Playing Dirty - HelenKay Dimon (Avon - Feb 2015)

Series: Bad Boys Undercover (Book 1)

As an elite Alliance agent -- the joint undercover operation of MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, and the CIA -- Ford Decker lives for the adrenaline. But when he befriends sexy property manager Shay Alexander in hopes of finding her cousin, a known national security threat, Ford crosses the line, getting to know her better . . . in bed.

After being burned by her last relationship, Shay wants to take things slow. Yet she can't keep her hands off the drop-dead gorgeous hottie who's moved into her apartment building. So when Ford's identity as an undercover agent is exposed, his betrayal cuts deep. Shay never wants to see him again, but Ford can't let her go, not when her life is still in danger. He will sacrifice everything to protect her, then be prepared to walk away from the only woman he's ever loved, even if it breaks him.

Very good book. Ford is undercover, working on a case for Alliance. A scientist has gone missing along with some vials of a deadly toxin. Rumor has it that it will be sold to the highest bidder. Ford is tagged with watching Shay, cousin to the missing scientist, and property manager of the building Ford is now living in. But Ford goes further than he should, and gets much, much closer. Because of a past relationship that went wrong, Shay intends to be cautious with Ford. But those intentions go right out the window when the sparks between them burst into flame.

I really liked both Ford and Shay. Shay is pretty straightforward, doesn't play silly emotional games. She is recovering from one bad relationship, where the guy lied to her and used her to try to get to her uncle and his wealth. She likes Ford, and though she is frustrated by his frequent absences, she understands that his job as an IT specialist calls him away at a moment's notice. I loved that she isn't a whiner and doesn't try to inveigle him into a deeper relationship than he's ready for. Her family is important to her and she worries about her cousin.

Ford is great. He first appeared in Running Hot, as Ward's partner. Now he is a team leader himself. He likes the new agency, which isn't as bound up in rules and regulations as his former work with the CIA, which gives him the freedom to react as he needs to. He is protective, loyal, frequently sarcastic, and honorable. He's haunted by things that happened on his last CIA mission and determined that it won't happen again.

The relationship between Ford and Shay has the potential for disaster from the beginning. Ford wasn't supposed to make contact with her yet, but the attraction to her is too hard to resist. From the outset, we see the conflict that Ford is suffering from. She is part of the job, a possible suspect, and yet he can't stay away from her. He realizes quickly that she isn't involved and quickly moves into protector mode, worried about her getting caught up in the middle. I loved seeing them together, with their happiness in just being able to spend time together. Shay's mistrust of men disappears when she's around Ford, feeling that he's just what he says he is. Ford gets a little freaked out by just how much he needs Shay in his life. I loved how being with her would center him after a difficult op. I was a little bit surprised that Shay wasn't more suspicious of Ford, especially with his odd schedule, but he was pretty convincing. I ached for them both when the truth came out. Ford had fallen so hard for her, but knew that he deserved her anger. What he didn't know was if she would ever forgive him. Shay was hit with so much at once that Ford's deception seemed to be an even worse betrayal. It takes her a while to process everything, and even then she's not sure she can forgive him. I loved Ford's big moment at the end, especially the vulnerability that he exposed to her.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. The men and women of Alliance are determined to stop Trent and his plans to sell the toxin to the highest bidder. The problem that they have is that each lead they follow ends up being a dead end or a trap that nearly gets them killed. It quickly becomes obvious that there is someone on the inside that is helping the bad guys. So in addition to finding Trent and the toxin, they also have to find the "mole". There were a couple possibilities and the truth remained hidden until the end. The build up to the final confrontation was intense and kept me reading well past my bedtime. I was on the edge of my seat through it as I wondered how it was going to end.

I loved how Ford's Bravo team worked together. They were all so different, but each had their own place. I especially liked how much respect they had for Ford and that they were with him no matter what. I loved the banter among them all, from the funny to the sarcastic. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in later books.

Running Hot - HelenKay Dimon (Avon - Jan 2015)

Series: Bad Boys Undercover (Book .5)

Camped out at a resort bar in Fiji, CIA operative Ward Bennett may look like he's on vacation but he's really deep undercover, hunting a dictator on the run. Ward may be on the job, but that doesn't mean there isn't time for the sexy female bartender. That is, until she drugs him.

When Tasha Gregory discovers the hottie on the barstool isn't who he pretends to be, her MI6 training kicks into gear, and she has no choice but to take him out. Problem is, Ward's not an easy man to put down for long. More than once, his interference almost blows her surveillance operation--and her ability to keep her heart to herself.

As the situation heats up, these two must decide whether they can trust one another--and quick. Working together might just make everyone safer, but getting close enough for comfort ... might just get them killed.

Good introduction to the Bad Boys Undercover series and how The Alliance got started. It starts with Ward regaining consciousness after a date with the sexy bartender he's been trying to charm all week. She has morphed from hot bartender to badass woman, and he's scrambling trying to figure out what is going on. I loved their confrontation, as he tries to maintain his cover, and she tries to get him to come clean. Ward isn't totally helpless, and uses his own skills to escape his bonds, but even that doesn't work out quite the way he expects. Finally rescued by his partner, Ford, they head off looking for her while continuing on their own mission.

Tasha works for MI6 and Ward for the CIA. Both of them are on the island for the same reason. When they finally catch up to Tasha, it takes some doing to convince her that working together is the way to go. Tasha has quite an attitude, thanks to dealing with men who have no respect for her abilities, and has no trouble letting Ward and Ford know what she thinks of them. There's some power struggling going on between Ward and Tasha, partly aggravated by the simmering chemistry between them, but they end up working very well together. Both of them have trouble with their attraction distracting them which gets them into a couple awkward situations.

The suspense and action of the story was really good. From the first page there was always something going on. I loved seeing all three work together to get the mission accomplished. The encounters leading up to the final confrontation were intense and showed both Ward and Tasha that they could depend on each other. The final confrontation had me wondering at times if they were all going to make it out in one piece. I liked the realism of things not going according to plan, and that injuries happen.

When it was all over Ward and Tasha had to deal with the aftermath. I ached for Tasha as Ward pushed her away. I enjoyed his big moment at the end, especially seeing a hint of vulnerability in his tough guy attitude. I also loved his comments about their future relationship, on and off the job.

Forgive and Forget - Heather Ashby (Amber House - July 2014)

Series: Love in the Fleet (Book 1)

Who can resist a man in uniform? There's something about a man in uniform...but there's something about a woman in one, too. When Petty Officer Hallie McCabe meets Philip Johnston at a picnic, she is drawn to his integrity. He's a gentleman. But he's also an officer. From her ship. Knowing that officers and enlisted aren't allowed to fraternize, Hallie conceals her Navy status, hoping she and her secret can stay hidden on their aircraft carrier until she can figure out a way for them to sail off into the sunset together. 

Caught in an emotional firestorm, Hallie faces a future without the man she loves, a career-shattering secret from the past, and the burden of being the one person who can prevent a terrorist attack on the ship she has sworn to protect with her life. Prepare to set sail for the Persian Gulf with a crew of 4,999 sailors and officers-and one terrorist in search of his own kind of Paradise.

Very good book. I wasn't too sure at the beginning as I didn't like the secret Hallie was keeping, but I quickly got engrossed. Hallie and Phillip met at a picnic and were immediately drawn to each other. Hallie is an enlisted sailor on the same ship where Phillip is an officer. She knows the rules against fraternization, but she keeps quiet.

I loved the development of their relationship. Phillip is an engineer, a bit geeky, but sweet and honest and a gentleman. Hallie is smart, independent, and works in the public affairs office of the ship. She is studying journalism at the university. The connection between them is strong. I loved how they were able to talk about real things, not just the usual small talk. Phillip is convinced right away that she is The One for him. Hallie is equally hooked on him, but her secret is haunting her. She knows that if she tells him that she's enlisted he'll break things off right away. I loved seeing them get to know each other.

Hallie has some issues that also affect her relationship. She does everything she can to avoid meeting any of Phillip's friends. Besides not wanting to see anyone that could give away her secret, she also has a thing about pilots, some of whom are his friends. I loved seeing her share her reasons for her dislike with Phillip, and his understanding and support of her. There's an interesting twist involving those reasons later in the book, and Phillip's protective nature really comes out.

When it's time for the ship to leave, Hallie knows she has to come clean. I really started to feel for her because she was so in love with him. I ached for Phillip too, when he found out, as it made him feel betrayed by her. I loved seeing Hallie give him the time he needed to deal with the news. One thing I loved about this book was that they were realistic about what the rules meant, and they worked hard to follow them. I loved the scenes with Trixie being the unwitting go between, who keeps Phillip and Hallie informed on each other's lives. I liked the solution they came up with to be able to continue their relationship within the spirit of the rules.

Throughout the book there is also an underlying sense of danger. There is a disgruntled sailor who has turned terrorist and has plans that will endanger the entire ship. His thoughts and feelings are well documented and the intensity increases as the book progresses. The final confrontation with him is scary in how easily it could really happen. I loved Hallie's ability to think in a crisis and the way she held it together to save the day.

But the excitement isn't over, as Hallie has a personal crisis to deal with. She gets major help from a surprising source. There's also a fun scene on a helicopter dealing with a hot mic and Phillip's best friend, Sky. I also loved the meeting between Hallie and Phillip's parents.

I enjoyed the look at life on an aircraft carrier, from the point of view of ordinary military members. I love special forces heroes, but now and then it's great to see other things. It was fun hearing about Phillip's issues with the ship's plumbing. There was also a realistic look at what female sailors have to deal with. 

Thankful for You - Joanna Sims (HSE #2513 - Nov 2016)

Series: Brands of Montana (Book 8)

Is he a big-sky kind of guy?

All Nick Brand wants to see of Montana is a for-sale sign on his family's in-dispute land. That's before the fast-track Chicago lawyer meets the ranch hand who's been hired to help clean up the property. Dallas Dalton can rope a steer, ace a barrel-racing competition…and lasso her way into one smitten bachelor's heart.

Raised on the rodeo circuit, Dallas lives to compete -- while guarding against future heartbreak. Now she just wants to muss up Nick's hair and show him how this Western woman is won! The refined attorney is a world away from the rough-and-tumble cowboys Dallas knows. Yet deep down, she and Nick desire the same thing. Is he ready to trade his Eastern view for the big sky with a cowgirl who's through singing the blues?

Good story of opposites attracting. Nick is a Chicago lawyer, from the non-Montana branch of the family. When his aunt dies, Nick is the one sent to get the land ready to sell. It had been occupied by Davy Dallas until his death, and Nick enlists his daughter Dallas to help go through his things. Dallas is a barrel racer who spends most of her time on the rodeo circuit. She was raised on the road by her father and is fiercely independent.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. It starts out slow and easy as they become friends while going through all the stuff that Davy left behind. There is also attraction. Nick is somewhat baffled by his fascination with Dallas. When he first arrived, all he wanted was to get rid of the property and get back to his city life in Chicago. But the more time he spends with Dallas, the harder it is to think of leaving. But he needs to get back to work soon. Dallas is just an intrigued by Nick, but her life is on the road. There's no way that their lives could mesh.

Nick missed Dallas when he went back to Chicago and couldn't stop thinking about her. I loved the way that he showed up at some of her competitions just to see her. He knew he was starting to care for her and was determined to expose her to the good things in his life. But he also had worries about how she would fit in with his Chicago life. Dallas missed him too. She was surprised and pleased when he would show up. His attentions made her feel special in a way she never had before. I loved how they talked and texted over the next few weeks, sharing bits of their lives. When Nick invited her to spend a week in Chicago, she was happy to go.

I had mixed feelings about Nick in Chicago. I loved how he wanted to show Dallas a good time while she was there, even though he also had to work. His enjoyment of introducing her to things like the symphony and some of Chicago's attractions was real. He was also thinking into the future and found a place where she could continue her training. But there were also a few traces of his parents' attitude in him, and there were several times when he let something she said or did bother him. The dinner with his parents was especially irritating to me when he said something that was really hurtful.

I liked Dallas a lot. She's independent and content with her life. She's had issues in her past that have had their effects on her present, causing her to be cautious about giving her heart. She has her own goals for her future. Though she has a pretty tough exterior, she also has a soft center. Going through her father's things was difficult, and having Nick's support helped. I liked the thoughtful way she decided to go to Chicago, wanting to see Nick's world. She was excited and nervous. I loved the visit with Jordan and her husband. Having Jordan nearby gave Dallas an extra layer of support. Dallas really enjoyed the different things she got to see and do. She started to understand that Nick really was looking at a future with her. But there are times when she wonders if she can fit in his world. A couple of incidents reinforce that feeling.

When Dallas goes home to Montana, Nick realizes how badly he hurt her and has to take a hard look at himself. I loved his self-assessment and the realization of just how much he loves her. At the same time, Dallas has her own hurt to deal with. I liked her conversation with Nick's aunt and everything it gave her to think about. Nick's big moment at the end was sweet and romantic and emotional. I loved the engagement "ring" that he gave her.

What Happens in Texas - Carolyn Brown (Sourcebooks Casablanca - June 2016)

Series: Cadillac Texas (Book 1)

You Are Cordially Invited...Come early, eat until your buttons pop, and dance until you drop!

Miss Clawdy's Café has won the Jubilee blue ribbon every year since the dawn of time. This year, town matron Violet Prescott is going after that ribbon with an iron-clad determination only thinly disguised by her perfect coiffure and flawless manners, bless her heart.

It's time for café owners Cathy and Marty and their best friend Trixie to pull out their secret weapon. And this is where a lifetime of friendship, combined with just the right recipe at just the right time, might carry the day -- or blow everything to smithereens.

Welcome to Cadillac, Texas, where the jalapeños are hot, the gossip is hotter, and at the end of the day, it's the priceless friendships that are left standing...

A hilarious offering from Carolyn Brown, showing that men may come and go, but friendship is forever. Cathy, Marty and Trixie have been friends all their lives, and together own and run Miss Clawdy's Café. Darla Jean is a new addition to their circle, a former hooker who has turned preacher. At the beginning of the book, Cathy is engaged to Ethan, an up and coming politician, Marty is enjoying the single life with whatever cowboy catches her eye, Trixie has divorced two-timing Andy but is still sleeping with him and Darla Jean is watching over everyone. All of them are kept on their toes trying to keep Aunt Agnes out of trouble. There is small town drama on top of drama, with hilarious shenanigans throughout.

Cathy is the "good" sister, quiet, never in trouble. She caught the eye of Ethan, who feels she will be the perfect political wife. Cathy is looking forward to the wedding, but dealing with Ethan's overbearing mother, Violet, and his campaign manager is making her miserable. Violet is the self-proclaimed queen of Cadillac and what she says, goes.  In the beginning, Cathy seemed like quite a doormat, never standing up to Violet and her demands. The only thing she did for herself was reading the erotic romances that were her escape.

Marty is the "wild" sister. Besides the café, she also works on cars with their friend Jack. She has no interest in settling down, instead she enjoys the company of whoever catches her eye. Once a week she teaches the GED course at the college. She is loyal to family and friends, and once her word is given, she keeps it. She has never forgiven Andy for cheating on Trixie, and makes sure that he knows it. She has a couple of secrets that could create problems if they were to come out. One, is that she writes erotic romances, the same ones that she doesn't know her sister and friend read. Two, she voted against her friend and her aunt joining the Blue Ribbon Jalapeño Society.

Trixie is the third partner in the café. She was married to Andy until she discovered that he had been cheating on her with Anna Ruth. She divorced him, but misses the fun times they had in bed, so she has a weekly booty call with him. She knows her friends would be mad if they found out, so she keeps it a secret. Trixie is also dealing with the slow loss of her mother to Alzheimer's. Her visits to her mom in the nursing home break her heart, as Janie slips further and further away.

Darla Jean retired from her previous life and took up preaching instead. She lives across from the café and keeps an eye on things. She's a down to earth person who knows there's plenty of good and bad in the world. She's developed quite a knack for smoothing over ruffled feathers, which comes in handy when dealing with Aunt Agnes. She also discovers an additional purpose to her life as she assists abused women in escaping their abusers and starting over.

The book starts out with a bang, as the voting for the new member of the Society takes place. Marty isn't happy about the way she has to vote, and feels guilty about it, but a promise is a promise. The excitement continues when Trixie and Andy are about to get busy and Aunt Agnes shows up at the house with her shotgun, claiming she saw Trixie being assaulted through the window. Cops are called, shots are fired, Andy escapes without being seen, while the others try to talk Agnes down.

Meanwhile, as the wedding gets closer, Violet's and Ethan's demands and expectations start to wear on Cathy. The pre-nup that they want her to sign is the last straw, and Cathy finds her backbone in an impressive way. From there, she takes back her life, and finds a bit of her sister's spirit lurking in her own soul. I loved seeing her find her place and her voice. I liked seeing Marty soften her own edges, as she has to balance keeping her secret or hurting her friend. Trixie's eyes are opened regarding her ex when she discovers that he isn't just cheating on the woman he cheated on her with and she realizes that she deserves better.

The long-running feud between Agnes and Violet continues to heat up. Violet continues with her attempts to control everything, especially anything that could have an effect on the upcoming election. Agnes is just as determined to make things as difficult as possible for Violet, and has some truly creative methods. The fudge incident at the festival was especially memorable, as was the fun at the parade. I loved Agnes and her feistiness. She had no problem saying what was on her mind at any time. She also had a huge heart under that crusty façade, as was shown in the way she helped Darla Jean. I also loved how Agnes would fuss at all the girls. She was especially sharp with Trixie, who would give as good as she got. But in the end, they were on the same side.

I loved seeing how all four women supported each other through good and bad. They had their arguments and misunderstandings, but in the end, friendship always came out on top. I also loved their friend Jack, who was like a brother to them all. There were some terrific scenes with him, from car repairs, to trying not to give away secrets that weren't his to share, to them helping him finally move out of his mother's house. I also loved how each one of the girls was paired with him at some point in the town's gossip chain.

Another fun character that was definitely on the "love to hate" side of the ledger was Anna Ruth. Besides being the one that broke up Trixie's marriage, she ends up being the burr under the saddle of the others also. Anna Ruth is just the type of person that Violet would like for Ethan, instead of Cathy. She's very good at kissing up to Violet, especially when it comes to the Society. She also discovers just how she got voted in, making her a pain in Marty's neck, as she thinks that makes them "practically sisters". And since everything is a drama for her, she is constantly crying on Cathy's shoulder about one thing or another. Things get even more interesting when she actually gets Andy to propose to her. Their wedding and everything leading up to it is a case for Murphy's Law, and I loved seeing how it all went.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Fortune's Second-Chance Cowboy - Marie Ferrarella (HSE #2533 - Mar 2017)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: The Secret Fortunes (Book 3)

WELCOME HOME, CHLOE FORTUNE!

"You're family," Graham Fortune tells his newly discovered half sister, Chloe Fortune Elliott, and just like that, Chloe has a new job and a new home in Austin. She works well with the troubled teens at Peter's Place, but she's having more difficulty managing a male of the grown-up variety. Ranch hand Chance Howell gets under her skin from the moment they meet.

The tall blond army veteran is good with horses and adolescents, but he's a master at avoiding intimacy. Maybe that's why Chloe is so drawn to him. Or maybe it's the sadness she recognizes in his eyes. Her head tells her falling for Chance is a bad idea. Her heart tells her she may have no choice…

Very good book. Chloe first appeared in the previous book (Her Sweetest Fortune) as a newly discovered Fortune half-sibling, and the one that Sophie went off on during a family get-together. This left her wondering if she would ever be accepted by her new family. That feeling was eased somewhat by a call from Graham Fortune, one of those members, who has offered her a job. She's a newly minted counselor and is thrilled to have a chance to work with the troubled teens at the ranch. She's also looking forward to a new stage in her life, after the death of her husband overseas.

Chance is an army veteran who has just been hired to work on the ranch. Ever since coming home several years before, he has had a hard time settling. He'll work a job for awhile and then start feeling restless and move on. He's haunted by the things he's seen and done and deals with the memories by not allowing himself to get too close to anyone. His leadership experience has Graham putting Chance in charge of mentoring the boys in their ranch work.

When Chance and Chloe first meet, they are under the misunderstanding that they are interviewing for the same job. It's pretty amusing to see their thoughts about the other's qualifications for the job. There is also an instant spark of attraction, something that neither one wants to pursue. Chloe feels disloyal to her husband's memory just by admitting her attraction. Chase knows better than to get involved at all, since his track record of sticking around is really bad. He wouldn't want to hurt a woman, so he just remains a loner.

I loved the slow growth of their relationship. It starts out simply, as two people with four teenagers to help and guide. I liked how Chance got Chloe to learn to ride by challenging her courage. Chloe is stubborn and feisty and refuses to be thought of as a scaredy cat. It was really sweet to see Chance's patience as he teaches her. All that time together also gives their attraction time to go from a simmer to a boil. I loved seeing Chloe begin to allow herself to feel again, after being so numb after her husband's death. But she isn't completely over her fears, and the idea of opening her heart to the risks of loving again makes her wonder if she's doing the right thing. Chance has been running from commitment for so long that he's taken by surprise when he realizes that he has no desire to run this time. But he also has his own insecurities, and doesn't think a Fortune would be interested in an ordinary cowboy like him. I thought it was pretty awesome that it's the boys who give Chance the insight and courage to go after what he wants. I loved the ending, which was sweet and romantic, with a little bit of humor added in.

I really enjoyed seeing both Chance and Chloe working with the four boys. It was awesome to see how quickly both of them became important parts of their lives. There were no quick and easy breakthroughs, just a realistically slow buildup of trust. It was especially sweet to see how far Brandon came by the end of the book. I also loved how working with them gave Chance the purpose in life that he hadn't realized he had been searching for. He also was able to put his own spin on the program and make a proposal that would help others like him. I hope to see more of it in later books.

Her Sweetest Fortune - Stella Bagwell (HSE #2527 - Feb 2017)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: The Secret Fortunes (Book 2)

FRIENDS WITH…BENEFITS?

Sophie Fortune Robinson is on a mission. The word around the office watercooler is that the boss's youngest daughter is intent on landing Mr. Right by Valentine's Day -- and that she has her eyes, and heart, set on a certain hunk in Marketing. But when she enlists her longtime pal and coworker Mason Montgomery to teach her how to get a man to notice her, little does she know she's already captured his attention!

Now Mason's in a real bind! He has just a few short weeks to fight his way out of the "friend zone." On his agenda: convincing sweet Sophie that he is the real man of her dreams! Will Fortune smile on true love's venture?

Good book, though the blurb isn't quite right. Yes, Sophie is determined to land the guy she has her eye on, and yes, she is friends with Mason. But she doesn't enlist his help to get Thom to notice her, she just talks to him as a friend and tells him things. What she doesn't know is that Mason is interested in her for himself.

Sophie is the youngest in the family and used to following her father's guidelines - set a goal and then achieve it through hard work and confidence. She just needs to find a way to get Thom's attention. Once she does, she is sure that the relationship will progress just as she envisions it. After all, she's sure that he's her Mr. Right. She is so focused on what she believes that she doesn't see the type of man that he really is. She also doesn't see what is right in front of her.

Mason is a really nice guy. He's been interested in Sophie for a long time, but a) she's the boss's daughter, and b) he's just one of the programmers and an ordinary guy. He doesn't think she'd be interested in him. But he also can't stand the idea of Sophie being hurt by a guy like Thom.

Sophie sees Mason as a friend, someone who is easy to talk to. Mason knows that Thom is not the man she thinks he is, but also knows that telling her so will only make her dig in her heels. I thought she was a little silly, fixating on Thom because of his looks and popularity, without looking deeper. She was so excited about their first date, and it turned out so differently than she expected. She was so stubbornly determined that it took several more dates before she realized the truth about him. In the meantime, Mason is there when she needs someone to talk to. He always seems to know just what she needs. It isn't long before she discovers she'd rather spend time with Mason than with Thom. Why is it that an unexpected kiss from Mason is far superior to the one she got from Thom? But seeing the problems in her parents' marriage has made her wonder if something that good can last.

I loved Mason's patience. He listens to her go on about her plans with/for Thom without telling her what an idiot she's being. He's sweet and kind and sensitive to her moods. I loved the way he came through for her on Valentine's Day. He did not expect the sparks to suddenly burst into flame with her. I also felt he was a little too understanding about her fear of looking ridiculous by switching her focus to him so quickly. His frustration at the secrecy of their relationship was understandable, and I was not surprised that he finally blew up. He was also a bit insecure in their relationship, finding it hard to believe that she could love a man like him. I loved the ending and how both of them admitted their fears and feelings.

Also running through the story is the issue of Sophie's father and the illegitimate children that are coming to light. She is having a hard time dealing with it. Her own fears and insecurities cause her to behave like a brat  to one of her newly discovered siblings. She also doesn't understand her mother's attitude, and begins to suspect that she has her own reasons for putting up with what is happening. Sophie becomes determined to find out her mother's secrets.