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Heroes of Horseshoe Creek #1
Lock, Stock and McCullen
Don't miss USA TODAY bestselling author Rita Heron's new miniseries, The Heroes of Horseshoe Creek…
Sherriff Maddox McCullen cradled Rose Worthington, every protective fiber of his being firing as she shuddered against him. She told him how she had been brutally attacked and had killed the man—her fiancé!—in self defense. But when Maddox investigates the crime scene, he finds nothing. No bullet casing, no blood, no body.
The deeper Maddox probes, the more questions arise, revealing a mysterious past that shatters all Rose has ever known. Caught in the crosshairs of escalating danger—and his powerful desire for Rose—Maddox vows to protect her. He'll risk his life to find a desperate enemy who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried.
Sherriff Maddox McCullen cradled Rose Worthington, every protective fiber of his being firing as she shuddered against him. She told him how she had been brutally attacked and had killed the man—her fiancé!—in self defense. But when Maddox investigates the crime scene, he finds nothing. No bullet casing, no blood, no body.
The deeper Maddox probes, the more questions arise, revealing a mysterious past that shatters all Rose has ever known. Caught in the crosshairs of escalating danger—and his powerful desire for Rose—Maddox vows to protect her. He'll risk his life to find a desperate enemy who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried.
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 21, 2015
90 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Rita Herron
321 books938 followersUSA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.
For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on www.Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter.com/ritaherron.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.
For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on www.Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter.com/ritaherron.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 7, 2016
The first in the series Heroes of Horseshoe Creek series by Rita Herron. Rose Worthington is on her way to get married when her fiancé takes a detour and attempts to kill her. She manages to escape and into the arms of Sherriff Maddox McCullen.
Good, likable characters and a decent, entertaining plot. I enjoyed it.
Good, likable characters and a decent, entertaining plot. I enjoyed it.
July 21, 2017
Good book with plenty of excitement throughout the book. Rose is a local shop owner who is eloping with her fiancé. She's excited to be starting her own family with a man she loves. Her fiancé has suggested a night together before the wedding, and takes her to an isolated cabin, where she overhears him talking to someone about killing her and leaving the body. Terrified, she fights him off, using his own gun to shoot and kill him. She escapes back to town and calls the sheriff. But when they go to investigate, there's no body, no blood, and nothing to show that anyone had been there.
Maddox has been attracted to Rose for a long time, but she belonged to someone else. Now she's in danger and he is determined to keep her safe. The problem he has is keeping his attraction under control and his mind on his duty. I loved seeing how gentle and kind he was with her every time that something new would happen to them. All Rose knows is that she feels safe when she is with Maddox. As the truth comes out about her fiancé, she realizes that the man she thought she loved didn't exist. Instead she discovers in Maddox an honorable, kind and sexy man who shows her what a man should be. I loved seeing how they connected and the attraction grew between them.
Both of them have led rather lonely lives. Maddox on the ranch with his father and having two brothers that are estranged. His father is dying, which is tearing him apart. He's also trying to get his brothers back to the ranch to mend fences with their father before he dies. Rose's life has been a lonely one also. She was raised by two parents who weren't loving, moved frequently, and discouraged ties with anyone. When she became an adult, she moved out on her own, craving a life with roots, separating herself from her parents. I loved seeing the comfort they brought to each other. I loved how Rose worried about Maddox and his obvious stress about his dad and brothers. There was such a sweet scene at the end where she just wanted to be there for him, and his obvious need for her presence was heartwrenching. I also loved how Maddox was able to be the one that Rose was able to lean on and trust. His sensitivity to her pain was pretty sweet. I loved his big moment at the end, as he took a chance on sharing his feelings.
The suspense was quite a wild ride. The more that Maddox and Rose investigate, the deeper the mystery gets. Someone seems to be determined to kill Rose, and he doesn't care who he takes with her. As Maddox and Rose uncover years of deceit, her past becomes more puzzling. I ached for Rose as she learned each new thing. With every clue seemed to come a new attack, each more brutal than the next. Only sheer determination got them out of each jam, from fires to bombings to near drownings. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, with a very satisfying ending.
Maddox has been attracted to Rose for a long time, but she belonged to someone else. Now she's in danger and he is determined to keep her safe. The problem he has is keeping his attraction under control and his mind on his duty. I loved seeing how gentle and kind he was with her every time that something new would happen to them. All Rose knows is that she feels safe when she is with Maddox. As the truth comes out about her fiancé, she realizes that the man she thought she loved didn't exist. Instead she discovers in Maddox an honorable, kind and sexy man who shows her what a man should be. I loved seeing how they connected and the attraction grew between them.
Both of them have led rather lonely lives. Maddox on the ranch with his father and having two brothers that are estranged. His father is dying, which is tearing him apart. He's also trying to get his brothers back to the ranch to mend fences with their father before he dies. Rose's life has been a lonely one also. She was raised by two parents who weren't loving, moved frequently, and discouraged ties with anyone. When she became an adult, she moved out on her own, craving a life with roots, separating herself from her parents. I loved seeing the comfort they brought to each other. I loved how Rose worried about Maddox and his obvious stress about his dad and brothers. There was such a sweet scene at the end where she just wanted to be there for him, and his obvious need for her presence was heartwrenching. I also loved how Maddox was able to be the one that Rose was able to lean on and trust. His sensitivity to her pain was pretty sweet. I loved his big moment at the end, as he took a chance on sharing his feelings.
The suspense was quite a wild ride. The more that Maddox and Rose investigate, the deeper the mystery gets. Someone seems to be determined to kill Rose, and he doesn't care who he takes with her. As Maddox and Rose uncover years of deceit, her past becomes more puzzling. I ached for Rose as she learned each new thing. With every clue seemed to come a new attack, each more brutal than the next. Only sheer determination got them out of each jam, from fires to bombings to near drownings. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, with a very satisfying ending.
January 7, 2018
2.75 Stars
July 14, 2015
There was so much mystery, murder, violence, suspense , action and romance. It seemed that there was never a dull moment. I did not know what would happen next. There was one love scene that was easy to skip.
Rose Worthington thought she was going to get married. Instead she found out that he was planning to murder her. She fought back and thought she had killed him.
Rose was not close to her parents and resented them always moving. She wanted to stay in one place. She opened a antique store.
Rose when she got back to her house and called Sheriff Maddox McCullen. She told him what happened and where it happened but there was no blood and no body. No proof that her fiance was who he said he was.
Maddox McCullen was also running his family ranch. His father was dying and wanted to see his two other sons that had not been home for years before he died. He tried to get a hold of them.
I did not want to put the story down till I had finished reading it. I would read more books in this series.
I was given Lock, Stock and McCullen to read by Harlequin and Net Galley and in return I agreed to give honest review of it.
Rose Worthington thought she was going to get married. Instead she found out that he was planning to murder her. She fought back and thought she had killed him.
Rose was not close to her parents and resented them always moving. She wanted to stay in one place. She opened a antique store.
Rose when she got back to her house and called Sheriff Maddox McCullen. She told him what happened and where it happened but there was no blood and no body. No proof that her fiance was who he said he was.
Maddox McCullen was also running his family ranch. His father was dying and wanted to see his two other sons that had not been home for years before he died. He tried to get a hold of them.
I did not want to put the story down till I had finished reading it. I would read more books in this series.
I was given Lock, Stock and McCullen to read by Harlequin and Net Galley and in return I agreed to give honest review of it.
June 17, 2023
OMG. That was the worst book I've read in years. So ludicrously unbelievable. I howled through the whole second half, and had to stop and read something else for a while before I could finish it. I don't know what book the other reviewers read, it seemed to have little resemblance to the one I read. Perhaps the ARC was substantially different from the final product. At any rate, unless you're looking for a howling bad read, skip it. Other books I've read by this author were passable, not great, but . . . after that, no more.
November 10, 2017
Read as a stand alone but part of a series. Looking forward to reading more.
January 1, 2024
They literally kissed once, had sex and then got engaged in a matter of days. These books are hilarious.
July 13, 2015
Originally Reviewed For: Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
OH this was a good book! Mystery, Romance, Intrigue and so very much more! Author Rita Heron writes a fabulous story and I completely fell in love!
Rose Worthington has been estranged from her parents for some time but finally found her own life. She's worked hard and created her little niche. She's even found the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, that is until he tries to kill her and she ends up killing him in self defense. But when she calls in the Sheriff and tells him what's going on, there's no body... hmmmm and that's just the beginning of Rose's worries.
Sherriff Maddox McCullen answers the call of Rose Worthington and falls literally into the rabbit hole. She claims to have killed her fiance in self defense but there's no body.. of course it gets better, there's also no Rose Worthington. The more he digs the more confusing it gets. And while he is determined to do his duty all he really wants to do is protect Rose.
What an amazing book! Just fantastic!! Power and passion.. a true page turner! This book kept me awake until I was finished. Forced to put it down only when the book ended! I am a huge Fan!
Ms. Herron wrote twists and turns like nobody's business! And she is to be commended for telling a realistic and worthwhile story all the while keeping me enthralled! This was a rave inducing book... I can not say enough about it. Yep, this is me gushing!
Just a FANTASTIC BOOK
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Lock, Stock and McCullen, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on July 21, 2015
OH this was a good book! Mystery, Romance, Intrigue and so very much more! Author Rita Heron writes a fabulous story and I completely fell in love!
Rose Worthington has been estranged from her parents for some time but finally found her own life. She's worked hard and created her little niche. She's even found the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, that is until he tries to kill her and she ends up killing him in self defense. But when she calls in the Sheriff and tells him what's going on, there's no body... hmmmm and that's just the beginning of Rose's worries.
Sherriff Maddox McCullen answers the call of Rose Worthington and falls literally into the rabbit hole. She claims to have killed her fiance in self defense but there's no body.. of course it gets better, there's also no Rose Worthington. The more he digs the more confusing it gets. And while he is determined to do his duty all he really wants to do is protect Rose.
What an amazing book! Just fantastic!! Power and passion.. a true page turner! This book kept me awake until I was finished. Forced to put it down only when the book ended! I am a huge Fan!
Ms. Herron wrote twists and turns like nobody's business! And she is to be commended for telling a realistic and worthwhile story all the while keeping me enthralled! This was a rave inducing book... I can not say enough about it. Yep, this is me gushing!
Just a FANTASTIC BOOK
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Lock, Stock and McCullen, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on July 21, 2015
July 27, 2015
Potent suspense, with non-stop brutal action, mixed with fragile yet ardent, loving romance.
Nothing's what it seems to be in Rose's life, one night, and all she knew about herself and her past comes into question. When her whole life is in turmoil, she runs to the one person she knows she can trust, sheriff Maddox. The investigation into Rose's fiance disappearance, after he tried to kill her, brings more questions than answers, and soon it seems that Rose is hunted to be killed, and Maddox is just one step behind the hunters, one step that can cost them their lives.
The suspense is constant, and the tension immense. The attacks against the investigating team seems to come from left and right, the action is one-on-one, brutal, harsh, and severe. With skill and determination, sometimes by pure stubbornness and will to live, Maddox and Rose survive from fires, explosions, and gun fights. Yes, the action is breathtaking.
The attraction Maddox has had for Rose never mounted into anything else before, but admiration, since she belonged to someone else. Now, her life is in constant danger, and he is determined to keep her from harm. The utter loneliness in their lives, bring them closer to each other, seeking comfort in each other at first in the midst of the family drama going on in both of their lives, but as the feelings grow, they seem to have found their perfect match in each other, their soulmate. If they just stay alive long enough to explore the feelings they have for each other, to have a future together.
While deep in the hair-raising, thrilling investigation, sheriff Maddox and Rose find heart-stopping adoration for each other. Impressive first installment in the new mini-series
~ Five Spoons
Nothing's what it seems to be in Rose's life, one night, and all she knew about herself and her past comes into question. When her whole life is in turmoil, she runs to the one person she knows she can trust, sheriff Maddox. The investigation into Rose's fiance disappearance, after he tried to kill her, brings more questions than answers, and soon it seems that Rose is hunted to be killed, and Maddox is just one step behind the hunters, one step that can cost them their lives.
The suspense is constant, and the tension immense. The attacks against the investigating team seems to come from left and right, the action is one-on-one, brutal, harsh, and severe. With skill and determination, sometimes by pure stubbornness and will to live, Maddox and Rose survive from fires, explosions, and gun fights. Yes, the action is breathtaking.
The attraction Maddox has had for Rose never mounted into anything else before, but admiration, since she belonged to someone else. Now, her life is in constant danger, and he is determined to keep her from harm. The utter loneliness in their lives, bring them closer to each other, seeking comfort in each other at first in the midst of the family drama going on in both of their lives, but as the feelings grow, they seem to have found their perfect match in each other, their soulmate. If they just stay alive long enough to explore the feelings they have for each other, to have a future together.
