SALVATION, TEXAS

Author: Anna Jeffrey ISBN: 0451220080 1/2007 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: NAL/SIGNET ECLIPSE

Ever since he lost Elena, everything in Rusty's life has gone wrong. Her wealthy, influential father drove him out of Salvation, away from everyone he'd ever loved. Now Rusty is back, elected by the people to one of the most powerful positions in the county. He isn't about to let the woman who cost him everything get under his skin again. Not when there's a cold-blooded killer on the loose. And not unless he can find a way to live with her father and her millions. Elena Ryder knows of no better man than Sheriff Rusty Joplin—despite her own rocky past with him. Now she trusts no one else to investigate her sister's tragic death. And she won't even consider resisting Rusty's rugged presence if she gets a second chance...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Anna Jeffrey is fast climbing the charts to becoming one of my favorite authors. Her new offering has got it all. A beautiful, stubborn heroine, a gorgeous hardheaded alpha male hero, mystery, suspense and some good old-fashioned loving.

Rusty Joplin is a far different person than he was years ago, when he allowed Elena Ryder's father to run him out of town and away from the woman that he loved. Now he is a grown man and sheriff of the town of Salvation to boot, and refuses to be cowed by Randall Ryder. It has been years since he has even seen Elena in more than just passing, but when he receives a terrifying phone call that one of Elena's sisters has been killed by her horse, he sets out to find the truth. He never counted on the probability that he would still find Elena so beautiful or that she would still make his heart flip-flop in his chest.

Elena Ryder is not your typical heroine. She is beautiful, passionate and forgiving to a fault. She is the peacemaker in her family and is always the one to calm her daddy down when he gets riled up. Now, with the death of her sister, things have gone into a tailspin. Her father is aging literally before her eyes every day, her sister is getting drunk every chance she gets, and Rusty Joplin has just soared back into her life looking just as darn good as he did the day he left town. Chemistry is not the word when these two get together! It is like an explosion of emotions and I loved every minute of it!

Anna Jeffrey did a wonderful job of pulling together all of the little pieces that make this book what it is. Salvation has a wonderful plot concerning the finding of Carla's murderer that added so much depth to this book. Contrary to what I had originally thought—because the plot was so "big" above and beyond the romance—it still did nothing to hinder Rusty and Elena's relationship—it only adds to it. We learn so much about what makes them tick throughout the process.

SALVATION, TEXAS is a good solid read, with great characters and a fast paced plot. Do yourself a favor and pick it up, and while you are at it, clear your plans for the evening! You will not want to put this one down once you start!

Kristal Gorman