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Conard County: The Next Generation #19
Deadly Hunter
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lee returns to Conard County—where a stranger has moved to town…
With a scar on his cheek and wounds on his soul, the only thing Allison McMann's new neighbor reveals is his name. But when a toxin kills some cattle and Allison is charged with finding its source, Jerrod Marquette appoints himself her protector. The ex-military man has the skills to keep her safe, yet Allison doesn't need—or want—his help. His midnight eyes see too much, his powerful body ignites feelings long buried. Even when she learns of the danger lurking in the mountains she tracks, Allison can't help feeling the greatest danger lies within her…in her white-hot lust for the mysterious outsider.
With a scar on his cheek and wounds on his soul, the only thing Allison McMann's new neighbor reveals is his name. But when a toxin kills some cattle and Allison is charged with finding its source, Jerrod Marquette appoints himself her protector. The ex-military man has the skills to keep her safe, yet Allison doesn't need—or want—his help. His midnight eyes see too much, his powerful body ignites feelings long buried. Even when she learns of the danger lurking in the mountains she tracks, Allison can't help feeling the greatest danger lies within her…in her white-hot lust for the mysterious outsider.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 21, 2014
About the author
Rachel Lee
373 books141 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Rachel Lee is a New York Times best-selling author and the winner of Six Romantic Times magazine Reviewers' Choice Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a five-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America's RITA® Award. She has penned a wide variety of novels in several genres including fantasy, romantic suspense, and romantic comedy. She resides in Tampa, Florida.
Rachel Lee is a New York Times best-selling author and the winner of Six Romantic Times magazine Reviewers' Choice Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a five-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America's RITA® Award. She has penned a wide variety of novels in several genres including fantasy, romantic suspense, and romantic comedy. She resides in Tampa, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. Rachel Lee had a unique writing style for this story. It was refreshing to read a book that author played around with words. I could tell she put a lot of thought behind each chapter of this book.
The suspense was good. I didn't figure out who the villain was until the author reveled it in the story. The twist in the story kept me intrigued.
Allison was a teacher. She was asked to take soil, and water samples to see how far poison had spread on a farm. The poison that they were dealing with, was very deadly stuff. It had all ready killed two cows. the person had used enough, to kill four grown men.
Jerrod had just got out of the military on a medical. He was having a hard time adjusting to civilian life. His whole adult life is classified. It makes it hard to have a conversation. When he meets his neighbor Allison, he does try hard to open up as much as he can. He is concerned about her taking the soil samples. He feels she is making herself a target. He takes it upon himself to be her body guard. The two have lived in different worlds. Can the two find love, and bring two world together as one? The romance in this book is HOT, and sparks between Allison, and Jerrod. You'll have to read to see just how HOT the romance burns.
Sample from chapter 7- The memory of her mouth against his created longings deeper than thought. Hell, those two kisses had almost seemed to touch his soul. Spending all afternoon and evening alone with her, talking with her, holding her...In one day he'd gotten a taste of the kind of life he'd never really known
The suspense was good. I didn't figure out who the villain was until the author reveled it in the story. The twist in the story kept me intrigued.
Allison was a teacher. She was asked to take soil, and water samples to see how far poison had spread on a farm. The poison that they were dealing with, was very deadly stuff. It had all ready killed two cows. the person had used enough, to kill four grown men.
Jerrod had just got out of the military on a medical. He was having a hard time adjusting to civilian life. His whole adult life is classified. It makes it hard to have a conversation. When he meets his neighbor Allison, he does try hard to open up as much as he can. He is concerned about her taking the soil samples. He feels she is making herself a target. He takes it upon himself to be her body guard. The two have lived in different worlds. Can the two find love, and bring two world together as one? The romance in this book is HOT, and sparks between Allison, and Jerrod. You'll have to read to see just how HOT the romance burns.
Sample from chapter 7- The memory of her mouth against his created longings deeper than thought. Hell, those two kisses had almost seemed to touch his soul. Spending all afternoon and evening alone with her, talking with her, holding her...In one day he'd gotten a taste of the kind of life he'd never really known
April 28, 2014
Another winning visit to Conard County. At the end of Killer's Prey some cows were found that had been killed by a deadly toxin. The challenge now is to find out if it was an isolated incident or if there is more of it out there, and also to see how much contamination there is. Allison is a local chemistry professor with some hazmat training. She has been asked by the state to collect soil and water samples for testing and to see if she finds any more dead animals. Her new neighbor, Jerrod, is concerned for her safety and appoints himself her protector. As a former special forces soldier, he has the skills to keep her safe and his instincts tell him that there is something going on out there in the woods. Allison isn't so sure she's in danger out there, but she can feel a whole different threat to her peace - her attraction to Jerrod.
Both the romance and the suspense were great. Allison's first encounter with Jerrod wasn't the most pleasant. She said hello to him when he arrived next door and he pretty much ignored her until she slipped on the ice. He came to check on her, helped her up, then walked away. Jerrod is ex-special forces, medically retired, and is having a rough time adapting to civilian life. Most of his adult life is classified so it's hard for him to talk to people because he can't tell them much about himself. He feels bad about the way he treated Allison, so he goes over to apologize. When he finds out that she's headed to the woods alone, he offers to go along to help. It's while they are out there that he feels someone watching them and gets concerned for Allison's safety, a concern that seems warranted when her car is vandalized. He worries that the person who poisoned the cows could hurt Allison to keep from being discovered.
Jerrod difficulties adjusting to civilian life have brought him to Conard County, a place he had heard about from a fellow soldier. The wide open spaces and peace sound like just what he needs to try to get a handle on what he wants to do with his future. He struggles with trying to talk to Allison because he is so unaccustomed to talking about himself, but there's something about her that makes him want to try. He is also very sensitive to Allison's moods. I loved the way he talked to her about her former boyfriend's shortcomings and the way he showed her how wonderful she really is.
There are so many differences between Allison and Jerrod that at first it's hard to see how they'll ever get together. I loved seeing them get to know each other. Allison feels like she should be more cautious around him, but her instincts tell her that she can trust him. Her attraction to him is getting stronger but she has some real confidence issues when it comes to intimacy thanks to her former boyfriend. I loved seeing the way that Jerrod handles her fears. I also enjoyed the realism of the way that they occasionally said something that doesn't go over well, not because they're trying to hurt the other person but because their worlds are so different.
As the mystery intensified I really liked seeing characters from previous books, such as Jake and Gage, and how they all worked together to answer the questions. There was a very interesting twist to the identity of the person behind the attacks. I had begun to suspect the truth, though I ended up being slightly off on my conclusion. It definitely increased the tension as the story built to the climax. There was also tension between Jerrod and Allison as their two worlds collided. Allison made a couple decisions that could have ended badly but worked out well in the end.
Both the romance and the suspense were great. Allison's first encounter with Jerrod wasn't the most pleasant. She said hello to him when he arrived next door and he pretty much ignored her until she slipped on the ice. He came to check on her, helped her up, then walked away. Jerrod is ex-special forces, medically retired, and is having a rough time adapting to civilian life. Most of his adult life is classified so it's hard for him to talk to people because he can't tell them much about himself. He feels bad about the way he treated Allison, so he goes over to apologize. When he finds out that she's headed to the woods alone, he offers to go along to help. It's while they are out there that he feels someone watching them and gets concerned for Allison's safety, a concern that seems warranted when her car is vandalized. He worries that the person who poisoned the cows could hurt Allison to keep from being discovered.
Jerrod difficulties adjusting to civilian life have brought him to Conard County, a place he had heard about from a fellow soldier. The wide open spaces and peace sound like just what he needs to try to get a handle on what he wants to do with his future. He struggles with trying to talk to Allison because he is so unaccustomed to talking about himself, but there's something about her that makes him want to try. He is also very sensitive to Allison's moods. I loved the way he talked to her about her former boyfriend's shortcomings and the way he showed her how wonderful she really is.
There are so many differences between Allison and Jerrod that at first it's hard to see how they'll ever get together. I loved seeing them get to know each other. Allison feels like she should be more cautious around him, but her instincts tell her that she can trust him. Her attraction to him is getting stronger but she has some real confidence issues when it comes to intimacy thanks to her former boyfriend. I loved seeing the way that Jerrod handles her fears. I also enjoyed the realism of the way that they occasionally said something that doesn't go over well, not because they're trying to hurt the other person but because their worlds are so different.
As the mystery intensified I really liked seeing characters from previous books, such as Jake and Gage, and how they all worked together to answer the questions. There was a very interesting twist to the identity of the person behind the attacks. I had begun to suspect the truth, though I ended up being slightly off on my conclusion. It definitely increased the tension as the story built to the climax. There was also tension between Jerrod and Allison as their two worlds collided. Allison made a couple decisions that could have ended badly but worked out well in the end.
September 14, 2023
First book by this author and I really liked it. I always look for good character development, so I appreciate the time these 2 people take to talk and get to know one another. The suspense element is good too; different and I like learning something new. But, dropped from 4 to 3 stars when she has Allison take her very old shotgun out to try to 'help' the black ops/covert operator Jerrod. Unbelievably dumb thing to do to the reader.
August 14, 2017
I liked this as the suspense element was based on something I knew absolutely nothing about and I came away feeling like I'd learned a little something while getting to enjoy a great romance between two completely different characters.
February 21, 2014
Rachel Lee's "old school romance" is delightful! She writes with a mellow pace, and a verbiage that is charmingly "vintage."
This book has her usual flawed but protective hero Jerrod. And a not-street-smart-enough heroine Allison. Together they face danger & conquer it, all while creating sparks.
Their love was a slow simmer, and her ending was heart-warming & satisfying. Just what I love about her books--they make me feel relaxed & happy!
This book has her usual flawed but protective hero Jerrod. And a not-street-smart-enough heroine Allison. Together they face danger & conquer it, all while creating sparks.
Their love was a slow simmer, and her ending was heart-warming & satisfying. Just what I love about her books--they make me feel relaxed & happy!
April 25, 2015
Another great (non-perfect) hero moves to Conard County! Quick 'visits' with some old 'friends' and a bit more time with Gage Dalton, one of my favourite hero's ever, so for me this book hit the spot. Suspense is good and not immediately obvious.
Read
January 12, 2016"Suspense winds its way through a story with two complex, yet vulnerable characters at its center. Efficient storytelling, good pacing and a unique plot make this story one good read". (RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars)
Miniseries: Conard County: The Next Generation
Miniseries: Conard County: The Next Generation
March 9, 2014
Once more, Rachel Lee comes through with a winner. Trying to figure out who poisoned the cattle and who is trying to kill Allison is a job for Jerrod Marquette. Are his skills deteriorating or is he just in love with Allison?
February 26, 2016
I give this visit to Conard County the highest marks because the characters were so vivid and real to me. Ms Lee surpassed herself with these characters. No spoilers, but if you enjoy romantic suspense with complicated people that draw you in to their story, you will love this book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews