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The Coltons of Shadow Creek #2
Colton Undercover
An heiress could be hiding secrets, and she meets her match in FBI agent Josh Howard…
On the hunt for escaped criminal mastermind Livia Colton, FBI agent Josh Howard knows just where to start: the fugitive’s family. Namely, Livia’s eldest daughter, Leonor Colton, who was very close to her criminal mother. Could the alluring museum curator be hiding the Colton matriarch? Maybe.
Undercover as a billionaire art collector, Josh is invited into Leonor’s life. He’s surprised to find that the heiress, betrayed by an ex and at odds with her siblings, needs a strong shoulder, and there Josh is all ears. But when an attempt is made on Leonor’s life, Josh finds his cover is about to be blown—along with his unexpected true feelings for his Colton connection.
On the hunt for escaped criminal mastermind Livia Colton, FBI agent Josh Howard knows just where to start: the fugitive’s family. Namely, Livia’s eldest daughter, Leonor Colton, who was very close to her criminal mother. Could the alluring museum curator be hiding the Colton matriarch? Maybe.
Undercover as a billionaire art collector, Josh is invited into Leonor’s life. He’s surprised to find that the heiress, betrayed by an ex and at odds with her siblings, needs a strong shoulder, and there Josh is all ears. But when an attempt is made on Leonor’s life, Josh finds his cover is about to be blown—along with his unexpected true feelings for his Colton connection.
- GenresRomantic Suspense
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 9, 2017
61 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Marie Ferrarella
1,233 books276 followersMarie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 8, 2017
Very good book. Leonor first appeared in the previous book, Colton's Secret Son, when she showed up at her stepfather's ranch, looking for a place to stay for a little while. At the beginning of this one, we learn that she is trying to get her life back together after being betrayed by the man she thought she loved. Instead, he took her confidences about her family and plastered them across the internet, then helped himself to her bank account. Her siblings are mad at her for spilling family secrets. I loved her stepfather, Mac, who is awesome in not judging and just being there for her. He also finally tells her to stop hiding and get out of the house for a while. As she prepares to eat lunch at a restaurant, she is accosted by another lone diner, who asks if they can eat together. Leonor is wary, still reeling from her ex's betrayal.
Josh is an FBI agent who has been assigned to get close to Leonor. He and his boss believe that Leonor is the one who helped her mother escape from prison, and Josh is determined to find the proof. He is posing as a billionaire art collector who was to display some of his art at the museum where she is a curator. He senses that she needs someone to talk to and he is more than willing.
I loved the development of their relationship. It starts out slow, with Leonor very wary of Josh. She's been burned by her ex and trusting another man isn't going to be easy. Josh is also suspicious of her because of who she is and his belief in her complicity with her mother. But the more time they spend together, the more Josh comes to believe that she is innocent. He sees a woman who is protective of her family and hurting from the things that have happened. At the same time, Leonor starts to lose her wariness and believe that Josh is just what he seems - a nice guy with the same interest in art that she has, though she still gets the occasional twinge of doubt. But as the attraction between them builds, Josh starts to feel really guilty about his deception.
Then two attempts are made on Leonor's life, and Josh is suddenly much more interested in keeping her safe. But can he do that and still keep his cover? I ached for them both when the truth comes out, because Leonor had finally started to believe in herself again and the betrayal really hit her hard. I loved that Josh 'fessed up properly, and still insisted that he was going to protect her whether she wanted him to or not. I loved the whole "Go to hell" and his response that after she's safe he'll "look into hotter accommodations". I really enjoyed his protectiveness and refusal to back off. Leonor does her best to resist him, but her heart won't let her hold on to her anger. I loved Josh's big moment at the end and his combination of confidence and vulnerability.
The suspense was great as Josh and Leonor try to figure out who has it in for her. The logical assumption is that her mother, Livia, is trying to get even for Leonor not helping her. An attack at the museum's fundraising gala nearly succeeds, leaving Leonor fighting for her life and Josh fighting for her. An unexpected visitor to Leonor's hospital room shines a different light on what happened, and stuns Josh when he finds out about it. The identity of the attacker isn't a complete surprise, but it wraps up this book quite well.
Josh is an FBI agent who has been assigned to get close to Leonor. He and his boss believe that Leonor is the one who helped her mother escape from prison, and Josh is determined to find the proof. He is posing as a billionaire art collector who was to display some of his art at the museum where she is a curator. He senses that she needs someone to talk to and he is more than willing.
I loved the development of their relationship. It starts out slow, with Leonor very wary of Josh. She's been burned by her ex and trusting another man isn't going to be easy. Josh is also suspicious of her because of who she is and his belief in her complicity with her mother. But the more time they spend together, the more Josh comes to believe that she is innocent. He sees a woman who is protective of her family and hurting from the things that have happened. At the same time, Leonor starts to lose her wariness and believe that Josh is just what he seems - a nice guy with the same interest in art that she has, though she still gets the occasional twinge of doubt. But as the attraction between them builds, Josh starts to feel really guilty about his deception.
Then two attempts are made on Leonor's life, and Josh is suddenly much more interested in keeping her safe. But can he do that and still keep his cover? I ached for them both when the truth comes out, because Leonor had finally started to believe in herself again and the betrayal really hit her hard. I loved that Josh 'fessed up properly, and still insisted that he was going to protect her whether she wanted him to or not. I loved the whole "Go to hell" and his response that after she's safe he'll "look into hotter accommodations". I really enjoyed his protectiveness and refusal to back off. Leonor does her best to resist him, but her heart won't let her hold on to her anger. I loved Josh's big moment at the end and his combination of confidence and vulnerability.
The suspense was great as Josh and Leonor try to figure out who has it in for her. The logical assumption is that her mother, Livia, is trying to get even for Leonor not helping her. An attack at the museum's fundraising gala nearly succeeds, leaving Leonor fighting for her life and Josh fighting for her. An unexpected visitor to Leonor's hospital room shines a different light on what happened, and stuns Josh when he finds out about it. The identity of the attacker isn't a complete surprise, but it wraps up this book quite well.
February 2, 2018
A quick romance. Bit of suspense. Lots of deceit. Leonore was just conned by someone she thought loved her. Now she's getting the same vibes from Josh. Josh is undercover trying to find Leonore's mother Livia. He's playing the guy that he thinks Leonore needs/wants. But will she be able to trust again? Will she believe him when the truth comes out?
September 24, 2018
This was a very relatable storyline. It was funny and endearing, but not much of a surprise.
April 1, 2017
FBI Speical Agent Josh Howard is sure that Leonor Colton helped her mother Livia escape from prison. What other explanation can there be for her missing large sums of money? To prove his theory he goes undercover as a billionaire art collector to get close to Leonor who is a museum curator. However, the closer Josh gets to Leonor the more he thinks his theory is so very wrong.
Leonor's life is in turmoil, she has recently been taken in by a con man and is trying to set things right with her family and learn to trust again. Josh keeps making her think that there is something he's not telling her.
When Leonor life is threatened, Josh is forced to reveal who he really is and he is sure that it is Livia after her daughter for not breaking her out of prison. Leonor is not so sure, either way, Josh is going to make sure she is safe but the question remains; can love bloom without trust?
Leonor's life is in turmoil, she has recently been taken in by a con man and is trying to set things right with her family and learn to trust again. Josh keeps making her think that there is something he's not telling her.
When Leonor life is threatened, Josh is forced to reveal who he really is and he is sure that it is Livia after her daughter for not breaking her out of prison. Leonor is not so sure, either way, Josh is going to make sure she is safe but the question remains; can love bloom without trust?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 3, 2017Miniseries: The Coltons of Shadow Creek
April 17, 2017
First of the Coltons of Shadow Creek, the story focuses on FBI agent Josh Howard, who's on the lookout for Livia Colton, a criminal mastermind who's has recently escaped jail. Josh's boss is convinced that the only child who visited Livia in jail is the one who paid off her jailers and helped her escape, but Josh isn't so sure after he gets to know Leonor Colton.
To get close to Leonor, a curator at a small museum in Austin, TX, Josh goes undercover as a billionaire art collector interested in finding a place for several key art pieces. Soon after he concludes that Leonor may not be as involved as people think in her mother's escape, it becomes clear that Leonor herself is on the radar of someone who wants her dead. Is it her mother--angry that Leonor inadvertently gave away from family secrets--or someone else?
Josh has to protect her, but in doing so, he may have to come clean with Leonor about who he really is and why he's really there. And if he tells her the truth, how will she react?
To get close to Leonor, a curator at a small museum in Austin, TX, Josh goes undercover as a billionaire art collector interested in finding a place for several key art pieces. Soon after he concludes that Leonor may not be as involved as people think in her mother's escape, it becomes clear that Leonor herself is on the radar of someone who wants her dead. Is it her mother--angry that Leonor inadvertently gave away from family secrets--or someone else?
Josh has to protect her, but in doing so, he may have to come clean with Leonor about who he really is and why he's really there. And if he tells her the truth, how will she react?
April 26, 2017
I like romantic suspense novels and the combination of action with the building of a relationship. Colton Undercover by Marie Ferrarella, got my attention due to its promise of both.
It took a little bit, until the book got to the action part, something that I usually do not like, but the Author thankfully did not drag on too much. But once it got going, the story moved along rather quickly (honestly, a little too quick at times, struggling to find the balance between too much information, and trying to get as much activity and action into the plot as possible). A little bit better pacing would have made this good novel, a great one.
I loved the characters and not just the two main characters, but the large side cast, who should receive (hopefully) their own stories, and happy endings.
Overall, Colton Undercover was a good second book within mini-series, one that made me want to read more, even if the rest of the series will not be written by the same Author. The fact that I did not read the first book of the series, did not make this a less enjoyable read, therefore, I think it can be read as a stand-alone novel. Even though I wanted to know more about the side characters, I did not feel like I have been left hanging, or that any stories were not completed, which happens in some book series.
It took a little bit, until the book got to the action part, something that I usually do not like, but the Author thankfully did not drag on too much. But once it got going, the story moved along rather quickly (honestly, a little too quick at times, struggling to find the balance between too much information, and trying to get as much activity and action into the plot as possible). A little bit better pacing would have made this good novel, a great one.
I loved the characters and not just the two main characters, but the large side cast, who should receive (hopefully) their own stories, and happy endings.
Overall, Colton Undercover was a good second book within mini-series, one that made me want to read more, even if the rest of the series will not be written by the same Author. The fact that I did not read the first book of the series, did not make this a less enjoyable read, therefore, I think it can be read as a stand-alone novel. Even though I wanted to know more about the side characters, I did not feel like I have been left hanging, or that any stories were not completed, which happens in some book series.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews