Review: Hidden Threat by Connie Mann

Summary

An environmental crisis is the last thing clean-water crusader Eve Jackson expected in her hometown. She’s used to taking on powerful DC politicians in her fight, but when a baby in Safe Harbor, Florida, shows mysterious signs of possible poisoning, the danger hits painfully close to home, stirring memories of her own mother’s death.

Eve’s search leads her to the Sutton Ranch, now run by her high school crush, Cole. Focused on keeping the family business afloat as a series of deformed calves are born to his herd, Cole has no time for Eve’s crusade. But as her unwelcome questioning ostracizes her from locals, Cole’s irritation turns to intrigue—about the source of the poisoned water and the tenacious, loyal, and passionate woman determined to help.

As Eve digs deeper into Cole’s operation, she sees her suspicion of Sutton Ranch may be misplaced. Yet she can’t shake the feeling that his ranch, and perhaps his past, hold the answers she seeks. When the sabotage escalates, the two must work together to uncover the culprit—if they can survive the investigation.

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My Review:

Four Stars

When a baby gets very sick from suspected poisoned water, clean water activist Eve Jackson vows to do everything in her power to figure out the cause and make the guilty party pay. When three deformed calves are born on Cole Sutton's floundering ranch, he's desperate to find the cause and save the ranch. Eve and Cole's worlds collide when her investigation leads her straight to the Sutton Ranch.

Hidden Threat is the first Connie Mann book I've read and I devoured it as fast as I could. Though Tangled Lies is the first book in this series and some things that happened during it were discussed, I was never lost. It intrigued me enough to want to go read it, too!

I felt really bad for the way Eve was treated by a lot of the people in Safe Harbor. She's met with hostility, derision, and suspicion because of some mistakes she made as a teenager and her “environmental crusades”. She's looked at as “one of those tree huggers just looking for a cause”. I really admired her passion to her causes and standing up for what she believes in. She's a a strong woman and has a real determination to make the world a better place. Cole's a very admirable and stand up guy. He's the kind of trustworthy and steady leading man that I love to read about. They had great chemistry and I was rooting for them even though there's a bit of bad history and opposing viewpoints between them.

From the opening chapter, I was hooked. The real world faded away and I was sucked into the town of Safe Harbor. Mann does a great job at conveying the emotions of the characters in a way that I felt the exact same emotions, as well; disgust, infuriating anger, anxiety, excitement, terror, joy, anticipation... the list could go on and on. It was an intriguing thrill ride that consistently ramped up the suspense the further along into the book I read. It kept me guessing, too. There were quite a few suspects and I had no idea who the actual culprit was until the reveal. I would definitely, and highly, recommend Hidden Threat to any lover of suspense!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my own honest opinion.

To learn more about this author, visit her website here.