Review: Wyoming Cowboy Undercover – Juno Rushdan

After several books getting to know Rocco (and getting ominous hints about Shining Light) this is the book that finally combines the two together. And like I’ve come to expect, it’s another suspenseful ride from this author!

Growing up as the daughter of the founder of the Shining Light commune, Mercy doesn’t have much experience with the outside world and that’s mostly from their evangelical outreach missions in the nearby towns. Weekly self defense lessons have been the only thing helping her deal with the life that she’s finding more and more stifling, so the sudden announcement that it’s her final lesson leaves her reeling.

Rocco’s been Mercy’s personal trainer for several months now – but that’s not all he is. An ATF agent, he’s been secretly using Mercy as a source of information on the commune, who are rumored to be trafficking in illegal weapons. With a tip that something big will be happening soon and Mercy leaving, Rocco does the only thing he can – ask to follow her back to the commune. Because while he may have been lying to her about who he is, there’s no denying the truth of the chemistry between them. But with a deadline looming, they’ll first have to survive what’s coming – and Rocco’s secrets.

“There was something here, between them, electric and charged, that neither of them could probably afford to explore. But that didn’t curb his desire, no, his need to hold her. To kiss her.”

Mercy is used to keeping her unhappiness to herself. It wouldn’t be good for the daughter of the commune’s leader to show any doubts, right? Considering how circumspect her life has been it’s no surprise that she’s never had anyone to confide in, and while she’s perfectly capable of managing on her own, she’s lonely. Rocco is the first person that she’s ever felt like she could be herself with, someone that she can lean on for comfort. For Rocco, it only took days before Mercy turned from an asset into a true friend. Though he has a lot of bad memories in his past, Mercy’s kindness makes him feel truly accepted and heard. And of course there’s the chemistry, something neither of them have dared to act on.

From the first page to the last, this book is the definition of suspense. Some of it’s action-based while some of it’s more of the slow buildup, but from initial car chase to final showdown the book chugs along at a steady pace. And just like Rocco and Mercy’s relationship has to withstand the reveal of several secrets, there’s some decent twists that keep the book from becoming predictable. At least one of them seemingly came out of nowhere, but it made sense enough – and was later explained by some other backstory – that it didn’t bother me in the end.

Overall, another excellent romantic suspense from Juno Rushdan! I’m sad we’re approaching the end of this series – only one book left – though I’m curious to see how this all wraps up (and hope some villains get some well-deserved comeuppance).

Content notes: View Spoiler »violence (including murder and death on page, including gun violence), car accident that results in death, toxic family, panic attack (on page) « Hide Spoiler

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