Freya Barker

Phyllis (Phil) Dubois has long left her performing days behind, opting for a more anonymous role in the music industry instead. Something not everyone is happy about. When the pressure for her to return to the stage mounts, she packs her things in an old RV and hits the road in search of some peace and quiet. She thinks she's found it when she rolls into the small town of Silence. Former sheriff, Brant Colter, is still trying to get used to his abrupt retirement after a health scare last year. He's not good with change and likes things just the way they are. That's why, when a purple-haired hippie moves into the empty house down the road, he's convinced trouble won't be too far behind. He's not wrong. However, it's not his annoyingly cheerful neighbor he should be worried about, but the danger that follows her to town.

Since taking over the veterinary clinic in Libby, Montana last year, Janey Richards has been burning the candle at both ends. She's grateful she is busy, but there has barely been any time to build a life outside of work. To help pay down her debt faster, she agrees to take on responsibility for the livestock at Libby's annual rodeo, but perhaps she should've thought twice about the added stress.Although, her personal life is definitely looking up. JD Watike never thought he'd end up following in his father's footsteps, but he's found his stride these past six years as a member of the High Mountain Trackers team. He enjoys the simplicity of small-town living, which has only gotten more interesting since Doc Richards appeared on the scene.Spending most of the past year patiently observing from a distance, the time feels right for him to make his move.Or at least to clear up some misunderstandings. The opportunity presents itself sooner than expected, when the pretty veterinarian stumbles onto some serious criminal activity at the Libby Roundup, and a young woman disappears from the grounds, he has plenty of cause to stay glued to her side.

When the rug is pulled from under Detective Sloane Eckhart, she leaves the Billings PD and returns to Libby, Montana. Eight years ago she left with her pride and the promise of a future, but her heart was broken. On her return, there is no pride left, no prospects to speak of, but at least her heart is safely secured in the back seat. Still, a bit of groveling, a kind offer of help, and a brand-new job with the sheriff's office quickly gets her back on her feet.High Meadow will always be home to Dan Blakely. Working with horses, being part of the HMT search and rescue team, and now building his own home right next door checks all his boxes. Only one thing is missing, but that dream walked out the door a long time ago. Still, his life is good, steady...and perhaps a little boring.That quickly changes when the rescue of a young, teenage girl, places the new sheriff's detective squarely in his path. He's not bored now, doing his best to keep her safe, even as their past holds them back while they fight for a future.

Open roads and honor meets poke bowls and self-control.I'm a homesick nomad.A prot g , a mountain man, an ally, and a seeker.My name is Wapi.I'm a work in progress looking to belong, and though my road has been a winding one, my heart has found focus. I'm a straightlaced hellcatA princess, a fool, a target, and a handlerMy name is Lisa.I can lash out fiercely when wounded, but my claws retract and my love glows bright in the hands of the right man.We got off on the wrong foot-hostility thick between us-but when murder hits close to home bringing about a second chance, those sparks now stoke a different flame.Setting hearts on fire.

GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for-and the rescue and recovery of-missing and exploited children. Although, at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice...by whatever means necessary. ____Operator Onyx; balanced, strong, a guardianShe's the voice of reason, advocates, and strategizes.Supporting the team from the background, Onyx rarely goes out in the field. However, when a widespread child exploitation ring is discovered, her particular skill set is needed to get close.Unfortunately, her boss-a man she's never laid eyes on before-is dead set against her taking the lead. Outvoted, he finds a way to keep her in his sights, risking his own exposure.It's only a matter of time before the final truth is revealed, and they're forced to face the past and secure their future.

GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for-and the rescue and recovery of-missing and exploited children. Although, at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice...by whatever means necessary. ____Operator Onyx; balanced, strong, a guardianShe's the voice of reason, advocates, and strategizes.Supporting the team from the background, Onyx rarely goes out in the field. However, when a widespread child exploitation ring is discovered, her particular skill set is needed to get close.Unfortunately, her boss-a man she's never laid eyes on before-is dead set against her taking the lead. Outvoted, he finds a way to keep her in his sights, risking his own exposure.It's only a matter of time before the final truth is revealed, and they're forced to face the past and secure their future.

GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for-and the rescue and recovery of-missing and exploited children. Although at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice...by whatever means necessary. ____Operator Pearl; layered, mysterious, a protector.She masks as delicate, analyzes, and moves stealthily.Hot on the trail of a young accomplice in a child exploitation ring, Pearl finds herself posing as a teenager to get close. Unfortunately, joining a group of kids on a wilderness quest means stepping out of her comfort zone and into uncertainty. But with the target in her sights, her focus stays razor-sharp.The last thing she needs is the dogged journalist who's been close on her heels catching up and rattling her cage. When he inserts himself into her investigation, she has no choice but to go along.Thrown together in a mutual pursuit of justice, the negative energy between them sparks up in a new way.

GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for-and the rescue and recovery of-missing and exploited children. Although at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice...by whatever means necessary. ____Operator Pearl; layered, mysterious, a protector.She masks as delicate, analyzes, and moves stealthily.Hot on the trail of a young accomplice in a child exploitation ring, Pearl finds herself posing as a teenager to get close. Unfortunately, joining a group of kids on a wilderness quest means stepping out of her comfort zone and into uncertainty. But with the target in her sights, her focus stays razor-sharp.The last thing she needs is the dogged journalist who's been close on her heels catching up and rattling her cage. When he inserts himself into her investigation, she has no choice but to go along.Thrown together in a mutual pursuit of justice, the negative energy between them sparks up in a new way.

GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for-and the rescue and recovery of-missing and exploited children. Although, at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice...by whatever means necessary. ____GEM Operator Opal; multifaceted, versatile, a chameleon.She hides in plain sight, adapts, and infiltrates.When Opal goes undercover in a youth center several teenagers have disappeared from, she's shocked to find a ghost of her own traumatic past at the helm. However, her worry for the missing kids is greater than her concern being recognized and she risks her own safety to discover the truth. To complicate matters, a familiar FBI agent shows up conducting his own investigation and almost blows the whistle on her. It takes some doing to convince him to join forces with her but as it turns out, they work well together. In the course of uncovering an organized group of child molesters, they find themselves falling-for each other.

GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for-and the rescue and recovery of-missing and exploited children. Although, at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice...by whatever means necessary. ____GEM Operator Opal; multifaceted, versatile, a chameleon.She hides in plain sight, adapts, and infiltrates.When Opal goes undercover in a youth center several teenagers have disappeared from, she's shocked to find a ghost of her own traumatic past at the helm. However, her worry for the missing kids is greater than her concern being recognized and she risks her own safety to discover the truth. To complicate matters, a familiar FBI agent shows up conducting his own investigation and almost blows the whistle on her. It takes some doing to convince him to join forces with her but as it turns out, they work well together. In the course of uncovering an organized group of child molesters, they find themselves falling-for each other.

Gunpowder and loyalty meets cocktails and ink.I am a laid-back wise guy. A veteran, a friend, a marksman, and a loner.My name is Honon.I may be hesitant to pull the trigger, but am not afraid to fire with the right target in my sights.I am a focused free spirit.A black sheep, a go-getter, a scrapper, and an artist.My name is Emme. I'm single-minded enough to reach my goals, but still moderately flexible when life throws a curveball.We make a reluctant couple-our hesitation evident-but when innocent lives are endangered, and hard-fought trust is challenged, we discover who we can count on. Each other.

Manager for Hart's Horse Rescue, Lucy Lenoir, finally feels she has a handle on life after having worked hard to leave her old one behind. So hard, there are times she almost forgets what she escaped. Memories which suddenly come flooding back when she catches a glimpse of a familiar horseman in town. What's worse, he's in the company of the unlikely cowboy she's only just beginning to trust.High Mountain Tracker, Bo Rivera, tries hard never to repeat his mistakes. A huge one changed the course of his life and made him particularly cautious, especially around women. So much so, he almost passed up on the best thing to ever walk into his life; the compact, blonde ballbuster in need of a gentle hand. However, the more he learns about her, the more he realizes a soft touch alone won't keep her demons at bay. Those will need a firmer hand...to keep the gun steady.

An emergency call to pick up an injured stallion on the side of the road sends Alexandra Hart, the new owner of Hart's Horse Rescue, into action. A recent addition to the area, she is not impressed when the animal's taciturn owner shows up. With his less-than-stellar disposition, he's the kind of man she normally avoids at all costs, unfortunately, he owns the ranch just down the road. However, when the manhunt for a pair of escaped prisoners gets a little too close for comfort, Jonas turns out to be a better neighbor than she expected.The Alex who shows up at his ranch to help with his prize stud's recovery is not exactly who Jonas Harvey expected. This is the same bleeding heart he met on the side of the road. Worried she's not up for the job, he'd prefer to keep a close eye on her but his High Mountain Trackers team gets called in to track down a group of domestic terrorists.But the slip of a woman proves him wrong. On all fronts. Alex not only charms his horses but him as well, and when trouble comes calling she proves to be a worthy ally to boot.

Horsepower and green thumbs meets justice and flip-flops.I'm a late bloomer.A geek, an introvert, an enigma, and a watchdog. My name is Paco.I'm determined enough to bide my time, yet too clever to pass up on opportunity. I'm a steadfast rebel.An outcast, a defender, a hothead, and an eccentric.My name is Mel.I'm resolute enough to carve my own way, but not too blind to see a better path.We are established loners-each limited by the boundaries we set-but when a young boy's life hangs in the balance, we discover we have more in common than we thought.

Even with a degree in psychology and a keen ability to read people, security specialist Bree Graves can't seem to get a bead on her boss. There was a time she thought she had him figured out but she'd been wrong. Still, she loves her job with PASS and her team has become her family. However, she doesn't realize how much she needs them until her latest assignment puts her on the radar of a dangerous stalker.For Yanis Mazur the safety of his PASS team is paramount. Even if that means sacrificing his personal life. Not only did he spend years building his security firm, but also the shield protecting his emotions. Yet when the one person who could breach his walls goes missing during an assignment he sent her on, he's willing to risk both his business and his heart to get her back.A victim of obsession, betrayal, and violence, Bree has no choice but to put her faith in the man who almost broke her.