Colton's Twin Secrets is the first novel I've read in the multi-authored The Coltons of Red Ridge series, and, since I've been a fan of author Justine Davis for decades, what an excellent read it was. Since I don't often stay awake until 7:00 a.m. because I simply couldn't put this novel down, it gets 5 stars from this reader.

K9 police officer, Dante Mancuso, our hero, was born on the wrong side of the tracks and into a family of career criminals. He leads a rather solitary life with his K9 bloodhound, Flash, and if you're a dog lover and a Justine Davis fan, you're already aware of her canine-centered Cutter's Code series, which I highly recommend, since the dogs in her books are as much characters in her novels as the hero and heroine, and that's certainly the case in this novel. The only career Dante ever wanted was that of becoming a police officer, preferring to live a life enforcing the law to his family's tradition of breaking the law.

Gemma Colton, our heroine, is the youngest daughter of the wealthy and powerful Colton family, scions of wealth, privilege and power, and she is in love with Devlin Harrington, also uber-wealthy and privileged, so she knows he's not after her money. While she's dreaming of a storybook life with him, at his father's behest, he's expected to produce an heir, preferably male, to keep his family's business enterprises in the family, and socialite Gemma doesn't seem to fit the maternal mold, and so he ends their relationship, leaving her shocked, angry, and hurt, and desperate to prove him wrong.

When Dante's lawbreaking brother, Dominic, and his wife, Agostina, are killed in a suspicious car crash, Dante's life is about to change in a major way. In their will, Dominic and his wife gave custody of their 6-month old, twin girls to Dante, who hasn't a clue what to do with them, and is in search of a nanny, and heiress, Gemma Colton, who is as unlikely a nanny candidate as he could hope to find, wants to prove her ex-boyfriend wrong so that he'll reconsider their relationship and take her back, and Dante's sudden emergency gives her the perfect opportunity to do so. While he agrees to give her a chance, having no other options, he doesn't have high hopes for Gemma's longevity as the twins' nanny, but soon Gemma moves into Dante's condo, and into his life, and what shocks them both is her ability to relate to, work with, bond with and love his adorable twin nieces, and Dante soon sees that there's a lot more to Gemma than what he's read about her in the society pages.

When it becomes clear that Dominic's car crash was no accident, and Dante becomes immersed not only in that case, but also in the case of the lawbreaking Larson brothers and the mysterious serial Groom Killer, the action in this novel heats up, and so does the relationship between Dante and Gemma, and their slow-growing attraction to one another is as perfectly paced, as the suspense in this novel, and things really heat up when Gemma and the twins become targets, and Gemma protects them with her own life, raising Dante's respect and admiration for her, as well as his attraction to her, and the feelings between them are becoming mutual in a way neither of them ever expected.

Few authors write romantic suspense novels as well as Justine Davis, and this novel is a fine example of that. As stated at the outset, I couldn't put this novel down because the characters and their affection and respect for one another were so compelling. It was, quite simply, an excellent read and I highly recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel, which somehow got lost in my Kindle back in 2018, but better late than never. The opinions expressed are my own.

Colton's Twin Secrets (The Coltons of Red Ridge)
by Justine Davis

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This one had it all. Romance, mystery, suspense. Passion, life and heart. Each page was one that kept my attention and kept me deeply involved in the story line as it developed. One thing I absolutely liked about this book, it had heart. Nothing was perfect, everything felt real. Each part of this one was one that you can find creative, warming, touching and thought provoking for its losses as well as the passion and romance. I sincerely liked the writers style. Perhaps a preface to catch others up on things would be good but it can be a stand alone not just part of a series. I was given this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own. A sincerely enjoyable read. Regards, Anna

Justine Davis always writes interesting, complicated characters and intriguing plot lines, and this book is a great example of that. Although part of a series written by different authors, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

4 1/2 STARS!

A life they never expected! With another trip to Red Ridge, we get the story of a cop out to track down the troublemaking Teflon Twins who gets sidetracked with a personal crisis and gets aid from none other than Gemma Colton. A little less intrigue in this one than we might have become used to in a Red Ridge story, but the adorable life with twin babies makes up for it with the heartstring pulling it brings. A really sweet one!

K-9 officer Dante Mancuso is used to life with just his partner Flash by his side, but when an accident happens, he finds himself suddenly the guardian of his infant twin nieces. He's a single guy with no immediate plans for settling down, so what does he know about babies? Absolutely nothing ... and panic is ensuing!

Heiress Gemma Colton is tired of being thought of as an air-head with nothing to offer, and she's determined to somehow find a way to prove that she can be a wife and mom like the best of them when she decides she wants to be. Dante's emergency gives her the perfect opportunity to step in and offer her services as the live-in nanny he desperately needs. Before long, she finds herself liking the baby girls and their sexy uncle a little bit too much!

I’ve found a new series that has intrigue, romance and a wonderful family. Thank you for allowing me to read about the Colton’s.

Dante is a K9 officer. He wondered why he had hoped to link the Teflon Twins -Evan and Noel- to their multiple crimes was like trying to break Flash his K9 partner from sniffing. Flash the bloodhound was also with Dante. Ghen Collins said they didn’t see Dante much down there but then remembered Dante's brother. Gemma Collin paced in her condo She was focused on one thing as it was her entire future Devlon/Dev asked her if something went wrong with the fundraiser and that she seemed edgy. Devlon was the biggest puzzle Gemma had ever encountered. In her phamphered life. That was half the reason he intrigued Gemma so. Because of her father and who he was men were usually falling all over themselves to take Gemma out but not Dev. She’d never had to chase a man before. But the combination of Dev’s good looks. Elegant manners, sharp dressing, and confidant air was irresistible to Gemma. Then she told herself it was because he was the son of Hamlin Harrington who was involved with Gemma’s half sister Layla. Dev was also a successful lawyer in his father’s company. They had a relationship but not the one Gemma wanted as she had fallen for Dev. Quinns words ran through hre mind -”you can’t force love.” Gemma said it wasn’t the fundraiser they had raised more money this year than last for the animal shelter. Dev said he was sorry when Gemma proclaimed her love for him. Dev also said she deserved the kind of love where a man adored her. Then Dev said he couldn’t give her what she wanted as he didn’t love her like that. Dev added that Gemma wasn’t maternal nd keeping Harrington Incorporated in the family was his responsibility. That requires children- his children-mand he wanted a woman who would be hands on with his children who would be a great mom like his not turn the kds over to nanny. Dante yanked his thoughts back from his brother Dominic who lived about three blocks from the apartment he stood outside of waiting to search with Flash. He tried not to think about Dominic or his family. He accepted he was the odd one out and the one who had chosen to uphold the law and not break it like the rest of his family did. Co;;in cam e back out and said it was time to send the nose in. Flash had learned that that met he was about to go to work. Collin asked if he could stay and watch. Bloodhounds were notoriously strong headed and it took an equal amount of stubborn in an handler to get the best out of them. Dante made sure Flash Flash had fun in his life and now they were a smooth efficient working machine. Flash found a throwaway phone in a bag of flour and the phone had a number that proved a link to Larsons. After Dante heard gunshots Dante heard a loud car crash Dominic and his wife were are killed in a car “accident. “ Dante finds himself named guardian of the six month old twin girl that were his nieces. Gemma heard about Dante needing a nanny and she asked for the job she would show. Dante said Gemma will have to live him him and the girls and she agrees. Gemma is attracted to Dante.
I loved this book. I loved how Dante was the only law abiding person in his family. How odd it was that Dominic left his girls to Dante if anything happened to him. This was a great romantic suspenseful read. I loved the twists and turns in this book. I loved Flash. This pulls you in at the beginning of this and doesn’t let go until the end. I felt this was well written. I love the growth in Gemma as the book went on. I advise you to read the other books in this series as characters carry over. I loved the drama and intrigue. I chuckled at times while reading this . I didn’t want to put this down. I loved Gemma and Dante together and loved the twins and how they interacted with each other. I loved the characters and the twists and turns and I highly recommend this book.

Officer Dante and his K-9 Partner have always been team just the two of them that was until the death of his brother ended up leaving him with his brother's twin daughters. Gemma was just broken up with her last boyfriend because she just wasn't maternal enough so to prove him wrong shes willing to take on the task of watching out for Dante's girls as a nanny.

This had everything I like in a romantic, mystery suspenseful novel. There was enough heat between the two to keep things a bit steamy. There was enough mystery with the case Dante was working on to keep things interesting. And there was a few close calls from a person who doesn't want Dante to find get too close to who is behind things to keep the readers on their toes. This was such a great book I really enjoyed it.

I received a free advanced copy of this book from the Netgalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This is a round robin like series, with each book penned by a different author. The Colton family has a large presence in Red Ridge, some of the branches wealthy, some not so much and even some on the criminal side.

K9 office Dante Mancuso's family are all criminals, but that was not the life he wanted to live. He has worked hard to pull himself away from that life and only trusts his bloodhound partner, Flash. While working on a case, his brother, Dominic and sister-in-law, in the wrong place and the wrong time are killed in an auto "accident" and Dante finds himself the guardian of their 6 month old twin girls.

