Devil’s Way Out by Nika Dixon – a Review

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Description:
Still angry over the death of the woman he loved, rancher Marshall Boyer wants nothing to do with women or love. But when the mysterious Emma drops into his life—barefoot, broke, and running scared—he can’t let her go.

Artist Emmaline Katz has a dangerous secret. After escaping a ruthless criminal who exploited her for years, her quest for freedom crashes to a halt in rural Montana. Out of money and options, she finds an unlikely haven with a handsome cowboy. But no matter how much she wants to believe his offer of protection, he doesn’t know the truth about her, her secret, or the man who will stop at nothing to get her back.

Time is running out. A cold-blooded killer has come to town, and Emma isn’t the only target.

Review:

Fear is running away, far away, hitching a ride with a harmless senior citizen, who recklessly drove you into a ditch, a bump on the temple as proof, and yet the second you regain your faculties, it’s back on the run again. That’s fear. That’s Emmaline’s fearful life. Marshall tags along with his sheriff brother to meet the newcomer causing a ruckus in Absolution, Montana, but one look at Emma and he’s in deep. Bewildered by the intensity, he couldn’t stop being curious. Devil’s Way Out by Nika Dixon was a story about a young woman whose gift was used against her will and the courage it took to reclaim herself.

Emmaline is desperate to escape her gilded cage, but several chapters in and I don’t know why Alan is bad news. He was controlling and violent, but I could not figure out the nature of their relationship beyond “bad”. Good thing Marshall asked questions!

Emma is gifted with foresight. She sketches images that have yet to happen based off inexplicable insight. “Her premonitions were 100% solid.” This skill was useful for Alan, a crime enforcer, to suss out an associate’s misdeeds or nefarious purpose. As a seer, Emma was his ace in the hole. “He’d never hurt her physically—he couldn’t risk any damage to her hands or eyes—but mentally, his cruelty had no bounds.”

Ms. Dixon told the story in pieces, from the culmination of her captivity to the present. It was frustrating at first, the guessing and wondering, but as the details started to formulate, the plot thickened and my interest rose.

Marshall and Emma had a slow burn relationship. They’re attracted to each other from the onset, but they’re keeping a respectful distance because of her sudden, mysterious arrival in town, and the fact that his brother, Danny, is the sheriff investigating her case. Coming from a sheltered, hostile environment, Emma isn’t comfortable with openness and trust. As such, she isn’t forthcoming with information for fear of Alan’s long reach. Feelings for Marshall, as strong as they were, would only end in his demise; his protection of Emma was a call to war for Alan.

Author Nika Dixon describes the showdown with intensity and bravery. Emma and Marshall fight for what’s theirs and only the strong survive. A good book! The H/H were compassionate and meaningful to each other’s plights. I also really enjoyed the supporting cast of characters. I’d love to read about Sheriff Danny, the single father who is ready to love again.

In the town of Absolution, will Emma earn hers for all the damage she’s done?

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher