Wyoming Christmas Ransom - Nicole Helm (HI #1826 - Dec 2018)

Series: Carsons and Delaneys (Book 3)

A killer has been hiding for two years.

This Christmas, he’s ready to finish what he started.

He didn’t need her to care, so why did Wyoming loner Will Cooper’s world implode when Gracie Delaney quit helping him solve his estranged wife’s murder? Despite her ties to a rival family, the beautiful coroner had been the stubborn recluse’s one link to humanity -- and his last chance to clear the cloud hanging over him. But when Will and Gracie become the killer’s next target, reviving their platonic partnership is the only option. If only Gracie’s lips weren’t so tempting…

Good book that sucked me in quickly and kept me hooked. Since his wife's death two years earlier, Will was obsessed with proving that her death was murder. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to convince anyone in the sheriff's department that he was right, or even listen to his theories. His only hope was Grace, the county coroner, who has stayed in touch with him and occasionally fed his need for information.

Grace ached for Will. From the moment of Paula's death, he cut himself off from everyone who cared for him. She couldn't explain why she was so drawn to him and continued to check on him. She knew that for his sake, and her own, she had to stop feeding his obsession and hope that he would finally let it go. Instead, he just looked at her in confusion and shock and watched her drive away.

But Will finally found something to support his theories, and after a week of waiting for Grace to come back, he finally came down off his mountain looking for her. I ached for him as Grace confronted him about his obsession and the way it had taken over his life, asking him hard questions. Questions that brought emotions that he'd buried roiling to the surface, things that he didn't want to face, so he buried his hurt and pushed her away. Something else had also changed, and on his way home from that confrontation, Will was badly injured in an accident that was no accident.

From here to the end of the book I was glued to the pages as the tension continued to build. It quickly became clear that both Will and Grace were in danger as they pursued the leads that Will uncovered. At the same time, the chemistry between them also intensified and drew them closer together. I especially liked how having Grace in his life enabled Will to finally allow himself to feel again. His big moment at the end was sweet and romantic and perfect for Grace.

The suspense of the story was very good. I loved that Will's instincts were right all along and that he didn't give up. I understood his and Grace's need to get to the truth, and their frustration with Laurel's strictures after the attacks on them. Their escape from the hospital was exciting, but I was most impressed by their decision after the motel incident. It was satisfying to see the cooperation among the various Carsons and Delaneys as they tried to piece together what they knew. The final confrontation was a nail-biter as I waited to see how it would turn out. The resolution was very satisfying as Will's suspicions were vindicated. One of the things I liked best was the realism of the fight scenes. Neither Will nor Cam were made out to be supermen but were honestly shown as handicapped by their injuries.

 

Wyoming Cowboy Protection - Nicole Helm (HI #1820 - Nov 2018)

Series: Carsons and Delaneys (Book 2)

A woman and baby on the run -- just upended a cowboy’s life

Noah Carson did not plan to have a woman and a baby under his roof. But his new housekeeper is in danger, and the solitary Wyoming rancher will do whatever it takes to protect Addie Foster and her nephew. He thinks they can overcome anything together, but he doesn’t know who she’s running from. What he does know is the longer Addie and Seth stay, the more Noah believes that they belong here -- with him.

Terrific book. I liked this one even better than the first one in the series. Addie has been on the run for months, trying to protect her nephew from his mobster father. At the end of her rope, she called her cousin Laurel in Bent, Wyoming, hoping that it was isolated enough to keep them hidden. The safest place that Laurel could think of was for Addie to become the housekeeper for gruff loner Noah Carson.

I liked Noah in the previous book, Wyoming Cowboy Justice, and loved him in this book. He's far more likely to grunt than talk and puts up a pretty good front as a grouch. But he also has a kind heart and a protective nature. It didn't take him long to see that Addie was in trouble, and want to keep her and Seth safe. I was really impressed with Addie. She had successfully evaded Seth's father for months, doing anything necessary to keep them safe. I loved that she was smart enough to realize that she needed help and the practical way she went about it.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Noah and Addie. It was a slow one, with them getting to know each other over three months. I liked seeing Addie's fear and wariness begin to fade the longer she stayed at the ranch. Noah has been a loner for a long time, but even more so since his brother and cousin left the ranch. He hadn't realized just how lonely he was until Addie and Seth worked past his defenses. Neither of them expected the attraction that grew between them and tried to deny it was happening. Addie wouldn't believe that anything could come of it, as she always expected to have to run again. Noah wants to believe that they will stay but isn't sure that she would want to.

When odd things began to happen on the ranch, Addie was certain that she had been found and was ready to run again. She was stunned to discover that Noah was equally determined to keep her there and bring the threats to an end. I loved how Noah shot down all of her arguments and convinced her to take a stand. I loved their partnership as they vowed to protect Seth, and how that partnership created a deeper bond between them. I loved that there were no big misunderstandings to drive them apart, just the need for them to face their fears and believe that they could face anything as long as they were together. I loved Noah's big moment at the end as he put his heart out there.

The suspense of the story was excellent. It was easy to feel Addie's fear for Seth's safety and her wariness at getting too comfortable. She would just start to feel safe when something would happen to make her afraid again. Noah blamed the odd happenings on the feud, but Addie wasn't so sure. The action intensified when she received a threatening note, and Noah's protectiveness went into overdrive. I loved seeing the feud take a back seat again as the Carsons and Delaneys worked together to keep Addie and Seth safe. Sometimes it felt as though they could not catch a break as the bad guys closed in on them. The final confrontation was a real nail-biter as both Noah and Addie found themselves in dire situations. I loved how the Carson teamwork kept everyone safe and brought down the bad guys.

 

Wyoming Cowboy Justice - Nicole Helm (HI #1814 - Oct 2018)

Series: Carsons and Delaneys (Book 1)

Welcome to Bent, Wyoming

Where the Wild West Never Died

Resident bad boy and saloon owner Grady Carson knows his brother is not a murderer, and he’ll do anything to prove it. But partnering with Laurel Delaney? Worst idea ever. The beautiful by-the-book cop challenges him like no other. Bad family blood -- and a killer at large -- makes their attraction unthinkable. Dangerous. Reckless. How can they solve a crime to prevent a family war and then let forbidden love ignite it anew?

Good book. The ongoing feud between the Carsons and Delaneys ran smack up against a murder investigation when Grady Carson's half-brother was wanted for questioning in the murder of Deputy Laurel Delaney's cousin Jason. Grady was determined to protect his brother, while Laurel just wanted to find the murderer.

I liked both Grady and Laurel. Grady owns the local bar, The Rightful Claim. He's big, tattooed, and has quite the bad boy reputation. Grady is also the de facto head of his family, the one who keeps an eye on everyone else. His brother Clint is a reckless teenager who was always in trouble. His family is important to him, and he'll do whatever is necessary to protect them, even if that means working with a Delaney. Laurel is a law-and-order woman who loves her job as a deputy. The welfare of the town comes first in everything she does, and if that means working with a Carson, that's what she will do.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Grady and Laurel. Bent is a small town, so they have known each other all their lives. As far back as high school they were drawn to each other, but because of the Carson-Delaney feud, nothing ever came of it. There have been encounters between them in the years since, especially with Laurel being a deputy and Grady being a saloon owner. Grady takes a great deal of pleasure in doing what he can to rile up Laurel and challenge her calm exterior. When Laurel showed up at the saloon, looking for his help in finding Clint, the sparks between them flew fast and hot. Their conversation was intense, with Laurel determined to find Clint, and Grady just as determined, but with protection on his mind. Grady also loaded his with innuendo, delighting in ruffling her feathers, but also realizing that he was more drawn to her than was wise.

Meanwhile, Laurel fought hard to keep her mind on her goal and ignore her body's messages. As they worked together to get to the truth of the murder, the feelings between them grew. Grady was quick with the innuendo, but he also grew to respect her abilities as a deputy and her determination to be impartial. He was protective, but he also knew when to step back and let her do her job. Laurel fought hard against her growing feelings for Grady. I loved the scene where she got roped into taking him home after his concussion and tried to fight the inevitable. Neither could deny their feelings any longer when Laurel ended up in grave danger. I loved Grady's big moment at the end. There's something especially moving about seeing a big, tough guy like Grady expose his vulnerable side as he lays his heart at her feet.

The suspense of the story was good. Laurel had good investigative instincts, and I liked seeing her work through the leads. The initial question of how Clint was connected to Jason's murder was resolved pretty quickly but opened up more questions. The bar scene and its results had me glued to the pages as Laurel followed up on what she had discovered, with Grady stuck to her side, determined to protect her. The process of connecting the dots between Jason, Clint, and the various other players was fascinating to see. The final confrontation was intense, with some heart-stopping moments of danger.

The feud between the Carsons and Delaneys was spoken of often. There are obvious tensions between the two families. However, there are also hints that some of the younger generation aren't as invested as the earlier generations. Grady and Laurel seemed to find it pretty easy to push the feud to the rear as they worked together and found their feelings for each other growing. Interference from other family members seemed to be fairly mild and limited to snarky comments. The closest to physical confrontation was between Grady and Laurel's brother, Dylan, and that was easily attributed to their fears for Laurel. I'm looking forward to the other books and seeing more barriers broken down.