In the wake of her father’s murder, Kayla Backer fled New York City and created a new life for herself in the Montana territory. As housekeeper and friend to Drew Pearson and Gideon Young, she has chosen a beautiful spot on their farm to build her own house—her first true home. Once a respected cattle drive foreman, Drake Meyers lost his job after the payroll he was entrusted with was stolen. … stolen. Drowning in alcohol and self-pity, he has nowhere left to turn until his skill as a builder lands him a job building Kayla’s house.
When Drew and Gideon travel to Missoula to assist Drew’s widowed mother, Kayla and Drake are left to cope with the treacherous Montana winter alone. Now Kayla must help Drake overcome his alcohol dependency and learn that his life has value, and that he is worthy of her love.
Then her past comes calling…
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A great story of redemption and someone to believe in you, even at your worst! To care enough to encourage you to improve. Characters not found in most western romances, especially Gideon and Drew!
“Hideaway is the next in Sandy James’s historical series and I loved seeing old friends from previous book as Kayla and Drake fight their personal demons to find their to way to each other. Great story with good, solid conflict and wonderful characters. ”
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Hideaway is book four in the Safe Havens series by Sandy James. Each of these books can be read as standalones. This is a historical romance set in 1886 Montana.
Kayla Backer fled New York with a new name and a resolve to start a new life. She had no one and ended up in White Pines, Montana. Drew Pearson and Gideon Young took her in and gave her a place to live. She cooked and cleaned for them and helped with chores. But more than that, they became her family. They gave her five acres so she could build her own home. Something she’s always dreamed of. Only now she needs to find someone to build it.
Drake Myers was running cattle when a woman he had hired for the night stole the payroll right out from under him. Blamed for the missing money, he followed the thief to White Planes and got the money back. Only the company wouldn’t take him back. So Drake drank, more and more, to forget his problems. When he was approached to build a new home for a woman, he jumped at the chance. It was a job he needed. What he hadn’t figured on was the woman he was building the home for!
Both Kayla and Drake feel the attraction from the beginning. But the year is 1886 and women, especially proper ladies, do not let their attraction show. Kayla is every bit the innocent. Drew and Gideon are called away to deal with family issues so Kayla and Drake are left alone to battle the unforgiving Montana winter. Little by little they become closer, begin to trust. But Drake feels he isn’t worthy of such a fine woman. Kayla has other ideas. It was clear to her that Drake was being stubborn. She could be brazen. She would make sure there was no question as to what she wanted to happen between she and Drake.
Just as Kayla and Drake are starting to find their happiness, Kayla’s past catches up with her putting everyone she cares for in danger.
This was such a sweet book. Kayla was so brave. She knew what she wanted and was willing to do whatever it took to get it. Living on a farm in Montana was not an easy thing to do during this time period but Kayla loved the life out in the wilderness. Could she dare to dream that she might have found the man she wanted to share it all with? The next book in this series, book five, will be called False Pretenses.
HIDEAWAY is the fourth instalment in Sandy James’ adult SAFE HAVENS historical, romance series set in White Pines, Montana. This is Kayla Backer, and Drake Meyers’ story line. HIDEAWAY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Drake was first introduced in book three Redeemed.
Told from dual third person perspectives ( Kayla and Drake) HIDEAWAY follows the building relationship and romance between former cattle driver foreman Drake Meyers, and housekeeper Kayla Backer. Months earlier Drake Meyers lost everything including his reputation when the payroll he was entrusted to deliver was stolen. Fast forward to present day wherein Drake’s reputation continues to deteriorate as his drunken escapades precede his introduction to our story line heroine. Kayla Backer wants a house of her own but when Drew Pearson and Gideon Young, the young men with whom she is currently living, must return to Missoula to help their mother, Drake is hired to ‘assist’ Kayla with building her future home. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Kayla and Drake, and the potential fall-out as Kayla’s past comes looking for revenge.
Kayla Backer is on the run; hiding out in White Pines, Montana but her past has been desperately looking to even a score, and Kayla is determined to run again. Approximately one year earlier, Kayla’s life was destroyed when her father was murdered, and the people responsible are hoping to end her life, as well. Drake Meyers is unable to let go of the anger that has resulted in his life spiralling out of control. Working for and with Kayla Backer, gives Drake hopes for a future, until Kayla’s past threatens everything and more.
The relationship between Kayla and Drake begins acrimoniously as Drake continues to drink to excess. Having suffered enough, Kayla forces Drake to get clean, and in doing so realizes there is more to Drake than the bottom of a bottle. As our couple endure the winter weather of White Pines, Montana, Kayla is drawn to Drake, a man who believes he is not worthy of love or affection. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The secondary and supporting characters include Ty Bishop and Cassandra Shay (Runaway #2), Caleb Young and Sara Fuller (Redeemed 3), Caleb’s brother Gideon and his partner Drew Pearson, as well as newcomer Brigit Ryan, Marshal Matthew Riley; Gregory Carrington, his mother Chantal, and Chantal’s right hand man Otto.
HIDEAWAY is a story of family, discrimination, retribution and revenge; a story of one man’s struggle to move on from the past, and one woman’s battle between head and heart. The premise is engaging and intriguing; the romance is captivating; the characters are energetic, colorful, broken but recovering.
It was not what I expected. I did not appreciate the language.