"I thought you didn't believe in fairy tales." 
 His gaze held hers unwavering. "I believe in us." 
 4.5 stars. A tale of two beautifully broken people who find and fight for love. I struggled with my rating because Gabe was...a struggle. I struggled to like him at times. But Lordy, does he redeem himself in the most moving and memorable way. It was then I stopped struggling and fully believed that he was worthy of Kat, one of my favorite heroines in Romancelandia. I fully believed in their happily-ever-after. 
 This is the fourth in a series about a team of investigative reporters at a Denver newspaper, but it works as a standalone. I read the other books years ago, and I'll admit that I felt some disappointment that (view spoiler)[three of the heroines left their jobs explicitly because they got married. To be crystal clear, I'm NOT judging them for this; I'm firmly in the "feminism means giving women more choices" camp. But it didn't seem very sensical, seeing as they had been portrayed as dedicated and driven professionals. And it didn't seem very fair that the women had to make the career sacrifices. Again, this is a "huh?" issue with the plot as opposed to personal disapproval of their choices. (hide spoiler)]. Anyway, this book stood out in my memory as absofreakinglutely fantastic. When I recently came saw it at the library, I wanted to know whether it still stood out. And it absofreakinglutely did. 
 For me, Kat was the star of the book. To the (unfortunately) many writers who struggle to craft a female character who is both strong AND vulnerable? Take note. Clare has created a wonderful example in Kat, who is intelligent, brave, and honest but never unlikeable, never veering into Mary Sue territory. Rejected by her parents and her siblings, Kat, like Gabe, knew betrayal. Unlike Gabe, she didn't shut down. She remained steadfast even as she struggled to come to terms with herself and her identity. You feel the doubts and discovery as she adjusts from life on a very traditional reservation to life in a very modern city. Clare's undoubtedly diligent research into Navajo culture is reflected in Kat. She felt real. The insights and observation of culture and ritual were stirring. 
 Gabe. Oh, Gabe. Grandpa Red Crow recognized that Gabe did indeed have a good heart but lost his way. His dedication to his park ranger job and his desire to respect and protect nature is juxtaposed against his minimal regard and respect for women. Some readers love the he's-a-mean-manwhore-because-he-was-brutally-betrayed thing, but I usually don't. Many of Gabe's actions and thoughts weren't pretty. What I did love? Kat helped change him but never in a way that felt derivative of a tired old formula. Gabe lost his way, and Kat became his moral compass. She took him to task, albeit gently. She allowed him to connect with his former self, to confront and reconcile his pain. She made him want to be a better person. But only Kat was capable of doing this, and her uniqueness to Gabe is apparent. When he said that she was "the best thing that ever happened" to him, I wanted to fist pump even though I was a half-sobbing mess (you'll know why when you read it). While some of the sex scene language was a bit purple-y, I found them sweet and hot. Especially the hat game ;) 
 The suspense kept me on the edge of the couch. There are eerie and unexpected twists. Please know that this takes some DARK turns not typically taken in romance novels. Alas, you need not fear too much! I'm not normally a fan of (view spoiler)[fast forwards to weddings and babies (hide spoiler)], but it couldn't have been more perfect or precious here. I was glad to see how much they risked and grew for each other and how much they got in return. It was a delightful ride, and I enjoyed their well-fought ending.