The Colton Bodyguard - Carla Cassidy (HRS #1871 - Nov 2015)

Series: Coltons of Oklahoma (Book 6)

Wrongly imprisoned for murder, renowned horse trainer Greta Colton gets sprung by Tyler Stanton's falsified alibi. The incredibly handsome oil tycoon's desire has been burning for Greta ever since they met. Now that she's no longer his brother's fiancée, he wants her in his bed and working in his corral. In that order.

Throwing caution to the wind, Greta accepts Tyler's brazen invitations. And with danger mounting, they reluctantly risk their hearts. But when a shocking Colton secret surfaces, can Tyler protect Greta from a treacherous family reunion? Someone means to kill her…and take all that's hers!

Excellent conclusion to the Coltons series. In the previous book, Second Chance Colton, Greta had been held on suspicion of murder. Tyler Stanton, brother of her fiance, provided an alibi that set her free, but he lied to do it. With the end of her engagement, Tyler makes it clear that he wants Greta for himself. 

It took a little bit for me to get used to Tyler. With him, what you see is what you get. He is good looking, wealthy and confident. He doesn't play games when it comes to what he wants, and he wants Greta. She was a bit shocked when she came to thank him for his alibi and to ask him why he had lied, to find out that he had been attracted to her from the time he met her. But his brother got to her first, so he had done his best to control his feelings. I loved his straightforward telling her that he still wants her in his bed. Of course, he's not committing to any kind of relationship, just sex for as long as they want it. He also wants her to work with one of his horses and uses that to entice her to come stay on his ranch while she does so. He doesn't expect it to last, as it never does with him.

Greta is stunned by Tyler's proposition, but also somewhat intrigued. She really wants to work with the horse, but she's a bit wary about Tyler himself. Her ex-fiance had turned out to be a self-centered loser, and she doesn't know Tyler well enough to think he's any different. She can't deny the chemistry between them. He turns her on like no one else has ever done. With the threats looming against her, getting out of Tulsa for awhile seems like a good idea. So she agrees to work with the horse, but tries to resist the heat between her and Tyler.

I loved seeing the relationship build between them. They started it a bit backwards, with two really hot encounters, but then Greta insisted on keeping sex out of it. She wanted them to have a chance to get to know each other before taking it any further. I was impressed by Tyler's agreeing to her conditions, but also telling her that he wasn't going to give up on seducing her. I also liked the way he really listened to her when she talked. His confusion over his growing feelings was pretty sweet, as he realized that he wanted more than just her in his bed. I loved his protectiveness and how determined he was to keep her safe. When everything was over, he didn't know how to deal with what he felt. I loved the ending and seeing him accept and embrace his feelings. His return to the ranch and facing Greta was sweet and romantic.

Greta was surprised by her instant attraction to Tyler. Since she doesn't really know him, she shocks herself when she gives in to the passion. I loved seeing her pull herself together and take control of those feelings. Though the attraction was strong, she was hesitant to trust it, and wanted to take the time to get to know him. As she did, her feelings for him grew, but she was still wary about trusting him with her heart. I loved seeing her stand up for her needs, even when it hurt. I enjoyed her determination to make Tyler grovel a bit there at the end.

The suspense of the story was great. By the time the book started the villain is known and the only question is how and when will she attack. The first attack wasn't a huge surprise as they knew it would happen eventually. Tyler's quick reaction was all that had saved Greta. As they moved back to the Colton ranch, they felt somewhat safer but also knew that Alice was out there somewhere, just waiting to strike again. The anticipation really built as the end got nearer. I wanted to shake Greta when  she did something stupid that ended up putting her in grave danger. The final confrontation was well done, with great tension as I wondered how long it would be before it was figured out. I loved that it was Tyler who did and he who saved Greta. It wrapped up the series very well.

Second Chance Colton - Marie Ferrarella (HRS #1867 - Oct 2015)

Series: Coltons of Oklahoma (Book 5)

When murder strikes his family's ranch, Detective Ryan Colton follows the evidence…straight to his sister. Instinct tells him she's innocent. But once her DNA is found at the scene, Ryan goes head-to-head with the forensics expert he'd hoped to avoid. Susie Howard -- the beautiful woman he once loved…and left.

Seeing Ryan again has Susie doubting everything, especially her resolution to forget the sexy, rugged cowboy cop. If her intuition is wrong, then the real killer is still at large and has the Coltons in his sights. Teaming up with Ryan is the only way for him to save his family -- and his second chance with her.

Excellent book that continues the investigation into who attacked the Colton matriarch, while at the same time giving Ryan his chance to find love. The latest batch of troubles at the ranch have the evidence pointing to Ryan's sister, Greta. Ryan is convinced the evidence has to be wrong, and confronts the CSI expert doing the tests, Susie Howard. But there's more going on with Susie than just the tests - she's also the woman he had left behind ten years earlier.

They've both been working for the Tulsa PD for the last four years, but have mostly managed to avoid each other. Ten years earlier, when Ryan was still in the Marines, he broke off his relationship with her when he left on deployment. He told himself it was for her own good, so that she wasn't putting her life on hold for him. He has never found anyone else that made him feel the way she did. Susie had been devastated by the cold breakup letter that she received from him. She had been deeply in love with him and ready to wait for however long it took for him to come home. Since then she has been wary of trusting anyone else with her heart. Now, whenever they meet, both are careful to keep all interactions short and to the point.

I liked the way they joined forces to get at the truth about Greta's involvement. Susie knows that she could, possibly even should, turn work on this case over to another. But in spite of the way things ended for them, she still has feelings for Ryan and can see the way that this case is tearing him up. She is a voice of reason during the turmoil of seeing the evidence, and also a pillar of support. Ryan can't believe that Greta is involved, but the evidence is overwhelming. Having to bring her in for questioning and hold her like a criminal hurts him terribly. It also puts him at odds with his brothers, something that has been happening more often as the troubles on the ranch continue. I liked seeing how Susie's help keeps him grounded, and also gives him another viewpoint.

As they spend more time together, Ryan has to admit to himself that he had been an idiot to push Susie away all those years ago. The attraction is still there and growing stronger every day, but he's not so sure he deserves a second chance. Both Ryan and Susie look at their past actions and have to decide if they want to move forward together. A surprise revelation adds to Ryan's turmoil, but also makes him realize what he's wanted all along. I loved his stop on his way to visit Susie, and how it helps her see that he has changed. Their final scene was romantic and emotional, and ended with just a bit of humor.

The progression of the mystery of who is behind the attacks has been very good from the beginning. From the attack on Abra to the murder of the ranch hand, it has had a very personal feel to it. From the little hints that were dropped in previous books, I had a suspicion about who was behind it. But the story behind the identity was a twist I didn't expect, and I am looking forward to the next book to see how it all ends. 

The Temptation of Dr. Colton - Karen Whiddon (HRS #1860 - Aug 2015)

Series: Coltons of Oklahoma (Book 3)

After a hit-and-run, all the frightened victim can remember is the handsome Dr. Eric Colton, who rescued her. She has no identity and no memory, other than the flash of a gunshot and a man's name. But she knows she's in grave danger.

Eric can't explain his irresistible attraction to the mystery woman who, in hours, transforms him from workaholic surgeon to vigilant bodyguard. He can't let her out of his arms, not when danger stalks her. But why? What lies hidden in her mind? Eric doesn't know what she's forgotten, but he knows people will kill to ensure she never remembers…and it's up to him to stop them.

Very good book with excellent suspense and romantic tension. Eric is on his way home from work as an ER trauma surgeon when he witnesses a hit-and-run. As he gives assistance and accompanies her back to the hospital in the ambulance, Eric is strangely drawn to her. The next day he discovers that she has no memory of who she is or what happened. What he does know is that he can't let her go until they know more about her, so he takes her back to his place.

I really liked Eric. We haven't seen much of him in the previous books. He doesn't go home to the ranch very often and his relationship with his parents seems strained. In this book we learn more about why. In spite of this, he does have an excellent relationship with his siblings, and I enjoyed their encounters. They are also very supportive of Eric when he needs them. I loved his protectiveness toward MW (mystery woman).

I liked MW also. Her amnesia has her scared, but she doesn't fall apart. She doesn't know why Eric is so determined to help her, but she feels she can trust him, so she accepts it. She's also very attracted to him, but wary because she doesn't know if she's free to be. I liked the way that she tried to maintain some independence even when she was dependent on him. She had no trouble standing up for herself when she needed to.

I loved the development of their relationship. MW is a woman with a kind and sensitive heart, which is obvious even without knowing her background. I really liked the way that she was so aware of Eric's feelings around his family and how her presence helped him deal with them. I loved seeing Eric help her work through her feelings as her memory started to return. Eric was surprised when he realized that what he was feeling for her was more than just attraction. It only added to his determination to keep her safe. Once she remembered everything, MW wanted to protect him from the trouble she was in. I liked seeing the way that they worked through everything and came out stronger in the end.

The suspense of the story was really good. It started fast with the hit-and-run, and kept the action going with the attempts on her life. As each bit of memory returned, the more the sense of danger increased. When all was revealed, the intensity really picked up. The car wreck and kidnapping kept me reading, and I was happy to see the way that MW really kept her head. I was expecting a wild ride, and have to say that the ending was a bit anticlimactic. 

There was a little more progress on the series storyline involving the attack on Eric's mother. There are indications that she knows something about what happened to her that she isn't sharing with anyone else. There are also still questions about the skeleton that was found in the first book. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Protecting the Colton Bride - Elle James (HRS #1863 - Sept 2015)

Series: Coltons of Oklahoma (Book 4)

With his ranch in financial trouble, cowboy Daniel Colton makes the perfect proposal to Megan Talbot -- a marriage of convenience to save his business and ensure she receives her inheritance. But spending night after night with the strawberry blonde beauty tests all boundaries of Daniel's self-control. And when a killer targets his new bride, vying for her estate, it sets off all of his protective instincts. Daniel refuses to trade his honeymoon for a funeral. Now it's a race against the clock to track down the culprit and protect the wife who's starting to be so much more to him than just a business partner.

Very good book with excellent action and suspense from the very beginning. Megan has been working for Daniel at his horse breeding business for a few months and has become a very important part of it. She came to Oklahoma to fulfill her dream of working with horses and get away from parents who are overly controlling. She gets an ultimatum from her father: come home where you belong or I will sell your horses to a glue factory. Distraught, she sees no other choice, and tells Daniel that she has to quit and why.

Daniel is the bastard half brother of the rest of the Coltons. He loves his family and the ranch he has called home since he was ten, but he has always felt a bit of an outsider. The horse breeding business is his, and he is still working to prove that it should be part of the family ranch. He has an opportunity to make a big step forward for the program, but his place in the family tree could be a drawback. He needs a way to boost his credibility with this particular breeder. 

When Daniel hears of Megan's problem, he has the perfect solution. They should enter into a business marriage together. Megan will fulfill the requirements to gain access to her trust fund, enabling her to buy her horses and care for them, and Megan's family ties will give Daniel the boost he needs. Daniel doesn't count on the attraction that flares between them, making it difficult to stick to the plan he had laid down. Megan is just as attracted to Daniel, and has been since she first arrived.

Though he is part of the Colton family, Daniel feels that his own background as a half Native bastard creates too big of a gulf between them. He's determined to keep his distance, but the attraction is just too strong. Megan is more than willing to give in to the heat between them. Throughout the months that they have worked together, their common goals and beliefs have brought them closer together. Their interactions are honest and real. I especially enjoyed the wedding scene. Daniel fights the feelings that are growing for Megan because of his attitude of unworthiness, while Megan admits her feelings to herself but hesitates to tell him. I loved seeing her try to show Daniel that his fears are misplaced.  Daniel's protective feelings for her soon open his eyes to his real feelings, he just has to believe that they can be happy together.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. It began with the trouble with one of the horses, where Megan could have been badly hurt. Though it was suspicious, they had no reason to believe it was directed at her. Even the attack in Las Vegas could have been random bad luck. But when their plane is sabotaged on the trip back from California, and Megan becomes ill, they have to believe that there is someone who wants Megan dead. The question is who and why. I had a pretty good idea of the truth, but it didn't detract from the final confrontation at all, which was pretty intense. I loved how it all worked out.

I also enjoyed the family relationships. Though Megan had issues with hers, during the visit to California, there were several things that were resolved. I liked seeing her stick up for her needs, and how her parents finally accepted it. I liked the scene in the barn with Megan's father, who turned out to be a lot better than I expected. I also loved the relationships among Daniel and his family. Their love and support for each other was obvious. The scene in Megan's hospital room, when they all came to visit, and their reactions to the marriage were great. Both Megan and Daniel hated lying to their families, and it was great when it all became real.

Colton's Cowboy Code - Melissa Cutler (HRS #1856 - July 2015)

Series: Coltons of Oklahoma (Book 2)

Cowboy Brett Colton has reformed his bad-boy ways. And he has ambitious plans to transform the Lucky C ranch. Then he discovers that his one passion-filled night with gorgeous accountant Hannah Grayson resulted in pregnancy -- an unexpected hiccup.

Though excited by the prospect of fatherhood, Brett puts the brakes on romance. He is determined to bring Hannah and his unborn child into the family. But he doesn't anticipate the strong feelings he has for Hannah…or that he is putting her in danger. Because a vengeful phantom is targeting the Coltons. All that matters is keeping his new family safe…and perhaps fighting for love in the end.

Good book. Brett is the youngest of the Colton sons and has always felt like a disappointment to his parents. When he was younger, he expressed those feelings by living down to those expectations. After a car accident a few months ago woke him up, he has vowed to make changes in his life. He's now paying attention to his responsibilities on the ranch and has plans to expand the horse breeding side of the ranch. To that end, he's trying to hire an accountant who can help him with the business plan he'll need to convince the rest of the family.

Brett is surprised to discover that the accountant he's about to interview is the woman he had a one night stand with a few months earlier - and she's pregnant. Hannah is equally surprised by her potential employer. She's been waiting to contact him until she got her life back together. When her religious fanatic parents discovered she was pregnant they fired her from her job in their store and disowned her. Without a job, she lost her apartment and has been staying with a friend. This wasn't the way she wanted to tell Brett about his impending fatherhood.

Brett and Hannah really impressed me. There was no drama linked to the reveal. Brett doesn't accuse her of hiding the baby or trying to trap him into marriage, nor does Hannah accuse him of carelessness or anything like that. They talk about it calmly, as adults. I really liked the way that Brett is determined to take care of Hannah and the baby, and asks her to move to the ranch as well as take the job of accountant. Neither of them want to marry because "it's the right thing", as both have witnessed marriages that are not based on love and don't want that for themselves. Brett showed a great deal of protectiveness toward Hannah from the very beginning. I loved the way that he faced down his family the day that he told them about her. 

The attraction between them is still hot. Hannah has accepted it, and really wouldn't mind acting on it again. As a matter of fact, she really wants to. But Brett is resisting just as hard as he can. He seems to look at giving in as continuing his previously irresponsible ways. He's also afraid that if they give in to the passion, if something goes wrong she'd leave the ranch and he wouldn't see his child. Having had his own absentee parent,he wasn't going to risk that happening. I really enjoyed seeing them grow closer through their desire to be good parents, and how eventually they realized their feelings for each other. The last chapter of the book was really sweet.

The suspense of the story was good. One part is the continuation from the first book. Brett's mother is still in the hospital from an attack that left her in a coma. They still don't know why she was attacked. There have been several attacks on the ranch, including a fire where photos from albums that were stolen from the house were found. There are also no clues about the identity of the baby bones that were found at the family cemetery. Some of the people are a little spooked because there has been a ghostlike woman spotted at various places around the ranch. Hannah has her own mystery that she's working on. While trying to bring order to the ranch books, she has noticed some irregularities that have her puzzled and concerned. She also has someone leaving her hateful messages. Brett is really worried about her safety. While the culprits for her issues were not a surprise, there were some really intense moments at the end. That resolution was pretty satisfying, at the same time the earlier issues are still unresolved. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

Colton Cowboy Protector -Beth Cornelison (HRS #1851 - June 2015)

Series: Coltons of Oklahoma (Book 1)

A beautiful stranger appears at the Colton ranch during a party, and Jack is none too pleased. With ties to his ex-wife, Tracy McCain claims to be on a mission to bond with his son. But this intriguing widow also has a target on her back. As the Colton family brings Tracy under its broad wing, a relentless assassin puts everyone in jeopardy. Jack's protective instincts go into overdrive…and only fuel his secret attraction to Tracy. Living closely together under Jack's roof, the heat between them starts to sizzle. In fact, the only thing stronger than Jack's heady desire for Tracy is his will to keep her safe…so that one day they can become a family.

Very good start to the new Colton series. This one centers around Jack, the oldest of the Colton children, and Tracy, his ex-wife's cousin. Tracy shows up at the Colton ranch with one goal in mind - she wants to get to know her cousin's little boy, the only family that Tracy has left. Jack isn't too happy to see her, as he is very protective of Seth and doesn't trust Tracy's motives.

Jack had loved his wife Laura, but she hated ranch life. She left him, but turned custody of Seth over to Jack, knowing that he'd have a better life there. Jack was angry at what he saw as her desertion, and refused to allow her any contact with Seth, and has told Seth very little about his mother. Now that Laura is dead, Jack feels that everything is under control. Tracy's arrival has Jack concerned about what she might tell Seth, and also that she wants more than he's willing to give. He's determined to keep an eye on her, until she proves herself.

Tracy is the widow of an abusive man. Her cousin Laura had been the one to help Tracy get away from him, but lost her life in the process when he rammed their car with his own. Tracy feels guilty about what happened, and knowing how much Laura had loved her son, is determined to get to know him and tell him about his mother. Jack's attitude is an obstacle she has to find a way to overcome.

The initial meeting between Jack and Tracy was very volatile. Jack doesn't trust her, and wants her gone. Unfortunately for him, his sister gets wind of Tracy's presence and purpose and invites her to stay at the ranch. Having her constantly underfoot brings a new problem into Jack's life - his strong attraction to her. He has avoided any kind of relationships since Laura left, unwilling to trust his heart again and risk having it broken again. As they spend time together with Seth, Jack begins to see that he can trust her with his son, but is still wary with his own emotions. Tracy had also been hit with a strong attraction to Jack, but feels too guilty about her part in Laura's death to feel that she has any right to feelings about him. I liked seeing them bond over Seth, and start to build a cautious relationship. The chemistry continues to build, but Jack still resists admitting to his growing feelings for Tracy. He nearly loses everything due to his fears, before his sister and one of his brothers makes him see what he is doing.

The suspense of the story is good and has two parts. Tracy is the victim of attempts on her life. First someone pushes her off a curb into traffic, though there's no way to prove it. Jack becomes worried about her, but his protective instincts really kick in when someone takes shots at her and his son while they are on the ranch. Tracy can't imagine who would want to hurt her, especially now that her husband is dead. The suspense increases as she and Jack, along with his cop brother Ryan, try to find out who is behind it. I enjoyed seeing Jack stand up to his brother when it came to investigating a couple suspects. What they find out shows that Tracy is in even more danger than they expected, and keeping her safe could be a real challenge. The final confrontation is intense, and had me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how it would turn out. 

Second is a mystery that begins in this book, but is not resolved. While out riding, Jack, his sister and Tracy discover the skeleton of a baby has been dug up in the family cemetery. No one seems to know anything about it. There is also an attack made on the Colton matriarch that puts her in the hospital and it's unknown if it is related to the attacks on Tracy or if it is something else. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the following books.

This book also introduced the various members of the Colton family and touches on issues that each of them has. I have to say that, at first meeting, I really don't like the mother, who is cold and selfish. It is amazing that the younger Coltons have turned out as well as they have. I'm looking forward to getting to know each of them better in the coming books.