Ms. Naughton always entertains me with her stories and this series is such a good one. I've enjoyed every book in it so far and I couldn't wait to read this one to see what the next McClane sibling would go through to get their happy ever after.

Rusty McClane's life hasn't been an easy one and it's hard for him to move forward. However, he needs to find a way to overcome the latest trouble he's found himself in. Can Harper Blake help Rusty? Can she uncover the truth, so he doesn't go down for the missing underage girl he's being accused of taking? Harper and Rusty are strong characters that have been through a lot in their pasts. It's hard for the pair to trust each other but the more Harper uncovers to support Rusty, the more trust grows between them.

Overall, Ms Naughton has delivered an engrossing romantic suspense in this fourth book of her Deadly Secrets series where the characters are likeable with interesting back stories, the plot is full of twists and turns that had me reading quickly determined to see what would happen at the end and the chemistry between this couple was off the charts and I loved every minute this couple interacted. They're good for each other and Rusty needs someone in his corner besides his family. And lastly, I enjoyed how this story ended and that Rusty and Harper got their happy ever after.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

Gosh!!! Finally got to reading this book which I should have read a long time ago!!!!! What an action packed and thrilling read this was.

Elisabeth Naughton is one of favorite authors I have read over the years, and "Unspeakable" is just another evidence of her mastery of suspense.

You'll fall in love with Harper and Rusty and rooting for them as they fight for justice and chance of a future.

As always Naughton have givenis a wonderful romantic suspense! This book is compelling and suspenseful and I couldn't put it down. Rusty and Harper have great chemistry as they deal with many twist, turns, political intrigue, and issues from the past that are left to haunt. A great addition to the Deadly Secrets series!

Finally we learn all the secrets of Rusty that have been hinted at in the previous novels of this series and boy, oh, boy did I not see this one coming. Rusty is the final sibling in the family of kids that were rescued in one way or another by the McClane’s in their times of needs as children and adopted into a family that truly taught them about love. But unlike his siblings, Rusty never really gave up on his belief that he was responsible for a lot of the trauma in his past and he will risk his own life to protect those that are in a situation they just can’t handle. While I imagine we might see a story down the line about the newest and now youngest sibling, recently adopted into the family, I suspect this will be the finale for the next little while at least and it certainly goes out with a bang. Rusty and Harper’s relationship is fraught with danger, drama, misconceptions, and the intermingling of decades of secrets that neither of them even knew to look for. I LOVED every second of this story even if I wondered just where this one was going to take us. Rusty has landed himself in some trouble with the police and now he finds himself the lead person of interest in missing person’s case, and fearing him being steamrolled his parents have enlisted the help of his old lawyer. Harper, still smarting from her own scandal and reeling from the loss of her career, finds herself part of Rusty’s defense team, but her detective instincts won’t let go of her as she looks into his story. Soon they are both caught up in the danger and intrigue of Rusty’s extracurricular actives and the deadly killers stalking them both are determined that they both go down—hard. When the truth begins to unravel around them, only the trust in their new fragile friendship and the passion between them can keep them from unraveling as well, otherwise neither of them might survive the men after them. Rusty is not the man we all think he is, but the more we get to know him the more I came to love him. He is strong, caring, sweet, and passionate, even if he takes on more responsibility for the actions of others than he should, but that very trait of chivalry is what made him such a great character. While he is definitely closed off and unwilling to open his heart in the beginning, it soon becomes obvious that the pain of his past is what drives him and that Harper is just the woman to open him up. Harper is obviously cynical after the way her life has shaped up recently, but as she begins to see the goodness in Rusty and understand that their truly are good people in the world still, she slowly becomes a more likeable character. Luckily she doesn’t lose any of her edge or intensity because that is what makes her sass and sweetness the perfect foil for the darkness in Rusty. I enjoyed seeing these two coming together and learning how to handle one another, work together, and find a way to accept one another’s flaws and differences. The passion between them is undeniable, but it is the sweetness and their ability to find the goodness in each other despite the evidence to the contrary that makes it so enjoyable to watch them find their love. I am looking forward to seeing if and when Thomas does get his own book someday, but for now, Rusty and Harper finding their HEA is more than enough closure for me on this amazing series and I look forward to whatever Elisabeth brings to us next.

