Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Settling an Old Score" by Delores Fossen

As mentioned on Tuesday, I am very happy to be participating in the July 2020 Harlequin series blog tour this week. Today, I am celebrating the publication of "Settling an Old Score" by Delores Fossen, book #3 in the Longview Ridge Ranch mini-series. It reads as a complete standalone, which is perfect for readers (like me) who haven't yet had a chance to pick up the earlier books in this mini-series. There were a few mentions of past events, but the author provided plenty of background and context, so I never felt like I had started reading in the middle of a story.

I expected to enjoy "Settling an Old Score," but it turned out to be even better than I had hoped. It was an intense, fast-paced read that grabbed my attention from the very first page and didn't let go until the end. There was plenty of drama, action, and suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat, and while I was certainly concerned for the characters' safety at times, I was never overly frightened. In addition, the investigation into who was behind the attacks on main characters Eli Slater and Ashlyn Darrow was very twisty, and I honestly wasn't sure who was guilty until the very end of the book.

There wasn't a whole lot of relationship building between former high school sweethearts Ashlyn and Eli, but because of the high-pressure situation and the fact that they were suddenly forced to spend every waking minute together after so much time apart, it wasn't difficult for me to believe in their reawakening romantic feelings for one another. Just as importantly, Ashlyn came to understand that she was wrong to blame Eli for his part in an incident several years earlier that ended with her friend Marta's death and serious injuries to Ashlyn herself.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "Settling an Old Score" and highly recommend it for all romantic suspense fans. I will definitely be picking up the other books in this series as soon as possible.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Check out my first post of the July 2020 Harlequin series blog tour, which featured a review of "A Reunion of Rivals" by Reese Ryan.

About "Settling an Old Score"

A Texas Ranger gets the shock of his life when he comes face to face with a woman from his past in USA TODAY bestselling author Delores Fossen’s latest suspense!

A past tragedy destroyed their love. A vulnerable newborn brings them back together.

Within moments of discovering a baby on his doorstep, Texas Ranger Eli Slater finds himself being held at gunpoint by his ex, Ashlyn Darrow. She claims she was tipped off that the still-gorgeous cowboy kidnapped her newly adopted daughter because of the bad blood that defines their past. They quickly realize Eli’s been set up and now Eli is determined to protect Ashlyn and her daughter. But regaining her trust will be as easy as ignoring the attraction even a lifetime apart can’t erase…

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served.

For more action-packed stories, check out the other books in the Longview Ridge Ranch series:
Book 1: Safety Breach
Book 2: A Threat to His Family
Book 3: Settling an Old Score
Book 4: His Brand of Justice

Read an Excerpt from "Settling an Old Score"

Ashlyn knew it would take more luck to pin Dominick down on that. Especially if he had indeed hired those gunmen.

As soon as Kellan walked out, Eli took hold of her hand and moved her out of the doorway. Out of view from the windows, too. She hadn’t needed a reminder of the danger, but that gave her one anyway.

“There are too many puzzle pieces,” she said. “In the meantime, you and I—maybe Cora, too—are in the crosshairs of a killer.”

He didn’t argue with her. Couldn’t. Because it was true, a frustration that they both felt. That frustration was in every muscle of his body when he pulled her into his arms. As he’d done in the kitchen, he brushed a kiss on the top of her head. A kiss of comfort.

And it worked.

Ashlyn could practically feel some of the tension slide right out of her. Of course, the heat came in its place. No surprise there. She’d been dealing with it for much too long.

He pulled back just a little and looked down at her with those smoky gray eyes. They weren’t stormy now but had some of the same fire that she was certain was in her own.

“Yeah,” he said as if he’d known exactly what she was thinking—and feeling. “If we were still in high school, I would just coax you into taking a trip out to my truck. That won’t work this time, though.”

“No.” Since he could be dangerous. And also since sex should be the last thing on their minds. But Ashlyn wanted to make this moment a little lighter than spelling out those reminders. “Because we’re sensible adults now.”

The corner of his mouth lifted, causing a dimple to flash in his cheek. Yes, a dimple. It was another weapon in the arsenal of Eli Slater, hot cowboy. But the smile didn’t last long.

“Soon, we’re going to have a brief talk about this,” Eli drawled, his voice all smoke and heat. “And then we’ll deal with it. I’ve got some ideas as to how we can do that.”

Now she smiled, and even though she figured it was a mistake, Ashlyn brushed her mouth over his. Again, not a full-fledged kiss, but it could have qualified as foreplay. Short foreplay.

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