Series:
Defenders of Battle Mountain (Book 1)
She escaped a killer's clutches once
Now this medical examiner needs to follow the clues to
put him behind bars…
Even changing her name hasn't helped Dr. Chloe Pascale
feel safe. And when a young woman is discovered buried alive, the Colorado ME
knows the relentless serial killer she barely escaped has found her. To stop
him, she must trust police chief Weston Ford with her darkest secrets. But
getting too close is putting their guarded hearts at risk -- and leading into
an inescapable trap…
This was an incredibly intense book from start to finish.
It opened with our heroine, surgeon Chloe Miles, caught in the clutches of a
madman determined to bury her alive, and he'd already succeeded in doing so to
one of her colleagues. She is determined to live and fights her way free, but
she knows he won't give up. So, she runs.
Three months later, Chloe changed her name and became the
coroner in the tiny town of Battle Mountain. She's prepared to run again if
necessary but likes it there. The people are friendly, know her name, and the
work isn't difficult. Then she gets a call from the police chief, Weston, about
a dead body, and her blood freezes. The killer she tried to escape found her,
leaving this new victim as a message. Chloe is ready to run again until Weston
convinces her that together they can stop him, but to do so, she must trust
him.
Weston was a mine worker until the mines shut down, and
he lost his job. His wife died of cancer, leaving him wallowing in grief. When
the former police chief was forced to retire after a heart attack, Weston's
father convinced him to take the job. Raised to put other people's needs before
his own, Weston found solace in looking after the people of his town. Though he
is a one-person police department with no training, he's determined to protect
Chloe and stop the killer.
The action and suspense of this story kept me glued to
the pages. From the moment the body is discovered, we know that Chloe is in the
crosshairs of a relentless killer. As they close in on his identity, the killer
widens his reach to include anyone who helps her, especially Weston and his
family. A heart-wrenching loss added impetus to Weston's determination to put
an end to the killer's actions. Then an unexpected twist turned everything they
had learned upside down. I ached for Chloe, whose guilty feelings over the killer's
actions sent her running - right into his clutches. The intensity ramped up as
Chloe fought for her life again, and Weston raced to reach her in time. The
final confrontation had me glued to the pages until it was all over, and I
could breathe a sigh of relief.
The development of the relationship between Chloe and
Weston happened quickly. They'd had a good working relationship since Chloe
arrived in town, but neither was looking for a relationship. Chloe knows she
could have to run at any time, so starting anything wouldn't be fair to either
of them. Weston loved his wife and had no intention of risking his heart again.
Weston's protective instincts are aroused, and in protecting Chloe, he
discovers she has found her way into his heart. Chloe also realizes she has
fallen for Weston, making it impossible to leave Battle Mountain when the
trouble ends.
I am intrigued by Weston's brother, Easton. A former special
forces soldier, he isn't dealing well with the loss of his men during his last
mission. After spending months holed up in his cabin and avoiding everyone, he
emerges to help Weston. I ached for his losses and the guilt he felt. It takes
some harsh words from Weston to break through the wall of grief he's built up.
In the epilogue, we get a glimpse of the recovering Easton. I can't wait to
read his story.
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