Wednesday, December 27, 2023

The Fearless One - Lori Foster (HQN - Jan 2024)

Series: Osborn Brothers (Book 2)

He had it all planned…until she showed up.
 
Jedidiah Stephens came to the Colorado Rockies for one reason: to uncover the truth behind the fire that killed her family. She's been chasing down clues, and everything has led her to an isolated campground. Her plan is to get a job there so she can investigate who comes and goes. Getting involved with her boss, Memphis Osborn, the ruggedly handsome groundskeeper, is definitely not part of the plan.
 
When Jedidiah arrives on the scene, Memphis just knows she's up to something. He can see the desperation in her eyes and warily agrees to hire her. As they work side by side, Diah triggers his deepest protective instincts -- and the chemistry between them ignites.
 
But the more Diah digs into her family's past, the more secrets she unravels…and the more afraid she becomes. She lost everything once before. She'll never forgive herself if now she loses Memphis, too.

 
Terrific blend of action, suspense, and romance. It can be easily read as a standalone, but reading the first book will fill in some of the gaps regarding the secondary characters in this book.
 
Memphis is a tech geek who purchases a rundown campground notorious for the shady characters who used it. He secretly plans to use his over-the-top security to identify and stop illegal activity. The site was still under renovation when Jedediah (Diah) showed up looking for a job. He's reluctant to hire her, but his brother insists she's perfect for the job. I loved that conversation between the two men. Memphis appears to be a laid-back guy, but there are moments where an unexpected intensity shines through.
 
Diah has been on the run for ten years and on her own for two, always looking over her shoulder for the danger she left behind. She is looking for the truth about the deaths of her family, and that search leads to Memphis's campground. All she needs is to get hired so she has the opportunity to search for it. I liked Diah a lot. She is much stronger and braver than she thinks she is. She is also intelligent and intuitive.
 
I loved the first meeting between Memphis and Diah. Memphis is unflustered at being caught in the outdoor shower while Diah brazens her way through her surprise. The banter between them was funny as each tried to hide their immediate attraction. Neither trusts easily, and I enjoyed watching them get to know each other. Memphis senses that Diah is hiding something but he's willing to give her the space and time she needs. From the start, he feels protective of her, and that protectiveness doesn't always sit well with the very independent Diah.
 
I liked the slow building of Memphis and Diah's feelings for each other. The chemistry is there and acknowledged, but there needs to be trust before they are ready to do anything about it. I loved their interactions, from arguing over Memphis's protectiveness to Diah needling him about the way they met. But once they've earned each other's trust, there is no holding back.
 
The suspense of the story was good. Diah is looking for information about the fire that killed her family. Unfortunately, she doesn't know exactly what she is looking for. At the same time, the local crime boss has plans for the campground. This guy is seriously creepy and evil in how he runs his business in town. The tension builds slowly until it explodes in a nail-biting confrontation at the end.
 
My favorite secondary character is Diah's dog, Tuff. Like Diah, he is wary of strangers and is as protective of her as she is of him. He has excellent instincts and takes to Memphis right away. Tuff's trust in Memphis is sweet and helps Diah trust him, too. Remmy runs a close second as a favorite. He is a former thug, so he still gives off bad-guy vibes but tries to live a better life. I liked the growing friendship between him and Memphis and his surprise that Memphis trusts him. After getting off to a rough start, Remmy and Diah also become friends. I laughed out loud at Diah and Remmy's conversation about her relationship with Memphis.
 
I liked seeing Hunter, Jodi, and Madison from the first book. Hunter and Memphis have a terrific relationship as brothers, and I liked their mutual respect. I liked the teasing between Jodi and Memphis. Madison fascinates me. I need to find that series and read it. 



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