Hotshot Hero on the Edge - Lisa Childs (HRS #2197 - Sept 2022)

Series: Hotshot Heroes (Book 6)
 
Is the man she married…
not the man she thought he was?
 
Unable to stand the stress of being a firefighter's wife, ER nurse Willow Garrison asked her husband to leave. Not long after, she realized she was carrying his child. So she lets Luke back into her life reluctantly when the firefighter's reputation and life are in danger.
 
Is he a murderer? Who's trying to frame him? Guilty and suspicious, Willow must admit her lingering feelings. But can she trust the hotshot to prove his innocence and keep them safe?
 
This was an excellent, fast-paced suspense story with the added benefit of a husband and wife finding their way back to each other. In the previous book (Hotshot Hero Under Fire), Luke was a secondary character. Separated from his wife, his misery is evident, and his actions are questionable. His fellow Hotshots look at him askance as evidence points to him having an affair with a fellow Hotshot's wife and the attempted murder of another. At the start of this book, we find Luke isolated from his friends, missing Willow, and questioning the state of his life. After he leaves the bar where he had dinner, Luke crashes his truck when he's forced off the road by another vehicle. When he regains consciousness, he discovers he reeks of alcohol, and the local trooper is ready to arrest him for drunk driving. It's only through the efforts of EMT Owen that Luke ends up at the hospital instead. To top matters off, he catches a glimpse of Willow, who appears to be pregnant.
 
After suffering two miscarriages which she blamed on the stress of Luke's job, Willow threw her husband out of their home. Then she heard the rumors of his affair and possible involvement in the attacks against Owen. Now she wonders if she ever knew the man she married. She never thought he'd be capable of such actions and questions her judgment. She also feels guilty about her treatment of him and that she hasn't told him about the baby. Willow is torn over whether to believe Luke's claims of innocence.
 
The suspense of this story had me glued to the pages from start to finish. Though the person who carried out the attacks on Owen was caught at the end of the previous book, there was some question as to whether a second person was involved. The public has latched onto Luke as the most likely suspect. But with this "accident" that happened to him, Luke finds a new purpose in proving his innocence. The reader also gets several sessions from the viewpoint of the real accomplice, who is determined to set Luke up to take the blame. The tension increases as several more attempts are made on Luke's life, and we see the bad guy's growing frustration and desperation. I had several possibilities as suspects though I didn't figure out the truth until shortly before Luke did. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Luke knowingly entered a trap to save Willow. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over.
 
I liked seeing Luke and Willow find their way back to each other, though I spent a fair share of the book wanting to knock their heads together. When Willow suffered two miscarriages, she shut Luke out rather than turn to him for comfort. She also couldn't see that he was grieving the loss of those babies, too. She was all over the place in her attitude toward him also - glad he was gone but mad that he left, hurt that he'd had an affair but reluctant to believe that he'd cheated on her. Even when they started working together to prove his innocence, she continued to hold on to her anger and distrust.
 
Meanwhile, all Luke wants is for Willow to be happy. If that means staying away from her, that's what he will do. I was frustrated with him because he walked away without trying to talk to her about his feelings and what the miscarriages meant to him. When it became evident that his accidents weren't accidents, Luke was determined to keep Willow safe.
 
I liked seeing Luke's steadiness chip away at Willow's fear and distrust. With some distance from the turmoil of emotions caused by the miscarriages, Willow slowly begins to see the mistakes she made. I was happy to see them finally talk about their problems. I ached for Luke as he made the only decision he thought possible to save his marriage. I cheered when Willow realized she loved Luke for who and what he was. I hope to see more of them when the series continues.
 
There is still a question left unanswered. Throughout the series, there have been several unexplained accidents or equipment malfunctions. Chief Hotshot Braden received a warning that someone in his group isn't who they claim to be. Is this the person causing the trouble, and why? It hurts to realize that there may be someone on his team that he can't trust, but until he finds out who it is, he can't trust any of them. I can't wait to see where this goes.

