To understand her father's disappearance…
She'll trust a man who vowed to bring him down.
Audra Trask's entire existence has been clouded by her
missing father. When a vicious smear campaign and a mysterious stranger seem to
also be connected to her dad, both her business and her life are suddenly on
the line. Turning to Colorado Ranger Brigade specialist Mark "Hud'' Hudson
for help seems like her best chance at getting answers. But Hud's plan to use
Audra to locate a potential criminal soon leads to an attraction he can't
deny…and a danger neither may survive.
Another fantastic book in the
Ranger Brigade: RockyMountain Manhunt series. I picked this book up this afternoon and didn't put it
down until I finished the last page. The hunt for Dane Trask heats up, and this
time it's his daughter, Audra, at the center of attention, and Ranger Brigade
officer Hud Hudson is determined to protect her.
Hud and Audra had met before when he needed to question
her about her father, and the initial seeds of attraction appeared then.
Another round of questions at the beginning of this book brings them back into
contact, and Hud realizes his interest hasn't waned. It was sweet to see him
encounter her one day and demonstrate his interest in getting to know her. He
was with her when she received notice that her father's previous employer was
suing her. It turns out to be the beginning of Audra's troubles. The next day
she's accosted in her own home by an aggressive reporter who only leaves when
she calls Hud for help. Shortly after that, she finds a threatening note on her
car, and the trouble continues to pile up.
I loved seeing Hud and Audra get to know each other. The
sparks are there from the start, and the trouble that stalks her throws them
together frequently. Audra is petite, determined, and independent. Her father,
a former army Ranger, taught her a lot about self-reliance, and she put those
lessons to use in her life. She had a few rough spots growing up, which all
helped make her the woman she is. Audra poured much of that experience and determination
into the preschool she owns and runs. Hud is a man who was a bit out of step
with his own family, leading to some rough times of his own. Like Audra, he
overcame them and used what he learned. The attraction between them grows the
more time Hud and Audra spend together, which is a lot thanks to the escalation
of the attacks and threats against her. I loved that Hud was protective without
trying to smother her, and respected her capabilities, though that was
certainly put to the test at the end. I loved how the danger made them realize
the depth of their feelings for each other.
The suspense of the story kept me turning the pages from
beginning to end. The Ranger Brigade is still looking for Dane, as are many
other people. The Brigade's frustration is palpable as they have to deal with
people looking to collect the reward and putting others in danger at the same
time. Then Audra finds herself at the center of a smear campaign. I ached for
her as she dealt with reporters twisting facts to make her look bad, threats against
her life, and the potential loss of her livelihood. She receives threats from
people who believe that she knows what her father knows. The intensity ramps up
when they find a child's drawing at the illegal dump site, and Audra links it
to the new school construction site. I loved watching Audra draw on the things
her father taught her and confront the man she believes is responsible for all
of the trouble. The strength of will it took to become the bait in a trap was
incredible, and she rocked it. Though it looks like the problem is solved, I
feel like there are questions still to be answered. I look forward to the next
book and learning Dane's story.
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