Colton on the Run

Anna J. Stewart

Sep 2019 · The Coltons of Roaring Springs Book 9 · Harlequin

About this ebook

A Colorado cowgirl on the run from a killer has lost her memory—and gained a protector—in this contemporary Western romantic thriller.

When Skye Colton is kidnapped, her disappearance rocks the small community of Roaring Springs, Colorado. Regaining consciousness in a broken-down shed, she has no memory of who she is or how she got there. But she knows she has to escape at any cost.

Finding a half-dead woman stranded in his barn, rancher Leo Slattery feels his blood run cold. Though she can’t remember her own name, she insists someone is trying to kill her. With his strong protective streak, Leo brings her into the fold and helps her heal. As they begin to solve the mystery of Jane Doe’s identity, a would-be killer works to eliminate her—forever.

Ratings and reviews

She came to alone in a decrepit shed, bound and gagged. What had happened? Where was she, and who was she? Then she ran from that place as fast as she could. Leo Slattery has taken over his late grandfather's farm after spending years working in Alaska. He might not have had the time to look at everything on the ranch, but a frightened woman hadn't been part of the deal! His demeanour inspires trust, and his "Jane Doe" confesses that she can't remember anything. He tells her she should see a doctor, then go to the police, but judging by her terrified reaction to his suggestions, he reluctantly agrees to wait until she's ready. Amnesia is my catnip, it's often hit-and-miss, and COLTON ON THE RUN is most definitely a hit! The very cinematic beginning captured my imagination right away: I felt our heroine's fear and terror as well as her frustration at her inability to recall anything.The reader doesn't know either and finds out as the story unfolds, which I liked a lot. I wondered if it made a difference to those who had read all the previous installments, with what they knew of Skye Colton. I enjoyed discovering who she was as Leo did, she grew a lot because of her ordeal, and I love how resourceful and clever she was; check out that ending! The plot is meticulously structured, the tension palpable on every page as the mystery is carefully resolved. I find COLTON ON THE RUN a bit difficult to review adequately. I was completely absorbed by the story, I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough, I enjoyed getting to know Skye and Leo and watching their relationship evolve. I loved it! I guess it's one of those books that elicit a: "Read it, it's fabulous!". The amnesia was expertly handled, and Leo is a marvellous hero. Just one thing niggled me: although the character is beautifully fleshed out, Leo's colouring is never mentioned; in any case, I went with the look of the cover model, who is one fine looking dude. COLTON ON THE RUN is a quick and easy read, thanks to Ms. Stewart's flowing prose, authentic dialogues, and the sense of danger that was sustained throughout. Some secondary characters made a strong impression on me: Trapper, Deputy Bloom, Leo's dog Ollie, and Miss D and her knowledge of social media. If the book description appeals to you, don't hesitate, this is a great romantic suspense and one of the best featuring an amnesia trope!

I haven't read any of the Colton books so I didn't know what to expect with this book! It was fantastic! Of course that probably had to do with the author! Anna writes amazing characters and stories but I'm a sucker for amnesia stories, if they are written right and this one certainly is! Imagine waking up in a old garden shed, obviously put there by someone meaning to do you harm because you are tied up, your clothes are ripped and you are in bad shape physically but the worst thing is you can't remember anything - not even your name! However, you KNOW you have to get out of this shed somehow because a bad person could come back and kill you! This is how the book begins and it just gets better! The woman ends up on Leo's property and what a guys he is! I've decided he has become one of my favorite heroes! He calls her "Jane" since she doesn't know her name and he carefully takes care of her on his ranch. He is such a gentle soul. He does everything to help Jane and is so careful with her. The secondary characters in this book are fantastic too! I enjoyed every page and was sorry to see it end because I wanted to see how things went for the two of them through the years - just the romantic in me!!

About the author

USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J Stewart can't remember a time she didn't have a book in her hands or a story in her head. Early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek, and Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating sweet to sexy pulse-pounding romances for her independent heroines. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a serious Supernatural addiction and an overly affectionate cat named Snickers.