If Ever I Would Leave You - Susan May Warren

If Ever I Would Leave You is the prequel novella for the Montana Rescue series by Susan May Warren.

About this book:

If you harbored a devastating secret, had given your solemn promise of silence… what would make you to break it?
Ian Shaw can have anything he wants…
...except the woman he loves. After all, Sierra Rose is his amazing assistant, a woman who helps him hold his empire together, leaving him free to pursue his adventurous hobbies—his only distraction from his excruciating past… until now. But what if she is the one who can finally free him from his regrets?
Sierra Rose harbors a terrible secret…
...the fact that Ian’s favorite niece and ward, Esme, just might elope with her less-than-awesome boyfriend. Sierra’s made a promise to Esme—but her first loyalty belongs to her boss Ian, the man she's admired for years. But letting herself fall in love with him risks the best job she’s ever had.
When tragedy strikes, sparks ignite…
...because Esme has vanished. Ian fears the worst--has she run away with her boyfriend? Or, has something more sinister happened in the wilds of Glacier National Park? It's a race against time, with Sierra and Ian caught in the crossfire of secrets, regrets and what-ifs.
The exciting prequel to the Montana Rescue series! Get your copy today—and jumpstart your epic romantic adventure.

My review:

Sierra is in love with her boss.  The thrill-seeking, stubborn, risk-taking billionaire.  And Ian Shaw loves her back.  Sierra can never tell Ian how she feels because she doesn't want to lose her job as his assistant.  She distances herself from him by calling him Mr. Shaw, which ticks off Ian to no end.  Sierra also has a secret.  She knows what's up between Ian's niece and ward Esme and her boyfriend Dante.  Esme is smart and studious, just like her uncle.  She can attend any university or college in the country, especially if she has Uncle Ian to help her out.  Sierra promises not to tell Ian about discovering how deep their relationship has apparently gotten.  Esme even wants to elope!  Instead, she invites Ian on the youth group camping trip as another chaperone so he can see for himself.  Ian, himself, isn't concerned.  He had a little talk over a fancy dinner with Esme who told him that she was definitely going to further her education.  One morning the camp awakens to find that Esme and Dante are gone.  Right away searchers are sent out.  But they aren't found.  Weeks pass and Ian puts those billions to use.  He's frantic to find Esme.  He works out all the time, going crazy with worry, believing every call might be the one that says they're found her body.  He buys equipment (including helicopters), hires people, and puts ads everywhere.  But Esme and Dante are nowhere to be found. 

The whole prequel is a cliff-hanger!  The novella ends with the founding of PEAK Rescue and a completely unfulfilling agreement between Ian and Sierra.  And I can't help but wonder over the times that Esme would say "It's not what it looks like" when she's with Dante.  This is the best prequel novella I've ever read and it's the perfect set-up for a promising series.  I can't wait for Wild Montana Skies in October - and the whole rest of the series.  This prequel is full of loose ends and cliff-hangers that need to be wrapped up.  I liked the little bits of each character that were introduced, especially Ben King, the hero of book one.  Looking forward to finding out what happened to Esme and Dante and finding out how Ian and Sierra's relationship is going to unfold.