| Mike
McQuaid and China Bayles are asleep when the phone rings,
letting McQuaid know that Max Mantel, a convict he put away
for murder, has escaped. Max has already killed two people
associated with his trial and it appears he’s on a killing
rampage. When McQuaid volunteers to be bait in order to catch
him, China fears for his life. She had planned a weekend trip
with her friend Ruby to host a workshop about herbs at Maddie
Haskell’s Last Chance Olive Ranch, but with the news
of the escape, China wants to cancel. McQuaid will have none
of it.
China and Ruby arrive at the ranch and China soon discovers
that Ruby has more than one reason for visiting Maddie. Ruby’s
mother was a friend of Eliza, the previous ranch owner who
adopted Maddie when the young girl’s parents died. Maddie
had help raising her with Sofia, who was born on the ranch.
After Eliza’s death, Maddie stands to inherit the ranch
she now loves. Unfortunately, Eliza’s nephew Boyd wants
it for himself. Since China was once a past criminal defense
attorney, Lucy thought China might be able to help.
There are two different threads to this novel, that of McQuaid’s
plan to catch Max that has a surprise twist, and China’s
visit to the ranch. With no phone reception, China can’t
keep in touch with McQuaid. Complicating the situation is
her desire to help Maddie with the inheritance problem. Boyd’s
blatant attempts to steal Maddie’s land, including offering
her marriage, makes it clear he will do anything to gain the
inheritance he believes should be his. Maybe even kill.
I love the China Bayles series. Susan Wittig Albert writes
wonderful stories filled with intrigue, fast plots and interesting
new characters. This release certainly has all that, plus
enough tension to make this book a definite page turner.
China
Bayles' Book of Days (NonFiction)
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Cat's
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Bittersweet
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Blood
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