Shadows of the Valley by Britt Howard: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Wounded and retired veteran Kasey Carter walks alone.

But when the one person she’s tried the hardest to push away begs for her help, she can’t resist the call of duty and devotion. Thrown on a path more dangerous than she expected, she’ll do anything to protect the people she loves, even if that means hiding out for months in the forested mountains of Cascade Valley, Montana.

When a nosy—and handsome—local rancher stumbles across her hiding place, she’ll have to decide if she can risk trusting him or if she’ll have to walk through the shadows alone in a battle to survive.

Rancher Dean McCade is used to devoting himself to protecting the people and the land he loves.

When a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with a mysterious woman living in the woods, he can’t stop thinking about her. Probably because the woman won’t stop putting him in her rifle sights every time they meet. It’s obvious she’s running from something, but her fiercely guarded secrets keep him at a distance.

As he works to earn her trust and the truth unfolds, he knows God put him in her path. But as his feelings grow and the danger lurking in the shadows collides with their hope for a future, the right choice might mean loving her enough to let her go.

Shadows of the Valley is Book Two in The McCade Family Series. In this series, you'll find swoony, protective ranchers and the strong-willed women they love, plus faith-filled themes throughout. The door stays closed for this one, but expect sweet (and swoony!) kisses and plenty of banter to melt your heart.

The Author

Britt has been crafting stories ever since she can remember. From an early age, she has had a passion for writing stories that glorify God and encourage others in a faith-filled life. She believes that books are a beautiful way to bring us closer to God and deepen our faith through the gift of imagination.

Her stories are filled with happily-ever-after endings only. While Britt's books will occasionally deal with more serious topics, such as grief, loss, struggles with faith, and other real-world issues, they will always return to a foundation of hope and joy. While romance is the focus of her stories, you won't find any graphic scenes between characters. Hallmark-level romance is her thing. As she likes to say, her romances may not be steamy, but they sure are swoony.

When she isn't writing, you'll find her editing other authors' books, playing around with graphic design, or trying to work through her never-ending TBR...usually with a fresh cup of hot coffee and snacks nearby.

Britt believes that stories highlighting the beauty and joy of a Christ-centered romance is one way to remind people of the love and goodness of Jesus. Her hope is to point you to His grace, mercy, and love for you through tales of real people who are walking through lives that may look similar to your own.

To learn more about Britt's work, please visit www.britthoward.com.

Book Review

Looking for a Christian romance that has all the grit and emotion with just the right amount of suspense? This one is definitely one you'll want to check out. Right from the start, I was drawn into this story...and more importantly, these characters. Kasey is perhaps one of the most stubborn and independent characters ever---but with very good reason. When her sister leaves her two young children in her care to keep them safe... which she plans to do all on her own while secluded in the mountains. Enter Dean, the protective rancher who wants nothing more than for her to let him in and protect her. I truly just loved these two together... the emotion, the sense of danger (from multiple fronts), the ranch setting, the beautiful messages of faith... there truly was just so much to love in this story. If you enjoy Christian romance, don't miss this one. 

Shadows of the Valley is a closed-door Christian romance with kisses only and no language. It is the second book in the McCade Family series, but I do think it could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well (though you might see some slight spoilers). 



You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3IRmjXV