She trusts him with her life, but can she trust him with her heart?Emma Thomas hasn’t been home in years. Only back in Staunton for a few months, she plans to put her investigative reporter skills to use in exposing the trafficking group using her peaceful, idyllic hometown to move drugs. But when she stumbles onto more than drugs, bullets start flying and she has to ask the one person she left … has to ask the one person she left Virginia to avoid for help.
Detective Adam Marshall has been working this cartel case for months. On the precipice of breaking the organization wide open, he can’t believe the one woman he’d never been able to get over now holds the key to closing his case. His head warns him to steer clear, but his heart won’t let him walk away when Emma’s life is on the line.
Thrown together by chance after so many years, Adam and Emma work together to break the biggest case of both of their careers and heal some old wounds in the process. Falling in love wasn’t on the docket for either of them, but things don’t always go as planned.
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Emma Thomas is an investigative reporter and when she gets an anonymous tip about where a drug spot location is, she heads up to try and break the story. Yet she is shocked when she is the witness to a murder and now the killer is after her.
Detective Adam Marshall was close friends with Emma growing up but then she suddenly left town. He is shocked when she arrives at the station asking for him and explains what has happened and he knows that she stumbled on the case he has been working on.
Can Adam keep Emma safe from the killer when it is clear that she is willing to do whatever she can to break the story on her own? Will Emma open up to Adam about why she left town and find a way to get over the past?
This was a great murder mystery with thrown in!
I liked Emma and I admired her perseverance in going after the story although I was worried about how little regard she seemed to have for her own life. Yet through the story you begin to understand why it is so important to her and my heart broke a little for everything she had been through.
I loved Adam right from the beginning and I hated how the case with Emma reminded him of the last case he was involved in that really turned personal. I felt awful and knew he was going to do whatever he could to protect Emma.
There were a few times I was definitely worried that Emma was going to try and sneak off on her own, more than she already did but I was super proud of her when she stayed. I was happy that Adam was able to find a few key pieces that started getting everything to fall into place.
There were a few clues that were dropped that made things fall into place and I was freaking a little when something happened to Emma and you find out who all is involved. I had complete faith in Adam but things were not made easy by the writer and I loved how it all went down at the end!
The end made me super happy and I am really looking forward to more of this series and Adam’s brothers!
By Rebecca
I love to read a series, so having caught it on book one makes me both happy and sad… I want more and I would appreciate it now please! This book sucks you into the story and makes you duck when the bullets fly! More of the Marshall Brothers! I have read a few of the books from this author and she just keeps bringing her game!
Murder on the Mountain is my first book by Carolyn LaRoche. I enjoyed it very much. From watching former best friends Adam and Emma reconnect to their race to find the murderer, I was drawn in. I give it 4 stars and recommend it. Looking for more books from this author
This was the first time in reading this author with the title having murder in it caught my attention. That has been what I have been reading alot. If romance in it all the better. Emma has big plans but I think she should of nosed out the lay of land first but that might of took some of the adrenaline stuff out of play. oh lala this also happened to be a second chance romance with Detective Adam getting his chance. Bullets and lives on the line along with a cartel and their drama, alot of pull to the edge reading. Lots of things in the works with love in the mix. The exciting part is also seeing how this pans out.
Emma Thomas is an investigative reporter who goes back to her home town of Staunton, but trouble is not far away. She turns to Detective Adam Marshall, a friend from school as well as someone who she was once close to.
This book started off quite dramatically and grabbed my attention straight away. It continued to have lots of action and drama causing a lot of excitement- with your heart rate jumping higher.
I found it easy to like Adam with his protective and caring manner. He wasn’t overly all alpha male and showed respect for women. I liked Emma, however, at times she drove me nuts with the decisions she made, but then again it made for a more interesting storyline.
This is a lighter suspense story but has a great twist that I honestly didn’t see coming but loved. The romance element was also sweet but deep and heavy on the romance.
Reviewer: Robyn
Wow, I really liked this book. I couldn’t put it down. I never expected what happened.
I loved Adam and Emma together, they may of been apart but they always would of come back together.
Carolyn LaRoche did amazing job on this book.
This story was full of action, danger, reconnecting, and love, and kept you reading. Emma and Adam shared a past but separated for a while. I loved Emma’s determination and strength to get what she wanted, but also how she allowed herself to feel other emotions, fear, sadness, and love. Adam was such a protective soul, and I fell in love with his willingness to admit where his heart truly lay. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with and a couple worth loving. I recommend this story.
I received a copy of this story through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book.
It’s well written, with both Adam and Emma having a say, in the third person. POV flips at random points though, and it got a bit confusing. There are some clear changes, it’s just there are also some points its Emma in one paragraph and moves swiftly onto the next paragraph and its Adam.
It’s CLEAN. Just some kissing. I struggled with the concept of a single kiss being the reason these two never really loved anyone else after 10 years. A Hig School kiss under the mistletoe. Just a bit odd to me, is all. Might make perfect sense to some, maybe I’m just too cynical.
There is violence, but dealing with a drug lord was never gonna be a picnic, now was it? It’s not very graffic, it’s just there and needed. But for the violence, I would have tagged this young adult. It’s just a tad too much for that, but one scene less and it would be.
I liked this book, I did not love it. This is the first in a series of the brothers Marshall, 6 of them, I think Adam said at some point but I forget already. It is also the first of Ms LaRoche I’ve read. Will I read more? I will certainly try. I DID finish this book.
3 good solid stars, just not really one for me.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
This was a new to me author that intrigued me by the blurb.
The book started fast paced and action packed but seemed to be missing some ingredient that I just couldn’t put my finger on, but in the same breath there was just enough of it to keep me turning the pages. I want to say the lightness of it but that wouldn’t be correct with a cartel involved.
Although the storyline kept me reading, I just feel like there was so much potential that wasn’t utilized like it could of been. The way it’s written I struggled to connect with the characters, neither of them were focused on the right thing. Him I could almost understand why, but her immature ignorance to the bigger picture… It all seemed illogical. Yes it’s fiction but still. The twist was good but predicted it early on.
Reading other reviews others don’t seem to have the same comments so maybe it’s just me and the headspace I’m in.
I would definitely still reccomend giving it a try
This is a new author to me, but I will certainly be looking out for her work in the future. Emma is an investigating reporter who is back in her hometown to investigate drag trafficking there. Adam is a detective and these two works together in this case. This is a fast paced, action packed story, but I struggled to engage with the characters, however, this story is filled with danger, secrets, suspense, intrigue, mystery, romance, and twists. I was intrigued and hooked throughout, and I recommend for all.
3.75 Stars
This was my first Carolyn Laroche novel and I will certainly look for another. A fast paced read that kept me looking for answers, trying to solve the mystery as I read the pages. I mean mystery with a side of romance, why not.
Emma is an investigative reporter and she finds herself back in her home town of Staunton looking for the story of her lifetime. Determined to find the story then pass it along to the authorities. But returning to her home town leads some challenges, memories of the past, people she hasn’t seen in a long time and a love she lost. How will she handle it all.
Adam is a good guy police officer who is doing his best to move forward. Or so he keeps telling himself. There has been a lot of tragedy in his life and this little town, but he is still determined. One thing has been missing for a while though and he didn’t realize just how much until she comes barreling into his office.
Can Emma and Adam solve the mystery? Is there a hope for them to move on from the past? Could there be a chance for an old love?
The character chemistry was strong but I felt that there could have been a little more throughout the story with them. But that could have just been my preference, trying to tip the scale a little more evenly between mystery and romance.
*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***
Emma Thomas is an investigative reporter who goes back to her home town of Staunton, but trouble is not far away. She turns to Detective Adam Marshall, a friend from school as well as someone who she was once close to.
This book started off quite dramatically and grabbed my attention straight away. It continued to have lots of action and drama causing a lot of excitement- with your heart rate jumping higher.
I found it easy to like Adam with his protective and caring manner. He wasn’t overly all alpha male and showed respect for women. I liked Emma, however, at times she drove me nuts with the decisions she made, but then again it made for a more interesting storyline.
This is a lighter suspense story but has a great twist that I honestly didn’t see coming but loved. The romance element was also sweet but deep and heavy on the romance.
Murder on the Mountain is my first book from Carolyn LaRoche and it was ok. The opening set the tone for the fast-paced and twisting plot. But I was missing the connection between the two main characters.
That’s not to say it was bad. In fact I really liked Emma. She was brave and bold. Tenacious and tough. And also lonely. On the hunt for the story that would save her career, she had no idea what kind of mess she would stumble upon. As such, she had to turn to the one person she didn’t know how to face, her former crush and best friend, Adam.
Adam was a bit of a tough nut to crack. He played things by the book (he is a cop after all) but where things with Emma were concerned, things got a little gray. Especially since what she encountered went hand-in-hand with his current investigation. And as the danger and threats kept mounting it was all he could do to stay one step ahead and keep Emma safe. It was all building and just when Adam thought he had a handle on things, the other shoe dropped.
I didn’t see that twist coming and I was reading as fast as my eyes would allow to see how it would all end. While Adam and Emma dug deep into their shared past trauma, I still wanted more of them reconnecting after so many years living separate lives. All in all, Murder on the Mountain was an action packed, suspenseful second-chance romance.
Murder on the Mountain is the first book by Carolyn LaRoche that I have read and I really enjoyed her writing, her characters and her storyline! This book is a perfect mix of romance, danger and intrigue when Emma finds herself caught at the scene of a murder and turns to an old friend, Adam for help. They have history as friends who shared one kiss when they were younger
that made an impression on both of them and now they have a chance to see if that chemistry still burns as hot as it did back then. But first they have a murder to solve.
Murder…mystery…and second chance at love!
This is a new author for me to experience and this book was an easy and enjoyable read. There is a lot to the back story of Emma and Adam. To complicate matters further – Emma witnesses a crime as an investigative reporter and seeks Adam’s help who is a local detective working on the same case.
This story held my interest throughout and Emma and Adam have to sort through some past tragedies to find their way back to a love lost so many years ago.
This is a good, solid introduction to the Marshall brothers and I look forward to reading more.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
4 star review of Murder On The Mountain (Marshall Brothers #1) by Carolyn LaRoche
Carolyn LaRoche is a new author to me. Two of my favourite types of reads together romance and mystery, what more could I ask for? I’m not to sure where to start with this review as I do not want to give any spoilers away. u2002
Murder On The Mountain had me invested in from the first page to the last, I could not put it down.
Emma Thomas, an investigative reporter is back in her home town to investigate a drug trafficking gang, but bullets are soon flying her way and she goes to the only man she knows she can trust, Detective Adam Marshall, to help her; the only problem is he is the man responsible for her leaving Staunton in the first place.
The writing was strong and had me on the edge of my seat. The intrigue, suspense, danger and secrets had me riveted.
Will danger bring Emma and Adam back together or will it destroy their relationship for good?
Layla decides to leave her job as a defense attorney and gets the chance to start life over again in the mountains, leaving all the nastiness behind. She meets Ben, who is also starting his life over, and the two slowly (sooooo slowly) start a bit of a thing. Ben of course does his best to fight the feelings but he eventually comes around. Layla’s past comes back to haunt her and Ben ends up doing his best to keep her safe. Will the two be able to come out on the other side of the danger in one piece?
I must really be the odd man out, this was a struggle for me to read. I have no clue why I wasn’t into this, the blurb read like this would be right up my alley, but it took me days to read. I give this 3.5 stars.
A great suspense that kept me on the edge. I didn’t want to put it down but real life stuff made me like work and appointments. What was supposed to be a relaxing vacation ended up being anything but that.
I loves all the twist and turns. Once I thought I figured it out that character was very obvious proven I was wrong. I look forward to more of this series.
You do not need to read book 1 to read and enjoy this one.
Emma leaves protection to go off on own. How stupid! I like my heroines to be smarter.