The Art of New Beginnings (Ragin' Moon Refuge, Book Three)

 

K.T. RAINE

Stats: Kindle edition, pub 9/28/25.

How acquired: Via BookSirens.

First line: The Greyhound was only a third full – Morgan’s first lucky break in years.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I think this third book is my favorite (so far) of the Ragin’ Moon Refuge series. Morgan is a bit of a departure from the typical romance story heroine. She’s just been released from prison after serving five years and needing somewhere to start over, she’s headed to Big Pine, Montana, a place she remembers from childhood visits with her grandparents. We don’t know why she was in prison until much later in the story, but the bits and pieces of her experiences behind bars that are shared with us along the way give us a little insight into her character, and I was rooting for her from the very beginning.

Gio, who we met in the previous books, befriends Morgan after she comes into his diner looking for a job. While he’s not in a position to hire her at the moment, he is able to give her some temporary work while one of his employees is out sick, which gives them the opportunity to begin getting to know one another. Morgan spends her first night in Big Pine camping in a small tent at one of the local parks, but when the second evening brings torrential rain Gio takes her to Ragin’ Moon, where she’s set up in one of the guest cabins.

Gio’s easy acceptance of Morgan’s secretiveness, and not saying anything initially and then not pushing her when he and his mother believe she’s given them a false name, stems partly from the fact that the refuge his family runs is used to being a haven for women in trouble, but I believe it was also partly just his character, his kindness and respectfulness. There’s no big plot twists, no imminent danger, no action scenes, and none of that was needed – I very much enjoyed just following along as Gio and Morgan’s friendship grew into feelings for each other. Not to mention the sweet little puppy Morgan rescued and smuggled aboard the bus that brought her to Big Pine!

While this is part of a series, each book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend starting with the first book, as they are all worth reading, and then move on to the Huckleberry Ridge series, which I like even more, and of course the author’s actual standalone book, Holding Out For Special, which was my introduction to her and which I just loved. Ms. Raine packs her books with wonderful characters, and the dialogues are well written, so the stories just flow across the pages. Can you tell I’m a fan?

*Received with thanks from the author/BookSirens and voluntarily reviwed*

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Sometimes it's the shadows of our past that illuminate the path forward. 

After five years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, 30-year-old Morgan Mayfield is finally free—yet the life she once knew is gone. Once a celebrated artist, she's now branded a pariah in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. With nowhere else to turn, she heads for the one place where happy childhood memories Big Pine, Montana.

Armed with nothing but determination and a new alias, Morgan finds work at the Big Pine Bar and Grill and begins rebuilding her life. She never expects to cross paths with Gio Lascari, the charismatic owner whose steady kindness both unnerves and comforts her. Gio senses she's carrying secrets, but he also sees the courage behind her guarded smile—and he's drawn to it.

Just as Morgan begins to believe in second chances, the past she's been hiding from walks straight into her life. When a shocking encounter threatens to expose her identity and destroy everything she's rebuilt, Morgan must find the strength to face the truth ... and decide if she can trust Gio with the pieces of her heart.

A heartfelt, slow-burn clean romance about redemption, hope, and the healing power of love—set against the rugged beauty of small-town Montana.

A Gamble of the Heart (Ragin' Moon Refuge, Book One)

 

K.T. RAINE

Stats: Expected pub date 5/1/24, Independently published

How acquired: Via BookSirens

First line: Becca’s eyes flew open with the hiss of the hydraulic door, the sound unnaturally loud in the serene atmosphere.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read from Ms. Raine, so when I saw this was available to request on BookSirens I snapped it up. I’ve previously described Ms. Raine’s books as breezy, fun, and heartwarming, with well written characters, and A GAMBLE OF THE HEART delivered on those expectations. But when I say breezy I don’t mean frivolous, as her books also touch on deeper subjects, and there is usually an element of danger to the heroine, with the hero being a protector (one of my personal catnips). Here we have Becca and her young son traveling across the state seeking refuge, after a loan shark appears at her door, demanding money to pay off her ex-husband’s gambling debt. From there, the physical danger is minimal, and the story is more about Becca finding herself again, finding friends and acceptance in her new home, and of course, since this is a romance, finding love again.

