Sarah’s husband was a good-for-nothing, wife beating, cheating, gambling, black mailer, and now he’s dead. Murdered. No one is mourning his death; not his business associates and particularly not his wife Sarah. She’s leaving her expensive home in Southern California and heading back to the life she knew as a child. While she leaves most of her possessions in storage, unexpected baggage will follow her around like a smell that even Febreeze can’t get out, because bad guys also have modes of transportation – and they’re willing to track her anywhere.
In an effort to get as far away from trouble as geography will allow, she rents a cottage through the internet, not realizing the cottage is owned by Jackson Raines. Turns out Jackson had a mad high school crush on Sarah but she couldn’t give him the time of day for a host of reasons. Now, Jackson’s all grown up and he’s got A LOT going for him; good looks, a prosperous ranch, a very healthy bank account, and a tenderness-slash-virility that is almost irresistible. Even though his rags to riches story is not what she expected, she still can’t be bothered because her sole reason for fleeing to the middle of nowhere is to make a new life for her and her young daughter. A relationship is not on her ‘to-do’ list.
Jackson definitely has some scorch marks left by Sarah and he’s not sure he can forgive her for being unceremoniously dissed in front his high school classmates. But, Jackson is a man whose heart never quite let go, and he’s soon swept up in her arms and her life – a life that has more drama than a Broadway play. Jackson’s falling hard and fast, add in the “lady-in-distress” factor and he’s a goner.
Sarah clearly has issues, particularly in the trusting men arena. After all, her dead husband was a scumbag. She’s got scars and she’s not willing to let anyone make her submissive, or keep her down. They both have to work through their hurt, while dealing with a lots of seriously bad men who are out for Sarah. Not exactly a primrose path to love.
Against the Wind is not for the complacent reader. You’re never sure what bad guy will jump out on the next page, or what horror will befall Sarah next. The romance is steamy and the heroine does grow a spine – no easy feat, given the circumstances she’s put through. There’s no formula here, this is a fast paced story, with interesting twists and turns, and you’ve got to keep track of the characters and who’s playing on what team if you want to solve the mystery.
This is the first in a trilogy featuring the Raines’ brothers, the next two books are due in February and March.
Don’t you just love triology’s – what’s your favorite?
Maria Lokken is an avid romance reader and an award winning television producer
My favorite trilogy by Kat Martin, specifically, is The Bride Trilogy. When I first read Royal's Bride, I was just blown away. I loved the characters and the conflicts mixed within. So, of course, I bought Reese's Bride and Rule's Bride, falling more in love with each brother and their soon-to-be brides.
I cannot wait to open my Christmas presents to see what my boyfriend got me. He knows I love romance and I hope he got me some more Kat Martin, Eloisa James and Elizabeth Hoyt 
Happy Holidays, fellow readers!
