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When Justice Rides

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Member Reviews

This is a good book. It is one you will not to want to put down till you read all of it. The two main characters are Luna and Jaxson. Luna runs a hair salon. Jaxson is a sheriff. There are two murders, one person shot in a coma, and the managing sheriff has been shot and induced coma. There is a lot of mystery in this story.

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This is a Cowboy Romantic Suspense, and this is the 6st book in A Buckhorn, Montana series. I really enjoyed the mix of romance and suspense in this book. This book was packed with chemistry, suspense and action which I really enjoyed. This book was a fast paced book. I loved the characters so much. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin) or author (B.J. Daniels) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

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In Buckhorn, Montana, the roots of its inhabitants run deep - and so do the grudges. B.J. Daniels' When Justice Rides (A Buckhorn, Montana Novel Book 6) is a testament to this, as the renowned author of suspenseful stories weaves an intriguing tale of revenge and retribution. With her signature style of captivating storytelling, Daniels delivers a gripping narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

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The author hit the ground running in this romantic suspense story and didn't slow down until it was all over. The story opens as Johnny, a young delivery driver, all but stumbled over the dead body of store owner Vi Mullen. I was impressed with his presence of mind as he avoided panic and kept it together long enough to call the local marshal. That didn't last long as he began to worry about the killer coming after him.

Next, we see Luna, a local hairdresser, and occasional private investigator. She takes a phone call from her investigator dad, who has cautionary words for her about Deputy Jaxon Gray, the young man she's just started dating. The things he's told her about his past are complete fabrications, which stuns Luna and makes her want to get at the truth. Without a word to Jaxson or anyone else, she closes her shop and heads to his hometown, looking for answers.

The acting marshal, Ken Yarrow, and Jaxson arrive at the murder site to investigate. Ken is a man who believes that he is better than he is and looks down on Jaxson as an inexperienced rookie. He has his opinions, and not much interferes with them. He doesn't take well to Jaxson's observations, shutting him down hard. Because of the circumstances of the murder, a piece of the floor had to be cut out to remove the body. Ken and Jaxson were shocked to discover another mummified body under the flooring. Jaxson feels his world start to crumble around him as he recognizes the second body.

This began a complex investigation into two murders, seventeen years apart. I ached for Luna, who was hurt, angry, and feeling betrayed by the lies she uncovered about Jaxson. She thought there was a connection between them, and now she doesn't know how she can trust him. It's especially disappointing because it seems so out of character for the man she knows. With the discovery of the second body, Jaxson knows it's a matter of time before his connection to her comes out. He also knows he should have come clean with Luna long ago, and now it may be too late.

I liked Luna and understood her wariness about trusting Jaxson. She also wanted to trust her instincts, which told her he was not guilty of murder. I was happy to see Jaxson tell Luna everything, including things she didn't uncover on her own. She is determined to find the truth and leaves no stone unturned in that pursuit. Jaxson tries to get her to back off, but she is stubborn about finishing what she started. Neither she nor Jaxson expects the complicated family issues that come to light.

At the same time this is happening, Jaxson is also involved in interviewing possible suspects in Vi's murder. The problem is that she was not well-liked by the people in town, thanks to her abrasive and frequently cruel attitude. There were many people with the motive and opportunity to kill her. Additionally, Vi's estranged twin sister, Vera, showed up in town on the day of the murder, accompanied by Vi's ex-husband, Axel. Vera is Vi's sole heir and a nasty piece of work herself.

There were multiple twists to this investigation, with one person, then another, looking like likely suspects. Every new lead uncovered created more questions. Then one unexpected clue started unraveling the whole story, including a surprising link between the two murders. Luna found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught up in the desperate killer's web. She did a great job keeping her head, hoping her message to Jaxson would reach him in time. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, and I couldn't wait to see how it turned out. The ending was neatly wrapped up with a couple of karma-driven surprises.

I liked the relationship between Jaxson and Luna. He cared for her but didn't feel right getting too close without telling her the truth about himself. Once that obstacle was gone, I liked seeing their connection grow. They are equally protective of each other, and Luna wants to see Jaxson's questions about his past answered. I did not expect the surprising answer to one of those questions and the effect it would have on Jaxson's future.

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If you’re ever near a little town in the middle of Montana named Buckhorn, better stear clear. For a small town it has more than its fair share of gossip, drama, and dead bodies.
I liked Luna and how inquisitive she is. I didn’t like how Jaxson lied to her from the beginning.
The murder investigation went on forever and I wondered if the culprit would ever be found.
I loved the description of Montana’s landscape and wide blue skies.
Instead of Buckhorn, maybe try Bozeman!

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When Justice Rides is the sixth book in B.J. Daniels' excellent Buckhorn, Montana series, and this murder mystery/romance has more twists and turns than a big bowl of spaghetti, so although it can be read as a standalone, many of the characters were introduced in earlier installments of the series, so I suggest reading the series in the order the books were written. It gets 4.5 stars rather than 5, from this reader, for one reason, I wish the ending hadn't been quite so abrupt, and that there had been an epilogue.

The novel starts with a huge whodunit, as the local package delivery guy stumbles across the dead body of Vi Mullen, owner of the Buckhorn general store and a woman disliked by almost everyone in town. It's a gruesome scene, and since hardly anyone is mourning her death, almost everyone in town is a suspect--and leave it to Deputy Jaxon Gray to find out that Vi isn't the only victim at the general store, and that discovery might cost him everything, his job, the girl he's seeing, hairdresser, Luna Declan, and possibly also his freedom, because he has loads of secrets, and he recognizes the second victim immediately. That's all the info I'm sharing, since I don't do spoilers.

As mysteries go, this one certainly kept me guessing until the very end because there's no shortage of possible suspects in Buckhorn, Montana, and, as the novel progresses, there are even more secrets to be revealed, more crime victims, and more shifty characters exposed, and Ms. Daniels has crafted one brilliantly written mystery inside a mystery inside a mystery. It certainly kept me wondering and worried, and I'm happy to recommend it.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

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Another great book by B. J. Daniels. I can always count on her books to keep me coming back for more. A great read from start to finish.

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Talk about twists and turns. Boy does this have them. One body leads to discovering another one. The two main characters are right in the middle of both murders. So romance, danger, surprises and great characters make this one hard to put down.

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WHEN JUSTICE RIDES is the follow up to Under A Killer Moon which was an intriguing story. Both part of the Buckhorn, Montana series. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next installment and admit this one was a doozy.

Luna full time salon owner and operator, part time sleuth. Not afraid to get her hands dirty, so to speak. When faced with a challenge Luna would never turn and run. Jaxson had become quite attracted to Luna but his past and reluctance to share it left him on the outside when it came to pursuing a relationship.
Now in Buckhorn they are somewhat entangled in the discovery of not one but two murder victims. Jaxson, as a deputy was working with the Temporary Marshall Ken. This case was exceptionally problematic since everyone in town hated one of the victims. So that case was a priority. Interviews with just about everyone was coming up empty.

And for Jaxson this case was a double-edged sword. As much as he needed help in getting to the bottom of this seemingly unending list of suspects, he worried that Luna was getting in over her head. He worried about her safety. And as more time passed it didn’t look good for their relationship.
This small town held many secrets. It was kind of amazing that such a close-knit community, which thrived on gossip, could have any secrets.

It quickly becomes apparent that this is no small feat. With a list that keeps growing, time is growing short with the state authorities demanding some resolution to the murders. There were two bodies discovered that day. Seemingly no witnesses. One victim’s identity is unknown to all but one person. Jaxson and Ken have their work cut out for them. And as an amateur detective my head was spinning. Around every corner there was a possible suspect.

Time is not on their side. Some folks are now getting hurt. Those that didn’t realize they had been witness. The murderer seems to be stepping up the danger. And now they’re told they have just forty-eight hours. Talk about pressure.

Vintage B. J. Daniels and certainly one that her many fans are going to love. We met some of these folks in Under A Killer Moon. Never even considered how many secrets were being held so close to the vest. With the addition of some new characters, a tough murder investigation, multitude of clues, tremendous dialog, and some rather unseemly folk, WHEN JUSTICE RIDES is a winner. Just what you expect from one of the best. Creative and creepy, B.J. Daniels really makes you wonder about life in small towns.

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I really enjoyed this book. It kept me in suspense all the way until the end. The ending was better than I thought it would be. I am grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

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When Justice Rides by B.J. Daniels A number of backstories popped up throughout the book which actually sounded more interesting than the story of Jaxson and Luna. The story seemed to be disjointed and confusing at times. Fans of Ms. Daniels Buckhorn series are sure to enjoy this latest addition.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book

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