These two stories are re-issues, but I always enjoy stories by Lisa Jackson. Denver and Colton have had their lives and family torn apart. Both leave home after a tragedy and have no intention of ever going back. There is a lot of suspicion going around about who started the fire that injured Denver and killed his parents. Colton blames Tessa and her father. Denver was just getting ready to propose to Tessa when the fire happened and then he just left town without a word. Seven years later he is back to decide what he and his brother are going to do with the ranch. Colton can't be found, but Tessa still wants to buy the ranch. Then Denver will be out of her life for good. That's what they all want, right? Will Colton come home?

When Colton finally comes home, it is to recuperate from an injury. While Denver and Tessa are in California wrapping up Denver's business, their prize stallion goes missing. It has happened before, but Colton knows that his neighbor must have taken the horse. He wants to confront his neighbor, but he will have to see Cass. The families have been feuding for years and Colton isn't a favorite of the neighbor. Not after what he did to Cass. Colton finds that he still cares for Cass after all these years, but does she feel the same. She has every right to be made at him but he just wants to call a truce and that their fighting will stop. Can that be? Can they at least be friends?

It's been seven years since a suspicious fire claimed the lives of Colton and Denver McLean's parents. Now the suspicious death of their uncle has them returning home again.

Suspicions surrounding the fire created a rift between Denver and the foreman’s daughter, Tessa Kramer. Now Tessa wants to buy the ranch, if Denver and Colton will agree to sell. Those old suspicions return when problems begin happening on the ranch. Someone seems determined to destroy the McLean family.

Backlash is very well written suspense. Loved the plots and the setting. I always enjoy a good Lisa Jackson novel. Enjoyed rereading this. Thanks to the publisher for my advance copy.

A reprint, but still filled with heat. Brothers who have both dealt with tragedy in their lives their own way, both have to come home to the ranch that once meant everything. Facing the past is just as hard as facing who you have become, and who you left behind.

Fall in love with the McLean brothers all over again. Together in one book, these were the first stories I ever read by this author. Great characters, plenty of mystery, suspense, and steamy romance. Whether you read them before or are new to these stories, this one is worth the read.

This is a re-release of two old stories put in one volume. I hadn't read them before, so they were new to me, just be forewarned if you have read them before :)

Both stories are well written with just enough drama to be interesting, along with steamy relationships that leap off the pages.

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Lisa Jackson has been one of my favorite authors for 20 years at least and her books never disappoint. Always just enough romance and mystery to keep you intrigued. Loved this book, couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to what she has in store for us next!!

Highly enjoyable book with many twists and turns. I like the fact that both stories are now contained within one book. Very well written and plotted. Definitely pick up this winner. Happy reading!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Kensington Books, Zebra and the author, Lisa Jackson, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Backlash in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
When I saw there was a chance to review a book by Lisa Jackson, I jumped at the chance. I mean, it's a Lisa Jackson, right?
I enjoyed reading both of these stories about the McLean brothers in Montana. I thought they were both well written, providing good, quick reads. The characters were engaging and realistic and the scenery was beautifully described. I was caught up in the mystery side of both stories, trying to work out what was going on. I will definitely have to go back now and read more of this author's earlier novels.
Well worth a read

1989 was a world away and a genre away from what Lisa Jackson writes these days. I love reading this old stuff! It shows me an authors growth and progression even though these books can still be intense and filled with angst, just like the plots that now make up the romance genre. Both of these books follow a similar formula: Teen love gone wrong; two brothers who flee the ranch and small town; Brothers come home and rekindle romance with teen love; mystery-lite element.

