Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific book that I read in one sitting. This is the first book in this series I have read, but there is enough backstory provided that I didn't feel lost while reading it. I plan to read the earlier books and get the details I've missed.
Quinn recently escaped her dangerous cult family after decades of abuse and fear. She now lives on the Thompson ranch with her twin sister, whose life she saved and is recovering from the injuries she received. Quinn has trouble adjusting to "normal" life and uses biting wit and sarcasm to hide her discomfort. She also has her share of pride and hides her inability to read from everyone except her eleven-year-old niece, who is teaching her. Quinn's life in the cult has taught her many skills, including observing and recognizing patterns.
Dunne Thompson is one of the brothers whose ranch this is. Former military, he is still recovering from an injury on his last mission. He isn't as able to do ranch work as the others because of it, leaving him too much time for his latest obsession. After spending years trying to atone for his serial killer grandfather, Dunne is now trying to track down a copycat killer. He's dismayed when Quinn finds his "murder board" and stunned when she spots patterns neither he nor his brothers saw.
A keen observer of human nature, Quinn quickly realizes that Dunne plans to go off on his own to stop the killer. I loved watching her foil his attempt to leave her behind and make a case for going with him. It doesn't take long for Quinn to prove her worth and for Dunne to accept her help. It doesn't come easy for him, as he knows the danger and fears for her safety.
From here to the end, the action is fast, furious, and creepy to terrifying. I loved seeing the teamwork between Dunne and Quinn, balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses. The twists and turns led to a development I never saw coming. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.
The romance between Quinn and Dunne was pretty mild. Quinn has noticed Dunne among all the brothers but doesn't recognize the feelings he stirs in her at first. Dunne is surprised by his reaction to her and tries to bury it. But the more he gets to know her, the more he sees the vulnerability beneath the attitude, which speaks to his lonely heart. Despite his recognition of her abilities, he is very protective of her. Neither expects the attraction that flares between them, but Dunne is careful to keep it slow and easy. I loved the ending and her surprise at being asked for something as normal as a date.
Quinn recently escaped her dangerous cult family after decades of abuse and fear. She now lives on the Thompson ranch with her twin sister, whose life she saved and is recovering from the injuries she received. Quinn has trouble adjusting to "normal" life and uses biting wit and sarcasm to hide her discomfort. She also has her share of pride and hides her inability to read from everyone except her eleven-year-old niece, who is teaching her. Quinn's life in the cult has taught her many skills, including observing and recognizing patterns.
Dunne Thompson is one of the brothers whose ranch this is. Former military, he is still recovering from an injury on his last mission. He isn't as able to do ranch work as the others because of it, leaving him too much time for his latest obsession. After spending years trying to atone for his serial killer grandfather, Dunne is now trying to track down a copycat killer. He's dismayed when Quinn finds his "murder board" and stunned when she spots patterns neither he nor his brothers saw.
A keen observer of human nature, Quinn quickly realizes that Dunne plans to go off on his own to stop the killer. I loved watching her foil his attempt to leave her behind and make a case for going with him. It doesn't take long for Quinn to prove her worth and for Dunne to accept her help. It doesn't come easy for him, as he knows the danger and fears for her safety.
From here to the end, the action is fast, furious, and creepy to terrifying. I loved seeing the teamwork between Dunne and Quinn, balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses. The twists and turns led to a development I never saw coming. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.
The romance between Quinn and Dunne was pretty mild. Quinn has noticed Dunne among all the brothers but doesn't recognize the feelings he stirs in her at first. Dunne is surprised by his reaction to her and tries to bury it. But the more he gets to know her, the more he sees the vulnerability beneath the attitude, which speaks to his lonely heart. Despite his recognition of her abilities, he is very protective of her. Neither expects the attraction that flares between them, but Dunne is careful to keep it slow and easy. I loved the ending and her surprise at being asked for something as normal as a date.
