by 
Title and Author: Maverick Sheriff
Print Length: 224 Pages
Series: Sweetwater Ranch #1
Publication Date: Harlequin (August 19th, 2014)
Language: English
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Series
Book Review:
ADA Jessa and Sheriff Cooper have had differences since the day Jessa decided to re-open an old case involving Cooper’s estranged mother and blaming Cooper and his brothers of tampering with the evidence!
But when Cooper is called by the doctor to help Jessa’s son Liam with a blood transfusion involving a rare blood type and Cooper sees Liam, it is like someone has punched him. Liam looks just like his missing son. With a kidnapper on the lose who is targeting Liam and the suspicion that he could be Cooper’s son, it will take everything from Jessa and Cooper to come together and fight for Liam’s safety. Dark secrets will be revealed, emotional wounds reopened and lives endangered!
I have to admit, this is my first book by Delores Fossen. Although I had heard a lot about her and have two of her books on my shelf but it just so happened that I didn’t read any of them till now when I got this book from NetGalley and Harlequin and finally sat down to read.
The first thing that I always see while selecting a book is its cover. Howsoever one may say that he/she never judges a book by its cover but it is a known fact that first impressions are formed by the covers. It is the first thing our eyes see when we pick up a book. Here too, when I picked this book to request, the first thing I saw was the cover which is alluring. I love cowboy stories and so when I see a cowboy on a cover I tend to get attracted.
The second thing that I see while deciding on the book is the blurb. I loved the blurb. It is appealing, intriguing and instantly interests the reader and I felt like I had to know what happened!
I am not picky on the publishers or authors. I may have my favorite authors but I never neglect new authors and am always happy to read books by authors new to me. Delores’ book hooked me right from the start. The tension between the ADA Jessa and Sheriff Cooper is ripe but so is their concern over Jessa’s ailing son Liam. There are two stories going on side by side in this book.
The first involves Cooper’s estranged mother, Jewel who is back at Sweetwater ranch after almost two decades and is still wanted for a murder that happened when she used to live there all those years ago. Jessa is the one fighting to get Jewel convicted which is the reason of the tension between her and Cooper who feels this will adversely affect his father and his brothers. A lot of action is happening with Jewel back along with her daughters and a stepson.
The second story is the main story in this book which involves Jessa’s son Liam who is the target of a kidnapper. An unknown person who is trying his level best to keep Liam’s adoption secrets hidden and his connection unknown. He has already committed murders and shown that he will not stop until all lose ends are tied which include Liam. Add this to Cooper’s suspicion that Liam could be his missing son. There is plenty of drama, action and suspense. Can Liam be Cooper’s missing son?
The plot is well conceived and executed. There is an emotional tension and a sexual tension in the air. Jessa is afraid for her son’s safety as well as her future with him. If he is proven to be Cooper’s son then what will happen to her? Then there is the strong attraction that both Jessa and Cooper are fighting. They are conflicted and still helpless against this strong unknown feeling of care and hunger that they have for each other.
I loved the author’s writing style. She uses simple and easy English but this doesn’t compromise the interest that she easily extracts from the reader. I was kept at the edge of my seat throughout and completely engrossed till the end. The story is fast paced and takes the reader on an eventful and thrilling journey full of suspense and excitement.
The characterization is admirable. Delores introduces the various characters of this series and also keeps the foundation of the base story involving Cooper’s family and his estranged mother, Jewel’s family and the long ago unsolved murder. Did Jewel kill that man? Is this why she fled town leaving behind her sons and her husband never to return until now?
The love and understanding between Cooper and his brothers and his father is sincere and I could feel the companionship and mutual respect that they have for each other. They are fully in tune with each other and stand as a united front against any difficulty faced by any member of their family. The attraction between Jessa and Cooper is intense and slowly builds to a more concrete feeling of love. I could sympathize with these two and prayed for a happily-ever-after for them. They both have been traumatized in the past and are two broken people who need love to make them whole. I loved the scenes with these two in them and was very invested in all the action of the story.
All in all, Maverick Sheriff
is an entertaining book that gives the reader entertainment, a surge of excitement and adrenalin, some intense action, an engrossing suspense and a love story that is heartfelt and deeply enjoyable. I give Maverick Sheriff 4.5 out of 5 and look forward to reading the next books in the series. Delores Fossen is a talented writer and I would definitely read more of her books now. I recommend this book to all lovers of romantic suspense. You will love the book!
I received the ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
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