Blurb
They were known as the “no-account Raines boys,” but they’ve grown into successful, honorable men and everything they have, they’ve fought for tooth and nail. Now each of the three brothers has one last obstacle to overcome to claim what’s eluding them: love.
Secrets don’t stay buried long in cattle country. Sarah Allen, the beautiful girl who humiliated Jackson Raines in high school, is back in town. Not so long ago, she couldn’t wait to leave Wind Canyon, Wyoming, in her dust. But, recently widowed, she has nowhere else to go and finds herself on Jackson’s ranch. And despite everything, Jackson’s finding himself reluctant to get rid of her.
Sarah brings her own kind of trouble, and he can’t resist trouble. Enemies of her dead husband show up making threats, thinking she has something they’re owed. They’re not taking no for an answer, but what they will take is the one thing she has left—her daughter. Jackson’s the only one who might be able to save little Holly and bring her home.
Review
In the first The Raines of Wind Canyon book, Sarah Allen is heading home to Wyoming after the death of her criminal husband. While in route, a snowstorm stalls her car and the boy she spurned in high school helps her out.
Jackson Raines is now a rugged cowboy and wealthy ranch owner. He’s always wanted Sarah, but he doesn’t trust her. When trouble follows her to his ranch—where she’s renting a cottage—he has no choice but to help her.
I liked Sarah and Jackson for the most part. She confided in him for the first half of the book, but then she started keeping secrets and stepping back from the relationship in the latter half. Jackson often made decisions that involved Sarah and her daughter, Holly, but he didn’t consult Sarah over it. These issues prevented me from enjoying the H/h in full.
The mystery/suspense plot carried the narrative. Someone was harassing Sarah, which sent her and Jackson on an adventure to find and stop that someone. Hot sex and building emotions were thrown in.
Dev and Gabe, Jackson’s brothers, were interesting, and I’m looking forward to reading their stories. Jimmy and Nan’s off-page romance kept my attention, but I’m not happy with how that ended. Hopefully, their relationship will be sorted out in another book.
Other than some pacing issues and minor repetition—almost every chapter ended with a similar phrase—I liked the story and the characters. There weren’t any spelling mistakes—that’s always nice!—but there were a few stray POV jumps.
Ms. Martin has created an interesting world, and I’d like to read more.
3 Stars