AFTERMATH — Tessa was 19 and in love. On a horseback ride she gave her all to handsome Denver McLean only to have him desert her without a word after a fire leaved him with scars, his parents dead and suspicion hanging over Tessa's father.. Now Denver is back after seven years. His outward scars from are healed, but inside . . . What returns is a cold, embittered stranger, but Tessa only remembers the love she still holds in her heart. Denver is still physically drawn to Tessa, but trust - that's another matter. 3-Stars

TENDER TRAP - Colton McLean is a world renowned photojournalist, now. At 21 he just wanted to see the world and be anywhere but the McLean Ranch in small town Three Falls, MT. His sexual encounter with hot 17 year old Cassie Aldridge sacred the heck out of him. He discovered deep feelings for her, then she thought she was pregnant and when a fire killed his parents, Colton ran. After suffering a gunshot to his shoulder, he's back to recuperate and reevaluate. He also can't help but rekindle his love affair with the now sexy town Veterinarian, Cassie. Still a lot to resolve between these two and one of the biggest obstacles is the hatred Cassie's father has toward the McLean family and Colton's suspicion that Ivan Aldridge is responsible for the disappearance of Denver's prize stallion. 3-Stars

When requesting this book, I was under the impression it was a suspense/thriller. Within the first chapter, it was clear it was more of a romance in my opinion. However, I was in a mood for a light read so I kept going. Also, once I found out it was a reprint of a book in the 80s I figured it had to be good.

Backlash is a story of a family's loss and grudges that were held along with accusations that ruined relationships. If you had the chance to go back to your first love and apologize would you? What if you believe they did the unforgivable when they were young?

I really enjoyed this copy given to me through #netgalley in exchange for my honest review. It was predictable but yet everyone loves a happy ending right?

Enjoyed the first half of Backlash. Tessa and Denver where believable characters. Their love story was to an extent believable. Tessa' love for her horse's is wonderful. The sacrifices she is willing to make with them for her true love are heart wrenching.

The second half of the story is almost a carbon copy of the first half. Except it involves Denver's younger brother, Colton and his first love Cassie.

It was a refreshing change of pace to have the country setting. I will be looking for more books by Lisa Jackson. Thanks netgalley for the early edition read, in exchange for an unbiased review.

Denver and his younger brother, Colton have never had it easy. Growing up on a ranch is hard work. After an accidental fire killed their parents they now own the ranch. Denver wanted to stay away from the ranch, he wanted to live in L.A. and start his own business. Something kept pulling him back to the ranch. He had to find out what it was. Colton lived for danger and adventure. That's why being a photojournalist and traveling to all the dangerous places in the world was perfect for him. Then he got shot in Ireland and is recovering at the ranch he grew up on. Even though he always thought he despised ranching, it not so bad now. Suddenly the ranch feels like home. Should he go back to the life he left behind, or settle down and help his brother work the ranch? There's only one thing that could make him stay. First he had to fix the problem he created and left 8 years earlier.
A story of ranching, horses, love and betrayal. Good read.

Two sweet novellas about rivaling ranchers and lost loves. I think I enjoyed Denver and Tessa's story a bit better.

Great romantic suspense with two prior books combined into one. Not having read these books before, I was pleasantly surprised to find I really enjoyed this book as it’s a totally different genre from what I usually read of Lisa Jackson.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

two stories back to back, a re-release of books first published in the 80s...no internet or mobile phones

two brothers estranged from each other, their parents killed in a fire that ended with one of the brothers nearly dying and needing plastic surgery

the other brother went on to become a photo journalist in dangerous places, he had never been home since the fire that killed his parents

each story is about the brother how they reconcile their lives and come back to the ranch where it all started

it well written but it shows it age from back in the 80s but enjoyed nonetheless

Backlash is a SUPER AMAZING story that GRABS you from the very first page. I absolutely LOVED this story that kept me guessing up until the end. This book is actually Devon’s story then Colton’s. It’s two stories about the 2 brothers and their feuds they had with all of the other ranchers. The loss of their parents plays a big role of how these two young men grow up without their parents and the loves of their lives. But first they have to get to the bottom of the fire and WHO started it....that’s Devon’s story, then Colton’s, someone has stolen their prize horse, but who....

Could not finish this book. The contrived back-and-forth between the characters just became too irritating. It read like a 1960’s Harlequin romance, and not a good one at that.

If you haven't read Lisa Jackson before, this is a good place to start. This is two novels in one- two second chance romances with men who are well, men you might like to read about. Denver and Colton McLean, the State of Montana, and cowboy stuff make for good escapist reading. As others have noted, the passage of time has changed the way we connect with one another technically but let's be clear- it hasn't changed how hearts react. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.