Veena’s review of Beyond Control (Texas Trilogy, Book 3) by Kat Martin
Romantic Suspense published by Zebra 29 May 18
The Iron River Ranch offers retired war hero Josh Cain the respite and space he needs to lick his wounds and recover. Tory and her adorable daughter are trouble with a capital T, but Josh is unable to turn them away, even as he knows providing them with a home on the ranch is going to shatter his peace. The story plays itself out amidst the threats of a serial killer, threatening motor cycle gangs, a computer hacker, and terrorists to add the necessary color and heart-thumping adrenaline.
Once a polished career woman living a good life, Tory is now down to her last resources since she had to go on the run to escape her abusive fiancé. The Iron River Ranch is a watershed for her, where she hopes to hide out off the grid and rebuild her dwindling resources. She’s determined to succeed despite the challenges that Josh puts in her way. Who knows how it might have turned out, if not for her talent as a horse whisperer to an abused horse.
As Tory goes about everyday life making friends and making inroads with Josh, the peace and calm is not destined to stay. Between a gang of motor cycle vandals who descend on the property, murdered retired service men, and a terrorist threat hanging over Josh, life takes a sinister turn. In the meantime, Tory’s best friend is kidnapped and brutalized with no memory of her abuser, even as the author paints a very graphic picture of the abuse and terror.
The story moves at a rapid clip between Josh and Tory enjoying a sexual relationship that makes Josh determined to keep Tory at the ranch, despite her inclination to flee. It’s good to catch up with the other characters from the series and meet new people as the story evolves. The author does her usual masterful job at bringing all the threads in the story together to tie them up with a pretty bow at the end.
A little darker than her other books, this story brings the Texas trilogy to a successful close.
Grade: B
Summary:
Present Danger
When Victoria Bradford got engaged, she told herself to give love a chance. Six months later, she’s on the run from her angry, abusive ex-fiancé with her four-year-old daughter and nowhere to go.
Seventy miles north of Dallas, the Iron River Ranch is pretty much nowhere. That’s what its new owner, Josh Cain, wanted when he came back from Afghanistan. Big skies, quiet nights, no trouble.
One look tells Josh the pretty redhead with the adorable little girl will give him trouble of the most personal kind. But he’s seen trouble before, and he doesn’t scare easy. Not when “accidents” start happening around the ranch. Not when Tory’s best friend back in Phoenix is abducted and brutalized. Not even when it looks like their current problems are only the tip of the iceberg.
But if he gets too close to fierce, determined Tory, Josh knows his nights are going to be anything but quiet. And that’s one possibility no amount of training can prepare him for . . .
