Review: Intense second chance at Love
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 4, 2013
"Golden Trail" is nothing like "For You".  The protagonists in "Golden Trail" are Raquel "Rocky" Merrick Astley and Tanner Layne.  They're separated for eighteen years because Rocky is hiding a devastating condition but is so locked up in her pain, she decides to let Tanner go thinking it's best for him, even though they're deeply in love with one another.  Rocky was 21 and Layne was 25.  This is what happens when a young girl of fourteen, witnesses a horrific event in her own home and without the means of emotional or psychological help from neither her brother Garrett or her father Dave, both cops, Rocky is a walking time bomb.  Both her brother and father choose to bury their pain in different ways - seems to be the Merrick trait.  But there are negative consequences for Rocky and Layne, resulting is in just existing for eighteen years, neither being happy at all.Layne, not knowing what he did or what happened because he can't get answers, gets drunk and impregnates Gabriel Weil because of a faulty condom, thus locking in his future with Gabby since he's lost all hope with Rocky.  Fast forward eighteen years, Layne is divorced with two boys, Jasper and Tripp, back home from being away for ten years, is a former cop working as a PI.  Rocky's never left town, she's a high school teacher, well respected and beloved by her kids, including Jasper and Tripp.  Rocky's also in the midst of her divorce from a putz of a cheating husband who's chief surgeon at their local hospital.  She's been married for over ten years, marrying someone completing opposite of Layne as a way of getting over her first love.....but it's never worked which her husband has always known and chooses to use it against her rather than fighting to help her overcome her first love.Golden Trail includes everything - lost (not really) and rediscovered love and passion between Rocky and Layne, PTSD, child prostitution, dirty cops, jealous exes and teenage angst.  You'll also get the supporting characters introduced in For You and At Peace as well as the new ones including Ryker, a scary bald biker with a soft spot, Layne's mom, Vera, Layne's mentor, Devin, a lovable curmudgeon and Blondie, the Layne family Golden lab puppy.I loved the character of Layne immediately because he's a man carrying the weight of his decision to leave his young boys after a acrimonious divorce from Gabby, keeping in touch with the boys by phone instead.  Layne is a nurturer as is Rocky.  It took a bit longer for me to connect with Rocky.  Rocky and Layne come together again, the first time at the hospital when Layne is recovering from being shot three times, although Layne doesn't understand why or want Rocky at his bedside.  After Layne is home from the hospital, Rocky comes over to invite Layne and his boys to the Merrick household for dinner and in her own way, extend an olive branch to Layne.  He accepts the invitation but also makes Rocky aware of his bitterness.  From here, the story unfolds and we find out everything.  Layne is a hot bad-ass PI and Rocky is a strong but vulnerable high school teacher who never stopped loving one another.I know some readers don't like the writing style of Ms. Ashley, but considering the many tales in the new adult genre out now, Ms. Ashley is way more palatable.