Corralled in Cutthroat Creek - Juno Rushdan (HI #2286 - May 2025)

Series: Cowboy State Lawmen: Duty and Honor (Book 6)
 
She was looking for evidence
What she found was him
 
Logan Powell never expected to see Summer Stratton again. He definitely hadn't imagined a reunion under fire. After he scares off an intruder who seemed bent on killing her, Logan's instincts -- as a cop and as a cowboy -- demand that he keep her safe. But the persistent lawyer won't stop asking questions about her best friend's death, which means that protecting Summer involves helping her find a murderer. The threats against their lives seem to come from every direction… And Summer's grit and courage prove as irresistible to Logan as her undeniable beauty.
 
Terrific conclusion to the series. The story opens with a bang as Summer searches for proof that her best friend did not die in an accident. Summer believes Dani was murdered because they were investigating a link between suspicious deaths and pollution caused by a local company. While searching Dani's house, an intruder fires shots at Summer before Logan's arrival scares him off.
 
Logan is Dani's cousin, and his uncle sent him to assist Summer. As Wyoming law enforcement, Logan initially is skeptical of Summer's claims that Dani's death was murder. However, subsequent attacks soon convince him.
 
The story's suspense was fantastic. It hooked me from the first page and kept me hooked to the end. As Summer and Logan delved deeper into their investigation, the intensity of the attacks increased along with the number of suspects. The snake scene had me on the edge of my seat until it was over. Several twists kept me guessing to the end, with an unexpected final revelation.
 
I liked Summer and Logan. Summer is focused and driven by her quest for the truth. She can be impulsive, which sometimes gets her in trouble. Logan is the Powell brother who is a little out of step with his siblings. While he grew up on their ranch, he doesn't consider himself a rancher.
 
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. They met a few years earlier and connected, but nothing came of it. When Logan's uncle asked him to help Summer, he jumped at the chance to see her again. Though their reunion got off to a rough start, there was no denying the sparks between them. But Summer is wary of forming a long-distance relationship with someone and insists on "friends only." I ached for Logan, who wants more but accedes to her wishes and backs off but doesn't give up. I loved the ending and seeing how they worked it out.
 
I'm looking forward to seeing what the author has next. 

 
 

Wyoming Double Jeopardy - Juno Rushdan (HI #2280 - Apr 2025)

Series: Cowboy State Lawmen: Duty and Honor (Book 5)
 
A cowboy detective is in a showdown with a killer to protect an assistant DA
 
Waylon Wright can almost accept that he and Melanie Merritt can't be together. Dating a detective wouldn't just destroy her hopes for career advancement; it might be the end of her job as an assistant district attorney. Then a brutal attack sends his cowboy instincts into overdrive. Finding her assailant may not be his case, but he won't let her out of his sight. As the tough prosecutor lets down her guard just enough to get close to Waylon, the killer who wants her dead inches ever closer…
 
Terrific combination of romance and suspense. Waylon, a police detective, and Melanie, an assistant district attorney, spent three years in a secret relationship. However, Melanie ended their relationship when Waylon wanted to make it public. She feared that an open relationship would jeopardize her career and future plans because of the appearance of a conflict of interest. Waylon mostly accepts it but is still in love with her.
 
When Melanie experiences a brutal attack leaving work, Waylon's protective instincts take over. He will stick to her like glue until her assailant is caught. Melanie resists at first before realizing that she really does need his help. Their forced proximity leads to a rekindling of their attraction and strengthening of their feelings for each other. However, the obstacles to their relationship still exist, and it takes some out-of-the-box thinking to find a way to make it work.
 
The story's suspense is outstanding and kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. The details of the escalating attacks lead to a serial killer case that Melanie thought was closed. Unfortunately, the murderer was released because of a technicality, making him the top suspect. The twists and turns kept me guessing to the end, with a resolution I didn't see coming. 

Wyoming Christmas Conspiracy - Juno Rushdan (HI #2260 - Jan 2025)

Series: Cowboy State Lawmen: Duty and Honor (Book 4)
 
For as long as he could remember,
She was his North Star
 
With adjacent ranches, Monty Powell and Amber Reyes were always together. First as childhood friends and later as…more. Much more. But a family legacy and a bigger secret kept them apart. Until a killer strikes and casts suspicions on Monty. Revenge or reckoning, someone is out for blood. Monty and Amber now set out to find evidence to expose a deeper criminal plot before gunfire erupts again and threatens the new family of three they are about to become.
 
This was a fast-paced, action-packed story with intense suspense and a second-chance romance. Growing up on neighboring ranches, Monty and Amber's childhood friendship grew into more when they got older. While Amber was in love with Monty, he was more interested in following his own path. Family interference and a big secret drove them apart until Amber's father's death when manipulation from beyond the grave brings them together again.
 
The book opens with a bang as Amber stumbles onto a murder scene where Monty is the prime suspect. She may have trust issues with him, but Amber knows he isn't capable of murder. It is soon evident that someone has it in for Monty and the entire Powell family. The twists and escalating attacks kept me glued to the pages as the intensity built. The final confrontation was a heart-pounding nail-biter with Amber in extreme danger.
 
I loved watching Monty and Amber navigate through their relationship. Because of their past, Amber is reluctant to trust him with her heart again. This puts her late father's demands on shaky ground, risking both ranch properties. She also has a big secret she is keeping from him that will change their future. Monty freely admits his past mistakes and insists he's learned his lesson. He wants a chance to make things right. I liked that they took the time to discuss the past and hopes for the future, ensuring they were on the same page.
 
I liked seeing characters from earlier books and catching up with their lives. I'm looking forward to more stories about the Powells and their connections.