Review - - Before Buckhorn

Before Buckhorn

by B.J. Daniels

Buckhorn, Montana - Book 4

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: February 22, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

Former cop Jasper Cole has come home to Buckhorn to ranch—and to find some peace. But there’s one part of his past he doesn’t object to facing again. Darby Fulton acts like she’s forgotten the searing one-night stand they shared in college, but to Jasper, she’s as fascinating and tempting as ever. And when she’s drawn into an unsettling local mystery, he follows, despite his misgivings.

Bad things have been happening to Buckhorn residents, and Darby’s sure it has something to do with a new store called Gossip. As a newspaper publisher, she can’t ignore the story, any more than she can ignore her deep attraction to Jasper. And as their investigation reignites that spark, it also pulls them both into a twisted scheme of revenge, where secrets are a deadly weapon…

PJ's Thoughts:

Note to self: don't start a B.J. Daniels book at night. I know better. At least, I should know better. Obviously I don't, considering I finally closed my Kindle at 3:00 AM because I kept falling asleep and dropping it on my pillow. Thankfully, not on my face. Did I mention I had to get up at 7:00 AM for an early appointment? Did I care? No, I did not. I was that immersed in this story. I needed to know what was going to happen next. If only I could have kept my eyes open. 

Daniels set the stage for this story from the first page with the creepiness of gathering crows foreshadowing danger, death...possibly murder? She gave me a community of intriguing characters with complex backgrounds. Then she added in the mysterious Leviathan Nash, newly-arrived owner of Gossip, an invitation-only business that has Buckhorn's citizens on edge...and worse. What exactly was happening in those 30-minute sessions with the weird little man that was causing devastation, rage, and worse among the fine folks of Buckhorn? And why does it seem like Jasper Cole and Darby Fulton are smack-dab in the middle of Nash's quest? Who is this man? What does he want? And how far will he go to get it?

Before Buckhorn is twisty, compelling, mysterious, creepy, and impossible to put down. It's the kind of story that pulled me in, gave me a main couple to pull for, secondary characters who tugged at my heartstrings, danger that had my heart in my throat, and sent me on an emotional roller coaster ride, all the while keeping me on the edge of my seat as I tried (and failed) to figure out exactly what would happen next. I loved it!

This is the fourth book in Daniels' Buckhorn, Montana series. While the main storyline of Before Buckhorn stands well on its own, there were pieces of information about key secondary characters, past events, and future stories that I felt I would have understood better had I already read the first three books in the series. I will be doing that soon. 

Review, Q&A, and Giveaway - - Restless Hearts

Restless Hearts
by B.J. Daniels
Montana Justice - Book 1
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: November 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

He’s fighting for a second chance with his first love…before it’s too late.

The last time PI Blaze McClintock was on her family’s ranch, she left in handcuffs. She vowed then to never go home again…until her estranged father is accused of murder. He’s not a good man—this entire Montana town knows that. But Blaze believes her father is innocent and she’ll do anything to prove it, even ask the one man who broke her heart for help—the only man in town who’s on her side.No matter how hard he tried, Jake Horn could never forget Blaze. As teenagers, their passion ignited, leaving destruction in their wake. Now, years later, it’s obvious little has changed. But as they work together to unravel what really happened that night, a dangerous secret threatens to separate them for good. This time, though, Jake won’t let Blaze go without a fight—even if it means risking his own life.

My thoughts:

I love a good mystery. Pair it with a second-chance romance and I'm all in. But set it on a Montana ranch, populate it with intriguing characters, and weave in a plethora of twists and turns that keep me eagerly turning the pages until 4:00 - freakin' - AM in the morning and, obviously, I'm going to give it a 5-star review. 

Daniels drew me straight into Montana ranch life, the lives of these characters, and the mysteries that surround them. I quickly became invested in Blaze and Jake, their search for the truth, and their second chance at romance. My heart ached for Blaze, even as I admired her gutsy, take-charge personality. And Jake won my heart as surely as he won Blaze's. I mean, who doesn't love a guy who surprises you by cooking your favorite breakfast? Am I right? The secondary characters are complex and vividly drawn, adding depth and richness to the story, along with plenty of twists and turns.

I'm good at figuring out mysteries, usually by the middle of a book, but not this time. The mysteries in this book are so tightly, and expertly, woven that each time I was certain I had unraveled the threads Daniels would add a twist that sent me off in an entirely new direction. I was still trying to figure things out when the big reveals arrived. I love when an author does that! 

If you enjoy high-stakes, western romance with edge-of-your-seat tension, mysteries that keep you guessing, family conflict, and sigh-worthy romance, don't miss B.J. Daniels' Restless Hearts. 

