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Mercy Ridge Lawmen #2
Safeguarding the Surrogate
She’d brought him his greatest joy.
Now he must save her life…
Rancher Kara Holland’s hot on the trail of a murderer who’s been killing surrogates—like she was for her ill sister. But when Kara’s trap goes terribly wrong, she’s thrust headlong into the killer’s crosshairs…along with her sister’s widower, Deputy Daniel Logan. And as she and Daniel stay one frantic step ahead of a deadly foe, the sparks igniting between them rival the danger they face.
From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.
Now he must save her life…
Rancher Kara Holland’s hot on the trail of a murderer who’s been killing surrogates—like she was for her ill sister. But when Kara’s trap goes terribly wrong, she’s thrust headlong into the killer’s crosshairs…along with her sister’s widower, Deputy Daniel Logan. And as she and Daniel stay one frantic step ahead of a deadly foe, the sparks igniting between them rival the danger they face.
From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2021
70 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Delores Fossen
643 books810 followersThank you for finding me on Goodreads!
Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:
I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:
I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 22, 2021
Kara Holland is determined to find out what is happening to surrogates. In fact, two surrogate mothers have recently been murdered. Kara has a sensitive relationship with her brother-in-law Deputy Daniel Logan. Kara had become a surrogate for Daniel and her sister Maryanne. Kara and Daniel lost Maryanne after her battle with breast cancer. Sadly, Maryanne's situation was just terrible, and she died four months before Kara gave birth to Sadie. Maryanne desperately wanted to be a mother, but she never got the chance.
Kara has no doubt that the recent murders had something to do with a local fertility clinic, and that is the very clinic she used so that she could carry Daniel and Maryanne's baby. Kara wants answers. Daniel wants her to drop it. However, she refuses and before long Daniel is right beside Kara while she searches for the truth about what happened to the two women.
Kara is most certainly onto something. In fact, she has attracted the attention of a dangerous killer. Not only does Kara wants answers, her father Eldon Stroud hasn't accepted Maryanne's death. Another person to consider, and that is Kara's ex-boyfriend, Sean Maynard. His growing jealousy over the time Kara and Daniel are suddenly spending together is more than apparent. Then there is a rancher who is tied to a militia group. Could one of these three men be responsible for the murders and for the danger facing Kara and Daniel?
The deeper Kara and Daniel dig, the more they unearth. Meanwhile, they both have to contend with growing feelings, something that never would have happened if Maryanne hadn't passed away. Then there is the fact that Kara loves baby Sadie with every fiber of her being. If they can survive the unending threats, is there a chance that Kara, Daniel and Sadie could become a family? What about the surrogacy program? Can that thrive despite the current dangers?
Safeguarding the Surrogate might be a quick read, but it is full of action, danger and romance. For a quick one-sitting read, certain to capture the attention of any lover of romantic suspense, then this is the book to read. Although it is the second book in the Mercy Ridge Lawmen series, it would do quite well as a stand-alone. However, for an equally enjoyable story, I definitely recommend the first book in the series, Her Child To Protect.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrugue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Kara has no doubt that the recent murders had something to do with a local fertility clinic, and that is the very clinic she used so that she could carry Daniel and Maryanne's baby. Kara wants answers. Daniel wants her to drop it. However, she refuses and before long Daniel is right beside Kara while she searches for the truth about what happened to the two women.
Kara is most certainly onto something. In fact, she has attracted the attention of a dangerous killer. Not only does Kara wants answers, her father Eldon Stroud hasn't accepted Maryanne's death. Another person to consider, and that is Kara's ex-boyfriend, Sean Maynard. His growing jealousy over the time Kara and Daniel are suddenly spending together is more than apparent. Then there is a rancher who is tied to a militia group. Could one of these three men be responsible for the murders and for the danger facing Kara and Daniel?
The deeper Kara and Daniel dig, the more they unearth. Meanwhile, they both have to contend with growing feelings, something that never would have happened if Maryanne hadn't passed away. Then there is the fact that Kara loves baby Sadie with every fiber of her being. If they can survive the unending threats, is there a chance that Kara, Daniel and Sadie could become a family? What about the surrogacy program? Can that thrive despite the current dangers?
Safeguarding the Surrogate might be a quick read, but it is full of action, danger and romance. For a quick one-sitting read, certain to capture the attention of any lover of romantic suspense, then this is the book to read. Although it is the second book in the Mercy Ridge Lawmen series, it would do quite well as a stand-alone. However, for an equally enjoyable story, I definitely recommend the first book in the series, Her Child To Protect.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrugue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
June 27, 2021
Kara Holland is a rancher with a dark past. Deputy Daniel Logan, her sister's widower, and Kara come together when her plans to catch a killer backfire. Will they defeat the killer, or will it be too late?
I was very pleased to find Safeguarding the Surrogate in the selection of books in the Harlequin Intrigue Blog Tour. I thoroughly enjoyed Delores Fossen's books His Brand of Justice and Settling an Old Score. Now, I can add Safeguarding the Surrogate to my list of books I love by her.
Safeguarding the Surrogate starts off right in the action and the action does not let up from there. Will sparks fly between Kara and Daniel and how will they separate work from pleasure?
Thanks to Delores Fossen and Harlequin Intrigue for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4 stars
I was very pleased to find Safeguarding the Surrogate in the selection of books in the Harlequin Intrigue Blog Tour. I thoroughly enjoyed Delores Fossen's books His Brand of Justice and Settling an Old Score. Now, I can add Safeguarding the Surrogate to my list of books I love by her.
Safeguarding the Surrogate starts off right in the action and the action does not let up from there. Will sparks fly between Kara and Daniel and how will they separate work from pleasure?
Thanks to Delores Fossen and Harlequin Intrigue for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4 stars
July 23, 2021
This was a relatively quick read with lots of suspense and action. This is the second book in the Mercy Ridge Lawmen series, but can be read as a standalone. Deputy Daniel Logan's wife died a year ago and he is a single dad raising his young daughter. His sister-in-law Kara, was a surrogate for him and her sister as she was not able to carry a child. The story opens with Kara hiding out in her barn with a gun, waiting for a murderer. Someone has been killing surrogates from the clinic where she had her procedure. The rest of the story has Kara and Daniel running for their lives, hiding out and finding more dead women. Who is killing the surrogates? Why is this happening? Is Daniel also a target?
I read this book in one sitting. I was invested in Kara's story and was rooting for Daniel and his brother's, also lawmen, to figure out what was going on and to catch the crazy killer. There were several suspects, but never enough evidence. I had my suspicions, but I was wrong, as usual. I enjoyed this story and how Delores Fossen developed the plot. There is a slight romance happening, but that is towards the end of the story. I will say that I deducted one star because of who the culprit actually was and the reasoning behind it, it was a bit over the top. Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable story to read on a rainy day. The publisher generously provide me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
I read this book in one sitting. I was invested in Kara's story and was rooting for Daniel and his brother's, also lawmen, to figure out what was going on and to catch the crazy killer. There were several suspects, but never enough evidence. I had my suspicions, but I was wrong, as usual. I enjoyed this story and how Delores Fossen developed the plot. There is a slight romance happening, but that is towards the end of the story. I will say that I deducted one star because of who the culprit actually was and the reasoning behind it, it was a bit over the top. Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable story to read on a rainy day. The publisher generously provide me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
October 7, 2021
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
Safeguarding the Surrogate is the second title in the Mercy Ridge Lawmen series, and the action starts as soon as the first page is opened. Kara had been the surrogate for her now-deceased sister and her brother-in-law, it was her joy to be able to give that precious gift of a child to two people she loved. But there have been surrogates from the agency they used who have been murdered in cold blood and Kara is convinced that she is also on that killer’s list. Being the strong, stubborn woman that she is, Kara isn’t about to sit around and let herself get killed… so she’s set a trap for the killer, maybe not the best one in the world or well-thought-out even but she had to do something. Oh, she caught something… her brother-in-law who will deliver another scolding to convince her to let him, the lawman, take care of tracking a killer. Only… someone has left a dead body in Kara’s ranch house, a message beyond the killing of another surrogate that her time will soon come.
I was quickly caught up in Safeguarding the Surrogate and that sense of tension and answers just around the next corner never left me. Although Daniel and Kara once had a far different relationship, as they acknowledged the feelings between them and the danger to their lives it was so easy to see this couple together. It felt as though they were honoring the memory of Maryanne even as they allowed themselves to fall in love and create a new family that included the precious baby that Kara’s sister never got the chance to hold.
