A Match Made in Alaska
Hunter Jacobson wants no part of his grandfather's matchmaking. The lone cowboy is certain that's what the old man is doing when he trades part of their Montana ranch for Scarlett Murphy's claim to an old Alaska gold mine. Or is he running one of his legendary scams on the sweet single mom? A trip to Dry Creek, Alaska, reveals the truth -- and brings Hunter and Scarlett face-to-face with a past family feud and a vulnerable present. But surprisingly it's the future that intrigues Hunter most…if he can get Scarlett to make him her groom.
Sweet romance with a slight bit of suspense to it. Scarlett is recently divorced from a husband who turned out to be a drug dealer and is ready for a new start. When she received a message from her grandfather's old mining partner offering part of his Montana ranch in exchange for her claim on an old gold mine, she couldn't wait to check it out. Hunter was dismayed when he finds out about his grandfather's offer. Colin is well known for his scams, and Hunter doesn't want to see her and her son hurt.
The first meeting between Hunter and Scarlett was less than cordial. Hunter does his best to convince Scarlett that she wants no part of the deal, while Scarlett believes that Hunter has an agenda of his own regarding the property. Both of them have major trust issues that are evident from the start. Scarlett has been let down or betrayed by most of the men in her life and is determined to rely only on herself. Hunter has spent so many years trying to clean up after his grandfather's schemes that he is certain that Colin has some kind of trickery in mind. He also discovers that Colin is trying his hand at matchmaking, and Hunter wants no part of it.
I liked both Scarlett and Hunter. Scarlett is independent and cautious. She is also a woman to whom family is important. She's a terrific mom and very protective of her son, especially when she believes he is threatened. I also liked her relationship with her grandmother. Hunter is a man who feels things very deeply. After losing his parents when he was a child, he became intent on watching out for others. He feels a lot of guilt over the death of his parents, and also that he hasn't been able to control his grandfather's schemes.
The development of the relationship between Hunter and Scarlett happened very quickly. Hunter admired Scarlett's determination to make a better life for her family. He also bonded with her son Joey. It was fun to see the two of them together, especially in comparison with the boy's father. Scarlett was a little slower because her trust issues ran very deep. She began to soften toward Hunter when she saw him with Joey. I especially loved the scene where he taught Joey how to fall. I loved Hunter's insistence on going back to Alaska with Scarlett to help her. His presence made a big difference in how she handled the things that happened while they were there and went a long way toward showing her that she could trust him. Their declarations of their feelings came quickly, but they also took the time afterward to get to know each other better. I liked the epilogue, especially the way it gave Hunter a new appreciation of his hometown and its residents.
I loved the trip to Alaska and the revelations about the history between Scarlett's family and Hunter's. This helped relieve Hunter's mind about Colin's intentions. There were some interesting conversations involving Scarlett's grandmother and Hunter's grandfather, showing that some trust problems were long-standing.
There was also trouble waiting for Scarlett when they returned. She had received a threat against Joey before she left, thanks to her ex-husband's criminal activities. Finding her house ransacked added to her stress. The confrontation with her ex was intense with its resolution precipitated by an unexpected source.
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