Hour of Need

Scarlet Falls

By: Melinda Leigh

Narrated by: Cris Dukehart

A 2015 Daphne du Maurier Award finalist from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.

While fighting in Afghanistan, Major Grant Barrett receives devastating news: his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered in Scarlet Falls, the sleepy suburb of Grant’s youth. Emotionally scarred from war, the career soldier returns home on emergency leave to temporarily care for his orphaned nephew and niece. But when someone tries to kidnap the kids and their teenage babysitter, Grant knows it’s not a random act…and neither were the murders.

Already devastated by her neighbors’ violent deaths, Ellie Ross is shattered by the attempted abduction of her teenage daughter so she desperately turns to Grant for help. As they navigate a deadly search for the truth, they struggle with growing feelings for each other and Grant’s impending return to Afghanistan.

But time is running out. The killer is growing bolder by the hour, and Ellie and Grant must find him before the children become his next victims.

Bestselling author Melinda Leigh delivers another gritty mystery simmering with spine-tingling passion in this first Scarlet Falls novel.

©2014 Melinda Leigh (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

More than an hour...

The story was very good,and I enjoyed the characters. The description of Grant Barrett gave me a very good idea of what he looked like, and I could picture him and Ellie working together side by side.

The story had some great twist and turns, and I liked how the story was all tied together in the end.

Hour of Need is the first book by Melinda Leigh I have read and the first narrated by Cris Dukehart. I thought the narrator was a little flat in the beginning of the book, but she seemed to improve as the story moved along.

Overall, I enjoyed Hour of Need, and would recommend this book.

Decent story

The book kept my interest, but barely. Very slow moving, it did pick up around the middle of the book. Could have easily cut down the complete audiobook. I would consider another audiobook from the author, but will return to other authors first.

This Story Deserves Better Narration

I thoroughly enjoyed this story...even though I didn't care for the narration. While the narrator did a decent job with voicings, the cadence and syntax where painfully pedantic.

Yet I still managed to tuck that away and enjoy a well written story. This one, as it unraveled, went places I really didn't expect it to go. So for me, it's a big winner. Sensitive readers, however, may want to be aware of possible triggers within the story. This one's pretty gritty and raw in places and readers who are extremely sensitive to violence may find it difficult. Also, while the author herself doesn't tend to write a lot of adult language into her books, there is one character in this story that has a foul mouth. If it's an issue for you, just be aware going in. Don't let it stop you from enjoying a great read.

Excellent story!

Loved it!!! I am loving all things Scarlet Falls & Melinda Leigh. This is the 2nd series of hers I am reading & they keep me hooked!

Breathtaking

The story grabs your attention and does not let go until the very last word. Full of action and great characters.