Nick Hammond and Beth Carlyle have been best friends since birth and haven’t ever considered that there might be more than friendship between them, but during their final year of college, her boyfriend’s act of selfish brutality changes everything.

Nick has always been sure of his life’s path. When his father retires, he’ll inherit his family’s sprawling Lazy H Ranch and continue the traditions of his forefathers. It’s the only life he wants, but when an evening of fun on the town is shattered by Beth’s screams, Nick’s future is thrown into chaos. Beth’s dreams are destroyed. Forget those kids she wanted, forget showing them how great it is to be a ranch kid, and forget ever enjoying a man’s touch again. All she has left is her family’s C Diamond Ranch, a prayer that she can cobble herself back together well enough to run it… and Nick.

When Nick jumps in to protect Beth, boundaries shift and desires long ignored rise to the surface, forcing them to question everything their friendship was and could be. With their emotions so tangled by what happened, how can they know if these new feelings are only the circumstances or something much deeper? They’ll have to figure it out in a storm of other consequences, and Beth will have to find the courage to keep Nick out of trouble.

The Hammond brothers will tug on your emotions in Suzie O'Connell's heartfelt, passionate contemporary romance series set in Northstar, Montana, where friendship, family, and love are as bountiful as the fresh mountain air. 

"The author grabs your emotions and doesn't let go until the very end." 
-- Melton, Amazon customer & avid reader. 

"This story had everything in it. I love it in Northstar with the Hammond brothers & their amazing family. This was a page turner in every way!" 
-- B Kinsey, Amazon customer & avid reader 

The NORTHSTAR ROMANCES by series: 
HAMMOND BROTHERS: 
First Instinct (Book 1) 
Twice Shy (Book 2) 
Once Burned (Book 3) - Coming August 2015 
Last Surrender (Book 4) - Coming late 2015 

NORTHSTAR ANGELS: 
Mountain Angel (Book 1) 
Summer Angel (Book 2) 
Wild Angel (Book 3) 
Forgotten Angel (Book 4) 

A NOTE ON THE CONTENT:The NORTHSTAR ROMANCES are contemporary romances and contain sensual scenes and mild profanity that may be unsuitable for sensitive readers.

Reformatted with store-direct links.