Review: Cedar Hollow by Tracey Smith

Cassidy St. Claire still wasn't sure what she'd been hoping to find when she began the search for her birth parents, but all she’d uncovered was a bunch of death certificates and one ailing great-uncle who’d finally kicked the bucket last week. Since Cassidy is the last surviving member of the family that means his estate, a small seaside bed and breakfast in New Hampshire, has been left to her. An odd stipulation in his Will requires that she appear in person to inherit the property. Cassidy isn't very hopeful that this weekend trip will lead to anything more than a momentary distraction from her busy life, and an excuse to take her convertible for a long drive up the coast.
She certainly isn't prepared for Mr. Tall Handsome and Brooding; Ben Riley has been running the bed and breakfast for the last several years, and he is definitely less than welcoming. His instant dislike for her is staggering, but his penetrating green eyes burn with a dangerous mixture of hostility and attraction.
Within days of her arrival an attempt is made on her life and then another. Suddenly Cassidy finds herself trying to unravel the mysteries of the past, while outrunning the dangers of the present and finally turning to the strong, protective arms of Ben Riley and a future she'd never imagined.

Released: November 14, 2013
272 pages
Genre: Romantic/Suspense

Kristine's Thoughts

I don't always read the synopsis when choosing books to read because I find that sometimes it gives too much of the story away. When choosing this book I quickly skimmed the first bit and totally missed the last paragraph. I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the end of chapter one and there was a paragraph from "The Chosen One" and I realised that Cedar Hollow was a romantic/suspense. It was a welcome break from my last few reads and I was hooked!

Cassidy inherits a bed and breakfast from the last member of her birth family which brings her to Cedar Hollow to sign the legal papers. An unusual stipulation dictates that she live in the house for 30 days before she can claim it and the story takes off from there.

Cassidy's initial impressions of the bed and breakfast are not good. She finds it dark and creepy and can't understand why people would want to stay there. It is here that she meets the cook/housekeeper and grounds keeper that have been running the place for years. Cassidy has an immediate physical attraction to the hunky but mysterious groundskeeper, Ben, but quickly discovers that the personality does not match the body and they begin to butt heads immediately. Ben thinks that Cassidy is a spoiled, rich city girl that only cares about selling to the highest bidder and being on her way.

I really enjoyed the interaction between Ben and Cassidy and how their relationship changed as the story progressed. Ben went from barely tolerating Cassidy to extremely protective when they both realised that she was in danger and someone was after her. There is an undeniable chemistry between the two that continues to build until fireworks explode. I found myself smiling and thinking "finally!"

I will admit that I figured out who "The chosen one" was very early on in the story but that is not unusual for me and it did nothing to stop me from enjoying it. The mystery behind Cassidy's birth family and their suspicious deaths kept me glued to the pages. Cedar Hollow is very well written and I enjoyed every minute of it. Tracey Smith is a new author to me and I have no doubt that I will be reading more of her books.

 

About the Author

 Tracey Smith grew up in Southern California, but as a teenager moved with her family to a small town in Arkansas. It was in Arkansas that she met and fell in love with the man of her dreams, who had also recently moved to the state. Fate brought them both to that small town and into each other’s lives and that is where they continue to live today raising their two children and living out their happily ever after.

Website-http://authortsmith.wix.com/romance
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