This first in a romantic suspense trilogy set in Alaska stars Alaska native Dylan Brodie and an interior decorator from LA. Lane Bishop met Dylan while he was in LA. He hired her to decorate his new lodge in Alaska.

Dylan had neglected to mention that he had an eight-year-old daughter who was selectively mute. She hadn't spoken since her mother left her a few years earlier. His wife's abandonment has convinced Dylan that a city woman like Lane would never be able to fit into the lifestyle in Alaska. And, even though the are strongly attracted to each other, neither is eager for a short-term romance.

But the possibility of ghosts in the lodge, evidenced by a sobbing child, a rocking chair that rocks itself, and ghostly footsteps, do help bring the couple closer. They are brought even closer when Dylan's friend who is helping with the remodel is accused of murdering a former girlfriend. Dylan and Lane begin to investigate since they know their friend isn't guilty.

It begins to look like some of the problems that are happening at the lodge are because trouble followed Lane from LA. And it is quite a lot of trouble.

The story had a lot of interesting characters including Lane's Irish Wolfhound Finn. I liked the romance and thought the story was also quite suspenseful. ( )

A good book that drew me in from the beginning and kept me hooked to the end. Dylan and Lane met in LA when he visited his cousin, and the sparks between them flew quickly. Dylan would like to get to know her better, but she is wary. Dylan thinks the best way to advance his cause is to hire Lane to do the interiors of the fishing lodge he is renovating. It takes some persuasion, but she finally agrees.

Though she's a Southern California city girl, the Alaskan wilderness has its appeal. I loved her enthusiasm as Dylan flew over the beautiful landscape on the way to the remote lodge. She's a little disturbed on arrival when she finds that Dylan has a young daughter he never mentioned who hasn't spoken since her mother deserted them three years earlier. Adding to her discomfort are the rumors that the lodge is haunted. Dylan downplays the rumors, determined to keep Lane around; he doesn't believe in ghosts anyway.

But someone is determined to stop Dylan from finishing the lodge. In researching the lodge's history, he and Lane uncover some disturbing information about the lodge's early years and first owner. When a ghost suddenly materializes in the upstairs hall, right in front of Lane, Dylan has had enough. I loved watching him and his friends, Caleb and Paddy, search the lodge from top to bottom. I wasn't surprised by what they found, and the story behind it was intriguing. I especially enjoyed what Lane did with the information. It feels like things should be smooth sailing from here, but that wasn't the case.

I liked watching the relationship develop between Dylan and Lane. Neither is interested in anything permanent (where have I heard that before?). Lane has her interior design business back in LA. She may be ready to indulge in a bit of hanky-panky, but that's all. Dylan wants Lane in his bed, but he won't go any further than that. He's been burned once by a city woman who couldn't take life in Alaska, and he won't put himself or Emily through that again. But the more time he and Lane spend together, the more they find they have in common. When they finally take the plunge into intimacy, their connection is far stronger than either expected. Lane quickly accepted her feelings for Dylan but kept them to herself, not wanting to risk rejection. Dylan fought hard against his feelings, almost leaving it too late, but came to his senses in time.

Vanquishing the "ghosts" of the lodge wasn't the end of the trouble for Dylan and Lane. They discovered that someone was prowling around the lodge and watching it. When a young woman was murdered and Caleb was accused of the crime, Dylan and Lane were determined to clear him. The deeper they got into their investigation, the more they suspected that the two things were connected. I figured out pretty quickly what was going on, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment. The person they were up against wasn't going to make it easy, and I was glued to the pages until it was over.

I liked getting to know Dylan's brothers, Nick and Rafe, a little bit. Nick played a significant role in solving the second mystery despite his issues. I'm looking forward to reading their stories too.

#netgalley ( )

The plot is well done, and I liked the characters as a general rule, even though I didn't always like their motives. It seemed to me that the two main characters joined forces with the idea that they were going to have a fling during the time she was in Alaska, and that's something I can't get behind. This book also had more sex scenes than most of this genre had. (I skipped reading those.) It's a shame since the story was interesting enough without those. And those are the main reasons I am rating it as low as I have. ( )

“I love you, Dylan. It doesn’t matter where I live as long as I’m with you.” – Lane Bishop

Before I start, a little note to self: TRAVEL TO ALASKA AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!!!! And all because Kat Martin made it one of my priorities with her book!

Dylan Brodie is a single father who is trying to raise a daughter that refuses to speak and build a tourist fishing lodge in Alaska. To make sure the lodge is presentable enough, he hires interior designer Lane Bishop. However, the two of them feel more than simple attraction between them - more than they should feel, given they're supposed to work together on this project. But they can't deny their needs for long, and soon, their hearts start getting involved, too. Still, the fact they're going to go their different ways after the summer is over turns out to be the least of their worries - someone dangerous is lurking in the shadows, someone hell bent to make things more than tough for the couple...

Seriously, I have to say it again, I would move to Alaska in an instant after this book. I'm not much of a nature enthusiast, but I couldn't help but SEE the beauty of it all through Martin's words. The scenery, the people, everything. But enough of that - let's move on to more pressing matters, yeah?

Dylan and Lane... Hmm, where to begin? I admit they were not such an original fiction couple - I've read similar situations like the ones they had to go through before. But there was just something about them, that made the whole thing very charming indeed.

It could be the fact that their story combined not only a romance full of the angst and impending doom with a timer and deadline set on it, but also the very real danger of a shady figure who may have started as somewhat of a minor danger, but later evolved into a full blown threat. The build up and the mounting tension sure did a fine job of making us divide our attention between what we wanted to happen with Dylan and Lane, and the fact that just around the corner, someone was watching, plotting, and getting in their way. And we didn't even know who that was until the very last minute!

Apart from that, there was also the sexual tension between them that made the reader want to explode from the anticipation. And when they finally got it on, GOD, it was such a relief! Granted, they both knew it had to stay on the carnal side, but they just couldn't help themselves - duh! And when they started admitting to themselves that yes, they were in love, but not to each other, they were so adorable! Like teenagers being entirely too green at this yet eager to find out.

I can't wait to read Nick's story - hot damn, I personally believe I'm gonna enjoy his book even more! And of course Rafe - we need more of that guy, honestly!

“I don’t want you to leave. I don’t ever want you to leave. I love you, Lane. It’s killing me to let you go.” - Dylan Brodie

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.*** ( )

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: Alaska
Where the men are as bold and untamed as America's last wilderness

It's been three years since Lane Bishop tragically lost her fiancé, and she's finally ready to risk her heart on someone else. The hot look in Dylan Brodie's eyes says he's going to be that man.

But when Lane flies to the remote 1930's fishing lodge to help him renovate, she discovers a little girl who won't speak, eerie legends and strange sounds in the night. And when she investigates the history of the lodge, she uncovers a legacy of injustice and murder.

As danger stalks his daughter and the woman he is coming to love, Dylan must risk everything to uncover the shocking truth. ( )