Series: Cardwell Ranch: Montana Legacy (Book 1)
Sometimes you can go home again
It's just not always safe...
Mary Cardwell Savage never meant to send that letter to
her ex, Chase Steele. How could she know her words would bring the gorgeous
cowboy back to Big Sky, Montana -- with an unstable and dangerous stalker
following close behind? Now Chase wants to prove that their love deserves a
second chance. And this time, nothing will keep him from his heart's desire…not
even a killer.
This was a good second chance romance combined with several
elements of mystery and danger. Mary and Chase were friends and sweethearts
through high school and college. Their youth worked against them when Chase left
Big Sky, breaking Mary's heart. They never forgot each other or their love.
When Mary received a box to deliver to Chase after his mother's death, it gave her
the excuse she needed to write to him, though she never meant to mail that
particular version of the letter.
Chase left Big Sky to find out who he was. He never knew
who his father was, which left a huge hole in his heart. Even on her deathbed,
his mother refused to reveal that information. He lived and worked in Arizona
while caring for his mother, and was in bad shape on the day he picked up her
ashes. After having too much to drink, he ended up spending the night with
Fiona, something he recognized as a mistake the next morning. Even after
explaining that he was in love with another woman, Fiona wouldn't leave him
alone, convinced that they belonged together. Mary's letter gave Chase the push
he needed to return to Montana, escape from Fiona, and hopefully win back Mary.
Meanwhile, back in Big Sky, Mary attempts to move on with
her life. When she doesn't hear from Chase about her letter, she's hurt. She
tries dating one of her father's deputies, but he doesn't measure up to her
memories of Chase. She stays busy with her work and frequent visits to her
parents' ranch. She's stunned when Chase appears at the ranch declaring his
love and wanting a second chance. Things got complicated when Dillon showed up.
It was interesting to see how different the two men handled it. I loved how
Chase made it plain to Mary that he wasn't going anywhere.
I liked the rekindling of the relationship between Mary
and Chase. Chase is determined to win her back, but Mary is a bit hesitant. She
isn't sure that she's willing to trust her heart to him again. I liked that
Chase was ready to give her time, but also wasn't going to back off from
showing her how he felt. One thing that brought them together was Chase's
search for his father. The contents of the box Mary gave him contained some
clues, and Mary offered to help him figure it out. I loved how she understood
how important it was to him and how she supported him. I ached for Chase as the
search continued and he met various potential fathers. It didn't take long for
Mary to realize that her love for Chase is as strong as ever and to want a
future together. But there is someone who has vastly different ideas on the
subject.
From the very beginning of the book, there is a front row
seat to the bane of Chase's life. Fiona's obsession with Chase and what she
believes is a scary thing. Watching the lengths she went to in getting close to
Mary was terrifying in its complexity. I was glued to the pages as I waited for
Chase to get a clue and hoping that it wouldn't be too late. The final
confrontation was intense, with Mary in a fight for her life. It had a
satisfying ending, with later revelations giving context to Fiona's actions.
There was a minor storyline about some cattle rustling
that was intertwined with some of the characters. It gave vital information
about the motives of one of the characters. Though the mystery was resolved, it
did not go the way I expected it to.
I am a long-time reader of B.J. Daniels' books and it was
fun to see that we are now moving on to a new generation of Cardwells. Dana and
Hud's story was told in Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch, and over the years we
have seen their family grow. I've always enjoyed the glimpses into the lives of
previous characters. I look forward to seeing what comes next.
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