An Unlikely Daddy - Rachel Lee (HSE #2492 - Aug 2016)

Series: Conard County: The Next Generation (Book 30)

In love with his best friend's wife…and baby

Keeping a promise to a dead man isn't easy. But Ryker Tremaine is determined to keep his word and make amends to his late friend's wife. When Ryker meets lovely, pregnant Marisa Hayes, she's still grieving. She doesn't believe the official report of her husband's death. And Marisa believes Ryker has the answers she craves.

Bound by secrecy, the hunky CIA operative tries to help Marisa find a sense of normalcy…and uncovers a sizzling attraction! As Ryker discovers the richness of life back on the grid, old secrets threaten. Marisa still seeks answers and Ryker knows if he tells her the truth about her husband's death -- and his role in it -- Marisa and her baby may be lost to him forever…

Good story about grief, acceptance and moving on with your life. The book opens with Marisa at her husband's funeral. She has lots of questions about his death, but no one is answering them. She's also recently found out she's pregnant. Six months later, she is still swimming in her grief, taking things day by day, and looking forward to the birth of her baby. Then she receives a visit from Ryker, a friend and coworker of her husband's.

Ryker had promised John that if anything happened, Ryker would check on Marisa. It has taken six months, but he can now keep that promise. He's reluctant to face Marisa because he feels guilty that he got John that job in the first place. His guilt only increases when he finds out she's pregnant.

When Ryker first arrives, Marisa isn't particularly welcoming. Ryker can't, or won't, answer her questions about John's death, and his appearance resurrects the pain. But Ryker won't give up, and insists on helping her. I really liked Ryker. He has some hard edges because of what he does, but he has some pretty sweet and sensitive moments, too. I loved seeing him rub her feet, and bring the Christmas spirit back into her life.

I really liked seeing the relationship develop between them. After her initial antagonism, Marisa invited Ryker to stay at the house. Being together all the time, both Ryker and Marisa realized that they were attracted to each other. Both of them resisted at first, both with feelings of guilt. Ryker didn't feel right wanting his friend's wife, and Marisa felt that she was betraying John. I loved the fact that they faced those feelings and talked about them before taking action on their feelings for each other.

Besides the guilt he was feeling, Ryker is also experiencing a normal life for the first time in a long time. I loved watching him enjoy the simple things in life again and start to question the direction his life has been going. He began to dream of having Marisa and the baby for his own.

Then Marisa receives a visitor who reveals stunning news about her husband and his death. As she deals with the feeling that she never really knew him, she also has to deal with the knowledge that Ryker knew these things all along. Once she got over the shock, I loved her attitude. I also loved how the knowledge also freed her from her grief. It also had quite an effect on Ryker, and helped him make a decision that would change his life.

As always, the Conard County community is there for its members. I loved Ryker's encounter with the sheriff. It was also great to see Marisa's friends embrace Ryker too. I especially enjoyed Julie's attitude toward him, both warning and encouraging him. 

Conard County Spy - Rachel Lee (HRS #1895 - May 2016)

Series: Conard County: The Next Generation (Book 29)

Hunted by an anonymous killer, rogue CIA agent Trace Archer seeks out a trusted buddy in Wyoming. With danger stalking him, the last thing he expects is innocent civilian Julie Ardlow to offer him help. But when the beautiful kindergarten teacher with a brave heart gives him a cover he can't refuse -- pretending to be an old flame -- sparks begin to fly!

Brave heart? Try crazy. Because though Julie will do anything to save the sexy spy's life, he's eventually going to leave, right? But she can't resist emotionally withdrawn Trace and his soulful eyes. And the deeper they dig into his past to suss out a murderer, the closer danger creeps toward them both…

Very good book that kept me hooked from beginning to end. It's a little short on action until the very end, but full of building tension as Trace and Julie try to find out who is out to kill him. It starts out as Trace is moving around the country, trying to stay ahead of a possible threat, while at the same time recovering from a career ending injury. He stops in Conard City to see his friend Ryker, then realizes that he may have brought danger to his friend's new family. Though prepared to move on, Ryker and the sheriff convince Trace to stay put and set a trap for his pursuer. They enlist the help of Julie, who will pass him off as an old flame.

There are sparks between Trace and Julie from the moment they met. Julie is a kindergarten teacher with a pretty sunny outlook on life and an adventurous personality. She is also protective of her friends, and offers herself as cover in order to protect her friends Marisa and Ryker. She doesn't expect the intense attraction she feels to Trace. Trace has spent years keeping his emotions under tight control, but she constantly finds ways to surprise him. Keeping her safe is his first priority, and he's reluctant to do anything that could distract from that. A raging blizzard protects them from outside danger, while their proximity draws them closer together.

I really enjoyed Julie's attempts to break through Trace's walls. She's drawn to him, but accepts that he's not going to stick around. That doesn't mean that she isn't going to go after what she wants from him. Her attempts to get him to talk didn't always go well, and I liked the realism of her frustration with him. She can also admit when she lets the stress get to her and she feels like she's being unreasonable. I felt for Trace as he was caught in a bad situation. He feels guilty for putting Julie in danger, but at the same time being with her is fantastic. He struggles to open up with her. I loved seeing how he would expect one reaction from her and be stunned at getting something completely different. The strength of the feelings that he has for her frequently has him backing off as he tries to figure out what to do about them. I liked the ending as Trace has his chance to really share his feelings. 

The suspense of the story was good. Trace went from the possibility of trouble to knowing it for sure.  He went to Ryker for help, but then had to adjust his plans. I liked seeing him accept help from Ryker and Gage. Trace is recovering from a horrible injury and still on pain medication for it, medication that he complains about because of the way it makes him feel. Trapped by the blizzard, but also protected by it, Trace, Julie and the others work to figure out who is behind the pursuit. Each bit of information they uncover adds to the big picture until Trace finally figures it out. What he discovers along the way points to a betrayal of the worst kind. When the blizzard ends, the intensity picks up as they prepare for the bad guy's arrival. The final confrontation was intense, with both Trace and Julie in danger. I liked the way that Julie kept a calm head and was able to help herself. Trace's fear for Julie's safety kept him focused on what he needed to do. The result was satisfying along with the follow up actions taken by Trace and Ryker.

A Conard County Baby - Rachel Lee (HSE #2390 - Mar 2015)

Series: Conard County: The Next Generation (Book 23)

MOTHER…NANNY…BRIDE?

On the run from her overbearing family and a fiancé with more menace than love in his eyes, Hope Conroy finally took refuge in Conard County, Wyoming. A place of safety, maybe even possibility. But what could a former -- and pregnant! -- socialite do to keep a roof over her head?

Divorced rancher Cash Cashford never expected to be raising an angry tween all by himself. Something about Hope told him immediately that she was what his daughter needed. And since the new nanny had secrets, he vowed to keep his distance -- for all their sakes, especially his own! But Hope called to him in a way he never imagined, making him yearn to heal their fractured hearts…and form the family they all longed for.

Good book. Hope is almost four months pregnant and almost out of money. When she stops at the diner in Conard, she sees an ad for a nanny/companion and calls about the job. She has no experience, but she is desperate. Cash is the one who placed the ad. His thirteen year old daughter came to live with him after the death of her mother, and it isn't going well. He is just as desperate for help as Hope is.

Hope is nervous about the interview, but is upfront with Cash about her circumstances. She is the daughter of wealthy parents, and was engaged to a man with political aspirations. But when he raped her and she got pregnant, her parents refused to believe her and tried to force her to marry Scott and have an abortion. After being confined to the house for months, she was finally able to escape. I liked that Cash believed her right away, and took a chance on hiring her.

Cash is a bit wary of hiring her because of her background. His ex-wife, even though she had grown up on a ranch, hated being married to a rancher and took Angie and left him. Cash is afraid that someone as privileged as Hope wouldn't last on the ranch. 

