Her offbeat, addiction-saddled sister is missing. Dana Vanover always gets stuck dealing with the family crises. Her mother, now remarried, is no help and hasn't been since Dana's father left when she was young. If that weren't bad enough, she is desperate to find her sister who may be the only person alive that can save her niece who is in need of a bone marrow transplant. The niece Dana only recently learned she had because her sister, Angie, gave the child away.

When she goes to Devil's Claw, TX in search of her sister, Dana finds more than she bargained for. A grizzled sheriff whose experiences in Iraq have damaged him both physically and emotionally. A town full of folks who don't necessarily like each other but will do anything to support one another and to protect their way of life from outsiders. And a dubious plan to build a salt dome by an unknown corporation. Not to mention the rattlesnakes, scorpions, and other desert fare.

Circumstances throw Dana and Jay Eversole, the wounded sheriff, together to solve her sister's disappearance and the mysterious death of his uncle. Passions flame, despite their warring personalities and the already scorching desert temperature.

Colleen Thompson's suspenseful tale, THE SALT MAIDEN, catches the reader in its claw from the first pages and doesn't let go until the end. The story has the perfect balance between the suspense and the romance, tightly weaving them into a gripping and satisfying tale. If you're looking for a book that will completely engross your imagination, this is the one.