Reviewed by Danielle

Review: Once more, Delores Fossen has wowed me with her writing. This novel was just as superb as the rest of her books. I can’t resist a sexy cowboy and a stubborn heroine. Together they both must go through the danger and risks of losing those they love. Right away, my heart was melting. I felt the characters’ emotions. Anger, loss, fear, and pent up frustration. The heat was at the all time high. Their passion leaves them with a child. I especially, loved how the lawman aka cowboy was just as stubborn as the heroine. Their lust and attraction was intense. Lucas by Delores Fossen was exciting to read. Action, suspense, and a brewing romance.

Inside Lucas, I meet the cowboy who had his way with Hailey. Hailey has their child and is running from something dangerous. But then complications came tumbling her way. Once again leading her back to Lucas. Lucas is struggling with his emotions. He wants his child to be safe as well as the mother. However, the woman is sparking new feelings that don’t just include protectiveness. His heart is on the line. It was fun watching the lawman fight to keep his son safe. A tough and sexy man whose finger is wrapped around an infant’s made me go weak for him. Sweet, engaging, and a beautiful told story. Delores Fossen has created another brilliant plot. Instantly, I was swept up into the characters and their situations. Overall, I highly recommend this new novel to all.

Lucas is the third novel I've read in The Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch series and there are many other titles in this series, but having now read several of them, I'm noticing that these novels are a bit formulaic--the hero is a Ryland family lawman, strong and protective but a bit chilly when a former lover/one-time sex partner re-enters his life and is in some sort of danger, and for that reason, and the fact that I wasn't terribly fond of either the hero or heroine, I can only give this latest entry in the series a 3-star rating.

Lucas Ryland, is the hero in this novel, a no-nonsense western cop, who has sole custody of his 3-month old son, Camden. Camden's mother, Hailey Darrow, has been in the hospital, her son having been delivered by C-section when she was first brought in because she was comatose and near term when a car crash nearly killed her and her unborn son. She's actually been conscious for week before letting anyone know, exercising in secret and tampering with her monitoring equipment to do so. When Lucas learns that she's missing from her hospital bed the action in this novel hits the ground running and doesn't let up.

Lucas finds Hailey hiding in the back of his car in the hospital parking lot, and what she wants most is information about her child, and what Lucas wants is an explanation of why she went on the run 3 months ago, a move that nearly got her and her unborn son killed--it was Lucas who found her and got her to the hospital. As it turns out, the Hailey he met and slept with almost a year ago isn't who he thought she was--she's been in the witness protection program, having stolen and hidden incriminating evidence against a former employer, information that sent him to prison. But he's not the only guilty party, and the other guilty party wants that information back and will repeatedly attempt to kidnap Hailey and her son to get it--and that's just for starters.

Lucas is on the case, as is almost every other Ryland relative/lawman in Silver Creek, and there's no shortage of them, but because Hailey had tried to run, Lucas gives her the cold shoulder for most of the novel, which is so action-packed and filled with deadly scenarios and possible perpetrators that's there's no time for romance, nor do Lucas and Hailey seem to want that, until they suddenly do want it. Although Ms. Fossen tries to breathe some life, physical attraction and build some heat between these two characters, when they do finally make it to bed, the scene seemed forced and devoid of any real emotion.

If you like your romantic suspense novels loaded with action and suspense, I can't think of a novel I've read recently with more of both, but for this reader, the romance was practically nonexistent, as was the character development between the two main characters, and there were so many secondary characters, good, bad and otherwise, and the action scenes were so complicated and confusing that I often had to backtrack to remember who was who. While there is an HEA ending of sorts, it too felt incomplete and insincere, which is why I could only give this novel a 3-star rating. As I mentioned in my review of an earlier title in this series, I wholeheartedly recommend starting this series from the very beginning, because the cast of Ryland relatives and their inter-relationships is so large and complicated, it should come with a scorecard.

The blurb sounded intriguing and I’m always up for a solid romantic suspense, but this one just didn’t do it for me. And, if I would have realized that this one was part of the Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch series, I would have passed. I think I’ve DNF’d most of the books I received from this series, with the expectation of Kade and it only received a 2 Cup rating.

Normally, I’m a fan of Delores Fossen, but every book in this series is basically the same. A TSTL heroine is rescued by a Ryland, who happens to be their ex, generally a baby/child is involved, murderers are after them, the heroe’s angry, and there’s little romance and a whole lot of inappropriate lusting/loving when people’s being shot at.

Overall, this series just isn’t for me.

I accidentally downloaded this book. Please accept my apologies.

Such a nice story!Lucas has everything I wanted,The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it was a little bit quick.But I like the twists and turns in the story.

Fosse uses her familiar theme in Lucas. There is a baby, a woman with a past and a lawman. This time it is a Texas Ranger. Lucas and Hailey have to work together to keep their baby safe. The danger comes from Hailey's past and it is very real. There are gun fights, bodies, danger, and tension as the two try to keep the past from destroying their lives. A nice addition to the Lawman of Silver Creek Ranch.

Hailey up and ran without a word, got into an accident and landed herself in a coma. Its been three months since the accident and the emergency c-section to save the baby and Lucas has been raising their child. Hailey is up now and seems to have secrets shes been hiding. Now things are starting to get complicated when its revealed that some has a hit out for Hailey and Lucas will do everything in his power to keep her and their baby safe.

I loved this book, it had everything I love in a action / mystery / thriller book. It'll keep the readers at the edge of their seats questioning when the assassin will strike. It's loaded with twists and turns and enough clues to keep the readers guessing who might be behind everything that happens. Plus the added element of wondering if those close to the characters might be a mole. It was such a fun read and I was hooked to the very end.

I was thrilled to get a chance to read Lucas & Hailey's story, knowing from the previous books in the series that Hailey was in a coma and Lucas was raising their newborn son alone. I have been looking forward to this tale and it didn't disappoint, what an adrenaline rush it was! So take a deep breath and jump right into the action, the fact that this is the last installment of the Ryland clan series is no hindrance to the enjoyment of the story.
The suspense is elevated, the tension is high, the action is constant, and there is more than one possible culprit who the lawmen can pin the crimes on. Every single story of the series I have read has been filled with action, battles, and suspense that had me on pins and needless, making the books impossible to put down until the end.
Lucas and Hailey had a history between them, they had a baby. The circumstances around the baby's birth and Hailey's troubles had brought animosity into Lucas' mind towards her. As Hailey is able to bring light to the past events and current attacks, Lucas realizes the truth and is willing to risk his own life to keep her safe. The attraction between them was sizzling. I loved the way they were with each other, the allure pulling them closer at every chance. The difficult timing - with the constant attacks at Hailey - didn't matter that much when the feelings took over. The tender feelings they had with each other had strong roots, and it didn't take a long time for those emotions to bloom again.
A fantastic thriller where every moment counts, each of them filled with unexpected twists and turns in the plot with nonstop, explosive, deadly action while the guns are blazing. Mix in a loyal family who is willing to do anything for you, plenty of babies, and a little romance with palpable passion and you have a greatly entertaining story that will leave you breathless!
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

The Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch will rally together to protect their own and keep the evil out of their jurisdiction. And here’s another of Delores Fossen’s series as her simmering lawmen stand guard under the big Texas sky. From one series to another she creates romance filled with danger and suspense, captivating and spell binding stories of love, support and families.

Lucas Ryland has a lot of questions for his son’s mother. He may have saved Hailey Darrow from an accident, but her being in coma is not what he had expected, nor the fact that she’s missing from the hospital and he’s her only hope of protection. With the entire Ryland clan and the extended family in protection mode, Lucas needs to find answers fast to keep Hailey alive and dodge the bullets to even think of a future with her.

As a great computer hacker, Hailey Darrow had a good life and Lucas was her shining moment. But as conspiracies and betrayals come to light, she goes under protection but her identity is compromised. Now fighting for her life and come to terms that she had delivered a baby boy when she was in coma is hard to comprehend and the fire of passion still burns between her and Lucas.

As bullets fly, secrets come to light and family betrayals are exposed, Lucas and Hailey have to fight with their very breath to keep their son alive and not let Hailey sacrifice herself to keep her loved ones alive. With pages of action, doses of passion and family dynamics, “Lucas” is a fast paced read of suspense and tail spinning action that Delores Fossen is known for and delivers yet another thrilling ride.

Having read all the previous The Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch series, this was no different. If you read one, you feel like you read all of them as they all have the same theme. Each Ryland brother/cousin always has an ex come back in his life that is being hunted by killer/killers. 9 out of 10 times, there is a kid involved and 3 potential suspects. There is very little to no romance, a lot of angst from Hero & his family for heroine and a quick ending that doesn’t seem to wrap up any of their issues. This is was unfortunately no different, but all that aside, it is still an interesting read for those that may be new to this series.

Ok- to enjoy this, you have to be willing to step back and suspend your disbelief. Yes, you have to refrain from saying, "that would never really happen".

Once you get past that, you will enjoy the book. There is drama, small children in danger, red herrings, love...and. It all comes together to be an interesting and enjoyable book. I rate this four stars despite the flaws.