Jennifer Ryan knows how to hook the reader in and in AT WOLF RANCH Ryan does waste any time. The story is about murder, deceit and love. Quite a wonderful combination of elements that make AT WOLF RANCH an instant winner in my book. The storyline is constructed like a carefully planned pyramid. AT WOLF RANCH starts at the pinnacle and with each page the pyramid gets wider and more complex. Jennifer Ryan showcases her ability to capture the reader's interest and holds on for dear life.

AT WOLF RANCH centers on greed, avarice and ultimately murder in the Wolf family which is a wealthy conglomerate of businesses. Ella and Lela are twin sisters and it was their father that built this successful corporation. From the success of Wolf Enterprises he was able to provide numerous luxuries to his beloved wife and daughters. There is always a price to pay for success. The Wolf family has been generous to its people and family but greed is an inherent disease and someone has it in spades.

AT WOLF RANCH opens with a bang -- literally. Ella is listening to her twin sister Lela on the phone. She can't really understand the dynamics of what is going on but Ella realizes that her sister is in some danger. Lela is deep in an argument with their Uncle Philip. Just as Ella arrives outside her uncle's office she witnesses the unspeakable horror of watching her uncle shoot Lela -- cold blooded murder. And while she stands in the shadows her uncle speaks of his plans for Ella.

In shock and heartbroken Ella knows only that she has to get away and fast. The only place she can think of running to is the family ranch in Montana. Lela had just returned from the ranch and Ella hopes she can figure out what Lela discovered there that would have precipitated the argument between Lela and Uncle Phillip.

Ella knows her life depends on hiding and at the same time finding a way to get the authorities to charge her uncle with her twin's murder.

Uncle Phillip is turning out to be quite a piece of work and the more time Ella has to dig the more dirt is surfacing.

The one fortunate turn in the events was Gabe Bowden. From their very first encounter Gabe has been her savior. Gabe met with Lela during her brief visit to the ranch but the only help he can give Ella is support and friendship. That friendship builds over the time Ella finds herself with Gabe and with their natural attraction could certainly develop into something more. But Gabe know Ella is there for the short haul. Hopefully the two of them will be able to find out what sparked Lela to confront her uncle. Once the mystery is solved than the two of them will return to their normal lives.

But the mystery is beginning to become much more than either one ever expected. Ella is in danger. Gabe will do anything to keep her safe. But her uncle has deep pockets and a large force behind him. Ella and Gabe with their limited resources have to use anything they can to sift through what is becoming a mountain of deceit. We can only imagine what will be discovered after all the layers are sifted through.

AT WOLF RANCH is a masterpiece of a mystery with a powerful ending. The drama and tension builds page by page drawing you into a maze of corruption and greed that has the reader hungry for what will be uncovered next. Nothing is what it seems. That is the beauty of this well constructed story. Jennifer Ryan has just moved up my list of must read authors with AT WOLF RANCH.

Book Summary

Everything's bigger in Big Sky country, including the hearts of the Montana Men

After years on the rodeo circuit, Gabe Bowden wants nothing more than land of his own and a woman who will claim his heart for more than one night. When he has the chance to buy the enormous Wolf Ranch spread, he snaps up the incredible deal. Everything is set, until Gabe rescues a woman on the deserted, snowy road leading to the property, and the half-frozen beauty changes everything.

Ella Wolf rushes to her family's abandoned Montana ranch after her twin sister is murdered. She knows she's next…unless she can uncover a secret hidden somewhere at Wolf Ranch. The last thing Ella expects is to be rescued by a rugged rancher with his own agenda. A man who almost makes her forget how dangerous love can be…

As an unlikely partnership sparks into something so much more, and a killer closes in, can Ella and Gabe learn to trust one another before it's too late?

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