Hour of Need by Melinda Leigh – a Review

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Description:
While fighting in Afghanistan, Major Grant Barrett receives devastating news: his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered in Scarlet Falls, the sleepy suburb of Grant’s youth. Emotionally scarred from war, the career soldier returns home on emergency leave to temporarily care for his orphaned nephew and niece. But when someone tries to kidnap the kids and their teenage babysitter, Grant knows it’s not a random act?and neither were the murders.

Already devastated by her neighbors? violent deaths, Ellie Ross is shattered by the attempted abduction of her teenage daughter so she desperately turns to Grant for help. As they navigate a deadly search for the truth, they struggle with growing feelings for each other and Grant’s impending return to deployment.

But time is running out. The killer is growing bolder by the hour, and Ellie and Grant must find him before the children become his next victims.

Review:

Grant was pulled out of his tour of duty in Afghanistan…to battle even more villainous enemies in Scarlet Falls, NY. When his brother and sister-in-law are murdered, making orphans of his 6 year old nephew and colicky 4 month old niece, Grant recognizes how much he’s missed. And how much his family needs him. I can only imagine the anxiety an author must feel when releasing a new book. The nerves must run amuck when it’s a new series. Fear not, Melinda Leigh: Hour of Need was awesome. Not only will you impress your existing fans with this introductory novel, you’ll make new fans…many new fans.

When Grant starts to put pieces together, gathered (written) in a steady, intriguing way, he soon makes a connection to Ellie, his brother’s next door neighbor (and co-worker). Grant’s brother had just agreed to represent the family of a young skater who hung herself after being taunted and harassed by two other competitors. What new information was discovered to make Grant’s brother accept such a highly charged case in the community? Unfortunately, dead men tell no tales. Grant’s a wreck; torn in half over responsibilities.

Truth be told, Grant would like to “connect” with Ellie much more intimately, but he knows his stay is only temporary; a month’s reprieve to settle matters at home and head back to war. Hardly enough time for proper wooing. The pair fights the attraction, ever diligent of each other’s limits and insecurities. It was difficult to remain patient, retain secrets, when they clearly wanted to open up and share each other’s burdens. Like who is so desperate for the case file, Ellie is being stalked and her family threatened.

Could Grant help? In a way they were in this together. If her extortion was tied to one of Lee’s cases, the murders could likely be linked as well. Grant would focus on finding the man who’d killed his family members. Ellie wanted to keep hers alive.

Did that make them allies or adversaries?

Time to smash those personal walls and solve this case.

Bullying was a hot issue. Ms. Leigh takes us through the young girl’s thoughts and it’s nothing short of turmoil and hopelessness. It was painful yet evocative to read her pleas for help. As a mother, I mourned for the parents who suffer in her absence; the tormenting regrets of inactivity or passivity.

Hour of Need is worth every second! Ms. Leigh expertly guides you through intertwining murders and the aftereffects of a suicide that should have been prevented. I love, love, loved this book and am confident you will need to read this, too!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author