Kathleen Denly explores family, love, and strength in her latest historical romance Murmur in the Mud Caves.
Book Blurb
He came to cook for ranch hands, not three single women.
Gideon Swift, a visually impaired Civil War Veteran, responds to an ad for a ranch cook in the Southern California desert mountains. He wants nothing more than to forget his past and stay in the kitchen where he can do no harm. But when he arrives to find his employer murdered, the ranch turned to ashes, and three young women struggling to survive in the unforgiving Borrego Desert, he must decide whether his presence protects them or places them in greater danger.
Bridget “Biddie” Davidson finally receives word from her older sister who disappeared with their brother and pa eighteen years prior, but the news is not good. Determined to help her family, Biddie sets out for a remote desert ranch with her adopted father and best friend. Nothing she finds there is as she expected, including the man who came to cook for the shambles of a ranch.
When tragedy strikes, the danger threatens not only her plans to help her sister, but her own dreams for the future—with the man who’s stolen her heart.
My Thoughts
Murmur in the Mud Caves caught my eye because of its interesting premise. But once I was reading the book, I found it was more interesting than the premise promised. Biddie’s determination to help her sister made me relate to her immediately. Then the fish-out-of-water element when Biddie finally arrives at her sister’s ranch compelled me to keep reading to see what predicaments she would encounter next.
Gideon proved to be one interesting hero. Migraines aren’t something I’ve encountered a lot in fiction, though I have encountered them in real life. Watching Gideon try to navigate his condition made me root for him even more. His perseverance and sense of honor endeared me to him from the beginning.
The ending felt a bit rushed to me, but overall, Murmur in the Mud Caves was a good story. Though it’s part of a series, I was able to read it as a standalone and not feel lost, However, I am now considering reading the previous books as my interest has definitely been piqued.
Overall, Murmur in the Mud Caves is an engaging story that historical romance fans will enjoy.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy for review. All opinions expressed are my own.)
For more on Kathleen Denly, you visit her website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.
