Colton's Ultimate Test - Beth Cornelison (HRS #2211 - Jan 2023)

Series: Coltons of Colorado (Book 12)
 
He's her total opposite
And exactly who she needs by her side
 
By-the-book attorney Morgan Colton has vowed to extinguish the flames she once foolishly ignited with Roman DiMera. But when a man threatening her family goes on the run, Morgan discovers street-smart bar owner Roman is far more than the sum of his mistakes. And the sparks flying between them make Morgan wonder if he could be so much more than her partner in getting justice for the Coltons.
 
Fantastic conclusion to the series. Morgan and her twin brother, Caleb, are lawyers who also started the Truth Foundation, a group dedicated to righting the wrongs caused by their corrupt father. Unfortunately, Ron Spence, one of the "innocent" victims, turned out to be not so innocent after all, and the Coltons have spent almost a year trying to get him back into custody.
 
When Spence steals a large amount of money (To Trust a Colton Cowboy), Morgan knows he'll have to find a way to get it out of the country, most likely by laundering it through some unscrupulous business. With a short time to figure it out, Morgan knows of one man who might be able to help - Roman DiMera. The problem is that she and Roman have a history she's tried unsuccessfully to forget.
 
Roman owns a bar where, almost a year earlier, Morgan and her friends celebrated a birthday a little too well. While the super-responsible Morgan ensured her friends had safe ways home, her rideshare was unavailable. Roman, unable to take his eyes off her all evening, offered to drive her home. The sparks between them were undeniable, and they shared a very passionate kiss before the alcohol won the fight. Both remember that night - Roman with pleasure and Morgan with embarrassment.
 
Morgan goes to Roman for help because she knows he spent time in prison for insider trading and hopes he can give her ideas on where to look for money laundering information. This is an intensely awkward scene, as Morgan's discomfort over their last encounter, his prison record, and her issues with something from her past cause her to be surprisingly inarticulate. I ached for Roman as he felt judged and disrespected.
 
I liked Roman a lot. He doesn't try to hide or minimize his past. He's upfront about what he did, knew he was doing wrong, and deserved his punishment. He also admits that his time in prison had a beneficial effect on him. I liked that he also employs other ex-cons, giving them a chance that few other employers do. An incident with one of those employees ultimately showed what a good man he is.
 
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Morgan and Roman. Morgan is so buttoned-up and uptight at the beginning, with her work-focused intensity, that she is flummoxed by her attraction to Roman. She gets so flustered by his request for her to have dinner with him in exchange for his help that I couldn't help laughing, especially when he follows it up with another scorching kiss. I was a little disappointed in her initially because she couldn't get past his prison record. I liked that he called her out on it; she was smart enough to realize how unfairly she treated him. Once they got past the initial awkwardness, it was lovely to see how much they had in common.
 
I loved seeing them grow closer as they collaborated to get the information to bring down Spence. Roman is very protective of her, which gets on Morgan's nerves. She is independent, stubborn, and doesn't back down when she's made up her mind. There are a few instances of them butting heads, and it's usually a toss-up as to who will win that round. I liked that Morgan quickly came to trust Roman, though her past creates some obstacles that cause problems. Roman knows his feelings for Morgan very quickly, and though she suspects what hers are, she has trouble getting out of her head long enough to listen to her heart. I hurt for Roman when he thought their relationship was doomed, and I loved how Morgan showed her love for him.
 
The suspense was fantastic and kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. I've read every book in the series, so the Coltons' frustration with Spence's elusiveness was perfectly understandable. Morgan and Roman made a great team, as Roman's understanding of the people they dealt with was a good balance for Morgan's natural impatience. I laughed at Morgan's reaction to her disguise during their foray at the warehouse, and her determination impressed me. The intensity increased when they got the needed information, and the entire Colton clan convened to plan their action. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with a twist that threw their careful planning into chaos. The resolution was well done, with plenty of action and nerve-wracking tension. The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up for the book and the series.

To Trust a Colton Cowboy - Dana Nussio (HRS #2207 - Dec 2022)

Series: Coltons of Colorado (Book 11)
 
A cyberstalker is terrorizing her…
And the threats are escalating.
 
The threatening texts Kayla St. James is receiving insist she knows where something is hidden. Terrified, she confides in her boss, rancher Jasper Colton. Though Jasper's father sent her dad to prison, Kayla's only option is to trust him. But as the terror campaign intensifies, Kayla begins to care for Jasper despite her misgivings. Can two former enemies unite to take down a vicious stalker?
 
Terrific combination of romance and suspense. Kayla and Jasper have a complicated relationship. She works for him on the ranch he owns with his sister. She was hired after her family's ranch was foreclosed on due to her father being sent to prison, and Jasper's father was the judge who did it. Kayla maintains that her dad was innocent, especially as Judge Colton was later found to be corrupt. Kayla harbors a deep resentment toward the Coltons because of it, while Jasper feels guilty because of his father's actions.
 
Matters become complicated when Kayla begins receiving threatening texts. Those texts insist she knows where something is hidden, but she has no idea what they are talking about. She initially tries to blow them off as pranks. Jasper witnesses her reaction when a particularly threatening message arrives and finally convinces her to tell him about it. Jasper's protective instincts kick in as he insists on helping her.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Kayla and Jasper. The attraction is there from the beginning, which frustrates Kayla. How can she be attracted to the man she considers her family's enemy? She copes by avoiding him whenever possible. For Jasper, Kayla is an employee and, therefore, off-limits. Kayla is reluctant when Jasper insists she moves into his house for her protection but gives in after another text. Jasper was sweet with his attempts to care for her, while Kayla's stubborn independence made her fight what she was afraid to accept. As she became more comfortable around him, her snappy comebacks to his comments were fun to see.
 
The more time they spent together, the stronger their attraction, and the deeper the feelings grew. I was slightly disappointed in Jasper's reluctance to expose his feelings to his family, especially since they all suspected the truth. Kayla knew the truth of her feelings but believed that Jasper wouldn't be interested in anything permanent with the daughter of a convict. I ached for Jasper when he planned a surprise for Kayla, and her stubborn pride took it the wrong way. It takes a little time apart and some self-examination for Kayla to realize that just because she can do things herself doesn't mean she has to. I loved the ending and seeing them look forward to a future together.
 
The suspense was excellent. The disturbing texts that turn threatening indicate that someone believes that Kayla has information the texter wants. You can feel her fear as the tone of the texts escalates. Once she involves Jasper, who in turn involves several of his siblings, the intensity builds. It doesn't take long to figure out that it has something to do with Kayla's father. Unexpected revelations expose a different side of her father and answer the question posed by the texter. There are a couple of intense confrontations and an unexpected twist to the ending. A sighting of the series' archenemy, Ronald Spence, adds another layer of strain to the story.
 
I loved seeing more of the Colton family and the progress of the previous relationships. The Thanksgiving and Christmas party get-togethers showcased the family's closeness, from teasing encounters to unquestioning support. There was a sweet scene between Colton matriarch Isa and the police chief that also had me laughing out loud at the family's reactions. 

Shielding Colton's Witness - Linda O. Johnston (HRS #2203 - Nov 2022)

Series: Coltons of Colorado (Book 10)
 
She has a witness to protect…
And her own heart to defend!
 
US marshal Alexa Colton is assigned to bring vice detective Dane Beaulieu safely to a trial. But after an extended time in witness protection, Dane wants to get back in action and is ready to risk everything for justice. Meanwhile, Alexa struggles to keep her heart intact and her head in the game. Because deadly killers are waiting to pounce, and this Colton needs to keep her man alive…
 
Good book. Overall, I liked the premise. A female marshal working for witness protection has made a good impression on her boss. She has previously guarded woman protectees, but Vince assigns her to a high-profile case protecting a man. She needs to safely get vice detective Dane Beaulieu from Blue Larkspur to Phoenix, where he will testify against his former boss - the police chief who ran a prostitution ring and murdered Dane's partner. She's excited about the chance and ready for the challenge.
 
Dane is ready to get the trial over with. He's used to being busy, and being confined to a small apartment for months has gotten on his last nerve. Being in witness protection has been a challenge, as he is accustomed to being the one doing the protecting. The last thing he expects is the beautiful young woman who is his latest guard.
 
From the moment Alexa and Dane meet, the sparks fly between them. Some are sparks of attraction, while others are sparks of antagonism. Alexa makes it clear from the start that she is in charge and expects him to cooperate. Dane says the right things but intends to listen to his own instincts, even if they disagree with hers.
 
Alexa and Dane are on the lookout for trouble. They expect that Swanson will send people to stop Dane from testifying. Their fears come true when someone in a passing car shoots at them. They escape unharmed, but the shooters get away. Taking evasive action slows their journey, and they must stop for the night. Here is where things start to enter the realm of the unlikely. Dane kisses Alexa, and she responds to him. Not only does this impact her objectivity, but she's also unaware of her surroundings during that kiss. Neither one can stop thinking about it.
 
