"A Redheaded Woman Makes a Choo-Choo Jump Its Tracks" , , , "Against The Storm" by Kat Martin

Some women find trouble wherever they go. And some men are their only protection against it. "Against the Storm" is the fourth book in Martin's Raines of Wind Canyon series.

As one who has read and reviewed all the other books in this series, I was delighted to encounter this fourth book in the series and become re-acquainted briefly with some of the characters in the other books as well as meet up with Trace Rawlins, a former Army Ranger who has been close friends with the Raines brothers as well as others who form their tight circle of friendship.

Trace is a man of honor and one who honors his promises and commitments, even when his heart is hurting or he isn't sure he can trust the person he is helping. His encounter with professional photo-artist Maggie O'Donnell is quite accidental but it is pivotal to their future, not only in a client relationship but one that becomes intensely personal soon afterwards. Maggie is being stalked and her stalker is sophisticated and smart, never giving even the smallest clue as to his identity and puzzling even a pro like Trace. Add in the fact that she is a redhead, and Trace feels like he has been gut-punched. You see, Trace loves redheads above all other women even though the gals that have hurt him the worst are redheads, namely his ex-wife. Ex-wife Carly is gorgeous, self-centered, loves herself above all others, spends money like water, is schmoozing Trace while seeing any number of other men just as she did when they were married. And the toughest thing of all is that Maggie has just as many trust issues as Trace, but both know that no matter their past experiences, their attraction won't be denied.

This is a story that is written with the signature complexity of a Kat Martin novel, filled with interesting and colorful characters and multi-layered mystery, heating up the reader's libido with hot loving but worrying those same readers with the on-again-off-again relationship between the main characters. It is a novel that never lags or allows the interest of the reader to pause. From start to finish there is that sense of pressing forward no matter what is happening, moving from crisis to crisis, searching for that sense of happily ever after and causing the reader to wonder not only who the protagonist is but will these lovers find common ground outside the bedroom. The reader is in no doubt that no matter how rocky Trace and Maggie's personal issues may be, he is a consummate professional who will stand by her no matter what. His deep pain never moves him away from his goal of protecting her and finding the guy(s) who are threatening her health, welfare, and personal safety.

This is a really wonderful read and one that I hope you will search out and enjoy. I give it a rating of 4 out of 5.