The prodigal cowgirl returns home…and straight into danger
When Piper McCall heads home, she runs smack into ranch hand Brady Summers, the man she left behind. Years later, the sparks between them burn as brightly as ever, but dark secrets -- like the identity of his orphaned nephew -- linger. And when Piper’s life is threatened, neither she nor Brady will ever be the same again.
Good second chance romance combined with multi-layered suspense. Piper and Brady were a couple in high school, but Piper had dreams outside their small Colorado town. When Piper ended up pregnant, she hid it from her family, turned down Brady's marriage proposal, and left for her freshman year in Boston, intending to put her baby up for adoption. In the prologue, we see Brady's despair at losing Piper, and his brother and sister-in-law's plan to secretly adopt Piper and Brady's child.
Years later, Piper returned to McCall Ranch for her parents' anniversary party, after making rare visits back home. Things are different this time. Brady's brother and his wife are dead, and Brady is the guardian of his nephew Connor. The McCall Ranch is in financial trouble after some bad luck. Piper's brothers have an idea of how to bring in some money, but they want Piper's help. She's reluctant to give up her life in Boston.
I enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Piper and Brady. It wasn't an easy one. Though the sparks between them were as strong as ever, the obstacles were significant. Brady was reluctant to trust her with his heart again after being devastated by her departure all those years ago. He never got over the loss and didn't want to go through it again. He also had to deal with the stunning discovery that the child he thought was his nephew was actually his and Piper's son (not a spoiler - this is revealed within the first couple chapters). His anger and feelings of betrayal went deep. Piper thought she put her relationship with Brady behind her long ago and wasn't happy to realize that she was still drawn to him. She also carried a load of guilt over giving up their child for adoption without letting Brady know. The shocking revelation that Connor was their son left her reeling. I liked the fact that after they got past the initial anger, Brady and Piper were able to talk things over like adults. Both of them wanted to do what was right for Connor, even if they weren't as sure about what that was. I ached for both of them, especially Piper, who had thought she would never see her baby again. The sparks between them grew stronger, and they slowly began to explore their new feelings. I loved their big moment at the end as they put the past behind them and looked toward the future.
There was another obstacle that neither one was aware of. From the beginning of the book, the reader was given glimpses into the mind and activities of a man who wanted Piper for himself. It was creepy and scary to see how obsessed he was and the lengths he was willing to take to get what he wanted. He was determined that Piper would return to Boston and did things he thought would drive her that way. His jealousy of Brady also caused an escalation in his activities. The final confrontation was intense, and I was on the edge of my seat until it was over.
The other part of the story dealt with the trouble at the McCall ranch and the efforts to save it. Some apparent bad luck has put them at risk of losing the ranch. Piper's brothers, Josh and Zane, have come up with an idea to start an adventure company to raise extra money to help bail them out. I loved their enthusiasm and the thought they have put into it. It quickly became apparent, however, that their "bad luck" may not have been luck at all. The fire was scary, and what happened makes them realize that someone is out to do real damage to them. The question became who would do such a thing? I ached for the entire family, as the ranch has been in the family for a long time. It didn't help that the sheriff's office didn't appear to be trying too hard to get to the truth, seemingly more interested in accusing the McCalls of doing it themselves. Though there are no official suspects, there is one guy who seems to be an obvious choice, but there is no proof. The question isn't resolved in this book, but the family's determination to succeed is clear.
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