BOOK REVIEW- NOT WITHOUT YOU

BOOK REVIEW- NOT WITHOUT YOU-Grad student, Lisa Richardson, scours the high country in search of her beloved boreal toad. The amphibian is in danger of extinction, a fate she is determined to change. Single-minded in her focus, Lisa doesn’t realize that she’s being followed by a madman. 
Enter McIntyre Walsh. Ex-marine with a heart of gold, this man lives and breathes duty. Protection. Content with his self-exile on a mountaintop, he inadvertently witnesses a female hiker in danger, a situation he cannot ignore yet is unable to rectify. When their paths cross, each refuses to budge from their avowed goals and carries on, despite the other.
It isn’t until a killer ramps up his game that both are forced to relent. Battling the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains and an undeniable attraction between them, Lisa and Walsh must work together against the odds if they intend to get off the mountain alive.   AMAZON

I liked this story, mainly I think because of both Lisa and Walsh (as he liked to be called). Lisa was skilled in mountain hiking, her "science" and she has training in survival and martial arts as well. She was tough but also totally focused when it came to her research, she usually zoned out into the work. Meaning she lets her guard down and isn't as careful. He begins to shadow her and make sure she is OK. Turns out as experienced as she was she still needed his help. Even though as Walsh gets to know her he begins to admire her intelligence, toughness and determination. Walsh is ex-military, Special Forces, and because of that is well able to take care of himself but he also knows how to live by his "gut" feelings. They have helped and saved his life and others many times and he will end up relying on them once again. Those gut feelings don't fail him when it comes to Lisa either.
Other than the mystery of who the killer is that is chasing them, there is also the conflict that comes from the attraction between Lisa and Walsh. He's torn wanting something more but so afraid to reach for a relationship. He has been disappointed by people too many times to count.
The secondary people in this story were good too and you get a chance to get to know them in a shortened form. Probably got to know Lisa's father the most.

This story was also very desciptive when it came to the country side and nature. While it was very well done, at times it felt a little bit too much for me at times. Other than that I did like the story.

"I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review."