RANCHER'S DREAM – B.J. Daniels
A Perfect 10
The Montana Cahills , Book 4
HQN
ISBN: 978-1-335-00699-8
July 2018
Contemporary Romance

Gilt Edge, Montana – Present Day

It should be the happiest day of Deidre “Drey” Hunter's life marrying Ethan Baxter. Yet, Drey has a sense of dread…that something bad is about to happen. It doesn't help that Ethan brings her to the gaudy mansion he built overlooking her hometown of Gilt Edge. Then, on her wedding night, Ethan disappears. Drey's nightmare has only begun. After she wakes up the next morning and discovers Ethan gone, his brother arrives and convinces her that her husband is away on a trip. Drey is soon suspicious of the brother, especially after she realizes he may be drugging her. Unsure what to do, she turns to the one man she knows she can trust: her ex-boyfriend, Hawk Cahill.

Hawk and Drey were young and in love but a pregnancy that she later lost broke them up. Drey suspects she is being set up to appear delusional, but whom can she trust with her suspicions? Hawk's land is next door to the mansion, and when he sees that she is suffering some kind of breakdown, he steps in. It appears that Hawk may be the only one who doesn't think she's crazy. Where is her husband, and why is she being targeted?

In RANCHER'S DREAM, the terror for Drey is laid out slowly and eerily and will pull readers into the story wondering what is going on. Ethan swept her off her feet and she thought she was going to start a new life in New York City, but to her surprise, he informs her as they drive from the reception that they'll be spending the next few days at the monstrous house he had specially built. But once in the house, Ethan excuses himself to attend to something and she waits for him in their bedroom. She falls asleep and awakens the next morning to discover no husband and no sign he'd ever returned to their bedroom. But she does find his brother in the house. While the man is pleasant, strange things start to happen, and she starts to feel like she's drunk, except she doesn't drink. After a couple of days of no Ethan, she contacts Hawk's sister and then turns to him for help.

Hawk never forgot Drey, and while they live in the same town, they've managed to avoid coming into contact. He tries to remain neutral in his dealings with Drey, but does he still have feelings for her?  Like Drey, he senses there is something going on with Ethan, even though everything points to her being delusional. What about Drey's brother-in-law…is he responsible? How does he appear to know a couple of things from the shared past of Drey and Hawk? Drey can't shake the feeling that she is being stalked by death.

In much of RANCHER'S DREAM, Drey and Hawk spend it apart, but the chilling terror she experiences will have you on the edge of your seat. Everything is laid out meticulously by B.J. Daniels, and readers will sense there is something about to occur as each happening leads to more questions. It isn't until the very end that the truth comes out. But will it be too late for Drey and Hawk?

A secondary story in RANCHER'S DREAM focuses on Billie Dee, the cook in the bar owned by Hawk's siblings. Billie has been searching for her daughter. A DNA test proves a match, but will Billie be reunited with her? Characters who have appeared in other  The Montana Cahills  books make appearances, but this one can easily be read as a standalone.

RANCHERS DREAM is a compelling tale right from the start, and I found myself not wanting to put it down as I needed the answers to what was happening to Drey. For this reason, I had to give RANCHERS DREAM a  Perfect Ten . While the suspense is gripping, at the heart of it is Drey and Hawk's reunion. Will they get a second chance at love?

Patti Fischer