Twilight Warrior

Long Mountain Heroes #2

by Aimée Thurlo

The past could never truly be left behind, and Detective Travis Blacksheep had learned that lesson well. His past had brought him back to the Navajo Nation and kept him devoted to his ancestral traditions. But now a faded memory stood on his doorstep asking for help—the woman he had never been able to forget.

Laura Perry was back in Three Rivers to catch a serial killer, and she was willing to use herself as bait. Without Travis protecting her, she'd be an easy target. But keeping Laura alive was easier than keeping his hands off her. And with a relentless predator on their trail, distractions weren't something either of them could afford….

Genres: Romance, Category Romance, Harlequin, Romantic Suspense

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Aimee and David Thurlo are the authors of the Ella Clah mysteries, the Sister Agatha mysteries, the Lee Nez vampire novels all set in New Mexico. David grew up on the Navajo Indian Nation, and Aimee, a native of Cuba, lived in the southwest for forty years.

Aimée passed away peacefully at her home on the morning of February 28, 2014, after a brief struggle with cancer and related complications. She was attended by her husband of 43 years, David. Aimée was 62 years old.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ~ In her last year of high school, Laura's mother had packed them up and moved them away from Three Rivers. Not finishing her last year with her classmates wasn't what hurt, it was leaving Travis, the one friend who she could always count on. A decade's past and Laura's been connecting with another former school friend and when she finds her murdered, the trail of the killer leads her back to Three Rivers. Laura's a former FBI agent now working for a prestigious private investigations firm. Taking a leave from her job, she's out to prove that the murder of her friend is connected to two other murders. Returning to Three Rivers brings her back into Travis' territory; a former marine, he's now a police detective and hopefully, just the man to help her. When her rental car explodes outside of Travis' home, he declares “This isn’t just your fight anymore. Neither one of us started this but we’re sure as hell going to finish it.” Finishing it is a harder task they they anticipated. This killer somehow knows every move they make before they make it, and his threats to Laura's life are like a game to him. Working together, Laura and Travis find that their bond is stronger than ever. While Laura admires Travis' patience and level headed approach, she's a take charge sort and isn't above breaking some rules. Travis quickly learns that she has the smarts and the skills to protect herself and that she's not above putting herself out front to protect him too, there is unconditional trust. And deep rooted and sometimes just barely below the surface, is the heat of awareness that grows stronger every moment they're together.

I really enjoyed Travis and Laura's reawakening. Travis is on a path that brings him closer to his Navajo roots and that connects him to his home in Three Rivers. Laura grew up bullied and shunned by her peers and while she hated leaving Travis behind all those years ago, he was her only pull to her home town. This is their only conflict in their deepening relationship but as they work together to catch the killer they discover in each other and within themselves a greater bond. Ms. Thurlo built their relationship not only on the shared past of teenagers but also on their growing awareness of each other as adults, both on a sexual level and on a level of mutual respect and admiration. This blending of past and present brings life to these characters. I was also fascinated with the Navajo culture and traditions portrayed. All in all, I enjoyed Travis and Laura's journey to HEA very much.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really exciting book. This author is one of my favorites.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot with serial killer stalking the PI who is after him. The PI reunites with old friend who is police officer. Together they go after the killer. I have a problem when story ends i.e. 2 pages after they identify the killer. Kind of "wham, bam, thank you ma'am." Also, the characters knew each other years before but had no idea what each had been doing (or who each had been doing) yet they made love without a condom. That may have been acceptable in the 1970s but not today.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, none too challenging read. It had enough suspense and action to keep my interest. The ending came too quickly with a "oh gee, I suddenly realize I can't live without you" scene. I loved the dog, Crusher, throughout the book.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Long Mountain Heroes

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Long Mountain Heroes

[Suzy Manning · Rating 3 out of 5]

figured out who-dun-it in the first 30 pages