Title: UNEARTHING THE PAST

Author: W.L. Brooks

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Pages: 282

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

A single mother and owner of the town diner, Charlie McKay couldn’t be happier with her life in Blue Creek. Taking care of everyone around her is a labor of love, but the secret she’s keeping about her daughter’s parentage lurks beneath the surface. With the scars of the past still not healed, Charlie isn’t interested in adding a man to her life, even if that man is the oh-so-tempting Craig Sutton.

Determined to own his own bar, as his father had, Craig Sutton is a man on a mission. But wanting to enjoy small town life is only one of the reasons he moved to the mountains of North Carolina. Whether meaning to or not, Craig can’t keep from getting involved with the McKay family, and the closer he gets to Charlie and her daughter the more entangled he becomes.

In Blue Creek secrets have always run deep, and someone is now trying to expose Charlie’s in a disturbing way. She isn’t the only one with something to hide, however, and deception threatens a possible relationship between her and Craig. As hidden truths are revealed and danger increases, Charlie must find a way to face the past or lose everything.

Review

This is the third book in the series and while it can be read on its own, I highly suggest reading the first two books.  There were many things I didn’t understand or get about the McKay family dynamic and the relationship between the sisters.  That aside, this story was quite intriguing and the suspense/mystery really kept me guessing.

Charlie is the focus of this story and someone is out to get her and her daughter, Mack.  Enter Craig who has moved to town to open a bar but has some ulterior motives of his own but he is quite interested in Charlie and her daughter.  Charlie is a bit gunshy when it comes to men based on some past history, so Craig has to work past those walls she has built up around her.

All of the characters bring an interesting twist to the story with their personality traits and flaws.  I suppose you could say that the McKay family is a bit dysfunctional and perhaps it is their upbringing since they were all adopted by the McKay family at various times in their life.  Fletcher is the most volatile in my opinion.  She is a police officer, yet she seems to fly off the handle the fastest.  This is a good and bad thing but makes for an intriguing character and I wonder what her story is and what events in her past created her character.

The mystery/suspense portion of the story is well crafted and if you can figure out who the perpetrator is before the reveal you are a better sleuth than me.  There really are not many clues other than it is someone tied to Charlie’s past.  I honestly had no idea who to suspect.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the number of f* bombs and other profanity.  I don’t mind some, but this had a bit more than I personally prefer.

Overall we enjoyed the book and give it 3 paws up.

Excerpt

Chapter One

Someone was in his bedroom. Craig Sutton feigned sleep, even though the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He rolled over, slid one hand beneath his pillow, grasped cold steel, and opened his eyes. He didn’t know whether to laugh or curse. Standing on the bed next to him was four-anda-half-year-old Mackenzie McKay. Her big black eyes were wide and unblinking. He released his weapon and sat up.

“Uh…hi.”

“Hi.” She twirled one of her white-blonde pigtails. Craig had come across Mack, the niece of his landlady, on a number of occasions. But…

“How’d you get in here, sweetheart?”

She pouted. “I’m allowed.”

“Well…I don’t think anyone told you, but because I’m staying here, you need to knock first.” Craig didn’t want to scare her or, God forbid, make her cry. He’d never been able to handle female tears, especially the tiny variety.

She crossed her arms. “Auntie Alex shoulda said.”

“I’m sure she meant to…How about you go in the other room while I change, and then I’ll take you to find your aunt.”

“Ohskay.” She jumped down and closed the door behind her. Craig went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and changed his clothes in record time. When he came out, he was surprised to find her sitting at the kitchen table, humming and swinging her legs.

Craig shook his head and smiled; the kid was adorable. “Ready, sweets?” “Yep!” She hopped off the seat and took Craig’s hand.

About the Author

W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination.  When characters come into her mind, she has to give them life – a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper.  A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.

A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Pick up her latest novel, The Secrets That Shape Us- available now!

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