Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback

---

---

Review

4 stars!

Maverick is the second book of the True North series, the story of John ‘Maverick’ Nelson, the middle brother of three Canadian mountain-men of the series (though this can be read as a standalone). And whoa, what a ride. Hot, intense and super-steamy with a great blend of funny, light moments and heart-wrenching emotion. And did I say hot? Because OMG, the filthy mouth on this man would make even the most hard-core romance reader blush. But more about that later.

“Love is chaos.”
I give her an odd look. But she’s right. Love is chaos.
I think I might be falling in love … and I’ve never felt more turbulent in all my life.

Riley Clarke is new to town. After suffering a devastating loss while working on a search and rescue team in the Rockies, she has come to North Ridge for a fresh start. Mav is the leader of the local search and rescue, and though there is a severe case of lust at first sight when they meet, there is a strict no-fraternisation policy at their workplace so they know they need to keep their hands off each other. Not that does anything to stop their attraction, or their fun flirting.

“I probably should go home. My boss expects me at work tomorrow morning early, and I hear he can be a hardass.”
“I heard he has a hard ass. And it’s spectacular.”

There is such a fun dynamic between these two. Riley and Mav are both no-nonsense people, they say it like it is, and they don’t hold anything back. They openly admit to their attraction, they tease, flirt and banter knowing that there’s nothing they can do about it, but unwilling to stop it at the same time. And the chemistry is electric!

“You find me amusing,” I point out. “And confusing.”
“No, not confusing. You’re nothing if not straight forward. But yes, I find you amusing. I find you a lot of things that I probably shouldn’t.”
…
If Mav is already thinking of me in ways he probably shouldn’t, and I keep pushing his buttons, we’re both going to end up in big trouble.
Bring it on.

And when they cave into it, oh holy damn! Mav’s dirty talking is fan-worthy, which wrenches the sexual tension up even higher, and when the sexy time finally comes, it is everything I was expecting for these two after the epic build up.

Faster, harder, deeper, Mav doesn’t give in, doesn’t give up. He fucks me like it’s his job, like he’s trying to save me.
This man is a goddamn national treasure.

Their relationship is fun and easy, super hot and refreshingly functional. Of course there’s the whole issue of them having to keep everything between them a secret, and though they have no intention of starting anything serious, they fall into it anyway, and it was beautiful to watch.

His eyes meet mine, so stark in his gaze. “You have me,” he says. “All of me.” He pauses. “Do I have all of you?”
My heart clenches in my chest. The truth feels foreign to me.
“I want you to.”

But Riley’s past has left its mark on her, and the challenges of their jobs are extreme. And they can’t keep their private lives a secret forever. Something has to give, is what they have found together strong enough to hold them through it?

I want him to be my shelter through any storm.
A shelter for my heart.
But I’m in love with this man.
And who is going to save me from that?

I loved this book. I love the characters, the chemistry, the fun, intensity and naturalness of their relationship, and the lack of stupid behaviour was fantastic. And all set against the exciting and dangerous world of search and rescue on a snow-covered mountain range, I loved the additional edge that it brought to the story. I was intrigued by their work, and it made brought some suspense and drama to the book which I really appreciated. But it’s there without overshadowing the romance, which completely sucked me in and had me alternately laughing, swooning and fanning myself as it all unfolded.

I’m here. I’m living this, I’m feeling this, I’m loving this.

I loved catching up with Shane and Rachel from Wild Card, the first book of the series, and the rest of the family, and am really excited for Fox and Delilah’s book coming up next.

4 stars!

 

North Ridge

 

For more great reads, check out our Karina Halle Author Spotlight