River Strong - B.J. Daniels (Canary Street Press - Jan 2024)

Series: Powder River (Book 2)
              
For two rival families, the only thing that matters more than land…is love.
 
There’s a lifetime of tension between the McKenna and Stafford ranching families, and Oakley Stafford has the bullet scar to prove it. Defying the bitter rivalry between their families, Oakley grew up thick as thieves with Duffy McKenna. But now the Staffords and the McKennas are competing to buy a neighboring property. Both need that land desperately—and the reasons are more dangerous than Oakley knows.
 
But there’s another unspoken rivalry, too, between Duffy and Pickett Hanson, the McKenna family’s ranch hand. Once upon a time, Oakley ignored the way the two handsome cowboys playfully flirted with her, but now she’s untangling complicated feelings that could upend years of friendship. And when a body is found on the contested ranch, their secrets will be forced into the open at last…
 
Terrific second installment in the Powder River series. It can be read as a standalone, but you'll get more nuances if you first read Dark Side of the River. That book ended with a cliffhanger, and this one picks up where it left off.
 
Oakley Stafford has been friends with Duffy McKenna and Pickett Hanson since they were teenagers, despite the feud between Holden McKenna and Charlotte Stafford. The three friends have been secretly working together to stop a gas company from drilling for methane gas in the Powder River Basin. Oakley's vocal opposition to the drilling puts her at odds with her mother and her oldest brother, CJ. Oakley is still trying to regain her memory from when CJ "accidentally" shot her in the previous book.
 
There is a great deal happening in this book. Oakley and the rest of the anti-drilling group are fighting hard against the drilling company, which isn't going down without a fight. Oakley is convinced that there was more to her shooting if she can only remember. CJ is up to his neck in dirty dealings and secrets and will do anything to get his way. A private investigator is nosing around about Charlotte's second husband, who disappeared years ago. The sheriff is involved with a woman who isn't what she seems. Pickett has been keeping a big secret that's about to come out, and he and Duffy are looking at Oakley in a new way.
 
The twists and turns of this book kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. I worried about Oakley's safety as her memories began to return. I wondered what kind of havoc CJ was planning and discovered that he was worse than I suspected. The tension around the drilling continued until an intense final confrontation. A questionable suicide from the first book gets stirred up again when new information comes out.
 
There is some romance here, also. Oakley suddenly finds herself looking at Pickett and Duffy differently, just as they are looking at her. Oakley is confused at first because she isn't sure what she feels for each of them. I liked the realism of her struggle because it was clear she cared for both. I was rooting for Pickett because he understood her. There were some sweet scenes between them as they explored those feelings. I like Duffy, but he still has some growing up to do.
 
I liked catching up with Cooper and Tilly as they prepared for their wedding. The Romeo and Juliet vibe is strong because of Charlotte's fury at their relationship. I ached for Tilly because of Charlotte's cruelty. I like the support that Tilly and Oakley give each other.
 
There are still some loose threads hanging. Treyton McKenna is up to something. There are still questions about Charlotte's second husband. A missing person/body is still missing. I also still wonder what the story is about the teenager, Holly Jo, who Holden became the guardian of after her mother's death. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

Dark Side of the River - BJ Daniels (Canary Street Press - Aug 2023)

Series: Powder River (Book 1)
 
Grudges run deep between two ranch families. And so do secrets…
 
There's no avoiding anyone in Powder River's small community -- not even a bitter rival. For years, Cooper McKenna has been thrown together with Tilly Stafford, competing against her at summer rodeos. With all the bad blood between their families, he never imagined they'd be forced to work together. Then Tilly's younger sister is shot, and Cooper comes under suspicion.
 
Determined to get answers, they reluctantly team up, animosity turning to something far more heated -- and no less dangerous. Because someone is watching, with a lot to hide and every reason to kill again…
 
Terrific start to the new series. In Powder River, two prominent ranching families have been feuding for many years - the McKenna and Stafford families. As the book goes on, the author reveals the reasons for the feud piece by piece as they relate to the story's action. The two main characters, Cooper McKenna and Tilly Stafford, have been fierce competitors in local rodeos for many years. But current events turn them into partners, and soon the sparks of animosity turn into sparks of a far more dangerous type.
 
As the book opens, Cooper is returning to the family ranch after two years away. He'd left to escape the memories of being accused of killing his girlfriend. But he's missed his home and is ready to rejoin the family. Shortly after driving onto the ranch property, a rider bursts onto the road in front of him. Barely stopping in time to keep from colliding, Cooper is stunned to discover the rider lying on the road in front of him is Oakley Stafford, Tilly's younger sister, and that she's been shot. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing feud, Cooper is immediately suspected of shooting her himself.
 
When Tilly finds out about Oakley, she's worried and furious. Her first reaction is that a McKenna shot her sister, but she also wonders what Oakley was doing on McKenna land. After meeting with Cooper and hearing what he observed, she is determined to find out who shot her sister. Nothing will dissuade her, so Cooper offers to work with her. He is just as invested in finding out the truth behind what happened.
 
A lot is going on in this book, and the action and suspense kept me hooked from beginning to end. Oakley is in a coma so that no one can get her side of the story. The shooting increases the tension between the two families. Both sides have oldest sons who are hotheaded and secretive, raising questions about what they are involved in. A methane gas company, CH4, is pushing ranchers to allow methane wells on their ranches - some are interested, others are vehemently against it. Holden brings a 12-year-old orphan to the ranch to raise after her mother's death, raising questions about the girl's connection to him. There are secrets involving Holden and Charlotte, including questions about the fates of Charlotte's two husbands.
 
To top it all off, working together to identify the shooter brings Cooper and Tilly closer than they ever expected to be. It isn't long before they realize that the antagonism they felt when they were younger covered a simmering attraction. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to deny the growing attraction and feelings between them. With the bad blood between their families, a successful relationship will take some effort. I liked their honest discussions about their feelings and the difficulties they face. Interestingly, there appeared to be more disapproval on one side than the other. I especially enjoyed Tilly's unexpected dinner at the McKenna ranch. Complicating matters, Tilly has had a few dates with Stuart, the town sheriff, and Cooper's best friend. Stuart's jealousy creates more tension and raises a few questions in my mind about one of his former girlfriends.
 
The story's suspense is good and kept me guessing who the shooter was. As Cooper and Tilly proceed with their investigation, it becomes clear that someone is determined to stop them. I was glued to the pages as they came closer to the who and the why. The shooter came as a complete surprise to me. The final confrontation was an intense chase with an unexpected ending. Justice is a thread left hanging, and it will be interesting to see if it is pursued in later books.
 
I am intensely curious about Holly Jo, the orphan brought to the ranch by Holden. In the beginning, she isn't a likable child, and Holden has his work cut out for him to adjust her attitude. Interestingly, Cooper is the one who connects with her. I liked his combination of understanding and firmness as he dealt with her. I want to know the backstory of how Holden became her guardian.
 
Though the mystery of the shooter was solved by the end of this book, other things still need to be addressed. I can't wait for the next book.