Hour of Need (Scarlet Falls, #1) in 2-3-4 Challenge

Jul 14, 2020 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: group-read, 5000-2020, romantic-suspense, audiobook, 2020-beat-the-backlist-challenge, 2020-in-2020, 2020-audiobook-challenge

Major Grant Barrett is the consummate soldier, the military being the only life he’s known. He’s deployed in Afghanistan when he’s notified that his brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Kate, were murdered in an apparent robbery while returning home from dinner out. They have a six-year old son, Carson, and a four-month old daughter, Faith, who are now orphans. Grant returns home to Scarlet Falls and enlists the help of next door neighbor Ellie Ross who not only worked with Lee but whose daughter Major Grant Barrett is the consummate soldier, the military being the only life he’s known. He’s deployed in Afghanistan when he’s notified that his brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Kate, were murdered in an apparent robbery while returning home from dinner out. They have a six-year old son, Carson, and a four-month old daughter, Faith, who are now orphans. Grant returns home to Scarlet Falls and enlists the help of next door neighbor Ellie Ross who not only worked with Lee but whose daughter Julia was babysitting for Lee & Kate the night they were killed. They have an immediate attraction to each other but also soon learn they have another connection. Grant doesn’t believe his family’s murder was a simple robbery but a deliberate one. Ellie’s being blackmailed into secretly retrieving a case file from Lee’s home office, with threats to her daughter and grandmother.

The beginning of the story is from Lee’s point of view, right up through his and his wife’s death. It was chilling and expertly done, setting the foundation for what was to come next. It also set my expectations for how dangerous the threat was to not only Ellie and her family but Grant’s niece and nephew. Throughout the story, the motive for the murders was unclear even though there were allusions as to what it might be. I liked that it was foggy with lots of clues, red herrings and real ones, for me to sift through and contemplate. As much as I thought I was prepared for the big reveal, i was still stunned by the outcome.

I liked this story and the promise for the rest of the series. It was great storytelling and the romantic aspect was secondary to the mystery but good, which is my preference. I listened to the book and was pleased overall but didn’t like the voice and manner used for Grant as it was too stereotypical in approach. Otherwise, I liked her pacing and depictions of the other major characters. It’s a strong start to the series and I will continue with the audio versions. ...more

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Jul 24, 2020 Robin rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, 2020, romantic-suspense

While stationed in Afghanistan, Major Grant Barrett receives word that his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered. Taking a month leave, Grant hurries home to take care of his orphaned niece and nephew. The police believe the murders may have been random. But both Grant and neighbor Ellie Ross know better. Ellie has received threats against her family if she doesn't produce some information that Grant's brother had concerning a lawsuit. Neither Grant nor Ellie know exactly what they're loo ...more

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Jul 22, 2020 Anita rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-own, romantic-supense

I have read several books by Melinda Leigh and have loved them all. This book is the first in the Scarlet Falls series and I love it too. Melinda Leigh is an excellent author who can skillfully blend romance and suspense and keep you invested in both.

The death of a brother is a horrible thing. When Major Grant Barrett receives this news on the heels of a vicious firefight it is more than soul shattering. Grant had prepared his whole life for a career in the Army and he is a success, but now he m ...more

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Dec 03, 2014 Sunny rated it liked it

3.5 stars. I wanted to like this book more. I enjoyed the mystery more than the relationship between the two main characters. it felt imbalanced to me.

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Oct 25, 2018 Carla rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult-fiction, mystery, audio

I read the second and third books of this trilogy before this one. It was okay, there were not a lot of things that I already knew that the story was spoiled, but if you can read them in order, that is what I would recommend.

The story begins with Lee and Kate Barrett being shot and killed while out for dinner. Left behind are their two young children, three siblings and a father with dementia. Major Grant Barrett returns home from Afghanistan to care for his niece and nephew until one of his si I read the second and third books of this trilogy before this one. It was okay, there were not a lot of things that I already knew that the story was spoiled, but if you can read them in order, that is what I would recommend.

The story begins with Lee and Kate Barrett being shot and killed while out for dinner. Left behind are their two young children, three siblings and a father with dementia. Major Grant Barrett returns home from Afghanistan to care for his niece and nephew until one of his siblings is in a position to do so. He’s reeling from shock and grief over their murders, and he feels out of his element caring for two small children. Grant’s main objectives are bringing his brother’s killer to justice and the welfare of his brother’s orphaned children. He thinks this the worst of his problems until the house is burglarized, someone tries to kidnap the teenage babysitter and the children, and his neighbour, Ellie, the babysitter's mother, is threatened. What was Lee into? Who is looking for casefiles of a civil suit? Why is a killer after the children? When Hannah and Mac arrive home and band together, the Barrett family will not stop until they know the children are safe and the murderer is behind bars.

Grant is a great romantic hero. He is strong, protective, handsome, and determined to find his brother’s killer, but with tenderness that any female would find hard to resist. He was so good with the kids. Six-year-old Carson immediately latched onto Grant, his only security after finding out his parents were never coming home. Baby Faith was a colicky four-month-old that could test any parent’s limits with lungs loud enough to wake the dead. Family and neighbours took turns helping out with the children as Grant adjusted. Ellie was also a great character, a single mom trying to do what’s best for her family. She was scared to death over the threat to her family, and was not sure who to trust, but as she got to know Grant better, she realized that he would also protect her and her family. As Grant and Ellie got to know each other better, they remembered the tug they felt the last time they met. They tried to resist their feelings toward each other as Grant was heading back to Afghanistan after his leave ended.

Hour of Need combined all the elements of romantic suspense that I love: danger, mystery, action and a solid love story. Grant and Ellie were likable, multilayered characters making this more than just an action packed mystery, but a story with heart and depth. The next two stories in this series, sharing the stories of Hannah and Mac are just as well written and entertaining. ...more

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Jul 17, 2020 Lauren rated it really liked it

Shelves: romantic-suspense, men-in-uniform

Hour of Need
4 Stars

When his brother and sister-in-law are murdered, Major Grant Barrett returns home to Scarlet Falls to care for their orphaned children. But after a break-in and a kidnapping attempt, Grant and his neighbor, Ellie Ross, realize that someone in the sleepy town is desperate enough to kill to keep their secrets.

This is a solid mix of romance and suspense. The investigation into the deaths of Lee and Kate Barrett is compelling. with several suspects and motives to choose from. The ...more

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Dec 28, 2014 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4 STARS

(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

"While fighting in Afghanistan, Major Grant Barrett receives devastating news: his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered in Scarlet Falls, the sleepy suburb of Grant's youth. Emotionally scarred from war, the career soldier returns home on emergency leave to temporarily care for his orphaned nephew and niece. But when someone tries to kidnap the kids and their teenage babysitter, Grant knows it's not a random act.. ...more

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Jul 29, 2020 Sharon Kallenberger Marzola rated it really liked it

Shelves: great-support-characters, buddy-read, audio-whispersync, family-series, love-hero, series-in-progress, 2020-series-challenge

3.5 Stars

Kate and Lee Barrett are celebrating their anniversary with a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant. On the way back to their car, a man confronts them with a semi-automatic. He robs and kills them both. After their death, Major Grant Barrett returns home from Afghanistan. Grant doesn’t understand why Lee is killed. It doesn’t make sense to him as Lee is the solid family sibling.

The murder feels off to Grant. He believes that robber isn’t the primary motive. His frustration with the police ...more

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