Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed Colton Threat Unleashed (Coltons of Owl Creek, Bk 1) (Harlequin Romantic Suspense, No 2263) on + 1115 more book reviews
This restored my faith in the Colton name! I was starting to feel like Harlequin was just putting Colton on every other cover because they knew it would sell. This is one that really was worth the read. It's a friends to lovers story with a wounded hero, a strong female lead, and lots of animal interactions. The secondary characters are realistic as are Ruby's realizations about her family relationships.
Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific start to the new series. The story opens with a bang as Sebastian deals with another vandalism attack at his dog training facility. While handling that, he is distracted by the presence of Ruby, his friend, and the vet who takes care of his dogs. He can't forget the night they spent together after his dog was injured, and they found comfort in each other's arms.
Sebastian and Ruby are two independent people who are loners. Sebastian's PTSD has made him determined to avoid putting anyone in danger from his episodes. Because of being an only child, he is accustomed to depending on himself, and with his parents gone, he has no one. Ruby is part of a large family, but the chaos of her life left her preferring animals to people. She has no interest in marriage or a family for herself. So she is shocked when she discovers she is pregnant from that one night with Sebastian.
Once Ruby gets past the shock and denial stage, she realizes she is happy about the baby. She knows Sebastian's feelings on marriage and family and plans to raise the baby on her own, with the support of her family. She knows she needs to tell Sebastian. There is a little confusion around that confession, thanks to some remarks from one of Ruby's brothers. Sebastian doesn't know what to do with the news once he accepts it. His first reaction was to pull back.
But as the weeks went on and they worked together to protect the dogs, Sebastian became more invested in becoming a father. I liked watching the changes he and Ruby experienced as they spent more time together, each learning to lean a little on the other for support. It takes a while for each to come to terms with their feelings for each other, and nearly losing each other to realize they are better together than apart.
The suspense of the story was excellent. The escalating attacks at the dog training facility kept Sebastian and Ruby on edge. I ached for both of them as their beloved dogs were constantly threatened. The trouble intensified with attacks on Ruby herself, leaving Sebastian determined to protect her. I could feel their frustration at the lack of progress in catching the perpetrator, and I understood Sebastian's need to draw him out. When I thought everything was resolved, an unexpected twist again put Ruby in danger. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages until it was over.
I enjoyed meeting the other members of the Colton family and look forward to reading their stories. I liked Wade, Sebastian's best friend, and ached for the pain he experienced from his time in the Marines. It's going to take someone special to help him. I also liked Fletcher, who leaves his police job in Utah to come home and help with the investigation.
#netgalley
Sebastian and Ruby are two independent people who are loners. Sebastian's PTSD has made him determined to avoid putting anyone in danger from his episodes. Because of being an only child, he is accustomed to depending on himself, and with his parents gone, he has no one. Ruby is part of a large family, but the chaos of her life left her preferring animals to people. She has no interest in marriage or a family for herself. So she is shocked when she discovers she is pregnant from that one night with Sebastian.
Once Ruby gets past the shock and denial stage, she realizes she is happy about the baby. She knows Sebastian's feelings on marriage and family and plans to raise the baby on her own, with the support of her family. She knows she needs to tell Sebastian. There is a little confusion around that confession, thanks to some remarks from one of Ruby's brothers. Sebastian doesn't know what to do with the news once he accepts it. His first reaction was to pull back.
But as the weeks went on and they worked together to protect the dogs, Sebastian became more invested in becoming a father. I liked watching the changes he and Ruby experienced as they spent more time together, each learning to lean a little on the other for support. It takes a while for each to come to terms with their feelings for each other, and nearly losing each other to realize they are better together than apart.
The suspense of the story was excellent. The escalating attacks at the dog training facility kept Sebastian and Ruby on edge. I ached for both of them as their beloved dogs were constantly threatened. The trouble intensified with attacks on Ruby herself, leaving Sebastian determined to protect her. I could feel their frustration at the lack of progress in catching the perpetrator, and I understood Sebastian's need to draw him out. When I thought everything was resolved, an unexpected twist again put Ruby in danger. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages until it was over.
I enjoyed meeting the other members of the Colton family and look forward to reading their stories. I liked Wade, Sebastian's best friend, and ached for the pain he experienced from his time in the Marines. It's going to take someone special to help him. I also liked Fletcher, who leaves his police job in Utah to come home and help with the investigation.
#netgalley
