Change is coming to the small village of Mitford. Fr. Tim and his wife are pondering the murky uncertainty of retirement; a brash new mayoral candidate is calling for aggressive development; a shady realtor with plans for a health spa is eyeing the beloved use on the hill; and, worst of all, the Sweet Stuff Bakery may be closing. Meanwhile, ordinary people engage in the extraordinary struggle of keeping body and soul together. This story features a lovable cast of new and familiar characters, Out of Canaan is filled to the brim with mysteries and miracles that make everyday life worth living, and that make Mitford one of the most memorable small towns in recent literature.
B.J. Daniels started her life in Houston, Texas, before her family moved to Montana at age five. She grew up in a cabin in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky and later on Hebgen Lake near West Yellowstone. Because of her love for Montana, most of her books are set there. Born into a storytelling family, all she'd ever wanted to do was write stories. After a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, she wrote and sold 37 short stories before she finally wrote her first book, ODD MAN OUT. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense. She lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, two Springer Spaniels. When she isn't writing, she quilts, boats and. makes rope/fabric baskets. She always reads, loving to lose herself in a good book.
I discovered this author this year and have enjoyed many of her books. This is the first installment of the McGaw Kidnapping series. What a ride this was. I read this book in one sitting and cannot wait for the next in the series. You're hooked from the beginning.
Nikki is a writer who specializes in true crime. She is interested in a cold case that involved a kidnapping of twin babies. The 25 year anniversary is coming up and the baby's father, Travers, recruits Nikki to use her skills to find closure. He has also given her full access to his family and ranch with full cooperation to assist her with the book. The family is not happy with her intent and want their father to move on so they can try to heal. There are plenty of suspects and the tightly kept secrets begin to crack under pressure. Travers oldest son, Cull, has promised his father that he will assist Nikki and their interactions prove to be challenging as each finds they are attracted to one another. Cull begins to believe that there i more to the story but soon learns that the truth has put them in danger.
The author did a great job weaving this story with the plot and all of the characters. The first book was a good start to the series.
This is the intriguing first book in the trilogy which centres on what happened when twin infants were kidnapped twenty-five years ago. In this story a true-crime writer, Nikki St James, is invited into the McGraw home to investigate what happened to his children - much to the displeasure of others living there! The older siblings of the missing twins resent the annual focus on what happened and usually strive to protect their family, especially their Dad, from any media attention. Cull is the oldest of his sons and he’s particularly protective of his family, including his mother who now rocks in a chair clutching two dolls . . . . Some of the characters are particularly appealing - and others certainly aren’t! The second Mrs McGrath, Patricia, and her daughter, Kitten, are particularly obnoxious IMHO! Nikki, however, has very personal reasons for wanting to discover the truth - preferably without revealing her own family secrets relating to the disappearance.
This is an enticing start to the series that had me captivated from the very start. It is a real page turner, a well paced story with so many twists and turns you’re kept guessing and wondering what could happen next. Uncovering secrets from the past can be uncomfortable for some people - and put others in serious danger! This is no cosy investigation, expect trouble round every corner! I have no hesitation in highly recommending this well crafted romantic suspense which has great characters, and an intriguing plot. There are motivations and discoveries galore to be made but don’t anticipate a big reveal with everything resolved in this story. Whilst it does conclude some aspects of the story, it opens up others, making me eager to read the other two books in this enthralling trilogy!
I requested and was given a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.
A chilling and mysterious years old kidnapping and attempted murder...with a bit of romance included. The story catches your imagination from the very beginning...keeping you reading to see how everything is resolved. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this new series...with the hope that there will be more answers about the kidnapping.