That’s not to say her ex isn’t involved in the story, and we even get some sections told from his point of view. It would have been easy for the author to write him off in the end, but she gave him some character development and a chance at redemption instead.

This is a quick read, with some tense moments towards the end, and a happy, satisfying resolution. It’s the first in a new series, and with four more brothers besides Tony I’m already looking forward to more of the Ragin’ Moon Refuge! And I highly recommend Ms. Raine’s Huckleberry Ridge series, as well as the first book of hers that I read, HOLDING OUT FOR SPECIAL.

*Received via BookSirens and voluntarily reviewed*

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Becca Pierson takes her vows seriously. So even when her husband’s secret gambling addiction shakes her world, she soldiers on, sure they can work things out. But reality soon proves otherwise, and she knows she must put their ten-year-old son David first and file for divorce. When a loan shark barges into her apartment and demands the little cash she has left, she takes David and flees 400 miles across Montana to the only place that will accept them—Ragin’ Moon Refuge. 

Tony Lascari’s family owns the Ragin’ Moon Refuge, and he has seen many a broken woman pass through. He’s never once been tempted, for he knows the baggage they carry. Life is so much easier when you only have to consider yourself. But when he picks up Becca from the bus depot, he’s immediately drawn to the frightened young mother who brings out his instinct to protect. But with Becca’s future so uncertain, he knows their relationship must stay platonic.

Becca also feels the attraction but knows she needs to focus on protecting her son, which may entail fleeing again. There’s simply too much at stake to be distracted by Tony’s charm and rugged good looks. No matter how kind he is. No matter how safe he makes her feel.

Will she overcome her past and find a brighter future with Tony’s help? Or will fears and regrets keep her forever chained to the past?

Tell Me Another Lie (A Huckleberry Ridge Romance, Book Four)

 

K.T. RAINE

How acquired: BookSirens

First line: The striking contrast of the white rose against the red countertop captured Belle’s attention as soon as she stepped out of the massage room.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: K.T. Raine was one of my new author discoveries almost two years ago, and I have devoured each of her books since then. Each one has been just delightful, and TELL ME ANOTHER LIE is no exception. Would that I could live in Huckleberry Ridge!

Belle is a young widow who recently moved back to Huckleberry Ridge for a fresh start. A massage therapist, her new business is doing well, and the local animal shelter has found the perfect dog for her. She still mourns her husband, but life is looking up. Until she becomes the target of an unknown admirer’s unwanted attention.

Enter Woody. Belle’s cousin, a police officer, asks Woody to keep an eye out for Belle since her business is on his beat. Gentle sparks fly, but neither is looking for a relationship, and they both make some assumptions about the other. Shallow assumptions, but hey, they’re only human. And of course they get over those assumptions as they get to know one another.

The mystery of who the secret admirer is was well plotted, and I didn’t come close to figuring it out. There’s plenty of bantering conversations that made me smile, and I laughed a few times. I adored Woody, he’s a bit swoon worthy! The writing is engaging and characterization of both Belle and Woody is done well, especially considering the book is only 176 pages (the pdf version I read).

My only complaint is one throwaway sentence that came off as a little racist to me, when Woody is on an airplane, in a seat that is apparently on the smaller side. That sentence gave me pause and left a bad taste in my mouth and my brain.

While each book in the series can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting with the first book, and then also reading the author’s actual standalone, HOLDING OUT FOR SPECIAL, which is the first of the author’s books that I read. They are all sweet, kisses only, romances with some suspense thrown in, that will leave you sighing at the end. In a good way!

*Received from BookSirens and voluntarily reviewed*

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Four years after the death of her husband, Belle Cosgrove returns to her childhood home of Huckleberry Ridge, Idaho seeking a fresh start. With the successful launch of her new massage business, things are finally looking up ... until a secret admirer starts leaving eerie gifts and messages. Can she convince her damaged heart to accept the help of Woody Bannock, a reserved, ridiculously handsome police officer? Book 4 in the clean, contemporary Huckleberry Ridge Romance series.

Better Late Than Never (A Huckleberry Ridge Romance, Book Three)

 

K.T. RAINE

Stats for my copy: Pdf, pub date 3/18/23.

