Broken Bonds (Cold Creek #3) by Karen Harper
ISBN: 9780778317357 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781460345818 (ebook)
ASIN: B00LZCR988 (Kindle edition)
Publication date: December 30, 2014
Publisher: MIRA
Haunted by the past…
Cold Creek is a place with a dark history, especially for the Lockwoods. Now adults, the three Lockwood sisters are still recovering from the events that led to the destruction of their family when they were children. Determined to move forward, Tess and Kate are making fresh starts, ready to put bad—even deadly—memories to rest and settle happily in the small but booming town. And they’re hoping their older sister, Charlene, can do the same.
Char is back in town seeking comfort as she figures out her next move. A social worker used to difficult situations, she soon runs afoul of some locals who think she’s sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. She’s certain something sinister is being covered up, and when she witnesses Matt Rowan being run off the road, she knows she’s right.
Working together, Matt and Char figure uncovering the truth will be dangerous, but living in Cold Creek won’t be safe for any of them until its secrets are revealed.
Charlene “Char” Lockwood has left the American Southwest to return home. She thought that coming home and being with her sisters would be a great new start, but her work as a social worker often has her at odds with some of the more rural people in Cold Creek. When Char witnesses a local businessman, Matt Rowan, being run off the road, it’s the beginning of an all new adventure. Char Lockwood isn’t one to run away from trouble and soon she finds herself in the midst of the worst trouble possible.
Char Lockwood is just as headstrong as her sisters, but even they feel that she may be in a situation that she can’t handle. Witnessing one vicious accident soon turns into amateur detective hour with Char and the person she rescued, Matt Rowan, on the trail of possible environmental misconduct, possible murder at a local cult, and the possible murder of one of Matt’s employees. Ms. Harper has included a wild cast of characters including an overzealous bodyguard to Matt’s partner, an inquisitive sports director, a veteran suffering from severe PTSD, environmental protesters, a cult leader that thinks he’s God, and the head of a fracking business (who just happens to be Matt’s partner and family friend).
I have enjoyed reading many of Ms. Harper’s books in the past, but regrettably Broken Bonds isn’t one of them. I found this to be a somewhat difficult read simply because of the weird cast of characters, a somewhat tangled weave of multiple storylines, the amateurish detective work of Char and Matt, and the we met-took one look-and fell in love romance between the two main characters. Throw in the twist due to the fracking and it was just a bit much. Don’t get me wrong, this was a well-written story but I just felt a bit lost at times and thought the story had too much going on (perhaps I should read all of the books in this series). This doesn’t mean that I won’t be running out to grab the next book by Ms. Harper, because I will. For now I’m attributing my response to this book to the winter blahs coupled with chronic migraine pain.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free for review purposes from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not paid, required or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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