Out Rider - Lindsay McKenna (HQN - May 2016)

Series: Jackson Hole Wyoming (Book 11)

A fresh start -- that's all Devorah McGuire wants. As a former Marine and current Ranger with the US Forest Service, she's grown accustomed to keeping others safe. But when the unthinkable happens, she can only hope that a transfer to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will allow her to put the past behind her for good.

Dev's mentor at Grand Tetons National Park is fellow canine handler and horseman Sloan Rankin. He shows Dev the spectacular trails, never knowing the terror that stalks her every move. Despite her lingering fear, Dev feels an attraction for Sloan as wild as their surroundings.

With Sloan, Dev can envision a new life -- a real home. Unless a vengeful man fresh out of prison succeeds in finishing what he started…

Lovely conclusion to the series. I am really going to miss all the characters I've gotten to know over the last several years. In this one, the romance is sweet and gentle, and the suspense builds to an intense confrontation.

Dev has moved across the country for a fresh start. In her previous posting she was stalked and assaulted by a coworker. One of the effects of the attack was to aggravate her PTSD from her time in the Marines, and she hopes that the move will allow her to get past it. Sloan has a failed marriage in his past that makes him reluctant to risk his heart again. A blown tire on her horse trailer brings Dev and Sloan together, as he stops to help her change it. They quickly discover that they will be coworkers, and Sloan offers to lead her to where she'll stable her horse and then to her apartment complex. There is an immediate connection between them, though both are wary of pursuing it thanks to their pasts. 

I loved seeing the relationship develop between Dev and Sloan. Dev doesn't trust men at all. Her father was an alcoholic who neglected and emotionally abused her. Then the men who should have helped her after the attack instead took the side of her attacker. She isn't sure, at first, that Sloan isn't another just like them. They first began as friends, as Sloan was assigned to mentor her as she got to know the ins and outs of the park. She quickly discovered that just being around him calmed her spirit. As Sloan got to know her, he saw the woman under the fears. I loved his patience and kindness as she opens up to him about her experiences. Though he is very attracted to her, he doesn't push and waits for her to be ready to move further in their growing relationship. It was really sweet to see the way that he included her in his friendships with Miss Iris  and Miss Gus, giving her a family type relationship unlike anything she had experienced before. Sloan also understands the strength of her empathy to others' emotions, and is able to help her understand. It was interesting to see how Dev soaked up the peace that surrounded Sloan and how it helped her heal. I really liked that they didn't rush their relationship, letting it grow at a slower pace. The intensity of their feelings grew when the danger that threatened Dev got closer to home. Sloan's protectiveness and inner warrior stepped up to ensure that Dev was safe. I liked the way that Sloan was able to accept his feelings and had the courage to share them with her first. Dev is still cautious about trusting her own feelings, and it takes a crisis for her to take that final step toward her future.

The suspense of the story was really good. Seeing Dev start to settle in and relax in her new surroundings made the shock of Bart's reappearance that much greater. Her recounting of what happened was vivid and it was easy to feel her fear. Having that followed by Bart's version of the events, and also seeing what his plans are, increased the anticipation of what was going to happen. The intensity increased as he became bolder, and the invasion of her apartment was definitely scary. I liked Sloan's support of her, and that this time law enforcement reacted properly. The final confrontation was nerve-wracking. I liked seeing Dev having reacquired the strength of will to defend herself. The pursuit through the forest was exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat until it was all over.

The best secondary characters were the two dogs: Dev's lab Bella, and Sloan's Belgian Malamois with the unlikely name of Mouse. Both are former combat dogs who have new missions. I loved their relationships with Dev and Sloan, especially the way that they sensed their emotions. I adored Mouse and his awesome tracking skills.

I loved seeing characters from earlier books. From Cade's essential help in identifying and then pursuing Bart, to the ranch families and their obvious love for Sloan and then Dev, it brought back fond memories of their stories. I loved the surprise for Dev that they had colluded on, and then the bigger surprise that Sloan had for her. I am truly going to miss these folks.

Night Hawk - Lindsay McKenna (HQN - Jan 2016)

Series: Jackson Hole Wyoming (Book 10)

ONCE UPON A RANCH IN WYOMING…

After losing his comrade, Sergeant Gil Hanford thought a visit to the man's widow would be the decent way to honor his late friend. But Gil found more than comfort in Kai Tiernan -- he had always secretly desired beautiful Kai, but a sudden, mutual passion helped assuage their grief…until duty reared its head, removing him from her arms, seemingly forever.

Four years later, Kai is starting over at the Triple H Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Born a rancher, she is looking for a new beginning -- but her new boss is unforgivably familiar. Kai has tried to move past the memory of what happened between her and Gil, even though she's never forgiven him for leaving her. But even as they begin their journey toward something new and oh-so-uncertain, a shadow emerges, determined to claim Kai for itself.

Excellent friends to lovers story. Gil and Kai became friends when Kai met and married Gil's best friend and fellow Delta Force operator Sam. After Sam's death, Gil would check in on Kai often. When his brother was killed in action, in his grief Gil went to Kai, who was still grieving for Sam. Their shared grief erupted in passion, and they had five intense days together. Then Gil disappeared without a word, leaving Kai devastated, angry and feeling used. 

Four years later, Kai is out of the army and looking for work as a ranch mechanic. Hired by Talon Holt (High Country Rebel), Kai is dismayed to discover that the ranch foreman is none other than Gil. Her hurt and anger return, even as she worries that she could lose this much-needed job if she expresses it. Gil had also never forgotten those days together, and carries a tremendous amount of guilt over the way it ended.

Both Kai and Gil come to the relationship with some baggage. Kai had a miserable childhood after her mother's death, with a father who considered a woman's place to be in the home. In spite of her being able to do everything her brother did, her dad never approved of her wishes. He was also a man who never showed her any affection. When Kai decided to leave the ranch and join the army, her father disowned her. While stationed in Afghanistan, she met and married Sam, a Delta Force operator. Unfortunately for her, Sam was a man who had trouble expressing his emotions, leaving her frequently feeling drained by the love she gave, but rarely having her own needs looked after. Only her friendship with Sam's best friend Gil gave her any of the emotional sustenance she needed. After Gil's apparent desertion of her, she found it difficult to trust again.

Gil had met Kai at the same time Sam did. Unknown to either of them, Gil had also fallen in love with Kai. Being an honorable man, he was very careful never to let either of them know about his feelings. After Sam's death, Gil made a point of checking on Kai whenever he could, happy just to be able to see her. He didn't know if he'd ever be able to tell her of his feelings. His grief over his brother's death sent him running to the only person he knew who might be able to help him through it. He never expected that comfort to take the route it did. Then one morning, a call back to duty came in, with Gil having to leave immediately for an undercover assignment. He wasn't permitted to tell her anything, so he just disappeared. The assignment went for two years, and when he came back he thought it was too late to do anything about it, and never tried to get in contact with her. But he had never forgotten those days together, and seeing her again brings his feelings for her back to the surface. Discovering how devastated she'd been by his actions makes his guilt even worse.

When they met again, each reacted in accordance with their personalities. Kai has never had trouble expressing her feelings and she lets Gil know exactly how she feels about seeing him again. She worries that it could cost her her job, and she insists on keeping their personal history out of the workplace. Gil is a sensitive man, in spite of his Delta Force reputation. He knows he hurt her, and is beginning to realize just how much. He promises that their history won't affect their working relationship.

I was a bit mad at Kai at the beginning that she refused to let Gil explain what had happened. If she had let him explain right away, she might have been able to let go of her anger a bit sooner. I liked the way that Gil was smart enough to know that she had to find her way past her anger at her own rate. Once they actually talked, I could see the healing begin. Both of them realized that the attraction between them was still just as strong. Kai was very wary of giving in to it again, not sure that she could trust Gil not to disappear once more. She was afraid to risk her heart again. Gil knows that what he feels for Kai is more than just attraction, but also knows that she's not ready to hear it. I loved seeing Gil's patience as he works to earn her trust again. It was great to see his patience pay off as Kai begins to open up to him. They got to know each other on a deeper level than they had before. He was also very protective of her.

Part of that protectiveness was in reaction to the attentions of Chuck Harper. Harper has been an ongoing character in previous books, suspected of drug running and human trafficking, though there has been no proof. Both Gil and Talon know of the suspicions, and take steps to protect Kai when she has to be around him. But neither of them bothered to tell her about him, so she saw only the man he chose to show her. I liked that her renewed relationship with Gil made her pull back from further contact with Harper. That pulling back caused Harper to get more intense in his pursuit, and Kai began to sense trouble. When Kai and Gil were attacked one morning on their way to the ranch, the danger they were in was intense and life threatening. I loved seeing Gil's skills as an operator make the difference. It was especially awesome to see how he used those skills to make a point later. It left a bit of a cliffhanger, as the drug and trafficking storyline continues into the next book. 

I loved seeing Kai and Gil finally get their feelings out in the open. It was pretty sweet to see Gil's vulnerability as he did so, and Kai's shock at his revelations. I liked seeing them continue to take the time to make sure that their feelings are real and lasting. The epilogue was awesome, with the added twist of a surprise involving two other characters.

I liked seeing Talon and Cat again, and catching up with how things are going on the ranch. I loved the fact that Talon makes a point of hiring veterans to work with him. The camaraderie among Talon, Gil and Cass is awesome. The fact that all three are former special forces makes their bond even stronger. It was fun to see how they would tease each other, but they could also be deadly serious when necessary. I also loved seeing Talon's combat dog Zeke again, and the introduction of a puppy into the family.