How acquired: Received via BookSirens.

First line: Dawson turned his ball cap around backward and wiped an arm across his sweaty forehead.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: This is the third book in the author’s Huckleberry Ridge series. I loved the first book, and realized when I received this one that I must have missed the release of the second book, but I bought it as soon as I finished this one!

While volunteering at for an annual forestry event that aims to teach kids about conservation and protecting natural resources, Dawson inadvertently sort of meets Kara. Sort of, because she stays turned away from him and then flees. Dawson is intrigued, and determined to learn more about her.

Kara has been living with her mother, and her father before he died, in the family home for some twenty years, but nobody in Huckleberry Ridge even knew she’d come home. Celebrating graduation with friends, she had suffered burns to one side of her face and down her arm. Her boyfriend at the time promptly dumped her, and she’s kept herself hidden from the world ever since.

It’s been about a year since I read the first book, but I believe there was quite a bit more angst in this one. Not that I’m complaining, I love good angst, and Kara deserves to have all the angst she wants. But there is also a lot of humor, and laughter, and some wonderfully funny and flirty banter between Kara and Dawson. I loved watching them get to know each other. Dawson was so patient with Kara, slowly drawing her out and encouraging her to face the world again, a little at a time. When his family finally met Kara, they too were all just wonderful to her, welcoming both she and her mother her to the fold. My heart broke for Kara and the pain she had suffered, not just physically but emotionally.

There’s a big misunderstanding on Kara’s part, which I did not see coming, that drives a wedge between them, to Dawson’s perplexion, and then a smaller misunderstanding, which I did see coming but which fortunately was resoled within a few pages. And some more angst over the difference between their ages, which I totally understood and was there for. And then of course the HEA, and it was all just so heartwarming and fun and delightful. And I don’t understand why the author’s books don’t have a bigger audience.

*received via Booksirens and voluntarily reviewed*

Goodreads Synopsis: If only she could be invisible…

Kara Grissom has spent twenty years in hiding. Ever since suffering a severe facial burn the night after her college graduation, her only refuge has been the childhood home she shares with her mother. She’s long since given up on any possibility of finding love, so when a handsome stranger suddenly invades her safe place, Kara’s stunned by the sudden awakening of desires she thought had died years ago.

Dawson Wickham loves life as a bachelor. With his own home, a great family, and the perfect job, he’s got everything he needs. But he also loves mysteries, and when he accidentally stumbles upon the reclusive Kara and she flees from him, her bizarre reaction is a mystery he just has to solve.

Kara knows that no man who sees her face could ever love her, so she does her best to rebuff Dawson’s interest. But he’s not the type to give up easily, especially once he begins to fall for her charm, wit, and intelligence. But will his love be enough to break through Kara’s phobia of rejection and convince her to trust him? Or is she destined to live out her days alone?

A Country Kind of Love (Huckleberry Ridge, Book One)

 

K.T. RAINE

Stats for my copy: Kindle edition, 2022.

How acquired: From the author via BookSirens.

First line: “Take the next left,” Cody commanded, pointing for emphasis, his tone making it clear just how much the ten year old relished calling the shots.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: I loved the previous book I read by this author (HOLDING OUT FOR SPECIAL), so I was excited to see this one available on BookSirens. I requested it immediately, and then I forced myself to finish the books I was already reading before starting this one. It was worth the wait.

The story opens with CeCe and her ten year old son, Cody, arriving in Huckleberry Ridge, where they are moving into a rented duplex. We quickly learn that CeCe is running from something, but we don’t know who or what. Cody is not thrilled about the move, but CeCe is hopeful that they can have a good life in this small town. She’s a little nonplussed when she meets her landlord, Shane, and realizes that he is a cop, and that he lives in the other half of the duplex. At least he’s nice to look at!

Shane has his own baggage. He’s a widow, still missing his wife and gently wallowing in guilt over her death. He’s attracted to CeCe, but as far as a relationship, he’s a bit in stasis. Meanwhile, his son, Dillon, and Cody become best buds right away.

