REVIEW: A Touch of Frost by Jo Goodman

In A Touch of Frost (The Cowboys of Colorado #1) by Jo Goodman **, Agreeing to keep a protective eye on Phoebe Apple was certainly no hardship for Remington Frost. Well, that is until the train they were both traveling on was robbed and Phoebe taken hostage. In Remington’s defense, he was knocked out unconscious on the train’s floor at the time, otherwise he would have kept Miss Apple out of the hands of her abductors. Tracking her down ends up being just the first step in many he takes on his journey with the pretty woman, as they finally make their way to his family ranch in Colorado. But with family secrets coming to light, kidnappers to track down, and a growing desire to keep Phoebe in his life permanently, Remington suddenly has a lot to sort through.

“I’m wondering if you’re asking her or abducting her.”
“Something in between. I’m telling her.”
“Huh. Do you know anything about women?”
“I’ve been asking myself that a lot lately, and I’m convinced I know all the wrong things.”
“I’m inclined to agree,” he said dryly.

Phoebe’s trip to the Twin Star Ranch to see her newly married sister Fiona, and Fiona’s husband Thaddeus, was supposed to be a rather low key event. It was anything but. She was kidnapped and held for ransom, with a worry that she might not be rescued. But indeed she eventually was. And her shining knight, er, cowboy? He’s none other than her new brother-in-law’s son, Remington Frost. A handsome, slightly mischievous lawyer and rancher who figuratively ends up sweeping Phoebe off of her sensible feet. But even as a romance is brewing between them, she must deal with finding common ground at the ranch with Fiona, as well as learning all about the Western way of life. Which includes stepping up to help find her kidnappers. Something that may put Phoebe’s life in danger–unless she, Remington, and a posse of locals can figure out who all the culprits are.

“This is why you’re good for me, Remington Frost. You have a gift for not allowing me to take myself too seriously.”
“Maybe,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean that I don’t take you seriously. You have a way of getting me to see things differently, and I appreciate the view even if I don’t always agree with it.”

Jo Goodman never lets me down with her stellar Western romances. Full of the quick-witted dialogue, dry humor and solid characters I’ve come to expect in her books, A Touch of Frost was one sweeping adventure I can’t wait to take again.

I do so love Jo Goodman’s writing. There’s an easy flow to it that makes the entire book a joy to read, especially as we learn more about the cast. She creates some truly wonderful heroes, heroines–and even villains. Somehow she can take a character I know I shouldn’t like and make them interesting and real enough that I want to know more about them. That was the case here with Phoebe’s kidnappers and a couple other people we met along the way.

As far as our hero and heroine went, Remington and Phoebe, I liked them right away. He was a stand up guy who was trustworthy, had a good sense of humor and was pretty darn levelheaded. Phoebe was the one who kind of surprised me with her tragic backstory. I loved that she had such an incredible inner strength, doing what must be done even if she felt like she was a mess on the inside. Phoebe and Remington as a couple were a blast. They had great chemistry, were quite similar minded, and had some really fun conversations that were like watching a tennis match with how quickly they traded words back and forth.

The thread of mystery in regard to Phoebe’s kidnapping was one that held my interest and took some turns I didn’t expect. I had pieced together part of it but the way things turned out, I was honestly surprised and rather hoping for a little bit more justice. Although maybe Phoebe was more inclined to let things go than I would have been. (lol) The other huge part of the storyline was the issues between, well, just about everyone at the Twin Star Ranch. It seemed like Phoebe’s sister Fiona was in the middle of most of the problems–she tended to be a bit, ahem, melodramatic–but Goodman put quite a spin on the personal relationships at the ranch and in town.

Always with an eye for the perfect details and a knack for telling stories I just can’t turn away, Jo Goodman started off her Cowboys of Colorado series with a bang. And a train robbery. And a kidnapping. And, well, you see where I’m going here. Anyway, I think Western romance fans will have a terrific time getting to know Phoebe and Remington. I sure did.
 

Book Info:

Publication: Published June 6th 2017 | Berkley Books | The Cowboys of Colorado #1

USA Today bestselling author Jo Goodman presents a “sprawling, lusty recreation of life, love, and slowly uncovered secrets*” as a rancher rescues a mysterious young woman with trouble of her trail.

RESCUE ME

After his train is robbed at gunpoint, Remington Frost awakens from a blow to find the bandits gone…along with the woman he was shadowing for protection. No stranger to risk, Remington will do what it takes to bring Phoebe Apple to safety and her kidnappers to justice. But ransoming Phoebe is just the start of trouble…

Phoebe is shocked to learn that her mysterious rescuer is none other than Remington Frost, the son of her sister’s new husband. Home at Twin Star Ranch, she falls happily into western life–and cautiously in love with Remington. But danger hides close to home, and their romance illuminates a web of secrets and betrayal that may put the rancher and his intended bride past the point of rescue.

*Publisher’s Weekly