Rest and Be Thankful

Finished May 14

Rest and Be Thankful by Helen McInnes

I read many of this author's romantic suspense novels when I was a young woman and enjoyed them, so picked this title up when I saw it fit one of my reading challenges. It is a very different book from the others of hers I've read. First published in 1949, it follows two women, close friend. Their friendship was forged by their experiences during World War II and earlier when Margaret Peel, the older of the two, guided Sarah (Sally) Bly through a very difficult period of her life. 

They are driving across the continental United States, with their driver a middle-aged Hungarian man who goes by the name of Jackson. In Wyoming, the end up in the middle of a cattle drive, and go to the lodge at the ranch the cattle are from. The ranch is owned by Jim Brent, a veteran of the war, as are some of the cowboys who work there. 

They love the atmosphere of the mountains and the lodge itself, built as a family home, but now housing only Jim. Jim is fighting for the ranch's future and when the women ask about buying the lodge to use as an occasional writers' retreat, he agrees.

The women plan for a month-long retreat for that summer when Atherton Jones, a man they know, has his venue fall through. He sends them the information on the writers he planned for and while they have a different idea of how the retreat will work, they do give in to some of his ideas. The group of writers is mixed consisting of both men and women, older and younger people, and people of different political views. 

The life of a ranch and its work is depicted well, as is the landscape of Wyoming. Many of the characters are working their way through their own issues, whether they realize it or not, and we growth in almost all of them. MacInnes' insight into human behaviour shows here, and while in some ways the novel is very much of its time, it also has themes that are more timeless. An enjoyable and thoughtful read.

First Date: Divorce

Finished January 2

First Date: Divorce by Patricia McLinn

This book is the first book in the series The Wyoming Marriage Association. 

I've read books in three other series by this author and enjoyed them. I chose the book to meet a reading challenge left over from 2025. This book lets us see a variety of viewpoints. The main female character is K.D. Hamilton, a sheriff's deputy from Montana who has been trying to get her boss to let her do investigative work. K.D. was raised by a single mother after her father abandoned the family, and her mother remarried after K.D. left home. She is wary of relationships. She has been lent to the sheriff's office in Bardville, Wyoming and has just arrived at the ranch she was told to come to as the book begins. 

The main male character is Eric Larkin, a lawyer who has been living in Bardville for a short time, having moved there from Chicago after his divorce to be close to a couple of friends and have a fresh start. Along with him has come his assistant, a widowed friend of his mother's. The assistant is on the ball and trying to get Eric to be more social. Eric has kept to himself for the most part, except for his friends, the sheriff and a private investigator who is ex-FBI. 

The situation is a local business just outside of town, who is leasing a county-owned building and operating as a luxury retreat specializing in marriage counselling. A number of couple who stayed there left even more determined to split up, and they've all had one person who engaged a local lawyer for a divorce. Before renewing the lease, the county wants to ensure there isn't anything shady going on. 

K.D. and Eric will pose as a married couple who've been separated a while, but are attempting a reconciliation. Since Eric has kept to himself, no one in town outside of his friends is aware that he's divorced. There is a tight timeline, and they have to create a backstory complete with photographic evidence, so a few ranching women come together to stage wedding and other couple photographs. As K.D. gets involved, she learns more about Eric's ex and why they split. 

The mystery is pretty tame, but the romance has some sizzle. A fun read.

Almost a Bride

Finished November 27

Almost a Bride by Patricia McLinn

This is the first book in the Wyoming Wildflowers series. The main female character Matty Brennan, left her home town six years ago after a sudden relationship breakup. Now she's back to take over the family ranch, but it isn't in the best shape after her uncle mismanaged it. She's working closely with her lead hand to get it back in the black, but one thing she wants to do is irrigate and she need's grant money to do that. Her ex-boyfriend, Dave Currick, runs his own ranch, as well as having a law practice in town. He's noticed her arrival back in town and hopes to reconnect.

When she shows up on his doorstep asking to get married, and quickly, giving her reasons, he agrees. Both of them find their old feelings for each other returning, but things from the past need to be resolved before they can truly move forward. 

Both of them have old habits that they need to figure out how to change, and there are situations that force some of that change. This is a second chance romance, with some interesting characters, and the end sets up things for the next book in the series. 

Lone Wolf

Finished March 30

Lone Wolf by Diana Palmer, Kate Pearce, and Rebecca Zanetti

This is a collection of three short novels all with a wolf as part of the story. 

The first one is Colorado Cowboy by Diana Palmer. This story has twenty-three-year-old Esther Marist is a real jam. Esther had fled her mother Terry's house in Aspen, Colorado after her mother's latest boyfriend Darrin pushed her mother down the stairs in a temper. She has her purse, but not her phone, and isn't really dressed for the winter weather. Esther is afraid to go to the police as Darrin had indicated he had contacts there. She ends up getting a ride from a middle-aged couple driving a semi who drop her off in northern Colorado where she told them she had friends. She ends up on the doorstep of Iraq war veteran Butch Matthews who works for the wildlife service and has a wolf he rehabilitated as a pet. The story is cute, but a little too sweet for my taste. Esther seems worldly wise in some ways, and completely innocent in others. She grew up in boarding schools, but has no friends. She's eager to please and only wants a happy home in her future. As the man hunting her grows near, it is Butch and his friends, who've become hers, along with long-lost family that save the day. 

The second story, The Wolf on Her Doorstep by Kate Pearce is set in the ranching country of California, and was the best story in my opinion. Beth Baker works at the Garcia Ranch and is in charge as the novel opens, with the Garcia family on vacation. She grew up in the area and her brother is a mechanic at the family-run gas station. Beth is also raising two young men, her own son Mike who is home for the summer from college, and her ex-husband's son Wes, who works as an apprentice carpenter in town.  One of the cabins on the ranch is currently rented by Conner O'Neil, a Navy SEALS veteran, and because he hasn't shown up for his weekly supplies from the general store, Beth agrees to take them up to him. Beth has another worry, as her ex-husband Sean has written her son from prison trying to get back into his good books. Beth knows the violence that he's capable of, but Mike was too young to remember the abuse. Wes is with Beth because Sean killed Wes' mother and she offered him a home. Conner has a wolf pet named Loki who accosts Beth soon after she gets to the ranch. I liked Beth as she's no fool, she's capable of a lot of things and has survived some bad times with grace. The chemistry between Beth and Conner was nicely done, and both were drawn as realistic people. A satisfying read. 

The third story is Rescue: Cowboy Style by Rebecca Zanetti and set in rural Wyoming. Hallie is on the run from something and when she crashes her car into a fence in a storm, she made her way to a clubhouse for local cowboys, following the only light she could see. She meets one of the men who own a large ranch in the area, Trent Logan. He's very pushy and although he doesn't force himself on her, he does make some questionable moves and talks in a very sexist way. Hallie has stumbled on something a little mysterious here that she struggles to understand as she still tries to find a way to save herself from what's chasing her. There was a wolf that followed her from her car, and it seems to have been tamed by someone and seems fixated on looking out for her. By the end, there is some sense of what the wolf represents. Hallie is a woman who has a college education, but seems a little helpless, and doesn't seem to put up much resistance to Trent's advances or sexist outlook. This story bothered me in a lot of ways. It seems to be the story referenced by the series indicator attached to the book, Redemption Wyoming, #1. 

All three novels have ex-military men as the male love interest. 

Anger Bang

Finished February 19

Anger Bang by Avery Flynn

This novel is the first in a romance series and the two main characters, Thea and Kade, had their own baggage that they are bringing to their present situation. Thea was a child actress along with her sister and their mother was a stereotypical Hollywood mom, doing everything she could to keep parts coming. But Thea's heart was never in it and she stepped back when she became a teenager and the parts dried up. She is now a paleontologist and loves her job. Kade's story is unveiled as the book progresses, but he had an unhappy childhood that is still unresolved. 

As the novel opens Thea is getting the final fitting for her bridesmaid dress. Her sister's wedding is a reality show event at a camping resort in Wyoming, with footage revealed to fans daily. Both bride and groom are stars looking for a lift in their careers and have agreed to do this as a career move. They are friends as well. As Thea is standing outside her sister's trailer, she meets Kade, the best man and brother of the groom. Kade looks like a rebel with his tattoos, long hair, and motorcycle, but he has a successful entrepreneurial career that belies his looks. 

When Thea overhears her sister say that she didn't even want Thea at the wedding, but the producers insisted, she is hurt. That evening, at the rehearsal event, Thea propositions Kade in front of everyone, on camera, and is surprised when he agrees. As the two spend time together, both trying to escape the cameras and wedding events, the find themselves confessing secrets and growing closer. 

There is lots going on here, with Thea's issues with both her sister and mom, and an unresolved situation at work that we never see resolved. Kade has issues with both his brother and his estranged mom, not to mention his dad who passed away years ago. With his mom at the wedding, things come to a head for him in a way that isn't entirely predictable.

This book has a lot of humour that really makes the story come alive. Thea is a lovely woman who has let herself be a doormat for far too long, and Kade has pushed people away in his life, focusing on his work. It was a quick enjoyable read. 

Sign Off

Finished September 7

Sign Off by Patricia McLinn

This is the first book in a series set in Wyoming around a television journalist. E.M  (Elizabeth) Danniher is newly divorced from a powerful network executive. She also has a contract with said network, and so has found herself redeployed from her role as anchor on the east coast to the "Helping Out" consumer advocacy segment on a small station in Wyoming. 

She's naturally a little angry at the situation, but still striving to do the best job she can. She's recently been able to get a local viewer a refund on a defective toaster. When a school class visits the station, she has a young girl come up to her and insist that she help her with her problem, just as the segment says. But her problem is that her father has been accused of murder and let go due to lack of evidence. Her mother is trying to use that to deny visitation by the father. 

The young girl, Tamantha Burrell knows what she wants and has ordered Elizabeth to do it. Despite herself, Elizabeth's journalistic instincts kick in. When she realizes that the encounter was seen by the sports reporter for the station, ex-football player Mike Paycik, and that he wants to work with her on this story, she finds herself initially reluctant to accept his help. But she gradually realizes that, as a local, he has the contacts that she needs to do a thorough job of this. 

As she and Mike and a very competent female camara person follow the clues in the case, it grows more complex, with old rivals of the accused, wives and girlfriends of the victim, and ramps up with the discovery of the body of the victim after several months of him being missing. 

This book got me very intrigued in the community and in the main character of Danniher. I liked her style and attitude, and her competence. I'm looking forward to more in the series, Caught Dead in Wyoming. 

The Midnight Line

Finished April 30
The Midnight Line by Lee Child, read by Dick Hill

The latest Jack Reacher novel has Reacher travelling on the first bus out, north to Wisconsin. At a rest stop, when Reacher takes a walk, he sees a West Point class ring in a pawn shop window. For reasons he can't entirely explain, he is drawn to track down the person who owned the ring. But not everyone wants to talk, so it often needs some persuasion to find the next link in the chain leading back to her, because the ring is so small, he knows that it is a her.
After a couple of people in the small town the pawn shop is in, the trail leads back to Rapid City, South Dakota, where Reacher finds that he isn't the only one interested in the local link in the chain. There are both local law enforcement, and a private investigator showing interest as well.
As Reacher moves on, to the wild and lonely hills of Wyoming, he finds both unexpected allies, and a much bigger problem than he anticipated.
As always, I enjoy Reacher for both his actions, the lively plot, and his inner thought processes. This is the first book where I've seen him make a serious mistake, and have inner questioning of his actions, and I found that very interesting.
I also like how Child takes on bigger societal issues, and the issues here are real. To me, this book had a similar feel to the twelfth book in the series, Nothing to Lose. As always, there is a woman who figures largely, and this one is a fascinating character. Loved it.

Happiness for Beginners

Finished July 16
Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

Helen Carpenters is 32. She's been divorced for a year from her immature husband Mike. She's trying to figure out how to give herself a kickstart to a new beginning, and decided to sign up for a wilderness survival course that her younger brother Duncan mentioned. When she gets to Duncan's to drop off her dog, she finds that he has forgotten entirely (typical for him) and she must take the dog to her vet to board. She also finds that Duncan's long-time best friend James is also going to the course and is expecting to drive out to Wyoming with her.
Helen is disgruntled by all these surprises, especially as she was looking forward to some solo driving time to belt out the tunes, and a good visit with her grandmother, who brought up her and Duncan in Evanston, along the way. She gets more surprises along the way, from James, from her beloved Grandma Gigi, and from the company, BCSC, who is running the course.
Helen finds the group taking the course mostly consists of university students: guys wanting a near death experience to fuel their adrenaline, and sorority girls wanting to tone their bodies. She ends up befriending a young woman named Windy, beautiful and nice, and a good listener. The challenges of the trek are daunting to many: no soap, no washing, no deodorant, no toilet paper, sleeping under tarps rather than in tents, and only one book each. But Helen welcomes these, reading the company's guide as her book, and relying on the advice in Chuck Norris jokes she has grown to know from her boss at work. She also learns that she must deal with all the issues of her past to move forward.
This is a story of learning one's strengths, working as a team, and recognizing that we sometimes need help in recognizing love when it comes along.

Written in Fire

Finished June 17
Written in Fire by Marcus Sakey, performed by Luke Daniels

This is the last book of a trilogy, of which I have not read the first two. I was still able to get up to speed fairly quickly on the situation. Sometime around 1980, people started being born with exceptional abilities. Some could hear or see better. Many were exceptionally smart, especially in the sciences. Some had the ability to predict movement by people around them. Some had abilities that made life immensely difficult, like one man who life moved much more quickly for him, so that the actions and words and sounds around him were all in slow motion.
Many of the people were discriminated against, put in special academies that were more like prisons. So some of them rebelled, tried to form their own societies.
As this book begins, about thirty years have passed. The book follows Nick Cooper, a man who has tried to do the best for his country and the people on both sides. Nick is a brilliant himself. He has worked for the government, trying to work against those that would destroy it. But other brilliants would take revenge on the rest of the world for how they have been treated, and are willing to destroy the rest of humanity to do so. In a world where people are fighting for their lives, trying to keep their families and friends safe, Nick struggles to figure out how to keep his family and country safe as things come to a head at a community in Wyoming.
There is a good storyline here, and lots of interesting characters. The only drawback I found was that it was all U.S. centric. I had no sense of how the rest of the world had reacted or if other countries were facing similar issues.

The Cold Dish

Finished May 15
The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson

I heard an interview with this author on CBC a few weeks ago and became intrigued. I decided to start with the first book in the series, which is this one. The setting is Wyoming, and Walt Longmire is the local sheriff. Walt is a Vietnam vet, in his fifties, a widower with a daughter who has moved away. He is a bit stuck in his grief since his wife died two years ago. His friends are trying to get him to move on, to finish the house his wife and him were building, and to maybe start a new relationship.
When he is notified of a man killed out in a field he sends his deputy, but the case looks like it might be linked to a case a while back where four young white men convinced a mentally handicapped young native woman to come with them and then sexually abused her. The dead man is one of the four men.
As the case progresses, Walt must depend on his friend Henry, and Henry must depend on Walt. The two of them fight to find the truth, against nature, against deceit, and with the help of the ancients. There is an emphasis on the type of gun used to commit the crime, and one gun like this comes into Walt's possession, the Cheyenne Death Rifle, with it's own story and interesting history. There are lots of interesting characters here, including Walt's deputy a young woman previously working for the Philadelphia police. Definitely a series I'd like to read more of.

Suspense

Finished July 5
Blood Trail by C.J. Box
Joe Pickett is back, still working as a game warden, but not assigned to a particular area. Joe works where he is needed, which means he is away a lot and he and his family now live at a house in town rather than at the warden's house.
He is just looking forward to some time at home with his family, when he is called back in on a special case. Someone is hunting hunters. A hunter has been found dead, treated like the elk he was hunting would have been. Two previous hunting deaths are looked at in a new light following this. The governor wants to ensure this is stopped and has asked Joe to assist in this case.
While this is happening, the antihunting activist Klamath Moore arrives in town and stirs up things further. A decrease in hunting will impact the state's revenues and that isn't good for the governor or the game wardens. Everyone is working together on this, even those who don't like each other. But there are still secrets, and Joe is determined to get to the bottom of them.
A classic suspense, with mistreated good guys, and not always clear lines between right and wrong.