Synopsis
Settled in the tranquil remoteness of the Scottish Highlands, Ardnoch Estate caters to the rich and famous. It is as unattainable and as mysterious as its owner —ex-Hollywood leading man Lachlan Adair—and it’s poised on the edge of a dark scandal.
After narrowly escaping death, police officer Robyn Penhaligon leaves behind her life in Boston in search of some answers. Starting with Mac Galbraith, the Scottish father who abandoned her to pursue his career in private security. To re-connect with Mac, Robyn will finally meet a man she’s long resented. Lachlan Adair. Hostility instantly brews between Robyn and Lachlan. She thinks the head of the Adair family is high-handed and self-important. And finding closure with Mac is proving more difficult than she ever imagined. Robyn would sooner leave Ardnoch, but when she discovers Mac is embroiled in a threat against the Adairs and the exclusive members of the estate, she finds she’s not yet ready to give up on her father.
Determined to ensure Mac’s safety, Robyn investigates the disturbing crimes at Ardnoch, forcing her and Lachlan to spend time together. Soon it becomes clear a searing attraction exists beneath their animosity, and temptation leads them down a perilous path.
While they discover they are connected by something far more addictive than passion, Lachlan cannot let go of his grip on a painful past: a past that will destroy his future … if the insidious presence of an enemy lurking in the shadows of Ardnoch doesn’t do the job first.
Review
When Samantha Young announced she was releasing a new romantic suspense series, I was thrilled! I love the concept of a suspenseful mystery bringing together two characters. What’s more, it’s set in beautiful Scotland AND written by the wonderful Samantha Young. Basically, it had all the components ready for me to love this story. Then I read the story and became even more hooked than expected.
This was such a beautiful, complex and well-thought through series. It gave the perfect balance of character background, character growth, relationship development, and suspense. Young is an excellent writer and gave me enough of the characters’ personality to understand and care about each person in the story, and hope for how things would go in each of their lives. I loved seeing how Robyn grew as a person. How she fell for Lachlan and was able to grow with him and help him grow too. How she re-established her relationship with her father and overcame the personal issues she experienced. And how she learned to open up and put down roots by making friends and a life of her own.
Lachlan was also a intriguing character. A little older than Robyn and with more worldly experience, Lachlan knows what he wants from life. Or at least, prior to meeting Robyn, he thought he did. He might be older, but when it comes to matters of the heart, he’s not wiser. But thankfully, he’s met his match in Robyn and she’s willing to help him get through this difficult time in his life (aka a crazy stalker leaving threatening messages around the estate).
When it came to the whodunnit part of the mystery, I’ll admit, I did guess who it was going to be (I’ve watched a lot of police dramas and thrillers so I can typically work things out in advance). But Young definitely had me second guessing myself a few times which I loved because it kept me on my toes for the entire story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to finish and found myself in a bit of a bind with trying to savour every moment of the book but also wanting desperately to get to the end for the big reveal. Young has released a fantastic beginning to what is going to be an excellent series. I loved meeting the Adair siblings (well, most since we haven’t yet met all of the siblings) and already have a few ideas of who I think they would be perfect paired with! I’m not yet sure how I feel about Robyn’s half sister, however, since what we’ve learned so far is pretty irresponsible but I look forward to seeing how her character progresses in the next book.
Overall, this book was incredible, Samantha Young is firmly cemented as a favourite author of mine and I believe everyone who enjoys Young’s previous works, contemporary romance, romantic suspense or all of the above, should read this book immediately. Go get your copy today!
Disclaimer: Thank you to Samantha Young and Valentine PR for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
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