Pai: Becca’s recs are good. I’ll second Northern Lights. It was my first NR book and is my favorite.

I normally don’t like plots that turn on a Big Misunderstanding that could be cleared up if only the people would *talk* to each other, but I can totally understand why Cooper didn’t feel like he could explain himself to Lil when he broke things off (I did something myself to the man who is now my husband, so I understand both why Cooper did what he did, and why it was really the wrong thing to do) – and I really liked the fact that somewhere along the line he’d learned to communicate, and was capable of explaining what he was feeling and why.

I’d be more charitable about this book, and give it a B or a B+.

I didn’t like Lil’s whining. She has proven herself to be a strong, independent, self-reliant woman and she whines about Cooper.

Otherwise I did like the book very much-not one of her best but it is hard to be better every time.

She is such a talented and prolific author, I have no idea which book to start with!

If you like mysteries, my favorite is Blue Smoke – again, like Black Hills, it starts slow, but it does build.

Northern Lights is also fun, and is told mostly from the male point of view.

if you’re after straight romance, try the Chesapeake Bay books.

Although I know this isn’t a series, there were a few side characters that I’d like to see developed into their own story – IE Matt the quiet vet who doesn’t like to be touched. I could just feel a story brewing there and hope (hint hint) to see him in the future. Also I was sorry she didn’t expand on why the security guy felt he owed Cooper. There was one conversation that was poised to explain it all and while the interuption was timely she never revisted it and I felt like there was something important that was left unsaid.

Coopers “sacrifice” was a double edged sword for me. At times I felt “awe, what a guy” and other times I wanted to slap him upside the head. I did like that her first capitulation was selfish – “you broke my heart but I’m in a really bad place and I need comforting so take me…on my terms” – perfect and just what he deserved. But in the end love wins over pride, isn’t that what we read romance for?

I do agree about feeling incredibly anxious for the animals. I also really liked Lil’s relationship with Baby. I’m glad it was stressed that despite coming back to Lil, this was still a wild animal with unexpected reactions.

I would rate this book more as a C. It felt very average and while a pleasant enough read, I didn’t find myself engaging with the romance at all, nor even the characters, even as I liked learning about Lil’s work with the refuge.