Review – Treacherous Trails

Falsely accused… Can she escape the real killer? In this Gold Country Cowboys story, farrier Ella Cahill is accused of murder—and only former marine Owen Thorn, her brother’s best friend, can help clear her name. Now with someone trying to kill Ella, Owen must protect her…despite his promise to her brother to stay away from her. But can they work together to find the true killer before she becomes the next to die? My thoughts: Ms Mentick covered all the bases in this romantic suspense. Cowboys and military wrapped up in the same wounded hero. This romantic suspense is different than most in that we know who the bad guy is, we know why, and we even know there will be a happy ever after since it is of course, romance. What we don't know is how the bad guy will be caught when he has the whole community of small town America wrapped around his little finger. Reed, doing something wrong, nah, you're wrong, you're lying, you did it and are trying to frame him... Even the entire police force are in on the we love Reed song and dance. Ella and Owen are kind of in-your-face hero and heroine. There was nothing soft about them. I didn't like them and I didn't relate to them. I did like secondary character Betsy, and I hope Owen's brother has his own story coming, but as for Ella and Owen, no. Despite their strong characteristics they were still very easy for Reed to manipulate. I liked the ending, and I don't want to give away a spoiler, but with everything the way it was I am not convinced it was really a HEA in the truest sense of the word. That's all I'll say about that. It left my mind whirling with what-ifs and that's not a good way for me to close a book. There is little to no faith message. I didn't notice one at all, but it might've been weak and I missed it.