Tracks of Her Tears by Melinda Leigh – a Review

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Description:
County investigator Seth Harding intends to spend the holidays with his newly reconciled family, but a few days before Christmas, a homicide thwarts his plan. Seth arrives at the scene and makes a painful discovery: the victim is his brother-in-law’s girlfriend. Her apartment has been ransacked and her toddler left motherless. To make matters worse, Seth’s brother-in-law, Bruce, is missing. With Solitude locked in a rare, deadly deep freeze and the temperature plummeting, the residents launch a desperate search.

Seth calls his wife, social worker Carly Taylor, to take the case so the little girl doesn’t get lost in the foster care system. With the holidays near, Carly brings the child home with them to celebrate Christmas. But when the Taylor farm is also trashed, Seth and Carly must race against time—and against a paralyzing winter storm—to find Bruce and catch a killer in the first pulse-pounding sequel to the Rogue River Novellas.

Review:

I’m afraid I’m at a disadvantage. While I had the utter pleasure of reviewing books 1 and 2 of the Rogue River novella series by Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh, I regrettably did not catch up to the last 2 books. All of a sudden, the Rogue Winter novellas (2 to be exact) are releasing, and, well…I’m in a confused frenzy. Trusting in Ms. Leigh, which I do, seems the logical place to start. Let me quit the meandering and follow the Tracks of Her Tears.

Now that he had her back in his life, he wouldn’t let anything come between them again.

Seth has reconciled with his wife, Carly, and he’s realized that love is too precious to ever take for granted. When Seth’s brother-in-law’s girlfriend turns up dead, Seth is in a near panic. Did his brother-in-law, Bruce, meet with the same fate or is Bruce suddenly the number one suspect? Either way, how is that not going to disrupt the harmony Seth’s just reestablished at home? With a supportive wife, that’s how!

This is not a “new” Carly. Seth has always admired his wife’s tenacity at home and as a social worker. Facing her brother’s disappearance on the heels of her father’s death should bring Carly to her knees, but she doesn’t cower, she perseveres. Watching Seth and Carly excel at their respective professions was impressive; collaborating to bring forth justice was inspiring. Watching Seth and Carly share a moment’s grief, or a consoling breath, was life-affirming. These two are reinvigorated and protective of their second chance no matter the mounting pressures.

At 99 pages, my initial uncertainty disintegrated immediately. Melinda Leigh will lead you down the Tracks of Her Tears with strong characters who will wrap you up in a moving and motivational story. This novella was far from mournful. I try to be impartial when reading and reviewing, but I can honestly say that Melinda Leigh engages you every time.

Stay close: November 17 will bring forth the equally compelling sequel, Dead in Her Tracks, by co-author, Kendra Elliot.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author