Series: Coltons of Mustang Valley (Book 7)Coltons (Book 108)
For an undercover duo,
investigating a beauty pageant turns ugly.
When Bella Colton undergoes a makeover to enter a beauty
pageant, she’s on a mission. She’s determined to find out why her best friend
died. Enter undercover FBI agent Holden St. Clair. Holden’s hot on the heels of
a serial killer, who has Bella in his crosshairs. As the chemistry between
Bella and Holden sparks, can they capture the murderer in their midst?
Very good book that sucked me in early and didn't let go
until the very end. Bella is a reporter for the local paper, as well as doing
free-lance articles for other publications. She is currently investigating a
story that is very personal to her. Her best friend recently died from an
eating disorder, and Bella believes that the beauty pageant industry
contributed to it. She plans to go undercover as a contestant for Ms. Mustang
Valley in her search for the truth. On the first day of pageant auditions, she
meets Holden St. Clair, the security guard hired to protect the contestants.
What Bella doesn't know is that Holden is more than a
security guard. He is an FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer who has
struck two other pageants. His gut tells him that the Ms. Mustang Valley
pageant is the next target. Meeting Bella Colton is a distraction he doesn't
want or need.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Bella
and Holden. There were sparks from the moment they met, though both were
determined to ignore them. Each had their goals, and neither wanted the
distraction. But when Bella is attacked that same evening, she is thankful for
Holden's presence. When they discover that each has an underlying reason to be
there, it doesn't take long for them to agree to work together. Holden's
protectiveness runs up against Bella's independence, and learning to trust each
other is a big part of the battle. There is an added complication in that
Holden was burned by a former girlfriend who was also a reporter. I liked
seeing them get to know each other and discover that they had more than just
attraction going for them. I especially enjoyed the birdwatching scene as they
were able to get away from their troubles for a few hours. But as their
feelings for each other grew, each also felt that there was no future in it.
There were still those differences, plus the distance between their jobs. However,
surviving the danger of the serial killer as they did gave them a new
appreciation for what they had together, and the motivation to find a solution.
I loved Holden's big moment at the end.
The suspense of the story was excellent. Bella's desire
to discover the truth behind the pageant wouldn't allow her to give up, even
when it became clear that she was the target of a killer. That first attack was
frightening, and even more so when Holden found the hidden camera at her house.
Bella's search for answers about the pageant also seemed to stir up some
trouble, with attacks on and by other pageant personnel, leaving questions
about who was behind the attacks. The tension built as the time for the pageant
grew closer, knowing that's when the killer usually strikes. I was on the edge
of my seat as the attack finally happened, and Bella's life was on the line. I
loved the teamwork that had to happen between Bella and Holden to bring it to
an end.
I haven't read any of the other Mustang Valley books yet,
but this was easily read as a stand-alone. There were references made to what
is probably the ongoing mystery, but they didn't affect my enjoyment of this book.
I will read the others, though!
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