** spoiler alert ** 4 stars – Contemporary Western Romance/Romantic Suspense

This is the first book in Kat Martin’s new trilogy about three close brothers from Wind Canyon, Wyoming who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, were once hellraisers known as the “no-account Raines boys”, and are now successful, honorable businessmen and confirmed bachelors.

Widow Sarah Allen is leaving her troubled, painful past behind in Los Angeles to make a fresh start with her young daughter Holly in her hometown of Wind Canyon, Wyoming. After enduring years of emotional, verbal, and physical abuse at the hands of her cruel, criminal husband, she’s looking forward to the security, comfort, peace, and quiet of small town country living.

Jackson Raines, the eldest of the Raines brothers, rose from a misspent, impoverished youth to make a minor name for himself in the world of Olympic boxing and then later found success and financial gain in oil stocks. He’s returned home to Wind Canyon to bring prestige to the Raines family name by purchasing and effectively running a large, prominent ranch.

The last person Jackson expected to rent out his ranch’s empty cottage is Sarah Allen, his former high school crush who broke his heart when she cruelly cut him down with hurtful words and humiliated him in front of their entire school. Sarah is surprised to discover that Jackson is her new landlord. She feels sorry for the way she treated him years ago as an impetuous girl anxious to get out of Wind Canyon. She’s determined to convince Jackson to let her and Holly stay in their quaint new home. But starting over doesn’t go quite as Sarah planned when problems arise from her murdered husband’s illegal business dealings and she and Holly are threatened by his shady enemies.

Jackson doesn’t want to get involved with Sarah, but he’s not about to abandon a neighbor in need, despite how she hurt him in the past and that the attraction he feels for her is stronger than ever. Sarah’s not used to having anyone else to rely on, but Jackson shows her what it means to finally have friends that you can trust. As Jackson and Sarah work together to uncover who’s harassing her, their explosive chemistry and intense attraction becomes too tempting to resist. Neither of them wants complicated, emotional entanglements like relationships and love, but when their erotic passion leads to deeper feelings, will they take a risk and open their hearts? And will Jackson be able to protect Sarah and Holly from danger?

Jackson and Sarah are a captivating couple and their relationship development and romantic progression was realistic, passionate, and heartfelt. What I really loved about them together is that even though they both have reasons to be distrustful, their actions are those of mature, respectful adults who care about each other and are trying their best to navigate the precarious waters of dating. Sarah is still healing from deep emotional scars inflected by her husband, but she’s self-aware enough to realize when past hurts and insecurities are affecting her connection with Jackson. I really admired her strength, courage, and determination to make a happy, safe, and peaceful life for her daughter. Jackson is such a rugged, sweet, and protective alpha hero, and his quiet toughness and caring of Sarah and Holly was sexy, touching, and endearing. He’s also a demanding, skilled, and attentive lover, and the love scenes were sensual and steamy.

Against the Wind is a great read that truly delivers all the elements that make for a satisfying romance: wonderful characters, suspense, action, dramatic twists, surprising plot turns, heartwarming emotion, and hot love scenes. This is the first book I’ve read by Kat Martin, but it definitely won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to more of the sexy Raines brothers with Gabriel’s story, Against the Fire, in Feb’2011 and then Devlin’s story, Against the Law, in Mar’2011. I recommend this for contemporary romance and romantic suspense readers and fans of authors like Robyn Carr, Geralyn Dawson, and Linda Lael Miller.

This was an ARC, received courtesy of NetGalley.com.