Fantastic book. The trials and tribulations for the Hamilton family just keep piling up. Harper has been away for most of the time since her mother's return from the dead, finishing school and doing some traveling. Now she's back on the ranch, and in an expression of her frustration over what is happening in her life she goes for a ride, galloping across the fields and screeching. What she didn't know was that Brody was nearby, and thinking that she's in trouble comes riding to her rescue. She lets him know that in no uncertain terms, but once they get past that dust-up, it becomes apparent that there is something flaring between them.
Harper has had a crush on Brody since she was nine years old, and has been waiting for the chance to do something about it. She's tired of feeling like she's invisible around him, and makes it clear that she's interested. Brody is stunned to say the least. He's been interested in Harper since she was sixteen, but she was way too young for him. Now, not only is she older, but it turns out she is just as into him. However, there is one obstacle, and that is the enmity between their two families. It is about to get worse, when they stumble on the remains of a human body. Those remains are of Brody's cousin, Maggie, who had disappeared thirty-five years earlier, and Harper's grandfather was believed to be responsible. Both Brody and Harper are determined to uncover the truth. Harper can't believe her grandfather would murder anyone. Brody isn't so sure, but he won't let Harper put herself in danger.
I liked both Harper and Brody. Both are strong-willed and won't let anyone discourage them from doing what they think is right. Harper tends to be a little on the naive side, I think, as she puts herself into some dangerous situations. Both of them are honorable, and want the truth, no matter what it turns out to be. I also loved the development of their relationship. Because of the resistance of their families, they have to fight harder to be together. Brody's determination to maintain his relationship with her, as well as pursue the truth about Maggie's murder, puts him at odds with his father and uncle. I hurt for him, and loved the way he stood up to them. Harper gets lectures from various members of her family, but it's the one from her mother that strikes closest to home. Can she take her happiness at the expense of his relationship with his family? I did like the end and seeing how both are determined to make it work for them.
The suspense of the story was excellent. Interspersed throughout were flashbacks to Maggie, JD, his wife Grace, and Harper's parents, Buck and Sarah. Each scene brings out a bit more of the events that led up to Maggie's death. In the current time, Brody and Harper, as well as Sheriff Curry, are trying to figure out who is responsible. Unfortunately for them, the suspect list gets longer instead of shorter. Every time I thought I had it figured out, someone else would come along and look more promising. A couple of attacks on Brody and Harper showed that someone believed that they were getting too close to the truth. The final confrontation was intense, with a twist I hadn't seen coming. I liked the way that Brody and Harper were able to stay pretty calm while it was happening and work together to bring the killer down. Loved Brody's ingenuity in bringing in help.
Also running through the book is the ongoing mystery of where Sarah has been for the last twenty-two years and what has brought her back. Russell is still working on a way to prove his theory, and uncovers some new information. Buck is happy to have Sarah back, but can't help having some questions of his own. Some of the things that came out in the flashbacks add to the feeling that there is something fishy going on. Even Russell is still working to figure out where she has been, though he has a more personal reason going on. An unexpected arrival at the end adds to Sarah's distress and complicates things even more. I'm really looking forward to the next two books and finally getting the truth.
Harper has had a crush on Brody since she was nine years old, and has been waiting for the chance to do something about it. She's tired of feeling like she's invisible around him, and makes it clear that she's interested. Brody is stunned to say the least. He's been interested in Harper since she was sixteen, but she was way too young for him. Now, not only is she older, but it turns out she is just as into him. However, there is one obstacle, and that is the enmity between their two families. It is about to get worse, when they stumble on the remains of a human body. Those remains are of Brody's cousin, Maggie, who had disappeared thirty-five years earlier, and Harper's grandfather was believed to be responsible. Both Brody and Harper are determined to uncover the truth. Harper can't believe her grandfather would murder anyone. Brody isn't so sure, but he won't let Harper put herself in danger.
I liked both Harper and Brody. Both are strong-willed and won't let anyone discourage them from doing what they think is right. Harper tends to be a little on the naive side, I think, as she puts herself into some dangerous situations. Both of them are honorable, and want the truth, no matter what it turns out to be. I also loved the development of their relationship. Because of the resistance of their families, they have to fight harder to be together. Brody's determination to maintain his relationship with her, as well as pursue the truth about Maggie's murder, puts him at odds with his father and uncle. I hurt for him, and loved the way he stood up to them. Harper gets lectures from various members of her family, but it's the one from her mother that strikes closest to home. Can she take her happiness at the expense of his relationship with his family? I did like the end and seeing how both are determined to make it work for them.
The suspense of the story was excellent. Interspersed throughout were flashbacks to Maggie, JD, his wife Grace, and Harper's parents, Buck and Sarah. Each scene brings out a bit more of the events that led up to Maggie's death. In the current time, Brody and Harper, as well as Sheriff Curry, are trying to figure out who is responsible. Unfortunately for them, the suspect list gets longer instead of shorter. Every time I thought I had it figured out, someone else would come along and look more promising. A couple of attacks on Brody and Harper showed that someone believed that they were getting too close to the truth. The final confrontation was intense, with a twist I hadn't seen coming. I liked the way that Brody and Harper were able to stay pretty calm while it was happening and work together to bring the killer down. Loved Brody's ingenuity in bringing in help.
Also running through the book is the ongoing mystery of where Sarah has been for the last twenty-two years and what has brought her back. Russell is still working on a way to prove his theory, and uncovers some new information. Buck is happy to have Sarah back, but can't help having some questions of his own. Some of the things that came out in the flashbacks add to the feeling that there is something fishy going on. Even Russell is still working to figure out where she has been, though he has a more personal reason going on. An unexpected arrival at the end adds to Sarah's distress and complicates things even more. I'm really looking forward to the next two books and finally getting the truth.
I didn't realize this was part of a series when I started, so although I enjoyed the core story of the hero and heroine of this book and the mystery they work to solve, I was irritated by the overarching question of the heroine's mother that is not resolved.
First of all, if you are expecting a Carolyn Brown laugh until you cry. Western Romance, park your expectations at the door. This is pure and simple Intrigue with a little romance sprinkled in that takes place in Montana. This is NOT a bad thing! Just know going in that other than riding a horse two or three times, the word ranch throw in occasionally, and maybe 50 pages devoted to romance, you will be on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what's going on and who the murderer is (plus a few finer details that I won't mention as I don't want to spoil anything).
I picked up this book while looking for something to cleanse my palette of YA books I'd been reading recently and unfortunately did not notice that this was book 4 in a 6 book series. This was absolutely no problem as it could stand on its own. However, it hooked me so well that now I must have the rest of the books in the series. I do have book 6 but will just have to contain myself until the earlier books arrive. One of the many advantages to reading a series that is complete is being able to order all the rest of the books used from PaperBackSwap or Amazon and binge read them all.
I loved both of the main characters in the story. Brody has been waiting for years for Harper to grow up enough to pursue and Harper has weighted every guy she has ever met against Brody. So the time is finally here and what happens but they stumble over a body on the ranch while looking for her runaway horse. (see ranch and horse-western). Anyway, this body is part of the ongoing mystery of Harper's missing Mom who has recently returned after 24 years with no memory of what has gone on for the last 2 decades. Combine this with the body they have stumbled over and their decision to investigate since both of their families are involved makes for some tense action in this small Montana town. While the murder is resolved by the end of the book, there are many unanswered questions that make this a series well worth diving into.
I picked up this book while looking for something to cleanse my palette of YA books I'd been reading recently and unfortunately did not notice that this was book 4 in a 6 book series. This was absolutely no problem as it could stand on its own. However, it hooked me so well that now I must have the rest of the books in the series. I do have book 6 but will just have to contain myself until the earlier books arrive. One of the many advantages to reading a series that is complete is being able to order all the rest of the books used from PaperBackSwap or Amazon and binge read them all.
I loved both of the main characters in the story. Brody has been waiting for years for Harper to grow up enough to pursue and Harper has weighted every guy she has ever met against Brody. So the time is finally here and what happens but they stumble over a body on the ranch while looking for her runaway horse. (see ranch and horse-western). Anyway, this body is part of the ongoing mystery of Harper's missing Mom who has recently returned after 24 years with no memory of what has gone on for the last 2 decades. Combine this with the body they have stumbled over and their decision to investigate since both of their families are involved makes for some tense action in this small Montana town. While the murder is resolved by the end of the book, there are many unanswered questions that make this a series well worth diving into.
