Sparks fly when city girl Cassie Holt meets firefighter and wilderness man Cody Bradford. But as the heat between them rises, the terrifying stalker that sent Cassie into hiding threatens to shatter their unexpected love. When danger catches up to her in Alaska, she and Cody must decide: Is their love worth fighting for?When cub reporter and New York City girl Cassie Holt takes an anchor job in … Holt takes an anchor job in the charming, remote city of Golden Falls, Alaska, her family and friends think it’s the end of her journalism career. But Cassie has her reasons: she’s in hiding from a terrifying stalker and needs to get as far away from home as possible. The only problem is that she knows nothing about how to make her way in a place with deep snows, fierce rivers, and grizzly bears.
Cody Bradford is a wilderness man through-and-through, born and raised in the Alaskan bush. Now a firefighter for the city of Golden Falls, he spends his days off hunting and fishing, resigning himself to loneliness in the belief that no woman would want to share his civilization-shunning lifestyle.
When Cassie is assigned to go on a ride-along with the Golden Falls Fire Department, she and Cody lock horns over city vs. wilderness … and find themselves fighting an attraction that neither expected. Cody offers to give Cassie “Alaska Lessons” to help her adapt to her new life, but even as their desire for each other grows ever more powerful, their differences—and her secrets—threaten the happiness both of them seek.
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Cassie and Cody’s story contained my favorite things; sexy, hot fireman, remote location in Alaska, and an independent, strong woman. I absolutely enjoyed True North by Scarlett Andrews, book one in her Golden Falls Fire series. Cassie leaves New York, along with her family and friends in order to hide from a terrifying stalker. She hopes that by taking a job in this remote city of Alaska and changing her last name he will be unable to find her. Golden Falls fireman Cody is a true wilderness man, being born and raised in the Alaskan bush. He spends his days off from the Golden Falls fire department hunting, fishing, and living off the land. Talk about being off the grid. He is under the belief that he will never find a woman willing to share his civilization-shunning lifestyle. After being assigned to go on a ride-along with the Golden Falls Fire Department with Cody as her guide, these two find themselves fighting an attraction that neither expected. Cody offers to give Cassie “Alaska Lessons” to help her adapt to her new life and spend time together. As their desire for each other grows ever more powerful, their differences, city versus wilderness, and her secrets, threaten the happiness both of them are seeking.
Ms. Andrews wrote a wonderful, steamy, and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sexual chemistry, amusing banter, and endearing characters giving Cassie and Cody a chance at having a true love. I highly recommend True North to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Even though Cody and Cassie have an immediate and intense attraction to each other the moment they meet, they are the complete opposite of each other! Cassie’s an outgoing girlie girl from NYC and loves everything about living in a big city and her move to Golden Falls is only temporary! Cody’s a quiet man who likes to be alone and lives in the wilderness, living off his land when he is not working as a firefighter in the small town of Golden Falls…in fact he likes living off his land so much that he does not have running water, internet or phone service and uses an outhouse! Things start to get even hotter between them when he agrees to give her lessons on Alaska living…only to have them fall apart when her past catches up to her and she decides to leave Golden Falls much sooner then expected. Good read!
The plot was kept simple and I truly appreciated this. There was the romance with its own difficulties and Cassie’s past. Those two things were solid through the entire story and there weren’t any unnecessary complications, additional dramas, or extra players added to increase tension.
Cassie has a stalker and his actions are escalating. She finds an escape that even comes with a job that increases her own career profile. It seems like the perfect solution to both of her situations being fresh out of a prestigious journalism program and following a near kidnapping. Excited for her next steps she heads off to Alaska despite her parents misgivings.
Things start off well, more than well if the person that greeted her at the firehouse door is going to be part of her new adventure. Her first ride-along assignment is with the Golden Falls Fire Department and the handsome, stacked Cody is the first face she sees. It’s also the only face she wants to see from there on out during her temporary stop in Alaska.
Cody is struck dumb, literally, when he sees the fiery and stunning news anchor. He’s been chosen to be her guide on the ride-along and he’s both eager for and dreading it. His shyness is nothing new, but his being completely tongue-tied is.
They get along really well and despite the synopsis making it seem like they have a huge disagreement between city and wilderness, they have differing opinions based on their own experience that opens them up for the lessons that follow. The lessons are actually practical and not a joke on either of their parts. While they both feel immense desire for one another Cody is reluctant to get involved with someone who will be leaving.
Annoyed and rejected as a lover but not a friend, Cassie isn’t sure of how to get what she wants. Through the lessons and Cody’s gently, intense nature she finds that she’s growing to not just like Golden Falls, but love and even crave the wildness that is Alaska. Their relationship deepens and becomes more passionate and sensual as well.
Just when she thinks she’s ready for something more, something permanent with her wild Alaska man, a bear encounter brings up all her fears and insecurities and she decides to run. Cody thinks it’s from him that she’s running but with her keeping secrets close to her chest he has no choice but to let her go. When a group of Boy Scouts go missing she gets the career break she’s dreamed of but it also opens her up for her past to join her present.
The way things intensify and are then resolved is really good for the overall feel of the story. It made sense in the overall plot progression as well as the romance. I liked where it all ended up and even the sentimental moment at the falls was perfect for the couple. Just enough sentimentality blended with honesty, feels, and realistic expectations.
I’d love to continue the series because the side characters are a solid support cast while drawing interest into their own situations beyond what we learn in True North. A great start to what is sure to be a great series.