Echo Lake by Carla Neggers

By: Unknown on Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Title:  Echo Lake
Series:  Swift River #4
Author:  Carla Neggers
Published:  January 27/15 by Mira
Length:  352pgs
Format:  ecopy
Genre:  romantic suspense
Shelf:  Netgalley
Rating: ★★★

Back Cover Blurb:

In snowy Swift River Valley, unexpected romance is just around the corner…

Heather Sloan has landed her dream job—the renovation of Vic Scarlatti's stately 1912 country home overlooking the icy waters of Echo Lake in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts. It's the perfect project for the family business, but for once, Heather is in charge.

Diplomatic Security Service agent Brody Hancock left Knights Bridge at eighteen, a few steps ahead of arrest and the wrath of Heather's older brothers. Though Brody had never planned to return, Vic, a retired diplomat and friend, needs his help.

Staying at Vic's guest house makes it impossible to avoid running into a Sloan at every turn—especially Heather. Seeing her again has affected Brody more than he wants to admit. But Heather is wary of Brody's sudden interest in her, and she suspects there's more to his homecoming than he's letting on…

Set against the scenic backdrop of a New England winter, Echo Lake is a captivating tale of family, friends and the possibility of new love.

My Review:

This was a fantastically well written novel, allowing Neggers’ style to really shine through. I really like how she develops Swift River in such a manner that new readers can easily pick up the story, but those who have read the previous novels in the series will be welcomed back to town. Her vibrant descriptions and enticing narrative bring this world to life for the reader. I will admit that it took me a bit to really get into the story, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found that there was so much lead up to the actual story, that once things began to happen, they raced through. The plot wasn’t quite as strong as many other novels that I’ve read by this author, but was enjoyable just the same.

Neggers has filled this novel with characters that really come to life. I enjoyed the complexity of the relationship between main characters. Neither of their lives were easy, but were so vastly different from one another. The supporting cast that they found themselves with was also quite entertaining. The overbearing, overprotective, older brothers could drive even a saint insane, but their sense of loyalty was so infectious that you couldn’t help but like them.

As a whole, this was an enjoyable read. It was sweet with that hint of suspense that keeps you on your toes.

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