Bunny O'Kelly arrives in Alaska and finds that working on a ranch is vastly different from her family's dairy farm that she left. She left the dairy farm abruptly after learning that her father would not include her in the farm's future, despite her hard work and dedication. With this huge chip on her shoulder, she sets out to prove that she can pull her weight and do any job asked of her. But she can't stay away from the mystery of how the ranch owner's daughter died, and getting involved may ultimately carry a large price.

The book is well written and the setting is beautifully described. I kept confusing two characters whose names both started with J, and that made it hard for me to keep up with the story sometimes. The main character, Bunny, was nearly always angry, and for that reason I didn't find her very likeable; therefore, it was difficult to connect with her story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A debut novel you will love from the first chapter. Bunny is a feminist icon that knows taking the easy road isn’t always easy what you are meant to do. Bunny and the rest of the characters are so relatable and the details of Alaska are so vivid you’ll feel like you’re there. Overall I loved this book only gave it four stars because I wanted more from the ending at least a few more fictional days or weeks.

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

It took me a bit to figure out that it was going back and forth two years a part. So I had trouble understanding what was going on. Then it drove me nuts because I wanted to know about what happened in the past first. This way you did keep the reader wanting more aka read on. I give the book an 8 out of 10. Would read more by you.

I still can’t believe this is a debut novel! Days later, I’m still thinking about Bunny as we sail towards Alaska.

Matthews paints a wonderful picture of the Alaskan wilderness and ranching, but it’s the character development that steals the show. Turning over the final page in the book, I feel that I’ve spent time at the Midnight Sun Ranch and developed some great friendships. In fact, if I walked down the street in Anchorage, I feel that I’d instantly know if Bunny was walking towards me.

Desperately wishing to disentangle from the knot of dysfunctional family and stand on her own, Benjamina (Benny) O’Kelly leaves home and heads 1200 miles north to a ranch, six hours out of Anchorage. Her grueling journey to prove her worth as a ranch hand at Buck Miller’s ranch had me glued to the pages.

Equestrians will tell you that ‘releasing the reins’ requires trust and Benny definitely learns to release the reins and work hard to earn trust. She’s confident in her abilities and sets out to prove herself to those with whom she works. Releasing the reins with her family is easy as they don’t trust her ability or worth. Buck Miller, her new boss, struggles with releasing the reins and in observing Benny’s determination, he slowly learns to trust again. For Benny, trust has been a refuge. For Buck, trust has been a threat. Regardless, secrets are the root of all the misplaced, broken, denied, undeserved and refused trust in this tight-knit Alaskan town.

I appreciated a taut, well-paced read highlighting the courage to stand up for oneself, the determination to move in the direction of one’s dreams, the cost of responsibility, and the danger of underestimating someone. Abandonment was a central theme, as was demanding respect, proving oneself, and wallowing in the failure to protect.

Reminiscent of the struggles between the Capulets and Montegues of Shakespeare’s world, Matthew’s characters face the fallout of forbidden love between the rival Cooper and Miller families. Benny is caught in the feud between the Midnight Sun and Double J ranches and is driven to uncover the secrets they are so intent on hiding.

I can’t wait for the sequel!

What a book! I can’t wait to share my thoughts in Bunny’s adventure and Katie’s justice. This has all the makings of an in red book! Suspense, drama, determination…this list goes on and on. I couldn’t stop flying through the pages and I absolutely cannot wait to share much more on this beautiful book.