I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy of The Army Rangers Surprise. I really enjoyed this story while it is a emotional storyline. It was a really a remarkable and enjoyable
Romantic story.
Leo has had a very long rough recovery after struggling with his dark past, working to rebuild his life . Kaydee is is a beautiful person but is closed off and afraid to open herself up to anyone especially Leo. She also doesn't anyplace long term . Such a great bunch of secondary characters from Leo's Army Ranger buddies and their woman . To Leo's grandmother and Kaydee's grandfather . They keep the story really entertaining . I think this is a well written story. I highly recommend taking the time to read . It's excellent.

'The woman was a thief. A beautiful, sensual, sexy thief who stole his breath. And his bones. '

I have loved Donna Michaels’ Men of At-Ease Ranchsince the beginning. It has proven to be a strong series—one with likable characters, deep friendships that come complete with humor, banter and caring, and love stories that are equal parts sweet and sexy.

The Army Ranger’s Surprise is no exception. I loved Leo and Kaydee’s story. I empathized strongly with the struggles Leo was trying to leave in his past, and I couldn’t help but admire how Ms. Michaels’ navigated such a sensitive topic. Beyond that, Leo’s sassy grandma added levity and light—as did his buddies—and Kaydee’s willingness to embrace change made her a heroine who was more than worth rooting for.

What I’m trying (badly) to say, is that The Army Ranger’s Surprise was an all the feels read. I loved everything about it and the way it flowed. The pacing, the character growth, the check-ins on previous characters—it all worked for me, and ultimately made The Army Ranger’s Surprise a not-so-surprisingly addictive read.

'Never in her life had she ever burned for someone. But she burned for Leo. Burned bad.'

~ FIVE Winter Soldier STARS ~

These rangers won my heart with the first story, and it has been one of those series that I have eagerly anticipated for each title to be published. The tales are a perfect mix of tight brotherhood, swoony romance, deep emotions that have brought me to tears, and humor that has made me laugh out loud with the comical moments.
I knew Leo's story would be an emotional one, he has gone through so much since he returned from service. Leo has been a part of each story, more of a reason for the ranch to exist than maybe anyone else. His battle against the memories, the inner demons, has let to some drastic decisions in the past, but he has finally found his place in a world again, slowly coming to accept and leave behind the nightmares of his former times in the rangers.
Kaydee Wagner is a spirited and kindhearted woman. She has a connection to Leo that is a tangible force in the tale. She turns out to be just so perfect for him, as suitable as Leo is for her, and her wanderlust and restless soul, the byproducts of an army brat moving around all her life. It is hard for her to open up and accept people into her life, knowing that they will never stay, the risk of giving her heart feels too big, because there are no guarantees of continues relationships and root in one place, when everything is temporary.
Leo and Kaydee, they get each other. They understand and accept each other, and the passion and the harmony between them is a beautiful thing to be witnessed. The physical connection between them is scorching hot, the mental connection and the hearts finding their soulmates takes a bit more effort to be accepted.
I was an emotional mess reading this story and not just from the ardent, adorable love story developing between Kaydee and Leo, and Leo finally finding himself again, but also from the tight friendships between the rangers, the way they looked after each other, had each others backs, and were there to encourage, support, and mess with each other whenever the moment arose. There were heartfelt moments that brought me to tears and those moments that made me sigh with content. But there were also tears because the past hurt is so deep, the demons gerning inside so painful, and the doubts vivid and the old wounds aching.
Leo's story was everything I expected, and then some. It is poignant, sensual, loving, and entertaining. It takes the reader from the darkest moments of a human soul to the most exhilarating joy and the jubilee of life and living. The whole series is such an eye-opening look into the lives of vets after they return to the civilian life, the challenges they face, the hurdles they have to overcome. There is heart, humor, passion, and feels in each tale, perfect for binge reading during the summer days. Absolutely a must read series in my eyes.
And Leo and Kaydee, them finding the peace of mind, heart, and soul, and their forever-after happiness, that tale is just filled with fervor and adoration.
~ Five Spoons

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sexy & sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

I love the series and happy that Leo has finally gotten his HEA. He's been struggling for several years but has decided to follow his gut and take a chance on Kaydee.
I'm happy he found a match with Kaydee. She's determined to keep Leo in the near and now and not fall back the shadows.

I’ve really enjoyed following the former Army Ranger buddies of Donna Michaels’ The Men of At Ease Ranch Series. They’ve all struggled to different extents with civilian life especially after the loss of one of their own at the end of their careers.

None has suffered more than Leo Reed. He’s has some pretty horrific lows and is just now getting his life back on track. He’s also promised to watch after his grandmother in his mom’s absence. He’s definitely NOT looking for a woman to complicate his already stressful life. But you know how pesky love is. It often comes when least expected and least desired.

Kaydee Wagner has lived the nomadic life of a military brat. She sees no reason to cease moving around now that she’s on her own. She commits to helping her grandfather though which also lets her work with her best friend and help her set up her own shop.

When Kaydee’s grandfather and Leo’s grandmother strike up a friendship the two find themselves thrown together on occasion. The attraction is immediate but they resist.

I enjoyed watching the ups and downs that the couple must go through. I liked them both and wanted them to find their happily ever after. I was very touched with how Leo handles "the surprise". He's such a good man despite his past problems.

To me, this book lacked some of the humor of the others. Let’s face it, none of the subsequent stories could top a jealous cow nemesis. Lula Bell makes her appearances again though. Michaels writing flows incredibly well. Her characters and their dialog are natural and interesting. This book was well worth reading.

reviewed by Jem

Rounded up from 3.5 stars

I like the characters and the story...especially the frisky octogenarians. It was a little different for me to read a story where both main characters are emotionally damaged but it felt like they didn't exactly open up about both of their issues. There was a nice chemistry between Kaydee and Leo and the connection felt natural but it was just a little too insta-love to give it a 5 star.

This is my first book by this author. I've seen promos for other books in the At Ease series but for whatever reason, I never picked any of them up. This book has me wanting to rectify that as soon as possible.

Kaydee and Leo were so perfect together, even with all of the baggage they're carrying getting in the way. I loved that they had built a friendship before pursuing anything. From start to finish, I was rooting for them to find a way to make it work. I want to know everything about how Leo's background made At Ease Ranch possible so I will be returning to the first four books in this series ASAP!!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Leo was an Army Ranger who is now living with his friends in their home (on the property of the Veteran's rehabilitation center - 200 acres) while he works for them. He frequently visit's his grandmother who lives an hour away where he meets her neighbor - Kaydee. Instant attraction that he fights because he doesn't feel he is good enough for her. Kaydee is also attracted to Leo, but she is a bit insecure and feels he is out of her league.
Through there friendship, these two begin a romantic relationship.
Towards the middle of this book I started to lose interest, but as it went on, it gets better.
I did really enjoy the ending.
This book can be read on it's own, but you can read the previous books for the other couple's stories to get the full picture.

3.5 stars!
The Army Ranger's Surprise was a quick, easy to read steamy romance. I read this book very quickly and the thing that I loved about it most is that these two characters start off as really good friends. It was enjoyable to read their romance and connection, and the changes they experienced together. It was sweet and steamy, the perfect combination. I also really enjoyed the humour throughout, including the hilarious characters of Kaydee's grandpa and Leo's grandma. Very sassy.

If you're looking for a really easy to read romance that's cute with the perfect amount of steam, this is for you.

I have never read this series but after reading this book, I will have to look for her others. I thought Leo was a very believable character and Kaydee was a woman who I would love to be a pal who I could call for coffee.

If you like romances with veterans and quirky octogenarians and runaway cows, this is definitely one to add to the to-read list.

Leo and Kaydee melted my heart. They both had their own pasts to face and when they fought together, it was magic. Absolutely loved this book!

Well, I'm nothing if not consistent, so of course, I'm starting to read a series at the end of the series rather than the beginning, but the blurb did mention that this novel could be read as a standalone, and I will explain why that description required a small caveat, but that aside, I seldom pass up a chance to read a romance novel with a wounded warrior as the lead character, and I give this one a 3.5-star rating.

The wounded warrior in question in this novel is Leo Reed, and he's dealing with his PTSD at a the At-Ease Ranch, a place for military veterans to get a chance to heal, both physically and emotionally. Since At-Ease was started by former military men he already knew, it seemed the perfect place for Leo to go and heal among men who understand what PTSD is like, and it's a far sight better than what he was doing, drinking himself into a stupor to bury his feelings. It's a common enough occurrence among wounded warriors. My only complaint is the the reason for his PTSD, the memories that torture him in his flashbacks and nightmares, is never fully explained in this novel, merely alluded to. Clearly, one of his friends was killed, there was something involving a little girl, and Leo feels responsible and is also suffering survivor guilt. Since, as I've stated, I haven't read the entire series, and his issues may have been dealt with more fully in earlier novels, knowing what he went through and why he reacts the way he does would have been really helpful to know in this novel, since he's the featured character here.

The founding members of At-Ease Ranch have also formed a construction company, and while not a partner in this enterprise, Leo is happy to work at varying construction jobs to earn his keep. He's also been tasked with keeping an eye on on his 80-something grandmother, while his parents are away from their home, keeping an eye on his pregnant sister and awaiting the birth of their grandchild. His grandmother lives only about an hour away from the ranch, and she's a feisty gal, and in a relationship with the older man next door, whose granddaughter, Kaydee, is keeping an eye on him.

