Sunday, February 1, 2015

Echo Lake-Carla Neggers

Echo Lake
Carla Neggers
Mira, Jan 27 2015, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778317432

Former diplomat Vic Scarlatti retires to Knights Bridge.  He hires Sloan & Sons Construction to renovate his historical home that overlooks Echo Lake.  Ignoring the objections of her overly protective five brothers Heather Sloan leads the restoration.  Additionally due to unnerving incidents, Vic asks his friend Diplomatic Security Service agent Brody Hancock to investigate if someone threatens him; while his doubting protégé expands that to protecting his former mentor though that means going home to a place he swore as a teen never to return.

Adding to Brody’s infuriation at being back in his birth town is constantly running into the Sloan siblings who he loathed when he last resided here.  However more exasperating is seeing Heather almost every day as Brody is very attracted to her; she reciprocates but doubts he has any staying interest in her.

The fourth Swift River Valley romantic mystery (see Cider Brook, That Night On Thistle Lane and Secrets of the Lost Summer) is a pleasant second chance (loose definition) at love starring two total opposites.  The wintry Massachusetts background is picturesque as the audience will believe they are chasing Vic’s canine in the snow alongside underdressed for the weather Heather.  However, the appealing novel also feels overly busy with too many albeit well-written subplots distracting from the fabulous main storyline.


Harriet Klausner

No comments: