Star Bright

Starred review from December 15, 2008
With her powerful, abusive husband planning her murder, Rainie Hall Danning has no choice but to run. "Disappearing" from a cruise ship, she becomes Anna Pritchard, flees Seattle, and finds work at Parker Harrigan's horse ranch in rural Oregon. Parker soon senses that something is wrong with his wary, man-shy bookkeeper. As he learns the truth, he makes it a priority to help the woman he has come to love regain the power and self-confidence that had been stripped away. But clever, psychotic Peter Danning is hot on his wife's trailand while Rainie may be safe for now, she won't be for long. A damaged but ultimately resilient heroine, a strong, intuitively caring hero, and an intensely loyal, rowdy family who protect their own quickly draw readers into this tense, well-crafted, riveting tale that keeps the suspense on target. Anderson's novels often address serious issues, including women escaping abusive situations. A powerfully compelling story of survival, healing, and hope, this is the third in the Harrigan family stories and one of the author's best to date. Anderson ("Morning Light"), who lives in rural Oregon, is noted for her sensitive, insightful, family-centered romances.

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