That first attack builds up the tension, with our couple looking for a repeat performance. Over the next couple of days, as they make their way toward Phoenix, there are other attempts. However, these were possibly the most inept attackers that could be found to do the job. Even when Dane makes a blockheaded move that gets a gun in his ribs, Alexa gets the drop on the bad guy. Alexa spent an inordinate amount of time on the phone with people who could be compromised instead of relying on her instincts and abilities. The only person I would have trusted was her brother Dom, the FBI agent. I expected more action and mainly got a lot of looking over their shoulders while driving back roads. The biggest excitement was when Vince called in helicopter support and a rapidly ended attack in the courtroom. We never did find out how that happened.
 
Complicating matters was the attraction between Alexa and Dane. The intelligent thing would be to put it on hold until after the trial, then see where it goes. But no - they hop into bed together on their second night in a hotel room. The bad guys could have broken into the room, and they wouldn't have known they were there until it was too late. I also got frustrated with Alexa, who expected that she would never see Dane again after the trial, despite what they'd shared. "He'll go back to his job and forget about me. Woe is me." Never mind that it was only a nine-hour drive between their homes - doable if you want to continue the relationship. I was more impressed with Dane, who had a better outlook and plan for the future. I liked his arrival in Blue Larkspur and the plans he set in motion.
 
There is a minor incident dealing with the overarching series theme of the wrongly released criminal Ronald Spence. The Coltons have been trying to catch him and put him back in prison for several books. He appears out of nowhere, intending to attack Alexa and her mother, but gets away when Isa has a medical emergency. Not a surprise since there are still two books to go in the series, and I expect it won't be resolved until the end.
 
Not my favorite of the series, but I was happy to see Alexa find a love of her own. 

Colton's Rogue Investigation - Jennifer D. Bokal (HRS #2199 - Oct 2022)

Series: Coltons of Colorado (Book 9)
 
She's put him onto a hot story…
But their partnership is generating its own heat.
 
Famed true-crime podcaster Gavin Colton has returned home to dig up family skeletons. And when he rescues stranded Jacqui Reyes, Gavin stumbles onto a new story. The wildlife biologist is investigating wild horse rustling from government lands. Joining forces can help both their careers. But their mission may endanger their lives…and their hearts.
 
I enjoyed the suspense of this book and the opening moves of the romance between Gavin and Jacqui. Jacqui is a wildlife biologist who gets an anonymous phone call saying that the wild mustang herd in Blue Larkspur is in trouble. Though she should pass that information on to the coworker who covers that area, she is reluctant to do so before checking it out herself. Especially since that coworker, who is also her ex-boyfriend, just screwed her over with their boss. When she finds the herd, she sees indications that her tipster is correct. Unfortunately, someone runs her off the road on her way back to town.
 
Gavin is a true crime podcaster who plans to do a series on his father's crimes and has returned home to Blue Larkspur to prepare for it. His eleven siblings are unhappy with his plans, not just because of the memories it will stir up. They have one family enemy they are trying to get back in prison after he was mistakenly released, and Gavin's plans could make that more difficult. If he can't do the series he wants to do, he needs to find something to take its place.
 
Gavin spots Jacqui on the side of the road and rescues her. She has quite the fan-girl moment when she recognizes Gavin, which makes him feel good. She tells him about what she found, and after thinking about it overnight, he realizes it could be his next story. The two agree to work together to find out the truth about the threat to the mustangs. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other. I liked how easily they could talk to each other and share things they don't usually discuss. Gavin has family issues from an incident when he was a child and often feels out of place with his siblings. I liked how Jacqui listened to him and subtly encouraged him to look at things differently, resulting in some mending of fences and the likelihood of more.
 
At the same time, Jacqui is drawn to men who appear to need fixing in some way. Previous relationships have left her feeling used, unappreciated, and reluctant to risk her heart again. She's wondering if Gavin falls into that category. I liked how she supported him at the family gathering. I loved how the Colton clan pulled her into their circle and her enjoyment of being part of it. I liked how Gavin and Jacqui grew closer by the end of the book wanting to see more of each other. Since the entire book takes place over one weekend, I was glad to see no premature declarations of love, just an interest in seeing where their relationship might go. There was a revelation that caught me by surprise, as I wouldn't have guessed it, and it didn't appear to be an issue with them.
 
