Series:
Cowboy State Lawmen (Book 2)
The wrong place, the wrong time…The right man to protect
her.
After Grace Clark accidentally witnesses a brutal murder,
she tumbles headlong into a world of motorcycle gangs, cults and a young girl's
secrets. Dogged chief deputy sheriff Holden Powell's determined to help
discover what's wreaking havoc on their idyllic western town this Christmas.
The rancher-turned-lawman has something to prove, and he won’t let anything
happen to Grace—not on his watch.
Terrific book drew me in from the first page, and didn't
let go until I'd read the last one. The balance of suspense and romance is
excellent. This is the second book in the series and can be read as a
standalone, though a deeper understanding of the dynamics comes with reading
the first book, too.
Grace is a nurse taking a break after a tough case. She
is also distancing herself from her mother and ex-fiancé by moving to Wyoming
near her older brother, the sheriff. While taking online classes for her
master's degree, she works as the manager/bartender of Delgado's, a local bar. One night she witnesses an
altercation at the B&B across the street - an argument that ended in
murder. This put Grace in the middle of a dangerous situation.
Chief Deputy Holden Powell was the responding officer.
Holden is a secondary character in the previous book (
Wyoming Winter Rescue) and is dealing with the
fallout from the events of that book. The sheriff supports him, but Holden
feels the pressure of public opinion and is determined to redeem himself. Solving
the murder and keeping Grace safe is personal as well as professional.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Grace
and Holden. He has been sweet on her since she arrived in town but feels
unworthy of pursuing her thanks to what happened. Instead, he worships from
afar through daily appearances where she works. When she's in danger, Holden's
protectiveness kicks in. He will do anything to keep her safe. Grace has
noticed Holden but is off relationships after a recent breakup. However, she
can't deny the sparks she feels around him. There are sweet scenes between them
when Grace needs him, and Holden steps up to provide the comfort she craves. As
they spend more time together, Grace sees the vulnerable man Holden is hiding
behind his professional demeanor. I loved watching her overcome his
insecurities and show him the good man that he is. At the same time, Holden's
support shows Grace that she's stronger than she knew. I loved the ending and
seeing them agree that they belong together.
The suspense had me glued to the pages from start to
finish. After Grace witnessed the murder of the young woman, she became the
victim of multiple attacks. Holden works to solve the murder and keep Grace
safe at the same time. The victim was linked to a cult and a local motorcycle
club. What did she know about either or both that was enough to get her killed?
Grace's attempt to help identify the killer drew unwelcome attention. The
twists and turns of the investigation and the attacks on Grace kept me guessing.
There were a couple of things I didn't see coming, which made the intensity
even stronger. There is a slight cliffhanger involving one character, and a story
arc I expect will run through the series. I can't wait to read the next book.
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