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Rushing Creek Crime Spree #3
Ambushed at Christmas
A killer is at large.
And she’s next on his holiday hit list.
Someone is killing women in Detective Leah Cordon’s town—women who jog the same trail as her every day. Leah will do whatever it takes to ensure the case is solved by Christmas. But when details of the crime eerily resemble what’s been happening on cattleman Deacon Kent’s own ranch, he shows up looking for answers. It quickly becomes obvious that the killer has his sights set on Leah. Can Leah and Deacon discover the criminal’s identity before he strikes again?
And she’s next on his holiday hit list.
Someone is killing women in Detective Leah Cordon’s town—women who jog the same trail as her every day. Leah will do whatever it takes to ensure the case is solved by Christmas. But when details of the crime eerily resemble what’s been happening on cattleman Deacon Kent’s own ranch, he shows up looking for answers. It quickly becomes obvious that the killer has his sights set on Leah. Can Leah and Deacon discover the criminal’s identity before he strikes again?
- GenresRomanceRomantic Suspense
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2019
87 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Barb Han
373 books210 followersBARB HAN is a USA TODAY, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Bestselling Author. Reviewers have called her books "heartfelt" and "exciting."
She lives in Texas—her true north—with her adventurous family, and a spunky rescue who is often referred to as a hot mess. She is the proud owner of too many books (if there is such a thing). When not writing, she can be found exploring Manhattan, on a mountain either hiking or skiing depending on the season, or swimming in her own backyard.
Sign up to receive Barb's news and release announcements at www.BarbHan.com.
She lives in Texas—her true north—with her adventurous family, and a spunky rescue who is often referred to as a hot mess. She is the proud owner of too many books (if there is such a thing). When not writing, she can be found exploring Manhattan, on a mountain either hiking or skiing depending on the season, or swimming in her own backyard.
Sign up to receive Barb's news and release announcements at www.BarbHan.com.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 17, 2025
Good story and characters.
November 30, 2020
I truly want to like any book I read. I want to give it the benefit of the doubt. And I generally go into a Barb Han book with lowered expectations, but I just couldn't find anything here that could make me recommend this flat, uninteresting story. Maybe if Barb Han didn't write 16 books a year, she could take a little extra time to flesh out her plots and characters.
Although this thankfully wasn't the usual Han formula of a heroine with a tortured past on the run from a threat she can't identify, what we get is still an unmitigated bore.
Detective Leah Cordon is spooked by a death that occurred on a trail she regularly jogs on. She calls it "her trail", even though it's for the whole public. But anyway. The victim looked just like her and had her foot removed. This latest tidbit has Deacon Kent interested, because heifers on his farm have had their foot removed, and it's suspected the killer could have escalated from animals to humans.
It's a decent set-up for a thriller, but Han does sweet f*** all with her premise. NOTHING HAPPENS. Leah is thankfully stronger than the usual Han heroine, and doesn't spend the whole book all fragile and crying, but as a character, she never came alive on the page. She has a haunted past in that she blames herself for her friend's childhood murder, and her parents cut her off after disapproving of how she lived her life, but the aspect involving her childhood friend being killed is dropped partway through the book. I guess she just got over it? Deacon's character arc involves him being haunted by the death of a former flame who had a young child. He does not want to get involved with Leah because is a single mother to a three year old boy.
Basically, nothing here interested me. The romance felt flat. The h and H had no real personality. Plot-wise, absolutely nothing was happening. Nothing! Anything of interest takes place off page. The identity of the killer is exactly who you expect it to be from the moment the book begins. Once again, the plot has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas.
I like the Intrigue line, but this author's churn-them-out mentality just results in lifeless, by-the-numbers time-wasters that aren't reflective of the good stories this line can put out. Heck, even with other books that aren't that great, at least you can often tell the author is trying. Han isn't. She's just throwing words at a page until she hits the required word count. It's not fun to read.
Although this thankfully wasn't the usual Han formula of a heroine with a tortured past on the run from a threat she can't identify, what we get is still an unmitigated bore.
Detective Leah Cordon is spooked by a death that occurred on a trail she regularly jogs on. She calls it "her trail", even though it's for the whole public. But anyway. The victim looked just like her and had her foot removed. This latest tidbit has Deacon Kent interested, because heifers on his farm have had their foot removed, and it's suspected the killer could have escalated from animals to humans.
It's a decent set-up for a thriller, but Han does sweet f*** all with her premise. NOTHING HAPPENS. Leah is thankfully stronger than the usual Han heroine, and doesn't spend the whole book all fragile and crying, but as a character, she never came alive on the page. She has a haunted past in that she blames herself for her friend's childhood murder, and her parents cut her off after disapproving of how she lived her life, but the aspect involving her childhood friend being killed is dropped partway through the book. I guess she just got over it? Deacon's character arc involves him being haunted by the death of a former flame who had a young child. He does not want to get involved with Leah because is a single mother to a three year old boy.
Basically, nothing here interested me. The romance felt flat. The h and H had no real personality. Plot-wise, absolutely nothing was happening. Nothing! Anything of interest takes place off page. The identity of the killer is exactly who you expect it to be from the moment the book begins. Once again, the plot has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas.
I like the Intrigue line, but this author's churn-them-out mentality just results in lifeless, by-the-numbers time-wasters that aren't reflective of the good stories this line can put out. Heck, even with other books that aren't that great, at least you can often tell the author is trying. Han isn't. She's just throwing words at a page until she hits the required word count. It's not fun to read.
November 22, 2020
This book is currently free at participating Booksamillion stores so I picked it up. I'm not someone who likes to read suspense so it was just okay for me. I think if you like to read Harlequin's than this book would be fine for you. It was obvious who the killer was and it took too long for it all to get fleshed out while the reader already knew. On a side note, who cuts off cow's legs? That was such a bizarre side story.
December 1, 2019
This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read with endearing characters. From the first page until the last I couldn't put this captivating story down. It had action, suspense and danger but, the wonderful characters drove this thrilling storyline. Leah and Deacon were great characters with great chemistry. I can't wait to read what this talented author writes next.
January 3, 2020
I picked this up because I wanted a quick romance with a strong female protagonist. I probably shouldn’t have been so disappointed since I knew this was likely pulp fiction, but I was. Truthfully, I feel like I completely wasted my time.
Read
December 1, 2019Categories
Western Romance, Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
Rushing Creek Crime Spree (Book #3)
Western Romance, Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
Rushing Creek Crime Spree (Book #3)
Read
December 1, 2019Categories
Western Romance, Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
Rushing Creek Crime Spree (Book #3)
Western Romance, Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Miniseries
Rushing Creek Crime Spree (Book #3)
January 20, 2020
Will have to go to Wal-Mart in New Hampshire and get the next book in the series. I could not put it down.
June 8, 2024
fun story, enjoyable characters
December 3, 2024
4.5⭐️ a good fast paced book
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews