the Kiss
Creek Book 7
Laura Haley-McNeil
Clean Romantic Suspense
people open themselves to the truth and open themselves to each
other.
marriage in ruins, violinist Teagan Whitloch Munroe escapes into her
music and the solace she finds at the Crystal Creek Ranch. Practicing
in the woods helps her piece together her life, but she isn’t
alone. When she hears someone hiking nearby, she demands he reveal
himself, but the only revelation she gets is a soothing voice that
heals the pain in her heart.
by a crushing accident, the once famous architect Phineas St. Cyr
protects the world from his disfigurement by sequestering himself in
the woods on the Crystal Creek Ranch. When he hears the intoxicating
strains from Teagan’s violin, he can’t resist the beauty that
quiets his aching soul, and he yearns to know the woman who creates
such beauty.
finds sanctuary in her friendship with this connoisseur of music, but
soon realizes Phin’s hiding more than his hideous scars. As they
become entangled with each other, Teagan is stunned to learn they
share more than a love of music. They are caught in a web of deceit
by someone threatening to reveal Phin’s secrets. His exposed past
endangers Teagan, and he can no longer walk away. This time he must
face the enemy determined to defeat him. He’ll fight to the finish
to protect the woman he can never love. No price is too high to keep
buried the secret that will mark Teagan for destruction.
is a clean romance.
Imagine the Kiss by Laura Haley-McNeil
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, this is what I would consider a clean romance. There was a minor word here or there (I think I counted all of one), and there is violence and sex implied and discussed without going into any detail. I believe all of my readers who like a bit of romance with a hint of mystery will savor this book in the fullest sense.
The author captured my attention the moment I read the introduction because “Phantom of the Opera” is one of my all-time favorite musicals (I’ve seen it four times on stage thus far). While I loved the ending of that musical, the author used her feelings of dissatisfaction concerning the conclusion of the story to inspire a modern-day story that incorporates many of the same elements and themes. And for the record, I applaud the author for her refreshing and beautiful story!
The mystery was something I didn’t expect. It was quite easy to see where the romantic tale was heading, but the mystery truly threw me for a loop. Adding a pretty sadistic murder into the book along with some other incredible connections made this book a rather satisfying read.
I honestly did not want this story to end. In fact, I felt it was a bit of an abrupt ending compared to the lushness of the writing and character development throughout most of the book. I refuse to mark down the author for the hurried conclusion (I know for a fact this happens in all sorts of romantic plotlines), and I would highly recommend this book as a sweet, invigorating tale of romance and mystery while examining bigger issues of prejudice and judgment.
Her Heart
Creek Book 6
head says no. His heart won’t let go.
Whitloch can’t close his eyes without seeing the body of the woman
who drowned in his swimming pool two years ago. Though he doesn’t
remember that night, he blames himself for her death and walks away
from a life that gave him everything he ever wanted…almost
everything. His move to Crystal Creek gives him the solitude he longs
for, but still he can’t find peace.
Gretchen Moore moves to town, and she doesn’t just stir up his
desire. She stirs up his past, a past with a secret so deadly it
could destroy her.
wants nothing to do with JT. Because of him, someone wants her dead.
The terror from his past forces them into an alliance that soon
ignites their passion. Fighting these feelings leads them to the
secret of the woman floating in JT’s swimming pool, but the
knowledge doesn’t ease JT’s inner turmoil. Instead, it reveals an
answer that could destroy him and Gretchen. His own destruction he
could accept, but he’ll defend Gretchen to his death.
Her Heart
Creek Book 5
novel of suspense, revenge and a love so deep that it can only be
released through forgiveness.
producer Trent Parker has one goal – to own the film option for the
breakout novel Sunset in Maui. His problem? Actress turned producer
Charisse Whitloch. She’ll do anything to produce the film. Trent
can stop her, but not without getting close to her, a bond he can’t
risk.
she’s her own woman – not her father’s daughter. One person
stands in her way – Trent Parker. She’s faced opposition before,
but she isn’t prepared for Trent. Her charisma has softened
Hollywood’s hardest hearts, but is she a match for Trent’s heart
of stone?
her will heal the darkness in his soul and open the door to a secret
he buried long ago. When Charisse is threatened, she and Trent face
her adversaries. They piece together a plot more sinister than any
Hollywood movie, but the key to their survival lies in Trent’s past
– the key that will lead to Trent’s destruction.
Her Heart
Creek Book 4
agrees to enter a loveless marriage, but the man who stole her heart
will do anything to stop her.
holidays are over, and aristocrat Anna Whitloch must leave Crystal
Creek and return to Eastern Europe. She made a promise, a promise
that will save her mother’s estate. Someone else has other ideas.
Ideas that will get Anna out of the way permanently.
can take care of herself, so why was Deputy Rocco Ventali assigned to
protect her? She can’t depend on him, as he proved that night ten
years ago when they had planned to meet. He never showed.
last thing Rocco needs is to be assigned to protect Anna, but it soon
becomes clear no one else is qualified. So how does he protect the
woman he never stopped loving from the secret that could endanger
her?
when the love in his heart refuses to be reined in?
Ring Around Her Heart
Creek Book 3
Whitloch has no time for love. As a college grad, she’s on track to
land her dream Wall Street job. Her great grandmother’s ring gives
her strength to pursue her goal. When she doesn’t get the job, she
flees to the Crystal Creek Ranch to regain her courage to step back
into her job hunting mode.
di Saluzzo has been searching for the ring that will save his
family–the ring that disappeared from his family’s possessions one
hundred years ago. He will pursue the ring even if he has to follow
the one woman he can never love to an isolated ranch in Crystal
Creek, Colorado. Even if pursuing this woman costs him his
life.
and Giselle battle over ownership of the ring in a fight that takes
them from New York City to Crystal Creek, Colorado, to the Balearic
Island of Mallorca, to the pinnacle of love both must deny. But the
final battle is waged when they meet the man who plans to destroy
them both–all for the possession of a ring with a powerful secret.
Creek Christmas
Creek Book 2
Christmas with the Whitlochs.
a blinding snowstorm shuts down the Crystal Creek Ranch’s cattle
operation, the Whitlochs have one mission – save the cattle. ER doc
Jake Whitloch joins in the rescue, but the form he finds in a
snowdrift is no cow. It’s a woman, a woman who consumes his
thoughts despite that two carat diamond sitting on her ring
finger.
Beaupré thanks the rugged doctor for rescuing her from freezing to
death and the Whitlochs for taking her into their home, but now it’s
time for her to leave the ranch. She longs to stay with the man who’s
determined to protect her, but she doesn’t dare. Her deadly secret
is in hot pursuit. Any delay and she’ll endanger the family who
opened their home to her.
leaving Crystal Creek Ranch? Jake can’t let her go, but how can he
convince her he’ll do anything to keep her safe?
book includes your favorite Crystal Creek characters from Book One of
the Crystal Creek Series and several new characters, including Max
Whitloch’s children from his previous marriages who come to the
ranch for Victoria and Garrett’s wedding. All Max’s children will
have their own books as they pursue their quests for love.
Her Heart
Creek Book 1
by a stalker, she turns to the only man who can help her – the man
who walked out of her life ten years ago.
Victoria Whitloch escapes the clutches of a stalker only to stumble
into the arms of the man she never wants to see again, bad boy
prosecutor Garrett Reynolds. To protect Victoria, Garrett whisks her
away to an isolated lodge. Major problem for Victoria—how does she
help Garrett capture the stalker while guarding her heart against the
man who broke it once before? Garrett thought his heart had healed
when Victoria left him ten years ago. Garrett’s bigger
problem—capture the stalker determined to imprison Victoria.
Keeping Victoria safe is no easy task for Garrett, but getting her to
trust him is an entirely different challenge. He puts his life on the
line to guard the woman who is more deserving of love than any woman
he’s known. But love takes a back seat to the Whitloch-Reynolds
feud. At the center is the Crystal Creek Ranch. The Whitlochs own the
ranch. The Reynolds are the rightful heirs.
romantic suspense novel.
it FREE!**
Haley-McNeil received degrees in Spanish and German from Metropolitan
State University of Denver. She taught Spanish and then worked in the
Western History Department of the Denver Public Library translating
the correspondence of Bishop Joseph Machebeuf.
moving to San Diego, she worked as the accountant for a Christian
television station, then transferred to Hardin, Montana, and
performed technical production for the television station there.
returned to Denver and supervised accounting departments for a title
company and a stock brokerage firm. During this time, she renovated
homes, bought and managed several residential properties and obtained
a real estate license. She has also worked as the property manager
overseeing five business office complexes,, high-rise office
buildings and producing newsletter and marketing material.
is an accomplished ballet dancer having studied and performed in that
area for more than twenty years and has studied piano for over forty
years. Musical studies also include violin and organ. She has been on
the board of directors of two Colorado orchestras and is a past
member of the American Liszt Society.
of her short stories have been published in national magazines, and
she has written book reviews for Book Lover’s Magazine. She is the
author of the Crystal Creek Series and the Beaumont Series.
the tour HERE
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4 Comments
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The covers are beautiful. Very romantic. The stories sound wonderful.
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I do like all the covers, but the one for the most recent book – Imagine the Kiss – stands out the most to me. I love the colors and layout. It just catches my eye more than the others.
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My favorite cover is “Christmas At Crystal Creek. I love any book with Christmas as the theme.
Marilyn-
Hi, Marilyn. Thanks for stopping by. Crystal Creek Christmas was a fun book to write and I enjoyed working with the designer on the cover. Covers can be tricky because authors want to convey the romance and remain true to the characters. I hope you enjoy the books.
Laura Haley-McNeil
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