Her Secret Billionaire - Yahrah St. John (HD #2954 - July 2023)

Series: Six Gems (Book 2)
 
He didn't remember his identity or his past, but he was everything her body craved
 
Chef Egypt Cox is flattered when a handsome stranger raves about her restaurant. But before their sizzling attraction can ignite, he's attacked -- and left with amnesia! Egypt still doesn't know who Garrett is, but their chemistry is off the charts…as are the nights he spends in her bed. But when Egypt discovers her mystery lover is none other than corporate shark Garrett Forrester -- and his secrets may threaten their newfound connection...
 
Good book. This is the second in the series, but there was enough backstory given that I didn't feel lost. Egypt received an unexpected inheritance a year earlier and used that money to jump-start her dream of owning her own restaurant. Flame has been open for several months and is doing well. Relationships are on the back burner after a breakup caused Egypt to distrust all men and doubt her judgment. One night a man comes into the restaurant that changes everything.
 
Garrett is his family business's CEO and has a ruthless reputation. As the book opens, he's arguing with his father over a piece of property left to him by his grandfather. Garrett has fond memories of the farm and his time with his grandfather. His father wants him to sell it, and Garrett refuses. Frustrated with his dad, Garrett decides to visit the farm and review the books, hoping to revitalize it. On the way, he stops by a new restaurant recommended by a friend.
 
I loved the first meeting between Egypt and Garrett. The sparks between them are immediately apparent, but Egypt turns down Garrett's first request for a date. Not to be deterred, Garrett sticks around until closing and asks again, and Egypt gives in. But as Garrett leaves the restaurant, he is attacked and spends two months in a coma in the hospital. Egypt is undeniably drawn to him and visits every day. She's there when he wakes up, only to discover that he can only remember her!
 
I ached for Garrett and the confusion he felt. A vague memory of a farm and the muscle memory of a phone number puts him in touch with the foreman of the property. This is where things go a little off the rails. Kent tells Garrett he's an orphan, raised by his grandfather, and that the farm is in trouble. He goes there when he leaves the hospital, but something feels wrong. However, he puts his mind toward saving the farm, giving him something productive to do while waiting for his memory to return.
 
Meanwhile, Garrett doesn't back off of his fascination with Egypt. She is initially wary of getting involved with him, but he slowly wins her over. I enjoyed watching them spend time together. Garrett is very supportive of Egypt, and his attention goes a long way toward repairing the belief in herself that her previous boyfriend had damaged. Egypt is just as supportive of Garrett as he rebuilds the farm and his life. Some terrific scenes of them together show how right they are for each other.
 
But as Garrett experiences a few flashes of memory, he suspects his previous self was not a nice person. I could feel the tension mount as more things started coming together for him. Unfortunately, Garrett makes a boneheaded decision that comes back to bite him when it runs up against Egypt's trust issues. Both Garrett and Egypt must decide what is important before either can open their hearts to the future they want. I liked Egypt's big moment at the end and her emotional reunion with Garrett. I also loved the "new" Garrett and seeing him stand up to his father.  The epilogue was terrific. Garrett was a sweetly romantic, and his surprise for Egypt was fabulous.
 
I enjoyed meeting the women that make up the Six Gems. I need to go back and read the first book, as Wynter's story sounds intriguing. The epilogue contained a lead-in to the next book, and I look forward to reading it.

There was a certain amount of suspension of disbelief needed when reading this book. For a man of his prominence, and his family's resources, how did Garrett go for two-plus months without someone figuring out who he was?

Kidnapping in Cameron Glen - Beth Cornelison (HRS #2189 - July 2022)

Series: Cameron Glen (Book 2)
 
Working together to save their child…
Before it's too late.
 
Jake and Emma Turner's marriage is in ruins. Their latest shouting match has driven their teenage daughter to run away from home. But when evidence surfaces that she's been kidnapped by human traffickers, the couple must set aside their conflicts to save their child. With time running out, can the pair's desperation bring them together…now and forever?
 
This was a very intense book. Jake and Emma married young and have grown apart in the intervening years. Emma misses the old feelings of teamwork, and her bitterness over that loss is expressed in increasingly angry confrontations with Jake. With memories of hard times always at the back of his mind, Jake spends longer hours at work, ensuring that his family never wants for anything, but deprives them of his presence. He tunes out Emma's complaints until she's had enough. Their argument in the book's opening pages is loud, angry, and unproductive. It is also overheard by their teenage daughter, Fenn, who has observed their actions with increasing dismay and blames herself for their problems. She runs away, believing that they will be better off without her, and ends up in a perilous situation.
 
This book shows how tragically easy it is for runaways to find themselves in situations beyond their control. Fenn's uneasiness at being watched showed she had good instincts, but they weren't enough to protect her. Fenn's fear at her situation leaped off the page and kept me turning the pages as I hoped she would be rescued quickly. The scenes with Fenn and her captors were heartbreaking in their realism.
 
Jake and Emma must put aside their differences if they are going to work together effectively to find their missing daughter. It isn't easy, and initially, they spend too much time hurling accusations at each other. I wanted to shake them both because neither was listening to the other's point of view. Their desperation to find Fenn was evident in every scene, while their issues created obstacles to true teamwork. Ultimately, they realize their love is still there and are willing to do the work to repair their marriage.
 
The story's suspense kept me glued to the pages from start to finish, despite some of the issues I had with its plausibility. From the get-go, Jake and Emma ignore everything law enforcement tells them to do, haring off on their investigation. I still rooted for them all the way, as their discoveries led them closer to Fenn. A couple of lucky breaks moved them along and led to them locating Fenn. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, with Jake's spur-of-the-moment plan augmented by Emma creating her backup action. I loved how it ended.
 
At the same time, there are scenes from Fenn's point of view, and we see her doing her best to fight against her situation. I ached for her when they used threats against her family to force her cooperation. She never gave up hope that she would be found and didn't just sit back and wait for rescue. Her attitude did get her into some rough spots, and I suspect she'll be dealing with those memories for a long time.
 
I liked the epilogue and seeing that Jake, Emma, and Fenn get the help they need to resolve their issues. I liked seeing the family all together and moving forward in a healthier atmosphere. I liked the bit about Jake and Emma's new crusade to warn young people of the dangers of human trafficking, how to recognize it, and how to avoid it.

Cameron Mountain Rescue - Beth Cornelison (HRS #2232 - June 2023)

Series: Cameron Glen (Book 3)
 
In a serial killer's sights
And nowhere to hide…
 
During a rescue mission, firefighter Brody Cameron and nurse Anya Patel are trapped by a landslide in a murderer's remote mountain lair. The pair struggle to escape and, in so doing, uncover a killer's long brutal history. Unexpected freedom gives them a second chance, but was their intense attraction just a reaction to shared captivity -- or did the experience put them in even greater danger? As Anya becomes the murderer's next target, Brody tries to keep her safe…but he might just be too late.
 
Very good book with family, romance, and intense suspense, concluding with nail-biting action. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the North Carolina mountain setting and the glimpse of its Scottish heritage. The characters were relatable and easy to like.
 
Brody is the oldest of the Cameron siblings and is close to all of his family. The book opens with him taking his four-year-old niece and younger brother fishing. Lexi has her uncle Brody wrapped around her little finger, and it was sweet to see them together. However, when Lexi and a big fish tangle, she nearly drowns, and only Brody's quick actions save her. Unfortunately, he is injured and winds up in the ER, where he becomes enamored with nurse Anya Patel. The scene is amusing for Anya and eventually a bit embarrassing for Brody.
 
Months later, he hasn't forgotten the pretty nurse, so he is pleasantly surprised to find her on his search-and-rescue team when they are called out to look for a missing hiker. The search turns deadly when someone starts shooting at the rescuers who have spotted an isolated cabin. There they find the missing hiker, but as they try to escape, several explosions cause landslides that trap Brody and Anya in the cabin's cellar.
 
Most of the book is spent with Brody and Anya trapped in that cellar, praying for rescue and trying to stay alive. I liked seeing them get to know each other, sharing things they likely wouldn't have under different circumstances. Unsurprisingly, sparks of attraction flared under the stressful conditions after they survived an attempt by the cabin's owner to silence them. It's easy to see that Brody and Anya are developing strong feelings for each other. However, Brody's attempts to express his feelings are awkward and easily misunderstood. Anya, whose last relationship ended badly, hesitates to trust her judgment regarding Brody, her feelings for him, and his feelings for her. When they finally are rescued, a little backpedaling happens as each wonders if their feelings are real or a product of their circumstances.
 
I ached for Brody and Anya as they wondered about the other's feelings. Sometimes I wanted to shake them or stuff them back in that cellar until they actually talked to each other. There is a terrific scene where Anya has dinner with Brody's family after their rescue. I adored his grandmother and her practical wisdom and its effect on Anya. I liked seeing Brody's sister take him to task for his actions - or lack thereof, and I liked his grandmother's attitude even more. Meanwhile, Anya is heartbroken at Brody's distancing and feels her judgment was wrong again. I liked seeing her friend Chloe encourage her to confront him. But trouble comes before they can get together, and it's only then that each realizes the depth of their feelings. The ending was terrific and worth the wait.
 
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from start to finish. The prologue with the killer sets the scene for the search party and what happens to them. The tension when the first shots are fired at the rescuers goes through the roof when Brody and Anya spot the cabin. Their instincts tell them that there is a good chance that's where they'll find their missing hiker. The rescue scene, the explosions, and the landslide kept me wondering what would happen next. 

The creepy factor went way up with Brody and Anya's discoveries in that cellar. Frequent scenes from the killer's point of view added to the worry for Brody and Anya's safety after their rescue. Anya's instincts were spot-on, and I was glued to the pages waiting for the killer to make his move. After tangling with the killer, Brody stretched the bonds of believability a little with his actions, but I rolled with it. I was more disgusted with what he didn't do (contact the police first!). The final confrontation was a nail-biter, again with some stupid mistakes, but all's well that ends well.