Seeking an escape from her dark past, Carissa Taylor heads to Silver Creek to build a new life. For Cari, landing a job at a historic ranch just outside town is a dream come true, and a chance to put her beekeeping expertise to work. Not only does she feel at home in the ruggedly beautiful landscape, but she's intensely drawn to rancher Chase Bishop, whose strong, steadfast nature quiets her unease. Maybe here she can finally be more than a hunted woman fleeing a vengeful killer—a man who's been after her nearly all her life...
Chase didn't dare open his heart again after losing his first love. Until Cari entered his life. Her gentle beauty and nurturing spirit call to him like no other. So when her enraged stepbrother breaks out of prison and comes prowling around Chase's ranch, the former Marine goes into full protective mode, offering Cari the shelter of his home. But as the murderer's deadly threats draw ever closer, suddenly Chase is calling on his own killer instincts, knowing he will stop at nothing to keep safe the woman who has captured his soul...
Fantastic blend of suspense and a sweet, slow-burn romance. The story opens as Cari, a beekeeping expert, dreams of a life-changing childhood moment. It is quickly followed by a phone call from the local sheriff, warning her that her stepbrother, a sociopathic killer, escaped from prison. Cari is terrified because Dirk threatened to kill her for her part in putting him in jail. Taking the sheriff's advice, Cari immediately leaves town, quits her job with the state of California, and applies for a new job in Wyoming. She lands that job at the historic Three Bars Ranch in Silver Creek.
Rancher Chase Bishop is a former Marine sniper who came home to heal after losing his first love. A man with a deep love for the land, his ranch is well-known for its natural growing practices and diversity. His latest project involves the production of organic honey. Unfortunately, the beekeeper he hired quit after his neglect killed almost all of the hives Chase set up. Determined to try again, Chase hires Cari to restore the hives and run the honey business.
Cari is conscious of the threat Dirk poses to her and those around her and tells Chase about the issue, sure he will send her packing. Much to her surprise, Chase listens intently to her story and clarifies that not only does he want her to stay, but he also promises to keep her safe. Between his training, the abilities of his ranch hands, many of whom are vets themselves, and the involvement of local law enforcement, he feels that the Three Bars Ranch is the safest place she can be.
I loved the development of the relationship between Cari and Chase. They connected immediately over their shared love of the land. I enjoyed the tour of the ranch and seeing Chase's love and pride for it. The conversation between him and Cari about the importance of the bees and the land was fascinating. I loved her first visit to the bees and Chase's reaction to seeing her with them. Over the next few weeks, they form a solid friendship, sharing many of their world views and life experiences. With Dirk's threats always at the back of her mind, Cari is especially fascinated by Chase's sniper training and asks him to teach her some of his escape and evasion techniques.
In addition to her beekeeping skills, Cari also has a keen interest in raptors. Chase has a raptor rehabilitation and education center on part of his land, and in her free time, Cari spends some time with one of the young red-tail hawks recovering from an injury. I had to laugh at the descriptions of this hawk, named Valkyrie, as the center's "wild child." Once again, intriguing information about a vital subject became an integral part of the story.
Underneath Chase and Cari's friendship simmers a growing attraction that both are reluctant to acknowledge. Cari is cognizant that Chase is not just a friend but also her boss and doesn't want to do anything to ruin either relationship. Meanwhile, Chase also recognizes the hazards of doing anything about the attraction. He's a modern man, raised to respect women and treat them as true equals. He doesn't look at Cari as a prize to be won or a sex object to be conquered. Eventually, they get to the point where neither can deny the growing feelings. Rather than ignore them any longer, Cari and Chase sit down and talk about them, covering everything from pet peeves to expectations. I loved their honest exchange and desire to see where it goes without rushing anything.
Meanwhile, Dirk's vendetta is never far from Cari's mind. We get a couple of dips into his point of view, which only emphasizes the danger she is in. There is an intense scene in which Dirk unexpectedly appears in Silver Creek. Cari's fear leaped off the page as she uses her newly learned skills to evade his notice. I loved seeing her handle the situation despite her fear. I could feel the frustration of both the sheriff and Chase as Dirk evaded capture. The intensity picks up later when Chase and Cari are attacked while taking Valkyrie to her new forever home. I was glued to the pages as Chase used his training to evade their attackers. The final confrontation was a nail-biter with critical intervention coming from an unexpected source.
The ending was terrific as Chase and Cari moved forward together. Chase's big moment was sweet as his love for her was expressed in an incredibly beautiful and unique way. I hope they make appearances in future books.
Of all the secondary characters, Chase's mother, Mary, is my favorite. She is a woman of incredible foresight and determination and a force to be reckoned with in the community. She is the CEO of her own organic grocery business and has been the inspiration, and frequent financial backer, of similar enterprises in the area. She also has a loving heart and a way of making anyone feel welcome and safe. Her influence on Chase made him the man he is today.
One of the things I loved about this book was the detail that added depth to the characters and the story. The information on bees and beekeeping was intriguing, and I loved the emphasis on the importance of those tiny creatures. Various raptors have been included in others of the author's books, and Valkyrie's inclusion in this one was fascinating. Again, the information provided was an integral part of the story and not just thrown in to make word count. The descriptions of Chase's time as a sniper were both amazing and heartbreaking. He didn't downplay the effects of that time on his psyche, but he could also use those skills when needed.
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