Rocky Mountain Revenge - Cindi Myers (HI #1475 - Feb 2014)

Series: Rocky Mountain Ranger (Book 1)

The last place she expects to have a reunion is the Rocky Mountains. But this man from her past is hard to ignore in Cindi Myers's Rocky Mountain Revenge

Despite her new identity in the WitSec Program, Anne Gardener has been found by the one person who hurt her the most: FBI agent Jake Westmoreland. And when she testified against her own flesh and blood, her whole existence was turned upside down. Jake couldn't expect any more from her -- except that he did. He wanted the impossible…her help.

Jake doesn't have much time to restore Anne's faith in him. She is the only one who can help him locate her mob-boss father and put him away for good. He knows that his betrayal has hurt her deeply. Loving her was never part of the plan; yet losing her is a risk he won't take. He'll do anything to keep her safe -- even if it means walking into the lion's den….

Good second chance story. A year ago, Anne was Elizabeth Giardino, loved and spoiled daughter of mob boss Sam Giardino. She was used to getting anything she wanted. She fell hard for one of her father's men, Jake West, who made her see past the lifestyle to what was behind it. Then in one horrifying night, she saw Jake gunned down in a shootout between US Marshals and her father. Devastated, she cooperated with the feds, who then gave her a new life far different than her old one. Now she is Anne, first-grade teacher in a small Colorado town, but still watching over her shoulder - and with good reason. In spite of the efforts of the WitSec people, she came home from work one night to find a man waiting inside her house. Fortunately for her safety, it was Jake, who she thought was dead.

Jake had died that night - several times - but in the end, came out on top. After weeks in the hospital, and months in rehab, he finally discovered that Elizabeth had survived. By calling in many favors, he was able to track her down. First to make sure that she is safe, but also to enlist her help to find her fugitive father. He knows it won't be easy, but it is something he has to do if he is going to make sure she stays safe.

I liked the relationship between Jake and Anne. There isn't a lot of detail about their past, but I definitely got the feeling that they had become friends before they became lovers. I really liked the parts that showed that Jake had appreciated her warmth and intelligence far more than her family did. It was also clear that he felt guilty about the way he had deceived her about who he was. Anne wasn't in a very forgiving mood when he showed up, especially when she found out what he wanted from her, and she just wanted him gone. Fortunately, he didn't listen to her, as hired guns found her right after Jake did.

The action heated up fast as Jake and Anne worked together to avoid her pursuers. The spoiled socialite is nowhere to be found as Anne showed incredible courage and resourcefulness. I also loved Jake's determination to keep her safe, even at the risk of his own life. I ached for Anne as she had to face the fact that the father she still loved in spite of everything was trying to kill her. In spite of all that was going on, the feelings that Jake and Anne had shared before flared back to life and continued to grow. There were some pretty sweet moments between the two of them as they got to know each other again. I felt bad for Jake, who believed that there was no way that they could ever be together thanks to his past actions.

The final confrontation came after some interesting twists and turns. I was impressed by Anne's courage in walking willingly into the lion's den and facing her father in person. Knowing that Jake was nearby gave her some extra confidence. The showdown was intense, with a couple of big surprises. I enjoyed the aftermath and seeing Anne stand up to her WitSec handler, as she and Jake take charge of their own future.

Rocky Mountain Rescue - Cindi Myers (HI #1482 - Mar 2014)

Series: Rocky Mountain Ranger (Book 2)

The lines are blurred between duty and desire in ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESCUE by Cindi Myers

Federal marshal Patrick Thompson almost lost one woman in his care. He won't lose another. As an officer for the Witness Security Program, it's his job to protect Stacy Giardino, the former daughter-in-law of an infamous crime boss. At first, Stacy is reluctant to trust the brawny cop -- or to act on their intense mutual attraction. But when her toddler son is kidnapped, Patrick is the only person who can help her find him. As they work their way through the Rocky Mountains, trailed by killers, Patrick and Stacy grow closer, and the heat simmering between them ignites. But in an explosive showdown, Patrick will have only one chance to save the woman he can no longer live without.

Good book that started with a bang and kept me hooked all the way through. Stacy had been forced into marriage with a mobster by her father. With no way out, her son Carlo is all that keeps her going. When her husband and father-in-law are killed in a raid by federal agents, Stacy has high hopes that she will now be free to live the life she wants - until federal agents want to put her into protective custody.

I loved Stacy's independence. She refuses to put herself under the control of any man ever again. Even though she had been treated like arm candy by her husband, Stacy was very intelligent. I loved watching her mind work as she observed the people around her. She is also very protective of her son and will do anything to keep him safe.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship, fast though it was. When they first met, there was a great deal of mistrust between them. Because of who she was, she had been taught that law enforcement were the bad guys. Patrick isn't sure just how involved Stacy was in her husband's dealings, and was determined to keep an eye on her. I loved his reaction when he discovered that she had simply walked out of the police station and disappeared. No matter what, he was going to keep her safe, so he was nearby when little Carlo was kidnapped. I loved Stacy's fierceness when Patrick tried to get her to stay behind while he looked for Carlo, and Patrick's quick realization that it would be better to keep her with him. I liked seeing them work together to figure out who had taken Carlo. It didn't take long for the mistrust to turn to respect. I liked seeing Patrick develop an appreciation for Stacy's quick wits and steady nerves. I also liked his sensitivity and understanding of what her life had been like. Stacy was surprised by how quickly she felt safe when Patrick was near. The way he treated her went a long way toward making her feel better about herself. Neither of them expected the intensity of the attraction that flared between them. Patrick's tenderness and understanding were heartwarming and Stacy blossomed under his attention.

The suspense of the story was great. From the moment Carlo disappeared, the questions came fast and furious. Who was behind it? Why was Carlo taken? And who was now after Stacy and why? The attacks came one after another with increasing intensity. There were some great examples of Stacy's quick thinking along the way - I especially loved how she got away from the guys who grabbed her. The final showdown was intense, with multiple twists and turns before it was over. I was a little surprised by the uncle and grandmother at the end, but overall, I think it worked.

I really liked the epilogue. Even though Patrick and Stacy had fallen quickly, I liked that they were smart enough to take the time to really get to know each other. I liked seeing Stacy get to follow her dream for a change, with Patrick's full support.