Boone - Emily March (St. Martins - Jan 2021)

Series: The McBrides of Texas (Book 3)
            Eternity Springs (Book 18)

With his smooth talk, rugged good looks, and deep pockets, native Texan Boone McBride appears to be a man who has it all. Few people know about the heartbreak behind his decision to leave home, family, and career for the isolation of a small town in the Colorado Rockies. Luckily, time and life in Eternity Springs has worked its healing magic upon his wounded soul, so when he meets obviously troubled Hannah Dupree, Boone sees a chance to pay his good fortune forward. The last thing he anticipates is tumbling into love.

Tragedy has taken everything Hannah loves, and her will to keep going is failing. So when Boone strides into her life determined to save her, it's easier to go along with him than to resist. Soon she is drawn into the fabric of life in Eternity Springs, and as her spirit begins to heal, her strength returns, and she's able to go toe-to-toe with this hardheaded, big-hearted Texan. But just when love blooms and happiness is within their grasp, shadows from the past threaten. Hannah and Boone must stand strong and united in order to defeat old ghosts―if they are to create a brand-new life together.

This was a terrific conclusion to the McBrides of Texas subset of the Eternity Springs series. It is a story of love, loss, and healing. Boone is one of the three McBride cousins who inherited the land called Enchanted Canyon back in Texas. Boone doesn't spend much time there, having moved to Eternity Springs, Colorado, after a devastating loss sent him looking for peace and escape. After five years, he's gained the reputation of a smooth-talking, charming ladies' man, but also a man with a big heart. He's ready to move past the pain of his past and is advised that the best way to do so is to "be a light" for someone else.

Hannah has been on the run from her past for three years. After a tragedy took everything that mattered from her, she feels no hope of happiness in her future. She has reached the end of her rope and contemplates her options as she stares at Eternity Springs from the overlook at Lover's Leap.

When Boone sees Hannah standing there, he's compelled to stop. As soon as he gets close to her, he recognizes the pain in her eyes. I loved how Boone stepped into her circle and began talking to her, distracting her from her thoughts. Some of his conversation was pretty ridiculous, but he was desperate to pull her back to the land of the living. I loved how he talked to her about Eternity Springs and encouraged her to explore the town. He even goes as far as to offer to rent her the guest cabin on his property. Boone is quite the steamroller, and he soon has her settled in and ready to explore.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Hannah and Boone. The connection is there from the start, thanks to their similar pasts. Boone is further along the road to healing and quickly realizes that Hannah is someone very special. I loved seeing how his kindness and empathy helped Hannah begin to live again. There is a little bump in the road when someone from Boone's past throws a life-changing curveball into his world. It is something that Hannah feels that she isn't equipped to handle. I appreciated how Boone tries so hard not to push her too quickly out of her comfort zone. As a result, she adjusts faster than she expects.

I especially enjoyed Boone's determination to romance Hannah. When Boone makes a decision, he goes all-in, and this was no exception. There were some sweet scenes of them together, from stargazing to glamping. Hannah helps Boone out of several crises that also serve to bring them closer together. I loved seeing the effects of Boone's attention as Hannah's formerly dark existence began to add color and light. Like Boone, when Hannah makes a decision, she commits fully. Their big moment at the end is fantastic, with a fun twist that I didn't see coming. I laughed out loud at Boone's reaction, especially his comment about his cousins. There's one last crisis they have to deal with, but by doing so together, they banish the last of their ghosts and move ahead in a life full of love.

I've never read any of the Eternity Springs books but will have to do so. I'd like to know more about Celeste, who plays an integral part in all three McBride books. I liked what I read about the town and its people and look forward to getting to know more about them. I especially enjoyed the way the women of the town rallied to help Boone with an emergency.

There wasn't much time spent in Enchanted Canyon, but that doesn't mean Tucker and Jackson were left out of the book. Both of them have their moments to shine. I loved how Boone called them for advice when he panicked a little about his feelings for Hannah. They provided an excellent combination of teasing, which he deserved, and truth, which he needed.

Mountain of Evidence - Cindi Myers (HI #1968 - Dec 2020)

Series: Ranger Brigade: Rocky Mountain Manhunt (Book 2)
            Ranger Brigade (Book 12)

His latest case is dangerous.

So is his attraction to the missing victim's ex.

Eve Shea's ex is missing in the Colorado mountains. Although her romantic feelings for the man are long gone, her honor demands she be a part of Ranger Commander Grant Sanderlin's investigation. But her rising attraction to Grant is another matter. The hardened military man vows justice, even as he opens his home and heart to Eve. But as more clues emerge, is Eve's ex a victim -- or a killer targeting the woman Grant is falling for?

Terrific book. Eve's ex-boyfriend is missing, and when she receives a strange letter from him, she takes it to the Ranger Brigade. In the first book of the series, Investigation in Black Canyon, Dane Trask faked his death and disappeared into the mountains. He has been accused of everything from embezzlement to murder, but that isn't the man that Eve knows. Eve insists on being part of Grant's investigation as more odd things happen to her.

I liked both Eve and Grant. Eve is independent, loyal, and not afraid to go after what she wants. Though she broke off her relationship with Dane when it became clear they didn't want the same things, they remained good friends. Eve is skeptical of the things she's heard about him. In the meantime, she resumed her dating life. She is surprised by the attraction she feels for Grant, who is different than the men she dates. Grant is a divorced father of two teenagers. He carries some guilt over the end of his marriage and believes that he has not been the father he should have been. He does not expect the sparks of attraction that fly between him and Eve.

I liked the development of the relationship between Grant and Eve. After six months of unsatisfying dates via online dating sites, Eve is wary of the feelings Grant stirs in her. They spend time together and hit it off, but she still has questions about whether they want the same things. Eve is the first woman Grant has been attracted to in quite a while. He likes being with her, but an offhand comment about children puts some distance between them. I ached for Grant, who found himself jealous of Eve's past relationship with Dane and also of a current man who has his eye on her. Despite the distance, Eve is the one Grant calls when a problem crops up with one of his daughters. I liked how Eve was there for him. I liked how having Janie there made Grant re-evaluate his past and opened his heart to possibilities. I liked the ending as they both admitted their feelings and looked toward a future together.

The suspense of the story was terrific. So many people are looking for Dane, but he continues to remain elusive. The letter that he sends to Eve makes it clear that he has a reason for his disappearance. Meanwhile, his former employers continue to accuse him of heinous crimes. When Eve receives a second letter, the tension ramps up. More questions arise with visits to a mining site and the discovery of an illegal dump in the park. A dead body on a hiking trail increases the pressure on the Brigade, while Grant suspects that something odd is going on. I was glued to the pages as a desperate man used Eve as bait for his own purposes, and Grant raced to get there in time. The resolution had an unexpected twist. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens.

The secondary characters were great, mostly made up of the Brigade members. I liked seeing more of Jared and Cara from the first book. Cara is clearly on Team Dane, and Jared raises some good points during the investigation. It is easy to feel the team's frustration as they continually come up empty-handed. It doesn't help that Dane's company is less than cooperative in the search for information. On the civilian side, I loved Eve's coworker, Sarah. She is fun with her interest and encouragement in Eve's love life. My favorite of the secondary characters is Grant's daughter Janie. She is smart and enthusiastic, and clearly adores her father. I laughed at her blatant attempts to bring Eve and Grant together.

Investigation in Black Canyon - Cindi Myers (HI #1962 - Nov 2020)

Series: Ranger Brigade: Rocky Mountain Manhunt (Book 1)

            Ranger Brigade (Book 11)

The more clues they uncover, the more deadly the investigation becomes.

After Cara Mead's boss disappears on a hike, and money is discovered missing from the company they work for, Cara enlists the help of Ranger Brigade officer Jason Beck. But once the manhunt is set in motion, Jason and Cara find themselves embroiled in a fearsome conspiracy involving an abandoned mine deep in Black Canyon -- and someone who will do anything to keep them from finding out the truth. As the danger escalates, Jason must choose between upholding the law…and following his instincts to protect the woman he won't live without.

Fantastic return to the world of the Ranger Brigade. Cara's boss, Dane Trask, is missing. Reporting it to local law enforcement gave her no confidence that they took it seriously, so she took her concern to the Ranger Brigade and Ranger Jason Beck. Though somewhat leery of her story at first, there is something about Cara that tells Jason she is telling the truth. I liked the first meeting between them. Cara has good reasons for distrusting law enforcement, and she isn't about to sit back and accept what they say. She stands up to Jason's skepticism and insists on staying in the loop.

I enjoyed the development of Cara and Jason's relationship. There are sparks of attraction between them from the start, and it isn't long before Jason wants to earn Cara's trust. His protective instincts kick in when Cara experiences an attempted break-in, and Cara can't deny that she feels safer with him. The more time they spend together, the stronger the attraction grows, and deeper feelings grow right along with it. Jason knows he has it bad when he risks his career to keep Cara safe. A future together becomes a close-run thing when Cara nearly loses her life at the bad guys' hands, and Jason barely arrives in time to save her. When it was all over, I loved seeing them look forward to what was ahead of them. As Cara said, "a future that included putting a lot more trust in law enforcement than she had ever thought possible."

