Christmas Rescue at Mustang Ridge

Mustang Ridge #1

by Delores Fossen

A TEXAS SHERIFF IN NEED OF A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

Sheriff Jake McCall is about to break the law. To find a bone marrow donor for his ailing baby girl, he'll hack into WITSEC to track down Maggie Gallagher-the only person who could be a genetic match. Yet by doing so, he is jeopardizing not only his badge, but Maggie's life, as well. Expecting to have to force Maggie against her will, Jake is unprepared for her willingness to help-and for the desire and hunger she arouses in him. Still, those forbidden feelings could make Jake reckless, and losing focus now isn't an option. With time running out and a killer on their heels, Jake has to keep Maggie alive-and give his daughter a Christmas miracle.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Romantic Suspense, Christmas, Category Romance, Fiction, Suspense

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Thank you for finding me on Goodreads!

Want to know more about me? Well, here it is in a nutshell:

I’m a USA Today bestselling author, and I’ve sold over 100 novels. Yes, 100! Needless to say, I write a lot. I’ve had the honor of receiving the Booksellers' Best Award for romantic suspense, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and I was a finalist for the Rita. My books have been featured in Vogue, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. I’ve also had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines. I love hearing from readers, and you can contact me through my webpage at: www.deloresfossen.com.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. I really liked both Jake and Maggie. Jake was willing to do anything to save his daughter, even track down Maggie who he held responsible for his wife's death. He didn't expect her to be so willing to help, and he sure didn't expect to be attracted to her again. When they were attacked almost immediately Jake knew he had to keep her safe. I liked the way that Jake put his family first and was willing to do whatever it took. He also knew that getting involved with Maggie was a bad idea, but he wasn't able to resist her. I liked the way that he began to see that his wife's death wasn't Maggie's fault and that they were eventually able to move on. Maggie was fantastic. She had done what she felt was needed to keep everyone safe before she disappeared. When Jake came to get her she wanted to do what was needed and disappear again to keep the family safe. I liked the way that she was determined to do whatever was needed to save her niece. Maggie also had to cope with her feelings for Jake. She didn't think there was any way that they would be able to be together. The showdown at the hospital was very intense and I couldn't read fast enough to find out how it was going to turn out. I also liked the brief appearance of Kade Ryland from the Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch series. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Midniteillusion · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a A Delores Fossen novel I'm surprised how much I disliked this book. The hero (if you can call him that) can't even decide if he liked his dead wife or not but is is still mourning her years later and blaming her sister for her death (though it really wasn't her fault even with the explanation in the beginning). They way the "hero's" family treats the heroine blows my mind why she'd even want to be part of that family by the end of the book. The multiple death threats from the dad and brother of the hero. I just can't...

I'm still not convinced by the end of the book that the hero wants more than just sex from the heroine. I'd save your time and read a better Christmas Suspense book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunny, Sheriff Jake McCall's 3-year-old daughter is desperately ill and in need of a bone marrow transplant. None of the rest of the McCall family are matches which leaves Jake desperate enough to hack the Witness Protection Database to find his sister-in-law, Maggie Gallagher, get her cooperation for a test, and if she's a match, a transplant for Sunny. To his surprise, she agrees to help and right away they're dodging the Feds whose system he hired someone to hack, and a pair of killers that drive them away from the McCall Ranch in one direction while his brother, the nurse, and Sunny go the opposite direction. Jake & Maggie's problem is that though the person who wants them dead is in jail, he's still got plenty of money to hire the manpower to kill them, Sunny, or any of the other McCalls.
Their raw attraction to one another could possibly get them killed before it's all over.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake, Sunny & Maggie's story.

[Paula Legate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story touched my heart. I enjoyed the action, and suspense of the plot too. Jake's 3 year old daughter Sunny is sick, and needs a bone marrow transplant. The family has had no luck finding a match. time is running out. A simple cold, or fever could be fatal for Sunny. Maggie is the only one left that can save her. Maggie went into Witness protection after her sister was murdered. Her sister was married to Jake, and he still blames Maggie for his wife's death. When she went into Witness protection, she has a no contact order on her file. Jake is the town sheriff, and always follows the law, until now. He has to save his daughter. Jake breaks into the data base to locate Maggie. When he did, it alerted the people that also wanted to kill her. Jake had to keep Maggie safe, until they found out if she was a match. It wasn't clear who was hired guns, or who was attempting to kill both Jake, and Maggie. The plot offered several suspects, making for a entertaining read.

It melted my heart when Sunny asked Maggie, if she could be her mom. What she wanted most for Christmas was to have Maggie as a mother.

This story is going on my favorite's list. Love it!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most important thing in Sheriff Jake McCall’s life is his young daughter. When her life is put in danger he will do anything to protect her, including tracking down his sister-in-law in witness protection. Maggie left behind so much when she left for WITSEC but she felt that the pain she left behind was for the best. If Jake and his family didn’t have to see her, maybe they would be able to heal. When Jake shows up at Maggie’s work their lives are parachuted right in to danger as unknown bad guys try to track down Maggie to keep her quiet while Jake needs to keep her alive to save his daughter. But they have unfinished business and feelings that neither of them want to confront. I enjoyed this introduction to the Mustang Ridge series. Action packed from almost the first page. I would have like to see a little more romance but I do understand there has to be a balance between action and romance in the Intrigue books to really keep the story moving in the pages allowed. Fun, holiday read!

[Debbie Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Fossen’s romantic suspense novel, Sheriff Jake McCall is willing to break the law to bring a miracle to his family. His little girl needs a bone marrow transplant to survive and the only hope he has is his sister-in-law Maggie Gallagher, currently residing in the WITSEC program that includes a “no contact clause” directed toward his family. For the love of his baby, he’s willing to risk his badge and Maggie’s life. What he never expected was for Maggie to be willing and even more, for his hormones to kick into overdrive whenever she is close. Failure isn’t an option and Jake is forced to deal with those unexpected feelings and a killer determined to put an end to Maggie and without her, Jake can’t save his only child.

A fast-paced, emotion provoking story of one family’s pursuit of a Christmas miracle.

[Silverana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok story. If you’ve read Santa Assignment by Delores Fossen then you know what this will be about. It’s about the same plot except in this one, a baby isn’t need between Jake and Maggie in order to save his daughter Sunny. Maggie has matching bone marrow that will help Sunny.

The romance was ok. Maggie and Jake have feelings for each other and both feel that it will not work out because of their relation as former brother/sister-in-law. And also because of how Jake’s wife Anna died. Maggie and Jake do have many moments together but there seemed to be too much action. Someone is always calling, someone is always after them, someone always needs to have a talk with them face-to-face. It was a little too much and I think that's why I found myself skipping a lot of sentences near the end.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheriff Jake McCall has a baby girl who needs a bone marrow donor. His last chance is his sister-in-law, Maggie Gallagher, now in Witness Protection for putting in prison a powerful man. He breaks the law to find her and then all hell breaks loose. The story keeps you on the edge with its fast paced action and good story line. I had never read Delores Fossen before but I will definitely be looking for more of her books.

[Crissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father's love for a sick child makes you do some crazy things, same for a mother but in this case mom is not able to be there. Dad doesn't care that he is law enforcement he just knows he has to do what is necessary for his daughter. Jake does what he needs to do by saving Sunny and finding some love along the way.

[Lori Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

action packed and just right for downtime over Christmas

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book..

[Suzy Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

lots of quirky twists, action, romance, danger, angst. What more can you ask for in a book.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Elizabeth Mckernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book