Series:
Defenders of Battle Mountain (Book 2)
He vowed to never see her again
Now she needs him more than ever.
Deputy Easton Ford left Battle Mountain -- and the woman
who broke his heart -- behind. Now District Attorney Genevieve Alexander is
targeted by a killer, and there's only one man she trusts to protect her: her
ex-fiancé. Easton will do everything to keep her safe. But will his past
secrets get them both killed?
Terrific book that kept me hooked from start to finish. The
action and suspense were intense, and the rekindling relationship was full of
pitfalls from their past.
Genevieve is the DA for another town. Fifteen years
earlier, she left her fiancé, Easton, at the altar, moved three hours away and
started a new life. After finding a dead body in her home and discovering that the
serial killer she thought she had put away was only a copycat, Genevieve knows
she needs help. She returns to Battle Mountain and the only man she trusts to
keep her safe - Easton.
After the disaster of his failed wedding, Easton joined
the military to escape the memories and the heartbreak. He returned to Battle
Mountain a year ago after losing his team left him with flashbacks and PTSD.
Locking himself away in his cabin and avoiding everyone, he began reconnecting
a few months ago, after his father's death and helping his brother catch a
serial killer (Grave Danger). The last thing he expects is to find Genevieve on
his doorstep asking for help.
Though their first encounter doesn't go well, Easton
can't deny his need to protect Genevieve. As they work together to identify and
stop The Contractor, it becomes evident that their feelings for each other are
as strong as ever. But can they overcome the hurts and insecurities of the past
to find a new life together? I ached for Easton, who is wrapped up in survivor's
guilt, grief for his father, and unresolved feelings about Genevieve's
desertion. He hasn't been able to open up about his pain with any of his
family, so it has festered inside him. Somehow, he can share those memories and
the pain with Genevieve. I liked how she acknowledged his feelings, then showed
him that the events weren't his fault, setting him on the road to healing.
Genevieve still feels guilty about the way she left
Easton, admitting that she took the coward's way out. Her need to know herself
outside of her relationships drove her away, and she worked hard to establish
that identity and likes the life she has now. But seeing Easton again stirs up
the old feelings and causes her to worry about losing herself again.
I loved watching Easton and Genevieve grow closer as they
worked together. But neither one appeared to have learned from their past
mistakes. Though Easton realizes he still loves Genevieve, his way of showing
it brings back Genevieve's fears and insecurities. I ached for Easton but wanted
to shake him for slipping back into old habits. I hurt for Genevieve, too,
because she loves him but is afraid to trust herself. I liked how she stood up
for herself and her needs. It takes nearly losing each other permanently to be
ready to put the past behind them.
The suspense of this story had me glued to the pages from
start to finish. The first pages set the scene of a ticked-off serial killer
because someone else has been convicted of his crimes. He takes his anger to
the DA responsible in a very personal and grisly manner, making it clear that
he expects her to do a better job by giving her a "second chance." Genevieve's
fear is palpable, as is her dismay at the mistake and her determination to get
it right. It doesn't help that the local police chief indicates that he
believes she is the guilty party. When Genevieve and Easton begin working
together to unmask the killer, they return to the beginning. However, no matter
what they discover, the killer always seems to be one step ahead of them.
The tension ramps up as the information Easton and Genevieve
unearth draw them closer to a shocking revelation. Just when they think they
have solved it, an unexpected twist puts Genevieve in mortal danger. I was shocked
by the revelations I didn't see coming, and I put an unusual spin on the usual
serial killer scenario. Genevieve impressed me with her fortitude and
determination, making the final confrontation one of the best I've ever read.
There are two epilogues. A mini one at the end of the
last chapter, updating Genevieve and Easton's lives three months later, and the
main epilogue is the lead-in to the next book.
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