Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good book. The suspense kept me turning the pages, and the romance built nicely through the story. After her husband's murder, Lianna moved to Wyoming to take over her grandparents' bed-and-breakfast. She needed to get as far away as possible from the agencies' constant questions about what she knew of Todd's activities. She lives in a continual state of anxiety, worrying that someone will come after her and her son, Henry.
Reece works for North Star, an agency hired to find out what Lianna knows about her husband's murder. After seven years with the agency, he ranks as one of their top agents. He poses as a nature photographer and stays at her B & B as a guest, hoping to uncover some information.
I enjoyed the combination of suspense and romance. Neither Lianna nor Reece expected the connection they felt when he first arrived. Lianna no longer trusts her judgment and is wary of the feelings Reece stirs in her. Reece, who had a loveless childhood, doesn't know what he's feeling, but he doesn't like it. The inner turmoil is a distraction he doesn't need. A need to protect Lianna and Henry rather than just uncover information complicates matters even further.
It doesn't take long for Reece to discover that someone bugged the inn and is monitoring Lianna's life. The question is who, and for what purpose? A last-minute reservation sparks Reece's suspicions, and he breaks cover to warn Lianna of the probable danger. Furious at being deceived again, Lianna refuses to believe Reece and orders him to leave. His protectiveness won't let him go far, and the next morning he takes extreme measures to remove her and Henry from harm's way, taking them to North Star headquarters.
Lianna impressed me with her refusal to just sit back and be protected. I loved how she came up with a plan to draw the bad guys out. I ached for Reece, who was so discombobulated by his feelings for Lianna that he didn't know which way was up. I had to laugh at his coworkers' astonishment at his emotional reactions to her plan. Lianna had already begun to suspect her feelings for Reece and watched as he struggled with his. I loved watching her realize that he had no idea what those feelings were or how to put them into words.
I was on the edge of my seat as Lianna and Reece returned to the inn to put their plan into motion. An unexpected visitor the following day immediately roused Reece's suspicions, though Lianna took a little longer. She got the picture when her visitor showed an inordinate interest in Henry. Meanwhile, Reece faced trouble of his own, leaving him unable to help Lianna. There were some intense moments as Lianna escaped one hazard only to run headlong into another. I loved Lianna's efforts to save herself, which paired with Reece's timely arrival freed her, but left Reece fighting for his life.
The scenes at the hospital were heartwrenching. Being inside Reece's head while he battled his injuries and seeing what he wants more than anything else was an emotional experience. His conversation with his boss held no surprises. Even better was his talk with Lianna. The epilogue was wonderful. I loved that the people of North Star are still part of Reece's life, though in a different way.
Henry was my favorite secondary character. I loved how he took to Reece right away and pulled him into his circle of people he loves. His hero-worship of Reece was sweet, and so was his effect on Reece. Henry is protective of his mother, which showed in his dilemma at the end of the book. I also liked Reece's coworkers and can't wait to read their stories.
Reece works for North Star, an agency hired to find out what Lianna knows about her husband's murder. After seven years with the agency, he ranks as one of their top agents. He poses as a nature photographer and stays at her B & B as a guest, hoping to uncover some information.
I enjoyed the combination of suspense and romance. Neither Lianna nor Reece expected the connection they felt when he first arrived. Lianna no longer trusts her judgment and is wary of the feelings Reece stirs in her. Reece, who had a loveless childhood, doesn't know what he's feeling, but he doesn't like it. The inner turmoil is a distraction he doesn't need. A need to protect Lianna and Henry rather than just uncover information complicates matters even further.
It doesn't take long for Reece to discover that someone bugged the inn and is monitoring Lianna's life. The question is who, and for what purpose? A last-minute reservation sparks Reece's suspicions, and he breaks cover to warn Lianna of the probable danger. Furious at being deceived again, Lianna refuses to believe Reece and orders him to leave. His protectiveness won't let him go far, and the next morning he takes extreme measures to remove her and Henry from harm's way, taking them to North Star headquarters.
Lianna impressed me with her refusal to just sit back and be protected. I loved how she came up with a plan to draw the bad guys out. I ached for Reece, who was so discombobulated by his feelings for Lianna that he didn't know which way was up. I had to laugh at his coworkers' astonishment at his emotional reactions to her plan. Lianna had already begun to suspect her feelings for Reece and watched as he struggled with his. I loved watching her realize that he had no idea what those feelings were or how to put them into words.
I was on the edge of my seat as Lianna and Reece returned to the inn to put their plan into motion. An unexpected visitor the following day immediately roused Reece's suspicions, though Lianna took a little longer. She got the picture when her visitor showed an inordinate interest in Henry. Meanwhile, Reece faced trouble of his own, leaving him unable to help Lianna. There were some intense moments as Lianna escaped one hazard only to run headlong into another. I loved Lianna's efforts to save herself, which paired with Reece's timely arrival freed her, but left Reece fighting for his life.
The scenes at the hospital were heartwrenching. Being inside Reece's head while he battled his injuries and seeing what he wants more than anything else was an emotional experience. His conversation with his boss held no surprises. Even better was his talk with Lianna. The epilogue was wonderful. I loved that the people of North Star are still part of Reece's life, though in a different way.
Henry was my favorite secondary character. I loved how he took to Reece right away and pulled him into his circle of people he loves. His hero-worship of Reece was sweet, and so was his effect on Reece. Henry is protective of his mother, which showed in his dilemma at the end of the book. I also liked Reece's coworkers and can't wait to read their stories.
