Anne Montgomery

I was delighted to be asked by Ms. Montgomery to review this emotional suspense thriller. It did not disappoint.

Maggie is a National Park Ranger in Arizona. She loves her career meeting visitors, giving tours of the Montezuma Castle and the park's resources. It's her traumatic past that follows her daily, especially now there is a rapist on the loose. Who can it be? Her new next-door neighbor? Her new boss? Perhaps it's the new baker or the traveling bartender? Whomever it is, he has Maggie show more in his sights and it's just a matter of time before he strikes.

My heart breaks for Maggie and her horrific past experiences. What more can a young woman take? I was moved by how Ms. Montgomery delves into the difficult topic of rape, especially as it pertains to Native American women. The statistics are shocking and the stories told by others are real and important to hear. In addition, Maggie's friend Lily opens a Rape Crisis Center in the town which gives Maggie a way to confront some of her fears and anger by helping others and participating in group therapy. Maggie finally opens up about her rape and the loss of her son and all the guilt she carries. I was on the edge of my seat to learn the identity of the rapist who got what he deserved. What I loved is that Maggie started coming out of her shell toward the end to start a new beginning in her life. There are many triggers with this book including rape, attempted suicide, death, and depression. So, please read with caution.

The story is told from both Maggie's and the rapist's points of view. It's chilling to be in the mind of a sociopath as he justifies his actions and plans his next move. It is suspenseful to try and guess who the killer is. I did guess fairly early, but the author adds some twists and turns that had me doubting myself.

Ms. Montgomery also introduces very interesting facts about the National Park System, historic Native American sites, and the Submerged Resource Center. I also wanted to add that I truly felt Ms. Montgomery's love for her home state of Arizona. Her journalistic prose flows with the beautiful descriptions of the animals, the flora, and the gorgeous settings.

I highly recommend this historical fiction suspense novel with its strong characters, beautiful setting, and powerful message of encouraging victims to come forward so we can stop these predators.

Thank you to Ms. Montgomery for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

Rose lives in a very strict home. Not like you might expect, but much, much worse. Every aspect of their lives is ruled by what the Prophet wants. He expects complete obedience. Rose didn’t question this when she was young, but she’s beginning to have doubts. Why haven’t they heard from her brothers? Why did the school close? Why do they have to take vitamins ever day? And why is it so bad to think for yourself?

Adan is on the run. His family is gone and he has no one but himself. Now show more he’s been taken in by a Good Samaritan. He’s got a few questions of his own. Like who can he trust? What’s the story with the weird town? And who is this girl he sees running?

This is a compelling story about a little town in Arizona and the local Flds church. I am Lds, but the difference between my church and this one, which is based on extensive research by the author, is truly sobering. I am free to leave my church at any time without consequences. But when Rose tries to leave, her life is in great danger. It’s a good thing she has a few allies.

Local handyman Trak has grown up next door to the church and he’s too used to it to even notice. Cps case worker Brooke is new and she’s appalled. As soon as she arrives, she’s treated like a pariah. But when Rose and Adan meet, everything in the quiet town is turned upside down.

I wasn’t sure about this book, but like the author said, in some ways, I’m well qualified to review this. I live next door, so to speak, to the Flds Church. I know all the news stories about them. And I do appreciate the careful distinction the author made between the Lds Church to which I belong and the Flds Church. I liked the book and I was really drawn into the story.

I do want to give a Trigger Warning for this book. There are hints of sexual abuse, so be prepared. show less

Maggie has had a tough time the past 10 years or so. In addition to being raped years ago, she more recently lost her son. She is a Park Ranger in Arizona and has just returned to work. Her best friend’s partner, Lily, runs a local rape crisis centre for indigenous women, and she decides to volunteer there despite being unsure if she is hallucinating the boy she has seen climbing the cliff. Unfortunately, it looks like Maggie is about to be victimized again.

This pulled me in right away. show more The first chapter felt almost like horror with the chills it brought, though I’d tend to classify this more of a thriller. Some chapters do show the POV of the new rapist in town, but we don’t know who it is until the end, though there are a few possibilities. There are stats on rape included (both within the book and as part of an afterword) that I found interesting. I, of course, also loved the found little puppy. show less

Wild Horses on the Salt has two main themes - domestic abuse and wild horses in Arizona. The author handled both subjects well and the result was a well written book with both the beauty of nature and the ultimate goodness of people.

Becca is a lawyer who hates her job and has always dreamed of being an artist. She is also married to an abusive man. She quit her job at her father's law firm because she got tired of making excuses for her bruises. As the novel begins, she has just arrived at a show more friend of her aunts in Arizona after she escaped from her home in New Jersey. She is battered and bruised but doesn't want to talk about it due to her severe case of PTSD. She gradually opens up to the other people there - Noah, a rancher, Walt, sculptor plus Gaby, the owner of Salt River Inn, a 1930's guesthouse located in the wildly beautiful Tonto National Forest. Their support and friendship as well as the beauty of the land and the wild horses help her begin to heal and start to become the artist she always wanted to be. She's making progress until her husband shows up and demands that she go back to New Jersey with him because he really loves her. Will he convince her to go home or has she become strong enough to realize that his type of jealous love will only harm her? The descriptions of the horses and the desert scenery were so beautiful. The beauty of nature the Becca found so healing was in direct opposition to the life that she'd been living.

This is a beautiful well written novel about healing from domestic abuse. It was emotional and the abuse was difficult to read about but it was well worth reading. Be sure to read the Author's Notes at the end for more information about domestic abuse and how to get help. show less