Terrific combination of romance and suspense. Kayla and Jasper have a complicated relationship. She works for him on the ranch he owns with his sister. She was hired after her family's ranch was foreclosed on due to her father being sent to prison, and Jasper's father was the judge who did it. Kayla maintains that her dad was innocent, especially as Judge Colton was later found to be corrupt. Kayla harbors a deep resentment toward the Coltons because of it, while Jasper feels guilty because of his father's actions.

Matters become complicated when Kayla begins receiving threatening texts. Those texts insist she knows where something is hidden, but she has no idea what they are talking about. She initially tries to blow them off as pranks. Jasper witnesses her reaction when a particularly threatening message arrives and finally convinces her to tell him about it. Jasper's protective instincts kick in as he insists on helping her.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Kayla and Jasper. The attraction is there from the beginning, which frustrates Kayla. How can she be attracted to the man she considers her family's enemy? She copes by avoiding him whenever possible. For Jasper, Kayla is an employee and, therefore, off-limits. Kayla is reluctant when Jasper insists she moves into his house for her protection but gives in after another text. Jasper was sweet with his attempts to care for her, while Kayla's stubborn independence made her fight what she was afraid to accept. As she became more comfortable around him, her snappy comebacks to his comments were fun to see.

The more time they spent together, the stronger their attraction, and the deeper the feelings grew. I was slightly disappointed in Jasper's reluctance to expose his feelings to his family, especially since they all suspected the truth. Kayla knew the truth of her feelings but believed that Jasper wouldn't be interested in anything permanent with the daughter of a convict. I ached for Jasper when he planned a surprise for Kayla, and her stubborn pride took it the wrong way. It takes a little time apart and some self-examination for Kayla to realize that just because she can do things herself doesn't mean she has to. I loved the ending and seeing them look forward to a future together.

The suspense was excellent. The disturbing texts that turn threatening indicate that someone believes that Kayla has information the texter wants. You can feel her fear as the tone of the texts escalates. Once she involves Jasper, who in turn involves several of his siblings, the intensity builds. It doesn't take long to figure out that it has something to do with Kayla's father. Unexpected revelations expose a different side of her father and answer the question posed by the texter. There are a couple of intense confrontations and an unexpected twist to the ending. A sighting of the series' archenemy, Ronald Spence, adds another layer of strain to the story.

I loved seeing more of the Colton family and the progress of the previous relationships. The Thanksgiving and Christmas party get-togethers showcased the family's closeness, from teasing encounters to unquestioning support. There was a sweet scene between Colton matriarch Isa and the police chief that also had me laughing out loud at the family's reactions. ( )