Riding Shotgun - Barb Han (HI #2139 - May 2023)

Series: Cowboys of Cider Creek (Book 2)
              
He must protect her
Even from his own secrets…
 
The minute Emerson Bennett arrives in Cider Creek, Texas, asking about her missing mother, she's in someone's lethal sights. And rancher Rory Hayes isn't about to let her face his suddenly hostile hometown alone. An outsider since childhood, he knows the damage secrets can do -- especially his own. But will helping this beautiful stranger uncover the truth be enough to keep them alive?
 
Terrific book that intrigued me from the first chapter to the end. An over-protective single father raised Emerson. After his death, she discovered that her real mother was not who she thought she was. Determined to find the truth, she heads to Cider Creek and starts asking questions. This puts her in the crosshairs of someone who doesn't want her to know. When the first man she questioned became aggressive and uncooperative, a stranger stepped in to help.
 
Rory has returned to Cider Creek for the first time in thirteen years. He left right after his high school graduation, along with his pregnant girlfriend. His unpleasant and controlling grandfather made staying impossible. Since then, he built a successful business and is raising his twelve-year-old daughter on his own. He has never told his family about Liv and is nervous about doing so. When he stops at the convenience store for snacks, he's astounded to witness the rudeness that the woman experienced and steps in to help.
 
This begins a roller coaster ride of suspense and emotion. Emerson's questions have stirred up a hornet's nest. She is run off the road and rescued by Rory. Her damaged car was broken into at the garage, where it was taken for repairs. Attacks increase in intensity as Emerson gets closer to the answers she seeks. The final confrontation had a twist that kept me glued to the pages until it was over.
 
Emerson and Rory's relationship developed quickly. Rory's protectiveness was aroused immediately, quickly followed by unexpected sparks of attraction. Meanwhile, Emerson feels those same sparks and a deep appreciation for his help. Over the next few days, Rory doesn't let Emerson out of his sight, preferring to watch over her himself. I liked the trust that quickly built between them. With Rory, Emerson shared her hurt, anger, and betrayal over her father's actions. Rory used Emerson as a sounding board to help him solve his dilemma of looking for his ex-wife. Neither expects to fall as hard and fast as they do. I liked the ending.
 
I liked Rory's daughter, Liv. At almost thirteen, she's entering the volatile teen years. The author did a great job of making her realistic - not too sweet and not too dramatic, just a typical mix of the two. She clearly loved Rory, even when she was rolling her eyes at him. I liked how well she and Emerson connected.

Rescued by the Rancher - Barb Han (HI #2134 - Apr 2023)

Series: Cowboys of Cider Creek (Book 1)
 
He's on guard
…with a woman and her protective canine
 
When rancher Callum Hayes learns that Payton Reinert has returned to Cider Creek, Texas, to hide out from a killer, he opens his family home to her and her rescue dog. Though reluctant to offer his heart -- broken by betrayal -- he can't ignore his electrifying attraction to the vulnerable beauty and his desire to protect her. Even if stopping the monstrous killer means risking his life…
 
Good start to the series, with a nice mix of romance and suspense. The story opens as Payton barely escapes from a serial killer. She's kicking herself for not trusting the instincts that warned her against trusting the softspoken man who offered help with her groceries. She's left Austin for Cider Creek and the house her aunt left her, looking for somewhere to keep a low profile until the police catch the killer. With her is Atlas, her newly adopted dog, who doesn't like men.
 
Callum has been called back to the family ranch by his mother and grandmother. He and his five siblings left the ranch behind because of issues with their grandfather. Now that he's gone, his mother wants them all back on the ranch, but they all have their own lives and businesses. Callum is the oldest and is tasked with finding out what is happening. He plans to stay a couple of weeks and then leave again. Then, he meets the lovely lady in the house across the road.
 
I loved seeing Callum scurry over to Payton's place with a batch of his grandmother's muffins, mainly to escape being interrogated by his mother. It was an interesting first meeting with Atlas trying to attack him, then Callum rescuing Atlas after a wild hog attacks him. When Callum hears what Payton has been through, his protective instincts are aroused. I liked how he and his mom and grandmother insisted she stay with them. Protectiveness isn't all that Callum experiences with Payton. He's never felt such an instant connection with another woman and is wary of risking his heart after a previous betrayal. Payton feels the same intense attraction but also has trust issues, thanks to her parents' volatile relationship. But the more time they spend together, the easier for them to believe they have something special.
 
Callum is determined to protect Payton and accompanies her back to Austin for a meeting with the police, only to discover that it was a trick from the killer. I was glued to the pages as Callum and Payton put their heads together to investigate who the killer could be. Their methods made a lot of sense, and they had a good chance of success. The intensity ramped up thanks to a strange encounter and new information. The final confrontation had a twist I didn't expect, and I loved Callum's handling of it.
 
A secondary mystery involving threats and vandalism at the ranch is ongoing. This is part of why Callum's mom wants her family back at the ranch. I liked seeing Callum reordering his priorities and finding a way to have the best of both worlds. I liked the ending and seeing him and Payton moving forward together. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, seeing his siblings' stories, and following what is happening with the ranch.

Texas Scandal - Barb Han (HI #2170 - Oct 2023)

Series: Cowboys of Cider Creek (Book 4)
 
She needs help uncovering the truth…
And one reluctant cowboy is her only hope.
 
Finding a body on his property has unexpectedly complicated Tiernan Hayes's life, and then he meets the woman being set up as the murderer. The former rodeo rider's instincts scream that Melody Cantor has been targeted because of her family connections. Melody has no one to protect her, and Tiernan knows he shouldn't get involved. But this Texan never walks away from a challenge, even one that could prove deadly.
 
Terrific, fast-paced story that hooked me from the first page and kept me intrigued to the end. The book opens with Tiernan walking his dog Loki (perfect name for the pup!) on his ranch and Loki finding a dead body. A paper with a woman's name and address is found in the victim's pocket. Tiernan rides along with the sheriff to see her.
 
Melody has just finished a job interview when she finds a mysterious note on her windshield. She's unsure if it is meant for her, or a mistake, or somehow related to her father's crimes. When she stops at home, she's met by a sheriff's deputy and Tiernan and told that she's wanted for questioning by the sheriff. She's confused and concerned but goes along with them.
 
I already liked Tiernan at this point. His instincts tell him that there is no way Melody could be the murderer. I also appreciated his immediate protectiveness as he watched the sheriff do everything he could to pin the murder on Melody. I loved how he told her to stop answering questions while he made a phone call and got her a top-notch lawyer. He takes her back to his house, where she meets Loki. Tiernan's sensitivity to her fear of dogs and explanation of Loki's history were a good look at the kind and compassionate man he is.
 
I ached for Melody as the truth of her trouble hit hard. The meeting with the lawyer helps some, but hearing the sheriff is searching her house adds to that feeling. Then, the twist of the victim's identity adds to the situation's complexity. I liked how Tiernan offered to let Melody stay with him when she didn't want to be alone.
 
Though the lawyer and the sheriff have people investigating, Tiernan and Melody decide to do a little sleuthing themselves. I loved Melody's determination to be fully involved and Tiernan's desire to help and keep her safe. The twists and turns of their searches, combined with the sheriff's determination to pin the murder on Melody, kept me as deeply invested as they were. Even as the clues piled up, I was kept guessing about who was behind the attempt to frame Melody. The final confrontation surprised me and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Tiernan and Melody. They were attracted to each other from the moment they met but tried to resist because of their situation. Both also have trust issues from previous relationships, which take a little while to overcome. I especially liked Tiernan's protectiveness and the sweet way he cared for Melody. At the same time, she felt protective of him and tried to keep from being too disruptive to his life. I liked seeing the similarities in their attitudes towards wealth and privilege. I loved the ending and seeing them admit their feelings for each other. I wish there had been an epilogue because I would have liked more about Tiernan and his family.
 
Loki was my favorite secondary character. I loved how Tiernan told Melody Loki's story and its effect on her. Tiernan's love for the dog was undeniable, and I loved seeing them together. I also liked Loki's protectiveness toward Tiernan and Melody. I've had two labs, and the author nailed the breed's personality.