Rattling the Cage by Ann Cory
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (103 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by CloverMontana Lee wants a life outside of Rattler City, Nevada, a hellhole of a town where the law strikes fear in its residents. Slapped with a reputation from a mother she hardly knew and a debt that keeps her slaving for pennies at the bar, her dream of escaping to become a dancer remains out of reach. But the winds change when a musclebound drifter named Lawson struts into town exuding danger and an undercurrent of raw sexual energy. Convinced he’s the key to her escape, Montana makes it a priority to capture his attention.
Anger and darkness have consumed Lawson for years, leading him back to the town that robbed him of his childhood. His plans for vengeance are simple—find the stolen money, kill the one responsible for the demise of his family and destroy the town. He didn’t count on Montana or her will to seduce…both proving impossible to ignore.
When a stranger sweeps into town, will he steal heart as well as seek revenge?
Barmaid Montana is keen to leave Rattler City. It’s not a happy place and the residents are ruled with an iron fist that is as corrupt as corrupt can be. So when a gorgeous but mysterious stranger, Lawson, strides into her bar and things heat up, she hopes he’ll be her ticket to bigger and better.
Rattling the Cage is a story about a vengeful man hoping to make things right in the only way he knows how, by force. Montana is a nice girl, if a bit rough around the edges, and can’t help but have her head turned by Lawson. They have a great relationship; the dialogue is snappy and the sex hot.
A big chunk of the story is about the sherrif and the townsfolk and what happened years ago. Secrets are spilled, lies are uncovered and things get pretty dicey at times. Thank goodness Lawson turned up when he did!
I would have enjoyed a little more romance and between-the-sheets action for Lawson and Montana. They were a great couple who really sparked off each other and a little more of them getting dirty and sweaty would have been a treat. I was really invested in Montana and wanted her to have her happy after with hunky Lawson, so a little more concentration on their releationship would have been nice, and I’d have loved an epilogue showing them in the future. Sigh, she’s a lucky lady!
All in all a good read, well written and certainly full of twists and turns.
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