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The Coltons of Eden Falls #3
Colton's Deep Cover
Running from an abusive past, nurse Chloe Moreno arms herself with a new identity and seeks an uncomplicated life in Eden Falls. But her security in the once-peaceful community is crumbling fast. Not only is there a kidnapper on the loose, but it seems her worst nightmare has tracked her down. She needs someone to trust…and no one fits the bill better than Dr. Derek Colton.
Resident healer and protector, that's all Derek is expected to be. A new relationship—especially with his beautiful, vulnerable new nurse—is a risk he shouldn't take. Yet her life's in his hands. And once desire puts her in his arms, he must destroy the threat that's lingering far too close….
Resident healer and protector, that's all Derek is expected to be. A new relationship—especially with his beautiful, vulnerable new nurse—is a risk he shouldn't take. Yet her life's in his hands. And once desire puts her in his arms, he must destroy the threat that's lingering far too close….
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
13 people are currently reading
710 people want to read
About the author
Elle Kennedy
186 books89k followersA New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 14, 2015
"And you know I'm not one to dish out love advice, but clearly you need to hear this. Women don't like to guess what the man in their bed is feeling. So if you love Chloe, tell her." Tate's expression went somber. "If you're not honest with her, Derek, you're only going to lose her in the end."
Okay. This is the first book in this series that has been halfway decent. Of course, it helps that Kennedy is using one of my favorite tropes, the abused-woman-escapes-from-her-abuser-and-finds-love-in-the-arms-of-a-good-man trope. Love this trope.
Dr. Derek Colton is still mourning the death of his wife 2 years earlier.
Amelia Phillips comes to work for him as a nurse. But she is not really Amelia Phillips at all! She is Chloe Moreno! And she is escaping her abusive sadistic husband after faking her own death.
...
THE GOOD:
1.) An interracial couple. Look at this cover! I'm so happy. It's still so rare for me to see interracial couples in mainstream romance. I know interracial couples in real life (straight and lesbian) and it's upsetting that this is almost never shown in books.
2.) The abused-woman-escapes-from-her-abuser-and-finds-love-in-the-arms-of-a-good-man trope. Love this trope. Don't bother telling me how unrealistic it is, I already know. But this trope is one of my favorites. I love happy endings.
3.) This is the first book where the "kidnapped Amish girls" plot point is not visible. The missing girls are mentioned once or twice, but Derek and Chloe's love and Chloe's evil ex take up 99% of the plot. That's a relief.
4.) Derek is a kind, honorable person.
"Do you..." He cleared his throat. "Do you want to talk about it, sweetheart?"
"I guess I should, huh?"
"Only if you want to," he said gruffly. "I would never force you to confide in me."
He's a very good man, and he always treats Chloe with respect and love. He's actually a great combination of teasing, sexy, and kind that I really thought was attractive. He even helps her get things down off the high shelf.
When Derek walked in a few minutes later, Chloe had already set the table and was straining on her tiptoes, attempting to reach the wineglasses in the top cupboard. With a chuckle, Derek came up behind her and said, "Let me do that."
A shiver danced up her spine. Her hair was up in a ponytail, exposing the nape of her neck, and his hot breath fanned over her skin, making her giddy with desire. She inhaled sharply, only to breathe in the scent of his aftershave and another wave of giddiness crashed over her.
I adore when a man helps me get things down from the high shelf! <3
5.) KISSING! :) What I mean is that there is actually a tiny bit of sexual excitement in here. I was a tiny bit excited when Derek and Chloe were kissing. Now, the sex wasn't anything to write home about, but this spark of sexual tension is the first I've felt in the series, so Hallelujah! :p And Derek actually seems like he's probably good in bed, unlike the last two heroes.
She kissed him.
Shock slammed into Derek's chest as her mouth met his, as her arms came up around his neck and pulled him close. Her lips were cold but the kiss was hotter than he'd ever anticipated. A fleeting brush of mouths, a seductive meeting of tongues. She tasted like coffee and chocolate frosting and something utterly feminine.
Pure desire swirled down his chest and tightened his groin, prompting him to slide his fingers inside her coat and grip her slender waist. Chloe made a whimpering sound as he took control, deepening the kiss, thrusting his tongue inside her mouth to explore every sweet, hot crevice. Christ, her mouth felt so good against his. Her tongue eager, her hands even more so as she stroked the nape of his neck before digging her fingers into his shoulders and bringing him even closer.
The sex, again, was not too exciting, but I liked their make-out sessions. I think there's only two.
But I'll take what I can get! LOL
6.) She's older than he is! She's 41 and he's 31. This is not even made into a big deal in the book, neither is the fact that he's black and she's white.
THE BAD:
There's not much "bad" here. I wish the sex was better, and there's two references to Derek's "mocha skin" (I hate food/skin comparisons HATE IT). Um... that's about it. Overall the book is very positive.
How's the sex, Carmen?
Not as good as I'd hoped from the make-out sessions. o.O And they "forget" to use a condom. >.<
...
Tl;dr - The first halfway decent entry in this series, but we still have a long way to go.
THREE REAL STARS, THREE ROMANCE STARS
Okay. This is the first book in this series that has been halfway decent. Of course, it helps that Kennedy is using one of my favorite tropes, the abused-woman-escapes-from-her-abuser-and-finds-love-in-the-arms-of-a-good-man trope. Love this trope.
Dr. Derek Colton is still mourning the death of his wife 2 years earlier.
Amelia Phillips comes to work for him as a nurse. But she is not really Amelia Phillips at all! She is Chloe Moreno! And she is escaping her abusive sadistic husband after faking her own death.
...
THE GOOD:
1.) An interracial couple. Look at this cover! I'm so happy. It's still so rare for me to see interracial couples in mainstream romance. I know interracial couples in real life (straight and lesbian) and it's upsetting that this is almost never shown in books.
2.) The abused-woman-escapes-from-her-abuser-and-finds-love-in-the-arms-of-a-good-man trope. Love this trope. Don't bother telling me how unrealistic it is, I already know. But this trope is one of my favorites. I love happy endings.
3.) This is the first book where the "kidnapped Amish girls" plot point is not visible. The missing girls are mentioned once or twice, but Derek and Chloe's love and Chloe's evil ex take up 99% of the plot. That's a relief.
4.) Derek is a kind, honorable person.
"Do you..." He cleared his throat. "Do you want to talk about it, sweetheart?"
"I guess I should, huh?"
"Only if you want to," he said gruffly. "I would never force you to confide in me."
He's a very good man, and he always treats Chloe with respect and love. He's actually a great combination of teasing, sexy, and kind that I really thought was attractive. He even helps her get things down off the high shelf.
When Derek walked in a few minutes later, Chloe had already set the table and was straining on her tiptoes, attempting to reach the wineglasses in the top cupboard. With a chuckle, Derek came up behind her and said, "Let me do that."
A shiver danced up her spine. Her hair was up in a ponytail, exposing the nape of her neck, and his hot breath fanned over her skin, making her giddy with desire. She inhaled sharply, only to breathe in the scent of his aftershave and another wave of giddiness crashed over her.
I adore when a man helps me get things down from the high shelf! <3
5.) KISSING! :) What I mean is that there is actually a tiny bit of sexual excitement in here. I was a tiny bit excited when Derek and Chloe were kissing. Now, the sex wasn't anything to write home about, but this spark of sexual tension is the first I've felt in the series, so Hallelujah! :p And Derek actually seems like he's probably good in bed, unlike the last two heroes.
She kissed him.
Shock slammed into Derek's chest as her mouth met his, as her arms came up around his neck and pulled him close. Her lips were cold but the kiss was hotter than he'd ever anticipated. A fleeting brush of mouths, a seductive meeting of tongues. She tasted like coffee and chocolate frosting and something utterly feminine.
Pure desire swirled down his chest and tightened his groin, prompting him to slide his fingers inside her coat and grip her slender waist. Chloe made a whimpering sound as he took control, deepening the kiss, thrusting his tongue inside her mouth to explore every sweet, hot crevice. Christ, her mouth felt so good against his. Her tongue eager, her hands even more so as she stroked the nape of his neck before digging her fingers into his shoulders and bringing him even closer.
The sex, again, was not too exciting, but I liked their make-out sessions. I think there's only two.
But I'll take what I can get! LOL
6.) She's older than he is! She's 41 and he's 31. This is not even made into a big deal in the book, neither is the fact that he's black and she's white.
THE BAD:
There's not much "bad" here. I wish the sex was better, and there's two references to Derek's "mocha skin" (I hate food/skin comparisons HATE IT). Um... that's about it. Overall the book is very positive.
How's the sex, Carmen?
Not as good as I'd hoped from the make-out sessions. o.O And they "forget" to use a condom. >.<
...
Tl;dr - The first halfway decent entry in this series, but we still have a long way to go.
THREE REAL STARS, THREE ROMANCE STARS
October 5, 2012
Very good book. I really like both Chloe and Derek. Derek has been the head of this branch of the Coltons since their parents' deaths on 9/11. He takes his role as protector and doctor very seriously. Ever since Chloe arrived to work as his nurse he has felt things that he hasn't felt since the death of his wife. He is attracted to her but determined not to do anything about it, feeling that he is a bad bet in the relationship game. He also senses that she is hiding something and that she is very on edge. When fear sends her running to him, his protectiveness kicks in. He tries to convince himself that that's all it is, but it's pretty obvious that he is beginning to care for her far more than anyone in his past. But his issues cause him to be afraid of those feelings. Chloe is an amazingly strong woman who, thanks to her husband's abuse, doesn't see herself that way. When she faked her death and escaped she thought she would be free to live her life. Suddenly things are happening that have her convince that he knows she's alive and where she is and she is terrified. She's ready to run again until Derek convinces her to stay. She has been attracted to him since the day they met, but her trust level is low and she doesn't know that she'll ever recover. I loved the determination she had once she decided not to run. Her love for Derek happened quickly, but she sensed that there was something holding him back. I wondered how they were going to tie this story in to the kidnappings and loved the way that it was done. The truth about Chloe's stalker wasn't really a surprise but it was very well done. I can't wait for Tate's story and the conclusion of the series.
August 15, 2012
Chloe is an admirable character. She shows so much courage; first, when she leaves her abusive relationship and later, as she does all she can to survive. Kennedy does a great job of establishing a connection between Chloe and Derek early on so that once problems arise, it seems natural that Chloe would turn to Derek for help. I loved the balance between the romance and the suspense. Kennedy was right on target! What's even more impressive is the fact that both Chloe and Derek have pasts that will affect the way they pursue this spark between them. Chloe has survived an abusive relationship while Derek is still mourning the death of his wife, Tess. But despite the fact that both parties have emotional baggage, Kennedy manages to slowly develop trust, making their bond bloom and prosper even in the dark times ahead.
Kennedy does a stellar job with Felix's character. I hated Felix with a passion and the few pages from his POV only made me despise him more. Kennedy was able to play with my emotions, evoking sympathy for Chloe, lust for Derek and hatred for Felix. Any author who can manipulate my emotions so well deserves a standing ovation. Kennedy shined with this book.
Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction
June 4, 2016
Really,really liked it....
I really liked both the MC's Derek and Chloe/Amelia were wonderfully interesting characters and though Chloe's strength and resilience almost seemed to perfect at times and Derek's hot then cold routine made me wanna slap him at times,I did enjoy myself..... All that said I never felt truly caught up or pulled into the story,there was too much going on I feel w/the amount of story allotted ,too many things going on and NOT enough story to do them justice.... Just Chloe and all her problems was enough for one book of at least 300 pages but less Derek's painful back story,and then this kidnapping story line that seemed to be started in the book before,No too much story Not a nought book... Maybe Chloe and Derek would have been more fun w/less, every time it seemed to get interesting between the H and h something came up honestly it felt more about resolving the kidnapping f I'm another book and Chloe's ( Sleeping with the enemy ) storyline and her and Derek somewhere on the side,which was a real shame to me a smart beautiful h who's over 40 is rare enough but H also a sexy man of color who's kind and loving and everything else you'd want a man to be ? Those two together are insanely rare, like snow in the summer...
Love that combo,felt blessed to find it,especially I'm over 40 myself and would a good sexy yummy man like Derek regardless of color or race, just wish there had been as much romance as there was story.... Don't see myself reading it again ... Just wish good stories w/this set up w/the H & h was easier to find.. Lots and lots of quality stories of black women and white men BWWM But not many or if soo hard to find where it's WWBM ( white woman black man) and finding a h over 40 ? For get about it ;(
More 25 year old clueless virgins than anything else...
Thanks
Ps. Yes you are a prude!!!! To the reviewer who thought Chloe being married was wrong!! The man used her and abused her for years,threatened to KILL her and her family and DID Kill a friend,he was a psychopath,she couldn't just go get a divorce easily.... Geez
I really liked both the MC's Derek and Chloe/Amelia were wonderfully interesting characters and though Chloe's strength and resilience almost seemed to perfect at times and Derek's hot then cold routine made me wanna slap him at times,I did enjoy myself..... All that said I never felt truly caught up or pulled into the story,there was too much going on I feel w/the amount of story allotted ,too many things going on and NOT enough story to do them justice.... Just Chloe and all her problems was enough for one book of at least 300 pages but less Derek's painful back story,and then this kidnapping story line that seemed to be started in the book before,No too much story Not a nought book... Maybe Chloe and Derek would have been more fun w/less, every time it seemed to get interesting between the H and h something came up honestly it felt more about resolving the kidnapping f I'm another book and Chloe's ( Sleeping with the enemy ) storyline and her and Derek somewhere on the side,which was a real shame to me a smart beautiful h who's over 40 is rare enough but H also a sexy man of color who's kind and loving and everything else you'd want a man to be ? Those two together are insanely rare, like snow in the summer...
Love that combo,felt blessed to find it,especially I'm over 40 myself and would a good sexy yummy man like Derek regardless of color or race, just wish there had been as much romance as there was story.... Don't see myself reading it again ... Just wish good stories w/this set up w/the H & h was easier to find.. Lots and lots of quality stories of black women and white men BWWM But not many or if soo hard to find where it's WWBM ( white woman black man) and finding a h over 40 ? For get about it ;(
More 25 year old clueless virgins than anything else...
Thanks
Ps. Yes you are a prude!!!! To the reviewer who thought Chloe being married was wrong!! The man used her and abused her for years,threatened to KILL her and her family and DID Kill a friend,he was a psychopath,she couldn't just go get a divorce easily.... Geez
December 17, 2012
Chloe Moreno has faked her own death and fled across the country to escape her abusive, sadistic husband, Dr. Felix Moreno–plastic surgeon to the stars. Under an assumed name, she has resumed her former profession as a nurse. At first, her only problem is her incredible attraction to her boss, Dr. Derek Colton. Then, she starts to get wedding momentos that make her wonder if her cover has been blown. Who can she turn to for help except Derek, whose mission in life is to rescue others?
http://www.numbersonthespines.com/201...
http://www.numbersonthespines.com/201...
December 8, 2012
I enjoyed this story. Colton's Deep Cover is Book #3 in "The Coltons of Eden Falls [Pennsylvania]" series published by Harlequin Romantic Suspense. I am enjoying this series, and am currently about half way through Book #4, Colton Showdown.
April 19, 2013
Chloe Moreno faked her own death in order to escape her abusive husband. Working for Dr. Derek Colton convinces her that she must come out of hiding and divorce her husband to legally end her marriage. The story bogs down in the middle, but finishes with an interesting ending.
December 13, 2013
It was very interesting book. pretty good upkeep as far as pace is concerned.
December 1, 2020
Colton's Deep Cover is the third rivoting story written by Elle Kennedy in the Colton's of Eden Falls series. This story centers around the eldest Colton son and the mystery surrounding his newly hired nurse. Derek, who owns and runs his own clinic in Eden Falls has recently hired Amelia Phillips has a nurse. But is Amelia really who she says she is? As an attraction between the two grows Derek wants to know more about Amelia. When several events start happening to Amelia she is forced to let her guard down and confide in Derek. Derek takes it upon himself to protect Amelia and get to the bottom of Amelia's troubles. When Amelia comes face to face with her abusive wealthy husband the shock of her still being alive puts her life in extreme danger. Derek stumbles upon some information involving Amelia's husband that draws him into the sex trafficking ring and the abductions of the Amish girls. With his arrest Amelia let's her guard down thinking she is now safe. But is she? When the story comes to conclusion who is really behind all the threats to Amelia will shock you. The characters in this story are very well developed and help to tell another exteremly exciting story.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others. All opinions expressed are my own. I look forward to reading the final story in this series.
Congratulations to Elle Kennedy for writing a truly exciting story story filled with love, forgiveness, and mystery. This story ties all three books together and leaves the reader excited to read the final story.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others. All opinions expressed are my own. I look forward to reading the final story in this series.
Congratulations to Elle Kennedy for writing a truly exciting story story filled with love, forgiveness, and mystery. This story ties all three books together and leaves the reader excited to read the final story.
January 27, 2019
3.00 Stars. (WWBM). Audiobook with narration by Lauren Fortgang listened to at 1.75 speed. This romantic suspense gives a wink and a nod to a multitude of issues... spousal abuse, mental health, women trafficked into sexual servitude, grief and adultery. So much is going on in this story that a romantic connection of the protagonists is questionable or lost. Questionable because the heroine is married and the hero is emotionally unavailability due to his feelings of guilt and sorrow over the loss of his unborn child and wife to her suicide. Dr. Derek Colton his the small community’s doctor, parent to his younger siblings and head of his family’s luctrive farming estate. Dr. Colton’s office is near an Amish community where many of their young women are being kidnapped and sold as sex slaves. He hires nurse Chloe Moreno unaware that Amelia Phillips is an assumed name and that she is running from an abusive husband. Her husband is a reknown plastic surgeon with an Oedipus complex. Chloe’s husband and mother discover that Chloe is alive and having an adulterous affair with Dr. Colton. End the end, the author untangles these threads and the protagonists get a happy ending.
