Lindsay McKenna

Fantastic book. It starts with a rush as Dakota is attacked by a grizzly and must save himself and get to a hospital. While there he meets Shelby, a deputy, who ends up rescuing him when he gets an infection. After he recovers both are asked to serve as trackers for two escaped convicts who have a connection to them both. Shelby's life is in danger and Dakota steps in to protect her. As the search goes on, they grow closer and find that they have the power to heal each other.

I loved both show more Shelby and Dakota. Besides being a kick butt kind of deputy she is also one of the best trackers in the area. She is frequently called out to find lost campers and so on. Nine years earlier she had been the one to find a man who had brutally raped and murdered a young woman. When she met Dakota she learned that the young woman had been his older sister. Shelby is very attracted to Dakota and is amazed at his skills in the woods. She also finds that his experiences as a SEAL enable him to help her through her own grief over her brother's death. I loved seeing Shelby's kindness and warm heart work on Dakota's stress. She was also able to see past his issues to the kind and gentle man that was also there. She noticed it the most in the care he took of his rescued wolf and how good he was with the little boy they rescued. I also loved her self confidence but that she could also accept when she needed help after she barely escaped one attack. I was impressed by the way that she and Dakota worked so well together and the trust that they built with each other.

Dakota had come home to Jackson Hole after leaving the SEALs. Because of his PTSD he keeps himself apart from everyone and lives alone in the woods. When a grizzly attack sends him to the hospital he can't wait to be released to go back where he feels safe. Shelby was there when he arrived and can't believe he wants to go back immediately, as injured as he is. He accepts her cellphone number in case he needs help, and calls her when he realizes he is suffering from an infection. As he recovers he finds that there is something about Shelby that calms him. When he is with her even being around people is something he can handle. His biggest worry as his feelings for Shelby grow is that his PTSD could cause him to hurt her. When it becomes obvious that the escaped convicts are after Shelby his protective instincts kick in. He was determined that nothing would happen to her and he used every bit of his training to protect her. I especially loved the ending and seeing how much their love was able to counteract the terrible things they had been through.

One of the things I like best about Lindsay McKenna's books is the love and respect that she shows for the military. As a veteran herself she is fully aware of what they go through every day and her books open a window to that world for her readers. show less

I love Lindsay McKenna's military romances and this was another top notch book. Megan is a Trayhern, and as such has followed in the family tradition of military service. She is also a healer and nurturer so she chose to train as a nurse and become a combat medic. She is part of a group that assigns women to combat units so that they can interact with Afghan women who are forbidden to speak to men who are not family members. Her presence also makes things safer for the men of the unit. When show more she is sent to a Marine unit on the Afghan border she is assigned to the current medic for training and support. Luke is thrilled to have Megan there because he sees the need in the local village. He doesn't expect an immediate attraction to her. They fight their growing feelings but it is a losing battle. I really loved both Megan and Luke. Megan knew her strengths and weaknesses. She had great empathy with the women of the village and was able to jump in an help immediately. She had a wonderful ability to keep calm in a crisis which helped her a lot. Luke was experienced as a combat medic and was able to give Megan a lot of great advice. The story also did a wonderful job of showing what life is like for the villagers. The explanations of the relationships between the villagers and the troops and how they had to work with culture differences were well done. The action was fantastic from the attacks on the base to Megan's kidnapping. I loved seeing Megan stand up for her patient and face down the woman's husband. I really liked seeing the way that Megan and Luke took their developing relationship slowly and tried hard to keep it out of their working relationship. I also loved the character of Mina, the head man's wife. She was the perfect liaison between Megan and the Americans and her husband. She was terrific at explaining to Megan the way things were from the women's point of view. I loved seeing Emma and Khalid again. I also look forward to seeing more of the Turkish woman pilot - I expect she will have her own story before too long. I was also excited to see that throughout the book Marine and Marine Corps were properly capitalized (a pet peeve of mine). Maybe the editors at Harlequin finally understand how it is supposed to be done! show less

Terrific return to the author's roots as a military romance writer. It brought back fond memories of her Morgan's Mercenaries series. Instead of the wars against the drug trade or in Afghanistan, here the setting is Ukraine in the months before the Russian invasion. In addition to the romance, I enjoyed the more personalized view of people and places.

Dare is the adopted daughter of two Ukrainian nationals living in the US. She grew up visiting her parents' families in Ukraine and speaking show more the language. As an adult she became a combat medic and served a tour in Afghanistan. While there, she spent two years working with a Ukrainian special forces team led by Ram Kozak. She is in Ukraine teaching others how to be combat medics.

Ram is known for being cold and emotionless and bringing his team home without injuries. His team is preparing for the upcoming invasion and has just returned from six months of special training in the US. He is stunned to discover that Dare is in Kyiv and is being reassigned to his unit.

