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Crystal Creek #7
Imagine the Kiss
Two people open themselves to the truth and open themselves to each other.
Her marriage in ruins, violinist Teagan Whitloch Munroe escapes into her music and the solace she finds at the Crystal Creek Ranch. Practicing in the woods helps her piece together her life, but she isn’t alone. When she hears someone hiking nearby, she demands he reveal himself, but the only revelation she gets is a soothing voice that heals the pain in her heart.
Maimed by a crushing accident, the once famous architect Phineas St. Cyr protects the world from his disfigurement by sequestering himself in the woods on the Crystal Creek Ranch. When he hears the intoxicating strains from Teagan’s violin, he can’t resist the beauty that quiets his aching soul, and he yearns to know the woman who creates such beauty.
Teagan finds sanctuary in her friendship with this connoisseur of music, but soon realizes Phin’s hiding more than his hideous scars. As they become entangled with each other, Teagan is stunned to learn they share more than a love of music. They are caught in a web of deceit by someone threatening to reveal Phin’s secrets. His exposed past endangers Teagan, and he can no longer walk away. This time he must face the enemy determined to defeat him. He’ll fight to the finish to protect the woman he can never love. No price is too high to keep buried the secret that will mark Teagan for destruction.
This is a clean romance.
Her marriage in ruins, violinist Teagan Whitloch Munroe escapes into her music and the solace she finds at the Crystal Creek Ranch. Practicing in the woods helps her piece together her life, but she isn’t alone. When she hears someone hiking nearby, she demands he reveal himself, but the only revelation she gets is a soothing voice that heals the pain in her heart.
Maimed by a crushing accident, the once famous architect Phineas St. Cyr protects the world from his disfigurement by sequestering himself in the woods on the Crystal Creek Ranch. When he hears the intoxicating strains from Teagan’s violin, he can’t resist the beauty that quiets his aching soul, and he yearns to know the woman who creates such beauty.
Teagan finds sanctuary in her friendship with this connoisseur of music, but soon realizes Phin’s hiding more than his hideous scars. As they become entangled with each other, Teagan is stunned to learn they share more than a love of music. They are caught in a web of deceit by someone threatening to reveal Phin’s secrets. His exposed past endangers Teagan, and he can no longer walk away. This time he must face the enemy determined to defeat him. He’ll fight to the finish to protect the woman he can never love. No price is too high to keep buried the secret that will mark Teagan for destruction.
This is a clean romance.
- GenresWesterns
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2018
49 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 5, 2019
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, this is what I would consider a clean romance. There was a minor word here or there (I think I counted all of one), and there is violence and sex implied and discussed without going into any detail. I believe all of my readers who like a bit of romance with a hint of mystery will savor this book in the fullest sense.
The author captured my attention the moment I read the introduction because "Phantom of the Opera" is one of my all-time favorite musicals (I've seen it four times on stage thus far). While I loved the ending of that musical, the author used her feelings of dissatisfaction concerning the conclusion of the story to inspire a modern-day story that incorporates many of the same elements and themes. And for the record, I applaud the author for her refreshing and beautiful story!
The mystery was something I didn't expect. It was quite easy to see where the romantic tale was heading, but the mystery truly threw me for a loop. Adding a pretty sadistic murder into the book along with some other incredible connections made this book a rather satisfying read.
I honestly did not want this story to end. In fact, I felt it was a bit of an abrupt ending compared to the lushness of the writing and character development throughout most of the book. I refuse to mark down the author for the hurried conclusion (I know for a fact this happens in all sorts of romantic plotlines), and I would highly recommend this book as a sweet, invigorating tale of romance and mystery while examining bigger issues of prejudice and judgment.
First of all, this is what I would consider a clean romance. There was a minor word here or there (I think I counted all of one), and there is violence and sex implied and discussed without going into any detail. I believe all of my readers who like a bit of romance with a hint of mystery will savor this book in the fullest sense.
The author captured my attention the moment I read the introduction because "Phantom of the Opera" is one of my all-time favorite musicals (I've seen it four times on stage thus far). While I loved the ending of that musical, the author used her feelings of dissatisfaction concerning the conclusion of the story to inspire a modern-day story that incorporates many of the same elements and themes. And for the record, I applaud the author for her refreshing and beautiful story!
The mystery was something I didn't expect. It was quite easy to see where the romantic tale was heading, but the mystery truly threw me for a loop. Adding a pretty sadistic murder into the book along with some other incredible connections made this book a rather satisfying read.
I honestly did not want this story to end. In fact, I felt it was a bit of an abrupt ending compared to the lushness of the writing and character development throughout most of the book. I refuse to mark down the author for the hurried conclusion (I know for a fact this happens in all sorts of romantic plotlines), and I would highly recommend this book as a sweet, invigorating tale of romance and mystery while examining bigger issues of prejudice and judgment.
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March 13, 2022FREE today (February 25, 2022) on Amazon.
October 2, 2018
Imagine the Kiss by Laura Haley-McNeil
Crystal Creek Series Book Seven
Teagan Whitloch Munroe's life has just taken a turn. More like spun out of control. She's realizing that she truly hasn't known the man she married four years ago. Thankfully she has her music to escape to. Playing the violin calms her, takes her mind off of her troubles.
Phineas Bonham St. Cyr enjoys Teagan's music. Her music is the only beautiful thing he has in his life since “the accident” that took so much from him. He never expected to meet her. Never wanted her to see the monster he's become.
There are the beautiful people...on the outside. And then beautiful people who shine beauty out from within themselves. This story truly brings out how beauty is in the eye of the beholder, even when you have to go past the “No Trespassing” signs someone has put up to keep people out.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Crystal Creek Series Book Seven
Teagan Whitloch Munroe's life has just taken a turn. More like spun out of control. She's realizing that she truly hasn't known the man she married four years ago. Thankfully she has her music to escape to. Playing the violin calms her, takes her mind off of her troubles.
Phineas Bonham St. Cyr enjoys Teagan's music. Her music is the only beautiful thing he has in his life since “the accident” that took so much from him. He never expected to meet her. Never wanted her to see the monster he's become.
There are the beautiful people...on the outside. And then beautiful people who shine beauty out from within themselves. This story truly brings out how beauty is in the eye of the beholder, even when you have to go past the “No Trespassing” signs someone has put up to keep people out.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
March 13, 2024
Love of a lifetime
This was definitely a suspense romance, with more than one crime plot running through the story. Teagan is divorcing her husband for infidelity when he turns up dead in their Denver condo. Phin has been horribly burned in a NYC arson fire and has retreated to the Colorado mountains out of the public eye.
I loved how the author brought these two creative people together and allowed them to support each other through their trials. Teagan, in particular, is such a gentle soul with a kind and loving heart. But at the same time, she has an unyielding determination which stands her in good stead on both the concert stage and in winning Phin's love.
I received a free advance copy of this story in a boxset from the author via BookFunnel and voluntarily chose to share my review.
This was definitely a suspense romance, with more than one crime plot running through the story. Teagan is divorcing her husband for infidelity when he turns up dead in their Denver condo. Phin has been horribly burned in a NYC arson fire and has retreated to the Colorado mountains out of the public eye.
I loved how the author brought these two creative people together and allowed them to support each other through their trials. Teagan, in particular, is such a gentle soul with a kind and loving heart. But at the same time, she has an unyielding determination which stands her in good stead on both the concert stage and in winning Phin's love.
I received a free advance copy of this story in a boxset from the author via BookFunnel and voluntarily chose to share my review.
March 3, 2022
Couldn't Put Down
Loved this story of mystery, intrigue and love. Huge roller coaster ride of emotions, right up to the end. A top favorite from this past decade of reading, so over 3.5k books read and this one had me cheering on the main characters, because they were easy to fall in love with. Well done, Laura. Please keep on writing!!💖💖
Loved this story of mystery, intrigue and love. Huge roller coaster ride of emotions, right up to the end. A top favorite from this past decade of reading, so over 3.5k books read and this one had me cheering on the main characters, because they were easy to fall in love with. Well done, Laura. Please keep on writing!!💖💖
March 9, 2022
This is so cute and my heart hurts after reading this. Phin and Teagan have my heart.
If you love clean romances or The Phantom of the Opera (this gave me such Phantom of the Opera except she’s in love with the masked man and it’s less of a tragedy).
1000% recommend this book.
⭐️all of them
💧all of them
If you love clean romances or The Phantom of the Opera (this gave me such Phantom of the Opera except she’s in love with the masked man and it’s less of a tragedy).
1000% recommend this book.
⭐️all of them
💧all of them
March 12, 2024
Beauty meets beast
A failed marriage and a life-changing accident bring two lonely people to Crystal Creek Ranch; a premier violinist and a disfigured architect. Music may bring them together but love will make them whole.
Laura Haley-McNeil brings her characters to life in this beautiful western romance. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
A failed marriage and a life-changing accident bring two lonely people to Crystal Creek Ranch; a premier violinist and a disfigured architect. Music may bring them together but love will make them whole.
Laura Haley-McNeil brings her characters to life in this beautiful western romance. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
March 8, 2023
Romantic Suspense with Tangled Murder Mystery
This book is the 6th in a series that can be read individually. This episode is about a concert violinist and her messed-up personal life. So many things go wrong, but a few go right. It is a fascinating mystery with a clean romance on the side.
This book is the 6th in a series that can be read individually. This episode is about a concert violinist and her messed-up personal life. So many things go wrong, but a few go right. It is a fascinating mystery with a clean romance on the side.
March 29, 2023
This series just keeps getting better and better. Some of this premise is a bit repetitive from a previous book but it is still framed in a new way and just as catching for reading the adventure. A very engaging series.
March 19, 2024
Imagine the Kiss is a beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The suspense is off the charts! Both Teagan and Phin were such beautifully, broken souls who ultimately heal each other. I was totally wrapped up in their story and could not put the book down!
February 26, 2022
Great story
This story has spirit,suspense,danger,and romance keeps you turning the pages until the very end hats off to this author looking forward to reading more books from her
This story has spirit,suspense,danger,and romance keeps you turning the pages until the very end hats off to this author looking forward to reading more books from her
March 25, 2024
Am loving the Crystal Creek family as messed up as it is. Read and you will enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews