REVIEW: Unforgiven by B.J. Daniels
The Wests and the Grants have been at odds with one another since the murder of Ginny West and the suspicion that Carson Grant was the killer, eleven years ago. Will Destry Grant and Rylan West ever have another chance at love when the murder is solved? Or will the murders continue, endangering them all?
Unforgiven by B.J. Daniels
Beartooth, Montana series, Book 1
Available November 20, 2012
ISBN: 978-0373776733, Rated 4 out of 5 Stars
Book and review courtesy of Romance Junkies.
Ginny West’s murder has hung over the town of Beartooth, Montana like a cloud, overshadowing hopes and dreams for eleven years. Rylan West had joined the rodeo to get away from the love he knew would never be his, when his sister’s murder hadn’t been solved, and his girlfriend’s brother was the likely suspect. Carson Grant had been sent away by his father who feared he’d be arrested for the murder. Destry Grant had lost her first love, Rylan, and her older brother, Carson, at the same time, yet she stayed in Beartooth, making a life for herself on her family’s ranch.
After eleven years, the young men have returned at the same time. One has tired of his wanderlust ‒ the other has been summoned by his father. When the murder case is reopened by the sheriff due to new evidence, none of them will rest well until the case is solved. Can they trust one another enough to work together to solve the mystery surrounding Ginny West’s death? Or will the strain of distrust drive a permanent wedge between them all?
The multiple romantic entanglements within UNFORGIVEN suit the suspenseful plot perfectly, giving the reader time to develop suspicions and feel invested in the town’s plight. There are quite a few very interesting secondary characters who kept me guessing as to who was lying and who was not. In truth, UNFORGIVEN read more like a thriller than a romantic suspense because it was edgier and more fast-paced, allowing the romance between Destry and Rylan to slowly progress. I was intrigued by the intertwining storylines that kept me from guessing “who done it”. I also felt that a faster pacing of the romance between Destry and Rylan would have been unrealistic, considering the circumstances of their previous relationship, in addition to the conflict happening eleven years later. This gives the reader a chance to get to know multiple characters within the town of Beartooth and hopefully, those secondary characters will make an appearance in future books. Also, there was at least one loose end that wasn’t resolved that has me very curious for the next book, REDEMPTION.
I especially enjoyed the rapid-fire suspense toward the end of UNFORGIVEN. The mystery had been layered from the beginning, and although I had my suspicions of who the killer was, I was very surprised by the turn of events. The last one-third of the book was gripping, which made me race to the finish.
This is the first book by B.J. Daniels that I’ve read, but I’m sure I’ll be adding a few more. Tightly woven, author B.J. Daniels’ storytelling is the perfect pace for a modern western adventure. Readers who love stories about the rugged Montana landscape will surely enjoy the start of this series and look forward to what’s next.
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What’s on your mountain?
