Paperback Reader

An author I discovered years later, one I try never to miss, is Ruth Wind, whose April Silhouette Romantic Suspense proves that a series category release can be an emotionally evocative work comparable to any longer piece of romance fiction. In DESI'S RESCUE, Desdemona "Desi" Rousseau operates a wolf sanctuary outside the small town of Mariposa, Colorado, where she runs a successful veterinary practice. Desi is a suspect in the recent murder of her estranged husband, Claude Tsosie, who was gunned down before their divorce was finalized. Claude, a Native American artist, was a "cheating bastard" known to frequent the Black Crown pub in the company of other women, earning himself as many female enemies as admirers.

The Black Crown's half-Maori owner, Tamati "Tam" Neville, a rugby playing New Zealander turned smoke jumper, has retired from both careers and settled in Mariposa following a fire-fighting accident during which his leg was injured. While snowshoeing one morning, Tam rescues an abandoned wolf cub and takes it to Desi's shelter. She gives the orphan to one of the wolves who recently lost her own litter, hoping the two lost souls will bond.

Desi and Tam continue to cross paths, each incident bringing them closer emotionally and increasing the physical attraction between them. They learn they share a love of old maps that tell the stories of early explorers, as well as a love of good food, good friends, family, and the town of Mariposa where both live in the public eye.

Desi struggles against the pull she feels for Tam. She is under suspicion of murder, and dealing not only with resort developers hounding her to sell, but with vandals set on destroying her property, and with protestors wanting to see her put away for Claude's murder. Adding a relationship to the mix would hardly be fair to Tam - no matter that he's let her know he's more than willing. And she is hardly immune.

The man had incredible eyes, penetrating and direct, pale green with gold lights, almost like wolf eyes. For one instant Desi suddenly felt aware of her lips, of her breasts, her throat. Her hands, so capable, felt awkward at the ends of her arms, and as she stood there, exhausted and depressed, a wave of dizzy awareness moved down her spine. Something about the way he held the cub so easily, with the stance of a strong man who looked like some version of a forest god, or maybe the resonant depth of his voice made her feel new, relieved, intrigued.

He was absolutely stunning.

But with each mounting disaster and the additional stress as the media descends, as well as the discovery of why her land is worth killing for and what a good friend would be willing to do to gain it, Desi finds that it's Tam she continues to turn to. It's Tam who is always there. Tam, who never thought his attraction to Desi would grow into more. She's nothing like the women he's dated. She's big and sturdy, strong and unadorned, and he comes to realize, his perfect "mate" - one in too much danger for comfort. Whether Desi wants him there or not, he plans to stick to her side.

Wind's deft use of language is a big part of what makes this book such a pleasure to read. She paints a sensory picture, pulling readers into the world that is Mariposa: the cold of the snow in the air, the mineral scent of the hot springs, the howls of the wolves, the richness of the hearty meals served by the Black Crown, the beauty of the mountain range purple against the sky. Wind also skillfully introduces the reader to both New Zealand and Native American culture, weaving tidbits about spiritual beliefs, customs, etc., into the story seamlessly. And though oftentimes a heroine will be judged by the friends she chooses or the men she’s let into her life, Desi’s previous relationship with Claude never reflects on her poorly.

If the story falls short at all, it does so at the end that feels rushed. This is the second book in a trilogy. Desi's sister Juliet starred in the first, and it appears that Miranda, the third sister, will follow. Desi's arrest, a press conference / protest led by Juliet, and the resolution to both events that segues into the romantic climax flies by with little explanation, leaving the external plot to be continued, and the reader to wonder more about what transpired offstage. Even so, the commitment Tam and Desi make as they await the outcome of the charges against her, make for the perfect happily ever after.

You can visit Ruth Wind here, and buy DESI'S RESCUE here and here.