Series:
Coltons of New York (Book 5)
A rancher confronts the past
With a fearless agent's help…
Rancher Micah Perry always suspected his father was
murdered. Now FBI agent Deirdre Colton is seeking his help investigating his
former stepmother, a potential serial killer. The case is Deirdre's chance to
redeem herself with the Bureau. But Micah wants only to protect his son and
find out who is sabotaging his ranch. Working together demands they overcome
their differences…and their searing attraction.
Good book. Deirdre is an FBI agent on forced vacation
after breaking too many rules during an investigation. So she steps in, on her
own time, to help her New York cousins in their search for a suspected "Black
Widow" serial killer. The story opens as she arrives in Wyoming to talk to
Micah about his former stepmother, who may be the woman the other Coltons are
looking for.
Micah is a single dad with his hands full, raising his
son and working his ranch. He also has problems with escalating sabotage on his
property. Despite multiple visits from the police, no one has been able to
catch the perpetrator. Though he's always believed his stepmother murdered his
father, he has no interest in revisiting that part of the past.
Deirdre is a city girl, through and through, as is shown
by her reaction to Wyoming's wide-open spaces. She can't wait to interview
Micah and catch the next plane back to DC. Fate has other plans for her. She
arrives as Micah is dealing with another episode of vandalism and is in no mood
to cooperate with her. When the sheriff comes to take Micah's report, he's interested
in Deirdre's presence, especially when he learns of her "vacation."
It doesn't take long for him to coerce - umm, convince - her to help his
short-handed department with Micah's problem. Micah agrees to answer her
questions if she helps him. Neither expects the sparks of attraction that flare
between them.
I enjoyed the combination of suspense and romance. Deirdre
and Micah spend a lot of time together looking for leads to the vandal and
working on the ranch. Seeing Deirdre's growing appreciation for the peace of
Wyoming and life on the ranch was fun. I liked seeing her and Micah develop
enough mutual trust to share the more painful parts of their pasts and grow
closer. I also enjoyed seeing the quick connection between Micah's son, Derek,
and his "Dee-Dee."
When the latest intrusion at the ranch threatens Derek, Deirdre
suggests they all fly to New York for a few days to keep him safe and give the
sheriff and his deputies a chance to catch the perpetrator. This will also allow
Micah to see if any sites jog his memory about his stepmother. There are
meetings with the New York Coltons as they try to get closer to finding their
quarry. A lucky memory brings hope and action, but mistakes also bring
heartache and disappointment.
A return to Wyoming brings them face-to-face with Micah's
tormentor. The intensity of the confrontation kept me glued to the pages until
it was over. I wasn't surprised by the identity of the perpetrator. Meanwhile,
Micah and Deirdre's relationship hits some bumps in their road to happiness.
Neither can let go of the fears that keep them from giving in to their love. It
takes some well-meaning interference from Deirdre's brother, Aidan, to set up
an emotional reunion between them. I liked the ending and look forward to the
next book.
The overarching series mystery of Humphrey's
disappearance is partially solved in this book, but another part will continue
in the next book.
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