The Last Goodnight: A Riveting New Thriller

REVIEW The Last Goodnight by Kat Martin Blood Ties #1 Wanting to finally find out what happened to his murdered wife, Kade Logan hires a PI working for Nighthawk Security to come to his ranch and start an investigation. It is not the first investigation that has been made but eight years after she went missing her car has been found and it triggers a desire to put it all to rest once and for all. The investigator suggested is Eleanor Bowman who is great at undercover assignments and has a nose for unearthing information. Stepping in as the ranch cook…she is set to sleuth…and perhaps fall in love. What I liked: *Eleanor: bright, talented, knows her strengths, doesn’t like cheaters, grew up on a ranch, good at what she does, interesting back story, has chemistry with her new employer. * Kade: wealthy, bright, determined, has trust issues, has the trust of his employees and sees many as his friends, jealous, uses his fists from time to time, loyal, workaholic, protector, has chemistry with Eleanor * Kade’s employees on the ranch – good men with potential for romance in the future * At first thought this would be a series about Nighthawk Security and its employees but then realized it is probably about Kade and his brothers. That said, I can see that there could be overlap and the potential for a great number of books using the characters from the security firm and the ranch as well as the community Kade lives in. * The red herrings, twists, and turns * That Kade was not perfect…and neither was Eleanor * That the H/h both were able to express what they did/did not want * The side romance between Maria and Alejandro * Billy: would like to hear more about this youth * Zoe: Ellie’s friend and computer expert recently employed by Nighthawk Security * Gage and Edge: Kade’s brothers – great potential for them to have interesting books in the series * That the bad guy was found and dealt with * That there are more books to look forward in the series What I didn’t like: * The people and events I was meant not to like – easy to dislike this murderer * Not a dislike but, would have preferred that Kade was a nicer person, less stuck in gender stereotypes, and a bit less edgy BUT it worked in the story so perhaps he is just not my ideal book boyfriend. Did I enjoy this book? Yes Would I read more in this series? Yes Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4 Stars

The Last Goodnight opens with Kade Logan's wife's car being discovered in nearby lake. He had served her with divorce paper years 8 years ago and everyone thought she up and left town right after. Two years later her body was discovered, and her murderer has never been solved. Kade decides its time to try again to find some answers so turns to a private investigator. He hires Ellie Bowman, who comes recommended as the perfect fit to go undercover on his ranch as the cook to try and see if she can turn up some new information on the case. What follows is an intense attraction and chemistry, intrigue and suspense as they work together to solve the mystery of his wife's murder. This has it all - romance, mystery and action! This not as steamy as I've been reading lately, but I enjoyed trying to figure out what had happened to his wife. Because of his experiences with her cheating on him, Kade has issues with trust and this creates problems for him with Ellie. Ellie is an interesting character in being a successful female investigator who has also grown up doing hard work on a ranch and knows her way around guns. What kept this from being a five star read for me was that certain inconsistencies with Ellie. As a female in a traditionally male's career there were certain things she did and didn't do that really didn't ring true and these happened multiple times where it felt like the author reverted Ellie to type forgetting who and what she was supposed to be and having her do and behave in way that a woman without her experience or career would act. Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the Advance Reader Copy. I have voluntarily left an honest review.

Kade Logan wants to know why someone has started shooting he cattle on his Colorado ranch. And now those shootings have escalated. A crew member and the ranch dog have been shot, although not fatally. An explosion at the mine wounded even more. Eight years ago, Kade's wife walked out and was never seen again. Two years ago her body was found ... she had been beaten and strangled. No one was ever charged with the crime. With old scandals still buzzing about his late wife’s many affairs and new violence erupting, Kade is faced with the discovery of another beautiful woman’s body. Are the two killings linked? And why is someone trying to create problems at the ranch? Personal vendetta? Kade has hired private investigator Eleanor Bowman to look into the death of his wife. Kade's not sure about Ellie ... but she's known for getting terrific results after going undercover. Not too sure how she will fit in, he makes her the cook's helper. It gives her access to people close to the Logan's ... maybe someone who has targeted him specifically. As Kade and Ellie get closer to finding a killer, Ellie becomes the next target. Kade must risk everything to save the woman he’s coming to love—before she becomes the next one to die . . . Well written with an intriguing plot and a story line filled with twists and turns and suspects who all seem to have kind of grudge against Logan. There's plenty of action and thrown in some relationship sizzle it's a riveting read. The ending is explosive! Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Romantic Suspense. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here ar unbiased and entirely my own.