April 15, 2024
We met Chloe/Amelia in the second book in this series. She helped Dr Colton when Violet was attacked. Chloe is running from a monster of an ex and Dr Colton is still getting over losing his wife. Chloe and Dr Colton are both attracted to one another but are trying to stay professional, which doesn’t last long after someone from Chloe’s past comes back to haunt her present. I thought this was a good romance novel with a little bit of suspense thrown in. We get to know the two youngest Coltons a little better in this book. It ends with an update on the Amish kidnappings and Tate going undercover and seeing Hannah Troyer in the flesh.
September 1, 2017
Derek Colton is the man to be. The man of the house and the gentleman he is will have you wishing you were Chloe.
library
July 30, 20210
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December 27, 2014Miniseries: The Coltons of Eden Falls
Category: Suspense
Category: Suspense
Read
September 29, 2017Miniseries: The Coltons of Eden Falls
April 17, 2017
In a review about an earlier book in the series, I mentioned that it ended on a cliffhanger and how I was unlikely to find out whatever happened afterwards. Well, I lucked out and found Colton's Deep Cover.
The story of the previous book I read dealt with the mystery of several missing Amish girls in the area. That remains a recurrent background story, but focuses on a more episodic story of the romance between Dr. Derek Colton (Emma Colton's brother) and his newly hired nurse Amelia Phillips. Amelia Phillips is actually Chloe Moreno, a society wife who faked her death to escape an abusive husband. She starts receiving artifacts of her past in the mail -- a video of her wedding, a piece of wedding cake -- and she knows she must leave Eden Falls, which she deeply regrets because she had started feeling at home in this community.
Derek notices the change in Amelia's behavior, and soon learns her side of the story. He and his siblings act as her allies as she deals with her stalkerish husband who has coincidentally arrived in Pennsylvania for a special plastic surgery case. (He is a plastic surgeon.).
There are a lot of predictable moments, of course, and Amelia's husband character is developed into a shallow, two dimensional villain, but sadly not that unrealistic in his control issues. It may require some suspension of belief to accept that he has that much clout with everyone that Chloe has to fake her own death to escape him, but there being laws against domestic abuse does not automatically mean that there aren't some victims who slip through the cracks of our human safeguards. It also seems a little precarious for Chloe to start with a new relationship so soon after she escaped (roughly six months or so later) but she does acknowledge that and it is cause for some hesitation.
The best part of the book, a little more progress on the missing Amish girls' case. The epilogue features a cliffhanger for the next book, Colton Showdown, when Derek's brother Tate goes undercover to infiltrate the traffickers he believes are responsible. Will Hannah Troyer and Mary Yoder finally come home? Finding out that answer depends on me chancing upon the book in Goodwill or hitting up Amazon.
The story of the previous book I read dealt with the mystery of several missing Amish girls in the area. That remains a recurrent background story, but focuses on a more episodic story of the romance between Dr. Derek Colton (Emma Colton's brother) and his newly hired nurse Amelia Phillips. Amelia Phillips is actually Chloe Moreno, a society wife who faked her death to escape an abusive husband. She starts receiving artifacts of her past in the mail -- a video of her wedding, a piece of wedding cake -- and she knows she must leave Eden Falls, which she deeply regrets because she had started feeling at home in this community.
Derek notices the change in Amelia's behavior, and soon learns her side of the story. He and his siblings act as her allies as she deals with her stalkerish husband who has coincidentally arrived in Pennsylvania for a special plastic surgery case. (He is a plastic surgeon.).
There are a lot of predictable moments, of course, and Amelia's husband character is developed into a shallow, two dimensional villain, but sadly not that unrealistic in his control issues. It may require some suspension of belief to accept that he has that much clout with everyone that Chloe has to fake her own death to escape him, but there being laws against domestic abuse does not automatically mean that there aren't some victims who slip through the cracks of our human safeguards. It also seems a little precarious for Chloe to start with a new relationship so soon after she escaped (roughly six months or so later) but she does acknowledge that and it is cause for some hesitation.
The best part of the book, a little more progress on the missing Amish girls' case. The epilogue features a cliffhanger for the next book, Colton Showdown, when Derek's brother Tate goes undercover to infiltrate the traffickers he believes are responsible. Will Hannah Troyer and Mary Yoder finally come home? Finding out that answer depends on me chancing upon the book in Goodwill or hitting up Amazon.
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