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K A T M A R T I N · · · New York Times bestselling author · · · · Historical Romance · Contemporary · Romantic Suspense · |
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REVIEWS OF AGAINST THE WIND 4 weeks on the New York Times best seller list!
Complete with bad guys, gun fights, and romance, this book will not disappoint . . . Reviewed by Melissa Per her usual, Ms. Martin not only writes a highly entertaining book; in Against The Wind she also tackles some major social issues in the process. Past books have touched upon such topics as Alzheimer’s disease, aging and imprisonment to name a few. This novel takes on the subject of spousal abuse and the myriad of feelings and hurdles it takes to overcome such a relationship. For an author who generally empowers her heroines with steely independence, it was interesting to read a character that had to depend on others to help her triumph over the intricacies of domestic violence and the long-term psychological effects it has on those who are victims. Sarah Allen is a strong woman who must face the fact that she needs Jackson Raines’ help to solve the mystery surrounding those who are hounding her for something her deceased husband left behind as well as to keep her young daughter safe. Jackson Raines is a strong, capable man who wrestles the boy within to overcome childhood issues of abandonment and shame. We are cheering for him from the beginning, easy to do with a handsome rancher who has made a good life from a questionable start. Ms. Martin crafts her characters with vigilant detail. Sarah’s seeming inability to make a decision at times typifies those recovering from the stress of abuse. These are people we know, and because of the realism she writes into each we strongly identify with them. The pace of this book is outstanding. I found myself picking it up to read just a few more pages when I should have been doing other things. As Sarah and Jackson peel away the layers of the mystery we begin to wonder not only who is after Sarah for what, but also how her husband was actually murdered. The ending gave me a great sense of justice and satisfaction. Set in the beautiful mountains of Wyoming you can almost taste the dust and feel the sun. As the story unfolds on a large cattle ranch she details the modern western life with great accuracy. The friction between the logging companies and the ranchers is precise. The ancillary characters give the book a depth and a believable quality. Complete with bad guys, gun fights, and romance, this book will not disappoint. I look forward to the next in the series, Against the Fire, and continue to hold Kat Martin’s talents in very high esteem.
Kat Martin has delivered yet another rockin’ romantic suspense ... stockpiled with suspense and passion . . . Reviewed by Melissa Sarah Allen had genuinely cared about Jackson Raines in high school, but she let peer pressure make her act cruelly towards him. Something that she’s regretted ever since. Now she’s returned to Wind Canyon, Wyoming to start over after the murder of her abusive husband and she’s renting a place on Jackson’s ranch. She just wants to live in peace with her daughter and is surprised that the attraction between she and Jackson still exists; they might have second chance together. But the criminals her husband was involved with believe that she knows the location of a secret they are looking for and they will stop at nothing to make Sarah tell them. Can Jackson protect Sarah and her daughter? And what happens when all the secrets surrounding her husband’s murder are revealed?
Kat Martin has delivered yet another rockin’ romantic suspense. Stockpiled with suspense and passion, Against the Wind kept me reading dying to find out the truth! I could re-read Sarah and Jackson’s story again and again and I’ll be intently waiting for Jackson’s brothers’ upcoming stories! I can’t recommend Against the Wind highly enough! Top notch action that will have you on the edge of your seat . . . Romance Reviews Today (will be posted in early Jan 2011) Reviewed by Patti FischerSarah Allen was the beautiful and popular girl that “born on the wrong side of the tracks” Jackson Raines worshipped in high school. She once rejected and humiliated him, and he’s never forgotten her. Then he learns that the single mother renting his cabin is none other than Sarah, and things have swung to other side of the wealth spectrum for them. Jackson is now a wealthy rancher in Wind Canyon, while Sarah is barely scraping by while trying to raise her daughter Holly. Jackson should still be angry at Sarah for the past, but instead, he feels lust—and protectiveness for Sarah and Holly. Seems Sarah’s late husband abused her and also left her with a big financial mess. To top it off, someone is after something they think she has, and they aren’t afraid to use force. Sarah no longer loved her late husband, Andrew Hollister, by the time he died, but even in death he still has a grip on her life. Strangers are calling and coming up to her demanding she turn over a flash drive belonging to Andrew. She is also stunned to realize her landlord is none other than Jackson. He and his brothers were poorer than dirt growing up and he’s grown into a handsome, virile man. Add in his wealth and power in Wind Canyon and he’s a man to be reckoned with. Jackson proves to be stellar at protecting Sarah and Holly, and she’s very grateful. But there’s too much of her past still inside her to even think of getting romantically involved with him. Sarah thought her life would be perfect once she arrived in Los Angeles all those years ago, later marrying Andrew after her parents’ unexpected deaths. However, her husband not only abused her and threatened her, but he kept her in the dark as far as his financial affairs. Now finally free after he was murdered, she’s bent on a new life in Wind Canyon. Sarah has not a clue where the flash drive is. Meanwhile, she tries to ignore the attraction between herself and Jackson. The last thing she wants or needs is to allow him to get too close to her or her daughter. Now she’s in fear for her life and that of Holly’s as unknown men harass her over the missing flash drive. But Jackson will do anything to protect them from harm. The sexual tension between Sarah and Jackson smolders right from the start. Jackson should still be angry over her rejection of him in high school, but another part of his body makes him aware that his feelings for her aren’t dead. Sarah attempts to push Jackson away. She has no business getting involved with him with her life still in upheaval. Until the past is buried, she can’t look at the future, and besides, Holly comes first. But despite all their obstacles, they do indeed grow closer… Much of AGAINST THE WIND is about the mystery surrounding the missing flash drive and the attempts by Jackson and Sarah to find it. Meanwhile, the relationship between them builds, and it’s only Sarah’s resistance that prevents them from a full blown love. Sarah has secrets, some of which she doesn’t reveal to Jackson. Will the unveiling of them blow their tenuous relationship apart, or will it bring them closer? Can they find out exactly what Andrew Hollister was up to and stop the threats against Sarah and Holly? It’s a race to a climactic conclusion that will resolve everything, but not before a surprise or two. In the first tale in Kat Martin’s new trilogy, The Raines of Wind Canyon, we catch glimpses of Jackson’s brothers Devlin and Gabe, and their stories follow shortly. I can’t wait. Grab a copy of AGAINST THE WIND and get ready for some topnotch action that will have you on the edge of your seat. A page- turner full of compassion and love shared by two unlikely souls. . .
Reviewed by
Kay Quintin A wonderful wind sweeping romance and mystery. . . Writing a western romance is more than just knowing the lay of the land or the history it is grabbing the flavor for the people and surroundings. Kat Martin has completed captured that with Sarah and Jackson’s story in showcasing these two people and the lives they lead in a part of the country that has its own pace and feel to life. This story brings romance, suspense and the most wonderful feeling that reminds us we are all suckers for romantic ending. A story filled with romance, grit, tension and suspense . . . êêêêHOT - With the first novel of her new Raines of Wind canyon trilogy, Martin brings us a rugged hero, a strong-willed heroine and a story filled with romance, grit, tension and suspense set in the Wyoming mountains. Martin definitely delivers. Summary: When his housekeeper rents out a cottage on his ranch, the last person Jackson Raines expects to see as his new tenant is Sarah Allen, who humiliated him in high school. Jackson doesn't want her on his land, yet he gives in to her pleas and lets her stay. Soon old feelings resurface - for Jackson and Sarah. When trouble appears, Sara will need Jackson by her side in more ways than one. The story doesn’t end until the final page. . . http://contemporaryromancewriters.com/ Ratings: Overall: 9, Sensuality: 8, Sub-Genre: 9 Have you ever felt like you can’t get anything right? That no matter how hard you try to move on, something keeps bringing you back and forcing you to relive your mistakes or a tragedy over and over again? Then you will absolutely relate to Kat Martin’s newest heroine ....
I really enjoyed this story. Ms. Martin does a wonderful job of building the suspense in the story. We are never quite sure who the villain is and what is going to happen next. Throughout the story we root for Jackson and Sarah to figure it out so they can live happily together. We want their relationship to be a success, but understand the obstacles they face. Ms. Martin’s compassion and realistic portrayal of life for abused women will strike a chord with anyone. ...
I am looking forward to the next stories in the trilogy as we learn what love and life has in store for Jackson’s two brothers, Gabe and Dev. The Raines of Wind Canyon Wyoming ranch romance is an engaging second chance at love tale. . . Reviewed by Harriett Klausner êêêêê In Wind Canyon, Wyoming, sexagenarian Olivia Jones rents a cottage to Widow Sarah Allen and her six year old daughter Holly. Sarah left Santa Monica following the death of her husband Andrew whose shady business partners like Marty Kazak want something they believe she has inherited from her spouse. The owner of the house and the ranch it is on Jackson Raines is irate with his housekeeper for leasing to that woman though he knows he is being unfair to Olivia. He wants Sarah to leave, but she persuades him to let her stay. Jackson vows to keep his distance from the girl who humiliated him in high school. However, just what he feared would happen occur as Jackson knows he remains attracted to Sarah. She reciprocates, but knows she hurt him so tries to keep her distance and conceal her desire; besides she has a dark secret hovering over her. However, when Sarah is in trouble with Andrew's nasty associates, Jackson protects her at a risk to his heart. The Raines of Wind Canyon Wyoming ranch romance is an engaging second chance at love tale as she regrets what she did to him in high school and he rues her return as his humiliation by her still remains raw even after sixteen plus years. The suspense comes late, but adds to a strong tale as the heroine's Southern California past comes to Wyoming. Harriet Klausner This is a comfortable book to spend a stormy afternoon with. . . Reviewed by Barb Against the Wind is the first book in Kat Martin’s latest series about the “no account Raines boys”. Jackson was humiliated in high school by his secret crush, Sarah, when she refused to attend the prom with him. He headed off to college on a boxing scholarship and has since made millions of dollars. He longed to be back in Wind Canyon and bought Raintree Ranch and has become a rancher. Sarah Allen packs up her daughter and leaves L.A., hoping to leave ugly memories behind. Her husband has been murdered and no one seems overly motivated to solve the murder, least of all her. He spent years beating her and spending time with a series of mistresses. Although when they married, he had lots of money, his spending habits and his gambling problems left Sarah almost penniless and his estate massively in debt. Sarah leaves L.A. to return to Wind Canyon, the town of her childhood where she felt safe. It seems that the cabin she has arranged to rent for her and Holly, her daughter, is on Raintree Ranch, now owned by Jackson. Jackson doesn’t want her living on his property because of what happened in high school, but he’s immediately attracted to her again, and decides to let her stay. Unfortunately Sarah’s problems have followed her from L.A. Her cabin is ransacked and she is confronted in town by a man with a gun. Everyone seems to be looking for a list or a disc containing her late husband’s blackmail information. I’ll leave the rest of the story for you to read without spoiling the details! The pacing of this story is good. The reader is gently lead along through the details of what’s happened in the past as well as the current story. We are kept in suspense at times, but not left missing an essential piece of the puzzle as happens in some stories. .... There is gentle chemistry between Jackson and Sarah. I’m used to glitter filled historical romances that Kat Martin writes. The swash-buckling heros of the Necklace trilogy or the alpha men in the Heart trilogy. This is a different style of novel from what I’m used to reading from Ms. Martin. This isn’t a book filled with clothing flying and graphic details, it is the progression of a love story with just enough details to be titillating. There are enough suspenseful moments to keep the story interesting without suspense being the overwhelming theme. This is a comfortable book to spend a stormy afternoon with! This is a terrific read. It's passionate and suspenseful all the way thru . . . Reviewed by Donna Doyle After her husband's murder. Sarah Allen moves back to her old hometown with her young daughter Holly. She's staying at a small place on the ranch of Jackson Raines - a man she once humiliated in high school. He's not happy to see her there, but allows her to stay on. As her troubles follow her, Jackson steps in with his help time and again. Threats cause him to take her back to California to locate something that could make the threats stop. Not only are the thugs that her former husband associated with threatening, but one nasty policeman and one FBI agent pay her personal visits. This is a terrific read. It's passionate and suspenseful all the way thru. Congrats to the author, Kat Martin, on another outstanding novel. |