Restless Hearts launches Daniels' new Montana Justice series for HQN. Book two, Heartbreaker, is set for release on March 24, 2020. I already have it on pre-order. 

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Q&A with B.J. Daniels

Hello, B.J.! Thanks for visiting with me today. I just finished reading Restless Hearts, the book that launches your Montana Justice series. What can readers expect from this new series?

I love the idea of second chances - and not just at love. Some of the characters got into trouble with the law in their youths. Fortunately, Judge WT Landusky gave them a second chance. Now they will do anything for the judge who believe in paying it forward. So when the judge calls, my characters are ready to do whatever he asks. 

   

Both the heroines and heroes are strong so even though they find themselves in danger and are risking their lives, the judge knows they will find their way out and on the way, they’ll find love. J They also solve the mystery, of course!!

I love a woman who enjoys a hearty breakfast, especially when that breakfast is cooked by the man in her life. 😉 Blaze is a pushover for pancakes and bacon. What’s your dream breakfast and which fictional character would you most enjoy cooking it for you?

Shoot, I'd like Jake Horn to cook for me. But any time he asked, I'd make him what we call a Johnson Breakfast. This breakfast includes chicken fried venison, biscuits, and gravy, hash browns and eggs. And of course, homemade peach jam for any leftover biscuits. 

Restless Hearts kept me eagerly turning the pages – and trying to figure out the mystery – until almost 3:00 AM. What’s the last book that kept you reading into the wee hours of the night?

Sorry for keeping you up so late, but that is wonderful to hear!

I love page turners and am reading one right now! It is by Jane Corry titled MY HUSBAND'S WIFE. I have no idea how it is going to end, which is a treat for me. 

The winter holidays are just around the corner. Please tell us about your favorite holiday tradition?

Every year my husband and I and usually our three Springer Spaniels go up into the Little Rockies and get a Christmas tree. It's been a tradition for us now for more than twenty-five years. Then we come home and decorate it with ornaments that we have collected over those years, listening to Christmas music and recalling other holidays we've shared.

When can we expect the next book in the Montana Justice series? Are you able to share any information about it?

HEARTBREAKER comes out March 24th. This one was particularly fun for me because of all the twists and turns. My characters always surprise me. This one is set between two of my favorites places of Montana, Gardiner near the Yellowstone Park entrance and Flathead Lake in northwestern Montana. Also, I love seeing two characters who are so different find out just how much they are alike - after they are nearly killed and have saved themselves, of course. 

 .  

Thank you for answering my questions, B.J. Is there anything you’d like to add? Would you like to ask my readers a question?

Thank you. Good questions. This has been fun. I would ask readers how they feel about second-chance romance novels and if they've been given a second chance in their lives they'd like to share?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, November 27, will receive a copy of Restless Hearts. 
*Must be 18 or older.
*U.S. addresses only.

Excerpt Tour - - Renegade's Pride

Renegade's Pride
By B. J. Daniels
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: February 28, 2017

It's been nine years since Trask Beaumont left Gilt Edge, Montana, with an unsolved crime in his wake, and Lillian Cahill has convinced herself she's finally over him. But when the rugged cowboy with the easy smile suddenly shows up at her bar, there's a pang in her heart arguing the attraction never faded. And that's dangerous, because Trask has returned on a mission to clear his name and win Lillie back. 

Tired of running, Trask knows he must uncover the truth of the past before he can hope for a future with the woman he's never forgotten. But if Lillie's older brother, the sheriff, learns that Trask is back in town, he'll arrest him for murder. Now Trask is looking for a showdown, and he won't leave town again without one—or without Lillie.

Excerpt:

When she turned back, Trask was gone. Lillie blinked. It was as if he hadn’t been there at all. And yet her heart still thundered in her chest. If she di­aled 9-1-1, Flint would come running.

She stood, the gun in her hand growing heavy, the phone just one keystroke away from the sher­iff’s department dispatcher. Trask. He’d come back.

And now he was gone. Again. Had she not been sane, she might have believed that she’d conjured up his image from a desire she’d spent years trying hard to bury. But she hadn’t dreamed him. He’d left be­hind his boot prints in the dirt, and even if her eyes had deceived her, her heart had not.

Trask was back. Conflicting emotions warred in­side her. Trask, after all these years. She pocketed her phone and slowly lowered the gun as she began to shake all over. Tears burned her eyes. Why would he come back now? How could he come back, know­ing how dangerous it was for him?

“Lillie?”

Tucking the gun into the waistband of her jeans and covering it with her shirt again, she turned to find her brother standing a few yards away. Had he seen Trask?

“Have you lost your mind?” Darby demanded, making her fear she had. Before she could respond, he continued, “You leave Dad alone in the bar? Alone in a bar stocked with bright shiny bottles of booze? Didn’t you just get him out of jail?” He stopped his rant to frown. “What are you doing out here, any­way?”

She said the first thing that came to mind that might make sense. “Thought I saw a bear. Didn’t want it getting in the trash again.”

“We have worse problems in the bar. Come take care of your father,” he said only half-jokingly.

“He’s your father too,” she pretended to remind him as she followed him. Inside, she found Ely be­hind the bar with a bottle of whiskey clutched in his hand and a big grin on his face.

“I’ll be in the back,” Darby said with a disgusted shake of his head. “Apparently, you promised him a Johnson breakfast.” It had been their mother’s spe­cialty named after her family.

The moment Darby disappeared in the back, her father asked, “Find what you was lookin’ for out there?” He was no longer grinning. Nor it seemed had he indulged in the whiskey. Darby’d had no rea­son to worry. Their father had only been pretending to start the day with whiskey.

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Purchase Links

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NYT and USA Today Bestselling author B.J. Daniels was born in Texas but moved with her family to Montana at the age of five. Her first home was a cabin in the Gallatin Canyon and later a lake house on Hebgen Lake outside of West Yellowstone. Most of her books are set in Montana, a place she loves. She lives now in a unique part of the state with her husband and three Springer Spaniels.When she isn’t writing, she loves to play tennis, boat, camp, quilt and snowboard. There is nothing she enjoys more than curling up with a good book.

Connect with B. J. Daniels

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Check out the other tour stops for Renegade's Pride.

B.J. Daniels Winners

The winners of a signed copy of REDEMPTION by B.J. Daniels are

kmannrn

Mary Preston

Nicole Laverdure

Congratulations!  To claim your book, please send your full name and mailing address to us at

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - B.J. Daniels

I'm delighted to welcome B.J. Daniels to The Romance Dish today.  I've been reading B.J.'s books for a number of years and had the pleasure of meeting her in person at last summer's RWA conference.  

The USA Today bestselling author lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and three Springer Spaniels, Spot, Jem and Ace. When she isn’t writing, she quilts, snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis.  To contact her, write: B.J. Daniels, P.O. Box 1173, Malta, MT 59538 or email her at bjdaniels@mtintouch.net Check out her webpage and blog at www.bjdaniels.com

Take it away, B.J.!

Imagine that you’ve weathered a lot of losses in your life. Now all you have left is a struggling sheep ranch and an old sheepherder who is more like your grandfather than hired help.

            Then the worst happens. The young man you sent to help the sheepherder is a suspect for murder, your faithful sheepherder is missing and Deputy Sheriff Bentley Jamison is at your door.

That is what happens to Madison “Maddie” Conner in my new book FORSAKEN. Maddie is an amazing woman who I fell in love with the first time I met her. She’s strong and determined and capable. She’s been running the sheep ranch by herself for years with only the help of Branch Murdock, her sheepherder.

But now she must pull on her boots and ride back into the unforgiving Beartooth mountains to find

out what has happened. Worse, Deputy Jamison refuses to let her go alone because he suspects what they will find when they reach the sheep camp is a murder scene.

What made this book fun for me to write was that Jamison is a greenhorn from back East. He doesn’t know anything about the wilds of Montana let alone sheep. But he does know about murder since his former job was as a homicide detective in New York.

Trapped together in a late summer storm high in the mountains miles from civilization with a killer, the two have to work together to survive.

I love writing about strong women but I have to tell you, Maddie is my favorite. She has accepted her life, one that only includes hard work. But the greenhorn deputy reminds her that she is a woman and still desirable.

This book idea came from meeting one of the real-life sheepherders who used to take a flock of two thousand sheep back into the Beartooth wilderness, a trek of over 150 miles, and three long summer months without seeing another soul other than his “tender,” the young man who took care of the camp.

I spent some time recently in that area. There are no roads, no houses, nothing but high mountains, rocky cliffs and beautiful wild meadows. There is some cell phone coverage if you are on one of the highest peaks, but even that is sketchy. The only way to get back into this country is on foot or a horse.

Maddie is as beautiful and as wild as this country she loves. But she has no idea what is waiting for her back in the mountains.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did writing it. Maddie Conner could be my favorite character of all time. A character like that needed a special man. Deputy Sheriff Bentley Jamison is that man.

B.J. Daniels
www.bjdaniels.com

Thanks, BJ!  I'm looking forward to reading Maddie and Bentley's story!  Is there anything you'd like to ask our readers today?

Question: Maddie and Jamison are older than a lot of "romance" novels. Do you like reading about characters who find love after having had other lovers/marriages?

Okay, readers.  Let's see some comments!  BJ is giving away three signed copies of Redemption, the second book in her Beartooth, Montana series from HQN.  (open internationally)