Series:
Scarecrow Murders (Book 1)
A cyberstalker and a grisly murder…
only draw them closer.
Clinging to memories, widower Lucas Maddox hires Mary
Curtis as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for his daughter. Mary fits into
their household perfectly, but inexplicable attacks soon plague her. The danger
to her life forces Lucas to consider just what Mary means to him, but can he
keep her safe while protecting his heart?
Good book. Widower Lucas needs a live-in housekeeper/nanny.
His former mother-in-law has been filling in since his wife's death, but it is
becoming too much for her. He's surprised when local grocery store clerk Mary
comes to him to apply, but something about her seems just right for the job. It
isn't long before she is an integral part of their household. His daughter
Annabelle loves her, and Lucas feels the light she brings to a home buried in
grief for a long time. But unexplained attacks on Mary make him wonder what
danger has come to his house and why the thought of something happening to her
fills him with fear.
The development of the relationship between Lucas and
Mary felt a bit uneven. Lucas has been mired in grief over Diana's death for
two and a half years. He feels he has had the love of his life and has no interest
in marrying again, despite the best efforts of the single women in town. So,
he's shocked when he's attracted to Mary. As the weeks go on, he looks forward
to going home, having adult conversations, and spending time with her. Aghast at
his growing feelings, he constantly reminds himself of his devotion to his
wife's memory, aided by his mother-in-law's constant comments about their love.
On the other hand, Mary crushes on Lucas from the get-go.
He's kind and handsome and treats her well. Mary is on her own after her cold
parents kicked her out when she turned eighteen. The feeling of family she gets
from taking care of Lucas and Annabelle is a balm to her heart. It doesn't take
long for her crush to grow into love, even though she knows he has no interest
in a relationship. When their attraction gets out of hand, Mary dreams of more,
while Lucas panics and pulls away. I wanted to shake him for being an idiot,
and I was proud of Mary for standing up for her needs. I liked the ending, and
the scene in the diner was sweet.
The suspense of the story was good. Mary settles in
quickly, happy to have found such a great job. She's still dealing with creepy
emails from an online dating attempt that went wrong but hopes those will end
soon. One day when she and Lucas take Annabelle for a walk along the edges of
the cornfields, they come across a horrifying sight. A young woman has been
killed and set up as a scarecrow in one of Lucas's fields. Not long after, Mary
receives a note telling her to leave Lucas's house or suffer the consequences.
Are the two linked, and if so, who would do such a thing?
The tension ramps up
when someone rams her car, sending her car flipping off the road. Who wants
Mary dead? Is it her cyberstalker or one of the single women who resent Mary's
place in Lucas's life? When Mary goes missing, Lucas fears the worst. By this
time, I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was, and I was on the edge of my
seat waiting for Lucas and the sheriff to figure it out. The final
confrontation was intense and successfully concluded. But one thread was left hanging
with a teaser leading into the next book.
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