Although Daniel’s and Kara’s story felt like a quick one it is certainly packed with danger, mystery, suspects, and surprises throughout. There are enough suspects that we’ll have a red herring or a sudden twist tossed our way before we find out who the killer really is. I enjoyed this one very much. Well, this author is an auto-buy for me so I expect to be pulled into a story and not let go until the final page. If you love putting together puzzle pieces, if another chance for love to bloom is why you love romance, or you simply enjoy a darned good mystery with a love story included… then you’ll love this story and should check out the Mercy Ridge Lawmen series for even more romantic suspense moments.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
Safeguarding the Surrogate is the second title in the Mercy Ridge Lawmen series, and the action starts as soon as the first page is opened. Kara had been the surrogate for her now-deceased sister and her brother-in-law, it was her joy to be able to give that precious gift of a child to two people she loved. But there have been surrogates from the agency they used who have been murdered in cold blood and Kara is convinced that she is also on that killer’s list. Being the strong, stubborn woman that she is, Kara isn’t about to sit around and let herself get killed… so she’s set a trap for the killer, maybe not the best one in the world or well-thought-out even but she had to do something. Oh, she caught something… her brother-in-law who will deliver another scolding to convince her to let him, the lawman, take care of tracking a killer. Only… someone has left a dead body in Kara’s ranch house, a message beyond the killing of another surrogate that her time will soon come.
I was quickly caught up in Safeguarding the Surrogate and that sense of tension and answers just around the next corner never left me. Although Daniel and Kara once had a far different relationship, as they acknowledged the feelings between them and the danger to their lives it was so easy to see this couple together. It felt as though they were honoring the memory of Maryanne even as they allowed themselves to fall in love and create a new family that included the precious baby that Kara’s sister never got the chance to hold.
Although Daniel’s and Kara’s story felt like a quick one it is certainly packed with danger, mystery, suspects, and surprises throughout. There are enough suspects that we’ll have a red herring or a sudden twist tossed our way before we find out who the killer really is. I enjoyed this one very much. Well, this author is an auto-buy for me so I expect to be pulled into a story and not let go until the final page. If you love putting together puzzle pieces, if another chance for love to bloom is why you love romance, or you simply enjoy a darned good mystery with a love story included… then you’ll love this story and should check out the Mercy Ridge Lawmen series for even more romantic suspense moments.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
August 8, 2021
Safeguarding the Surrogate is the second book in the Mercy Ridge Lawmakers series. This one is Daniel's story. Daniel and Kara are being hunted by an unknown shooter who has already killed several women. Being a surrogate for Daniel and his late wife has made her a prime target. I really enjoyed this one. There was non-stop action and several suspects. I also loved the tension between Kara and Daniel. I also enjoyed seeing Barrett from the first book show up in this one. He is Daniel's brother. I hope Leo gets a story! It's a quick read and one I highly recommend.
August 3, 2021
SAFEGUARDING THE SURROGATE by Delores Fossen is book 2 of the Mercy Ridge Lawmen series. Another action-packed thriller about rancher Kara Holland’s hot on the trail of a murderer who’s been killing surrogates—like she was for her ill sister. Now the diabolical killer put her in his crosshair. Could Deputy Daniel Logan stop the killer before Kara becomes his next victim and at the same time ignore the hot sparks igniting between them? SAFEGUARDING THE SURROGATE is wild ride of dodging bullets and bodies. Delores Fossen keeps her readers intrigued with a suspenseful plot and heat in this the romantic adventure.
August 3, 2021
This book was fantastic. I was on the edge of my seat reading the book! Daniel and Kara are trying to stay safe after Kara makes herself available so maybe she can catch the madman killing surrogates. Can they out run this killer and take him or her down! I was so surprised by who was behind all this. Yes I had the person as a suspect but really didn't think it was them as I thought it was another one. That is why I love these books as they leave you guessing and having to turn the page to see what is going to happen next!
July 5, 2021
A great book...could not put it down!
August 2, 2021
4.5 Stars
Clear your schedule and switch off your phone because once you start reading Delores Fossen’s latest romantic suspense novel, Safeguarding the Surrogate, you won’t be able to put it down.
Rancher Kara Holland is on the trail of a dangerous serial killer who is targeting surrogates and killing them in cold blood. Having acted as a surrogate for her sister and her widowed brother in law Deputy Daniel Logan, Kara will leave no stone unturned until this mercenary killer is behind bars. Kara needs to tread carefully and keep her eyes and ears open because the killer has her firmly in sight and is waiting for just the right moment to punish her for getting far too close to the truth…
Having lost his wife already, further heartache is the last thing Daniel Logan needs! Despite his constant warnings to leave the investigating to the police, Kara refuses to pay him any heed as she vows to keep on investigating until this dangerous criminal is apprehended. Not willing to see any harm come to Kara, Daniel plans to stick closely to her side – even if it means bringing to the fore forbidden feelings which have been buried for so long!
Thrust into each other’s company, Kara and Daniel find themselves getting closer and closer, but will they manage to find the killer in time before more lives are lost? With their future in jeopardy, Kara and Daniel need to stay one step ahead because the consequences do not bear thinking about!
Delores Fossen always delivers an exceptional romantic suspense novel that keeps readers guessing until the very last page and in Safeguarding the Surrogate, she has penned a high stakes tale of jeopardy, emotion and peril that kept me reading all through the night.
With a valiant heroine, a brooding and steadfast hero and plenty of chilling twists and turns, romantic suspense fans will not want to miss Safeguarding the Surrogate.
Clear your schedule and switch off your phone because once you start reading Delores Fossen’s latest romantic suspense novel, Safeguarding the Surrogate, you won’t be able to put it down.
Rancher Kara Holland is on the trail of a dangerous serial killer who is targeting surrogates and killing them in cold blood. Having acted as a surrogate for her sister and her widowed brother in law Deputy Daniel Logan, Kara will leave no stone unturned until this mercenary killer is behind bars. Kara needs to tread carefully and keep her eyes and ears open because the killer has her firmly in sight and is waiting for just the right moment to punish her for getting far too close to the truth…
Having lost his wife already, further heartache is the last thing Daniel Logan needs! Despite his constant warnings to leave the investigating to the police, Kara refuses to pay him any heed as she vows to keep on investigating until this dangerous criminal is apprehended. Not willing to see any harm come to Kara, Daniel plans to stick closely to her side – even if it means bringing to the fore forbidden feelings which have been buried for so long!
Thrust into each other’s company, Kara and Daniel find themselves getting closer and closer, but will they manage to find the killer in time before more lives are lost? With their future in jeopardy, Kara and Daniel need to stay one step ahead because the consequences do not bear thinking about!
Delores Fossen always delivers an exceptional romantic suspense novel that keeps readers guessing until the very last page and in Safeguarding the Surrogate, she has penned a high stakes tale of jeopardy, emotion and peril that kept me reading all through the night.
With a valiant heroine, a brooding and steadfast hero and plenty of chilling twists and turns, romantic suspense fans will not want to miss Safeguarding the Surrogate.
July 25, 2021
Safeguarding the Surrogate is a quick, one-sitting read, but what it lacks in pages, it makes up for in story. It's packed full of suspense and action, and of course, romance. Falling in love isn't an easy thing for Kara and Daniel given their connection, but the more I read, the more I was convinced that they belonged together. This is the second book in Delores Fossen's Mercy Ridge Lawmen series, but it is a standalone. That said, I'd still recommend reading the first book as well because it's got an entertaining storyline as well. As for this one, it's a great way to spend an afternoon or evening.
July 13, 2022
A bit over the top
This story was hard to believe. The scenarios were just too perfectly set up, too dramatic, and mostly unbelievable. I just kept shaking my head and saying that these guys are crazy. It's almost like the movies where the kids are going out and hide in the woods. Most of what they did was ridiculous and stupid. And right in the middle of being chased by a madman trying hard to kill them, they stop to fall in love. Oh please! If I want a fantasy, I will read a fantasy. Sorry but just too much.
This story was hard to believe. The scenarios were just too perfectly set up, too dramatic, and mostly unbelievable. I just kept shaking my head and saying that these guys are crazy. It's almost like the movies where the kids are going out and hide in the woods. Most of what they did was ridiculous and stupid. And right in the middle of being chased by a madman trying hard to kill them, they stop to fall in love. Oh please! If I want a fantasy, I will read a fantasy. Sorry but just too much.
July 23, 2024
This was a good book that started out intense. The intensity stayed high till the last page. I loved the action and suspense, and the steaming hot relationship between Kara and Deputy Daniel Logan. Kara was a surrogate for her sister and Daniel. Her sister died before little Sadie was born. Someone is killing women. The only link is the clinic. It’s the same clinic Kara used to get pregnant with little Sadie. The suspense throughout the book is good. I have to admit, I couldn’t guess the bad guy. The twist and turns of the story kept me quickly turning the pages. I really enjoyed this book.
April 12, 2022
Nonstop action
There was non-stop action in book 2 of the series. A variety of antagonists were presented throughout the story with different scenarios for killing Kara and Daniel. It appears to be linked to the clinic that they used to be a surrogate. Now other surrogates are being murdered. Can Daniel, Barrett, and the other deputies discover who the killer is and stop him? You'll have to read this one to find out!
There was non-stop action in book 2 of the series. A variety of antagonists were presented throughout the story with different scenarios for killing Kara and Daniel. It appears to be linked to the clinic that they used to be a surrogate. Now other surrogates are being murdered. Can Daniel, Barrett, and the other deputies discover who the killer is and stop him? You'll have to read this one to find out!
July 23, 2025
‘He could have lost her.’
For Daniel, finding Kara using herself as bait to lure in a possible serial killer is not high on his list of things to discover about his former sister-in-law and the surrogate who carried his daughter. But it is what it is when it turns out she is right, and from that moment on their lives are at risk as they’re being hunted in an action packed high octane outing by Delores Fossen.
For Daniel, finding Kara using herself as bait to lure in a possible serial killer is not high on his list of things to discover about his former sister-in-law and the surrogate who carried his daughter. But it is what it is when it turns out she is right, and from that moment on their lives are at risk as they’re being hunted in an action packed high octane outing by Delores Fossen.
July 19, 2021
Good read
Plenty of action from the very beginning. This book has loads of murders, mystery, and danger. Its pretty short, but, underlying, is a romantic love story that both main characters are fighting tooth and nail. There are 3 major suspects and each one could easily be the culprit. Highly recommend if you like short, action packed murder.
Plenty of action from the very beginning. This book has loads of murders, mystery, and danger. Its pretty short, but, underlying, is a romantic love story that both main characters are fighting tooth and nail. There are 3 major suspects and each one could easily be the culprit. Highly recommend if you like short, action packed murder.
November 2, 2021
Kara fears former surrogate are being murdered. Daniel is a deputy and her former brother-in-law; her sister died from cancer. Daniel finally agrees with Kara after finding a dead girl in Kara's bed. Daniel has made enemies in the county so they are not sure who is targeting the surrogate.
Read
June 1, 2021Categories
Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
Mercy Ridge Lawmen (Book #2)
Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
Mercy Ridge Lawmen (Book #2)
Read
June 1, 2021Categories
Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
Mercy Ridge Lawmen (Book #2)
Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, Police Procedural Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
Mercy Ridge Lawmen (Book #2)
October 1, 2021
I loved ❤ this book's storyline. I loved ❤ the action in this story. I loved ❤ Kara's character. I loved ❤ Daniel's character. I loved ❤ the ending. Awesome Ms. Fossen.
October 31, 2021
I enjoyed reading this story! It has so much going on that kept me reading had to find out what is happening and how it turns out! I highly recommend this book!!!!!
November 19, 2021
Wow!! Hot, fast paced loads of action. Very intense like an awesome action movie!! Loved it!!
August 23, 2021
Good book that started with a bang and didn't let up the tension until the end. Kara is a woman on a mission. Two surrogates from the same clinic she used have turned up dead. Kara believes they were murdered and that she is a target also, having acted as a surrogate for her late sister and her husband. She set a trap for the killer and waited in the barn to see if he took the bait. Instead, she gets her widower brother-in-law Deputy Daniel Logan, who arrived to check on her and read her the riot act for putting herself in danger. That danger becomes evident when they discover another dead surrogate left in Kara's house. Daniel has endured enough heartache and doesn't want to lose Kara too. Convincing the headstrong woman to leave the investigation to the police gets nowhere, so Daniel plans to stay close.
The suspense of this story kept me glued to the pages all the way through, while the romance added an extra layer of tension. Kara always had feelings for Daniel, but he was married to her sister, so she buried them deep. She was happy to help them by carrying their baby and heartbroken when Maryanne lost her battle with cancer before little Sadie was born. Meanwhile, Daniel starts to see Kara as more than his sister-in-law.
I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Kara and Daniel. They already know each other well because of his marriage to her sister, but it has been as friends only. But with Kara's determined involvement in the deaths of the surrogates, Daniel finds himself feeling extra protective of her. The stirrings of attraction he feels are even more surprising, and the similar stirrings he sees in her eyes. Because of the intensifying attacks on them, Kara and Daniel try to put those feelings aside as they attempt to discover the truth and stay alive. I loved how protective they were of each other, with Daniel getting a bit frustrated with Kara's tendency to rush into danger. That danger brings the knowledge that life can be short and uncertain into focus and makes them realize they don't want to waste any of it.
The suspense of the story is excellent. From the first pages to the last, I couldn't wait to see how it ended. Convinced that the deaths had something to do with the fertility clinic, Kara tried investigating on her own. Though skeptical at first, Daniel became a believer when a dead surrogate turned up in Kara's house. When he and Kara were shot at, the question was whether it was related to those deaths, or is it someone who has a beef with Daniel? Neighboring rancher, Rizzo, makes no secret of his dislike of Daniel, who is investigating his connection with a militia group. There is also a man who made many threats against the clinic and surrogates because of the death of his daughter. He has the means and motivation to commit the murders. Joining the list of suspects, Kara's ex-boyfriend accuses Daniel of putting her in danger. Every time one of those men would move to the top of my suspect list, something would change my mind. I loved following the efforts of the Mercy Ridge Sheriff's Department to unravel the truth. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Daniel and Kara faced off against the killer. The ending was great.
As a long-time reader of the author's books, I loved seeing Mason Ryland from the Lawmen of Silver Creek series get a brief mention. It's always fun for me when there are series crossovers. I also liked seeing more of Daniel's brother Barrett from the first book (Her Child to Protect) and getting to know his other brother, Leo, a little. I look forward to reading his book.
The suspense of this story kept me glued to the pages all the way through, while the romance added an extra layer of tension. Kara always had feelings for Daniel, but he was married to her sister, so she buried them deep. She was happy to help them by carrying their baby and heartbroken when Maryanne lost her battle with cancer before little Sadie was born. Meanwhile, Daniel starts to see Kara as more than his sister-in-law.
I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Kara and Daniel. They already know each other well because of his marriage to her sister, but it has been as friends only. But with Kara's determined involvement in the deaths of the surrogates, Daniel finds himself feeling extra protective of her. The stirrings of attraction he feels are even more surprising, and the similar stirrings he sees in her eyes. Because of the intensifying attacks on them, Kara and Daniel try to put those feelings aside as they attempt to discover the truth and stay alive. I loved how protective they were of each other, with Daniel getting a bit frustrated with Kara's tendency to rush into danger. That danger brings the knowledge that life can be short and uncertain into focus and makes them realize they don't want to waste any of it.
The suspense of the story is excellent. From the first pages to the last, I couldn't wait to see how it ended. Convinced that the deaths had something to do with the fertility clinic, Kara tried investigating on her own. Though skeptical at first, Daniel became a believer when a dead surrogate turned up in Kara's house. When he and Kara were shot at, the question was whether it was related to those deaths, or is it someone who has a beef with Daniel? Neighboring rancher, Rizzo, makes no secret of his dislike of Daniel, who is investigating his connection with a militia group. There is also a man who made many threats against the clinic and surrogates because of the death of his daughter. He has the means and motivation to commit the murders. Joining the list of suspects, Kara's ex-boyfriend accuses Daniel of putting her in danger. Every time one of those men would move to the top of my suspect list, something would change my mind. I loved following the efforts of the Mercy Ridge Sheriff's Department to unravel the truth. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Daniel and Kara faced off against the killer. The ending was great.
As a long-time reader of the author's books, I loved seeing Mason Ryland from the Lawmen of Silver Creek series get a brief mention. It's always fun for me when there are series crossovers. I also liked seeing more of Daniel's brother Barrett from the first book (Her Child to Protect) and getting to know his other brother, Leo, a little. I look forward to reading his book.
February 27, 2022
This wasn't very intriguing. The author's way of building intrigue is by suggesting it could be any one of the three suspects over and over again. I also wasn't really feeling the romance. Finally, Kara should have just been a cop since the author has her running around with her gun as Daniel's backup anyway. It strains credulity.
*I hated my experience reading this because Glose app sucks. 0/10.
*I hated my experience reading this because Glose app sucks. 0/10.
January 23, 2022
It was the kind of book before I got halfway through first chapter it caught my attention. Couldn’t wait to continue reading to find out why someone was killing the surrogates.
I usually like to guess who I think is the villain, I was not close!!
I usually like to guess who I think is the villain, I was not close!!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews