Naomi Perkins is up a tall platform monitoring a bald eagle nest in Wyoming, when a cowboy rides out from the Last Chance ranch to check on her. She accidentally spills an energy drink down over him, and in apology brings him to her favourite washing place in the stream. Luke Griffin is more amused than upset, but he needs to get the sweet sticky stuff off or be driven mad by flies. The two chat and Luke admires the way that the naturalist doesn't fuss about her appearance, while she just admires his appearance. Then the pair watch the eagle chicks getting fed on trout.

In WILD AT HEART Luke acknowledges that he's a drifter, and says that busy ladies like to have a brief relationship with no strings, in many cases. But Naomi isn't that sort, and her interest withers. Then she thinks - why not? So later when they happen to run into each other on her weekly trip to town, Naomi tells Luke that she's interested. The ranch foreman, Emmett, clearly thinks this may cause trouble and gets protective about the girl. But she's an adult, and she might have to travel herself for her next research job. Soon they're having great sex out in the open, and Naomi thinks that at least she's doing this once in her life. Luke has concerns about his father, who loved travel but hasn't gone anywhere in years because his mother wants to stay settled in one place. Or is the man just complaining when he secretly prefers a quieter life nowadays? Maybe Luke could invite him out to Wyoming, and see what happens. There's a big July Fourth celebration coming up. Then Naomi realises that fireworks could well scare the eagle parents into abandoning the nest....

I found similarities to Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, and this is not an overly complex tale, with a small range of characters. Honesty, hard work and good looks are very appealing and we can understand why Naomi is drawn to the outdoorsman, even though she understands it may not last. Vicki Lewis Thompson conveys her love for the outdoors and admiration for the eagles, in this her latest look at the folks of the Last Chance Ranch. WILD AT HEART is a vibrant, sexy read for all those who value freedom and nature.