This was an exciting and complicated book. It starts when Livie, having had an argument with her fiance, Cooper, drives off in a huff into a worsening snowstorm. She ends up driving into a ditch, from which a stranger rescues her. Later we find out that she wakes up naked in bed with no idea how she got there or what happened. Three months later, she's receiving blackmail threats, things are still rocky between her and Cooper, and she's three months pregnant with no idea who the father is. To say that she is in turmoil would be an understatement. She knows she has to tell him, but she's worried about how he'll take it. She loves him and doesn't want to lose him.

Cooper is the head wrangler on Livie's father's ranch. After some rough years as a teenager he pulled his life together and has made something of himself. He's got some land of his own and a few wild mustangs that he's training. He's loved Livie since the first time he met her and sometimes has trouble believing that she loves him too. He knows that people are saying that he's marrying her for her money and is determined to prove them all wrong, to the point where he refuses to accept any of the help that her father offers. It doesn't help that he knows her sisters don't think that he's good enough for her. Ever since their argument back in January, he's had a feeling that there's something wrong, and when she finally tells him he doesn't know what to think.

At this point, both Livie and Cooper are in pain and both are somewhat responsible. Livie should have told him what happened as soon as she got back, instead of pretending everything was fine. She compounded the problem when she didn't tell him about the pregnancy or the blackmail notes, leaving him feeling like she neither loves nor trusts him. On the other hand, if Cooper hadn't been so proud and unwilling to bend even a little, Livie might have felt more comfortable going to him right away. I did like the fact that once he recovered from the shock, Cooper was determined to track down the mysterious man and get to the bottom of the trouble. But it turns out to be more complicated than either expected.

The house she was taken to doesn't belong to the blackmailer, but there may be a connection to the lady of the house. The man turns up in Beartooth, but claims he's not blackmailing her, never slept with her, only drugged her so she could sleep. After the man confronts Livie while she's alone, Cooper goes looking for him. The next day, the man is found dead and Cooper accused of his murder. Adding another layer of stress to the relationship between Cooper and Livie, his former girlfriend wants him back and will do anything to make it happen. One of Livie's rejected suitors also gets in on the action.

Livie's father, Senator Buckmaster Hamilton, has spoiled his six daughters since the death of their mother twenty-two years earlier, trying to make up for her loss by giving them what they want. He married again, but Angelina wasn't interested in being a mother, just advancing her husband's political career. Now that he's a possible candidate for president, she's worried about how all these problems will affect their plans. Things get even more complicated when his first wife, Sarah, turns up, very much alive, but with amnesia. She claims she just wants a chance to get to know her daughters, but people are skeptical. Angelina is furious, but how far is she willing to go to protect her husband's political career?

The tension and surprises just kept building throughout the book. With the problems they were having, I really wasn't sure at the beginning just how good a chance Cooper and Livie had to make a go of their relationship. It wasn't easy, but they did manage to earn back each other's trust, and belief in their future. As for the blackmailer and the murderer, there were several twists that kept me guessing as to who it might be. I had a feeling about the identity, but I couldn't figure out the why and the how until almost the end. There was also a last bit of a threat to Livie's life, where only her ability to stay calm in a crisis kept her safe until Cooper could come to her rescue. While the mystery of the threat to Livie is solved by the end of the book, the questions of Sarah's return carry over into the next book.

I also enjoyed the appearances of various characters from the Beartooth, Montana series, especially Sheriff Frank Curry. He is the lawman in charge of the murder investigation and the questions surrounding Sarah's return from the dead. There is a glimpse into his continuing issue with the young woman who tried to kill him. ( )

4 "Blackmailing Montana Royalty" Stars for the story and narration! Wow, this book is sure to keep you guessing with it's numerous suspense-filled sub-plots, one of which appears to arc over the entire series. Wild Horses is the first in a 6-book series which will feature the extremely wealthy Hamilton family of Beartooth, Montana, who made their money in ranching. The patriarch of the family, Buckmaster Hamilton, is a US Senator, who many have pegged with White House aspirations, and each book features the love life of one of his six daughters.

In the case of Wild Horses, we learn the story of Livie Hamilton, and her fiance, Cooper Burnett, who is a rancher who works for Livie's father. As you can imagine, the differences in their socioeconomic backgrounds, and a number of past secrets intermingle to threaten Livie's and Cooper's HEA.

Intermixed within this story is the story of Livie's mother, who disappeared from the Hamilton mansion over 22-years ago. Each family member has a different way of coping with this tragedy, but there is no doubt that even two decades later, this great mystery is still having its impact on the family. Further adding intrigue to the whole plot is a meddling, step-mother who stepped into Livie's mother's shoes, but never cared much for her step-daughters, just the potential long reach of her husband's political career.

Further complementing this story is the solid narration by Graham Winton. Mr. Winton does a fabulous job of coloring this story with the appropriate western drawl that would no doubt be prevalent in Montana. Additionally, Mr. Winton generally did a good job of varying his intonation to provide distinguishable voices for each of the many characters, allowing the listener to sit back and enjoy the story without having to overly rely on dialogue tags. In fact, you could practically hear some of the personality traits dripping from his characterizations of a number of the characters, including, for example, the scheming, socialite, political ladder climbing tendencies of Buckmaster's second wife.

Mr. Winton also did a good job of communicating the particular mood of the scene. By, for example, increasing the speed of his delivery during the more heightened suspense scenes, and drawing out some of the parts where the effect was to add to the allure of the mystery.

All in all, I was pleased with Mr. Winton's performance and look forward to listening to more of his works in the future.

Wow, revenge, blackmail, love, and unexplained mysteries abound in this fantastic western romantic suspense title! The only reason I'm giving Wild Horses four, rather than five, stars is because I was anxiously awaiting the unraveling of the remaining mystery (ie, the one I hinted to above, which I now realize, will likely arc the whole series), and was so shocked to find that it was not resolved at the end of the book. But that means that now I am even more anxious to explore more of the Hamilton family's secrets and desires. Fortunately for me, Book 2, Lone Rider, just released earlier this week!

Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Contemporary, Romantic Suspense

Beartooth, Montana

One impulsive moment on a two-lane highway cost Livie Hamilton more than she could imagine.

Cooper Barnett is a determined cowboy that feels a man is responsible for his own prosperity. What he has sacrificed to get a piece of Beartooth, Montana for himself and his fiancée, Livie, no one could know or guess. What he is willing to do for love no one knows. At least until someone’s twisted vendetta threatens their happy ending, one that should have happened long ago.

Livie is keeping more than one secret from her fiancé. One fateful mistake is just the beginning. She was victimized during a blizzard by a man she mistakenly thought she could trust. Now she is pregnant and isn’t sure who the father is. With the threat of exposure by a blackmailer, she now must confess all to Cooper and trust that he will still protect her. When the truth comes out she might end up losing the only man she has ever loved or something even worse.

This is part of a series set in and around the small town of Beartooth that makes for a wonderful return to the town and population. It will have readers wondering how it is possible to have so much happening in such a small town but makes for a series that is fun and interesting to revisit time and time again. It has plenty of action and suspense that the reader will never guess just what is going to happen next. It will also have readers hoping for more from Beartooth. While the story can easily be read as a standalone readers will find it much better if they read the other books in the series first. Readers who enjoy westerns or contemporaries will find an amazing series in this one. Even readers that don’t enjoy westerns will find themselves loving this series. It is definitely one to check out.

Received a review copy. ( )

WILD HORSES by B. J. Daniels is an interesting Romance, Mystery & Thrillers.
The Montana Hamiltons #1 Fast paced tale of secrets, mystery, danger, passion, romance, Blackmail, and true love. An interesting tale, with engaging characters. The secrets and blackmail is amazing with many twists and turns. Oh, I did forget to mention murder? Well, the readers will find many intriguing things about WILD HORSES, not just passion, romance and love but life's complications, and the wild ride to finding your HEA. I enjoyed how Cooper Barnett and Livie Hamilton come to terms with all the secrets, danger, passion and blackmail. A well written story, with vivid descriptions and a passionate romance. I would suggest picking up WILD HORSES for your reading pleasure.

*Received for an honest review*

Rating: 4

Heat rating: Mild

Reviewed by: AprilR. courtesy of My Book Addiction and More ( )