Expected publication date: October 17, 2017
Cover blurb:
In Mystery, Montana, a white-hot hunk fights fire with passion…
Though he’s ridiculously handsome and notoriously funny, it’s Colter Fitzgerald’s firefighting skills that are most needed by Whitney Barstow–at first. She’s been traumatized by fire and terrified that the arsonist sabotaging Dunrovin Ranch is a madman from her past. She’s also fearful that harm will come to any man she loves, so denies her attraction to Colter. Then why is she jealous of another woman’s hands all over him?
On the eve of the ranch’s Christmas festival, Colter wants no one but Whitney, body, soul and darkest secrets. But there’s still an arsonist to stop…before what makes the season bright is Dunrovin in flames.
**
Whitney has evaded intimacy for almost a decade after being trapped in a barn fire by her crazy ex. Not only did he take her sense of safety but her beloved horse Rudy who died in the conflagration, and she is afraid to open herself up to anyone and risk losing them as well. She works for the Fitzgerald family on Dunrovin Ranch in the office, avoiding the horses and personal ties. But when a series of strange incidents begins to occur she is afraid that once again she is the cause.
Colter has been attracted to Whitney from the start, and can’t understand why she always seems so irritated with him. He persists however, and begins to break through her walls, just as the seriousness of the attacks on his family begin to escalate. Things come to a head during the annual Yule Night celebration on the ranch and Colter must save Whitney and his family’s livelihood before it is too late.
I really enjoyed this foray into the Mystery saga, and I think Colter may well have taken the lead as my favorite Fitzgerald brother. For me there was a difference between his and Whitney’s romance because they didn’t have ‘baggage’ between them as opposed to Wyatt/Gwen and Waylon/Christina. Both of their relationships were affected by prior history between them or in the case of Christina, her sister Alli and Wyatt. Colter and Whitney’s relationship was new, and they were really able to grow into it and it just seemed…sweeter, I guess? That’s not to say that their previous relationships didn’t affect their journey, but it wasn’t the same. Now, with all that said…
I DID find something to complain about in the book, unfortunately. This is completely different than not liking a book by the way; I’m speaking of the concept that something the story in the story itself was lacking. In this case it is simple-NOT ENOUGH NOOKIE. I was willing to go along with no-naked-wrestling-on-boyhood-Star-Wars-sheets (cough, Waylon, cough) but I’m not going to lie. I like the nookie scenes! (I’m shameless, but if you read my bio, you’d know that I like ’em a little dirty, snicker!) And Colter and Whitney needed to knock boots at least a few times, IMHO!!
That said, I will admit that the truck scene in this one might have made me laugh even more than the Star Wars sheets in ‘Mr. Serious’:
“I’m glad you were, but you do realize that you are being filmed.” He pointed at the camera. “And even here, in Mystery, we have public indecency and exposure laws. And I was made to understand that the clerk, while he loves a good show, wasn’t impressed.”
“I doubt that,” Colter said. “I’d bet my bottom dollar that the guy was just jealous.”
And I think Wyatt has some perv in him too, as this is the second book in a row where he ‘happened’ across his brothers in intimate moments. (Either that or he just has the worst timing!) I can’t wait to see if his streak continues in ‘Ms. Demeanor’…Rainier better watch out!