Isabelle & Jason

by Natalie Dean

She was saved by a stranger. He’s been near her ever since. Quiet, patient, and falling in love.

Years ago, Isabelle Palmer was rescued from a terrifying night by a man whose face she never saw. Today, she trains ranch dogs on her family’s Copper Creek ranch and keeps careful boundaries—especially with men.

The one exception? Jason Klein… the ranch’s cook whose steady kindness makes her feel safe in a way she hasn’t in years.

Jason has carried one he was the stranger who got her to safety. He never wanted credit, he only wanted Isabelle to heal and flourish. So he shows up in small ways, warm desserts left on the porch, calming tea for sleepless nights, pre-dawn runs that become their shared ritual.

Somewhere along the way, the friendship turns into something tender and real.

When the past stirs and fear threatens the fragile hope between them, Jason’s fixer instincts collide with Isabelle’s need to find her own strength. Stepping back may be the best thing he can do… and the very thing that lets her step forward.

Set under the Colorado stars, this is a wholesome love story about healing, hope, and the courage to start again. Fall for Isabelle & Jason, in Palmers of Copper Creek Book Five.

243 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2025

Reviews

[Gwen Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a sweet love story, and I highly recommend it to you all. "Isabelle & Jason" is a story that you will not want to miss. Granted it is only 222 pages, but I could not put the book down when I started reading it and I hated to see the end. Let us know what you think of the book.

Five years ago, the unthinkable happened to Isabelle Palmer. She was in a bar, and someone spiked her drink with the date rape drug. She got lucky that night because someone was watching her and rescued her from her would be attacker. Jason Klein rescued her from her attacker and took her to the hospital to be checked over. His brother was a doctor at the hospital, and he confirmed that she was drugged but had gotten very lucky by Jason stepping when he did.

For five years Isabelle has told no one, even her family of what occurred that terrible night. They all knew something was wrong because she became very withdrawn and so unlike herself. She was jumpy and stayed at home most of the time. Never telling Isabelle that he was the one to rescue her he got a job as a cook on the ranch. Jason tries to become her friend and over time they have a morning ritual of running together in the early hours and he makes her yummy desserts. Isabelle is learning to trust again but will their friendship ever be anything more?

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabelle & Jason is an emotional rollercoaster of possibly love at first sight for Jason.   But that night turned the happy energetic Isabelle into a deeply disturbed woman due to the guy she went out with the night Jason asked her at the bar for a dance.  Jason watches her every move and seen when she went limp and the guy tried to hold onto her and walk her out of the bar.  Jason followed them out and seen that the guy had taken her to the back of the bar and ripped two buttons off her top before Jason punched him out and took Isabelle to the hospital.   The next time Jason sees Isabelle is the first day of his job at the ranch in the kitchen.  He can tell she is really messed up from that night. 

 

This is such an emotional story to read since all mentions of Isabelle in the other books of the series she was fun loving and energetic.  She attached herself to only Jason of the workers on the ranch and instead of trying to get help she refused.  But one night her behavior goes from bad to worse when she goes into a bar and a couple of the guys from the ranch recognizes her and watches her and brings her to Jason’s room on the ranch as she is totally drunk.  That made Jason face reality and broke up with her and even was leaving the ranch when Nikki and Mateo gives him a offer he couldn’t refuse.  Will this offer get him what he really wants in life?

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth installment of the Palmers of Copper Creek series. Ms. Dean has written a very engaging book that was hard to put down. I found the characters to be very well-developed and believable. The plot flowed well and definitely kept my interest. I found myself invested in the story wondering what would happen next. What an emotional ride - Isabelle is dealing with the aftermath of a trauma and men make her nervous. Jason wants to help her through it, but he's keeping a secret - he was the person who rescued her from what would have been a worse situation. Ms. Dean expertly writes about the fears that Isabelle is facing; her descriptions are spot-on and make you feel as if you are experiencing what the characters are feeling. The character of Jason is especially sweet as he is very understanding of Isabelle's situation and his protectiveness of her is touching. Will she let him help, or is she too afraid of exploring a relationship with him because that means she will have to let her guard down?

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading Isabelle & Jason I felt I was on a roller coaster following Isabelle's emotions. Five years before the story begins, Isabelle's date spiked her drink. Jason was there to rescue her before things got really awful. He took her to his brother at a hospital and she never knew who rescued her. In all this time, Isabelle has never told anyone what happened. (Unfortunately in today's world this happens all too often. The victim will not heal without the help and support Isabelle refused to seek.) Isabelle does not recognize Jason when he gets a job working for her brother but he has never forgotten her. Jason is so caring with her and eventually they have a ritual of running together early in the morning. Ms. Dean has written a book that made me feel all Isabelle's emotions and the story has stayed with me. You need to read this to see how everything finally gets worked out!

[Kathy Winchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealing with a relevant issue in our society, this story is heartbreaking, frustrating, and uplifting. Heartbreaking to know there are people who don't think twice about hurting someone else for their pleasure. Frustrating for victims who can't see themselves as victims needing support in whatever way would help their recovery. Uplifting knowing there are good people who will do whatever it takes to help others recover. This book will grab you and wring you out before you even realize how invested you are! It will then fill you with all the feels of a hard earned Happily Ever After! Well Done Natalie Dean!

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every story about Cooper Creek has been written with love by the author. This book is about how love can help heal emotional wounds. Isabella suffered a traumatic event that changed her life. Jason saved her from a worse fate that night and when they reconnected 5 years later. This love story deal with trauma and how it can affect not only the person that was directly involved but those who love you as well. Natalie Dean did a great job with the storyline and the characters. This is a great story about trauma , healing and love. I would give it more than 5 stars if possible.

I received this book from book funnel and the author for an honest review.

[Karen Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabelle &Jason

Isabelle and Jason have a wonderful heart warming story. Years before Isabelle had a horrible dating experience. She awoke in a hospital with no memory of her rescuer but slowly remembers her attacker. Now she has returned to her brother’s ranch to help with training ranch dogs. Jason is a chef who tired of the hustle of the city and has signed on to help at a ranch in Cooler Creek where he finds the girl of his dreams. Only she doesn’t remember him. I recommend you read their story and enjoy.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a well written story about overcoming and asking for help when bad things happen. she was at a dance when her date spiked her drink , things could have been very bad but someone was there to help her . but she did not think she needed professional help. years later she is still trying to cope, could not stop reading to see what happened. i was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review

[Loreli Jessee · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many emotions flowing throughout this book. Jason is such an amazing character, he makes some very hard decisions. Isabelle has gone through so much, is was awesome to see he take charge of her destiny. This book will have you turning pages without wanting to stop.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced review copy of this book.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best if read in order but can be read as a standalone.
They first met on the worst night of her life, but she can't remember him.
Deals with sexual assault and the after affects.
He falls first, at first sight.
She's refused to date anyone.
Tough love
Second chance