by Trace Wolf Track was a deep and complicated man who was well on his way to a rodeo championship and was also a master horse trainer–something Skylar was also involved in and something she was hoping would eventually produce some income for her. They met as she was also exercising her other love–photography–and as they kept “bumping” into one another, decided to spend Trace’s birthday together–his 30th birthday. He was virile and manly, but he was committed to “moving on down the road.” Even though they were thrown together longer than either of them planned due to a rodeo injury, it just didn’t seem like their lives were headed in the same direction. When Skylar finally confessed that she had pushed their first sexual encounter to be without a condom because she was hoping to get pregnant, somehow–even though it made Trace pull away from her for a while–they still stayed together, even to the point where Skylar continued to travel with him to several rodeo events. Skylar’s need for stability eventually put an end to that kind of experience for them–they still wanted to “see” each other.
This novel was not a simple one to read. It is filled with clues and nuances that keep the reader guessing about what is really going on inside these two people. That they were attracted to one another was never in doubt. But a future together? That question was not easily answered. Could they resolve their differing hopes for the future? That was another issue that appeared not to have an easy solution, either. Their conversations were a delight–it was really sparring at its best. Both were intelligent and thinking people, and both used words brilliantly to keep one another on edge. The author demonstrated a wonderful capacity to write sparkling and fascinating repartee.
I have to admit that there were times I wondered if I would ever figure out these two. Skylar’s stepson was also a part of the “mix” that caused some confusion and difficulty between Skylar and Trace. That he had been adoped by his stepfather: a council member of the Lakota Sioux–made a tremendous effect on Trace’s way of thinking and his philosophy of living and relating to people. It gave this story an added dimension. So getting all the pieces of the story to come together took time and, frankly, took to nearly the end of the story. It takes a very good author to tease out the tale to that extent and Ms Eagle did it well. It is a very romantic tale about very real people with insecurities and dreams and worries and disappointments–people who had felt the harsh realities of living but who were insisting on finding something better for themselves. That they were also willing to open their hearts to something new may not have been true initially, but their attraction and growing connection to one another put them squarely in the middle of having to make that decision. That kind of tension makes for a good story.
So I recommend this novel to those who want a story that stretches the mind and engages the heart, who like to experience the kind of tension that resonates throughout this story and who are willing to “stay the course” to the very end. That’s what it will take to get the sense of what this story entails.
I give it a rating of 4 out of 5.
You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.
This book is available from Harlequin. You can buy it here