Rocky Mountain Shelter by Vivian Arend (Six Pack Ranch #8)
Contemporary Romance
November 17, 2015
Self Published
Reviewed by: Helyce
Driving home one night, Trevor Coleman notices that there is someone new over at the rental house on the property next to his. He’s been trying to find out who the owner of that property is for ages, and he’s hoping that heading over and introducing himself will finally solve that mystery. But Trevor is totally unprepared for the beautiful girl he encounters or the fact that she’s on the roof, trying to fix a leak. His offer to help is flatly refused even after he catches her when she loses her footing and falls off.
Becky Hall made the only decision she could when she ran away from the only family she’d ever known. Grateful for the kindness of the stranger that happened to pick her up on the road that night, she is finally on her own, in a safe place, determined to succeed and to hopefully, one day, reunite with the sister she had to leave behind. She’s got a list of things to do a mile long, and she’s determined to do them, on her own, if she could just get rid of her overly helpful neighbor!
Trevor senses that Becky is a bit skittish and may be a little fearful, but he doesn’t let that stop him from finding a way to get into her good graces. If nothing else, he’s persistent and when he helps Becky find a job on the very first day that she starts looking, she decides that maybe it’s okay to depend just a little bit on the kindness of strangers.
We learn early on why Becky has no choice but to flee in the dead of night leaving her sister behind, so I don’t think it’s too spoiler-ish community ironically called Paradise. She was “married” to her sister’s husband, Abel, and forced to endure his sexual attentions. When she did not become pregnant, he passed her off to other men in the community. She endures this abuse for 5 years, before she is able to formulate a plan and run away. She was very lucky to have been picked up by a truck driver who knew exactly the right questions to ask and was able to help Becky get a brand new start. He also just happened to have a house available for her to live in.
Trevor Coleman delighted us in the previous book as he relentlessly teased his younger brother, Lee, when he met his girlfriend Rachel. Trevor is the middle son and the last Moonshine Coleman to remain single. Trevor is helpful, loving, kind and generous, and a peacemaker of sorts, but don’t let that fool you. He will protect anyone he loves with his last breath.
Ms. Arend surprised me with this storyline. In this, she gives us a young woman who you know has been sexually abused for years. I assume this is what Becky believes to be how things are between a man and a woman, yet she decides she does not want this life for herself and runs away. She lucks out and gets picked up by a truck driver who has the means and heart to assist her. She meets Trevor and is leary, but falls into a friendship type relationship as Becky accepts Trevor’s help; rides into town, help with the garden and most importantly, he introduces her to Hope who eventually hires Becky, solving her money problems.
While I really did enjoy Trevor and Becky’s journey, I couldn’t quite let go of the feeling that Becky’s transition from abused, sheltered, commune cult wife, to single, flirty, now that I’ve had an orgasm I want more normal 21-year-old, happened just a bit too easily. Trevor is so patient and as Becky’s story is slowly revealed, Trevor finds unique ways to help her overcome some of her fears. Their sexual experiences are definitely hot (see the last Smex Scene Sunday) but again, no matter how hot and sexy a man is, I found it difficult to believe that a woman who had been through what Becky had been through, so easily fell into a sexual relationship. Well, one that included orgasms but no actual intercourse. Yes folks, this couple enjoys all the ways to bring pleasure without actual penetration. This is where Becky draws her line in the sand, and Trevor loves her enough to accept this.
Happily, we are given a few updates on our previous couples. Hope and Matt have baby news; Jesse seems to have come around, but is still very uncomfortable around his brother’s girl, Vicki. There is a hint at a possible future love interest for Rafe and we learn a little about the missing Coleman brother and what happened years ago.
If you’re curious, there is an HEA. Our couple is definitely together and in the epilogue it is inferred that Becky is seeing a counselor. All good, but for me, a little too late. I think I might have been able to buy Becky’s easy acceptance of Trevor’s attentions if some of her counseling was on page as opposed to just being mentioned and only at the end. I think sexual abuse is horrible and life altering and I think if we are going to experience this type of character truly, then her road to healing should be experienced as well – and not with good kisses and an orgasm or two. Definitely not a favorite in this series
Grade: C-
Goodreads I Author Website I Series List
Leave a Reply