Series: Ranger Brigade: Family Secrets (Book 2)
The marriage is fake. The danger is real.
A child is all scientist Hannah Dietrich has left of her
late sister…a child possibly kidnapped by the mysterious cult her sister had
joined. To discover the truth about Emily's death and find her infant daughter,
Hannah turns to BLM Special Agent Walt Riley. Posing as a married couple, they
infiltrate the "Family" as devoted followers of the Prophet.
But delving into the cult's dark secrets proves harder
than expected…while their roles feel disturbingly easy for the fiercely
independent Hannah and the no-nonsense lawman. Has their charade become a real
relationship? And if they find the infant, how will they escape the Prophet's
murderous wrath?
Good book. The Ranger Brigade task force continues to
investigate the cult called "The Family". This time a woman has come
to them asking for help finding her infant niece. Hannah's sister died after
spending time with the cult, naming Hannah as the baby's guardian, but the
members claim to know nothing about either one. Without proof, the Ranger
Brigade's hands are tied. Walt comes up with the idea of he and Hannah posing
as a couple who wants to join the "Family" while they search for the
proof needed.
I liked both Hannah and Walt. Hannah is the older sister,
and feels guilty about not being what her sister needed when she was pregnant
and grieving. She is determined to find Joy and be the mother that Emily would
have wanted her to be. Hannah is determined, stubborn and a little short on
patience. She also has cut herself off from relationships, events from her past
convincing her that she doesn't deserve to be happy. Her attraction to Walt is
unexpected. Walt is fairly new to the Ranger Brigade and is just getting used
to the job. He joined the Brigade as a way to put some distance between himself
and his brother, who married Walt's former girlfriend. Walt is honorable, kind,
and sympathetic to Hannah's distress. He is also attracted to her.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. There
are sparks between them from the beginning, but they try to subdue them in the
interest of their investigation. Hannah finds that she's relieved when she
discovers that Walt will be the agent posing as her husband when they
infiltrate the camp. Both of them sense the connection they have as they
prepare for their mission. I liked seeing how quickly they became comfortable
with each other. That comfort was especially important when they got to the
camp and had to deal with the suspicions of the members. They grow closer as
they depend on each other for support and safety. Walt is especially protective
of Hannah and finds himself in hot water because of it. A run-in with the
Prophet's enforcer puts both of them in a dangerous situation. The struggle to
survive brings them even closer, as each realizes that their attraction has
grown into more. Walt's love helps Hannah move forward from the past that has
kept her avoiding relationships and they are able to find their future
together.
The suspense of the story was good. The cult made their
first appearance in the previous book, Murder in Black Canyon. The cult leader
is definitely creepy with his way of mesmerizing his followers. It is obvious
from the beginning that he is hiding something regarding Hannah's sister and
her baby. Hannah does a really good job of figuring out the truth and getting
help from a surprising source. They also are looking for information about a
missing woman, and the discovery of a grave in the woods has Walt disobeying
cult rules and getting word to the Brigade. This puts him on the outs with the
leadership and gets him attacked and left in the woods. His determination to
get back and save Hannah from whatever they have planned for her is impressive
and the final confrontation is intense and dangerous. While there is partial
success in their mission, the Prophet is still free to continue his activities.
I'm really looking forward to him going down and finding out just what he has
been up to.
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