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High Country Heroes #1
A Hero To Hold
She’s a target and he’s her only hope chance at survival in this classic book of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo
She has no name, no memory, nothing but the knowledge that she’s pregnant and someone wants her dead. Her only hope is John—the rescue medic who saved her life, the Good Samaritan who vowed to keep her safe, the sexy stranger who’s stealing her heart. Her hero.
Saving lives is his job, but John Maitland learned long ago the cost of personal involvement. Risking his life he could handle, risking his emotions—his heart—is out of the question. Until he rescues “Hannah,” battered, bruised and scared for her life, off the side of a mountain. Suddenly things are very, very personal....
She has no name, no memory, nothing but the knowledge that she’s pregnant and someone wants her dead. Her only hope is John—the rescue medic who saved her life, the Good Samaritan who vowed to keep her safe, the sexy stranger who’s stealing her heart. Her hero.
Saving lives is his job, but John Maitland learned long ago the cost of personal involvement. Risking his life he could handle, risking his emotions—his heart—is out of the question. Until he rescues “Hannah,” battered, bruised and scared for her life, off the side of a mountain. Suddenly things are very, very personal....
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 24, 2001
202 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
Linda Castillo
97 books6,553 followersLinda Castillo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for the Mystery Writers of America’s Sue Grafton Memorial Award, and a nomination for an “Audie Award” for best mystery audiobook. Her work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and earned a spot on the Boston Globe’s shortlist for best crime novel.
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.
In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, three Appaloosas, and two feisty, but loveable Blue Heelers.
She loves hearing from readers. Contact her at books@lindacastillo.com.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 12, 2024
A 2018 release for Harlequin. Has that older, cheesy romance feel to it. Not Castillo’s best work, recommend reading the Kate Burkholder series instead. Sworn to Silence is the first in the series.
Romantic suspense
Insta everything
Amnesia trope
Search-and-rescue medic
Domestic violence
HEA
“You might not remember your name, but you sure as hell didn’t forget how to kiss,” he said huskily.
Romantic suspense
Insta everything
Amnesia trope
Search-and-rescue medic
Domestic violence
HEA
“You might not remember your name, but you sure as hell didn’t forget how to kiss,” he said huskily.
July 6, 2011
John Maitland is a search-and-rescue medic, one day on call he goes to rescue a woman, who has hypothermia and seems to have lot bruises on her, around her neck as well, and she is terrified and pulls a gun on him. He is calm and rescues her.
John doesn't like to get involved with women, he doesn't have the best history and through the story we find out that he comes from a family where men beat up women, and fears his temper, he can't stay away from her for some reason and goes to see her in the hospital where he finds out that she has no memory of who she is and only recalls being terrified and running for her life. They decide to call her Hannah since they found a note in her stuff.
Hannah is terrified, she doesn't know who she is, then finds out she is three months pregnant. John agrees to drop her of at a women's shelter till things become normal but there are two attempts on her life on the way and he takes her to his place.
There are some strong undercurrents between them but Hannah doesn't even know if she is married or not, but we slowly see her having fearful flashbacks. John wants to keep his distance but can't.
I enjoyed the book a lot, there was lot of emotion between them and John needed Hannah and she him. We do find out that her name is Beth in the end. There was so much of I don't pull in the book.
An excellent start to a series.
John doesn't like to get involved with women, he doesn't have the best history and through the story we find out that he comes from a family where men beat up women, and fears his temper, he can't stay away from her for some reason and goes to see her in the hospital where he finds out that she has no memory of who she is and only recalls being terrified and running for her life. They decide to call her Hannah since they found a note in her stuff.
Hannah is terrified, she doesn't know who she is, then finds out she is three months pregnant. John agrees to drop her of at a women's shelter till things become normal but there are two attempts on her life on the way and he takes her to his place.
There are some strong undercurrents between them but Hannah doesn't even know if she is married or not, but we slowly see her having fearful flashbacks. John wants to keep his distance but can't.
I enjoyed the book a lot, there was lot of emotion between them and John needed Hannah and she him. We do find out that her name is Beth in the end. There was so much of I don't pull in the book.
An excellent start to a series.
December 31, 2024
I checked it out from my library because it always gets a lot of interlibrary loan requests, I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. I get it now, it was an easy read.
It didn’t disappoint. A solid read with just the right mix of mystery and suspense.
Spoiler*
But —proposing after knowing each other for three days? That’s not romance; that’s just extreme decision-making. I mean, if my "soulmate" after three days suggests marriage, I’d be looking for the nearest exit… or suggesting a good therapist.
And as for the ex-husband—did he get caught in the end? Who knows? The book leaves us hanging like a bad season finale. We’re all just left to assume he was.
It didn’t disappoint. A solid read with just the right mix of mystery and suspense.
Spoiler*
But —proposing after knowing each other for three days? That’s not romance; that’s just extreme decision-making. I mean, if my "soulmate" after three days suggests marriage, I’d be looking for the nearest exit… or suggesting a good therapist.
And as for the ex-husband—did he get caught in the end? Who knows? The book leaves us hanging like a bad season finale. We’re all just left to assume he was.
August 6, 2018
In many ways, this was a typical formula older Silhouette book. It was also a train wreck from start to finish. I'm glad I borrowed it from the library and didn't pay for it.
April 14, 2024
A romantic thriller
This book was 1st published in 2001 so I'm not even gonna try for a synopsis. The story has battered woman as a major part of the plot.
Why I liked the book.
1. Linda Costello is a fantastic writer. Characters will be rich. The plot will be substantial. And you're gonna like the main characters. That was true for this book as well.
2. From the beginning, the romantic tension between the two key players Is off the charts. It's extremely well written. Basically it's instant attraction from the get go.
3. When we meet the rest of the search and rescue team, It was great. I just sat here and smiled.
4. Great thriller books also need great endings. The solution to the thriller part was right on. The romantic part was pretty good too.
So why didn't this get 5 stars?
Because it has a heavy sex scene that wasn't necessary. The tension that the writer had built up left plenty of imagination for the reader to use. I didn't need the graphic details.
I found 2 minor scene errors, but did not affect the 4 star rating. The errors were an open door to the outside in the snow when it's freezing cold and no one ever closes it. Plus a person says the bullet is still in there and then tells the rescuer it's an in-and-out wound.
This book is on kindle unlimited at this time. I highly recommend the book.
This book was 1st published in 2001 so I'm not even gonna try for a synopsis. The story has battered woman as a major part of the plot.
Why I liked the book.
1. Linda Costello is a fantastic writer. Characters will be rich. The plot will be substantial. And you're gonna like the main characters. That was true for this book as well.
2. From the beginning, the romantic tension between the two key players Is off the charts. It's extremely well written. Basically it's instant attraction from the get go.
3. When we meet the rest of the search and rescue team, It was great. I just sat here and smiled.
4. Great thriller books also need great endings. The solution to the thriller part was right on. The romantic part was pretty good too.
So why didn't this get 5 stars?
Because it has a heavy sex scene that wasn't necessary. The tension that the writer had built up left plenty of imagination for the reader to use. I didn't need the graphic details.
I found 2 minor scene errors, but did not affect the 4 star rating. The errors were an open door to the outside in the snow when it's freezing cold and no one ever closes it. Plus a person says the bullet is still in there and then tells the rescuer it's an in-and-out wound.
This book is on kindle unlimited at this time. I highly recommend the book.
August 8, 2023
In den Rocky Mountains wird auf einem Felsvorsprung eine junge Frau gefunden. Sie ist unterkühlt und kann sich nicht erinnern, wie sie dorthin gekommen ist. Ein Zettel in ihrer Tasche verrät zumindest ihren Namen: Hannah. Mehr weiß sie nicht, aber sie hat das Gefühl dass sie sich in Gefahr befindet. Das Gefühl bewahrheitet sich, als nach der Entlassung aus dem Krankenhaus jemand versucht, sie zu töten.
Eine junge Frau stürzt in den Rocky Mountains mehrere Meter tief und hat keine Verletzungen außer unterkühlten Füßen und ein paar Prellungen. Dafür hat sie eine geladene Pistole in der Tasche, die beim Sturz nicht losgegangen ist und mit der sie als erstes ihren Retter bedroht. Der fühlt sich sofort zu ihr hingezogen, auch wenn er sich das zunächst nicht eingestehen will. Denn auch er hat ein dunkles Geheimnis, auf dessen Enthüllung der Leser aber vorerst noch warten muss.
Bis sich die Geheimnisse von Retter und Geretteter auflösen, müssen die Beiden erst zueinander finden. Denn natürlich geht es nicht, dass er die Situation ausnutzt und sie sich in ihn verlieben darf bevor sie ihr Gedächtnis wieder gefunden hat. Das machen sie natürlich doch. Da gerät der sehr durchsichtige Kriminalfall zur Nebensache, besonders wenn ich so spannende Dinge lesen darf wie dass er nach "Minze und Männlichkeit" schmeckt. Oder war es riechen? Egal, auf jeden Fall war es zu viel Information.
Eine junge Frau stürzt in den Rocky Mountains mehrere Meter tief und hat keine Verletzungen außer unterkühlten Füßen und ein paar Prellungen. Dafür hat sie eine geladene Pistole in der Tasche, die beim Sturz nicht losgegangen ist und mit der sie als erstes ihren Retter bedroht. Der fühlt sich sofort zu ihr hingezogen, auch wenn er sich das zunächst nicht eingestehen will. Denn auch er hat ein dunkles Geheimnis, auf dessen Enthüllung der Leser aber vorerst noch warten muss.
Bis sich die Geheimnisse von Retter und Geretteter auflösen, müssen die Beiden erst zueinander finden. Denn natürlich geht es nicht, dass er die Situation ausnutzt und sie sich in ihn verlieben darf bevor sie ihr Gedächtnis wieder gefunden hat. Das machen sie natürlich doch. Da gerät der sehr durchsichtige Kriminalfall zur Nebensache, besonders wenn ich so spannende Dinge lesen darf wie dass er nach "Minze und Männlichkeit" schmeckt. Oder war es riechen? Egal, auf jeden Fall war es zu viel Information.
September 26, 2017
I'm afraid I'll have to say this book was not for me.
I tried. I promise I tried as hard as I could, but it failed to catch my attention.
I did finish it, mostly because I hate to leave books unfinished, but to be honest I just skimmed through most of it. I couldn't connect with the characters or the story.
I tried. I promise I tried as hard as I could, but it failed to catch my attention.
I did finish it, mostly because I hate to leave books unfinished, but to be honest I just skimmed through most of it. I couldn't connect with the characters or the story.
January 3, 2020
Had this on the shelf for years while I moved on. Since I love the author’s full length suspense books, I couldn’t get rid of them without reading. Well, I wish I hadn’t bothered. I’m coming to believe there’s actually a shelf life for popular fiction and I should just purge my pile.
June 28, 2019
Substandard for this author.
I'm sorry I actually paid for this book!! If you want to read it I'd suggest you wait until is free on prime!!
I'm sorry I actually paid for this book!! If you want to read it I'd suggest you wait until is free on prime!!
September 15, 2020
As always a great read by Linda Castillo!!!:)
Read
November 7, 2021Zu schnulzig
November 25, 2023
Never read a Linda Castillo book I didnt love.
May 16, 2024
Good read
March 22, 2025
Hätte mir mit 17 gefallen.
September 11, 2025
It was just ok, paper thin plot.
March 13, 2016
The use of simile was atrocious in this book! I mean, it started almost instantly, as the MFC (Main Female Character) is being rescued by MMC (Main Male Character), and he describes her red hair as "Hair like an Alpine Sunset." I mean seriously, the guy's swinging from a rope beneath a helicopter and he's comparing her hair to an Alpine Sunset? We get similar examples of how freakin' red MFC's hair is throughout the book, just in case we forget that she's got red hair, or that the MMC thinks it's beautiful. The exact same thing is done regarding her eyes "like the finest cognac" and his eyes "electric blue as a lightning bolt."
Seriously, I hope the author grew out of using so damn many similes.
The dialog itself wasn't too bad, but the characters pissed me off with their on again/off again desire for each other. Well, not so much their desire for each other as their willingness to just get it on already. And the fact that they both kept SAYING that they weren't going to do anything about that desire because they didn't know the MFC's marital status, then turning right around and exhibiting exactly how much they were ACTUALLY concerned that she may be married to somebody else. They make soooo much over how that "they're not the type of people" to cheat/commit adultery, then do exactly that, since there was no proof yet as to whether or not MFC was still married.
The whole book drove me nuts, really. Best part was that it took me only about 24 hours to read. Will be looking to avoid any more by this author.
Seriously, I hope the author grew out of using so damn many similes.
The dialog itself wasn't too bad, but the characters pissed me off with their on again/off again desire for each other. Well, not so much their desire for each other as their willingness to just get it on already. And the fact that they both kept SAYING that they weren't going to do anything about that desire because they didn't know the MFC's marital status, then turning right around and exhibiting exactly how much they were ACTUALLY concerned that she may be married to somebody else. They make soooo much over how that "they're not the type of people" to cheat/commit adultery, then do exactly that, since there was no proof yet as to whether or not MFC was still married.
The whole book drove me nuts, really. Best part was that it took me only about 24 hours to read. Will be looking to avoid any more by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2012
I am not a big fan of the whole "been in an accident now I have amnesia" trick that seemed to be popular some years ago. But there was something about this one that made me want to give it a try.
While most everything about this book was predictable from page one, I still enjoyed it. There was the charm of the couple and how each fought their attraction. Plus John was fighting his past. I knew he would be able to get past it just by his actions. I think the best scene of the book was the doggie dancing, very sweet!
While most everything about this book was predictable from page one, I still enjoyed it. There was the charm of the couple and how each fought their attraction. Plus John was fighting his past. I knew he would be able to get past it just by his actions. I think the best scene of the book was the doggie dancing, very sweet!
October 17, 2011
Hero to Hold is another favorite on my keeper shelf. This is an exciting read and if you love amnesia romances, this one is another Linda Castillo must read. :-)
January 15, 2015
Fantastic Read
I love Linda Castillo Her books are "can't put down" reading and this book was no exception. I have lined up three more books to read.
I love Linda Castillo Her books are "can't put down" reading and this book was no exception. I have lined up three more books to read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews