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The Coltons of Wyoming #3
The Missing Colton
A gripping Coltons of Wyoming mystery unfolds from award-winning author Loreth Anne White
The dark mystery of a Colton child's disappearance has haunted Dead River Ranch for thirty years. Solving the crime is foreign correspondent Jagger McKnight's last chance to put his war-ravaged past to rest. But his undercover mission leaves him the victim of an attack. And he wakes up to discover that beautiful infirmary nurse Mia Sanders believes he's the missing Colton.
Now the real danger begins. An unknown enemy has Jagger--and Mia--in sight. For survival and the sake of his story, he must lie to the woman he'll do anything to protect. But when deception turns deadly, can love save them both?
The dark mystery of a Colton child's disappearance has haunted Dead River Ranch for thirty years. Solving the crime is foreign correspondent Jagger McKnight's last chance to put his war-ravaged past to rest. But his undercover mission leaves him the victim of an attack. And he wakes up to discover that beautiful infirmary nurse Mia Sanders believes he's the missing Colton.
Now the real danger begins. An unknown enemy has Jagger--and Mia--in sight. For survival and the sake of his story, he must lie to the woman he'll do anything to protect. But when deception turns deadly, can love save them both?
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First published January 1, 2013
85 people are currently reading
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About the author
Loreth Anne White
90 books7,121 followersLoreth Anne White is an Amazon Charts, Washington Post, and Bild bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. With over 3 million books sold around the world, she is an ITW thriller award finalist, a three-time RITA finalist, an overall Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Arthur Ellis finalist, and winner of multiple industry awards.
A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now calls Canada home. She resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Victoria on Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails with her dog where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears. For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com
Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreth.Anne....
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loreth
Or via Instagram: lorethannewhite
Visit her at www.lorethannewhite.com
A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now calls Canada home. She resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Victoria on Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails with her dog where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears. For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com
Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreth.Anne....
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loreth
Or via Instagram: lorethannewhite
Visit her at www.lorethannewhite.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 28, 2016
Jagger thought of kissing her again, and heat sharpened in his groin. He thought of turning her over, making love to her, giving in to this woman, and that thought began to consume him with a blinding fire. But he held back.
There was something sacrosanct about Mia, something that couldn't be taken lightly.
He'd been using sex, alcohol, sleeping pills to blunt his flashbacks, to escape the memories. He'd felt no emotion when he slept with women after returning from Afghanistan. But this was different.
I didn't really like this book. Not because of bad writing, but because the hero was not acting honorably.
THE HERO
Jagger McKnight was kidnapped in a carjacking at age 3 months. He was raised by a criminal woman who had accidentally kidnapped him when carjacking. At age 9, he was returned to his biological parents by the police, but as a result he is fucked-up in the head.
He becomes a foreign correspondent and is a lauded journalist working in war zones and other dangerous places.
Then he gets more fucked-up in the head and also has PTSD because he didn't shoot and kill a nine-year-old kid who was strapped with explosives who came into the bunker he was embedded in and killed everyone in the unit. Except Jagger.
Now he wanders the U.S. "like a tumbleweed" until he hears a news story about baby Cole Colton being kidnapped 30 years ago on Dead River Ranch. He gets a contract with book and TV to break the story wide open by going under cover.
On his way to the ranch, he is brutally attacked. When he awakes in the ranch infirmary, he allows everyone to believe he has amnesia and he allows everyone to call him "Cole" and act like he is the long-missing Colton son.
THE HEROINE
Mia is the nurse at Colton ranch. She fled Bellingham, Washington to forget about the shame and humiliation of being stranded at the altar.
When she is horseback riding one day, on her way to go fly-fishing, she finds the battered, bloody body of Jagger McKnight. He has a scrap of Cole's baby blanket on him and a picture of Brittany (Cole's mother) holding baby Cole.
She starts falling in love with the dark, brooding amnesiac who is under her care.
THE GOOD
White is actually a pretty good author. She writes well, it's not stupid or cloying.
Grace scribbled the order onto her pad then lifted her eyes, holding Jagger's gaze a fraction longer than necessary. He recognized the look - it was one he'd seen in the faces of the nameless women he'd taken into his bed. The waitress found him interesting - attractive, even . And suddenly, like a sharp, blinding flash of light through his body, Jagger yearned for something clean and sunshiny fresh. For bright mornings without hangovers, for pure smiles. For the scent of shampoo with a name like Spring Breeze. The aroma of freshly baked muffins, laundered sheets that smelled like flowers and pine. A real and good woman in his arms. Hell, he couldn't even articulate to himself what he was feeling right now - where these intense feelings came from. But they startled him in both their suddenness and ferocity, and inside he felt himself beginning to shake again.
I also like Mia, a gun-carrying, fly-fishing, horseback-riding nurse. As soon as her gun gets taken by the police for 'evidence,' she marches right to the store to immediately purchase another one. She's not aggressive, but you get the idea that she is capable and has a wide range of skills.
THE BAD
Jagger McKnight is not acting honorably. He is faking having amnesia and he is allowing everyone to believe that he is the long-lost Colton son. He has a lucrative TV/book deal about breaking the story of the Colton kidnapping.
Mia is a kindhearted woman who is trying to help someone she sees who is hurt. It's dishonorable to use her for information and lie to her and put the moves on her all while she is believing Jagger is suffering from amnesia and is an innocent. In fact he is a journalist and a plant.
Lying to everyone else in the household is one thing, allowing a woman to develop feelings for you and doing sexual things with her while she is under a very false impression of you is another.
And why is he doing this? White is trying to convince us that he has some kind of noble intentions, as if it's very important to him to bring the kidnapper(s) to justice. But the fact that he's getting a juicy TV/book deal out of this gives me pause. Him being willing to exploit a grieving family and also exploiting his own kidnapped past really makes me feel like he is icky.
The way he treats Mia is also icky. ONE, he uses her name too much. You know when people use your name excessively as a power play? Yeah, he does that. It's gross. Blech. TWO, even though he's completely lying to her every second of the day, he feels fine about prying into her private life. He asks her really personal questions and acts like it's his right to know stuff about her, even though he's obviously making her uncomfortable and forcing her to share when she doesn't want to. Fucker. Guy's a snake.
Another thing I don't like is his history of nameless one-night-stands where he obviously doesn't give a fuck about any random female he takes to bed. This is not a turn-on.
Mia isn't perfect either. For one thing, she just starts calling Jagger "Cole" as soon as she finds him, making all sorts of snap assumptions that he is the long-lost Colton before the guy even regains consciousness. She's forcing a LOT of history and drama on him with this name. It's not just a name, it's a burden and a legacy and a horror story all rolled into one. Of course, Jagger rolls with it, but what if he actually WERE an innocent with amnesia? That's a hell of thing to do to a man.
She also goes through Jagger's e-mail at one point which is wrong and breach of trust and privacy. NOT okay.
There is also a lot of "alpha" BS in this story. As if all men who have dangerous jobs (firejumper, army, foreign correspondent, police) are automatically "alpha males," whatever the fuck that term means nowadays. Mia berates herself for always being attracted to men who are adrenaline junkies who consequently treat women like shit. Not my idea of an 'alpha,' men who neglect and abandon their women to chase a dopamine high, but OKAY. The whole term of "alpha" means absolute shit nowadays. He's not particularly pushy or domineering in the bedroom, for which I am eternally grateful. Often being a callous, cruel piece of shit in the bedroom translates to "alpha" nowadays, and I really hate that. Which brings me to:
HOW WAS THE SEX, CARMEN?
I feel like it's not White, it's me. White is trying hard to make the sex sexy, but I just wasn't having it. I was feeling the kissing. There was a little bit of kissing, but once we got to the sex, I checked out.
For one thing, I think it's an extremely shitty thing of him to do to have sex with her when he's blatantly lying his ass off and manipulating her for his own purposes. Very low. Dishonorable. Perhaps this is what bothered me most about the sex.
But besides that, I just don't like how this guy fucks. At all. It's not pleasing to me, and there's a lot of problems here that make me unhappy. I won't list them, for heaven's sake, but let me just tell you it was a mess. Not anything cruel or I-own-you or shit like that, but just basic stuff that grated my cheese.
At least they used a condom, that was a plus.
Tl;dr - Sigh. Worse than being a straight-up bad book, this is one of those ones you read and see the potential there, but realize it was not utilized. White is a capable author, but her hero is pretty shitty and her sex scene is not up to standards. Colton by Blood remains the best book in this series thus far. We'll have to see how the rest of the series plays out.
There was something sacrosanct about Mia, something that couldn't be taken lightly.
He'd been using sex, alcohol, sleeping pills to blunt his flashbacks, to escape the memories. He'd felt no emotion when he slept with women after returning from Afghanistan. But this was different.
I didn't really like this book. Not because of bad writing, but because the hero was not acting honorably.
THE HERO
Jagger McKnight was kidnapped in a carjacking at age 3 months. He was raised by a criminal woman who had accidentally kidnapped him when carjacking. At age 9, he was returned to his biological parents by the police, but as a result he is fucked-up in the head.
He becomes a foreign correspondent and is a lauded journalist working in war zones and other dangerous places.
Then he gets more fucked-up in the head and also has PTSD because he didn't shoot and kill a nine-year-old kid who was strapped with explosives who came into the bunker he was embedded in and killed everyone in the unit. Except Jagger.
Now he wanders the U.S. "like a tumbleweed" until he hears a news story about baby Cole Colton being kidnapped 30 years ago on Dead River Ranch. He gets a contract with book and TV to break the story wide open by going under cover.
On his way to the ranch, he is brutally attacked. When he awakes in the ranch infirmary, he allows everyone to believe he has amnesia and he allows everyone to call him "Cole" and act like he is the long-missing Colton son.
THE HEROINE
Mia is the nurse at Colton ranch. She fled Bellingham, Washington to forget about the shame and humiliation of being stranded at the altar.
When she is horseback riding one day, on her way to go fly-fishing, she finds the battered, bloody body of Jagger McKnight. He has a scrap of Cole's baby blanket on him and a picture of Brittany (Cole's mother) holding baby Cole.
She starts falling in love with the dark, brooding amnesiac who is under her care.
THE GOOD
White is actually a pretty good author. She writes well, it's not stupid or cloying.
Grace scribbled the order onto her pad then lifted her eyes, holding Jagger's gaze a fraction longer than necessary. He recognized the look - it was one he'd seen in the faces of the nameless women he'd taken into his bed. The waitress found him interesting - attractive, even . And suddenly, like a sharp, blinding flash of light through his body, Jagger yearned for something clean and sunshiny fresh. For bright mornings without hangovers, for pure smiles. For the scent of shampoo with a name like Spring Breeze. The aroma of freshly baked muffins, laundered sheets that smelled like flowers and pine. A real and good woman in his arms. Hell, he couldn't even articulate to himself what he was feeling right now - where these intense feelings came from. But they startled him in both their suddenness and ferocity, and inside he felt himself beginning to shake again.
I also like Mia, a gun-carrying, fly-fishing, horseback-riding nurse. As soon as her gun gets taken by the police for 'evidence,' she marches right to the store to immediately purchase another one. She's not aggressive, but you get the idea that she is capable and has a wide range of skills.
THE BAD
Jagger McKnight is not acting honorably. He is faking having amnesia and he is allowing everyone to believe that he is the long-lost Colton son. He has a lucrative TV/book deal about breaking the story of the Colton kidnapping.
Mia is a kindhearted woman who is trying to help someone she sees who is hurt. It's dishonorable to use her for information and lie to her and put the moves on her all while she is believing Jagger is suffering from amnesia and is an innocent. In fact he is a journalist and a plant.
Lying to everyone else in the household is one thing, allowing a woman to develop feelings for you and doing sexual things with her while she is under a very false impression of you is another.
And why is he doing this? White is trying to convince us that he has some kind of noble intentions, as if it's very important to him to bring the kidnapper(s) to justice. But the fact that he's getting a juicy TV/book deal out of this gives me pause. Him being willing to exploit a grieving family and also exploiting his own kidnapped past really makes me feel like he is icky.
The way he treats Mia is also icky. ONE, he uses her name too much. You know when people use your name excessively as a power play? Yeah, he does that. It's gross. Blech. TWO, even though he's completely lying to her every second of the day, he feels fine about prying into her private life. He asks her really personal questions and acts like it's his right to know stuff about her, even though he's obviously making her uncomfortable and forcing her to share when she doesn't want to. Fucker. Guy's a snake.
Another thing I don't like is his history of nameless one-night-stands where he obviously doesn't give a fuck about any random female he takes to bed. This is not a turn-on.
Mia isn't perfect either. For one thing, she just starts calling Jagger "Cole" as soon as she finds him, making all sorts of snap assumptions that he is the long-lost Colton before the guy even regains consciousness. She's forcing a LOT of history and drama on him with this name. It's not just a name, it's a burden and a legacy and a horror story all rolled into one. Of course, Jagger rolls with it, but what if he actually WERE an innocent with amnesia? That's a hell of thing to do to a man.
She also goes through Jagger's e-mail at one point which is wrong and breach of trust and privacy. NOT okay.
There is also a lot of "alpha" BS in this story. As if all men who have dangerous jobs (firejumper, army, foreign correspondent, police) are automatically "alpha males," whatever the fuck that term means nowadays. Mia berates herself for always being attracted to men who are adrenaline junkies who consequently treat women like shit. Not my idea of an 'alpha,' men who neglect and abandon their women to chase a dopamine high, but OKAY. The whole term of "alpha" means absolute shit nowadays. He's not particularly pushy or domineering in the bedroom, for which I am eternally grateful. Often being a callous, cruel piece of shit in the bedroom translates to "alpha" nowadays, and I really hate that. Which brings me to:
HOW WAS THE SEX, CARMEN?
I feel like it's not White, it's me. White is trying hard to make the sex sexy, but I just wasn't having it. I was feeling the kissing. There was a little bit of kissing, but once we got to the sex, I checked out.
For one thing, I think it's an extremely shitty thing of him to do to have sex with her when he's blatantly lying his ass off and manipulating her for his own purposes. Very low. Dishonorable. Perhaps this is what bothered me most about the sex.
But besides that, I just don't like how this guy fucks. At all. It's not pleasing to me, and there's a lot of problems here that make me unhappy. I won't list them, for heaven's sake, but let me just tell you it was a mess. Not anything cruel or I-own-you or shit like that, but just basic stuff that grated my cheese.
At least they used a condom, that was a plus.
Tl;dr - Sigh. Worse than being a straight-up bad book, this is one of those ones you read and see the potential there, but realize it was not utilized. White is a capable author, but her hero is pretty shitty and her sex scene is not up to standards. Colton by Blood remains the best book in this series thus far. We'll have to see how the rest of the series plays out.
