WEDDING AT CARDWELL RANCH by B.J. Daniels

Publisher:  Harlequin

Published:   June 17, 2014

ISBN:  978-0373697700

Genre:   Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Format:  Kindle   
Obtained via:  Publisher via Netgalley

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Gina@loveromancesandmorereviews.com

FOUR HEARTS

In Big Sky for his brother Tag’s wedding, Jackson Cardwell wants nothing more than to fly into town, stand by his brother at his wedding and check out the location for the new Texas Boys Barbecue.  He’s had one broken heart along with a broken marriage and is certainly not going to make that mistake again.  So when he arrives with his five-year old son, Ford, the last thing he expects is to be attracted to wedding planner Allie Taylor.

Like Jackson, Allie’s one marriage left her sour on the subject.  Married to an abusive and manipulate man, she’s pretty much sworn off men.  Before her husband, Nick, died, she was preparing to leave him.  Now, months later she still feels guilty at his death – even though she had nothing to do with it.  Complicating her guilt is her overbearing mother-in-law, Mildred and the strange things that keep happening to her—like Nick’s clothes appearing in her house…clothes she long ago gave away.

Like most abusers Nick isolated Allie from her friends, but one friend, Belinda, stood by her as did her newly found sister, Megan…or did they.  When Jackson witnesses some of the strange occurrences surrounding Allie, despite his vow not to get involved with another woman, he can’t help himself.  When Allie’s five-year old daughter, Natalie, disappears in the middle of the night more than his head becomes involved with the young widow.  

Can Jackson and Allie overcome their rocky marriages and open their hearts to each other before something truly bad happens to Allie?

I’ve enjoyed B.J. Daniels’s Montana Mystique series from the first book, CRIME SCENE AT CARDWELL RANCH. Her latest, WEDDING AT CARDWELL RANCH steps deeper into suspense and mystery offering readers an action packed, psychological thriller.  Despite seeing the set ups to make Allie think she is losing her mind, I wondered if in fact maybe she had a psychological break from her abusive husband.  Ms. Daniels skilfully manipulated Megan onto the scene in a manner plausible to both the reader and Allie.   I liked the way and timing of how the author brought Jackson around to opening his heart to another woman despite his resolve to avoid that very relationship due to a bad marriage. 

Dana, Hud, Tag and the other Cardwell’s backstories were nicely woven into this latest story.  There were no jarring scene transitions but a really nice flow of events.

I really liked the western themed wedding idea and wouldn’t mind attending one like that myself if not being an outright participant.

I look forward to the next book in this series.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.