Lindsay McKenna

I was so happy to finally see Jake get his happy ever after. The way the author blends their combat experiences in these books in such stark reality gets you in the feels every time. Each Wind River hero and heroine is such a breath of fresh air. Their realities so close to those our men and women in fatigues have seen. I love how she also blends in the facts and statistics that really make you think and put yourself in their shoes while bringing home awareness of their struggles is show more seamless. I have never enjoyed a series as much as I have this one. show less

Very good book. This is an old book, written in 1984, and takes place in the mid-70s. Even so, it does not feel all that dated, with the issues at hand still existing today. Tess is a brilliant young woman, married to a much older man. She works for/with him, coordinating the building of a new bomber for the Air Force. She meets Shep Ramsey at a social event and connects with him. Shep is a test pilot, good looking and confident, but also sensitive. He sees her discomfort and spends much show more time talking with her. He's contemplating the end of his marriage to a social climber, and gives in to the urge to share a hot kiss with the sweet Tess. Unknown to them, it is observed by a less than pleasant man. This man tattles to her husband the next day, adding to the stress of an already over-worked man. Cy Hamilton dies of a heart attack in Tess's arms, believing she's having an affair, and leaving Tess devastated and aching with guilt.

Months later, Tess is still deeply involved with the plane's production. She puts in long hours, burying her feelings in work. She is reunited with Shep, who is one of the pilots who may be testing the plane. The sparks are still there between them, but how can she move on with the object of her guilt?

I really liked Tess. She's smart, sensitive and honorable. She's also a bit naïve at the beginning of the book. She's had very little experience outside the world of education, and has married a man who seems to be more interested in grooming her for his own purposes than in actually loving who she is. I ached for her feelings of insecurity outside of work. She also has the difficulty of being a woman in a job that is held mostly by men and has to deal with the prejudices and attitudes that go along with it. After her husband's death, she continued her work, earning respect from at least some of those she worked with.

I loved Shep. He is confident in his abilities as a pilot. He would rather fly than do anything else. At the beginning of the book, he has come to realize that he is no longer in love with his wife, who he admits never loved him. He was a tool in her attempts to move up the social ladder. He is also a sensitive man who immediately sees Tess's discomfort at the party. He can't help but try to help her. He's stunned by his immediate connection to her. Though he doesn't regret kissing her, he feels badly about the consequences of that kiss.

When they meet again, the sparks are still there. Shep has not been able to forget her, but knows she has been dealing with so much, so he has stayed away. Now in the later stages of the plane's production, Shep and Tess are thrown together. Now that they are both free, Shep wants to get to know her better, but Tess is still mired in grief and guilt. I loved seeing Shep's patience as he coaxes Tess out of her shell and into living life again. The hiking scene is great, as Shep's instincts help her reconnect with nature and she starts to relax with him. I loved seeing them share some of their pasts. They are starting to get closer, but Tess is still fighting her guilty feelings. When their next date is pre-empted by a work crisis, and she can't get word to Shep, his own insecurities rear up. I ached for both of them, as Tess worried about Shep's reaction and he fears that his growing feelings are not returned. Both of them have to face their fears before they can move on together. After a highly emotional scene, they are finally ready to see what the future might bring.

Their troubles aren't over however. Tess is dealing with the stress of political pressures regarding the program. There is also a subcontractor that has his own ax to grind with both Tess and Shep. There's a terrific scene between him and Shep, where Shep's protectiveness really comes out. Tess has her own scene with him later that was also very satisfying. As the date of the test flight gets closer, their feelings get stronger, but those same feelings create an intense level of fear in Tess. She knows the things that can go wrong during a test flight, and she fears for Shep's safety. I loved his sensitivity to those fears, and how he worked to ease them. It was fantastic to see Tess's growth, thanks to his love and support. The test flight scene was great, and I loved Shep's big moment after it.

I loved the realism of the political wrangling, complaints about the media, and other production problems. All of those things added a sense of realism to the book, as they still happen today. Tess's frustration was real and believable. 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.

#netgalley show less