Pure Jonel ~ Confessions of a Bibliophile: Cardwell Cousins

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Wedding at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels

Title: Wedding at Cardwell Ranch
Series: Cardwell Cousins #2
Author: B.J. Daniels
Published: June 17/14 by Harlequin
Length: 224pgs
Format: ecopy
Genre: romantic suspense
Shelf: netgalley
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The highly anticipated continuation of the Cardwell Ranch Collection, read by more than 2 MILLION!

Jackson Cardwell won't stop until she is safe.

In Montana for his brother's nuptials, Jackson Cardwell isn't looking to be anybody's hero. But the Texas single father knows a beautiful lady in distress when he meets her. Someone's hell-bent on making Allie Taylor think she's losing her mind. Jackson's determined to unmask the perp...and guard the widowed wedding planner and her little girl with his life.

Allie has no idea who wants to harm her and take her daughter away. The truth is even more shocking. For Allie's past has stalked her to Cardwell Ranch. And not even the sexy cowboy who awakens irresistible passion may be able to save her from a killer with a chilling agenda.

My Review:

What a trip! My heart was literally in my throat for parts of this novel. I couldn’t even fathom living through this, but Daniels drew me right into the mix. I couldn’t put it down. Even after I finished the novel, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. She engaged me mentally & emotionally. This story was so vividly real that I could picture each and every moment of it. Daniels’ story is completely unique, yet still contains the elements that we’ve come to love from her work. Suspense, intrigue, and romance abound throughout. I found myself dying to know what would happen next, needing to know how the story ended.

As soon as I saw that Jackson was the main character in this novel I knew that it would not only be unforgettable, but completely unique. The characters in this tale really brought it to life. And their individual plights come together in a shocking light that brings the entire story together. Their broken marriages give them a sense of vulnerability. Their closeness with their respective families brought the entire story together. They both bring the main characters together and set them apart. I found myself drawn to the entire cast.

As a whole this was a fantastic novel. It could easily be read as a standalone, as part of the Cardwell Cousins series, or as part of the extended Cardwell series. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any fans of (or even those with a lukewarm interest in) romantic suspense.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Rescue at Cardwell Ranch & Wanted Woman by B.J. Daniels

Title: Rescue at Cardwell Ranch & Wanted Woman
Series: Cardwell Cousins #1/Cascades Concealed #3
Author: B.J. Daniels
Published: May 27/14 by Harlequin
Length: 448pgs
Format: ecopy
Genre: romantic suspense
Shelf: netgalley
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Meet the Cardwell Cousins, the highly anticipated continuation of the Cardwell Ranch collection read by more than 2 MILLION!

Saving her once was risky. Rescuing her again may be fatal.

In Rescue At Cardwell Ranch, when Hayes Cardwell arrived in Big Sky, Montana, for his brother's wedding, the Texas P.I. didn't expect to play hero, but ever since he saved her from a brutal abductor, he can't get McKenzie Sheldon out of his mind and heart.

McKenzie was drawn to Hayes from the moment she awoke and saw the tall, dark cowboy who'd saved her like some Western fantasy. But can he protect her from a danger that's much closer than they think?

In the reader-favorite Wanted Woman, Maggie Randolph was searching for something and running from someone. But she didn't plan on meeting a man she could…trust. Except Timber Falls Deputy Sheriff Jesse Tanner had to catch her before it was too late.

My Review:

Daniels is a master at balancing suspense with romance to create an unforgettable tale. Both of the novels included in this set had me on the edge of my seat. Daniel’s mastery of the English language along with her phenomenal storytelling will keep you riveted throughout. She draws you in right from the very beginning, painting a picture for you. The beauty of Montana shines through in Rescue at Cardwell Ranch. In Wanted Woman the subject matter really packs a punch.

The characters in Rescue at Cardwell Ranch draw you right into the thick of things. They easily carry the story forward on their own. They are intricately developed individuals that you really get to know. The supporting cast is also brilliantly backs them up, lending credence to both their plight & the story as a whole. The cast of Wanted Woman is similarly well developed. It was a shocking contrast switching over to them, but Daniels presents them in a manner that has you falling in love with them as well. There was also quite the contrast between the characters themselves. Watching them come together was priceless.

Not only are these two phenomenal novels separately, but they are also one heck of a team together. Rarely have I seen such well-matched yet quite different novels paired together in a single publication. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone.