High Ground

HIGH GROUND is the third instalment in Freya Barker’s contemporary, adult HIGH MOUNTAIN TRACKERS, erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on a group of former US Special Forces soldiers who own and work for High Mountain Trackers in Libby, Montana. This is forty-four year old former Special Forces soldier Sullivan ‘Sully’ Eckhart, and forty year old, mechanic/environmentalist Fillippa ‘Pippa’ Freling’s story line. HIGH GROUND can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Pippa is Nella Freling’s sister (High Stakes #2).

Told from dual first person perspectives (Sully and Pippa) HIGH GROUND follows months after a one-night stand between forty-four year old former Special Forces soldier Sullivan ‘Sully’ Eckhart, and forty year old, mechanic/environmentalist Fillippa ‘Pippa’ Freling, the morning after in which Sully ghosted our story line heroine. A number of bodies, each shot with a rifle, have been found in and around the area in which Pippa has parked her trailer, making Pippa the prime suspect for the murders as she is an active member with Fair Game Alliance. Someone is targeting our story line heroine, ensuring all clues and information point to Pippa F, and with it, Sully is determined to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. All does not go according to plan when one of their own goes missing, and an emotional and tired Pippa is still considered the prime suspect. What ensues is the building relationship between Sully and Pippa, and the potential fall-out as a killer’s need for vengeance places suspicion on our story line heroine.

The relationship between Sully and Pippa begins as a one-night stand in which Sully keeps his distance in the following months. The fall-out forces Pippa to reconsider everything she does, including living too close to the man who ultimately broke her heart. Pippa had fallen hard for our story line hero but the heart wants something more than Sully is willing to give. As a Canadian citizen, Pippa is unable to work, and finds herself dependant upon others to help her out. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include ranch and High Mountain Trackers owner Jonas Harvey and his wife Alexandra Hart; Fletch Boone and Nella Freling: Jonas’ teammates James Watike and his wife Ama, Bo, Sully Eckhart, as well as Jonas’ father Thomas Harvey, Sully’s twenty-one year old niece Sloane, and his sister Isobel; FBI Agents Power and Wolff, real-estate agent Marcie, mechanic Ira Nelson, conservationist Cade Jackson, and Sheriff Ewing. The requisite evil has many faces. Lucy and Bo’s story is next in HIGH IMPACT.

HIGH GROUND is a story of perceived betrayal and vengeance, obsession and murder, second chances and surprises, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic, intriguing and engaging; the romance is impassioned; the characters are energetic, determined and dynamic.

High Ground is the third book in Freya Barker’s romantic suspense series called High Mountain Trackers. This fantastic story is written in first person from the point of view of both the hero, Sully Eckhart and the heroine, Pippa Freling and is filled with action and great characters.

I loved the chemistry between Pippa and Sully and how, over time and meaningful actions, this couple was able to build a relationship amidst the bad luck and danger that seems to surround Pippa’s life. But will they get their happily ever after when Pippa find’s herself in the crosshairs of a killer? Read it and find out!

This book contains a happily ever after and can be read as a standalone. However, reading it in order helps the reader connect with the overall series themes, characters and storylines.