice, a man stares wide-eyed, killed by a twelve-gauge shotgun. And hidden behind the deceptive beauty of Tawes Island, secrets remain unspoken, waiting to be brought to light.
Curious about the birth mother she's never known, Baily Elliot arrives on Tawes to look into her own past, but its wary residents don't take to outsiders digging up long-buried scandal. her great-uncle warns her she's not safe, her mother lies dead in the church graveyard, and despite the sizzling attraction between them, Daniel Catlin tells her, "The sooner you leave, the better."
Now Bailey discovers a diary no one wants her to read, Daniel gives in to temptation and a decades-old crime of passion is about to be reenacted...

Very Good book!

In Rehoboth Beach, teacher Bailey Elliot always knew she was adopted, but had no clues to who her biological parents are. That is until she receives a letter from attorney Forest McCready stating she inherited property from an Aunt Elizabeth Somers on Tawes Island in Chesapeake Bay.

With school out, Bailey has an a chance to learn about her roots so she immediately travels to the island staying at Emma Parks' B&B, which has one other guest local carpenter Daniel Catlin. When she begins to dig into her past, Daniel and others tells her to leave as this is dangerous. Though she learns that her mother was a teen who died just after giving birth, she continues to search for the identity of her father. When someone tries to kill her, Daniel risks his life to keep her safe as both agree that the adversary wants secrets to remain buried with her mother.

Though a murder of a senator lies in the background, the story line starts off as a simple character study in which the readers are introduced to the invading outsider seeking family ties from islanders who trust no mainlander. The story line abruptly switches gear into a suspense thriller as someone wants the heroine to cease her inquiries. Bailey is a fine protagonist whose need to know is halted by a lack of cooperation from her only known living relative (a hermit uncle) and a town including Daniel wanting her to just leave. Though the villain is a stretch, filled with intrigue BLOOD KIN is a fine romantic suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Judith French came into modern times to tell a story based in the Chesapeake Bay area.
Really a good read. It made me buy the other "Blood ... " books.

A good romatic adventure

Curious about the birth mother she's never known, Bailey Elliot arrives on Tawes to look into her own past, but its wary residents don't take to outsiders digging up long-buried scandal. Her great-uncle warns her she's not safe, her mother lies dead in the church graveyard and despite the sizzling attraction between them, Daniel Catlin tells her, "The sooner you leave, the better."