4.5 ⭐s The mountain man and the politician's daughter.
Iris is the odd duck in her family. She's always wondered if she was adopted or if her parents had accidentally been given the wrong baby when they left the hospital. Her sisters are only interested in their nails, status, and politics. Both her father and Joshua's father are influential politicians. They had arranged for the couple to meet. Plans are for Joshua to continue their dynasties.
As far as Iris is concerned, the wedding is off after she finds a naked woman in Joshua's room on their wedding day. And this was the man who wanted them to wait until after the wedding to sleep together. However, he wants to proceed with the wedding. He'll explain everything after they're married. After all, their marriage will be a perfect business transaction, and what will people say if they cancel on their wedding day? No wonder she became a runaway bride! And run, she did. That marathon training came in handy.
Falcon co-owns RidgeRoam Adventure Tours with his brothers Titan, Blaze, and Skyler. This weekend, he plans to begin scouting out a new beginner-friendly wilderness multi-day hiking trail. He wants to make sure the trail will be accessible and safe. He loves his job, which runs the gamut from beginning hiking to whitewater rafting and preparing people for hiking the Appalachian Trail.
He's about to leave for his hike when he finds Iris hiding behind a stack of kayaks. He's tempted to call the sheriff, but after she explains what happened, he does agree that the sheriff would probably take her back to her parents. He's shocked to hear that her parents would still want her to marry a cheater. To them, status and reputation are more important than their daughter. He decides to take her along with him on his scouting trip.
During their hike, Falcon learns about her job in PR and the impossible standards set by her parents, especially her mother. Not one family member has ever let Iris be herself. His mother may not be thrilled with the risky jobs her sons chose, but she realizes they are happy, so she's happy for them.
While crossing Bear Creek's swiftly flowing river, Iris almost falls into it. Falcon grabs her and discovers that not only doesn't he want to lose her, but he also wants to keep her by his side forever. She realizes that Falcon is the missing part she's always been seeking.
Her father has claimed she was kidnapped. Does he have enough power to have Falcon arrested, or does Iris know how to handle the situation?
I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.