Hard Ride to Dry Gulch by Joanna Wayne

By: Unknown on Thursday, July 31, 2014

Title:  Hard Ride to Dry Gulch
Series:  Big D Dads:  The Daltons #3
Author:  Joanna Wayne
Published:  July 1/14 by Mills & Boon Intrigue
Length:  240pgs
Format:   ecopy
Genre:  romantic suspense
Shelf:  netgalley
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A dedicated Detective risks his life to save a woman and her son in this spellbinding Big "D" Dads: The Daltons novel by Joanna Wayne.

A haunting beauty with mesmerizing brown eyes is in desperate need of Dallas homicide detective Travis Dalton's help. Faith Ashburn's troubled teenage son is missing…and may be hiding secrets that could get him—and his mother—killed.

Faith will do whatever it takes to find her boy, even if it means turning to the rugged detective, a man shadowed by his own painful past. When the search reveals a shocking connection to the dangerous criminal Travis has sworn to bring down, Faith has to trust him with her life. And when passion flares, she has to trust him with something she vowed never again to give: her heart.

My Review:

Wayne presents her audience with a well written novel with an artfully developed story. This story is not simply suspenseful, but dramatic as well. Wayne balances the story so that it seems not only possible but painfully real. I really appreciated the variety of ways in which the story was developed, and the fact that there were so many aspects to the story. She takes a very raw and real look at the relationship between mother and son, especially when outside forces have a hand in it.

I appreciated the glimpses into the pasts of both the main characters. It gives you insight as to why they approach events in a certain manner. Also, the fact that they are dealing with more than just the focus of the investigation at hand makes them seem so much more real. Present reality and their personal histories impinge on all aspects of this story. Honestly, my pet peeve with this novel is the female lead’s view of her son. She refuses to see her son as an individual able to function on his own, even at the age of 18, and routinely talks about him as if he were 5. I really found myself running hot and cold with the female lead. There were times when I loved her and other times when I found her to be quite obtuse. The steadfastness of the male lead’s character really balanced this out, as did the subject of the storyline.

As a whole this was an intensely riveting and suspenseful novel. It’s a brilliant read for all lovers of romantic suspense.

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