Series:
Powder River (Book 4)
Everyone has a secret. Some of them are deadly…
Some scars can't be hidden. Sheriff Stuart Layton has
plenty of those, courtesy of an attack that left him doubting himself as a
lawman. But in Bailey McKenna he recognizes a different kind of hurt. That
unspoken understanding has him opening his door to the mysterious, elusive
young woman again and again, hoping she'll tell him what she's running from.
Bailey has spent years searching for the rancher who put
her through hell. She never saw his face, but she's convinced he's somewhere in
Powder River. Now, suddenly, she has terrifying proof of how close he is. This
time, Stuart is by her side, determined to protect her -- and find retribution
for himself. But will that be enough to fend off a killer waiting to finish
what he started?
Good book about two people scarred inside and out. Stuart
became the sheriff of Powder River after his father's death. But a recent
attack left him doubting his abilities to carry out his job. He considers
resigning and leaving Powder River, which also means leaving Bailey behind.
Bailey was assaulted twelve years earlier by an unknown
rancher. She never told anyone about the attack but spent the years since then
searching for him. She feels that she might be closing in on him when a young
woman who resembles her turns up dead.
The suspense of this story kept me intrigued from start
to finish, as did the developing relationship between Stuart and Bailey.
They've known each other all their lives, and Stuart has been in love with her
for years. Bailey has feelings for him, too, but until she can get past the
attack, she can't find a way to move on. She knows that Stuart is there for her
and frequently shows up at his house late at night, looking for comfort. He
knows she is running from something and is determined to be there when she is
ready to share.
The murder of the woman, Willow, is the catalyst that
drives Bailey to confess all. Her pain, fear, and anger leap off the page as
she describes what happened to Stuart. Although previously ready to resign,
Stuart won't quit until he finds justice for her. They join forces to continue
her investigation and grow closer as they spend more time together. I liked
seeing their walls begin to drop and their understanding of what each has
experienced strengthen their feelings. But even if she survives, will Bailey be
able to put the past behind her and accept the love Stuart longs to give her?
The suspense of the story was great. The intensity
escalates quickly from Bailey's feelings of being watched and the discovery of
Willow's body. The twists and turns as suspects came and went and threats
intensified kept me guessing to the end. The final confrontation was a
nail-biter with a twist I didn't see coming.
There are also continuing threads that run throughout the
series. Holly Jo, Holden McKenna's ward, begins settling into her new life.
Puppy love creates some complications and lessons learned. Charlotte Stafford
hasn't returned to Powder River or responded to anyone who tries to contact
her, while Holden continues waiting for her to return. CJ Stafford is in jail,
awaiting trial, and trying to figure out how to get out of it. Other characters
from previous books appear as we catch up on everyone's lives.
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