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A review by booksuperpower
Hour of Need by Melinda Leigh
5.0
Hour of Need by Melinda Leigh is a 2014 Montlake publication.
This book is a solid romantic suspense novel that isn't afraid to address hot button issues in a thought provoking manner that challenges the reader to think about many things along the way. The plot has several twist along the way and surprises I never saw coming.
Grant is burning out from too many tours of duty in Afghanistan, but nothing he has ever endured in war could prepare him for the news his brother, Lee, and sister-in-law, Kate, have been murdered. On leave, he returns to the states to claim his niece and nephew, reunite with his siblings and try to figure out who murdered his brother and why. Along the way he is also reunited with Ellie Ross, his brother's neighbor, a woman he is attracted to but has avoided pursuing because he knows he will have to leave home again.
Ellie Ross is an employee who worked in the law firm where Lee was an attorney. Her teenage daughter, Julia, was babysitting the night the couple was murdered. But, now Ellie has been dragged into the case by her boss because apparently Lee took an important file home and he wants Ellie to try and retrieve it. But, Ellie isn't the only one looking for the file and soon she finds her family's lives are at stake if she doesn't find it ASAP.
This sordid murder mystery revolves around the bullying case of teenager who ultimately committed suicide. Those responsible for bullying the girl would most likely never suffer any sort of repercussions for their cruelty, until Lee takes on a civil case the girl's parents filed. Grant believes the missing file and the bullying are in someway connected to his brother's death. He also suspects Ellie knows more than she is telling.
Family's are complicated and Grant realizes too late that his family has not been all that close. The death of his brother and certain revelations he uncovers opens his eyes to the fact that while he is a military hero keeping his country safe, he has neglected to nurture his own family relationships. However, Grant is not the only one in his family that is so driven by ambition they hardly see one another. It was sad that a death and two vulnerable children would be the thing that brought them all together.
The other theme the book explores is the bullying epidemic and the sad consequences it brings. The thoughts many had on the subject were disturbing, yet very typical. I recently found myself having a conversation about this very thing not too long ago and was aghast at the flippant attitude some people have about bullying, believing the victim should be stronger or taught to cope with the situation. In this case that attitude may have caused a delay in getting the victim help.
These themes, although they play a key role in the story, do not overshadow the mystery or romance. Ellie is the single mom of a teenager and a caretaker for her grandmother, who is a delightful character. Ellie and Grant have met before and there was an attraction , but Ellie doesn't want a long distance relationship, nor does she want something temporary, which puts Grant out of the running. He is sure to be called back up for military service, but Ellie finds it harder and harder to resist him.
The mystery is puzzling because we know some of the details but not enough to draw up any pat answers. There are many suspects with good motives but I never could have guessed how it would play out in the end. The last quarter of the book was riveting as all the pieces of the puzzle begin to snap into place and huge revelations and paranoia take hold putting everyone at risk.
As I said in the beginning this story is very solid with a dark, twisty mystery, hot steamy romance, and a few themes that will give you pause. Obviously I really liked this one - 5 stars
This book is a solid romantic suspense novel that isn't afraid to address hot button issues in a thought provoking manner that challenges the reader to think about many things along the way. The plot has several twist along the way and surprises I never saw coming.
Grant is burning out from too many tours of duty in Afghanistan, but nothing he has ever endured in war could prepare him for the news his brother, Lee, and sister-in-law, Kate, have been murdered. On leave, he returns to the states to claim his niece and nephew, reunite with his siblings and try to figure out who murdered his brother and why. Along the way he is also reunited with Ellie Ross, his brother's neighbor, a woman he is attracted to but has avoided pursuing because he knows he will have to leave home again.
Ellie Ross is an employee who worked in the law firm where Lee was an attorney. Her teenage daughter, Julia, was babysitting the night the couple was murdered. But, now Ellie has been dragged into the case by her boss because apparently Lee took an important file home and he wants Ellie to try and retrieve it. But, Ellie isn't the only one looking for the file and soon she finds her family's lives are at stake if she doesn't find it ASAP.
This sordid murder mystery revolves around the bullying case of teenager who ultimately committed suicide. Those responsible for bullying the girl would most likely never suffer any sort of repercussions for their cruelty, until Lee takes on a civil case the girl's parents filed. Grant believes the missing file and the bullying are in someway connected to his brother's death. He also suspects Ellie knows more than she is telling.
Family's are complicated and Grant realizes too late that his family has not been all that close. The death of his brother and certain revelations he uncovers opens his eyes to the fact that while he is a military hero keeping his country safe, he has neglected to nurture his own family relationships. However, Grant is not the only one in his family that is so driven by ambition they hardly see one another. It was sad that a death and two vulnerable children would be the thing that brought them all together.
The other theme the book explores is the bullying epidemic and the sad consequences it brings. The thoughts many had on the subject were disturbing, yet very typical. I recently found myself having a conversation about this very thing not too long ago and was aghast at the flippant attitude some people have about bullying, believing the victim should be stronger or taught to cope with the situation. In this case that attitude may have caused a delay in getting the victim help.
These themes, although they play a key role in the story, do not overshadow the mystery or romance. Ellie is the single mom of a teenager and a caretaker for her grandmother, who is a delightful character. Ellie and Grant have met before and there was an attraction , but Ellie doesn't want a long distance relationship, nor does she want something temporary, which puts Grant out of the running. He is sure to be called back up for military service, but Ellie finds it harder and harder to resist him.
The mystery is puzzling because we know some of the details but not enough to draw up any pat answers. There are many suspects with good motives but I never could have guessed how it would play out in the end. The last quarter of the book was riveting as all the pieces of the puzzle begin to snap into place and huge revelations and paranoia take hold putting everyone at risk.
As I said in the beginning this story is very solid with a dark, twisty mystery, hot steamy romance, and a few themes that will give you pause. Obviously I really liked this one - 5 stars