Hotshot Hero Under Fire - Lisa Childs (HRS #2186 - June 2022)

Series: Hotshot Heroes (Book 5)
 
He's everyone's hero.
Can she let him be hers?
 
Returning to her Michigan hometown, Courtney Beaumont still feels nothing but hatred for hotshot firefighter Owen James. The former bad girl blames him for her mother's death -- and for mistreating her. But after saving him from several murder attempts, Courtney finds herself falling for the local hero. Until she realizes the real reason he's getting close to her…and the high-stakes peril he's put her in.
 
Good enemies-to-lovers story. Courtney has recently returned to her hometown after swearing she would never come back. Her mother died the year before, and she was estranged from her twin sister. Moving back will allow her to repair that relationship. She is also opening a clothing store that will sell her designs - a chance to show the town that she made it despite them. Courtney was ostracized and bullied in high school because she was different from her popular sister, Serena. The offender who got to her the most was Owen. Later, he was the EMT on the scene when her mother died, and she blames him for that, too.
 
Owen was one of the school's golden boys - athlete, intelligent, popular, and boyfriend of the head cheerleader. But rather than admit his admiration of Courtney's individualism, he joined in the bullying. After graduation, he spent some time in the Marines before coming home and becoming a hotshot firefighter and EMT. He feels terrible about his treatment of Courtney and would like to make amends, but she isn't interested.
 
As the story opens, Owen witnesses the death of a good friend and fellow firefighter in a tragic accident. But was it an accident? The head of the hotshot team, Braden, suspects that the "accidents" plaguing the team professionally and personally aren't accidents, but he has no proof. Those suspicions become more certain when Owen suffers several more accidents then out-and-out attempts on his life. Courtney gets involved when she inadvertently saves his life a couple of times. There were some interesting developments as Courtney briefly became a suspect. The intensity ramped up with each attack until the final confrontation took a twist I didn't see coming. A few threads are left hanging, so I can't wait to read the next book.
 
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Courtney and Owen, but it frustrated me at times, too. I understood Courtney's grudge over the way Owen treated her in school. That kind of treatment can affect you for a long time. I had trouble with how Courtney blamed Owen for her mother's death. Owen wasn't the only first responder there, but she held him responsible and treated him like dirt. But when she sees his grief and self-blame for his friend's death, she can't help but make him feel better. As she starts to let go of her anger toward him, it opens the door for the attraction she can't deny. Owen is also surprised by the feelings Courtney stirs up in him. There is a lot of back-and-forth between the two as they give in to their attraction and then back away when the intensity freaks them out. But when danger comes calling, they realize that they belong together and the baggage of the past needs to be let go of. I liked their big moment at the end and look forward to seeing more of them in future books. 

Proving Colton's Innocence - Lara Lacombe (HRS #2164 - Jan 2022)

Series: Coltons of Grave Gulch (Book 12)

A battle for justice
pits brother against brother
 
Bounty hunter Baldwin Bowe works in the shadows, finding fugitives no one else can. But now he's hired to bring in his own sibling and help prove the innocence of CSI Jillian Colton. Baldwin sticks by her side, aiming to lure in his criminal brother and exonerate Jillian. Yet as danger escalates, Baldwin never expected to fall for the woman by his side…
 
Good conclusion to the series. With the death of serial killer Len Davison in the previous book, things are looking up for the Grave Gulch Police Department. If they could catch escaped CSI forensic scientist Randall Bowe, they would earn back the trust of the people they serve. One of the people most interested in getting him off the street is Jillian Colton. As a rookie CSI, Randall made her life miserable, blaming her for things he was doing. Now she's working extra hard to help fix the things he did.
 
The book opens as the chief of police, her cousin Grace, and a man from Internal Affairs show up at her house with a search warrant. They have evidence that she robbed a home of some costly jewelry. Jillian protests her innocence and is shocked when the jewelry is found in her closet. She's placed under arrest and taken to jail with a relatively high bail set.
 
Bounty hunter Baldwin Bowe is in Grave Gulch because he's been hired to find and capture his brother Randall. There is no love lost between the two, and Baldwin will do whatever he must to make it happen. So when he hears of Jillian's arrest and that she worked with Randall, he pays her bail, hoping she can give him some insight into Randall's whereabouts.
 
I liked the first meeting between Jillian and Baldwin. He's frank with her about what he wants and the help he hopes she'll provide. Jillian's first impression is that he's big, imposing, and heartless, but she wants Randall caught just as much as he does. She is confident that Randall set her up on the jewelry issue, but she has no way to prove it. Interestingly, Baldwin thinks appearing as a couple will draw Randall out faster, so he suggests that he move in with her. This will serve both as baiting Randall and protecting Jillian.
 
Neither Baldwin nor Jillian expected the intense attraction that flared between them. Jillian tries to fight it because he won't be around for long. Baldwin tries to fight it because he's used to being alone and doesn't need the distraction. But the more time they spend together, the hotter the sparks burn until they can't help but give in to them. I loved seeing them get to know each other. Jillian discovers that far from being heartless, Baldwin feels emotions deeply but keeps tight control over them. I enjoyed seeing her get him to open up to her and share some of his experiences with her. The scene after their visit to his parents was both heartbreaking and profoundly moving. The depth of his growing feelings for her is evident when she is shot and is in the hospital. Jillian also realizes that her feelings for Baldwin have turned to love and wonders what it means for the future. I could feel her fear for him when he went after Randall on his own. I ached for Jillian when he disappeared without a word right after Randall was captured. I loved his return and the emotional confession of what he'd been through. I especially liked the difference his love for her made to his plans for the future.
 
The suspense of the story was excellent. Randall has been on the run for the better part of a year, and the GGPD is frustrated that they haven't been able to find him. It doesn't help that he finds ways to taunt them and make them look bad. Jillian and others believe that he set her up for the jewelry thefts, and she can't help wondering why he is so fixated on her. I loved seeing Baldwin and Jillian work together to bring Randall down. The scene at her house was intense, and I ached for Baldwin with the way it turned out. When he got an idea of where Randall might be hiding, nothing Jillian could say would stop him from checking it out on his own. I wanted to shake him for being an idiot because things did not go well. But Baldwin was of sterner stuff than Randall knew. When the final confrontation came, the teamwork between Baldwin and Jillian brought the intense situation to a satisfactory conclusion.
 
I loved the epilogue. There's a big family party with all the Coltons and their new partners and babies. The scene between Jillian and her mom was sweet. My favorite part was Baldwin's shell-shocked reaction when faced with the whole family. I loved that he went from no family to more than he could ever imagine.

Agent Colton's Takedown - Beverly Long (HRS #2160 - Dec 2021)

Series: Coltons of Grave Gulch (Book 11)

A murderer has her in his sights…
But not if an intrepid agent gets his way!
 
For months, a serial killer has been haunting FBI agent Bryce Colton's every waking moment. And now the lethal criminal is obsessed with Grave Gulch local Olivia Margulies. Bryce knows Olivia is the key to drawing out the town's terrorizer. But as the lawman works to protect her 24/7, the sparks that fly between them can't mask the danger that looms ever closer…
 
Good book. At the end of the previous book, Uncovering Colton's Family Secret, the serial killer Len Davison broke into Olivia Margulies's deli, forcing her to make him a sandwich before robbing her. In this book, FBI agent Bryce Colton becomes Olivia's protector as he waits for Davison's next move.
 
I like Bryce and have throughout the series. He's a good man with a tough job. He initially sees Olivia as a means to an end, but that changes as he gets to know her. Thanks to his career, Bryce tends to be a glass-half-empty kind of guy but being around Olivia's brighter outlook on life begins to change him. I enjoyed seeing him hang out in the deli with her, stepping in to help in the kitchen and becoming part of her life. Complicating matters is the intense attraction he feels for her. It manifests in heated kisses that he then regrets as being inappropriate and tries to back away from. Olivia feels the same attraction and wonders if it will continue after Davison is captured. There are some sweet scenes between them as they grow closer, such as Bryce's care of her when she's sick to Olivia's trying to help him through his feelings about his father's return. I loved seeing them come together at the end after the terror of nearly losing each other.
 
The suspense was excellent. After that first visit by Davison, the tension continued to build as they waited for him to try again. The situation took a creepy turn with the second visit and his confession that he had a crush on Olivia. I could feel Bryce's frustration as each lead led to a dead end. When the final confrontation came, I was glued to the pages as Bryce raced to find Olivia before it was too late.  
 
The epilogue was great and included a lead-in to the final book in the series. It will be interesting to see if Baldwin Bowe, bounty hunter, succeeds in finding his estranged brother Randall.

Uncovering Colton's Family Secret - Linda O. Johnston (HRS #2156 - Nov 2021)

Series: Coltons of Grave Gulch (Book 10)

Coming face-to-face with her past…
Jeopardizes both their futures
 
When Madison Colton comes face-to-face with her presumed-dead father, her entire world is turned upside down. The unexpected discovery endangers Madison and brings Marshal Oren Margulies to her rescue. Madison can't believe she's being targeted, but Oren's presence fills her with feelings she never knew she had. But blossoming romance might be cut short by a vengeful killer…
 
Good book. In the previous book (A Colton InternalAffair), Madison saw a man who looked like her father while in a nearby town with her cousin Grace. But Richard Foster has been dead for twenty-five years, so how is that possible? This book picks up a week later as Madison returns to that town looking for the man she saw. But just as she is about to follow the man into a store, Marshal Oren Margulies stops her. Oren has good reasons to stop her from speaking to the man, but Madison refuses to leave it alone.
 
I laughed as kindergarten teacher Madison outwitted the marshal and succeeded in speaking with her quarry. She never expected to find that it was her father and that he's been in witness protection all this time. Oren fears that now that contact has been made, both Madison and her father could be in danger, and he is proved right within hours.
 
The action and suspense took off as a revenge-driven adversary attempted to take out Madison and her brother and sister. Madison was the main target at this time, and Oren was determined to keep her safe. I was glued to the pages as each attack seemed closer to succeeding. I loved seeing the partnership between Oren, the Grave Gulch PD, and Madison's brother Bryce, the FBI agent, as they worked to track the attacker. Just when the reader thinks they have him located, a bit of deception puts Madison in extreme danger. I loved seeing her keep a cool head and exceed even her law enforcement family's expectations when her pursuer confronts her. The final confrontation was a nail-biter and kept me engrossed to the end.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Oren and Madison develop. Oren is fascinated and attracted to Madison from the beginning but determined to remain professional. Madison is equally attracted and has no problem letting Oren know her interest. Oren's protectiveness had him sticking to Madison like glue, and I enjoyed seeing him fall under her spell. Oren has had bad luck with previous relationships and believes there is no future for them as much as he would like it. There are some terrific scenes between them as they get to know each other and bond over his sister's matzo ball soup. I wanted to shake Oren at the end as he pushed Madison away, ostensibly to protect her from being hurt by him. I loved the lecture he got from his sister, followed by the advice from Madison's father. His big moment at the end was sweet, romantic, and pretty impressive.
 
The story of Madison's father and what happened to him was heartbreaking at times. It was easy to understand Madison and her family's disbelief, hurt, and anger when they found out the truth. There were also times I wanted to shake him for possibly carrying it too far. The final scene with the family dinner was a hopeful sign for their future as a family.
 
There was a brief mention of the story arc about the missing forensic scientist. The serial killer story had an odd turn at the end of the book when he robbed Oren's sister Olivia's restaurant, but it serves as a lead-in for the next book.