This ARC book was complimentary, providing by the Publisher and Netgalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
Another great book by B J Daniels. A new series that she has with Harlequin Intrigue. You are swept in from the first page. You are taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions and intrigue. Nikki is there to write a book hoping to solve the mystery of the missing McGraw twins...It is the 25th anniversary of their disappearance. Can Nikki uncover a nugget that wasn't found when the kidnapping happened 25 years ago. While there she does solve the mystery of why the father of the family is sick and not feeling well..She also finds a lead on the twins from the cook. But will it be enough to solve the mystery? Cull is helping her but he is so hard headed and wishes she would leave...but when she does leave he doesn't want her to. A really good story that had me guessing everyone was suspects.
This author has gone and done it again. I am a sucker for top notch mysteries so when I seen this I knew my thirst would soon be over. You are innocently drawn in when Nikki since finding out a few truths wants more than that while also clearing a few names goes about into a 25 year old mystery. The old ones will get my mind going quickly thinking I could be one that helps find those answers too since I am good at solving stuff. So when she is onto the trail she is joined or should say slammed by Cull the oldest son in the mystery. There is so much fine backdrop that is built in this one you think you too are there and you need to be her look out. The secrets that are still there to uncover slowly leak out with danger building like a earthquake ready to shake more than a few up. The romance is also top notch with it in the right places not to overshadow or get tossed aside. Your thirst will be quenched somewhat but she will also leave some of the answers still waiting to be given. I would say also that this one is one of the better ones I have read this year in the intrigue area.
Dark Horse is the start of the three book trilogy set in Whitehorse, Montana. Look for characters from previous books in the same setting. This time there is a 25 year old case to solve and Nikki St. James is going to make this her next true crime novel. There are secrets galore in the story. Nikki has one, as do the other members of the McGraw family. There is a current crime in addition to the 25 year old mystery of who took the McGraw twins. There were plenty of twist and turns as the story progressed. Nikki ended up solving two mysteries as well as finding one of the McGraw brothers to fall in love with. A great story that had a partial solution to the twins mysteries. There are still two McGraw brothers who need a HEA and the rest of the mystery to be solved so look for the next two books in the series.
I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Wow! What a riveting, fast-paced drama that had me on the edge of my seat from the first word to the last centering around the 25-year-old unsolved kidnapping of the McGraw twins. I felt an instant connection to Nikki St. James, true crime writer who is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and loved her attraction and chemistry with Cull McGraw who was seven when the twins disappeared.
I just couldn't put the book down with the twists, turns, danger, secrets, family drama, and so much more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series to see what happens next. Dark Horse is a must read for fans of this genre.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my unbiased review.
The hair-raising, heart-rending debut in her new suspense-packed trilogy!
“Remember what I told you about family secrets.” People will kill to keep them, she thought now as she looked at Marianne McGraw. The woman’s rocking didn’t change as Nikki stepped deeper into the room.”
Dark Horse by B.J. Daniels is the hair-raising, heart-rending debut in her new suspense-packed Whitehorse, Montana: The McGraw Kidnapping trilogy. I’ve been excited to read this book since reading the sneak preview that was previously included in Outlaw’s Honor. That chilling snippet actually gave me goose bumps at the time and the picture in my mind of the woman in the rocker holding those baby dolls has remained with me since. I’m happy to report that this full-length book did not disappoint!
As Dark Horse begins, we meet Nikki St. James, a successful true crime author. Nikki is determined that her next case will involve unraveling the heart-breaking disappearance of two babies from their crib twenty-five years ago. Nikki has a close-to-her-own-heart ulterior motive in pursuing this particular story as Nikki’s father was tried and convicted of the twins’ kidnapping. Nikki’s mother still firmly believes that Nikki’s father was innocent. Nikki is bent on both clearing her father’s name and giving the family answers.
Nikki has reached out to the twins’ father, Travers McGraw, and he has given Nikki carte blanche in her investigation. She will be staying at the McGraw’s horse ranch and will have full access to whatever she needs. The rest of the family, including Cull McGraw, our hero, are less than impressed. Cull has no patience for dealing with yet another reporter. He’s worried about his ailing father’s health and plum tired of the constant household quarrels. Even so, the desire of the entire family to move on from the ghosts that have haunted them for a quarter of a century is palpable.
There is a clean romance included, but it seems superfluous to the who-done-it. There is little build-up to the development of the relationship and it seemingly happens overnight. That said, I liked both the characters and their HEA is warmly satisfying.
As with her other books, B.J. simultaneously develops multiple plotlines. In Dark Horse, B.J. has interwoven a subplot centering around Whitehorse’s sheriff. It will be interesting to see where B.J. takes this…
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Dark Horse:
“Don’t you want to know the kind of woman I am?” When he said nothing, she continued. “I’m like your father. When I start something I finish it.” Cull seemed to consider that before he turned toward her, his lips quirking into a grin as his eyes blazed with challenge. “Is that right?” Before she could react, he grabbed her and dragged her to him. His mouth dropped to hers in a demanding kiss as he pushed her back against the barn wall. --- “I have a suspicious mind, and murder is kind of my business.” --- “The first thing we’re going to do is buy you a pair of cowboy boots, woman.” She laughed. “That’s the first thing?” Cull dragged her into another kiss, this one hotter than the last. “Maybe not the first thing.”
I can’t wait to read the rest of this trilogy and to see the mystery finally solved. In addition, the other McGraw’s brother’s stories are begging to be told. One brother, Ledger, is in love with a woman married to an abuser. AND the other brother, Boone, is unhappy and downright ornery; He will need a special woman to grab his attention and fix his attitude.
A plethora of tense and downright creepy moments along with the intense desire to discover what happened twenty-five years ago kept me turning the pages into the early morning hours. My primary focus remains on the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question surrounding the kids’ disappearance, and, if they are still alive, where they are today. If you enjoy thrilling western romantic suspense, I would encourage you to check out B.J. Daniels’ books. Each one has been a winner and Dark Horse is no exception.
My full review is posted at Reading Between the Wines Book Club. Please check it out there!
Suggested Reading Order: Whitehorse, Montana: The McGraw Kidnapping Trilogy Dark Horse (Book #1) – Cull McGraw’s story! Dead Ringer (Book #2) – Ledger McGraw’s story coming Sept 2017! Rough Rider (Book #3) – Boone McGraw’s story coming Oct 2017!
Whitehorse, Montana. Small town, big-sky, wide-open farm country, cowboys and horses. Twenty-five years ago, something terrible happened in this town. Travers and Marianne McGraw were a beautiful young couple, with three young sons and a set of newborn twins, living in a huge mansion that Travers built for Marianne. One night, the twins are kidnapped. A ransom was paid, but the twins were never returned. This tragedy has haunted everyone who was in the mansion that night, until this day.
Nikki St. James is a true-crime writer, successful mystery solver and bestselling author. She has come to Whitehorse to research the McGraw Twins kidnapping. And she has a secret of her own. In order to find out what happened to the twins, Nikki has to face the animosity and skepticism of the entire McGraw family and assorted witnesses. Well, maybe not everybody. Cull McGraw, the handsome eldest son, was seven years old at the time of the kidnapping. He really wants to put an end to his fathers hopeless search for the twins, and he is willing to help Nikki, but will the truth be worth it?
Dark Horse is suspenseful and enticing for any reader who loves a good unsolved mystery. While some characters are given a great deal of attention, others receive only cursory mentions. That doesn't necessarily correlate with their relevance or interest in the story. In particular, I had issue with Marianne's insanity, the stepmother Patricia's b*tchiness, and the stepsister Kitten's brattiness. All seemed extreme to the point of caricature. The romance between Nikki and Cull is a garnish that does not overshadow the mystery. I found this book to be entertaining but not enough to pursue further instalments in this series.
This book if the first one of a series about the McGraw Kidnapping. The kidnapping of a set of twins which occurred almost 25 years ago with no clues , a woman in a mental hospital, an accused man that died on his way to jail and a woman that went from being a nanny to being the second Mrs McGraw. It’s the intent of true-crime writer, Nikki St James to find out what really happened and try to solve the kidnapping. But she does have ulterior motives for her investigation. Cull, the oldest of the three sons that were small children at the time of the kidnapping, is very protective of his father and family and not happy with Nikki’s intervention. The story is filled with lots of suspense, whodunit and suspicious people. As a mystery it was very engaging and well written. But be aware that the romance is minimal and only develops more towards the end. Though not a cliffhanger, the mystery is not totally resolved so future books are in store in this series. All in all, a story for those that enjoy a good mystery. I was gifted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book drew me in at the beginning with a very captivating, intriguing scene which is definitely an attention grabber. I'm a sucker for suspense, so sue me? (Actually don't, I'm broke as a joke.)
Nikki St. James is a character I can definitely appreciate, as she is tenacious as she is smart, and definitely doesn't know when to let go, even if it gets her in a touch of danger. She is a good character, with secrets of her own.
Cull McGraw is a tough guy. But not quite as tough as he thinks he is and I, for one, am perfectly okay with that. "Tough guys" appear in abundance. He also has some secrets, only his are far more tragic.
I was so disappointed that this book ended, and that I'd read it so quickly. The pace was quick moving, something I truly appreciate, and it was a nice, quick read. I will be looking for the next one and adding it to my to be read list.
This is recommended for anyone who likes mystery, and romance, with a touch of suspense. Don't let the Harlequin label scare you off like I almost did.
ARC - I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest! Nikki wants to know the true + clear her father's name. What really happened to the McGraw's twin ? She will stop at nothing to accomplish her goal. Cull is sick + tired of people butting in on his family's business. Why can they just leave things alone? He is leery of Nikki, but there is some chemistry as well. Will he trust Nikki ? Is lies a good basis for a relationship? Will Cull forgive Nikki, when he learns the true ? The author did a good job in balancing the answer to these questions. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Such a lovely storytelling. I can't wait to read the next book.
Wow, this book was interesting. A true crime author that will go to no end to get the story. Twins that have been gone 25 years. There is intrigue, mystery, drama and a touch of romance blended together to make a super book. The step mother is quite the awful person, isn't she! And her daughter is needed some serious parental guidance. So we have plenty of characters to dislike. I have to say I was not thrilled with the main character either. The book brought out strong emotions when, in my mind, makes for a fabulous read. I felt this was a real page-turner.
I recived this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
This is book one of a series about the McGraw Kidnapping that happened almost 25 years ago. Nikki St James (who is a true-crime write and the daugher to one of the accused) is trying to find out what really happened and try to solve the kidnapping.
This book does not end at the end of this book which is extremely frustrating. It is ok, very slow and couldn't really care about any of the characters. I am hoping that they are more developed in the rest of the story.
The 25 year old mystery had to be solved. Nikki is sure she can find out what happened to the McGraw twins. In the process, she will clear her father's name. Cull is sick of the whole business. He has lived with it for 25 years and it has torn apart his family. There are too many bad memories in the house and Cull's father wants the mystery solved one way or another. Everyone in the house has too many secrets about that night and it all has to come to light.
Nikki St. James is a true crime writer who is invited to The Mcgraw Ranch to help solve the mystery of their missing twins. It is now the twenty fifth anniversary of them missing. She will uncover things that the family never thought would be true. While she is also uncovering love. This is a edge of your seat suspense, you will not believe what happens around every corner.
** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
B.J. Daniels’ Dark Horse is a crisply written romantic suspense about a true crime writer, Nikki St. James, who discovers that the identity of her father isn’t exactly what her mother had told her through the years. She discovers that he was implicated in the kidnapping and perhaps murder of a rancher’s twins and decides to investigate in the hopes of clearing his name.
I'm hooked on another series written by B.J. Daniels. And it didn't take much to get hooked on this series. The first chapter has the reader just diving into the middle of the mystery. She just has a wonderful ability to put her imagination into words and Dark Horse is no exception. You will love this one.
Dark Horse is a very good book. Lots of mystery, intrigue, romance. Interesting characters, an interesting storyline. This is going to be a great series.