"There is definitely something brewing and it's not just the weather."
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted December 11, 2018
Romance Western
Some people never believe in luck or fate and others
construct their lives around the belief there is some
driving force, perhaps even divine, that navigates their
future path. In STROKE OF LUCK we meet a mix of people
trying to figure out if luck or fate decides their lot in
life or love. There is definitely something in the air at
the Sterling Montana Guest Ranch, and I guess it's our task
to figure it all out. B.J. Daniels keeps leaving crumbs, but
it is going to take some determination to gather them all
and piece together this puzzle. The Sterling brothers are now running the family guest ranch
with oldest brother Will at the helm. It is definitely a
seasonal endeavor and so the other two brothers are busy
running the ranch and helping out when needed. This year
Will gets a request for a four-day stay at the guest ranch
from one of his father's old friends. Big Jack Hanson is
coming with his group in a pre-season outing. There are some
complications and uncertainties with folks coming at this
time of year. Will is counting on the weather holding up but
as it turns out that is the least of his concerns. First, his cook gets hurt and as the temporary replacement
Will seeks out Poppy Carmichael to step in. As a young girl
Poppy had lived on the Sterling ranch with her father. They
moved away when she was about twelve. Poppy was devastated
as only a teenager could be at leaving Will who had captured
her eye and heart. Ah, young puppy love. Now back in town Poppy sees Wills request as a chance to
even the score. She is going to make him fall for her,
perhaps through his stomach, and then turn her back just as
he had done. Poppy always longed to be part of the group
Will hung around with albeit his guests both boys and girls.
But she was sidelined by her age and the fact that Will's
father had strictly cautioned his involvement with this very
young impressionable girl. Poppy has caught Will's attention with more than just her
very fine culinary skills. But now there is something else
coming between them. There seems to be something amuck with
this group visiting the guest ranch. They don't seem to get
along very well. Lots of strange looks and feelings between
the men and women who work for Big Jack and his son Lamar.
Big Jack keeps dropping little tidbits to Lamar which has
finally caught his attention. So Lamar is trying to figure
out why Big Jack thinks he has been stealing from the
company. And since Lamar knows he isn't, well then who is
and why. And while we are at it just what is all that angst
that is the present undercurrent between these particular
employees that Big Jack invited on this outing. None of them
seem to be enjoying themselves, and quite a few are working
diligently to make themselves as scarce as possible. Welcome to the world of B.J. Daniels the master of plot and
intrigue disguised as good family fun. STROKE OF LUCK starts
with a simple premise, a group outing at a ranch. Riding,
comradery and good food. But what happens when it appears as
if this group is having some bad luck, accidents. That's
the fun part of reading anything by this entertaining,
imaginative author. Hang on. It's bound to get a lot rougher.
SUMMARY
He’s hoping to bury the past. She’s ready to settle
the score. The Sterling Ranch’s season opening isn’t going so smoothly.
With the ranch’s lodge full of guests and a Montana blizzard
threatening, Will Sterling needs help—and he needs it fast.
So when his childhood friend Poppy Carmichael agrees to lend
a hand, he’s grateful for a second chance…and more enticed
by the woman she’s become than he cares to admit. For Poppy, it was supposed to be a retreat full of horse
rides and hoedowns—with a side of showing Will what he’s
been missing all these years. But as the snow deepens
outside, the guests’ suspicion and mistrust turn sinister
inside, catching Will and Poppy in the crosshairs. Weathering the storm in each other’s arms is all too easy
for Will and Poppy, but will a confrontation with a killer
mean their reunion is short-lived? New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling
author B.J. Daniels starts her Sterling’s Ranch series off
with a bang in this suspenseful story of romance
and revenge.
What do you think about this review?
Comments
2 comments posted.
Re: There is definitely something brewing and it's not just the weather.
Great review, thanks! Going to be looking for this.
(Kathleen Bylsma 4:17pm February 6, 2019)
Great review, thanks! Going to be reading this book!
(Kathleen Bylsma 4:18pm February 6, 2019)
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