The suspense of the story was good and kept my interest. I wanted to see how it would turn out. That's not to say I didn't have a few raised eyebrow moments. First of all, the first bad guy, Henry Rollins, was stupid. Instead of leaving an anonymous tip directly with the police about the upcoming theft of the horses, he called Jacqui, expecting her to call the cops. Instead, she checked it out herself first. It made some sense that Jacqui would want to be sure it was true before doing anything about it. 

I enjoyed seeing Jacqui and Gavin use logic to identify the tipster, though their surveillance plans could have been better thought out. The fire scene was intense, and they were lucky it wasn't worse. The tension ramped up when Jacqui's hotel room was broken into, and the police chief's disapproval hit home. The final confrontation was a nail-biter when Gavin and Jacqui were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I liked the reality that they didn't escape unscathed, though it did have a satisfactory resolution.

Colton's Baby Motive - Lara Lacomb (HRS #2195 - Sept 2022)

Series: Coltons of Colorado (Book 8)
 
From one amazing night
To a family in danger
 
Jet-setting entrepreneur Oliver Colton has never invested in a long-term relationship -- until he learns that Hilary Weston is pregnant and he's the father. The dizzying attraction that brought them together for one incredible night hasn't changed, but she doesn't trust that he's ready to commit to settling down. When Hilary's brother goes missing, Oliver risks everything to bring him home…and guard his growing family.
 
Good story but relatively light on the suspense. The story was more relationship driven. Oliver is a venture capitalist who spends most of his time traveling the world helping small businesses and countries set up "green" technology. He doesn't do long-term relationships, only short flings with like-minded women. On his infrequent visits home, he has gotten to know Hilary, a waitress at his favorite restaurant. Something about her keeps him coming back.
 
Hilary has worked at her family's restaurant all her life and continues to do so while working on her degree in International Marketing. She's intrigued by Oliver and interested in hearing about his work. She's also attracted to him but feels he's out of her league.
 
On one of his trips home, Oliver and Hilary get together after she gets off work. One thing leads to another, and they spend a passionate night together. He leaves on another trip the next day and, over the next few months, thinks of her often but never contacts her. Unsurprisingly, she's not exactly thrilled to see him the next time he shows up at the restaurant. Determined to apologize for his actions, Oliver arrives at the restaurant at closing time to find Hilary injured and unconscious on the floor and her brother missing. His protective instincts aroused, Oliver immediately takes control of the situation. But he and Hilary are surprised when she gets checked out at the hospital - she's pregnant with his baby.
 
Two things are going on in this book - the development of Oliver and Hilary's relationship and her brother Jeff's disappearance. Most of the page time was spent on the relationship. Oliver initially was a bit of a jerk by not bothering to contact Hilary after their night together. He redeemed himself somewhat by his immediate acceptance of his impending fatherhood. He doesn't jump into a marriage proposal but does make it clear that he intends to be involved in his child's life. Hilary is wary of believing him because of his travel history and how he ghosted her, but she is willing to give him a chance.
 
One of the things I liked about both characters is that they talked to each other about their expectations. They admitted that their attraction was still strong, and their friendship was too. Both expressed a willingness to see where their relationship might go if they give it a chance. Hilary has one simple request - if they are going to be partners, he can't hold back when something affects them both. Unfortunately, Oliver has been used to making the decisions he feels best for a long time. When he takes action after explicitly promising Hilary he wouldn't, she calls him out on it. I liked that she was strong enough to stand up for herself and her needs. It was satisfying to see Oliver consider her accusations and realize that she was right. I liked seeing him go to her and apologize. Their make-up scene was realistic, especially with Oliver admitting that he's sure to make other mistakes, but they can get through anything together. The epilogue had a fun little twist, though it wasn't much of a surprise.
 
The suspense of the story was mild. Hilary's brother goes missing during the attack that injures her, and Oliver uses his contacts and family to find out what happened. His two primary cohorts are his brothers Ezra and Dom, the soldier and the FBI agent. They've always been close as triplets, and he naturally turns to them for help. However, once again, he does things his way instead of listening to the advice of those with more experience. That mistake comes home to roost at the end when his overconfidence puts him in mortal danger. He was fortunate to have come out of it as well as he did and hopefully learned his lesson.
 
I did like Oliver's willingness to help with Jeff's disappearance. I thought he handled the situation's delicacy well and understood Hilary's dad's feelings. I also liked the realism of how Jeff ended up in the position he did. Oliver's conversation with Jeff was well done. There was also an interesting twist that linked Jeff's situation with the issue that has plagued the Coltons throughout the series.