Lone Heart Pass by Jodi Thomas
Series: Ransom Canyon, #3
Contemporary/Mystery/Romance
April 26, 2016
HQN

Reviewed by Tori

Jubilee Hamilton is a former campaign manager whose last three clients lost their elections. Her boyfriend has left her and now she is being evicted from her home. She dreads having to go home and face her critical parents-or worse-her older sister. When she receives notice she is the sole inheritor of her great-grandfather’s ranch, she hightails it to Texas, determined to make it on her own. She begins to wonder what she’s getting into though when she hires a grumpy cowboy to help her run the ranch.

Charley Collins had it all as a rich rancher’s son but a couple of bad decisions cost him his family and his inheritance. As a single father trying to survive the weight of a town’s disapproval of him while he raises his daughter, he finds himself both annoyed and intrigued by his new boss. But trust is a rare commodity for a man and woman who has both been betrayed by family, friends, and loved ones.

Lauren Brigman, the  sheriff’s daughter, is on spring break from college. Unhappy she is stuck at home rather than on the beach in Cancun, Lauren has plenty of time to reflect on her relationship with her mother, an unrequited crush, and an old childhood friend whom she is reconnecting with. When her father is injured in the line of duty, Lauren takes a step back and discovers the only person who can make her happy is herself.

Fourteen-year-old Thatcher Jones keeps to himself, doing a little of this and that in order to survive. When he is unwittingly pulled into a murder mystery, he finds his survival depends on a man and woman whose journey towards trust and forgiveness mirrors his own.

Jodi Thomas’s small town contemporaries are a favorite indulgence of mine. Smoothly written with appealing characters, Thomas weaves a cozy tale that digs deep beneath the facade of small-town living; examining the love, laughter, pain, and heartbreak that exists there. Though I haven’t read the first two in this series, I was able to read this one with no issues in comprehension of the character histories or the arc. As with her Harmony series, (which I have reviewed here), each book tends to focus on one couple’s relationship while advancing other character’s stories.

Lone Heart Pass has a healthy dose of mystery, suspense, and quite a few humorous surprises as it builds a solid base on which to reveal the main conflict. Told from four points of view, strong opinions and emotions hold sway as you watch these people deal with the matters at hand in a world that doesn’t really hold them in high esteem. Three main storylines circle around each other, intersecting at key points as their ties to one another become visible.  Each character’s personal journey is a lesson in the strong hold the past can have on you and how learning to forgive and let go can free you for an incredible future.

Strongly character driven; the steady narrative and witty dialogue keeps you entertained throughout the book. Ms. Thomas excels at creating characters that dig deep into your heart. She infuses a sense of realism into their personalities and situations; allowing you to connect intimately with them. They make bad decisions, say the wrong things, and act inappropriately at times. Not one of them is perfect though each one is a strong presence that takes command and dominates the scenes they are in. I like that everyone featured isn’t guaranteed an instant happily ever after. Each story always leaves off with the promise of more to come, allowing for Thomas to build strong lasting relationships that aren’t always based on romance but also on friendship.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and plan on reading the first two if only to get some background on the characters of Ransom Canyon I met in here. Thomas’s writing continues to delight me and I recommend her to everyone who enjoys small town contemporaries with intriguing characters, charming romances and strong friendships that will have you waiting anxiously each new visit.

Grade: B

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