Legacy Of Hunters Ridge (Hunters Ridge #1) in Aussie Readers

Nov 05, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley, first-in-a-series, read-on-kindle, romantic-suspense, arc, own-read, 2016-release

Eighteen months after that terrible night when Alissa Morgan-Jones had almost died; when her husband and her horses HAD died, she was still suffering severely with PTSD and barely able to leave her apartment. Sister Mia had been a constant by her side, fussing and caring for her since the night the dreadful fire had taken everything from Alissa, and knew her sister was improving, but it was excruciatingly slowly. The detective who was investigating the case suspected Alissa of setting the fire h Eighteen months after that terrible night when Alissa Morgan-Jones had almost died; when her husband and her horses HAD died, she was still suffering severely with PTSD and barely able to leave her apartment. Sister Mia had been a constant by her side, fussing and caring for her since the night the dreadful fire had taken everything from Alissa, and knew her sister was improving, but it was excruciatingly slowly. The detective who was investigating the case suspected Alissa of setting the fire herself – the insurance company wouldn’t pay up, and she was deeply in debt as well as traumatised.

When Alissa heard her mother-in-law, Mavis had been committed to a nursing home with dementia and wanted Alissa to care for the animals on her farm out in the country, she was sure she couldn’t do it. But then she decided it was perfect timing to perhaps put the past behind her – she was desperate to move forward; to recover and even though she knew she would never have the courage to work with horses again, Alissa felt she could do other things – though what, she had no idea. Her arrival at the dilapidated farmhouse and then her subsequent meeting with a neighbour, Cameron Blakely started off on the wrong foot. Immediately she was sure she had done the wrong thing in coming from the city to this lonely place.

Slowly Alissa’s life settled and the farm felt a little like home; the puppy Luna (short for lunatic!) was adorable and loved her unconditionally. But strange things were happening in the house – especially when Alissa was alone and especially at night. She was uneasy, scared and when she called Cameron to help, and he found nothing, she knew everyone thought she was crazy – SHE thought she was crazy. Gradually the danger intensified; things happened to make her new friends believe her and know she was obviously in peril. What would happen to Alissa? Would she find the peace and happiness she so desperately craved?

Wow! I loved Legacy of Hunters Ridge by Aussie author Sarah Barrie. I own her first novel, Secrets of Whitewater Creek but haven’t read it yet, but after this one, I’ll be reading it very soon. What a gripping and intense novel – suspense at its best. This fast paced novel had me right at the first page and didn’t let go until I turned the last page with a sigh – but I must say, is Legacy of Hunters Ridge the beginning of a series? The way it ended makes me think so…I hope so! I have no hesitation in recommending this novel extremely highly - brilliant!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
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Jan 07, 2016 Bree T rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, romance, kindle-version, netgalley, suspense

Alissa Morgan-Jones had everything – a burgeoning career as a dressage eventer and trainer of horses, a handsome husband, an enviable stable. That all changed one night when not only did she discover a betrayal but a terrible fire left her a widow, destroyed her house and her stables. Alissa now suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and struggles to do simple things. She can’t even think of a horse without breaking out into a cold sweat, traumatised and devastated by her loss Alissa Morgan-Jones had everything – a burgeoning career as a dressage eventer and trainer of horses, a handsome husband, an enviable stable. That all changed one night when not only did she discover a betrayal but a terrible fire left her a widow, destroyed her house and her stables. Alissa now suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and struggles to do simple things. She can’t even think of a horse without breaking out into a cold sweat, traumatised and devastated by her loss. She suffers crippling nightmares and carries her own healing injuries from the fire.

The last thing she needs is news that her somewhat eccentric mother-in-law has had a fall, been diagnosed with cancer and had to go into care. Alissa and her husband purchased the property for his mother to live in and now Alissa owns it. She would’ve been happy to forget about it but instead she must go and sort it out. She’s distressed to discover that their are animals….many animals, including a horse. Her mother-in-law’s cranky neighbour Cameron Blakely is just one more reason to wash her hands of the place.

It isn’t that easy, however. Alissa finds that although there are definitely some strange goings on in Mavis’ place, slowly she begins to find a peace there that she hasn’t been able to since the fire. It takes her a while and she still experiences crippling fear and panic attacks but soon she can even begin to feed the animals, as well as get the horse the care it needs. Soon word of Alissa’s presence in the small town gets out and parents ask her to help their children with horse riding lessons. She’s frightened, terrified that she won’t be able to do it but there are pieces of her brain that see where she can be of help, what she can do to make better riders and mounts. It’s in her blood. Even the animosity with Cameron mellows into something much more attractive and she finds herself drawn into his small circle of friends, fitting in.

I have really developed a bit of a thing for a good romantic suspense and this book definitely fits that bill. From the very beginning I found it difficult to put down, for a couple of reasons. I became really invested in Alissa and her journey because her PTSD was so well written. I really could feel and experience her panic and fear and felt so genuine and believable. I also felt like it was something the author showed that Alissa had to work hard to manage, not something that took front and centre and then kind of faded away. Reading about her struggle made me feel strangely protective of Alissa, like her sister is and I found the scenes with her sister and the detective investigating the fire pretty hilarious. Those two had some chemistry and I’d love them to get their own book at some stage….but more about that later.

I found Cameron a bit of a jerk at the start, he seemed to make a few assumptions about Alissa and why she hadn’t been to the house before now and why she won’t feed the animals. Instead of just asking her if she’s ok, he just assumes reasons himself but when he does witness some of her PTSD related fears, he becomes quite understanding and the two of them end up building quite a connection. It isn’t smooth sailing though, Alissa still has some issues surrounding her husband’s death and something strange is definitely going on in the house.

Which brings me to the suspense element of the novel. I was utterly sucked in by it and loved puzzling it out and putting the pieces together just as things were being revealed in the plot. There were some really fun twists and turns in this and the sinister atmosphere built nicely, with Barrie able to use Alissa’s state of mind as a way to perhaps have the reader (and other characters) query if there really is something happening or if she’s imagining things. I got a few guesses right and got surprised a few other times and thought that the way that things played out was excellent. I was riveted the entire time.

There’s no doubt that this isn’t over and I’m hoping that this is a trilogy. I can’t wait for the next installment, I have to know what happens next. ...more

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Mar 05, 2016 Helen rated it it was amazing

Alissa Morgan-Jones was a very successful horse trainer her and her husband David did very well with their business Alissa Ally as she is known to family and friends loves her horses but a dreadful fire destroys everything leaves her a widow and nearly destroys Ally as well physically she mends mentally there is a long way to go so when her estranged mother-in-law Mavis needs her Ally makes the decision to move to the country to Montrose the property Mavis has lived on all of her life Ally's wor Alissa Morgan-Jones was a very successful horse trainer her and her husband David did very well with their business Alissa Ally as she is known to family and friends loves her horses but a dreadful fire destroys everything leaves her a widow and nearly destroys Ally as well physically she mends mentally there is a long way to go so when her estranged mother-in-law Mavis needs her Ally makes the decision to move to the country to Montrose the property Mavis has lived on all of her life Ally's world is turned upside down with strange happenings strange family and lots of animals to look after as well as a gorgeous neighbour.

Cameron Blakely the third has given up being a lawyer after a scandal and is now living in the country running a new business with his friend Lee and doing very well he helps Mavis out as her lawyer but when Ally shows up finally to Montrose there is a spark between them a feisty one as well as a very sensual one but the more he gets to know Ally the more that is uncovered about Ally and Hunters Ridge the place Cam has called home for four years.

This is a fabulous story with intrigue missing girls strange behaviour it will have you on the edge of your seat chewing your nails and not having clue as to who is behind everything. The setting is just perfect for this romantic suspense story the characters are so real they come to life on the pages it is emotional, moving and scary. The banter between Cam and Ally will have you smiling as will the strength and courage that Cam helps Ally to show, throw in the other characters Cam's sister Ebony, Ally's sister Mia and Cam's friend Lee and Ben the cop from Sydney and this story will have you turning the pages and not wanting to put it down. I highly recommend this story it really is one not to be missed written beautifully you will feel as if you are at Hunters Ridge with them all and as this is the first one of a trilogy I can't wait to read the others. Thank you very much MS Barrie for hours of reading please again this is one that will be read more than once and will have a spot on my keeper shelf.

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