Colton Family Showdown

Regan Black

Oct 2019 · Harlequin

About this ebook

A mysterious visitor at the door…

Can danger be far behind?

Quarter Horse breeder Fox Colton is a loner by nature. So when an anonymous infant appears on his doorstep, he reluctantly takes in the baby—and new assistant Kelsey Lauder. As he grows to cherish his unexpected family, Fox works to track down Baby John Doe’s real parents. But when secrets from Fox’s own past are unearthed, he could find himself alone again, just as he’s come to love the new people in his life.

Ratings and reviews

Fox Colton was content with his life on the Crooked C ranch. He was getting ready to go to bed when he heard a car, rushed downstairs and found a baby on his doorstep. A baby who is definitely not his. He'll do the best he can until he can find a suitable solution, because foster care is out of the question. To top it all off, the next day he has an appointment with Kelsey Lauder, an equine geneticist to assist him in his horse breeding business. As luck would have it, Kelsey worked as a babysitter and a nanny while in college and she is happy with the arrangement. Fox is determined to find the baby's parents, all the while, the Avalanche Killer is still on the loose, and Kelsey is hiding something... How comforting to see a character do the logical thing when finding a baby! Fox is a good guy, hardworking, and it was lovely how he opened up to Kelsey about his fears. But I wish he'd talked to her instead of assuming where they stood and delaying the inevitable in the novel. I thought it made the latter part of the book unnecessarily unpleasant. Kelsey reveals very little, and at times, I found her reactions a bit weird but given her upbringing, it's understandable. I found COLTON FAMILY SHOWDOWN more a domestic drama than a romantic suspense, as family issues drive the plot. The serial killer arc was put on the backburner for this book, but it's not over. There are no loose threads but strong hints as to what's to come. Now, this is a matter of personal preference, but I felt there was too much "baby stuff". It's very well done, not cloying or anything; it's actually sweet, Fox and Kelsey bond with little Baby John Doe while they get to know each other, but it's not what I expected. However, readers who love stories with babies will be over the moon. There was an immediate attraction between Kelsey and Fox; both were reluctant to act on their impulses because of the employee-employer situation. Other Coltons from the previous books are also featured, they're introduced very smoothly, but I was surprised at Fox's approach in looking for Baby John's parents. While the characters don't know this, and technically it made sense, Fox's thinking goes against Romancelandia's implicit "rules for heroes". Obviously, I did not take this into account for my rating; sometimes I think too much! The pace is steady but a tad sluggish as the story revolves mostly around Kelsey and Fox caring for the baby and falling in love. It was very interesting to see the family dynamics' influence on both protagonists' life choices, and in fact, the real drama lies in the very messy family relationships and their consequences. As always, Regan Black's writing flows effortlessly and the dialogues ring true.

I was gifted an advanced readers copy of Colton Family Showdown . I'm volunteering my honest opinion . I really enjoyed this story . It's suspenseful and intriguing very intense . The story is one big rollercoaster ride with many twists and turns you never see coming . This is a story you cannot put down . Fox Colton's family have secrets and one definitely packs a punch , when it comes out in the light . Kelsey has quite a history and secrets also , Kelsey comes to work for Fox never dreaming he would need her nanny skills and her genetic skills . Together they try to locate baby John's real parents . Danger is lurking closer then they all realize . The story is outstanding and the characters are wonderful . I highly recommend taking the time to read and enjoy .