September 18, 2013
Good book. Jagger has been drifting along, trying to come to terms with his memories of the war when he hears about the long past mystery of the missing Colton baby. As the victim of a childhood kidnapping himself he wants to put his investigative talents to work to bring justice to the missing boy. Before he can even begin his undercover investigation he is attacked and left for dead. Mia finds him and takes him back to the ranch to heal. All of his things have disappeared but he is left with two items that lead people to believe that he is the missing Colton. Not knowing who to trust, Jagger pretends he has amnesia while he tries to find out who is behind the attacks. When those attacks spill over onto Mia, Jagger knows he has to tell her the truth.
Both Mia and Jagger are running from their pasts. Mia was left at the altar by her fiance who didn't even have the guts to break it off in person. She has been left doubting her judgement in choosing men. Her ex-fiance was also an adrenaline junkie who swore that he was ready to settle down. When she finds Jagger she is immediately drawn to him but senses that there is more to him than he is letting on. She also suspects that he could be the long lost Colton though his amnesia makes knowing his past impossible. There is something about him that reminds her of her ex and tells her she should not get involved with him, but her heart has different ideas. The more time they spend together the more she is torn between her two desires. When she discovers Jagger's deception she feels betrayed and decides to leave it all behind.
Jagger has terrible memories of his final assignment in Afghanistan. They have left him with physical and mental scars and nightmares that he can't escape. When he hears about the renewed search for the missing Colton it appeals to him on a very deep level. Having been a kidnap victim himself he can't understand why Jethro Colton had given up looking all those years ago. He feels that searching himself will give him back some of the self respect he lost. When he is attacked on his way to the ranch it is made to look like he is the missing Cole Colton. Not knowing who he can trust, he pretends to have amnesia so he has a better chance of investigating. He quickly realizes that he can trust Mia, but having begun the deception he doesn't know how to tell her the truth. As they get closer he knows he has to tell her but he fears that it will drive her away from him. I found it very interesting that no one questioned his quick thinking and actions during the crises. I liked the way that being around Mia soothed Jagger's memories and allowed him to see the changes he had already made in his life. When Mia found out the truth he was desperate to make her understand but she didn't want to listen. I wasn't sure how they were going to get their happy ending. The way it happened was definitely heart-pounding in its intensity. I really liked the way that Jagger got his love across to Mia. By the end I could see that both Jagger and Mia had been able to face and overcome their problems.
More layers of the mystery have been exposed in this book but there is still no resolution. Jagger and Mia uncover some information that makes Jethro's part in his son's disappearance rather suspect, though he slips into a coma before they can get any answers from him. There is more activity from the person behind it all who may be a woman (I have a couple ideas of who it might be). The investigations done by the sheriff are thrown into doubt as his actions become suspect also. I'm looking forward to the next books to see how many more things are exposed.
Both Mia and Jagger are running from their pasts. Mia was left at the altar by her fiance who didn't even have the guts to break it off in person. She has been left doubting her judgement in choosing men. Her ex-fiance was also an adrenaline junkie who swore that he was ready to settle down. When she finds Jagger she is immediately drawn to him but senses that there is more to him than he is letting on. She also suspects that he could be the long lost Colton though his amnesia makes knowing his past impossible. There is something about him that reminds her of her ex and tells her she should not get involved with him, but her heart has different ideas. The more time they spend together the more she is torn between her two desires. When she discovers Jagger's deception she feels betrayed and decides to leave it all behind.
Jagger has terrible memories of his final assignment in Afghanistan. They have left him with physical and mental scars and nightmares that he can't escape. When he hears about the renewed search for the missing Colton it appeals to him on a very deep level. Having been a kidnap victim himself he can't understand why Jethro Colton had given up looking all those years ago. He feels that searching himself will give him back some of the self respect he lost. When he is attacked on his way to the ranch it is made to look like he is the missing Cole Colton. Not knowing who he can trust, he pretends to have amnesia so he has a better chance of investigating. He quickly realizes that he can trust Mia, but having begun the deception he doesn't know how to tell her the truth. As they get closer he knows he has to tell her but he fears that it will drive her away from him. I found it very interesting that no one questioned his quick thinking and actions during the crises. I liked the way that being around Mia soothed Jagger's memories and allowed him to see the changes he had already made in his life. When Mia found out the truth he was desperate to make her understand but she didn't want to listen. I wasn't sure how they were going to get their happy ending. The way it happened was definitely heart-pounding in its intensity. I really liked the way that Jagger got his love across to Mia. By the end I could see that both Jagger and Mia had been able to face and overcome their problems.
More layers of the mystery have been exposed in this book but there is still no resolution. Jagger and Mia uncover some information that makes Jethro's part in his son's disappearance rather suspect, though he slips into a coma before they can get any answers from him. There is more activity from the person behind it all who may be a woman (I have a couple ideas of who it might be). The investigations done by the sheriff are thrown into doubt as his actions become suspect also. I'm looking forward to the next books to see how many more things are exposed.
September 1, 2013
More mystery and romance at Dead River Ranch!!
This book is the third installment in The Coltons of Wyoming continuity in the Harlequin Romantic Suspense line. The setting of these books is Dead River Ranch in the back of beyond Wyoming and the mystery centers around the cold case kidnapping of Cole Colton who is the son of crusty patriarch, Jethro Colton. The hero of The Missing Colton is Jagger McKnight who is a freelance reporter who comes to the ranch to find out what happened to Cole in order to sell the story to the media.
I could not put this book down. Jagger McKnight comes to Dead River, Wyoming to hunt down a story, but he instead becomes the hunted one. Ms. White pulls back some layers to this complicated story, but only lets us see the top most portions of these layers and that only makes the reader anxious for more clues to solving the mystery that will come in subsequent books! Our heroine, Mia, who is the nurse at Dead River Ranch, falls for Jagger, even though she knows he is exactly the kind of man she should run away from, but we all know how matters of the heart can be. McKnight is dealing with some severe PTSD issues, and Ms. White does a fine job in drawing a real picture of just how debilitating this disease can be. The tension and suspense in this book was palpable. I turned the pages carefully for fear of what twist or turn was on the next page. Without giving a real spoiler, I can say that I was happy that Mia stood by her man and they achieved their HEA. Since this is continuity, the mystery remains unsolved and we don’t know who the bad guys are. While technically, this is a stand alone read, I’m betting if this is the first of The Coltons of Wyoming book you have read, you will definitely want to hunt up the previous two books and most assuredly buy next month’s installment.
Thanks for a very satisfying read Ms. White. I always enjoy your books.
(I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.)
This book is the third installment in The Coltons of Wyoming continuity in the Harlequin Romantic Suspense line. The setting of these books is Dead River Ranch in the back of beyond Wyoming and the mystery centers around the cold case kidnapping of Cole Colton who is the son of crusty patriarch, Jethro Colton. The hero of The Missing Colton is Jagger McKnight who is a freelance reporter who comes to the ranch to find out what happened to Cole in order to sell the story to the media.
I could not put this book down. Jagger McKnight comes to Dead River, Wyoming to hunt down a story, but he instead becomes the hunted one. Ms. White pulls back some layers to this complicated story, but only lets us see the top most portions of these layers and that only makes the reader anxious for more clues to solving the mystery that will come in subsequent books! Our heroine, Mia, who is the nurse at Dead River Ranch, falls for Jagger, even though she knows he is exactly the kind of man she should run away from, but we all know how matters of the heart can be. McKnight is dealing with some severe PTSD issues, and Ms. White does a fine job in drawing a real picture of just how debilitating this disease can be. The tension and suspense in this book was palpable. I turned the pages carefully for fear of what twist or turn was on the next page. Without giving a real spoiler, I can say that I was happy that Mia stood by her man and they achieved their HEA. Since this is continuity, the mystery remains unsolved and we don’t know who the bad guys are. While technically, this is a stand alone read, I’m betting if this is the first of The Coltons of Wyoming book you have read, you will definitely want to hunt up the previous two books and most assuredly buy next month’s installment.
Thanks for a very satisfying read Ms. White. I always enjoy your books.
(I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.)
August 19, 2013
The detailed imagery in this book is amazing. White has a deft hand with descriptive phrase. She brings to life the barren Wyoming plains soon after a wildfire. I swear I could hear boots crunching as I heard the sand blowing around. White’s vivid writing style brings a depth to the series that helps bring everything to life, including Wyoming.
The Wyoming backdrop is the perfect foil for the two main characters. Both Mia and Jagger end up their while searching for peace; in this they are well-matched. The wide-open spaces promise that for Mia. Jagger, trying to regain his journalistic roots, looks to bring justice to the lost Colton. Previously the victim of a childhood kidnapping himself, Jagger wonders what would possess a father to stop looking for his son. The eventual conclusion is that Jethro, the family patriarch dying of cancer, knows more than he’s telling. Conveniently Jethro lapses into a coma near the end of the book and maintains his secrets.
White provides us lots of new clues in the Colton mysteries, but not many answers. The murder at the end of book two is still unsolved. However, we now know that there is a mysterious voice on the phone controlling things; possibly a woman. The sheriff, who we’d always thought was a little sketchy, is removed from his post and ends up dead near the end, ostensibly by suicide; he, of course, takes his secrets with him to the grave. There is a new sheriff in town who seems to be interested in finding the truth; if anything, the housecleaning has begun. Someone on the ranch has Cole’s baby-blanket, or one that looks just like it. Whoever is behind the original kidnapping definitely doesn’t want baby Cole to resurface and seems to be in a position to make that happen.
One thing I really didn’t like is that Jagger and Mia left at the end. Their work brought to light many of the clues that moved the story forward. I understand the logic, based on how White created the characters, but at the same time I felt they provided the best chance to solve the overarching mystery. I would have liked them to stick around for the remaining three books to help resolve what happened.
The Wyoming backdrop is the perfect foil for the two main characters. Both Mia and Jagger end up their while searching for peace; in this they are well-matched. The wide-open spaces promise that for Mia. Jagger, trying to regain his journalistic roots, looks to bring justice to the lost Colton. Previously the victim of a childhood kidnapping himself, Jagger wonders what would possess a father to stop looking for his son. The eventual conclusion is that Jethro, the family patriarch dying of cancer, knows more than he’s telling. Conveniently Jethro lapses into a coma near the end of the book and maintains his secrets.
White provides us lots of new clues in the Colton mysteries, but not many answers. The murder at the end of book two is still unsolved. However, we now know that there is a mysterious voice on the phone controlling things; possibly a woman. The sheriff, who we’d always thought was a little sketchy, is removed from his post and ends up dead near the end, ostensibly by suicide; he, of course, takes his secrets with him to the grave. There is a new sheriff in town who seems to be interested in finding the truth; if anything, the housecleaning has begun. Someone on the ranch has Cole’s baby-blanket, or one that looks just like it. Whoever is behind the original kidnapping definitely doesn’t want baby Cole to resurface and seems to be in a position to make that happen.
One thing I really didn’t like is that Jagger and Mia left at the end. Their work brought to light many of the clues that moved the story forward. I understand the logic, based on how White created the characters, but at the same time I felt they provided the best chance to solve the overarching mystery. I would have liked them to stick around for the remaining three books to help resolve what happened.
August 16, 2013
Full review - http://reneeentress.blogspot.com/2013...
4.0 Star Review - The Coltons of Wyoming # 3 series
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book by Loreth. This book includes drama, passion, gunfire, betrayal and romance throughout the entire story.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books first.
The Colton Ransom by Marie Ferrarella
Colton by Blood by Melissa Cutler
Jagger McKnight is a foreign correspondent who is trying to solve the 30 year old crime of the missing Cole Colton baby. After getting attacked on the way to the Colton Ranch everyone believes that he is Cole as he has items that only Cole should have. Since he is injured and does not remember who he is he goes along with the belief that he is Cole.
Mia Sanders found him and is nursing him back to health. She knows that he has secrets and he is too much like her ex for her to get involved but boy does she want to get involved.
After they are both almost killed they must figure out who is after them as the police are not really helping with the crimes around or on the ranch. They need to figure out who is trying to kill off Jagger to make it seem like Cole died.
As they investigate the crimes they are drawn together even more until a secret has the potential to rip them apart. You can feel the chemistry between the two throughout the book.
Must say I really like Jagger and fell for him a little myself.
To find out the answers to the below pick up the book:
Who is after Jagger and who set him up?
What is the secret Jagger is keeping from Mia?
Why are the police not solving any of the crimes at the ranch?
Look forward to the next books in this series listed below.
The Colton Bride by Carla Cassidy – Due out in October
The Colton Heir by Colleen Thompson – Due out in November
4.0 Star Review - The Coltons of Wyoming # 3 series
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book by Loreth. This book includes drama, passion, gunfire, betrayal and romance throughout the entire story.
If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books first.
The Colton Ransom by Marie Ferrarella
Colton by Blood by Melissa Cutler
Jagger McKnight is a foreign correspondent who is trying to solve the 30 year old crime of the missing Cole Colton baby. After getting attacked on the way to the Colton Ranch everyone believes that he is Cole as he has items that only Cole should have. Since he is injured and does not remember who he is he goes along with the belief that he is Cole.
Mia Sanders found him and is nursing him back to health. She knows that he has secrets and he is too much like her ex for her to get involved but boy does she want to get involved.
After they are both almost killed they must figure out who is after them as the police are not really helping with the crimes around or on the ranch. They need to figure out who is trying to kill off Jagger to make it seem like Cole died.
As they investigate the crimes they are drawn together even more until a secret has the potential to rip them apart. You can feel the chemistry between the two throughout the book.
Must say I really like Jagger and fell for him a little myself.
To find out the answers to the below pick up the book:
Who is after Jagger and who set him up?
What is the secret Jagger is keeping from Mia?
Why are the police not solving any of the crimes at the ranch?
Look forward to the next books in this series listed below.
The Colton Bride by Carla Cassidy – Due out in October
The Colton Heir by Colleen Thompson – Due out in November
September 1, 2013
GREAT READ! highly recommended!
As a journalist just returning from Afghanistan, trying to deal with the amount of loss he has just witnessed in war. Jagger McKnight had been captured, tortured and held captive while away in Afghanistan. His flashbacks have started and has brought back something deeper from his past as a child. The time when he was kidnapped as a young child. All those memories compiled and the tragedies he faced was all too much. Jagger needed to run away fast from all of it. He soon learned of a 30 year old cold case that had just resurfaced from the family looking for answers to what happened to their COLE COLTON.
As a child who had been kidnapped himself he knew the kind of pain he had faced and wanted justice for this missing child, Cole Colton. This would be the perfect distraction from his own nightmares and a way to write a great story. He landed a contract deal as to write his story on his undercover search of the Missing Colton. He was heading to Dead River Ranch for answers. Before he even makes it to the ranch someone is already on to him and has made the call for him to die. An attempt on his life was made and he was left for dead. It was unsuccessful. He was found by a beautiful nurse, Mia, who works on the ranch. Together the two of them will face danger, lies, explosions, all in search for the answers and for justice. I recommend this book as a well written, suspenseful book. I love romantic suspense. This book is filled with romance, suspense and detective work of "who dun it?"
I cannot wait to read the next books to find out!
Feeling excited!
Mrs White it was my pleasure to read your book. I could not put it down. You captivated me and I'm a fan! Thank you.
As a journalist just returning from Afghanistan, trying to deal with the amount of loss he has just witnessed in war. Jagger McKnight had been captured, tortured and held captive while away in Afghanistan. His flashbacks have started and has brought back something deeper from his past as a child. The time when he was kidnapped as a young child. All those memories compiled and the tragedies he faced was all too much. Jagger needed to run away fast from all of it. He soon learned of a 30 year old cold case that had just resurfaced from the family looking for answers to what happened to their COLE COLTON.
As a child who had been kidnapped himself he knew the kind of pain he had faced and wanted justice for this missing child, Cole Colton. This would be the perfect distraction from his own nightmares and a way to write a great story. He landed a contract deal as to write his story on his undercover search of the Missing Colton. He was heading to Dead River Ranch for answers. Before he even makes it to the ranch someone is already on to him and has made the call for him to die. An attempt on his life was made and he was left for dead. It was unsuccessful. He was found by a beautiful nurse, Mia, who works on the ranch. Together the two of them will face danger, lies, explosions, all in search for the answers and for justice. I recommend this book as a well written, suspenseful book. I love romantic suspense. This book is filled with romance, suspense and detective work of "who dun it?"
I cannot wait to read the next books to find out!
Feeling excited!
Mrs White it was my pleasure to read your book. I could not put it down. You captivated me and I'm a fan! Thank you.
December 12, 2016
A fairly good romantic suspense story let down by the fact it's part of a six-book series and therefore leaves several story strands dangling. I prefer far more wrap-up than what is offered here!
I also didn't like Jagger McKnight. Pretending you have amnesia and providing false hope to several family members who are hoping you're a long-lost heir is very despicable! He was so selfish and self-absorbed. A victim of kidnapping himself, he was reunited with his family at age nine, but apparently that wasn't good enough for him, and he was never able to trust or love again. Really? REALLY? All of us have had horrible things happen in our lives. Coping with it and recovering from it is our own responsibility, I firmly believe. Jagger clearly didn't think he had to lift a finger to help himself! I HATE that! Not the sort of hero to make me swoon.
It was diverting, with a bit of suspense, but I wish these series would work harder on having more self-contained stories. It was very difficult keeping track of the multitude of characters and all of their backstories here! It's why I tend to steer clear of the Romantic Suspense line. For about four years now, half of their books are all about the Coltons, and it's too hard to keep up!
I also didn't like Jagger McKnight. Pretending you have amnesia and providing false hope to several family members who are hoping you're a long-lost heir is very despicable! He was so selfish and self-absorbed. A victim of kidnapping himself, he was reunited with his family at age nine, but apparently that wasn't good enough for him, and he was never able to trust or love again. Really? REALLY? All of us have had horrible things happen in our lives. Coping with it and recovering from it is our own responsibility, I firmly believe. Jagger clearly didn't think he had to lift a finger to help himself! I HATE that! Not the sort of hero to make me swoon.
It was diverting, with a bit of suspense, but I wish these series would work harder on having more self-contained stories. It was very difficult keeping track of the multitude of characters and all of their backstories here! It's why I tend to steer clear of the Romantic Suspense line. For about four years now, half of their books are all about the Coltons, and it's too hard to keep up!
September 1, 2013
There were a lot of different things in this book that made it so wonderful. It had passion, drama danger, romance, and the imagery was amazing. I love Mia and Jagger, but I think that Mia's character was my favorite, I am not sure why but I feel like I connected with her. I really like the Colton Family, and I cannot wait to figure out who Cole is and what happened and who has been causing all of the trouble in Dead River.
I really like the idea that this series is all written by different author and look forward to reading the rest of the series to see how it all plays out. I would most certainly recommend anyone to read this book, it was just amazing. This is the first book that I have read by Loreth but it will not be the last, I love her writing. I would also recommend you reading the first two books in the series first.
I was given this book from the author for my honest review.
I really like the idea that this series is all written by different author and look forward to reading the rest of the series to see how it all plays out. I would most certainly recommend anyone to read this book, it was just amazing. This is the first book that I have read by Loreth but it will not be the last, I love her writing. I would also recommend you reading the first two books in the series first.
I was given this book from the author for my honest review.
August 17, 2013
This story takes place at the Dead River Ranch in Wyoming. Its part of a series that I am looking forward to reading in its entirety. 30 years prior, baby Cole Colton was kidnapped from his nursery and never found. In this installment of the series, Jagger McKnight goes to the Dead River Ranch in order to find some answers and find justice for Cole. Being a journalist, he also planned on writing an exclusive story. After he was injured in an attack, he meets Mia Sanders. Mia is a nurse in the infirmary at Dead River Ranch. The two join together to try to piece together a series of events that have happened at the ranch. As this story evolves, emotions start running wild. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the future books in this series. I would recommend this read to anyone.
** This book was given to me by the author in exchange for a fair and impartial review.
** This book was given to me by the author in exchange for a fair and impartial review.
August 27, 2013
I read this book because it is part of a series that I started. I had never heard of this author before looking into The Coltons of Wyoming. Now I am really glad that I did and will put other books by Loreth Ann White on my tbr list.
I am hooked on this family and can't wait for more in this series. It was great that you get more details about what happened it's quite an intricate story line for different authors to collaborate on. Kudos to all involved. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
I am hooked on this family and can't wait for more in this series. It was great that you get more details about what happened it's quite an intricate story line for different authors to collaborate on. Kudos to all involved. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.
August 16, 2013
After reading the other 2 books in the series, I was hooked.. Being just introduced to Loreth, I wasn't sure what to expect. The book sucks you right in from the first chapter.. Who doesn't want to save a wounded Alpha male?!? Mia's strong but hurting inside character reminds us all that we're human.
Great book!!!! Loreth has a new reader for life!!! And if you missed the other 2 Colton books- go get them!!
Great book!!!! Loreth has a new reader for life!!! And if you missed the other 2 Colton books- go get them!!
August 4, 2020
A little confusing since I hadn't read the 1st two, but very likable characters and a slight twist on the amnesia plot
November 1, 2013
This is another great addition to The Coltons of Wyoming series. I was a little disappointed that the author left me hanging. I know why she did, so she could continue with the saga.
This story was about Jagger McKnight. He was a world traveled reporter. His last story left him injured. He needed to do something with his life, that he felt he made a difference. He wanted to get to the bottom of the Cole kidnapping that happened 30 years ago. The baby boy was taking right out of his crib. The family waited for a ransom note, but no note ever came.
Jagger was attacked and left for dead the day he got into the town of Dead Rivers. Mia sanders who is a nurse found him when she was out riding her horse. She managed with some help to get him up to the house. A sweet friendship, and romance developed while Mia was nursing Jagger back to health. Jagger and Mia had to dodge bullets, and do some fancy driving. The action parts was intense.
I really enjoyed this book. I just wished the story didn’t leave me hanging. I almost hate series…
This story was about Jagger McKnight. He was a world traveled reporter. His last story left him injured. He needed to do something with his life, that he felt he made a difference. He wanted to get to the bottom of the Cole kidnapping that happened 30 years ago. The baby boy was taking right out of his crib. The family waited for a ransom note, but no note ever came.
Jagger was attacked and left for dead the day he got into the town of Dead Rivers. Mia sanders who is a nurse found him when she was out riding her horse. She managed with some help to get him up to the house. A sweet friendship, and romance developed while Mia was nursing Jagger back to health. Jagger and Mia had to dodge bullets, and do some fancy driving. The action parts was intense.
I really enjoyed this book. I just wished the story didn’t leave me hanging. I almost hate series…
November 6, 2015
Cole Colton was kidnapped as a baby. Thirty years later, Jagger McKnight, himself kidnapped and raised by people he thought were his parents but weren't, decides to see if he can find justice for the baby no one seemed to try to find. But then he's attacked and almost killed on his way to the ranch where the baby's family still lives.
Who is out to get him and why? Even the nurse for the ailing Colton patriarch thinks Jagger is Cole. But is he?
And if he isn't, can his investigative reporter skills uncover what really happened--before he's attacked again and maybe killed? A romantic suspense that sets up the Coltons of Wyoming series.
Who is out to get him and why? Even the nurse for the ailing Colton patriarch thinks Jagger is Cole. But is he?
And if he isn't, can his investigative reporter skills uncover what really happened--before he's attacked again and maybe killed? A romantic suspense that sets up the Coltons of Wyoming series.
July 14, 2017
Overall I liked this romantic suspense with an interesting plot and some exciting action but there were too many crime suspects and I don't like it when someone keeps secrets. There were a lot of unsolved aspects of this story even for part of a series. Nurse Mia finds Jagger in the woods with a head wound but he ends up with amnesia.
Read
December 29, 2014Received 4 1/2 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: The Coltons of Wyoming
Category: Suspense
Miniseries: The Coltons of Wyoming
Category: Suspense
July 31, 2015
I enjoyed this book.
This book contained a bit of every emotion. Plenty of suspense and a happy ending. The only drawback to this book were some proofreading errors.
This book contained a bit of every emotion. Plenty of suspense and a happy ending. The only drawback to this book were some proofreading errors.
May 1, 2021
I enjoy the storyline of the Colton's, and particularly the author Loreth Anne White. The editing issues here are numerous, however. There were upwards of 35-40 of them, so it's not conducive to ease of reading when having to constantly do mental corrections and fill in the blanks. Proper editing matters.
March 12, 2023
I found this book at a yard sale. A new author for me and I loved it. Going to try and find the rest of theseries.
November 11, 2013
Good story and characters. Would have rated it higher if not for missing words in too many sentences. Example: end of page 228 - "then bring her right up her" should be "up to her."
Nitpicky, I know but happened to often.
Nitpicky, I know but happened to often.
December 29, 2014
Fabulous
Read
November 29, 2016Used - Good (Some spine creases)
December 10, 2016
The mystery and suspense is pretty decent; the romance is a bit too predictable, and much of the time I found the dialogue a bit off-putting.
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