Leo and Kaydee are attracted to one another, but since he's still dealing with his PTSD, and doesn't really want to talk about his issues or get involved in a relationship where he'd have no other choice. Kaydee too, isn't looking for a relationship. She was raised as an Army brat, moving from place to place quite often, and even as a adult, she acknowledges her own restless spirit, and seldom stays in one place long enough to form any lasting attachments. However, chemistry being what it is, these two can only ignore it for so long before they act on their mutual attraction, and yes, they do act upon it, and some of the scenes are quite explicit, so this is definitely not a novel for the under 18 crowd.

While Leo and Kaydee are treating their sexual relationship as casual, it's clear that although they both have their own fears about anything more serious, Kaydee because of her restless spirit, and Leo because he fears that once Kaydee learns about his past she will no longer want anything to do with him, that slow building emotional attachment makes up the body of this novel, and it's an enjoyable yet rather predictable read, and I'm sure I'd have enjoyed it far more had I read the earlier novels. What the story lacked, as I stated at the outset, was more depth, more backstory, and a greater understanding of all the issues facing the main characters.

I will admit to enjoying this novel despite what I view as its shortcomings, and to liking the authors writing style as well as liking the HEA ending. I do wish more time had been spent on the therapy part of Leo's recovery process, and I plan to read the previous novels in this series in the hope that those novels offer more in the way of Leo's backstory. If you're coming in at the end of this series as I did, I'd suggest starting at the beginning, as I intend to do.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

YAY! We finally get Leo's story and it's fantastic. This is the fifth book in the Men of At Ease Ranch series but you can read any of them as standalones without a problem. Prior characters and little jokes are referenced so those of us who have read the prior books get an extra little chuckle. Kaydee and Leo are great characters both of which are looking after aging grandparents. That's initially how they get together. What keeps them together...well that's a whole other story. Loved seeing these two find their way to a HEA. This entire series has been fun to read. I recommend this book and the series.

There is a lot of heart and soul in this story. There are also moments of sadness and outright hilarity. The author kept the story rocking and the reader engaged. The characters are fun, witty and flirty. The cow is just ridiculously funny.

I loved this book! I thought it was so cute! Kaydee and Leo are just adorable and there grandparents are just as cute! I liked the army aspect brought into this romance. I know it's hard to adjust coming back after active duty and living a normal life. It really shines a light on how difficult it is when they come back. I felt like the author gave a great backstory to each character and it was cute all of Leo's friends had fiance/wives. I liked how both kaydee and Leo struggled for months with how they felt. It was a nice buildup! I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet romance with a surprise ending!!!

"The Army Ranger's Surprise" (Men of At-Ease Ranch Book 5) by Donna Michaels is a fantastic read. I loved Leo and Kaydee's story. This is a wonderful addition to this series. Packed with romance, passion, military veterans, close friends, humor, family, entertaining characters, surprises, happily ever after, and more. Highly recommend to all fans or romance, military, and series. I seriously hope we get more books about these characters in the future!

Leo and the girl next door. If you've read the series about the other guys you already know Leo suffers great survivor's guilt and depression. With the help of friends and therapy he's gotten much better. This is his love story with Kaydee, beautician and caretaker of her grandfather. I enjoyed their easy conversation, the intimacy was romantic and charming, and the other couples made a small appearance to offer advice. My copy was sent through Netgalley, my review given voluntarily.

The Army Ranger's Surprise, by Donna Michaels is a contemporary romance and part of The Men of At Ease Ranch book series.

Leo Reed is a former Army Ranger, yet he currently lives at his friends' ranch, which is focused on veterans. He had a difficult journey, which continues to affect his self-esteem and outlook on life. As a dedicated grandson, he frequently visits his grandmother to assist with errands and household chores. Leo is obsessed with his grandmother's neighbor - Kaydee Wagner. She prefers to wander, yet she's now staying in one place to help her grandfather.

Both Kaydee and Leo have very close relationships with their grandparents, and their grandparents are dating each other! Leo and Kaydee are mutually attracted, yet their insecurities are primary issues affecting their lives, especially their relationship. And the story features a surprise pregnancy.

Usually, I adore ranch romances featuring military men, meddling friends, and surprise pregnancies. Unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations and I had a difficult time investing in the characters. However, I didn't start with the first book in the series, so I suggest starting with In a Ranger's Arms to meet the other characters and maybe the storyline will resonate with you.

The Army Ranger's Surprise is geared towards those who prefer contemporary romance books.


Note: I received this book from NetGalley, which is a program designed for bloggers to write book reviews in exchange for books, yet the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received an arc from Netgalley. Leo and Kaydee have a whirlwind romance. Both have pasts that hold them back from giving all of themselves to another.

Once Leo and Kaydee get past old lingering issues they allow their romance to develop. A great read and a few surprises along the way.

I love this series and the fact that it talks about helping veterans and I love the ranch setting. Can’t wait to read more.
4.5 stars