Secret of Deadman's Coulee - B.J. Daniels (HI #996 - June 2007)

Series: Whitehorse Montana (Book 1)

A DEADLY SECRET AND A DEVASTATINGLY HANDSOME SHERIFF... HOW LUCKY CAN A GIRL GET?

It would just figure! Eve Bailey would have the rotten luck to drop in on a body and a thirty-year-old mystery. And darn it all, Carter Jackson would be the sheriff determined to take on the cold case--and Eve. In high school he had been one tall drink of water, and nothing had changed--not his smoldering eyes, his cowboy swagger or the way Eve felt about him. The Whitehorse sewing circle would surely be putting in overtime "quilting" sessions down at the community center, speculating whether Eve and Carter would have a second chance.

But gossip was the least of Eve's problems. One of their own was desperate to keep local secrets buried deep in the Montana mountains. There would be an old-fashioned showdown when the truth was revealed.... And anyone could get caught in the crossfire.

Good suspense with a nice second chance romance to go with it. After years away, Eve has returned home for a couple of reasons. One, she wants to find out what is going on with her parents, who appear to be having problems. Dad is living several towns away, claiming it's to be closer to his work, and Mom looks like she's carrying on with someone else. Two, she wants to finally get to the bottom of her questions about who she is. Eve has never felt like she fit in with the rest of the family.

The book started with a bang, as Eve rushed off after a confrontation with her mother about the man she saw sneaking out of the house. Eve was so upset that she rode off without taking the usual precautions when going riding. She was miles away from the ranch when she noticed bad weather coming fast. When the storm hit, she thought she heard someone moaning, but when she investigated, she found a crashed plane with a dead body in it - a plane that had been there for thirty years. When Eve's horse returned home without her, Lila called the sheriff and search parties were formed. Sheriff Carter Jackson was the one who found Eve as she made her way out of the ravine after the storm had passed.

The meeting between Eve and Carter was tense. They had been an item their senior year in high school until Carter betrayed her with another girl and got her pregnant. He did the "right thing" and married Deena, and Eve left Whitehorse right after graduation. Now Carter is divorced from Deena and still feels guilty about the way he treated Eve. He has also never forgotten his feelings for her. Meanwhile, Deena creates a whole host of headaches for him. Eve isn't particularly happy to see Carter, but she knows she has to tell him about the wreck and the body. Because of where it is, Eve has to show him or he'd never find it. There were still some sparks flying between Carter and Eve, and they weren't all antagonism.

I liked Carter and Eve, though each had their moments of irritating me. Carter has grown to be an honorable man. He stuck out his marriage far longer than he should have, just because he took his vows seriously. I wasn't happy about the way he had treated Eve way back when, but he did grow and mature. He is also a bit stubborn and refused to give up on the investigation into the plane crash, even though he suspected that he wouldn't like some of the things that would come to light. I liked his protectiveness toward Eve, even when she resisted him. Eve has a fair amount of stubbornness of her own, as well as a tendency to be impulsive. She hasn't been able to let go of her suspicions about her place in the family and is determined to find out the truth. She also rushes into actions without thinking about ramifications, such as her flight on the horse or her break-in at the doctor's office. But she also loves her family, even though they frequently frustrate or confuse her.

The suspense of the story was very good. Eve's discovery of the plane and body stirred up a lot of questions. Who was the dead man, and why were he and the plane never reported missing? What happened to the pilot, and had anyone else been on the plane? I was a little mad at Eve when she found something on the plane that she recognized and took it without telling Carter about it until later. The evidence discovered on the plane caused more questions than it answered. Had there been babies on board? Was the plane being used to run drugs? Is there a connection to Carter's father and grandfather? At the same time, Eve's search for the truth about her birth is causing problems for her. Her conversations with her grandmother, who suffers from Alzheimer's, may have confirmed that Eve is adopted, but can she trust her grandmother's memory?

I was glued to the pages as the answers to the questions were revealed. I could sense Carter's worry when he talked to his father about the plane and who it belonged to. He could sense that his father was hiding something. As the evidence from the plane was investigated, there were some interesting twists, including the identity of the dead man and information about the hair in the brush found on board. Meanwhile, Eve has stirred up a hornet's nest with her search. What she learned from her grandmother gave her the incentive to break into the doctor's office looking for evidence about the day of her birth. What she found made her question everything her mother had told her. She also encountered someone else who had also broken in. Then on the way home, someone shot at her truck, causing her to wreck. Fortunately for her, Carter had spotted her and came to her rescue. Things really started to heat up as the dead man was identified, and Eve kidnapped from her home. There were some interesting twists and connections revealed as Eve confronted her kidnapper. I loved that she didn't cave into the fear and that she assisted in her own rescue. The questions about Eve's birth were answered, but there is a bigger mystery that was left hanging. I will definitely have to track down the other books to see how it turns out.

There were some other things going on at the same time. Carter's ex-wife wants him back, and she's willing to do anything to make that happen. Eve's mother, Lila, has to face up to some mistakes she made in the past. There were times when I didn't like her at all, and others where I did. There was also an interesting turn of events involving Carter's dad.

 

Rugged Defender - B.J. Daniels (HI #1815 - Nov 2018)

Series: Whitehorse, Montana: The Clementine Sisters (Book 3)

Murder in Montana?

Cowboy Justin Calhoun is certain that Chloe Clementine is the one who got away. Now she’s back in Whitehorse, Montana, for the holidays -- and Justin’s ready to make his move. But Chloe has a secret Santa who’s been sending her not-so-nice presents, each more threatening than the last. Now they must find Chloe’s stalker Santa…before their fairy-tale Christmas turns into a nightmare.

Fantastic conclusion to the series, though the story doesn't match the blurb other than the names. Chloe is an investigative reporter was downsized from her job right before coming home for the holidays. She hasn't lost that need to investigate, and when she finds out that the man she'd had a crush on had been suspected of killing his brother, she couldn't resist looking into it. Justin had left town after Drew's death and his father's accusations against him. Five years later he got a call telling him that Chloe was in trouble, and even though he found out it wasn't true (the circumstances were pretty funny), he decided it was time to go home and confront his father.

I really liked both Justin and Chloe. She is stubborn and determined, and when she gets involved in a story, she's all in. She was also quite certain that there was no way that Justin would have hurt Drew, much less killed him. Justin's relationship with his father had never been a good one, but he's tired of running from his past. I liked seeing him confront his father, and also watch out for him.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Justin and Chloe. They had a little bit of a history, sharing one magical winter kiss that neither had forgotten. Nothing came of it because Chloe left for school and Justin left town because of Drew's death. Both of them returned to Whitehorse at about the same time. Chloe has just started her investigation and has already begun ruffling feathers when Justin witnesses her nearly being run down. He's not happy about her investigation but can tell that she won't back off. He insists on working with her so that he can protect her. Spending all that time together gives them the chance to get to know each other better, and the simmering attraction continues to grow. I loved Chloe's conviction that Justin is innocent and her determination to prove it. I liked Justin's admiration for Chloe and her abilities, and also his protectiveness when the danger intensified. There were also some really sweet scenes between them, and I loved how Chloe's sisters aided and abetted those moments. Justin had a pretty big romantic streak, and I loved his plans for their next kiss. The epilogue was a fantastic wrap-up to the series, with its main event not being a surprise at all.

The suspense and action of the story were fantastic. From the moment Chloe got involved the action was almost non-stop. I loved how her instincts had her suspecting murder in spite of the initial ruling of accidental death. The more that she and Justin looked into Drew's past and activities, the more people they found who might have had a reason to kill him. Chloe also has an ex-boyfriend who makes some seriously scary moves. There were quite a few twists and turns that really kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. I was on the edge of my seat during the final confrontation as I waited to see how it was going to turn out.

 

Rogue Gunslinger - B.J. Daniels (HI #1809 - Oct 2018)

Series: Whitehorse, Montana: The Clementine Sisters (Book 2)

A deadly homecoming in Whitehorse, Montana.

Bestselling author TJ Clementine thought she’d be safe with her sisters during the holidays. She was wrong. Dead wrong. Now her “biggest fan” has followed TJ to Whitehorse, Montana, with visions of murder in mind. The only person who can help TJ is ruggedly handsome loner Silas Walker -- if she can trust him. Because this mountain man knows just how to hunt deadly shadows…and win.

Very good book, and a "two-fer" when it came to the suspense. TJ is a bestselling author of suspense novels. For the last six months, she has received multiple letters from someone calling themselves her "true fan." They started innocuously but have become increasingly threatening, so she hopes to escape the stress by joining her sisters for the holidays in Whitehorse. Just as she's leaving for her flight, she feels something shove her off the curb into the path of an oncoming truck. She's only saved when she's grabbed by a passing man, who disappeared without saying anything. Did he save her, or had he pushed her first then changed his mind?

I could feel TJ's fear and paranoia from the beginning, and her relief at leaving New York was clear. That fear intensified when she spotted the same man in Whitehorse. Is this True Fan, and had he followed her from New York? To make matters worse, she receives another threatening letter that had been mailed from Whitehorse itself. When she sees him at the local drugstore, she panics, but when he shows up at her book signing the next day, she's left with questions.

Silas is a former cop who now works as a PI. He'd been following a man when he rescued TJ from her fall, not recognizing her as his favorite author until after he saw her go by in a cab. He suspected that she was headed home for the holidays and wondered if he'd run into her there.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between TJ and Silas. It started out pretty rough, with TJ afraid that he was True Fan. I loved their encounter at the book signing. TJ is wary and suspicious, sensing an edge and hint of danger in him. Silas was actually pretty sweet. For such a big, tough looking guy he was also sensitive to the way she seemed nervous around him. I loved how he told her how her books influenced him to come to Montana. TJ left the signing feeling very confused about him, a feeling that continued into the next day. I loved the part in the cabin when TJ was snowed in with Silas. Her initial fear was understandable, and I loved Silas's patience and sensitivity as he waited for her to get past it. I liked the protectiveness he felt toward her as she told him about the letters and his determination to help her find out who it was. TJ also sensed that there was something going on with Silas and had her own feelings of protectiveness for him. With everything that happened, their feelings got a boost in intensity thanks to the danger. The ending was sweet and romantic.

The suspense of the book had me riveted from the very beginning. The main thread was the threats that TJ received. The escalation of those threats was scary as TJ had no idea where the danger was coming from. Once Silas convinced her that he wasn't True Fan, they were able to put their heads together to figure it out. There was a surprise connection between Silas and their quarry, leading them to several suspects. Of the ones they talked to first, any of them were possibilities, though each was different. The final confrontation was intense, all the more so because TJ hadn't seen it coming. I loved how TJ kept her head, and how Silas believed his instincts when he thought she was in trouble. The resolution had me glued to the pages until it was all over.

There was a second bit of suspense going on at the same time. Silas was a former cop who was responsible for bringing down some dirty cops. He's spent some time looking over his shoulder, expecting retaliation. While helping TJ, Silas received word that those same dirty cops had put out a hit on him. The warning came just in time, giving Silas little chance to prepare to defend himself. The man who came after him was truly frightening in his intensity. I loved how TJ followed her instincts when she felt that Silas was in trouble. She also had help from a very unexpected source. That confrontation was heart-poundingly intense, keeping me on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

I enjoyed seeing the three sisters spending more time together and mending their relationships. Their support of TJ was immediate when they found out what was going on. It was interesting to see the difference between Annabelle and Chloe's attitudes. Annabelle seemed to tend more to the trusting side, while Chloe was much more skeptical. I liked seeing more of Chloe and learning a little bit of her backstory. Her book is up next, and I can't wait to read it.

 

Hard Rustler - B.J. Daniels (HI #1803 - Sept 2018)

Series: Whitehorse, Montana: The Clementine Sisters (Book 1)

A cowboy must face his past

Before he loses his heart…again

Supermodel Annabelle “Annie” Clementine is back in Whitehorse, Montana. And there’s nothing cowboy Dawson Rogers wants more than to see his ex-lover’s backside…on the road out. He’ll even risk his heart again and help sell her late grandmother’s house so Annie can leave ASAP. Except along with the house, Annie inherited a mystery. And if they don’t solve it soon, someone’s willing to kill for the answer.

Good second chance romance with a very intriguing mystery to go along with it. Annie had grown up in Whitehorse, but couldn't wait for the day she could leave to follow her dreams. Unfortunately, that also meant leaving behind the man she loved, breaking both their hearts. Thirteen years later, she's back in Whitehorse, broke, with her high-powered modeling career in shambles. All she has left is her grandmother's house, which she's determined to sell as quickly as possible, and leave again. The last person she wants to see is Dawson.

Dawson is not at all happy to see Annie back in town. He has worked hard to convince himself that he's over her, but as soon as he sees her again, he knows he's in trouble. In order to protect himself, he offers to help Annie so that she can leave sooner, thereby hopefully saving himself some heartache.

Annie did not come across as a very nice person at the beginning. From her attitude about the cowboy who helped her to her opinion of the town, she seemed snobbish and stuck-up. Considering the state of her career and her finances, I wondered if she had brought it all on herself. I did feel sorry for her when she saw the condition of the house, as it was stuffed with all kinds of junk. I softened a little bit toward her when she ran into Dawson's mother and was actually pleasant to her, giving me hope that there was a better person hiding inside the snotty exterior.

I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Dawson and Annie. It's clear from the start that the attraction between them is just as strong as it was thirteen years ago. As much as he tells himself he wants her gone, Dawson can't stop himself from coming to her rescue over and over. These rescues hit Annie right in the pride, as she doesn't want Dawson to know just how far she's fallen. I got a little frustrated with her attitude when she would lash out at him. Dawson had the patience of a saint to put up with it. But eventually the antagonism faded and that simmering attraction started to heat up. Dawson can feel himself falling all over again, and knowing that she's planning to leave, that his heart will get broken again. Annie's feelings are also growing, but she can't see Dawson trusting her a second time. Even when they shared their feelings, they didn't take it to the point of actually talking about wishes or expectations, leaving each believing there was no chance. I loved the push that Dawson's mom gave him, telling him he needed to make a "grand gesture," though nobody expected the kind of gesture he ended up making. I loved the ending as Annie decided to go after what she wanted.

The suspense of the story was very good. As Annie started going through her grandmother's house, she discovered that her grandmother had been keeping some very interesting secrets. I loved seeing the layers as they were revealed, with each one being more amazing than the last. But Annie and Dawson weren't the only ones interested in unearthing Frannie's secrets. There was someone else who was equally determined, and he wasn't going to let anything get in the way. Getting the viewpoint of this player added an extra layer of intensity, especially as Dawson and Annie came closer to discovering the truth. The final confrontation had me on the edge of my seat, especially as it came with a couple of unexpected twists. The best part of all was finding the missing jewels and where they were hidden.

Dead Ringer - B.J. Daniels (HI #1731 - Sept 2017)

Series: Whitehorse MT: McGraw Kidnapping (Book 2)

Can a stubborn cowboy recapture the one who got away?

Ledger McGraw may know all about horses, but he doesn't know anything about the lie that broke up his first romance with waitress Abby Pierce. Abby, tricked into marrying the wrong man, is at the end of her tether in her abusive relationship. When she learns the truth about her terrible marriage, she becomes desperate to escape it -- before her jealous husband kills her.

Though Ledger's heart was wounded by Abby, he'll still do anything to protect her and free her from her violent spouse. He's determined to win her back and reignite their passion…

Good second book to the series. I somehow managed to read books one and three, and missed this one. I liked getting the gaps filled in. The overarching theme of the series is that the two youngest McGraw children, twins Oakley and Jesse Rose, were kidnapped as babies, twenty-five years earlier. Their father, Travers, has never given up hope of finding them. In the first book, Dark Horse, a true crime writer with a personal stake in the story, uncovered some new information. There are plenty of twists and turns, leading into this book.

In the first book, Abby was introduced as Ledger's former girlfriend and the woman he still loves. Unfortunately, she is married to someone else, an abusive man with a jealous streak. This book opens with Abby in the hospital, supposedly having fallen from a ladder. She can't remember what happened, but she knows that the story Wade tells the doctor is wrong. He's beaten her before, but this is the first time she's ended up in the hospital. Abby's gut feeling is right, as we also get the point of view of Wade and his father, Huck. Abby is in deep trouble, and the sooner she remembers the better chance she'll have of protecting herself.

I really liked Ledger. He is a good man who has never stopped loving Abby. He wants to protect her, but he can't do anything until she asks for help. The best he can do is to remain a presence in her life so that she knows she can count on him if she wants to. Ledger is also very protective of his family. The newest information on the kidnapping has him worried about the effect on his father if it isn't true. I liked the way that he was supportive of his dad, but still wary of blindly trusting.

I was frustrated by Abby at the beginning. She knew she was being abused, but she kept going back to Wade and trusting that he would change. She also knew that Ledger's attention was like waving a red flag at a bull when it came to her husband. I was relieved when she finally made a decision, though she very nearly left it too late. I also liked that she was very careful of her actions around Ledger while she was still married to Wade.

I liked the development of the relationship between Abby and Ledger. He was the one to come to her rescue and gave her a safe place to stay while she recovered. He was also protective of her, especially as her memories began to return. It was terrific to see that he controlled his temper over what had been done to her, and followed her wishes when it came to dealing with Wade. There was no doubt about the love that still existed between them, they just had to be patient before they could do anything about it.

There were multiple story threads going on during the book. First was whatever was going on with Wade and his father, that put Wade even more on edge. Abby's certainty that she had overheard something that put her in danger was borne out early in the book. There is also something going on between Huck and Abby's mother, something that had been their motivation for breaking up Abby and Ledger, and pushing her and Wade together. The McGraw family lawyer is also up to his eyeballs in something that has to do with Travers McGraw's second wife (see book 1). Then there is the appearance of a young man who claims to be Oakley McGraw. The evidence points to it being true, but there are also some things that raise questions.

The suspense of trying to figure out what it was that Abby couldn't remember, tied up with the threats made by Wade and Huck, kept me glued to the pages. Things got even more interesting as the McGraws got to know the man claiming to be Oakley. There were good things and bad things about him, and I couldn't decide if I wanted it to be true or not. A new player came through with some unexpected information as all the threads began to unravel. The final confrontation was very intense, with a satisfactory ending.

Having already read the third book, Rough Rider, I already knew the conclusion, but I liked getting the rest of the story. I highly recommend reading them in order, though!