3.5
An engaging story. Quite the thriller, with a car crash and a grizzly on the loose. I liked the layered stories with different people in the team, and I was relieved that Ian (from the novella) mostly stayed out of the drama...other than action, because I'm quite fed up with his selfish behavior.
Deputy Sam Brooks is an interesting character, who has to learn what his own motivations and desires are. His brother Pete is the family wild child, trying to build a reputation, but Sam's got walls up, and neither can bridge the chasm between them.
On the ladies' side you have Willow, trying to learn what her place in the world is, plagued by insecurities; Sierra, trying to move on after Ian broke her heart; and Jess, who is drawn to Pete's passion for life and yet terrified to tell him of her past.
But behind all these colorful characters and all their adventures is a good deal of content I found too much. One girl wears yoga pants and a sweatshirt...ew. Yoga pants should be paired with a tunic top for modesty. When Pete (who admittedly has a colorful past with women) kisses a girl for the first time, there's tongue involved right off the bat...no. Just no. So the sensuality/modesty issues knocked off a star for me.