While deep in the hair-raising, thrilling investigation, sheriff Maddox and Rose find heart-stopping adoration for each other. Impressive first installment in the new mini-series
~ Five Spoons
August 12, 2015
I loved this plot. Someone wanted Rose dead, and sheriff Maddox was determined to keep her safe. He was working the investigation, and he would not quit till he had answers. I lost count on how many times Rose, and Maddox were attacked, or how many times they almost died. The suspense was great. This story had a lot of twist and turns along the way. We didn't know why someone was after Rose until the very end. This story had it all, action, suspense, more action, and a touch of romance. There was murder, lies, and years of deceit to be uncovered. The story starts out fast. Rose's fiancé took her to a cabin for a romantic getaway. He said he wanted to spent one romantic night with her before they got married the next day. She had her wedding gown with her, and was excited. The night ended with her fiancé trying to kill her, and Rose running for her life.
Here is a sample from chapter 5 - Terrified she was going to die, she struggled to pry the man's hands from around her neck, but he was so strong she couldn't budge his fingers, and his nails cut into her skin. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her body began to convulse. Still she kicked and clawed... Then the hands lifted from her throat, and the cold blunt edge of a gun barrel settled against her temple. "You can run, but you can't hide, Rose. I'll find you." She struggled to see, but darkness surrounded her.
Here is a sample from chapter 5 - Terrified she was going to die, she struggled to pry the man's hands from around her neck, but he was so strong she couldn't budge his fingers, and his nails cut into her skin. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her body began to convulse. Still she kicked and clawed... Then the hands lifted from her throat, and the cold blunt edge of a gun barrel settled against her temple. "You can run, but you can't hide, Rose. I'll find you." She struggled to see, but darkness surrounded her.
July 26, 2015
4 stars
There was so much mystery, murder, violence, suspense , action and romance. It seemed that there was never a dull moment. I did not know what would happen next. There was one love scene that was easy to skip.
Rose Worthington thought she was going to get married. Instead she found out that he was planning to murder her. She fought back and thought she had killed him.
Rose was not close to her parents and resented them always moving. She wanted to stay in one place. She opened a antique store.
Rose when she got back to her house and called Sheriff Maddox McCullen. She told him what happened and where it happened but there was no blood and no body. No proof that her fiance was who he said he was.
Maddox McCullen was also running his family ranch. His father was dying and wanted to see his two other sons that had not been home for years before he died. He tried to get a hold of them.
I did not want to put the story down till I had finished reading it. I would read more books in this series.
I was given Lock, Stock and McCullen to read by Harlequin and Net Galley and in return I agreed to give honest review of it.
There was so much mystery, murder, violence, suspense , action and romance. It seemed that there was never a dull moment. I did not know what would happen next. There was one love scene that was easy to skip.
Rose Worthington thought she was going to get married. Instead she found out that he was planning to murder her. She fought back and thought she had killed him.
Rose was not close to her parents and resented them always moving. She wanted to stay in one place. She opened a antique store.
Rose when she got back to her house and called Sheriff Maddox McCullen. She told him what happened and where it happened but there was no blood and no body. No proof that her fiance was who he said he was.
Maddox McCullen was also running his family ranch. His father was dying and wanted to see his two other sons that had not been home for years before he died. He tried to get a hold of them.
I did not want to put the story down till I had finished reading it. I would read more books in this series.
I was given Lock, Stock and McCullen to read by Harlequin and Net Galley and in return I agreed to give honest review of it.
September 19, 2015
Excellent book from start to finish. The author did an excellent job of keeping the suspense throughout the book. From reading a lot of mysteries and suspense book I have gotten really good at figuring out the ending. This book had me reading faster just to find out who was trying to kill the main character Rose. A must read for everyone.
Read
January 12, 2016"Herron packs her series opener with an attention-grabbing beginning, intrigue and interesting investigative elements" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
Miniseries: The Heroes of Horseshoe Creek
Miniseries: The Heroes of Horseshoe Creek
June 15, 2015
First book in a new series by Rita Herron THE HEROES OF HORSESHOE CREEK.. a great murder mystery.
Read
January 12, 2016received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: The Heroes of Horseshoe Creek
Miniseries: The Heroes of Horseshoe Creek
Want to read
April 2, 2016Read for 10.2015 Western and Medieval Romance Lovers BotM.
June 20, 2016
Just finish this book. Very good read. There is a mystery keeps you wondering.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews