[BookStrand Romantic Suspense, HEA] Abigail MacKenzie has been trying to put her father’s tragic death behind her.But when a handsome stranger produces a random clue about her father’s shooting, hopes of finding her father’s killer come flooding back to the surface.Abigail is determined to get justice for her dad, even if it means learning the secret of a man with eyes that cut straight through the wall around her heart.
After making a mysterious discovery that costs him his job, Ryan Newberry is happy to accept any position he can get.But when he realizes that one of the employees who’ll be working under him at the Washington Valley Hotel is Abigail MacKenzie, the sweet girl he met weeks before, he fears the past might be in danger of repeating itself.Ryan only hopes that his desires for his new front desk associate won’t lead both of them down a path of danger from which he won’t be able to protect them.
Of course another romantic suspense for me to gobble up. Overall, I loved the start of the series. Yes, don’t let Amazon fool you with release dates. This book sets up Alec’s book and in some round about way Colin’s book. Plus, Abigail’s friend, Julia, gets her own HEA with one them but I’m not telling.
Unfortunately though there is a BUT in my liking of Abigail’s and Ryan’s book. I found Abigail a bit too naive for me in the beginning. She really was an innocent at the beginning of the book and my irritation with her nosing around got to me a bit. Of course it led to a sizzling scene that you have just got to read. 😉 That said by the ending of the book, I had fallen in love with her. The ending scene with Ryan. You go girl! Make him work for it and work for it he did.
Ryan is the mystery hero that I love in romantic suspense. Is he the good guy, bad buy or somewhere in between? I didn’t know quite how to make of him but I could see that he really did care for Abigail, if only in his boneheaded way. Oh yes, he’s a bonehead when it comes to Abigail but it was cute at times. Of course, Alec had to set him straight a couple of times and the scene with Alec and Abigail towards the end…oh yes, I really need to read Alec’s story now. I fell in love right then and there.
The suspense element in the book is top-notch. Crap, I never knew what the secret was and behind all the murders and whatnots that went on at that hotel. The “old wing” of the hotel? That was kinda spooky when you stop and think about it. And plus, I kinda knew “who” the villain was but finding out the “why”? Knocked me off my feet. Again…I have a feeling that the villain will definitely be back in some form in the later books and I can’t wait. Of course, I could be totally wrong here. Plus, finding out Kimberly was sleeping with the enemy? Brilliant play Ms. Lauryn. I hated her in the beginning but she finally showed me that she could be somewhat redeemable in the end.
If you are looking for a great start to a romantic suspense series, this is it. Ms. Lauryn has built a community/world that I can’t wait to visit again. She vividly paints a picture of New Hampshire that has me wanting to visit. The hotel itself is a character and one that I wish I could visit. Plus, there are some hilarious scenes between Abigail and Ryan that are not to be missed.