Unspeakable is easily read as a stand-along despite being #4 in the Deadly Secrets series. Elisabeth Naughton creates a compelling story in Unspeakable. Rusty and Harper have been through so much in their lives. Both have faced monumental challenges and remain mired in intense situations beyond. Rusty's had a rough childhood. His adoptive family is wonderful but he's convinced he's letting them down with his extracurricular activities. He still feels compelled to continue trying to save vulnerable women.

Harper had a good life growing up. Much the opposite of Rusty. She's a good cop but she's been framed and has been unable to avoid being fired. She's thrown into trying to prove Rusty's innocence or guilt.

What neither of them expects is to fall in love. The attraction is so strong and nearly immediate.

I liked watching these two together and I always enjoy a good deal of suspense in the books I read. Unspeakable delivers a budding relationship, with even more ups and downs than the average. set against the backdrop of fighting for their own lives and those of the many women being preyed upon.

There are several 90 degree blind turns along the way in case a good love story isn't enough!

Naughton remains a favorite and a "must read" author.

reviewed by Jem

I love a book with a great twist, most especially when you don’t see it coming. I have always been a fan of Rusty’s and am thoroughly pleased his book perfectly compliments him. It’s sort of dark and broody but filled with great surprises. I think Harper is a perfect match for him. There is so much good stuff going on in this book I could not put it down. This a great addition to a fantastic series

Loved this book. Rusty (hero) was an awesome person. He had a troubled childhood and was adopted by a great family. If anyone deserved a happily ever after it was him.
Harper (heroine) was a good person as well. She had some troubling times as well, and in spite of being somewhat cynical she never lost sight of what mattered.
Although I wished that I had read the previous books in the series I wasn't lost by starting with this one.

4 'Robin Hood' Stars.

Characters & Chemistry.

Rusty McClane was adopted by the McClanes he is the black sheep of the family or at least he puts himself in that category. Although he has moved on from his past he can’t completely let go. Rusty (I just love that name) has the whole bad boy, tortured soul thing going on but really he is a knight in tarnished armour.

I love Rusty in this book in the other books he came across as a douchebag but he really is a different person here. He is loyal, noble and does the right thing no matter the consequences. He is a man on a mission and the past isn’t as buried as he thinks.

Harper Blake now works as a legal investigator after being accused of sexual harassment and the consequences that she had nothing to do with she now is on the other side of the law. She now has to find evidence to prove the client’s innocence even if they aren’t.

Harper is strong willed heroine and I loved her as a character. She is totally kick-arsed and holds her head up high with what has happened to her. She even puts Rusty on his butt because he is being a douchecanoe at the time.

There is an underlying attraction between the two but when you are being questioned for missing girls you will in advance be stamped as evil. She thinks he’s evil. He thinks she’s a man hater but in the end they overcome their prejudice and are a fantastic couple.

Writing, Plot & Pace.

Ms. Naughton’s style is very appealing. It is smooth, engaging and IMO keeps you interested in the characters. The plot is unique and interconnects with some of the previous books. This can be read as a standalone. The pace has the right balance and there’s never a dull moment.


Verdict.

Ms. Naughton is one of the very few that manages to engage me every single time with her romantic suspense. It is hard to get an even balance between the romance and the suspense. This is by far my favourite one of the series. A must read!

The book is filled with interesting characters, misdirections, and red herrings, which leads to a suspense filled ride. It is the story of the oldest of the McCland siblings Rusty, and centers around his after dark activities into the underbelly of Portland Oregon. As always Naughton writes one hell off a thrill ride, but for me the romance was lacking. It’s still a good suspense, but it truly didn’t hit all cylinders in the character development of the relationship aspect of the story.

Another problem with the book is that it has both plot and continuity errors which regretfully made me deduct stars from this taunt thriller.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it so much I can’t wait to read the other books in this series. Unspeakable is a complex and beautifully written romantic suspense story that slowly reveals itself and purposely keeps the reader off balance as to whether the main character, Rusty McClane, is guilty of making young girls disappear. When Rusty’s lawyer’s investigator and ex-cop, Harper Blake, is brought in on the case the pair start working together to try to prove Rusty’s innocence. This story is riveting and so complex it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys and just when you think you have all the information you need to solve the case there’s another twist that will blow your mind. I read a complimentary copy of this book provided by Montlake Romance through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

Elisabeth Naughton’s Deadly Secrets series is consistently well-written, the characters compelling and the plots addictive. UNSPEAKABLE is no different, with its ripped-from-the-headlines plot: underage girls, sex-trafficking, Shanghai tunnels and corruption. Only, Naughton presents it with a great twist: Rusty McClane has a Robin Hood complex, and ex-cop Harper Blake was accused of sexual harassment against her partner.

Harper is an interesting character. In this #MeToo era of sexual harassment, it’s a rarity to read about women sexually harassing men. It happens, but in this case it’s a manufactured claim. Harper lost her job as one of Portland PD’s finest because her partner accused her of sexual harassment when it was discovered they were having an affair. And then, because the department has a tendency of falsifying evidence, another patrol partner claimed she harassed him, too. Hence the reason for her current role as the investigator for a law firm — the very firm that’s representing Rusty. She’s drawn to him from the beginning, a fact that troubles her.

Rusty is one of four McClane siblings with a tragic start in life but won the karma lottery when the McClanes adopted him. He’s the last of his siblings to settle down, but his parents understand his path is different and are still proud of the hard work he’s put into developing his own vineyard and winery, which is on the very cusp of opening. The McClanes are universally recognized in their community as a good, upstanding family — a fact that gives Rusty the only buffer of hope in the beginning of Harper’s investigation into the charges against him for a string of missing underage girls.

The further Harper sinks into the intrigue surrounding Rusty and the missing girls, the more she understands the way his mind and protective instincts work … and the more she realizes Rusty is more of a “dark and brooding bad boy” than a criminal. Whew, right? Having been the recipient of a department frame job, Harper is fully aware of the potential for her ex-colleagues to set up someone else. But framing evidence is one thing, and questionable actions are another, and until she can separate the two with Rusty, he remains a gray area for her.

Naughton writes an addictive hero, every time. Her heroines, for me, sometimes need polishing (even though they come around in the end). It’s a hard balance, in fiction and in life, to be strong and independent, yet open to love and happiness and the hope of a future relying on a partner. Unspeakable sets an exciting pace, and the twist at the end is righteous. What a great wrap-up to the series.

*Originally published at USA Today's Happy Ever After: https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2018/11/22/dolly-r-sickles-romance-rec-unspeakable-by-elisabeth-naughton/

3*

I have been pretty lukewarm about Elisabeth Naughton’s Deadly Secrets series and the fourth (likely penultimate?) instalment, UNSPEAKABLE, continues in that underwhelming vein. It’s fine, but not particularly memorable. While the romantic suspense plot works well enough (albeit it is nothing to write home about) and Rusty’s sullen-wanker-with-a-heart persona is suitably engaging (I didn’t really care much for heroine Harper), it really falls down on the romantic subplot. Insta-love/lust is a trope that rubs me the wrong way every time, and it’s incredibly flagrant in UNSPEAKABLE: Harper goes from being convinced Rusty is the devil incarnate to wanting in his pants, getting in his pants, and being convinced he’s the BEST GUY EVER so quickly it gave me whiplash. Seriously, within the span of pages. But Ms. Naughton knows how to weave dramatic tension and kept me turning the pages to see how things panned out-- and I’m a series completionist, so having read the previous three novels in the series felt compelled to finish this one (and likely read the next one).

Not everything is as it first seems - this novel buzzes with tension from the first page. With suspense, intrigue, misconceptions and romance, this book ticks all the boxes for even the most critical critic. A well written and fully engaging literary adventure.

Where has Elizabeth Naughton been all my life?! Romantic Suspense is probably my all time favorite genre to read. I love the suspense, the danger, the uncertainty, and the chemistry that smolders between the two main characters. Unspeakable is the perfect mixture of everything I LOVE about romantic suspense. There is hidden identity, secrets, danger, life and death situations, and a love story that burns bright amidst the chaos.

Rusty and Harper. These two. Their meeting is due to a misconception and false accusations. Not the best way to start off a relationship of any kind. But the beauty of this story is that not everything is as it seems. I don’t plan to dive too much into the plot of this book because that would spoil it. And this story needs to be savored… scratch that, devoured, so no spoilers here!

Rusty is the perfect broken hero. His past has molded his future and he uses his pain to make a difference in the world, even if it is in a vigilante way. When Harper enters his life, he is both frustrated and intrigued. These two partner so well, fighting for justice and trying their hardest to make it all out alive.

The minute I finished this book, I went straight to Amazon and grabbed the first three in this series. BONUS: you can start in the middle of this series and it all makes sense. It is a series of interconnected standalones and meeting the past characters from the series in this book only made me want to read their stories even more! If you love good writing, fast action stories, and a romance to curl your toes, Naughton’s books are not to be missed!

I always enjoy Ms. Naughton's books and I'm always surprised to find that I've missed a whole series between one book and the next. For instance I picked this one up only to find that there are three I missed before this one. Of course while I enjoyed this story there were a few times when I wished I had read the earlier books.
Rusty McLane is unable to leave his past or his guilt for not being there for his step sister behind. Every night he goes out and trolls clubs looking to rescue young girls who are being exploited. It is inevitable that he become a murder suspect when one of the young ladies disappears and he's been the last one seen with her plus he has bruises from fighting. Thanks to his influential parents no charges are levied against him but his lawyer assigns investigator Harper Blake to look deeper at Rusty.
Harper has her own axe to grind. She's an ex-cop who was forced out of the force due to politics. She wants to leverage this opportunity with Rusty to get herself reinstated particularly when she smells mob involvement. The story of course plays out with enough twists and turns to satisfy an adrenaline junkie as Rusty and Harper are soon buried knee deep into sex traffickers and nasty people shooting at them.
As he story progresses both Harper and Rusty find their past catching up with them even as they work on forging a new future together. All in all this story is a great ride that I'm glad I caught. I'll have to go back and read the three books that came before that I've missed so far.

Another great book in the Deadly Secrets series! This book is about Rusty and Harper . Great story line, love the characters and love the perfect amount of romance and suspense!

I've been waiting for Rusty's story since the beginning of the series and it was absolutely amazing! I think it is the best of the series.

Elisabeth Naughton's Deadly Secrets series is as dark and suspenseful as it sounds. Unspeakable is full of secrets that both Rusty and Harper have to uncover to bring down the Plague. The organization has been taking young girls off the streets and selling them. They disappear without a trace, but Rusty has been fighting against them as much as he can. With Harper's help they may be able to bring them down completely.

Deeper into the story Rusty and Harper's pasts come into play and intertwine in unexpected ways. I enjoyed how the story came full circle. There are twists and turns that pop up unexpectedly throughout the story, which I have come to expect from the stories in this series. Unspeakable is the story to read if you enjoy romantic suspense from Susan Stoker or Kendra Elliot.
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

This is book 4 in the Deadly Secrets series and it features Rusty and Harper. This author is brilliant at writing romantic suspense! I started this book with an idea of where the story was going, only to do a 180 and change my way of thinking all together. It was smooth and totally unpredictable. Rusty and Harper made a great team. I really had my doubts about Rusty. He was just so angry and closed off. I thought it was kind of weird that Harper was attracted to someone she thought was guilty before even investigating him.

The story was AWESOME! The characters were great and the story line had steady growth from the start. This is another amazing book by this very talented author.

4.5 stars

This book is the 4th in the Deadly Secrets series, but it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone.

I enjoy a good thriller/mystery-romance when I read contemporary novels, and Elisabeth Naughton knows how to deliver just that. Rusty and Harper both have their "demons" --- Rusty has never felt he belonged as he was adopted into a family as a teenager after enduring a challenging childhood, so he has sealed himself off from warm fuzzy feelings as a defense mechanism. Harper is a police office with something to prove as she was recently wrongfully accused of sexual harassment by her former schmucky partner. When the opportunity to provide input and insights on a sex trafficking case, she jumps as the chance to re-establish herself in her profession. She encounters Rusty (who is essentially a vigilante) when they cross paths in the attempt to bust up this human traffic ring. Neither are very trusting, but their chemistry is immediate, and despite their efforts to avoid entanglement with each other, their involvement is inevitable.

This was a fast-paced, page-turning thrill ride with main characters who felt "real" with their flaws and strengths, and the mystery aspect was enthralling. If you enjoy a solid romance with suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat intensity, this book is definitely for you!