4 Stars! ~~~ This is a lovely romantic suspense.
Little Girl Lost by Shirlee McCoy
Love Inspired Suspense # 40 ~ February 2007
The Secrets of Stoneley – Book 2 of 6
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The Blanchard sisters are all back in Stoneley to attend the town’s annual Winter Fest. While all her sisters with the except of Miranda, are always so eager to leave the mansion and Stoneley behind, Portia has always wanted to settle in her home town. It’s her father’s dominating personality and insistance to work for the family company that keeps Portia returning to New York. Mick Campbell is a detective with the Stoneley police and he’s looking into the murder of a private detective who had been a former partner. Mick knew the real Garrett McGraw; he’d been caught with his hands in the cookie jar, and Mick suspected he wasn’t above blackmail. There was a connection between the PI and the Blanchards, and Mick needed to get to the bottom of it. Just one look at Portia and Mick’s insides melt; she’s so much like his six-year-old daughter. He’s not surprised when he announces he’s investing the murder and that the Blanchards are all suspects, that Portia stubbornly investigates too to prove otherwise. Portia is determined to continue the hunt for her mother and find out what it was that the PI had uncovered that would have lead to his murder. Someone doesn’t want Garrett’s murder investigated and threats are made against Mick and his daughter, and someone seems to be following Portia. Mick finds himself not only looking for a murderer but having to protect those he loves, and this is quickly including Portia.
This is another wonderful segment to the mystery of Trudy Blanchard’s disappearance. Once again there are two conflicts, the murder of the PI while searching for information on Trudy, and the romantic conflict with Portia and Mick. Portia’s been hurt in the past with a man who also had a child. She’d gotten attached to the girl and when the man went back to his ex-wife Portia was doubly heartbroken. Portia is scared to get too involved with the widowed Mick and his daughter. Mick is enchanted with Portia. She’s infuriatingly stubborn and her charming quirkiness seems to have touched him but her world is in New York not Stoneley. This is a lovely romantic suspense. Though the mystery of Trudy continues to the next book, the murder of the PI is resolved, though in a direction not really hinted at in the book. I enjoyed this one very much.
Excellence: Very Good ~ Steaminess: Affectionate
My Totals = 43 ~ Harlequin Imprint = 43 ~ Other Publisher = 0
March Mini-Challenge ~~ “New-to-Me” ~ #17
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Shirlee McCoy – I’ve read excerpts of some of Ms. McCoy’s books and enjoying what I’ve read have added a few of her books to my TBR. I’m glad she has participated in this mini-series so that I’ve had the nudge to read her sooner. I’ve enjoyed her voice, and found this book to be very well written. I’m eagerly looking forward to reading more of her books.
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
