Danger on the Mountain is the third book in the Marshall Brothers series by Carolyn LaRoche, and it is now available! If you are looking for a romantic suspense book, then consider picking this one up.
In Danger on the Mountain, we meet Layla and Ben. Layla is an attorney who a lot of people are not a fan of. She's had some high profile cases, but this last one is by far the most difficult. Flash forward a little bit, and Layla learns that her dad has passed. She wasn't close to him, after all he left when she was 3. So learning that he left his estate to her was a bit shocking. Packing up and heading to the town where he lived, Layla meets with the lawyer. It is also at the lawyer's office where Layla first meets Ben. Ben had helped Layla's dad a few times, and so he left Ben a little something as a thank you. These two immediately at odds, and honestly Layla wants nothing to do with her dad's property. Until a life change has her changing her tune. Layla is determined to make it work, and is enjoying this new lifestyle. Then she finds out who the neighbor is. A bit of forced proximity, and a suspenseful story later, these two find their HEA.
When I read the teaser for Danger on the Mountain, I had high hopes. As the story unfolded, I was still intrigued. Ben's introduction had me thinking good thoughts. I love a good enemies to lovers story. Yet something was missing for me. I don't mind a slowburn romance if they are done right. I don't mind a character dealing with their past, and the cloud that hangs over their present life. But there was something about Layla and Ben that just didn't click with me. It didn't feel like I was getting a full view of their relationship. Yes they were enemies. Yes they became lovers. But it didn't flow well. It felt like chunks of their story was missing. Maybe that's just me. I'm sure it's just me. I liked the concept. I enjoyed the suspense. I enjoyed the who-dun-it aspect. But the rest was a miss. I did give this 3.5 stars on Goodreads, but I'm not completely sold on that rating. As I sit on it more, I feel like it could be a solid 3.
With books like this, I often wonder, should I recommend it? Would someone else enjoy this book even though it didn't mesh with me? And the answer almost always comes back to yes. Yes I would recommend this book. It may hit different with another reader. It may be what that reader needs at the time. If anything maybe the reader would laugh at the situation with the cows. So yes, if you feel so inclined, go pick up Danger on the Mountain by Carolyn LaRoche. When you read it, come back and let me know your thoughts. Maybe I over looked something. Maybe I didn't. Oh the joy of books.
Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts,
Laura
BLURB
She's sold her soul to the devil for the last time...
When an unexpected inheritance comes her way, high-powered defense attorney, Layla Evans, gives up everything she's known and seizes the opportunity to start over. The mountain ranch is the perfect escape from a life she can no longer stand. In the solitude of her mountain escape, she can wrestle her demons and never hurt anyone with her job again.
She never counted on her past following her there.
Ben Marshall knows a thing or two about running away…
After a decorated military career ended in the worst way possible, Ben leaves his Special Forces unit and seeks sanctuary high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He needs the solitude. It’s enough, until a beautiful brunette, who has no business running a ranch, literally falls into his life. When Layla’s past catches up to her, Ben's old instincts kick in. His need to keep Layla safe becomes stronger than his desire to protect himself from her.
Can he protect Layla without risking his battered heart or will love truly conquer all?
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It pained him to hear the roughness of her voice. A solid reminder that he'd almost lost her. The battle that had waged inside him since meeting her had amped back up to full scale.
When the nurse was gone, Ben tried again to explain himself. "I was engaged once, you know."
"Nope. I had no idea," Layla answered without looking up from her drink. Her apparent indifference hit him right in the heart. "You haven't said much about yourself."
"Her name was Lauren. According to her, I'm not fit for a serious adult relationship."
"Just because it didn't work out with her you consider yourself unable to care about anyone else?"
Man, she isn’t making this easy on me. "It goes much deeper than that, Layla. I've seen things, done things."
"We all have regrets, believe me." She sounded sad and a little wistful. Like she had some serious secrets of her own.
"I was in the Air Force. Special forces. My job… well, things happened. Things I could never get over. Lauren knew it, and now, after messing things up with her so badly, so do I."
Layla set her cup down on the bedside table. "So, because things didn't work out with one relationship, you left your home, your family, and a job I think you loved to come live on a mountain, sentencing yourself to a lifetime of loneliness and self-pity?"
He exhaled slowly. "You don't know what it's like to live in my head. Besides, didn't you basically do the same thing?"
"This isn't about me!"
He leaned forward, looking her in the eyes. "Are you saying you don't have any secrets of your own? Secrets that sent you to the same isolated mountain as me? Secrets that seem to want to see you suffer, maybe even die?"
Layla threw her hands in the air, knocking her cup over. Thankfully it was empty. "I'm not the one saying I want to kiss you but I can't because of my messed up past."
"Maybe not. You certainly haven't shared all the details though, have you?"
"I never kissed you."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It has everything to do with it." Layla yawned and pulled her blanket up to her chin. "I think we're done discussing whose life is more messed up. I'm pretty sleepy now anyway."
He jumped up and paced the room, unwilling to accept her dismissal without making her understand. "You just don't get it. I'm broken, Layla, and I'm no good for you. Even if I wish I were with every fiber of my being."
She pounded a fist against the bed beside her. "Don't you think I should get a say in this? I mean, maybe I'm broken too? Maybe we would help each other? You kissed me. Not just once. I know you felt what I did. Are you willing to give up what you might have because of what you once lost?"
"I've lost so much more than you know." He sat down again then leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees and holding his head in his hands. "It's better for you if you don't get involved with me, believe me."
"Well, it seems you’ve made up my mind for me, so there's really nothing else to talk about. Have a good night, Ben. What's left of it anyway." She rolled away from him.
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Meet
Carolyn LaRoche grew up in snow country but fled the cold and ice several years ago. She now lives near the beach with her husband and their two sons. She’s been known to lug her laptop to the baseball fields and keeps a notebook by her bed to jot down the next big story idea in the wee hours of the night.
AUTHOR LINKS
Thank you to Carolyn LaRoche, Hot Tree Publishing, and Give Me Books PR, for providing me with an advanced copy of Danger on the Mountain.