Gemma Colton, youngest daughter of wealth Fenwick Colton, has been dating wealthy Devlin Harrington, after having dogged many men who were really out for her trust fund or connection to her father. But he breaks it off, claiming it is because she has no maternal instinct. To show him she does, she volunteers to be the nanny for the twins. And finds out that her instincts were there all along, just the man was wrong. When the lives of Gemma and the twins are threatened, Dante realizes the gift his brother gave him, but can he keep them all safe and can he get over Gemma's wealthy background?

On the pro side, the characters were well developed and appealing, so the reader cares what happens to them and the scenario, intriguing. Since I have read some of the previous books, I am already familiar with some of the characters and "The Groom Killer", but new readers would be confused, so it would have been helpful, especially since the previous books were written by other authors, to have some sort of Cast of Characters or Prologue. That some many male characters had names begining with D, was very confusing. In addition, there was no secret about the twins, so the title, really doesn't work.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well-written and polished. The elements came together well and the characters were well-developed. About the only thing that detracted was there were so many background characters with their own stories that I wasn't familiar with because I hadn't read any of the other books. It weighed things down from time to time and left me disoriented.

I have not read Justine Davis before, but I will now have to fix this lack in my reading list. Gemma is a socialite, born with a gold spoon in her mouth, that starts the book being challenged by a man who she thought was her almost fiance. The gentleman told her that they had to break up because she didn't have an ounce of maternal instinct. This was the gauntlet thrown and she had to prove she could be a mother.

Dante is a K9 cop who is partnered with a Bloodhound "Flash". We see him in the beginning at a crime scene working with "Flash" and finding key information that could solve a crime that they have been working for a while. Shortly after this scene - a car accident takes out electricity in the area of the police station and when Dante discovers that his estranged brother and his sister-in-law were killed in the accident he dashes to his home wondering where is nieces are to be found.

After a fretful first night Dante knows he needs help and somehow Gemma convinces him that she is the woman for the job. This is a very suspenseful cop thriller but has some great friendships and strong relationships for many of the characters. It leaves just enough question so that you are satisfied with the ending but wondering what will happen in Red Ridge next!

I wasn't sure if I would like the heroine because she came across as a dimwit at first, but she grew on me and as the story progressed, I routed for her to get her HEA. This is a sweet & suspenseful story with two cute babies! What's not to love???

Thank you Harlequin Romantic, I received a digital copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I liked this book it is sweet, funny and has drama and intrigue. The characters will captivate you. Dante Mancuso is a K9 officer. He's unmarried, and is the only one in his family to go straight and abide by the law. He and his K9 Flash are trying to find evidence to tie the Teflon Twins to their multitude of crimes. While searching a house Flash finds crucial evidence. However, before they can get out of the house bullets fly from the street and tires screech in the getaway. Then a horrendous crash is heard and the perp crashes into another car killing the occupants and gets away. To his horror Dante sees that the other car is none other than his own notorious brother and wife. Even if he is estranged from his lawless family seeing his only brother and wife dead is a shock. With greater shock he remembers they have twin six month old daughters. What will become of them? To his utter disbelief he finds out his brother left their care to him should anything happen to them. What is he going to do with two six month old babies! As he sits in the station house with two babies in carriers he panics to find a nanny. Gemma, a very very rich reportedly spoiled twenty something is searching for a way to prove to the man who broke up with her that she can be maternal When she hears about Dante needing a nanny she asks for the job. Dante looks at her like she's crazy. The rich girl standing in front of him with spike heels and clothes that do not come from any store he could even afford to walk by wants to take the job. She begs him to give her a chance. One the twins starts to give an ear piercing cry creating complaints from other officers. Gemma steps in and takes over. Getting a burp accompanied by some milk down her thousand dollar blouse that can't be cleaned she doesn't even notice she is so happy she did it. Smiling and talking to the babies while Dante checks up on her with people he trusts who just happen to be related to Gemma. Ok he gives her a chance but she has to move in with him can she do that? And what will she say about his apartment with two bedrooms and a den and a K9. This book has such a good feel to it. The communication between Dante and Gemma and what they endure keeping the babies safe and secure while a killer wants them all dead. Gemma proves to be of better character than her reputation suggests. She is proving she can be nurturing so her boyfriend will take her back. However, Dante's body and close proximity is quite disturbing and she doesn't know why. She loves the other guy right? Entertaining, keeps your interest and quick great read with some adult content.

This is a good book, except that I was confused about the Coltons and the family. The plot and the characters I did get to know were enjoyable. I liked the plot and the setting.