Cider Brook (Swift River Valley, #3)

by Carla Neggers

Unlikely partners bound by circumstance…or by fate?

Being rescued by a good-looking bad-boy firefighter isn't how Samantha Bennett expected to start her stay in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts. Now she has everyone's attention—especially that of Justin Sloan, her rescuer, who wants to know why she was camped out in an abandoned old New England cider mill.

Samantha is a treasure hunter who has returned to Knights Bridge to solve a three-hundred-year-old mystery and salvage her good name. Justin remembers her well. He's the one who alerted her late mentor to her iffy past and got her fired. But just because he doesn't trust her doesn't mean he can resist her. Samantha is daring, determined, seized by wanderlust—everything that strong, stoic Justin never knew he wanted. Until now…

New York Times bestselling author Carla Neggers’ books have been called “riveting,” "magical" and "stunningly effective." Now she returns to the lush Swift River Valley with the irresistible story of one woman's quest for treasure and redemption.

• ISBN13: 9781472074959
• Publish Date: 1 February 2014 (first published 1 January 2014)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Mira Books
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 3.5 Stars

This is my second Swift River book, and I find this series very charming. Neggers has assembled such an interesting bunch of characters in her town, and I love seeing them all find love. Once again, we get a story in a story, which is really part of the fun with these books. I loved the never ending Sloan family, and I adored Justin and Samantha together. Very fun read.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Samantha Bennett comes from a long line of treasure hunters. Her grandfather got her started on a hunt for a pirate and his lost treasure. That has led her back to Knights Bridge to solve a three hundred year old mystery and to salvage her good name. Justin remembers Samantha as he spotted her a year ago and notified her mentor she was snooping around. A storm, a break-in and a rescue bring these two face to face but can they trust each other and find something more?

Samantha is cautious, curious and determined to unravel the mystery her beloved grandfather entrusted her with. I was unsure of her in the beginning but as she grew throughout the novel I found her to be likable and wanted her to have her happily ever after. Justin is sweet, sexy and concerned. He is attracted to Samantha but unsure of her motives. He cares about the people in this close knit community. Despite his concerns, I like that he didn’t try to change Samantha and just wanted to understand her. The two had instant chemistry, but this was a very slow building romance with very little heat. Secondary characters and those from previous stories were present, and while I got to know them I feel I missed out by not having read the previous books.

Cider Brook had elements I love from mystery to small-town dynamics. I loved the small-town workings and the family interaction. While the town and Justin were unsure of Samantha, I like that they opened up and made her feel welcome even if some grilled her. The romance really took a back seat in this tale, and I lost some of the connection. There were some tender moments, but we never really saw it develop instead it became the back-story. Neggers weaves an excellent tale and the mystery engaged me. I loved the story her grandfather gave her regarding the pirate and his lady. The old apple cider mill and its history appealed to the romantic in me. The story of the family who lived there made me shed a tear. The side stories involving other characters were good, but again I floundered a little as we had no prior history. The ending wrapped up well with answers to Samantha’s quest and a promise of happily ever after.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer