Title: Wind River Wrangler
Author: Lindsay McKenna
Series: Wind River Valley #1
Either very lazy or trying way too hard
I would like to thank Lindsay McKenna, Lyrical Press, and Kensington Publishing Corporation for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Shiloh Gallagher is stressed to the max. Someone has been stalking her for the last six months, and she’s become terrified and distracted to the point that she won’t leave her apartment and can’t write. Needing an escape to try to get her life back, she goes to visit the Wyoming ranch of her mother’s best friend. There she meets Roan Taggart, a sexy ex-military cowboy with understanding in his eyes and kindness in his heart. She bunks with him for the duration, and as they become friends and get to know one another, Shiloh relaxes and feels as though she can breathe again. She opens her heart to Roan and begins to think the future looks promising…but her stalker finds her, and terror plagues her once again.
I did not enjoy reading this book for a list of reasons, including verbosity, terminology, logic, and creepy factor. First, and not necessarily a bad thing per se, McKenna uses strange terminology. They’re not wrong, just unusual and rather startling in my opinion. They disrupted the flow for me. Here are a few examples: Food was “top drawer” aka really good. I’ve heard “top notch” but never “top drawer.” Also, Roan’s flesh “riffled” a lot—aka he got goosebumps. At one point he “ruthlessly dug into her opening eyes”—which made me wince because it sounded painful—aka he gazed at her intensely. Lastly, “tears jammed into Shiloh’s eyes.” Another wince. It was like McKenna was afraid of using common words and looked up synonyms on thesaurus.com. She should have just used the normal ones, because I’d have read those and not thought twice. These unusual ones were distracting, and I didn’t appreciate it the way she wanted me to.
Second, the verbosity. So many long, tedious paragraphs describing things over and over and over. Their first kiss lasted three or four pages—and my print is set at the smallest size. And while they were in the meadow, Shiloh’s hair was described four different ways within two pages. It just wasn’t necessary. I have a short attention span and little patience, so I appreciate short paragraphs and plots that progress quickly, or at least steadily. This book took me days to finish because I avoided reading it, knowing how boring it was. Don’t get me wrong, thought process and setting description is important, but this isn’t literary fiction. Exposition in moderation, please. Have your characters DO something.
Third, the creepy factor. Both Roan and Shiloh are guilty. He thought of her as “childlike” multiple times, and one of those times he got aroused looking at childlike freckles on her nose and cheeks. Just…no. No decent man should get turned on because a woman reminds him of a child. Youthful and innocent, sure, that’s different, but not childlike. Shiloh’s transgression was worse, though. While she and Roan are having sex, she wonders if that was how her parents had felt, too. As in, she wonders if their love had made their sex as wonderful as hers and Roan’s. … Why would she wonder what her parents’ sex felt like?! WHY?! Ewwww… If I was in her position, in bed with Roan, the very LAST thing I would think about is my parents having sex. And then she and Roan DISCUSS it. For god’s sake.
Fourth—a couple inconsequential things didn’t make sense. Roan’s military training had honed his senses and taught him to discern body language…but to the extent that he could practically read Shiloh’s mind? He knew her decisions before she made them. Maybe that’s realistic, but to me it sounds like something I’d hear on TV and doesn’t actually work that well in real life. Also, stalking them was a maniac who knew how to shoot several different kinds of guns, including high-powered hunting rifles—and they think it’s safe to keep the windows uncovered so he can see inside? They think it’s safe for Shiloh to step outside to watch the storm when they didn’t know where he was or what kind of weapon he might have or what he planned to do to them? *face smack* Come on. Mr. Ex-Special Forces should be smarter than that.
As for the plot, it had a lot of potential, but it was wasted on verbosity. I would happily exchange that odious meadow scene for one of suspense or action. I know she and Roan were spending time together, which is needed in a romance, but it needed an exciting plot point or two in between those of Roan and Shiloh having dinner (be still my heart!) and forcing small talk. Also, the grizzly bear that plays an important part in the climax should have been mentioned early in the book—seen by Roan and/or Shiloh from a distance or its roar heard or Roan warning Shiloh of it so she’s careful on her rides and walks—then it wouldn’t have seemed like a plot device thrown in for convenience. And I can’t believe no one thought to double check Anton Leath’s whereabouts before three-quarters in. Shiloh: But they were supposed to call me when he got out! Me: You have someone stalking you, and you don’t immediately check out your mother’s murderer, who threatened to kill you as well, because you were waiting for a freaking phone call?!
These people weren’t the brightest bulbs in the box. Likable on the surface, but after finishing the book and analyzing it, I don’t have much respect for either of them anymore. They were also annoying because they were constantly getting turned on by one another. The wind rustled her hair—boner! He ate breakfast—wet! She itched her nose—he needed a cold shower. He stepped into the house—she had to cross her legs to contain the heat. Being attracted to someone is more than being physically attracted to them all the time.
There was a dedication in the front of the book that said the fans would make out on this book because the WRITING DREAM TEAM was back together for it.
Right.
