Secret Sanctuary by Nance Sparks is a romantic suspense set on a rugged Montana bison ranch.
U.S. Marshal Alex Trenton grew up in the service after being placed in witness protection as a child. Now she runs a super secret safehouse using all the tools, from riding horseback to high tech surveillance gear and sensitive fencing. The one thing she doesn’t have is love in her life, though she has longed for a certain older woman for years.
When Alex was sent to the ranch for safekeeping, Elina Hawkins was just old enough to not hang out with the gangly tagalong kid. Now she’s coming home to visit her grandmother and discovers the kid is grown up and spends a lot of time with her néiwóó on the ranch. She’s surprised at the intensity of the feelings between her and Alex, but the high level of secrecy her job demands keeps her at arms length.
A clandestine drop, a kidnapping, and deadly criminal threats throw the women into a thrilling adventure that threatens their lives, but it’s their secrets that may keep them apart.
Writing
A lot of secrecy keeps the anticipation high. The reader may think they know what’s going on, but they’re as in the dark about the whole truth as Alex and Elina. Discovering everyone’s truth is well paced and helps heighten the added apprehension from the criminal element. Sometimes an author can lean on secrets a little too hard and create a romantic anxiety that feels a bit artificial, but that doesn’t happen here. Both women have a really good reason to keep their secrets, even as they both understand how it hurts their budding romance and chances for the future.
Every character is put in peril at some point in the book. The bad guys are really bad, but Alex and Elina are tough and determined to do the right thing, even if it’s for people they despise, because that’s the job. There are a couple of tense sequences early in the book, but once the really dangerous stuff starts, it’s a scary race to the end.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Both Alex and Elina are badass, though different in their skill sets. They make a great team, and I would really enjoy reading further adventures with these two. The safehouse ranch is a great setting. Bison is still a rather unusual product and lends a lot of character to the setting, especially in regard to action sequences.
Added to this vivid world are several great characters. Grandmotherly Mary is feisty and in the mood to matchmake her two favorite people, Alex and Elina. Elina’s well trained dogs Hunter and Scout give Mary a run for her money when it comes to stealing scenes and hearts.
I buzzed through all the action sequences. They felt real and very dangerous, with just enough vulnerability from the main characters to heighten suspense. I was never unsure of who was where and what was going on. The romance made me happy, because both characters have a deep need for love but their lives are highly secretive, giving it a nice tension.
Heads Up
There are dangerous criminals and definitely violence.
The Conclusion
Alex and Elina have known each other for years, but their highly secretive lives have kept them apart until a criminal element intrudes on the sanctuary of the safehouse that U.S. Marshall Alex runs under the guise of a bison ranch. Elina returns to the ranch for a visit with her grandmother, and gets caught up in the growing danger as her feelings for Alex blossom into something special.
With a great setting and a dangerous criminal element threatening Alex and Elina and everyone they love, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat a few times. The romance is sweet, but threatened by secrecy and real life danger.
Excerpt from Secret Sanctuary by Nance Sparks
Mary slouched in her seat and folded her arms across her chest. “So, I’m just supposed to park my ass in the rocking chair and wait to die?”
Elina chuckled. “Hardly, Néiwóó, if you want to go for a ride, I’m all in. All that I ask is that your first time in the saddle since surgery isn’t on the bison roundup. I’m here. Let me help.”
“I know what you two did was out of concern for me, but don’t for a moment think you’ve gotten away with anything.” Mary pointed her knotted arthritic finger from Alex to Elina several times. “How long have you two been in cahoots anyway?”
“It was at Hawk’s – ”
“We exchanged numbers at Neibésiiwóó’s celebration of life. Don’t be mad at Alex. It was at my request. You can sometimes sugarcoat things and I needed to know you were okay.”
“Well, it’s high time you two find something else to talk about.”
Alex looked over the top of her water glass at Elina and smiled. Mary certainly hadn’t been the only topic; as a matter of fact, finding things to talk about wasn’t an issue at all. The issue, as of late, was ending the call. Her feelings for Elina were growing so intense that it was becoming more and more difficult to say good-bye.
Mary turned to Alex. “Work her ass off, you hear me?” She turned back to Elina. “Didn’t sugarcoat that at all, did I?”
“Still as sassy as ever I see.” Elina smiled.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 978-1-63679-149-4
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
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