Wyoming Undercover Escape - Juno Rushdan (HI #2255 - Dec 2024)

Series: Cowboy State Lawmen: Duty and Honor (Book 3)
 
He once promised to protect her
Now he'll face the devil to keep his vow.
 
Rip Lockwood, former Marine Special Forces and president of the Iron Warriors motorcycle club, swore to protect Deputy Ashley Russo years ago. When she targets her brother's killer -- the dangerous leader of a rival club -- he fulfills his promise. Their undercover ruse exposes a drug operation…and an unexpected attraction. And they'll risk everything to bring a murderous crime ring to justice.
 
Terrific book that drew me into the suspense quickly and kept me hooked until the end. Rip and Ashley are connected by a tragic event that happened years ago. Ashley blames Rip, and he accepts the guilt. Now a deputy, Ashley is determined to bring her brother's killer to justice. Rip left the Marine Corps to take over leadership of the local motorcycle club and finds out about Ashley's plans.
 
Rip and Ashley have been at odds ever since her brother's murder. However, Rip has never forgotten his vow to protect her and is determined to keep her safe. This entails attempting to rein in her plans (not happening) or going along with her. Sometimes, I wanted to shake her because of the risks she took. The scene at the bar had me on the edge of my seat as she walked into the lion's den. The consequences of that excursion led to a rollercoaster of action that kept me glued to the pages until the end. The twists kept me guessing what would happen next, all the way to the nail-biter of an ending.
 
I enjoyed seeing Ashley and Rip's relationship develop. Underneath the antagonism and guilt is a strong attraction neither wants to admit. They've managed in the past by avoiding each other. Now that they spend so much time together, those sparks are more difficult to ignore. Trust grows between them, and their feelings grow stronger, but there are obstacles, too. Rip believes a relationship between the president of a motorcycle club and a deputy would be detrimental to her career, plus the after-effects of their actions make it impossible for Rip to remain there. I loved the resolution and the neat little twist at the end.
 
My only complaint with the book is that Harlequin editors consistently neglect the proper capitalization of the word Marine when referring to a member of the United States Marine Corps. 

Wyoming Ranch Justice - Juno Rushdan (HI #2239 - Sept 2024)

Series: Cowboy State Lawmen: Duty and Honor (Book 2)
 
In these parts
He's the law
 
The cowboy code is Matt Granger's trademark as a rancher and law enforcement officer, protective instincts inherent to a man like Matt. So when a serial killer targets students in his small Wyoming town, he's prepared to do what has to be done to deliver justice. What has him confounded, though, is undercover detective Hannah Delaney, a complex woman and excellent investigator he's known for years. Hannah's fearless, a force to be reckoned with and at odds with Matt. Despite professional differences and lingering attraction, they'll have to find a way to combine forces to catch a killer.
 
Wow. This was a fast-paced, spine-tingling hunt for a serial killer with a touch of romance. This book had such a grip on me that I read it in one sitting.
 
Hannah is a detective with the local police department. A serial killer who has plagued the university for more than a decade is active again. Hannah is undercover on the campus, posing as a student to draw the killer out. As the book opens, she witnesses the killer's attempt to abduct his latest victim and intervenes. The killer gets away, leaving Hannah frustrated and dealing with campus security chief Matt.
 
Matt is a former special ops soldier who went into law enforcement after leaving the military. He worked for the police department for a while but left for the university job after his partner was killed. He is determined to stop the killer and isn't happy with Hannah taking so many risks.
 
Matt and Hannah worked together in the first book of the series and butted heads over their differing methods. That antagonism continues here, as Matt considers Hannah reckless and far too ready to take unnecessary risks. However, the best way to stop the killer is to combine forces and so they agree to work together. It takes some serious effort to overcome their differences, but they make a terrific team once they do. Neither expected the sparks of attraction that flared between them. I liked seeing them get to know each other as they worked together and developed a mutual trust they didn't share with anyone else. Both have past experiences that have made them who they are, and opening up about those experiences brings them closer still. But before they can explore their growing feelings, they must catch the killer who has Hannah in his crosshairs.
 
The suspense of this story kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. It opens with a prologue from the killer's point of view, giving an immediate glimpse of what is to come. The twists and turns of the investigation kept me guessing to the end. Is it a faculty member? One of the law enforcement officers? Or someone unrelated to the university? The tension ramped up as it became apparent that the killer had chosen Hannah as his next victim. His actions are chilling as he finds ways to torment her as he closes in. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as Hannah risked herself to save another. I was on the edge of my seat until it was over. 

 

Wyoming Mountain Investigation - Juno Rushdan (HI #2230 - Aug 2024)

Series: Cowboy State Lawmen: Duty and Honor (Book 1)
 
His past has left him scarred
But then comes a chance at redemption…
 
Rescuing teenage campers from a fire left Liz Kelley scarred for life. But her Wyoming town isn't all she left behind. Fire marshal Sawyer Powell can't forgive himself for failing to protect her that terrible night. Fifteen years later, a string of suspicious fires brings Liz -- now an FBI agent -- home. Working the case together gives the former lovers a second chance -- but also makes them a killer's target.
 
Terrific series opener, with intense suspense, plenty of action, and a second chance romance. The story opens in the past, as teenagers Liz and Sawyer rescued fellow campers from an arsonist's fire. The fire left Liz scarred, physically and emotionally, and she soon moved away with her family. Neither forgot that night, and it changed their lives.
 
Fifteen years later, Liz is an arson investigator with the FBI. Her boss sends her back to her hometown to help investigate a series of suspicious fires. She's surprised to encounter Sawyer, who never left his hometown and is now the fire marshal. Working together at first is awkward, as Sawyer is still hurt at how Liz disappeared from his life all those years ago. But it doesn't take long to realize their connection is still there.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Liz and Sawyer. The sparks of attraction are there, but the effects of that long-ago trauma still linger. Sawyer has been unable to forgive himself for not keeping Liz safe that night. Liz's scars make her feel unlovable and self-conscious about letting anyone close to her. I loved watching them work together, get to know each other as adults, and discover their feelings for each other haven't died. I loved Sawyer's patience and understanding as he worked through the walls Liz built around her heart.
 
The suspense was the driving force of the story. The fires seem random and there are no clues to give Sawyer a direction. I could feel their frustration as they reached dead ends. The arsonist's attacks begin to escalate, driving their determination higher. The investigations themselves were interesting, and the details were realistic and informative. I was glued to the pages as Sawyer and Liz came closer to finding the arsonist. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I couldn't wait to see how it turned out. I stayed awake far later than I should have because I couldn't put it down.