Susie Whitaker is a woman scared for her life.  On the run with her aunt, she settles into a small town and tries very hard to blend in.  When she needs work done on her house and carpenter, Luck Roge, shows up, Susie knows she is in deep trouble.  Here is a man who can make her forget her troubles and Susie can’t afford to do that. 

Luke Roge knows that Susie Whitaker is hiding from something or someone.  When he figures out her real name and who she is running from, he does his best to reassure her of her safety.  Fate, however, has her own plans and it seems that Luke and Susie’s nightmare is just beginning. 

Penance kept me on the edge of my seat for pretty much the entire book.  I kept waiting and biding my time for the bad guy to show up, but at the same time was surprised at the plot.  Luke made me fall in love with him from his first estimate!  I loved his loyalty to Susie and how he did his best to make her feel cherished.  Penance was just an all around great read.  Then again, it was written by Lorie O’Clare, and I never get tired of reading her books!