He’ll do whatever it takes To keep his family safe. Mitch Kent is shocked when he sees his wife, Kimberly, just before the anniversary of her supposed death. He learns she faked her own death to protect her family from an ominous threat and came back to see her husband and her young twins one last time. But she was followed, and now she’s desperate for her husband’s help. Mitch will need a … Mitch will need a miracle to reunite his broken family…if Kimberly’s dark past doesn’t kill him first.
more
Corned at Christmas was a fast-paced, well-plotted, enjoyable intrigue. I loved the premise, because what mother wouldn’t do anything for her kids?
Mitch definitely had the ‘cowboy code’ but he also had a deep well of love for his wife that he lost after just a few months of marriage. Raising their twins kept him busy, but he still yearned for his wife every day. Missing after an accident, he always hoped she was alive somewhere.
Kimberly Kent was on the run from her past. Her husband and babies are the victims of her choices, but she has to keep them safe. When her past catches up to her, they’re no longer safe either, and she has to convince Mitch to go with her and protect their babies.
What I appreciated about this book was the action scenes didn’t stretch out for so many chapters you start skipping pages just to get it over with. The action scenes were short, necessary, and moved the story forward. The HEA was wonderful and I can’t wait to read book 2 in this series!
I was totally confused about the title, though. Christmas was never mentioned! In fact, it starts with “The weather was warmer than usual for a late fall morning in North Texas…” So be aware, this is not a Christmas intrigue in any way.
Good start to a new series. This is a second chance love story. It’s been almost a year since Mitch’s wife’s death left him to raise their twins alone. Because her body was never found, Mitch never lost that little bit of hope that she was still alive, but he’s still shocked when she shows up at his house. After hearing her story, he’s also angry and hurt that she didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth from the start. He’s not sure he believes her tale, but he’s not willing to risk the lives of his children if he’s wrong.
I liked both Mitch and Kimberly. I loved how Mitch is devoted to his children. I ached for him and his worry over Andrea’s health issues. He also still grieves over his wife’s death and how the twins will grow up without a mother’s love. I also hurt for Kimberly. She didn’t want to abandon her babies, but their safety and Mitch’s was more important than her feelings. I loved the strength of her determination to keep them safe.
I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Mitch and Kimberly. Mitch’s anger at Kimberly at the beginning was believable and understandable. He could also see her love for the babies and that she believed she did the right thing, which softened his anger a little. He was surprised to discover that his feelings for her hadn’t died, but he was also wary of trusting her with his heart again. Kimberly regrets her deception and the way she left, but she was still convinced she did the right thing. She never stopped loving Mitch, but leaving was the only way she could protect him and the babies. As she and Mitch went on the run, the intensity of their situation amplified the attraction they felt for each other. But could Mitch forgive her enough to let her back into his life, and can Kimberly believe that his love is enough to overcome her past?
The suspense of the story was terrific. Kimberly’s fear for Mitch and the babies leaped off the pages. I could see how desperate she was to convince Mitch that she was telling the truth. The rapid escalation of the danger that they were in kept me glued to the pages. The final confrontation was a nail-biter and I couldn’t wait to see how it would be resolved. Also, there was an incident involving a mutilated cow at the beginning of the book that I suspect is a hint of something that will come up in the following books.
I liked how the rest of the Kent family rallied around them and joined forces to find the truth. I especially enjoyed how they welcomed Kimberly back and didn’t judge her over the things she revealed. There was a sweet scene at the end where the Kents showed how important family is to them.
Cornered at Christmas is a great start to a new series. It has wonderful characters and a suspenseful storyline. This thriller pulled me in and kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. It has action, suspense, mystery and danger. Add in the wonderful characters and this is a MUST READ. I can’t wait to read the next book in what I know will be another amazing series.
CORNERED AT CHRISTMAS is the first book in the brand new Rushing Creek Crime Spree series by Barb Han and centers around a wealthy rancher who is shocked to see his wife return from the dead in the start of this reunited love story. I felt the details of this story were a little disjointed in the telling at the beginning making it a tad confusing to follow, but once we got into the action, things smoothed out a bit.
Kimberly enthralled me from the start because it had to be something crucial that led her to leave her family and fake her own death. Her story is a bit spread out, but satisfying once we get the details of her past.
Mitch was my favorite from the start. There was just something about this big, strong rancher taking care of these tiny babies that melted my heart from page one.
Overall it was a fast paced story bringing lots of intrigue to life as they ran for their lives. I recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of mystery thrown in to a story line where a couple is finding their way back towards each other. Looking forward to more to come in the series!
Cornered at Christmas
Barb Han
Mitch is in for a big surprise when his dead wife, Kimberly, shows up alive. Along with her return she brings the trouble she is running from.
To save their lives and their twins’ lives the run again.
Action packed from the beginning, Barb Han has put together a story that has you holding your breath at times, sighing with relief, and not able to put it down until the end.
Emotions were touched and you might need Kleenex when the ‘package’ arrives.
Looking forward to reading more about the Kent brothers.
I received an ARC and have posted an honest review.