Could his unsolved murder case reveal all of her family's
past secrets?
When James Colt decides to solve his late father's final
murder case, he has no idea of the danger he's unleashing. And Lorelei Wilkins
can't believe that her high school crush is implicating her stepmother! Now
James and Lorelei are embroiled in unraveling a cover-up involving some of
Lonesome, Montana's finest citizens…including a killer determined to keep the
truth hidden.
Good mystery, along with a second chance romance. The four
Colt brothers are all rodeo cowboys. When James is injured during his latest
bronc ride, he returns home to Lonesome, Montana, to heal, only to find that the
trailer he and his brothers use as a home base has burned down. Needing a place
to sleep, James goes to his dad's old PI office and beds down in the sleeping
area there. While sitting at his father's desk, lost in memories, he sees the still-open
file folder of the last case his dad had worked on - the unsolved hit-and-run
death of a seven-year-old boy. With nothing else to do while he's healing,
James decides to look into the matter himself.
The next day he encounters Lori, who runs the sandwich
store next to the office. He remembers the girl who was so different from him
in high school and that he couldn't help flirting with her despite it. Lori
remembers him, too - the bad boy her stepmother warned her about, but she crushed
on anyway. She still has a bit of a grudge that he never seemed to notice her
back then, which comes out amusingly when he first visits the sandwich shop. She
tells herself she's more interested in buying his building than in him, but she
can't deny the attraction she still feels for him.
I liked both James and Lori. Though he intends to return
to the rodeo circuit after he heals, James realizes that his days there are
numbered. Living in his father's old office brings back memories of his childhood
and teen years helping his dad with his cases which is why he decides to pick
up Del's last case. Initially intending it to be a way to honor his dad, it
wasn't long until the case intrigued him on its own. I liked how it got him
thinking about his future, leading him to apply for a PI license of his own. I
enjoyed seeing James get into the spirit of the job and his growth from just
winging it to thinking like an investigator.
Lori works hard at running her shop and looks to its
future when James returns to Lonesome. She has a great relationship with her
stepmother, Karen, the only family she has left. I liked the family loyalty she
displayed and the need to get to the truth.
The suspense of the story sucked me in from the start. James's
curiosity about Del's last case leads to the desire to solve it to honor his
dad. James has no real experience as a PI, so his initial actions are haphazard.
It is evident from the beginning that some people are unhappy about how James
is stirring up memories from so long ago. When Lori's stepmother becomes a
person of interest in his quest, Lori joins him in his search for the truth. The
more information they uncover, the more confusing the situation gets. I ached
for Lori as some evidence pointed toward Karen's involvement, though there was also
room for doubt. The intensity increases when one of the people James wants to
question is murdered. Several twists place multiple people on James's suspect
list, and the challenge is figuring out which one is the culprit. Just when
they thought the mystery was solved, a final puzzle piece changes everything.
The final confrontation was a nail-biter with Lori in extreme danger.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between
James and Lori. Their high school crushes became an undeniable mutual
attraction as adults, though initially, neither was in a hurry to admit it. Lori
planned to stay away from James but changed her mind when he focused on her
stepmother during his investigation. As they spent time together, that
attraction exploded into several passionate kisses. It wasn't long before James
pictured a future with Lori. I liked watching them get to know each other as
they worked together on the investigation. Lori tries to resist her growing feelings
because she knows James intends to return to the rodeo circuit. James realizes
what is most important to him when Lori is injured during the final
confrontation. I loved his big moment at the end; his nervousness and
vulnerability were evident. I loved Lori's surprise and joy as he revealed his
plans and her admission of her feelings for him. The last chapter was sweet.
There is a secondary mystery in the book: James's
suspicion that his father's death was not an accident. A couple of
conversations with others confirm that suspicion. When James's brothers return
to Lonesome to support him at the end of the book, he shares those feelings
with them. None of them are surprised, as each had had doubts about Del's
death. The mystery is not solved in this book, and I suspect it will build
throughout the series before it is resolved. I liked James's surprise and
happiness when his brother Tommy announced his intent to leave the rodeo
circuit and join James in the PI business. I'm looking forward to seeing the
progress of the newly formed Colt Brothers Investigations.
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