This book returns to the setting of the first book in the series but this time focusing on the owner of the local B&B, Mandy, and the brother of the victim of the first book, Danny Sullivan. We also have the same villain, who escaped justice at the end of the first book. Danny has come looking for said villain and hopes that Mandy can help him. Of course hormones get in the mix as well as a group of missing persons.

I really liked this book. The characters were well defined and I felt that their motivations were believable. You have to be able to accept that the villain is a "Druid" planning a ritual sacrifice, but if that is not a stumbling point you should enjoy the story. There is some spicy sex but it is not too much and it is nice that the don't actually have sex until late in the book. That makes it more believable, even though they are craving each other from the start. There is some nice action and despite the crazy man in the woods, the descriptions sort of made me want to go to Maine. So I am looking forward to the next book in the series. ( )

Huntsville, Maine has picture perfect views but it also harbors evil. Deep in the forest a Celtic Druid plans human sacrifices in hopes of gaining the favor of the gods to rid his family of a curse.

Four months ago terror reigned in the little Maine town. While one of the men who were responsible is dead another escaped but not before trying to take Mandy Brown with him. But Danny Sullivan saved her and her best friend Jed.

Now Danny has come back to town to try and find the killer so his sister can finally feel safe. Mandy wants nothing to do with him and his cause as she has been getting threatening pictures reminding her to keep her mouth closed if she doesn’t want any harm to come to her fragile mother and mentally challenged brother.

Mandy had no idea she was sleeping with a killer. Her father’s abandonment when she was a child has left her with issues of needing to feel that human connection with another person and blinded her to a killer’s true identity. She feels extreme shame over this and tries to keep her secret even though it means not only lying to her best friend Jed but also lying to Danny whom she has become attracted to but knows nothing can become of it.

Danny is the youngest of the Sullivan’s. He was also the most messed up of them when he was growing up and feels a strong sense of protecting his family. He still suffers from PTSD and has extreme nerve damage in one arm that at times messes with his self image but deep down he is a honorable man who wants to do right by his sister and doesn’t understand Mandy’s push and pull feelings.

The secondary characters were just as engaging as the main. Jed was a man with such a good heart and loved Mandy so much even though she didn’t love him the same way. Mandy’s brother Bill was such a sweet man/boy you couldn’t help but fall in love with him.

The author once again takes us into cultural druidism Celtic history. Even though it’s used for a bad purpose in the book you can’t help but be a little fascinated by it.

Will Danny be able to keep Mandy from becoming the part of the madman’s tool in a ritual?

On a side note I have to say that the thoughts of Danny throughout the book were downright hilarious. I have to give one quote.

“And apparently, moving forward meant blathering about his emotions like he were a guest on Oprah or some shit”

( )