A 2015 Daphne du Maurier Award finalist from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.
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 … 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…and neither were the murders.
Already devastated by her neighbors’ violent deaths, Ellie Ross is shattered by the attempted abduction of her teenage daughter so she desperately turns to Grant for help. As they navigate a deadly search for the truth, they struggle with growing feelings for each other and Grant’s impending return to Afghanistan.
But time is running out. The killer is growing bolder by the hour, and Ellie and Grant must find him before the children become his next victims.
Bestselling author Melinda Leigh delivers another gritty mystery simmering with spine-tingling passion in this first Scarlet Falls novel.
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The Scarlett Falls series is another one of my Melinda Leigh favorites. Ms. Leigh does such an amazing job of making her characters relatable and realistic. I fell in love with the Barrett Family in this first book of the series. The tragedy the Barrett’s experienced created not only a close bond between siblings but set the stage for a beautiful romance (this blossoms later on in Book 2)!
Hour of Need by Melinda Leigh is a romantic suspense novel set in Scarlet Falls, New York. Leigh does a great job of blending suspense, action, and romance. Major Grant Barrett is deployed to Afghanistan when he receives word that his brother Lee and sister-in-law Kate have been murdered. Grant returns home on emergency leave to care for his orphaned nephew and niece (Carson and Faith). Ellie Ross and her daughter Julia and grandmother Nan live next door to Lee and Kate. Julia had been babysitting them while Lee and Kate had gone to dinner. When there is an attempt to kidnap the kids, Grant knows something more than a robbery gone wrong has occurred. But what is it?
Grant and Ellie are likeable characters with depth. While both have flaws, they both want what is best for their respective families. They are compelling and definitely someone you can root for. The secondary characters are well-drawn. Some assist the protagonists through emotional and other support while others are definitely oppositional. Points of view do occasionally shift, but it is always clear who it is.
The opening chapter is chilling and well done. It sets the stage for what is to come later. The emphasis is heavy on the suspense, danger, and action with the romance slowly developing and being woven into the story. The first steamy scene is about 70 percent of the way through the book. There was an occasional bit of humor that provided some relief to the intensity of the rest of the novel.
The writing was addictive, engrossing, fluid, and appealing. I was fully engaged in the story. The plot was multi-layered, but my first quibble is that the supposed surprises along the way were too easily discerned. The second is that the murdered couple were identified so quickly when they had no identification on them. However, it’s fast-moving with a terrific ending and very enjoyable.
Overall, this book has a great concept and the pacing is just right. This is a great start to the trilogy and I’m looking forward to reading the next two novels.
I received a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Discussion Group Giveaway. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH THE AUDIOBOOK AND EBOOK VERSIONS
This was a exciting and well written story. It kept me pulled in not wanting to put it down. The narration was wonderfully preformed as well. Great characters. I recommend this book.
The author did it again. This is a wonderful book. Her books would make a fantastic Netflix series. It says if she writes her books for them. Look forward to the next one.
Wow! This was such a great new series for me to get into. I love the character building. I absolutely love Grant. The story line tugged at my heart. There were a lot of intense and edge of you seat moments.
Wow! Amazing book!! It kept me guessing the entire time, I never could even begin to guess what was going to happen from one moment to the next. Each time I started to think I might be figuring things out everything would get turned upside down and have me rethinking my theory all over again.
This is a series of 3 books. Definitely a must read!!!
I fell in love with the Barrett family. Lee and his wife are murdered in the street. Lee’s family sweep in to figure out what happened to their brother and his wife. The surviving siblings feel a great deal of regret and guilt for not making family time more of a priority, while Lee was alive. The three siblings have been very career driven and focused, but all that changes when the kids need them. The plot takes you through twists and turns, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!