When I reviewed HOLDING OUT FOR SPECIAL, I wrote “This is a breezy, fun and heartwarming story, with well written characters…”. I hate to repeat myself, but that description also fits this book perfectly. I loved CeCe, and I really loved Shane. A law enforcement hero is one of my catnips. While fear has driven CeCe to move 400 miles across the state, she is still strong and resourceful, determined to protect her son and create a good life for him, for both of them. Looking out his window shortly after CeCe arrives, Shane sees her look at her phone and can tell from her body language that she’s upset or afraid. He doesn’t know if she’s in danger, or if she’s on the run, but his protective instincts come out. When her car has a flat tire, he wants to hurry over and help her change it, but he forces himself to stand on his porch with his coffee, strike up some conversation, and wait for her to ask for his help.

Did she know how to change a tire? Based on the majority of stranded female motorists he stopped to help, the odds were about 80/20 against her. It was actually one of the most rewarding parts of his job, the look of relief on a woman’s face when he pulled up in the Tahoe, something about the uniform eliciting trust. It was a lot more satisfying than busting bad guys.

I mean, who wouldn’t love Shane?! I enjoyed watching them get to know each other, and how happy Cody seemed as he hung out with Dillon instead of staying inside with video games, and how Shane’s family, who all live right there in the same little area, welcomed CeCe and Cody into their community. Oh, and CeCe sitting on her back porch talking over the fence to Shane’s sheep!

A sweet, sometimes emotional, story that kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I hope there will be many more books in the Huckleberry Ridge series.

*I received a free copy of this book from the author via BookSirens and have voluntarily reviewed it*

Synopsis from Goodreads: After single mom and reporter, CeCe Bixby, has her name leaked in connection with a dangerously controversial story, she and her young son flee 400 miles from Boise to small town Huckleberry Ridge, Idaho for a fresh start.

But life’s never simple, and CeCe is dismayed to find her troubles have followed her. Help may come in the form of her handsome, state-trooper landlord, Shane Wickham, and his surprisingly supportive family. But does she dare share the truth with him?

Holding Out For Special

 

K.T. RAINE

Stats for my copy: Kindle Edition, 9/15/21.

How acquired: Via BookSirens for review.

First line: Emory Dockins navigated the busy onramp onto Interstate 270 outside of Baltimore, her eyes blurred with tears.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: This was an absolute delight. When you pick a random book from an author you’ve never heard of, you never know for sure what you’ll get. Sometimes you get a dud, and sometimes you get a gem.

It’s billed as a “Clean and sweet contemporary romance with a dollop of suspense”. It is sweet, and it is clean, with just some kissing between the hero and heroine, but there is also some heat and palpable chemistry. I love a law enforcement hero, and I think this is the first romance I’ve read where the hero was a Secret Service agent. Emory and Vince both have some baggage, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to get a lot of angst, but it was light in that department. What we do get a lot of is amusing banter. I smiled a lot, and I laughed out loud, and then suddenly I was crying, real tears running down my face. And I was only at the 50% mark!

The narrative alternates between Emory’s and Vince’s POV, and I loved both of them. Emory is a teacher, and I really liked how Vince was very respectful of her profession, describing her as “An underpaid, self-sacrificing teacher…”. When she asks how does he know she’s underpaid, he responds “All teachers are underpaid in my book”.

There’s also a cute little girl named Macy, whose mother, a politician, has been receiving threats. Vince’s current assignment is protection detail for the child, and the relationship that he develops with her was just adorable.

This is a breezy, fun and heartwarming story, with well written characters, including the child and her dog, that I probably would’ve finished in just a couple of days if I didn’t have a freakin job to go to. From what I read about the author, this is her first adult book, with her previous books being for young readers, but she has more coming, and now that she’s on my radar I’m eager for more from her!

Synopsis from Goodreads: After 32 years of no luck in the true love department, sweet, unassuming school teacher, Emory Dockins, has pretty much given up on ever finding the right guy. Never in a million years does she expect to catch the eye of the intimidating, but swoon-worthy Secret Service agent, Vince Murano, who comes to question her about death threats against an aunt she never knew existed. Yep, life's funny like that. And maybe Emory shouldn't give up on her happy ever after just yet.