A Colton Internal Affair - Jennifer Bokal (HRS #2152 - Oct 2021)

Series: Coltons of Grave Gulch (Book 9)

Proving her innocence is the ultimate test
 
While on patrol, rookie cop Grace Colton pursues a fleeing suspect, never thinking it could end her career -- or her life. Suddenly, she's everyone's enemy. Enter Camden Kingsley from Internal Affairs, who rubs Grace the wrong way and seems determined to believe the worst about her. But during interrogations, their sizzling chemistry is obvious, turning foe into unexpected defender, especially as one person desperately wants Grace out of the picture -- permanently.
 
Good book. Things are heating up in Grave Gulch. The police department is throwing everything it has at bringing in the department's forensics specialist, whose manipulation of evidence put so many innocent people behind bars and let others like serial killer Len Davison go free. They also want to get Davison back behind bars and stop his killing spree. Meanwhile, the town's growing distrust of the GGPD frustrates the officers who do their best to protect those under their care, especially Police Chief Melissa Colton and the other Coltons on the force.
 
As the book opens, Grace, a rookie cop and youngest of the Colton family, is out on patrol when she spots a person acting suspiciously and pursues him. When he draws a weapon on her, she is forced to defend herself. But when backup arrives and the suspect is taken into custody, the gun is nowhere to be found. Because she discharged her weapon, Grace is suspended while the incident is investigated, and Internal Affairs is called in to do the investigation.
 
Unfortunately, Internal Affairs departments are often mistrusted, and Grace's family members warn her to be careful what she says. Even though Camden Kingsley has an excellent reputation for integrity in his investigations, he is still from IA. He impressed me with his determination to find the truth, even though others pressured him for a quick resolution. Camden's history shows he has a solid motivation to treat each case fairly, and this one is no exception. However, he didn't expect the attraction and feelings of protectiveness he felt toward this subject.
 
I enjoyed watching both the mystery and the romance develop. The sparks between Camden and Grace are evident from the start, as is their desire to ignore them. Camden knows that getting involved with the subject of his investigation would affect his objectivity. Grace has been warned about IA investigators' willingness to do anything to trip up the people they investigate. But Grace instinctively feels that she can trust Camden, and he quickly recognizes her innocence. I loved watching them work together while maintaining their professional distance, but their connection was too strong. There are some terrific scenes of them together. I liked how Grace stood up for Camden when she took him to the family party, and the interaction between them on the terrace that night was intense. I loved Camden's belief in Grace, her innocence, and her professional abilities. Their relationship moves along quite well despite everything that says they should stay away from each other. Then Camden makes a grand gesture that doesn't go the way he envisioned, creating a bit of a bump in their road. But Camden is there when she needs him, and a life-threatening situation shows both the depth of their feelings. I liked the ending and hope to see more of them in the final books of the series.
 
The suspense of the story was well done. We see the situation through Grace's eyes and what she is confident she saw. The trouble comes when the two witnesses flee the scene and can't be found. Neither can the gun Grace knows the perp had, which puts her in a bad situation. All of the Coltons expect trouble from the IA officer. Grace got lucky with Camden, who is honest to the bone. The suspense was a slow build as Grace and Camden worked together to uncover the truth. A few included scenes with the missing witnesses allow the reader to see things that Grace and Camden don't know about, which increased my investment in the story. I loved the plan to draw out the witnesses and was glued to the pages to see if it worked. An unexpected twist put Grace in danger. The final confrontation was a nail-biter that kept me hooked until it was over.
 
The series storyline of Randall Bowe (forensics guy) and the serial killer advanced somewhat. The good guys get outside help to track down Bowe, and I can't wait to see how that works out. The conflict between the town and the police continues as the GGPD deals with the fallout from the forensics debacle and some things that have happened since then. A twist I never saw coming involved the police chief, and I look forward to seeing the effects of that event.