The suspense of the story was terrific from the very beginning. From the first chapter's opening lines and what is obviously Dane's attempt to disappear, the tension steadily increases throughout the book. Each new piece of information uncovered led to more questions. Cara and Jason's suspicions were further aroused by questionable actions taken by company leadership. Cara's determination to discover the truth led to unexpected consequences and a narrow escape. As she and Jason came closer to the truth, the intensity of the suspense ramped up even further. I was glued to the pages as they fought their way through gunfire, drenching rain, and a nearly fatal attack. In the end, some questions are resolved, but still others are left unanswered. I can't wait to read the next book and see where it goes.

Storm - Janie Crouch (Calamity Jane Pub - Oct 2020)

Series: Linear Tactical (Book 10)

            Special Forces: Operation Alpha

Breathe in. Breathe out. Survive.

Marilyn Ellis is finally putting her life back together. The domestic abuse she suffered may be labeled textbook by therapists, but it's the parts she's never told anyone that haunt her.

She refuses to get trapped in that hell ever again.

Former Special Forces soldier turned rancher Noah Dempsey is more than capable of training the delicate single mom in moves and tactics that will help her feel safe. But his own tortured past makes him decidedly less qualified for anything more.

No matter how much her big eyes--and even bigger heart--draw him in.

However, when unexpected danger arrives in their small town, Noah knows this is a woman worth fighting for. Worth fighting beside. And he's going to be the one to do it.

She needs a hero.

He'll have to remember how to be one.

This was a fantastic book that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. It was also a little different than previous books in the Linear Tactical world. Noah is not a member of the LT team, but served with some of them and has appeared in some of the LT books. Zac and Annie (Cyclone) make several appearances in this book. In another unusual tactic, Storm takes place concurrently with the book Risk Everything, from the Bree and Tanner series, this time from Noah and Marilyn's perspectives. Having met them in that book, I loved the opportunity to get to know them both better. There is also a walk-on character from Susan Stoker's Special Forces series, which I have not (yet) read. Though I already knew the suspense outcome from reading the other book, in many ways, this felt like an entirely different story, thanks to the different perspectives.

Marilyn is the survivor of some horrific domestic abuse. She and her two children finally escaped and began a new life in Risk Peak, where Marilyn is the New Journeys abuse shelter building manager. Marilyn has PTSD and blames herself for not getting away sooner. She is still wary around men, especially those that she doesn't know. This is especially noticeable when Tanner brings in some friends to help move things into the shelter.

Tanner's brother, Noah, is one of those helping. Noah retired from the Special Forces after a devastating mission. Always a quiet, introverted man, he became even more reserved and more withdrawn after his return. While helping at the shelter, Noah was increasingly aware of Marilyn and recognized a kindred spirit. He was impressed by her quiet strength, and more so by her resilience during a later encounter. I loved his support and understanding as he helped her through that episode.

I loved the development of the relationship between Noah and Marilyn. It begins with Noah's kindnesses to her and her children and her feeling that she can trust him. Marilyn asks Noah to teach her how to defend herself, and he is more than willing to do so. I loved that Noah didn't look at Marilyn as fragile or broken, but saw a fighter and a survivor. On the other hand, Marilyn did not have a high opinion of herself, thanks to Jared's abuse. Over their months of lessons, Noah worked hard to reinstate Marilyn's belief in herself. At the same time, helping Marilyn helped Noah overcome the memories that haunt him. I especially liked it when Noah showed her how much she had learned and changed. There were some sweet scenes between them as they grew closer, and each realized that their feelings were changing.

However, before Noah and Marilyn can explore those feelings, Marilyn's past comes calling. Trouble comes in the form of a suspicious fire, followed by an interrupted camping trip and a flight through the woods. Noah is in full protector mode, but he also sees that Marilyn needed to fight her own battles. I loved seeing them work together, along with Noah's increasing love and respect for Marilyn, and Marilyn's unending trust in Noah. The tension built quickly as Jared's whereabouts came into question. The final confrontation was intense, as Marilyn's worst nightmare came to pass. I loved seeing the new Marilyn take charge of her fears and deal with the threat that faced her.

I loved the ending of this book. There is an awesome scene with Noah having a man-to-man talk with Marilyn's son, Sam, and getting advice from her daughter, Eva. Noah, who doesn't think he has a romantic bone in his body, has something special in mind for Marilyn. There's an unexpected twist that nearly ends in tragedy, but Noah's big moment happens with a little help from his friends. 

The Country Guesthouse - Robyn Carr (Mira - Jan 2020)

Series: Sullivan's Crossing (Book 5)

A summer rental, a new beginning…

Hannah Russell's carefully crafted plans for her life have been upended without warning. When her best friend died suddenly, Hannah became guardian to a five-year-old named Noah. With no experience at motherhood, she's terrified she's not up to the challenge. She and Noah need time to get to know each other, so she decides to rent a country house with stunning views on a lake in rural Colorado.

When they arrive at the house, they are greeted by the owner, a handsome man who promises to stay out of their way. But his clumsy Great Dane, Romeo, has other ideas and Noah immediately bonds with the lovable dog. As Hannah learns to become a mother, Owen Abrams, who is recovering from his own grief, can't help but be drawn out of his solitude by his guests.

But life throws more challenges at this unlikely trio and they are tested in ways they never thought possible. All three will discover their strengths and, despite their differences, they will fight to become a family. And the people of Sullivan's Crossing will rally around them to offer all of the support they need.

Sweet story of love, healing, and family. Hannah is a busy sales exec for a medical equipment company. Her life is going as planned, with her wedding approaching rapidly, and her career on track for a promotion. Then she returns early from a less than satisfactory team-building exercise to find her fiancé in bed with her assistant. This is followed by the unexpected death of her best friend, leaving Hannah as the guardian of Erin's five-year-old son Noah. Determined to do the motherhood thing right, Hannah rents a house near Sullivan's Crossing, takes family leave from her job, and gives herself and Noah a chance to grieve their loss and get to know each other.

The house is owned by Owen, a brilliant photographer who rents his home while he travels. His most recent trip was canceled, leaving Owen at loose ends. Rather than cancel the rental, Owen stays in his studio, leaving the house to Hannah and Noah. He promises to keep out of their way, but his dog Romeo and Noah have other plans. Owen quickly finds himself drawn into Hannah and Noah's lives.

I loved the development of the relationship between Owen and Hannah. They are attracted to each other from the moment they met, but with only a two-week stay planned, neither is prepared to do anything about it. They attempt to bury the attraction and quickly form a satisfying friendship. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, from quiet morning coffee on the porch to outings with Noah. By the time the two weeks are up, both Owen and Hannah acknowledge that there is something special between them. Owen convinces Hannah that she and Noah should stay for the summer and see where it goes. Owen also shares the tragedy he experienced twelve years earlier that changed his life.

The romance between Owen and Hannah is a slow-burning one. I liked that they took their time to get to know each other. Owen is a sensitive man who excels at understanding other people's feelings. Both he and Hannah keep their lines of communication open, talking about issues before they become problems. I loved that Owen was there for Hannah, supporting her without taking over. I liked the way that he made his feelings clear, and his hopes for the future, without putting any pressure on Hannah. This enabled Hannah to regain trust in her feelings and her judgment.

Things aren't all rainbows and flowers though. Hannah became Noah's guardian because Erin was estranged from her family. Her mother was emotionally abusive and showed an undeniable preference for Erin's brother. Roger was physically and emotionally abusive, as well as an addict and criminal. Erin's will made it clear that her family was to have no contact with Noah. Hannah was shocked when Erin's mother, Victoria, challenged her for custody and was suspicious of her motives. Hannah's protective instincts were fierce and I liked seeing her inner strength revealed. Hannah's new friends rallied around her to help however they could. I especially liked Helen's methods, which were unconventional but effective. There was a twist to the resolution that I didn't see coming but really enjoyed.

Noah was adorable. I liked watching him bond with both Hannah and Owen. It was terrific to see that he and Hannah were able to talk about their grief at the same time they built their own relationship. He wasn't a perfect child, which was refreshing. His actions were realistic for his age, with the occasional meltdown and bits of stubbornness. I loved the way that he and Romeo bonded. It was so much fun to see the two of them together. Noah's explanations of Romeo's clumsiness to others were always amusing. I ached a bit for him when he talked about being different from other kids, and loved seeing the changes he experienced while at the lake.

I enjoyed seeing various characters from earlier books. Even though I have only read the first book and this one, I never felt lost. There was enough information given to enlighten without bogging things down in recaps. It did whet my appetite to go back and read the others.