Returning to her hometown is the last thing Marlee Masters wants to do but is given little choice as the remaining heir of the Timber Masters Company. Little does she know that the small southern town will soon be rift with unexplained deaths. Though suicide is what they are being called, Marlee doesn't believe it. Especially as they are just too similar to the suicide of her own brother not that long ago. But there is this little thing in the law called AN ABSENCE OF MOTIVE, so to prove otherwise will take a lot of patience and a lot of working with the new sheriff.

Ben Kinsella is the new sheriff in the town and to new to know every one, but the first sight of the lovely heiress Marlee has him constantly being pulled in her direction. He had once been rejected by a woman from a wealthy background and isn't about to get involved and watch history repeat itself. Despite his best plan something about Marlee draws him into a web - and when push comes to shove, and danger comes her way he isn't about to let anything happen to her.

AN ABSENCE OF MOTIVE is an intriguing look at the lifestyle and drama of a small southern town, where gossip is everyday conversation, and what you look like is really most important. Ben stays a bit of mystery, though he was a former DEA agent, who was involved in a very large sweep to close down a large meth operation. The townsfolk are colorful, sometimes funny and oftentimes people you would really love to meet up with. The Masters family dynamic is sad, frustrating - especially for Marlee who never planned to work for her father - and heartbreaking. The father is a rather typical wealthy man who is used to getting his way and will use whatever he must to do so, including a little bribery to put an end to his daughter's plan to join law offices in Atlanta. But in the end, the love in that family can be felt.

The drawback to AN ABSENCE OF MOTIVE might be a bit too much legal jargon and perhaps a few too many suspects. Though all the mysteries that are introduced are all resolved in the end. I love trying to solve the puzzles before the reveal by the author, but author Maggie Wells did a fine job of keeping readers guessing because the ending comes as quite a surprise. All in all a very good read, sweet romance, and utterly twisty mystery that will have you glued to the pages.

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