Audiobook Review: Hidden Talents by Jayne Ann Krentz

Hidden Talents
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Narrator: Amy McFadden
Publication: Tantor Audio (May 20, 2017)
Length: 11 hours and 35 minutes

Description: Witt's End is in trouble. The small town of artists is at risk of disappearing from the map if Serenity Makepeace can't expand her small grocery store into a mail order enterprise to sell her neighbors' handcrafted goods. High-priced start-up advisor Caleb Ventress was intrigued by Serenity's impassioned letter. A small town grocer wasn't high profile enough for him, but her request earned her a meeting. And Calebs' attraction to her earned her a few more. But when someone tries to blackmail Serenity, her future, and possibly even her life, is at risk.

My Thoughts: HIDDEN TALENTS is a romance with some suspense. Serenity Makepeace is determined to save her town of Witt's End. She was born there. In fact, she is the only one who was born into that enclave of eccentrics and misfits in the town's history. She is determined to turn her small town grocery into the center of a mail order operation to revitalize her town. 

Serenity appeals to Caleb Ventress who is a big time venture capitalist. He was intrigued by Serenity's plan even though it was much smaller than any other project he's undertaken. He's equally intrigued by Serenity herself. 

Their partnership almost founders when Serenity comes to him to tell him that she's being blackmailed for some nude pictures she sat for to help out the local art photographer. This hits Caleb in a really sensitive spot. He's always been held accountable by his family for the mistakes of his parents. His father had an affair with a woman who made her living as actress who also posed for some nude photos. When his grandfather refused to pay the blackmail, the photos were sent to and published by the local newspaper. When his parents died shortly thereafter, he was raised by his grandfather and guilted almost every day. 

Caleb and Serenity are determined to discover where this latest blackmail scheme began. Their attempt to check out the photographer leads to discovering his body. His death appears accidental and looks like a roadblock to their investigation. 

But the blackmail threats don't end with the photographer's death. As Serenity and Caleb investigate, they uncover other secrets in the small town. And the two fall deeply in love. 

This was an engaging romance between main characters with very different background and characters who learn that they have more in common with each other than they thought. I enjoyed this story. 

I bought this one on Kindle and with an audiobook add-on. You can buy your copy here.