In today's blog post, the featured review is Trouble in Big Timber, the fifth book in the Cardwell Ranch: Montana Legacy series by B. J. Daniels. These romantic suspense books are from the Harlequin's Intrigue line. However, this post includes reviews for each previous title in the series.
Author: B.J. Daniels
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 256
Date of Publication: June 18, 2019
My Rating: 3 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Sometimes you can go home againIt's just not always safe...
Mary Cardwell Savage never meant to send that letter to her ex, Chase Steele. How could she know her words would bring the gorgeous cowboy back to Big Sky, Montana--with an unstable and dangerous stalker following close behind? Now Chase wants to prove that their love deserves a second chance. And this time, nothing will keep him from his heart's desire...not even a killer.
MY THOUGHTS:
In a moment of introspection and weakness, Mary Cardwell Savage wrote an intense letter to her ex Chase Steele. Mary's well-meaning Aunt Stacy actually mailed the letter to him. Chase had actually been at odds and ends in his life. The letter from Mary was all he needed to drop everything and to head back to Big Sky, Montana, with every intent on telling her that he never stopped loving her. Chase is eager to start their lives over again.
However, after a little too much to drink one night, Chase got caught up with a woman named Fiona. She is now in Big Sky and calls herself Lucy Carson in what proves to be a case of fatal attraction. If she can't have Chase, no one can, especially Mary.
Mary and Chase's relationship happened years before, but Chase broke Mary's heart. He left town sometime after they finished college. Mary spent years wondering why Chase left. Now that he is back can she bury her pain and give him a seocnd chance? What about Lucy Carson and her dangerous activities that just might ruin any chance that Mary and Chase could have towards a happy future? Then there is the fact that just before Chase showed up Mary had agreed to begin dating one of the town's deputies named Dillon Ramsey. Not only must Mary decide who she wants to date, what about Dillon? Will he simply step aside?
Steel Resolve gets this series a great jump start, introducing a new generation while bringing back some characters from the Cardwell Ranch series from years ago, most notably Mary's parents, her father Marshal Hud Savage and mother Dana.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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Author: B.J. Daniels
Format: Kindle
No. of Pages: 256
Date of Publication: July 16, 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Are a dead woman’s secrets
enough to kill for…?
Hank Savage has always believed his old girlfriend was murdered. Now he’s come home to Cardwell Ranch and, with the help of PI Frankie Brewster, is determined to find the killer. Trying to keep their feelings at bay, Hank and Frankie quickly learn that every lead reveals a life steeped in secrets—and danger. And that someone from Hank’s past will do anything to keep the truth from being revealed.
MY THOUGHTS:
Hank Savage lost his girlfriend Naomi to suicide three years before, and he left Big Sky, Montana. However, Hank never believed she killed herself, even though they had a bad argument before her death. Hank is back in town and this time he is more than determined to find out what happend to Naomi. He brings someone with him, however. She is a PI named Francesca "Frankie" Brewster and Hank has hired her to find out what happened to Naomi. As Hank's father is the Marshal and it was in part to Naomi's death ther Hank left, he brings Frankie in as his girlfriend, keeping their investigation as a secret.
As Hank's relationship with his parents is strained, particularly with his father Hud, he and Frankie need to act like they are in love. However, everyone around them, especially Dana, Hank's mother, can see something is off about Hank's new "girlfriend". Meanwhile, the more time Hank and Frankie spend together unearthing secrets and clues, the more they find themselves quite drawn to each other. Will Hank be able to get past the hurts of his past and find a chance at love with Frankie?
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**This review was previously published on this blog on June 4, 2020**
Author: B. J. Daniels
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 256
Date of Publication: May 19, 2029
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Saddle up for a wild ride deep into New York Times bestselling author B.J. Daniels' Montana.
He's riding straight into danger.
Wrangler Angus Savage has come to Wyoming to help Jinx McCallahan get her cattle to high country. He's signed on for the dangerous drive, eager to reconnect with the woman he knew when they were kids. Now in the wilderness the no-nonsense cowboy and the strong-willed rancher must navigate the trail's many hazards--like her treacherous ex who wants her back...or dead.
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Title: Double Action Jeopardy
Title: Trouble in Big Timber
MY THOUGHTS:
It should be just another cattle drive for JoRay "Jinx" McCallahan. Not only does Jinx need a couple more hands for the drive, she must contend with her soon-to-be ex-husband T.D.Sharp. Not only is Jinx divorcing T.D., she has a restraining order on him. Well, as far as he is concerned, that is just another piece of paper. Jinx is his and he has no problem trying to prove that to her.
There is a small part of him that wants the money that would come his way if he got the ranch that Jinx owns, but the bigger part of him wants her back. He still loves her and wants her to give him another chance. Meanwhile there is a love triangle of sorts. Patty Conroe is in love with T.D. and Jinx is in the way. To extend this story of unrequited love, there is Wyatt Hanson, T.D.'s best friend, and he is in love with Patty.
The catalyst in all of these "love" feelings - Jinx She is in the way with T.D. and Patty, and Wyatt is there to catch Patty should T.D. get out of the way. Sound confusing? It really isn't, as characters and motives becomes all too clear in the first two chapters. These chapters lay the groundwork for jealousy, deviousness, revenge and danger.
Meanwhile Angus Savage is a wrangler hired by Jinx for the cattle drive. They knew one another as kids, and Angus is more than drawn to Jinx now. The drive is full of peril, but it soon becomes apparent that Jinx and Angus are drawn to one another. This comes as a surprise to Jinx after all she is dealing with when it comes to T.D.
What a fast-paced story! Not because it is less than 300 pages, but due to the intensity when it comes to T.D.'s dark side and Patty's manipulative plans when it comes to Jinx. B.J. Daniels is a name I see quite often so I rather surprised myself after realizing this is the first book I've read by her. When another of her books came to NetGalley I snatched that one up as I loved this book and the crafty style of writing Daniels employed. I don't read westerns often, but this book, with romance and suspense, proved to be a fantastic read.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Title: Double Action Jeopardy
Author: B.J. Daniels
Format: Kindle
No. of Pages: 256
Date of Publication: June 16, 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Join New York Times bestselling author B.J. Daniels at Cardwell Ranch for nonstop suspense in Big Sky country.
A relentless marshal. A rogue detective. A bargain they may not live long enough to regret.
When Montana deputy marshal Brick Savage asks homicide detective Maureen Mortensen to help him find the person who destroyed her family, she quickly accepts his offer. But as the stakes rise and they get closer to the truth more horrible than they ever expected, can they find the murderer before they become targets?
MY THOUGHTS:
Brick Savage is on restricted duty as deputy marshal in the town of Big Sky, Montana, and his father, Hud Savage, the town's marshal, is his boss. Brick had recently been shot and while mostly recovered physically, his father insists that Brick get a mental health release before being restured to full duty.
One night while driving Brick is sure that he almost hits a woman wrapped only in a sheet. Brick pulls over and soon finds the woman, who is apparently terrified. Who is she? Why is she out there in a sheet? His father's search discovers that the Jane Doe Brick nearly hit is named Natalie Berkshire, who is noted in the news as an infant killer. Her case is quite complicated, and it becomes even more so as they discover what led to her almost being hit by Brick.
Is Natalie an infant killer? What led to her being on the road only in a sheet at the time? Although Brick is not on full duty he is determined to find answers, much to the consternation of his father. But Brick cannot let it go. Brick is not the only one involved. There is Maureen "Mo Mortensen, a suspended homicide cop utterly determined to bring Natalie to justice. Can Brick and Mo work together to unravel disturbing details about Natalie, especially when it becomes evident that Mo has a very personal stake in what is going on?
The drama gets quite intense, and this brings Mo into the forefront for a big part of this story, as she has more questions than answers. All the while both Mo and Brick find themselves quite drawn to one another, despite the tragic and serious nature of their investigation. So this book brings in drama, intrigue, danger and romance. There are also secrets that are revealed, and all of this works towards bringing the truth to light. What a thrilling addition to a fabulous series by B.J. Daniels!
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**Featured Blog Tour review**
Author: B.J. Daniels
Format: Kindle
No. of Pages: 256
Date of Publication: May 25, 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
He’s back at Cardwell Ranch
to find a killer.
Ford Cardwell is shocked when his college crush calls him out of the blue—even more so when he hears a gunshot. But when he joins forces with medical examiner Henrietta “Hitch” Rogers, she makes him wonder if the random call was a setup—not a murder. Together, they’ll need to discover the truth, but looking into the case will put them in the sights of a killer.
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MY THOUGHTS:
Ford Cardwell jumps right into action when he gets a desperate call from his college crush, Rachel Westlake Collinwood. Shockingly, Ford hears a gunshot while on the phone with her. Rachel lives on a ranch near Big Timber and Ford is determined to help her. Meanwhile, medical examiner Henrietta "Hitch" Rogers is on the case and it is her job to find out what really happened when that gunshot took place. Rachel Collinwood shot her husband. Was it self-defense? Was it murder? It is Hitch's job to find those answers. From the very start, however, Hitch gets a bad feeling about Rachel.
As the investigation takes off running Ford gets involved. One of the very first questions is why did Rachel call him and not 911? What is more is since Ford and Rachel had not seen each other in years why in fact did she call him? Also, can Ford use their past relationship to help Rachel? Soon Ford and Hitch join forces to uncover the truth, even though it means that Ford has to deal with why he actually had not seen Rachel for years.
What a thrilling story from beginning to end! There is some sensitivity, especially when Ford and Rachel's past is explored, why she married Humphrey Collinwood and then ended up shooting him. Also, there were things being said about Humphrey and layers of secrets and perhaps lies have to be exposed in order to get to the truth. All the while, Ford and Hitch soon find themselves in danger. Then there is the sexual attraction neither can deny. Can they even explore that with the uncertainty involved?
Also, this book touches on something very serious. Ford had recently left the military and is coping with PTSD. In fact, it is so bad that he literally was about to drive his car off of a cliff when he got that phone call from Rachel. Ultimately, she saved his life. Ford hopes to do the same for her. But, as time goes on, things are not adding up. So, Ford has to explore that, all while exploring the growing feelings between him and Hitch. This was a fabulous read from beginning to end and I literally could not put his book down. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Cold Case at Cardwell Ranch.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
Trouble in Big Timber – Excerpt
B.J. Daniels
Ford shifted into Park and, hands shaking, pulled out his still-ringing phone. As he did, he had a stray thought. How rare it used to be to get cell phone coverage here in the Gallatin Canyon, of all places. Only a few years ago the call wouldn’t have gone through.
Without checking to see who was calling, he answered it, his hand shaking as he did. He’d come so close to going over the cliff. Until the call had saved him.
“Hello?” He could hear noises in the background. “Hello?” He let out a bitter chuckle. A robocall had saved him at the last moment? he thought.
But his laughter died as he heard a bloodcurdling scream coming from his phone. “Hello?” he yelled. “Who is this?” The scream was followed by a woman’s desperate pleas.
“No, please, don’t hurt me anymore.” Another scream and the sound of breaking glass.
“Hello?” He was yelling, frantic, having no idea who was on the other end of the call—just that she was in trouble. Had the woman meant to call 9ll? Maybe it was a pocket dial and she hadn’t meant to call anyone—let alone a stranger.
“Tell me where you are!” he yelled into the phone, but his voice was drowned out by another scream, this one filled with pure terror—and pain. He knew both too well.
The sound of something hard hitting soft flesh was followed by a choking sound. Choking on blood? The woman was being attacked. By an intruder? Or someone she knew? He’d never felt more helpless as he listened to more breaking glass and the woman’s screams.
“No! Please, Humphrey, you’re going to kill me! Please. Stay back. Don’t make me…” The gunshot sounded deafening—even on the phone. Then there was no sound at all coming from his cell.
Ford stared down at the phone in his hand, shock shuddering through him. The woman on the other end of the line had called the man Humphrey. His already pounding heart thumped against his ribs, making his chest ache. It couldn’t be. He stared at the name that had come up on his phone. No. He tried to call the number back. It went straight to voice mail. Someone must have found the phone and shut it off. Or declined the call.
His heart was pounding. For a moment, he was too stunned to move, almost to breathe, at what he’d just heard, what he’d been unable to stop. Rachel. The call was from his former college roommate’s wife, Rachel Westlake—now Mrs. Humphrey Collinwood.
He’d only recently added her number to his contact list after she’d sent him a friend request on social media and they’d exchanged cell phone numbers.
His pulse pounded so loud that he couldn’t hear himself think. Fumbling in his fear and panic, he hit 911.
It couldn’t be true. He knew Humphrey. They’d been roommates most of their time in college. His former friend wouldn’t hurt anyone. Humphrey idolized Rachel. But from what he’d heard on the call…
Outside the pickup, the wind howled in the pines. A gust blew dirt over the cliff and into the abyss, reminding him how close he’d come to making that same descent. The only thing that had stopped him was the phone call. Or would he have hit the brakes on his own? He would never know.
The 911 operator came on the line. “What is the nature of your emergency?”
“I think I just heard someone being attacked and possibly killed on what I suspect was a pocket dial.” His voice broke. “Her name is Rachel Westlake. Sorry, it’s Collinwood now.” He listened as the dispatcher asked him a question. “No, I don’t know where she lives exactly. A ranch north of Big Timber. That’s all I know. We only recently reconnected. That’s how she had my number. Please, you have to find her. She might still be…alive.”
Connect with the Author
Website: https://www.bjdaniels.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100058056520669
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b.j.daniels/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bjdanielsauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/188611.B_J_Daniels
Good to see that the series improved from the first book. Lovely review.
ReplyDeleteExcellent reviews. I love your style of sharing an entire series in one post.
ReplyDeleteLove your series reviews.
ReplyDelete