"Turn to Me" by Becky Wade - Mist River Romance, book 3

Guilt has defined Luke Dempsey's life, but it was self-destructiveness that landed him in prison. When his friend and fellow inmate lay dying shortly before Luke's release, the older man revealed he left a string of clues for his daughter, Finley, that will lead her to the treasure he's hidden. Worried that she won't be the only one pursuing the treasure, he gains Luke's promise to protect her until the end of her search. Spunky and idealistic, Finley Sutherland is the owner of an animal rescue center and a defender of lost causes. She accepts Luke's help on the treasure hunt while secretly planning to help him in return--by coaxing him to embrace the forgiveness he's long denied himself. As they draw closer to the final clue, their reasons for resisting each other begin to crumble, and Luke realizes his promise will push him to the limit in more ways than one. He'll do his best to shield Finley from unseen threats, but who's going to shield him from losing his heart?

4.5 stars  Luke is definitely the star of this book. He was perfectly broody and intense, though his stern complaints could be quite amusing, especially when they ran contrary to his actions (particularly with a certain non-housebroken puppy). He's still very broken from the loss of his brother, for which he blames himself. I liked the consideration the author put into him as a recent convict, with things like his struggles to fill his time after a super-regimented stint in prison, his need for a regimented schedule. Both Luke and Finley are well fleshed-out. I enjoyed that while they are in most things wildly different, Luke and Finley are markedly similar in their response to grief and loss.

The treasure hunt was a fun part of the book, with a treasure I was not remotely expecting. I'm glad Ben finally gets a happy ending, though I'd have preferred it if Ben could have had his own book (and then we could have gotten to know Akira a lot better).

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Misty River Romance
0.5: Take a Chance on Me (prequel novella)
1. Stay With Me
2. Let It Be Me
2.5: You and Me (novella)
3. Turn to Me