I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Dare and Ram. Their deep respect for each other's abilities was undeniable. They fell in love during their time together in Afghanistan, but they never shared those feelings because of their situation. However, neither has forgotten them. Drawn together by circumstances, they get to know each other and become closer. I loved the little touches of seeing them cook together, visit their friends, and try to lead a normal life in the midst of planning for war. I loved how Dare saw beneath Ram's controlled surface to the haunted man underneath. Her care and compassion break through the wall around Ram's heart. My heart broke for him as he shared his past with Dare. I loved the effect that sharing had on him.

The increasing tension as the time for the invasion grew closer kept me glued to the pages. The stress of needing to keep their relationship secret, added to their fears of seeing each other in danger, made each day precious to them. Knowing what lies ahead of them creates worry for their future, but a twist at the end gives me hope for their happy ever after.

I liked getting to know Adam and Lera and their two little girls. I felt Ram and Dare's fears for their safety and how it gave extra insight into the dangers that lie ahead. show less

A terrific addition to the Silver Creek series with a sweet romance and gripping suspense. Sara came to Silver Creek looking for a fresh start away from the threats posed by her criminal father and half-brother. Her brother Manny wants her dead so that he can inherit their father's estate. Her father, Leo, is already in prison for his illegal activities, and Manny wants to take over his father's trafficking and drug empire. Sara's mother, Tsula, divorced Leo years earlier after finding out show more about his unsavory business, and except for required visitation, Sara has always lived with her mother, a successful businesswoman in her own right. Sara spent summer with her grandmother on the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina, learning about healing with herbs from Adsila. When Sara moved to Silver Creek, her mother insisted on hiring a bodyguard to protect her.

Wes left the SEAL teams a year earlier after an injury made it impossible for him to continue. His former Team leader, Steve, offered Wes a job with his security company in Silver Creek. A man with no family, who grew up in less-than-ideal foster homes, Wes feels somewhat adrift without his SEAL family. His one anchor and exposure to a typical loving family, Tom, led by example in showing Wes how to be an honorable man. He also encouraged Wes to take the job with Steve. When Wes arrives in Silver Creek, Steve already has an assignment for him - serving as a bodyguard for Sara.

I loved the first meeting between Wes and Sara. The previous bodyguard hadn't worked out because of his bad attitude, so Sara is wary of Wes's suitability. The idea is for Wes to serve as Sara's assistant, giving him a plausible reason to be there. Wes and Sara hit it off right away. Wes's SEAL background was as a medic, so he has the experience and a fascination with Sara's work with herbs. I loved their long and honest conversation about expectations and beliefs. Neither of them mentions the immediate attraction and connection that they felt. Wes fights his feelings because they could be a distraction to providing the best protection for Sara. Sara can't read Wes's feelings and doesn't want to make things awkward between them.

Over the first several chapters, Wes and Sara build an excellent working relationship and the beginning of a strong friendship. I loved seeing their emotional barriers start to fall as they got to know each other better. Their personalities are complementary, with Wes being a warrior with a bit of healing energy, while Sara is a healer with a warrior core. Those qualities become very important when trouble finds them.

During those first few chapters, we also look at Manny and his plans for Sara, his father, and the Mafia business he attempts to control. Those scenes contribute to the building tension as the reader gets a good idea of what will happen; we just don't know when. By the sixth chapter, we get that answer, and the intensity of the action and suspense kept me glued to the pages. Wes's abilities as a SEAL are all that stands between them and death. I loved seeing Sara's inner warrior emerge and blend seamlessly with Wes's actions. There were several heart-stopping moments when I wasn't sure how they would get out of it. I especially enjoyed seeing Sara get her licks in at the end of this event.

Because Sara is still alive, we know that Manny will not give up his murderous intentions. Once again, the tension builds as they wait for the other shoe to drop. I could feel Sara's desire for it all to be over as she and Wes visited the Wishing Tree. I ached for her and her belief that she would have to run again, leaving her new life behind. I could feel her fear when Manny himself made an appearance this time. I absolutely did not see the resolution of this confrontation coming and loved seeing it happen. I also enjoyed seeing Sara and her mother deal with the ramifications in a manner consistent with their beliefs.

I liked seeing Wes and Sara's relationship progress past the friendship they allowed themselves initially. I loved the slow build of the romance, which feels more realistic to me. I found it especially heartwarming to see how they loved and supported each other. I've noticed that the author usually gives the characters time to get to know each other before becoming intimate. I loved their visit to Sara's grandmother, whose insight into Wes was terrific. She knew exactly what to do, and I loved the difference it made to Wes. The changes in him were amazing, though he still had some moments of insecurity. His big moment at the end had a touch of one of those moments, which made its sweetness even more emotional.

One of the things I like about this series is how each book introduces an earth-related theme. Herbs, woodworking, organic farming and ranching, beekeeping (my favorite so far) are all addressed. I've learned a lot from these books and following the author on Facebook. The vividness of the descriptions, from the setting to the earth-friendly elements, pulls me deeper into the story. I also liked the inclusion of the Native American elements and the layers they added to the story. I can't wait for the next book.

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