I was completely engrossed in this story. I loved reading about Caro and Jebediah. Intrigue, mystery, love and lies. This book is full of it all and the characters are well written. The storyline is attention keeping and makes you want more. More of the side characters and more from this story set. All in all I'm very impressed and adding the author to my list of "to look out for".

I loved the start of this book. It flowed great and reading the interaction between Jeb and Carolina was fun to read. Jeb believed Carolina when no one else did. Less than halfway through, the book started to drag and I lost interest. The best part of the book is the interaction between the secondary characters: Tom, Katie and Butch. Their banter and interactions were hysterical, at times. I loved it. This romantic suspense book would have been better if it was more condensed. I want to go back and read the first book since I feel the story of Katie and Butch will be not only a fun read but funny!

This is a solid story with likeable characters – and a hefty side-dose of paternalistic behaviour by the men.

I think there’s plenty to like, and I’m sure others will, too. However, I have big problems with men talking to women like they’re too timid to cope with reality.

The characterisation of the men in this book relies heavily on the creepy-as-hell promise ring, daddy owns my virginity and will come after you with a shotgun culture you hear coming out of more conservative regions of the US.

The heroine of this book is nearly thirty, but when her uncle (not even her father) finds her hanging out with a decent, high-achieving, reliable man he reacts like this:

“Take a hike, boyfriend. I’ve dealt with men like you my entire life. You may be good in a fight, but there’s no place for you in Carolina’s life. My brother is gone; that makes me the man who says you’re not good enough. Get your shit and get out.”

(This is the same uncle who just told the hero off for swearing in front of “ladies”!)

Weirded out, I kept reading.

Only to reach a point where the hero literally tells the heroine a bedtime fairy tale to help her sleep.

“A bedtime story.” He offered his elbow and escorted her back to her bedroom.

“Make it a happy one. One to chase the boogeyman (sic) away.”

And then she begs him to begin it ‘once upon a time’ – which he does. He even throws in princesses…

The men in this book treat women like infants.

This is the sort of patronising behaviour millions of women are taking to the streets to protest, and so I couldn’t stomach it in my romantic fiction. If that sort of thing doesn’t bother you as much, the writing is solid, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one more than I did.