I liked both Cash and Hope. Cash is a straightforward man who loves his daughter and is torn up over his inability to connect with her. He feels as though he is doing everything wrong, and hopes that finding her someone she can relate to will help. I also liked his belief in and support of Hope. I really liked the strength of will that Hope showed in standing up to Scott and her parents and finding a way to escape. I liked her determination to help Angie and Cash get together. Her new self-awareness was awesome and I loved her excitement at learning "normal" things.

I loved the relationship that grew between Cash and Hope. They were attracted to each other from the moment they met, but their pasts made them reluctant to pursue it. Cash didn't want to get involved with someone he was certain would leave again. Hope was reluctant to trust her ability to know a good man, since she hadn't seen the trouble with Scott until it was too late. Though it was their care of Angie that brought them together, they quickly realized that there was something special growing between them. Though they eventually take it to the next level, Cash gets spooked by the strength of his feelings and his fear of being hurt again. He starts to pull away, which confuses and upsets Hope. But it's Angie that gets them talking to each other to clear things up. It was sweet to see Cash admit his vulnerability, and to see Hope step outside her comfort zone and make her needs known. I loved the final comments by Angie as they finally come together as a family.

I really liked Angie as Cash's daughter. Her reactions to moving to Wyoming are very believable for her age. But for all the angst that she is creating, she is really a good kid. I liked seeing her connect with Hope and start to settle in to her new home. I loved her understanding of Hope's circumstances, and felt for her because of why. I loved her defense and protectiveness of Hope when Scott and her parents showed up. She grows up a lot between the beginning and end of the book and I expect that the new family will do quite well.

A Secret in Conard County - Rachel Lee (HRS #1883 - Feb 2016)

Series: Conard County: The Next Generation (Book 28)

Healing from bullet wounds and fleeing the bomber who shot her, FBI agent Erin Sanders refuses to play it safe. Driving west, she'll stay off the grid--until deputy sheriff Lance Conroe spoils her secret getaway.

Taking her to his remote Wyoming home, the hunky lawman only hopes to protect her. Just what headstrong, untrusting Erin doesn't want. But when another showdown with the bomber looms and a shocking betrayal surfaces, Erin wants Lance...badly. It's time to get over her control and intimacy issues to indulge their dangerous attraction. Because her plan to catch the killer could cost them both their lives.

Good book. Erin is recovering from wounds received from a bomber. She doesn't feel going to a safe house is a good option for her, so she hits the road, driving west from Chicago. By the time she reaches Wyoming, she realizes she's been pushing herself, and stops on the side of the road for a few moments of rest. Shortly after that deputy Lance Conroe stops to check on the stopped car. Finding out who she is and why she's on the road, Lance offers to put her up at his house to rest for a few days. Then they discover that the bomber is looking for her and Lance goes into protector mode. 

I really liked both Lance and Erin. She is a dedicated FBI agent who gives everything to her job. She is determined to heal and recover so that she can get back to finding out who the bomber is. She's also been married, a union that didn't work out, and has left her feeling that she is unable to make a relationship work. She's a direct type of person who doesn't beat around the bush when she has something to say. Lance is a deputy who used to be a big city cop. He left Denver when the stress of what he was doing reduced his enjoyment of his job. He's made a good life for himself in Conard County. His past gives him a good understanding of what Erin is going through. 

I loved the development of their relationship. From their very first meeting they are drawn to each other. I loved that first encounter and how it gave a good preview of what their relationship would be like. I really liked that Lance noticed her pain and exhaustion and how he wanted to do something about it. I loved seeing the way that Lance took care of her while she was staying with him. I especially enjoyed seeing how Erin would try to tough things out, but Lance's patience and understanding would end up winning out. As the next several days went by, they started to really get to know each other. I liked the way that Lance could read Erin so well and understand some of the things she couldn't say. I also liked seeing how that patience enabled Erin to open up about her past. The attraction between them kept growing. Neither denied it was there. I felt for Erin when she was trying to put the moves on Lance and he was worried about her motivations and if she would regret it. She also had some self-image issues thanks to the scarring from her attack. I loved Lance's reaction and how he tried to show her that he thought she was beautiful. As they got closer, their feelings grew stronger, but the truth of their jobs made them believe that nothing could come of it. Both understood that when the bomber was caught, Erin would be going back to Chicago. I loved the epilogue, as both had made certain decisions based on their feelings. I loved seeing them come together and realize that they wanted the same thing and had been pursuing it from different angles. I especially loved seeing what Erin had come up with.

I enjoyed the suspense of the story. In this book it was more mental than physical, as Erin and Lance waited quite impatiently for the bomber to arrive. After Erin began to heal and was able to think about what had happened, she began to feel that what had happened to her felt far more personal than she had originally suspected. Her belief that the bomber had someone on the inside who was helping him created some trust issues. I really enjoyed seeing how Lance and the sheriff set up their own protection detail for Erin while they waited. Erin had a couple of possible suspects for the insider, and it was interesting to see her puzzle out who it was. There were also times when we got the bomber's point of view. It was interesting to see his reactions to the "voice" that was calling the shots. The tension increased as he got closer to Erin's location, and Erin and company set up their trap. The final confrontation was quickly resolved, with both the bomber and the team member getting caught.

I really enjoyed seeing Seth and Gage as they worked with Lance to set up her protection. Their experience went a long way toward making Erin feel safe. I really liked the way that they were able to show her that they understood what she was going through and her fears. I also liked seeing Edie make an appearance. Some of her comments made an impression on Erin that helped her later when she made her decision about what she wanted to do. I can't wait to see what is next up in the series.

Conard County Witness - Rachel Lee (HRS #1875 - Dec 2015)

Series: Conard County: The Next Generation (Book 27)

I found you. The game begins. The note wasn't a threat exactly. But Jess McGregor senses danger. The wounded ex-soldier offers Lacy Devane a place to feel safe after her stint in witness protection. But someone is after her… Or is Jess the intended target?

Jess and Lacy are practically strangers. And the powerful attraction stirring between them may feel like a betrayal to Jess's late wife -- Lacy's closest friend. But as a big freeze envelops Conard County, the warmth and healing they find in their growing friendship will be put to the ultimate test by a deranged killer.

Good story. Jess and Lacy have known each other for a long time, through Jess's late wife. After Sara died, Lacy stayed in touch with Jess. He's the one she thought of when she needed a safe place to stay. So Jess invited her to stay as long as she needed, not expecting their friendship to grow into something more.

I really liked both Jess and Lacy. Jess has had it rough the last few years. Sara died while he was on deployment as a combat medic and he is still dealing with some guilty feelings because he wasn't there when she died. When he returned to the war he ended up badly injured and losing part of one leg. After his recovery he left the military and became a physician's assistant. Lacy had a good life and career in Dallas until she discovered her boss was laundering drug money. After going to the FBI about it, she ended up spending a year in witness protection until it was all over. Now she's dealing with the fallout and feeling like she's being watched. 

There's a little awkwardness between Jess and Lacy when she first arrives. They soon realize that their friendship, up to now, has been fairly superficial, and that they want more. Because of what each has been through, opening up isn't something that is easy to do. Long conversations and a few outbursts of frustration deepen what is building between them. I liked seeing Lacy deal with Jess's insecurities about his injuries and how he worries about her reaction. Also, always present in their thoughts is Jess's wife Sara. He feels a bit odd at first, having feelings for his wife's friend, but seems to come to terms with them pretty quickly. Lacy has a rougher time, guilty about her feelings, but also worried that Jess only sees her as an extension of Sara. I loved seeing them confront their issues and deal with them together as they realized they wanted to move forward with each other.

The suspense of the story was really good. There's a little question at the beginning who the "hunter" is after, but that is revealed pretty quickly. There is tension throughout the story as Jess and Lacy feel the stalker's presence and experience his attacks. Glimpses of his viewpoint show his motivation and determination, as Jess and Lacy work to figure out who he is. The final confrontation was pretty intense with a very satisfying end. I loved Lacy's part in it.

Playing With Fire - Rachel Lee (HRS #1859 - Aug 2015)

Series: Conard County: The Next Generation (Book 25)
           Conard County (Book 43)

The cunning arsonist targeting Conard County has fire chief Wayne Camden stymied. Teaming up with investigator Charity Atkins seems like a no-brainer. She has the expertise to track down the firebug before he kills someone. But Wayne never anticipated making Charity a target.

Since his wife left, Wayne's had little interest in relationships. The single dad is unsettled by the electrifying attraction Charity ignites. Wayne is rooted in the community, and Charity's a nomad. But with danger stalking them, irresistible desire forces them both to reevaluate their lives.

Very good book with excellent suspense and a terrific romance. Wayne is frustrated by his inability to find the arsonist plaguing Conard County. The latest fire nearly killed a family and he wants it stopped before someone dies. Charity is the arson investigator for the company that insured the latest victim. Her job is simply to decide if the victim set the fire to defraud the insurance company, but something about this case has her wanting to do more.

Wayne is the single dad of a teenage daughter and eats, sleeps and lives his job. He doesn't have the time or inclination for a new relationship. However, there is something about Charity that makes him want to get closer to her, even though he knows she's only there for a short time. Charity is single, and though she's had a few relationships, they never last. She is very attracted to Wayne, and though she doesn't do short-term hookups, she's really tempted by him. 

I loved the development of their relationship. At first it was strictly work, though the attraction was simmering beneath the surface. Because both are so good at what they do, they connect immediately over the investigation. I loved seeing the way they were able to bounce ideas off each other as they tried to find the arsonist. They both acknowledged the attraction but agreed that it couldn't go anywhere. I loved seeing them get to know each other and become friends while trying to resist the heat. Wayne's natural protectiveness came out as the danger to Charity increased. At the same time, Charity's independence and stubbornness had her digging in her heels and insisting on seeing the investigation through.

Both Charity and Wayne had some issues to work through as their feelings for each other grew. Wayne had to let go of the self blame over the dissolution of his marriage and believe that he has a future with a different type of woman. Charity had much more to work through. One of the biggest things was to learn to share her feelings, overcoming the training of her early years. She also has to learn about herself and get past what she thinks she should be doing to what really moves her. I loved Wayne's patience and how he helped her to see that she has the courage to go after what she really wants. I loved the ending and seeing both of them step past their vulnerabilities and fears to embrace a future together. The epilogue was fantastic and gave a good indication of what is in their future.

The suspense side of the story was really good. There was a brief glimpse of the arsonist's point of view, where you see that there is something driving them but you don't really know what. The intensity of the fire, and the danger that Wayne was in definitely grabbed my attention. I loved the way that Wayne asked for Charity's help. Though reluctant at first, she is quickly drawn in. The arsonist shows their worry over being discovered and willingness to do whatever necessary to remain undiscovered. After the first attack on Charity I was pretty sure I knew who was behind it, and by the second I was sure, but I still had questions about all the motivations. One was obvious, but the other was not. I loved the details of the steps that Wayne and Charity were taking as they tried to figure out who it was. As the arsonist became more desperate I was on the edge waiting to see what would happen next. The final attack was scary and I was glad that Wayne was there to save her. The resolution was good, though I would have liked to see Wayne face the arsonist rather than hear about it afterward. 

I liked Wayne's daughter Linda very much. She has a great attitude. It was fun to see her tease her father at the same time she was trying to look out for him. It was sweet to see her questioning Charity at dinner, and later as she found ways to throw them together. I loved that the title of the book seems to have come from a comment she made at the end. It was also great to see Maude in all her grumpy glory. Other residents of Conard also made appearances, especially Gage and his part in nabbing the arsonist.