Unspeakable is the fourth book in Deadly Secrets series and an exciting thriller. I’m so glad I accepted the kind invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, to read and review. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

This is an action-packed romantic suspense with amazing characters, an outstanding plot and nail-biting suspenseful scenes. I became engaged from the first page and remained so until the end. Ms. Naughton certainly knows how to write thrillers!

Harper is an intriguing character, and I liked her right away. She is determined to prove she is not the person her old department thinks she is. While she is very much a victim of the “good ole boys” club, she does not react like one in the least. Loved her decisions at the end of the book.

Rusty McClane is a great hero. Who doesn’t love a Robin Hood character? He is so determined to save the girls that are disappearing because he knows their captors are part of a sex trafficking ring, a deadly one. His knightly behavior carries over to his relationship with Harper.

While the romance between Harper and Rusty is not the central element in this book, it is an excellent one. It is stronger than in the previous book. The chemistry is very strong, and I enjoyed seeing it grow. I truly wanted them to have their happy ending!

I highly recommend Unspeakable to all readers who love romantic suspense with plenty of action and a strong romantic element. I can’t wait to read other books by Ms. Naughton. She’s definitely becoming an auto-buy author for me. Happy reading!

Unspeakable is book four in Elisabeth Naughton’s Deadly Secrets series featuring the adoptive McClane siblings, and although I haven’t read the other books, it works pretty well as a standalone. There are, of course, some recurring characters and past events referred to, but the author gives enough information about them to satisfy the newbie without getting bogged down in too much extraneous detail. I did, however, read a few reviews of the other books after I’d read this one, and discovered that Unspeakable’s hero – Russell (Rusty) McClane – was a bit of an arsehole in the others, so I did miss out on that whole bad-boy-redeemed thing. On the plus side, however, not knowing much about him meant that the first chapters of the book, where the author paints him as something of a questionable character, kept me guessing for a while – even though it was obvious he was the hero the minute the heroine started lusting after him.

Rusty has always thought of himself as the black sheep of the family, the really awful things he’d done in the past making feel as though he doesn’t belong among this group of honest, good-hearted people who love him. He can normally handle family parties, but this particular day he just wants to be somewhere else, to avoid the questions about the bandages on his hands and the lies he’ll have to tell in response, hating himself for the deception and cringing at the obvious pride his parents take in him. In the middle of the party, however, things look set to come crashing down around his ears when two detectives show up at the McClane house intent on asking Rusty some questions about a young girl last seen at the local strip club where she’d worked – and where she’d been seen in Rusty’s company.

Ex-cop-turned-investigator Harper Blake knows a bad boy when she sees one, and Russell McClane most definitely pings her evil receptors. Her boss, lawyer Andrew Renwick, is an old friend of the McClane family, and he’s been asked to do a little digging around on Rusty’s behalf, to see what the police might be using to build a case against him in case Rusty is charged and Renwick has to mount a defence. Renwick tells Harper that at least eight girls working at strip joints in the area have disappeared over the past few weeks and months, and that McClane is known to have visited the same places, enquiring about their youngest employees. Harper can’t put her finger on it, but she knows immediately that something is off about McClane. Is he just some sicko bastard who preys on teenaged girls, or is something else going on? Either way, she’s determined to find out.

The author sets up the suspense plot well, keeping readers guessing as to Rusty’s true motivations until the story is well underway. Add in the fact that there’s someone out there with a grudge against the McClanes trying to set him up, an unexpected betrayal from close to home for Harper, and that what she and Rusty eventually stumble into is more dangerously gruesome than either of them had suspected, and you’ve got the ingredients for a pretty compelling story of suspense.

Unfortunately, however, while the suspense works, the novel is rather let down by the romantic part of the plot, because the relationship that springs up between Harper and Rusty is based primarily on lust and there isn’t much romantic about it. They hardly exchange more than a sentence or two until around half-way through the book, and then start making out in the middle of a swanky club when they’re supposed to be looking for a possible victim of a sex trafficking ring and are likely surrounded by lots of big men with guns! I get that danger can be a turn on, but – just nope. I was also a bit squicked by the fact that Harper starts lusting after Rusty while she believes him to be guilty of kidnapping, abusing and maybe even murdering teenage girls.

I liked Rusty and understood why he was driven to follow the path he did, especially after we find out the truth about his past and the piece of unadulterated filth who was his stepfather. I also appreciated why Harper’s past – she was dismissed from the police force because some sleazebags made trumped-up accusations of sexual harassment against her – had hardened her and made her reluctant to trust. Still, that didn’t really excuse the way she jeopardises their fledgling relationship by keeping a pretty big secret from Rusty – she knows it’s a bad idea but she does it anyway, and, of course, it blows up in her face near the end.

Neither character really stood out for me and there were times the plot relied on coincidence a little more often than I’d have liked; but for all that, I was invested enough in it to want to know how things would pan out. The author builds the dramatic tension skilfully and creates a real sense of peril for our heroes; the action scenes are well written and I was impressed with the final twist in the tale. The suspense plot works better than the romance, but Unspeakable kept me reading in spite of its flaws, so I’m giving it a cautious recommendation.

Grade: B- 3.5 stars

Awesome book! It has just the right amount of suspense and danger in it. Harper and Rusty definitely were great characters and went so well with each other. I love this whole series. This book was by far my favorite. Just enough intense mystery to make it a fantastic romance novel.

What a page turner! I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the chemistry between Harper and Rusty. The suspense of the story made this such an engrossing and relevant read. This is the first book that I’ve read in this series, but this book has made me want to go back and read the others.

Naughton is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors - she does a great job of writing believable and compelling stories that don't seem too over-the-top. While admittedly not my favorite of Naughton's Deadly Secrets series, the chemistry between Rusty and Harper was pretty intense and while there was an aspect of insta-lust that felt a bit rushed, I still enjoyed it overall.

Honestly, Rusty was a bit of a schmuck in the previous books, but the reader gets some background and soon understands why. Not to give anything away, but Naughton tried to ramp up the suspense a bit in how she wrote the first few chapters, making it seem like Rusty could be "guilty". However, given that this is the "romantic suspense" genre, it isn't a huge surprise to find that this was a bit of a red herring and it turns out that Rusty is, in fact, a knight in somewhat-tarnished armor.

I really enjoyed how Harper was a strong, kick-ass woman but still didn't have a problem letting Rusty act protective of her. Of course, some of her decisions in pursuit of regaining her job as a cop were misguided, but there has to be some relationship drama/conflict from somewhere, right?

*ARC provided by the publisher*

Unspeakable is a romantic suspense novel that is the fourth book of Elisabeth Naughton’s “Deadly Secrets” series. Even though this is a series, any reader who has not read the first three books can easily enjoy this book. However, I highly recommend them, because all three books in this series are exciting and intriguing.

This book is about Russell “Rusty McClane who was adopted by his family when he was a young boy. He had been taken away after he was rescued from a fire that killed his stepfather.

The heroine in this book is Harper Blake who is a former police officer. She was suspended after another officer accused her of sexual harassment. Since then she works as a private investigator for an attorney.

Harper and Rusty meet when Rusty is accused of kidnapping an under-aged girl. Harper’s boss is Rusty’s attorney. The attorney wants Harper to investigate Rusty to prove that he is not doing anything illegal.

I wasn’t actually a fan of Rusty in the beginning. However, as I learned more about him and discovered more of his true personality, I grew to love this tortured man.

There is, truly, not much else I can disclose without giving away any spoilers. However, I can say that nothing is ever the way it seems, and the reader will have trouble separating the “good guys” from the villains.

In fact, the intrigue and revelations start in the first chapter and doesn’t truly end until the epilogue.

I am not sure how long this series will last. However, I can think of a few interesting secondary characters that would make excellent heroes and/or heroines for future books.

After being rescued from a burning house, Russell McClane was adopted as a teenager by the doctor who treated his burns. His traumatic childhood has left him with a driving obsession – to make sure no girl suffered what his sister did. He prowls the strip clubs of Portland rescuing underage teenage girls from being sold into slavery. When he becomes a person of interest in the disappearance of several young girls Harper Blake, an ex-detective with the Portland Police Department, is given the task of looking into him by his attorney to see if he is as guilty as he seems.

I enjoyed the main storyline of this book. There was plenty of suspense and tension to keep hold of my attention and I was gripped trying to figure out who the mastermind behind the Plague was but for some reason I couldn’t get into the characters. Neither of them came across as being very likeable, not even to each other. Rusty thinks Harper is a man hater especially after he find she was fired from the department for sexual harassment and Harper thinks, at the very least, he’s some kind of sexual predator. This mutual distrust doesn’t stop them from metaphorically jumping into bed together the first chance they get which of course immediately changes their perception of each other. I found myself skimming over the parts in the book that were mainly just Rusty and Harper eager to get back to the actual plot which I really did enjoy and for that reason I’m only giving Unspeakable four stars.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Thriller and romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the second book that I've read in this series. And while I wasn't disappointed, it also didn't gel very well either.

Rusty is kind of known as the black sheep in his family. They are worried that he's constantly trying to redeem himself. Even when his freedom is in jeopardy, he refuses to give in to the questioning and even hides things from his own attorney. His behavior is somewhat suspect and with that behavior, his attorney sends out an investigator to try and figure out the mystery behind Rusty.

Harper is a disgraced police officer and despite that, she knows that she wants to be back on the force. However, even her contacts that she still has on the force either can't or won't really help her cause. She has her own reasons for wanting to help Rusty in his case but when she truly digs down into the mystery, her motives change. Her motives also change the more she gets to know Rusty.

The romance is somewhat overdone in this story. I was much more interested in the mystery and chase. I think that's why I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. However, the mystery is good and I liked reading about that. I do wish there was a little more completion on Harper's behalf – I thought it felt unfinished. But I did enjoy it.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This story about human trafficking in San Diego and Rusty is easily my favourite in the series so far. Rusty is probably the most secretive of the McClane siblings but it is a shock when police interrupt a family gathering to bring him in for questioning.

Hired to defend Rusty, his lawyer assigns Harper to find out more about his activities. Quickly, Harper finds herself tangled up with a human trafficking ring – and she knows Rusty is involved in some way.

This story moves quickly and I enjoyed the suspicion surrounding both Rusty and Harper. The two characters are attracted to each other – but neither can trust the other. As the story unravels, it gets bigger and bigger and quickly becomes personal for both Rusty and Harper. The story soon feels a little bit over the top when it feels like everyone in the city is dragged into the investigation. I enjoyed the suspense as Harper and Rusty begin to discover how far the corruption goes but the ending is frustratingly over dramatic and all the pieces are only tied together for readers during a long winded explanation by the baddest of the bad guys.

I liked the connection between Rusty and Harper but any real relationship development is sacrificed for suspense and action. This is marketed as romantic suspense, but it feels more like suspense with a little bit of sex. I’m not sure this is a terribly plausible story, but it is an exciting read.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the series, and Rusty’s story is as good as every one of his siblings so far. I was so excited when I got the book, and yet nervous at the same time, as Elisabeth Naughton writes books which take me high and low, and get me hot and cold, and always cause a few (or more) tears. So, although I’m sad I’ve finished it, I can happily report that I managed to read the teary bits when alone!

One of the real strengths of this series is that the love stories are deeply enmeshed in a complex plot, which twists and turns us around. This one is no exception, and in fact, the very last chapter and epilogue delivers an unexpected extra to the story. The other star feature is that the siblings all fall in love with someone incredibly strong themselves – this makes absolute sense when you think of their parents as role models. Hannah is an inspirational mother for sure and Michael a wonderful father.

Will we have to wait till Thomas is a bit older for his book? Probably, but I do hope that there is more to come from this lovely family. In the meantime, I’m sure Naughton is busy hatching some other cunning plot to entrance and excite her loyal readers – I for one can’t wait.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

I like a good romantic-suspense with a broody, bad boy hero. In Rusty we get the broody, but his bad boy rep is mostly a screen for this extracurricular activities. The romance between Rusty and Harper is steamy to the max and their chemistry is bubbling throughout the book from beginning to end. Harper is attracted to moody, bad boys too. The plot and Rusty playing the mysterious crusader wore thin toward the end, but the author wrapped it all up with a pretty bow even.

Rusty McClane has a troubled past that he just can't seen to leave in the past. His sister disappeared at 13, presumably into a sex trafficking ring and Rusty can't seem to let it go. He spends a lot of time in strip clubs and is secretly stealing young girls from the trafficker's and they are not to pleased with his efforts. The police show up to question him in a disappearance and he meets Harper, an ex-cop now a investigator working for Rusty's attorney.

Harper Blake drawn to the mysterious and brooding Rusty, but her track record is not so good. Her job is to find evidence to prove his innocence, even though she has her doubts. Harper wants to be reinstated on the police force and Rusty may just be her ticket back. 3 1/2-Stars

This gritty and emotionally gripping romance pulls readers and refuses to let go until they have unraveled every last secret. Rusty and Harper are two strong, absorbing characters that sizzled with undeniable chemistry and readers can easily connect with their story. The romance between these two is full danger and passion as at first they fight their attraction to each other and slowly give in as they grow closer together. Both characters have emotional scarring that they have to overcome before they can fully commit to a relationship which adds lots of depth to this story and fits in with the plot of the story as the past unravels.

The story has fast pace and flows smoothly from beginning to end and it keeps readers glued to the pages with lots of thrilling suspense. Danger hides around every corner and deciding who to trust can be lethal as surprising twists reveal deadly secrets. Rusty and Harper’s story has some surprising connections that adds wonder and a sense of fulfillment as their story comes to its conclusion. Once again, the author spins a complicated and compelling web of romance and suspense that readers can’t put down.

A mystery that turns into more than they ever bargained for! With the next book in the Deadly Secrets series, we get the story of another of the McClane siblings. Rusty is the quiet one. Always there when his siblings need him, but keeps to himself a lot. Never one to light up the room with a smile, he adores his family, but he's still eaten away by the past and things he could have done differently. Now he's in the crosshairs of some powerful people who want to bring him down ... whether he's guilty or not! I wasn't drawn in as deeply with this book as I was with ones previously in the series, but it was still a very entertaining read filled with intrigue, drama and romance.

Rusty McClane lucked into joining a wonderful family when his world fell apart all those years ago, but as much as he's tried, he can't move past the trauma he experienced as a child. The guilt eats him up inside as he lies on a regular basis to his family about what he does when he's not with them. His secrets might not be so secret anymore when the cops show up at his parents door!

Investigator Harper Blake isn't sure what to make of Rusty when she's called in on his defense. She's attracted to him almost immediately and she's usually a magnet for a major bad boy, but she senses there's something going on with him that isn't exactly showing on the surface. Is he involved in why this underage girl is all of a sudden missing, or is there more to his story?

This installment of the series was definitely a little darker but it worked for Rusty's character. In the other books, he was definitely the dark horse so it makes sense the storyline would be a little more dangerous.

Rusty and Harper had chemistry from the start but you knew with Rusty's background the relationship wouldn't be smooth sailing. I always love ENs writing. Her ability to build the suspense and develop the romance is top notch. Rusty and Harper suffered losses in their past that made them leery of making any intimate connection. You could tell they both wanted to fight the attraction or at the very least keep it casual. To see Rusty even pull away from his family was sad to see. He didn't feel worthy of the happiness having parents and siblings who cared offered him. That made the moments where they each gave in even better.

This storyline dealt with the delicate subject of human trafficking. The sensitive parts of the story were handled perfectly and with an eye to shining a light on the issue without exploiting it or being lurid.

Unspeakable by Elisabeth Naughton is Rusty McClane’s story. This is a wonderful example of how an author can change the reader’s perspective of a character. When Rusty was a supporting character in the previous books, he came across not as a bad boy but as a bad person. As his story unfolds, I could see the complex man underneath he façade that he projected. Well done, Ms. Naughton.

Harper Blake, an investigator who digs deep, looking for more than the obvious. She finds that with Rusty. She is part of the reason that my opinion changed. This story has dark elements of kidnapping of young girls, sex trafficking and even murder. Danger and the nature of the crime being investigated make Rusty and Harper’s story one of mistrust, doubts and strong attraction. It kept me turning the pages to find the guilty ones, even if it turned out to be Rusty..

This one has it all suspense, intrigue and finally love. In her new installment in this series, there were a lot of charters all necessary in there own way. But the main characters were well developed and you find your self-rooting for them. The sensual parts were just that sensual without too much info. I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down till I was done.I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Unspeakable is the fourth story in the Deadly Secrets series by Elisabeth Naughton. I will always suggest reading a series from the start whenever possible, but if you can’t then there are enough mentions within the narrative or dialogue of Unspeakable to explain any references to people or events from the previous stories. There are interconnecting characters though, so even if I think it could stand on its own very well… I’d grab the earlier books, besides, they’re just as suspenseful and intriguing as this one is so there is nothing to lose here.

I was engaged with Rusty and Harper from the start, and this story never let up it just kept building until an almost explosive ending. Since this is Romantic Suspense there is very little that I’m comfortable saying that might be spoilers… so. Unspeakable is full of twists and turns, you may even be blindsided by events if you’ve followed the series from the beginning. Harper and Rusty sizzle as much as they mistrust but working together they will form a bond that is unbreakable… eventually. I was surprised at times, and now I have to go do some re-reading to figure out what I missed. And that is the only thing I”m gonna say on that. I enjoyed stepping back into this world, Rusty and Harper gave me a roller coaster ride from beginning to the final page. If you love Romantic Suspense… then you need to check out this series. I’d definitely recommend this for any Mystery, Romantic Suspense reader who loves surprises, twists and turns and an intriguing couple with their own agendas along the way.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Unspeakable is Rusty McClane’s story. Rusty is a vigilante who is working to clear his demons. His biological family wasn’t all that they were supposed to be. They didn’t show love, they were well off but had so many secrets and those secrets haunt Rusty. When he meets Harper Blake his need to protect and keep his heart walled off triples. Rusty and Harper are amazing together. While Rusty is protective, Harper is strong and independent. Together they work. He protects her, she stands strong, and together they can take on any problem they encounter.

Danger, intrigue, and romance are all part of Elizabeth Naughton’s talent. I was pulled in, was invested in the amazing characters, and kept reading until the very last page needing to know what was going to happen. There is so much action, so many twists and turn, and the suspense is wonderful.

4.25 stars--UNSPEAKABLE is the fourth instalment in Elisabeth Naughton’s contemporary, adult DEADLY SECRETS romantic suspense series focusing on the four adopted McClane siblings (Ethan, Alex, Kelsey, Rusty). This is vintner and vigilante Russell ‘Rusty’ McClane, and legal investigator Harper Blake’s story line. UNSPEAKABLE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives (Rusty and Harper) UNSPEAKABLE follows vintner Russell ‘Rusty’ McClane, and legal investigator Harper Blake as they cross paths investigating a potential human trafficking ring with possible connections to a number of murdered and missing sex workers and strippers in and around the Portland, Oregon area. When Russell is ID’d as a possible suspect in the disappearance of an underage stripper, former police officer turned legal investigator Harper Blake believes Russell is hiding more than meets the eye. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Harper and Rusty, as our leading couple work together to uncover and reveal the truth.

Rusty McClane has devoted his life to protecting those unable to protect themselves. A past mired in darkness and loss, Rusty specializes in locating the missing and lost- a one man operation determined to avenge for sins of the past. Former police officer Harper Blake has never met a man like Rusty McClane but Harper suspects Rusty is not whom the police report him to be. There is something about our hero that draws Harper like a moth to a flame, a flame that burns hotter with every encounter.

The relationship between Harper and Rusty is one of immediate attraction but Rusty is the Portland PD’s current suspect in a rash of missing under-aged girls, and for all intents and purposes is off limits. Working together Rusty will reveal the truth behind his vigilante tactics, as Harper slowly falls for the man before her eyes. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of Rusty’s siblings: Ethan and Samantha (Repressed #1), Alex and Raegan (Gone #2), Kelsey and Hunter (Protected #3), as well as youngest brother Thomas, their parents Hannah and Michael McClane; Harper’s boss Andrew Renwick, detectives Brett Callahan, and Noah Pierce. The requisite evil has many faces, some familiar to both of our leading couple. I am not sure if the author has plans for Thomas-he is a senior in high school, and his story would require an advance of several years in the series.

UNSPEAKABLE is a story of family, betrayal, vengeance and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing and intelligent; the characters are spirited and dynamic; the romance is provocative and edgy. UNSPEAKABLE is an engaging and intense story of mystery wherein two people are pulled together by the seedy underbelly of the human sex trade.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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4 and 1/2 stars. Another winner in this series! Chock full of the three S's I look for in romantic suspense; Suspenseful, Steamy and Surprising. This one kept me engaged until the very last page due to the excellent twisty plot and the relationship formed between Rusty and Harper. I really liked them together and think they made a great team in every sense of the word. Both carried baggage and secrets but they found a kindred spirit in the other and held on to that. Awesome!


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Russell/Rusty could usually handle a family party. But not today Rusty wasn’t in the mood. It was just a giant reminder that he didn’t belong in this family. He wasn’t honest and good hearted as far as he was concerned. The awful things he had done in his past as soon as last night - made him an outcast. Rusty had been adopted by Michael and Hannah. His mother was a doctor and when Rusty was thirteen his now mother had stepped into his E R room. Rusty had been physically and emotionally broken but Hannah had bent over Rusty and looked at his burns.Rusty had flinched at the touch of every other adult that day, traumatized by an event he still had nightmares about. Hannah’s smell of lilies had made him trust her and he let her save him. Rusty wished he could be like his other siblings who had moved on from their troubled pasts. Then his brother Alec said there was two detectives at the door that wanted to see Rusty. Rusty went to the station so his whole family wouldn’t be involved. Harper Blake knew true evil was hidden. She knew all the trappings of evil as she had seen evil up close. Also something inside her was attracted to the evil on a very basic level. Her job was to find evidence of guilt or innocence for the lawyers. What they did with the evidence wasn’t her concern. Rusty was a person of interest in the disappearance of Melony Strauss. Rusty had went and got a lawyer. Andy asked Harper what she thought and she said that she felt Rusty knew a whole lot more about the missing girl then he’s letting on. Then Andy added at least eight girls from the younger side have come up missing from Portland strip clubs recently. Andy said he had known rusty’s family for years and rusty had always been a loner and a unpredictable character. Andy hoped Harper would follow what he had set up for her. Andy had wrapped up with the wrong people long ago. All for a quick buck and a better life. Even though he’d turned things around and worked his butt off to stay on the straight and narrow , he was still paying for one fateful mistake. Rusty was leading a double life. Rusty had devoted himself to find “ the missing”. He was Robin Hood in his own way and also nicknamed that by the corrupt people who wanted to stop him. Harper agrees to work with Rusty but she also has her own agenda that she doesn’t tell Rusty. But the chemistry between Harper and Rusty is hot.
I had mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the intrigue, suspense, and danger. I liked the plot. I liked how Harper still held her head high after what had happened. Harper and rusty do have a hot chemistry between them. I advise that you read the books in this series in order for a smoother read. This is not really believable in any way like when Harper gets into a highly guarded location picking a lock. There would have been an alarm a the very least. I like a little reality in my novels or not as far fetched at least in this type. Also there was too many sex scenes there just didn't have to be so many. I was a little annoyed Harper didn’t come clean to Rusty once they were working together as he had to her. I liked that Rusty was trying to help even in a shady way. So as you can see i had mixed feelings but I would have rated this 3.5 if I could have.

Unspeakable is the fourth, fabulous instalment in high-octane Deadly Secrets series. It's a standalone too.

The past is also the present in the life of Russell 'Rusty' McClane. He may be on the straight and narrow after going against his adopted parents' wishes but he's proved them wrong and they in return are really proud of what he's achieved. Still, he has secrets he's keeping from them and his other adopted siblings simply because they don't need to know this aspect of his life, until Portland PD officers turn up at his parents' house looking for him; They want to question him in regards to a missing woman...one he was the last to see.

When Legal Investigator Harper Blake meets Russell McClane her reaction flags him as a bad boy but there's something about him which she finds attractive...not a good sign. Her job is to find evidence to defend him from allegations the police department is trying to pin on him only she uncovers far more than anticipated.

The sparks of attraction between the protagonists are visible right from their first meeting but the opinions they hold for each other are the opposite. Yet with every interaction, they are drawn together despite not wanting to admit these feelings, either to themselves or each other.

The fast-paced narrative kept me focused and enthralled reading this page-turner. As I've previously read one of the other books in the series, I enjoyed catching up on the others in the McClane clan too. As heroes go, I have a weakness for flawed characters and Rusty fits this description perfectly, something he would agree himself as he's never fitted into the family like the others. However, it is satisfying in the end when his secrets are revealed and he finally accepts the past and realises he is a worthy and respected member of the family.

The writing is engaging with an original narrative. For those who have read any or all the previous three books will recognise links that tie the four adopted siblings together in a unique way. All the books are standalone with the author incorporating the connections without the reading feeling as if they are missing any details. Of course, you'll want to read the other books, simply because who doesn't love a romantic suspense with well-developed characters and an intriguing storyline?

#ReadMontlake

***arc generously received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***