It was an easy read, but a little messy and too angsty for my taste; not feeling that it fit there honestly. Plus, all the danger they were in…meh.. the characters had so-so with chemistry.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

A bit long-winded but I still enjoyed the story.
Plenty of action at the beginning of the book then it fell a little flat for me.

Ex-Air Force pilot Andy Whitcomb loves nothing more than the wide blue skies, but when a helicopter crash fighting forest fires in California leaves her injured and shaken, she’s ready to return home to the peace of Wind River Ranch. The good news is, there’s a chance for her to fly helos for the county sheriff’s department. The bad news? The person in charge is none other than Dev Mitchell, an ex-Army Black Hawk pilot—and the rugged, sharp-eyed man Andy has never forgotten after five days together running from the Taliban after a nerve-wracking near-miss in Afghanistan.
This was a great story by a great author. I’ve read a number of her books and they don’t disappoint. I really liked both main characters as well as the plot. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I loved watching Andy and Dev's romance blossom. Lindsay McKenna delivers a first-rate story all over again. She never fails to disappoint. It is very well-written and I can't wait for more.

I've read and reviewed most of Lindsay McKenna's Wind River series, but Wind River Protector, the eighth novel in the series started out like gangbusters and fell totally flat for me for a number of reasons, which I'll get to, and which is also why I can only give it a 2-star rating.

As the novel opens, Andy, the heroine, is flying an armored helicopter over Taliban territory and helping to deflect ground fire for a Black Hawk helicopter, dropping off black ops personnel into the area. Both helicopters are shot down, and Andy watches the Black Hawkcrash and burn before the same thing happens to her and her copter. She ejects herself from the doomed helicopter and manages to parachute to earth with nothing more than scraped knees, a few bruises, and, unfortunately, a broken GPS device that would signal her location for rescue--she has a couple of protein bars and no water. It doesn't take long before the lone survivor of the Black Hawk crash, Dev, finds her, and they spend the next five days dodging the Taliban and getting to safety. Dev is almost immediately sent off on another mission, and her harrowing experience made Andy leave the military, eventually landing herself a job with the helicopter division of the Los Angeles Police Department, where once again, after about 3 years, her copter hits a drone and crashes down in an empty ball field. That's it for Andy, she decides to return home to her family's Wind River Ranch. Quite an exciting start.

When Andy returns home, the author spends an extraordinary amount of time explaining that Andy's adoptive parents, whom we've met in the previous Wind River novels, were wonderful and supportive of all 4 of their adopted children. As luck would have it, they've been instrumental in helping to establish a full service airport in Wind River, and of course, there's are openings for helicopter pilots. Andy is thrilled at the chance, and what a surprise--her new boss is none other than Dev, and both are thrilled to have found one another again, but Dev will be Andy's boss if she's hired, and what will happen between them? Sadly, things are about to change, and not for the better.

Andy is all for women's equality, and is impressed that Dev sees and treats her as an equal. It's hard to gauge her feelings because at first she mentions never wanting to have a man of her own or raise a family of her own, yet she's certainly interested in Dev. While I generally like a slow-building romance, for some reason, the author felt it necessary to launch into endlessly preaching about women's equality, in life and in the workplace, and while I agree with her position wholeheartedly, it went on seemingly forever, along with endless passages of repetitive dialogue reiterating how Dev and Andy met, and how they impressed one another with their survival skills, abilities and fortitude. By the time the airport is nearly ready of open we're also subjected to more overdone angst about the feelings of abandonment experienced by Andy and her 3 other adopted siblings. Too much angst. too little story, virtually no forward momentum.

In addition there are also redundant passages about Dev's feelings about his late wife, who died of a heart attack at age 20. Nine years later, Dev is still struggling to come to terms with his loss and wondering about his attraction to Andy. Yes, it's a devastating occurrence to 20-year-old Dev, but he's had nine years to comes to terms with it, and while it's a tough blow, nine years to even show interest in another woman seemed too long and to hard to believe for this reader.

Yes, there's eventually some action later in the novel, drug smuggler's dropping their loads of contraband drugs into empty fields, and Andy and Dev getting into more scrapes and more danger, but by the HEA ending, I was totally bored by both of the main characters and totally annoyed at the endless preaching. I've been reading Ms. McKenna's novels for decades, consider myself a fan of her work, and it hurts me to say this, but, in this reader's opinion, this was the least interesting, most preachy, and biggest let-down of the lot.

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

Continuing the Wind River Series, Lindsay MCKenna;s next installment "Wind River Protector" actually turned out to be an interesting. Last couple of her books haven't had her trademark storytelling, and this is a good surprise.

Fate brings Ex-Air Force pilot Andy Whitcomb and Ex-Army Blackhawk pilot Dev Mitchell together at Wind River Ranch, as they get into civilian life. They share a combative past, fighting together in Afghanistan and past attraction only turns into flames of passion. As they fight shoulder to shoulder to keep their town safe, their relationship only becomes stronger with time.

A good read!

Kudos to Lindsay McKenna for bringing to light issues that some of our nations finest face in this truly inspiring book about Andrea Whitcomb and Dev Mitchell. If you weren't a believer in fate before reading this book you should be when you finish the action, the drama and the give and take take will keep you turning pages until the end.

WIND RIVER PROTECTOR by Lindsay McKenna is a fast read with enough action to keep you turning the page. This story follows Andy and Mitchell, two Veterans of the fight with the Taliban. Following them into civilian life and an amazing reunion.

This first book from this author. This could be standalone. ( This was first book I have read from the series.)
Story starts with suspense when Andy and Dev's plane and helicopter were down and try to survive in Taliban area. They bonded over 5 days and they were separated.
Couple years later, they are both back at Wind River Wyoming, seeing each other ever since then and working together. Andy and Dev were glad they are back again and now they have a chance to explore their feelings toward each other.
Scenery were beautifully described and you can clearly imagine how beautiful Wind River Wyoming. I did like the fact Andy Whitcomb is ex-air force pilot and she was real fighter. I loved Andy's siblings and parents. Their relationship was slowly developed (little bit too slow for me).
Only part that seems too redundant was about Andy and her sibling's being adopted and it was stated way too many times and it dragged the story a bit. I
Thanks to Netgalley and Zebra for ARC in exchange for honest review.

Andy loves flying helicopters. Coming home to Wind River after leaving the service, and another crash in California, she needs time to heal. Finding out about the new airport being built, she applies for a job flying helos. The unexpected news, is when she applies to fly for the sheriff's department, the one in charge is Black Hawk pilot Dev, the man she survived with while running from the Taliban in Afghanistan. Andy and Dev's story is an emotional read, with their bond slowing making its way to an awareness of falling in love. A romantic suspense story for all ages, I look forward to what comes next in Wind River. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for gifting me "Wind River Protector". **My opinion is my own and based on my reading of the book I received.** 4.25 Stars!

Andy was an former Air Force pilot who had served in Afghanistan. Dev Mitchell was an Army Blackhawk pilot. Both of their aircraft crashed in Afghanistan five years earlier and they had spent five days together running from the Taliban before being rescued. As a result of that experience, Andy had left the military and worked as a civilian pilot. But, after another harrowing crash while working for the LAPD, she decided to move back home to Wind River, Wyoming. A new airport was being built in her hometown and she wanted to be a pilot for a team being assembled for rescue missions and would be headquartered at the new airport in Wind River.

When Andy arrived for the interview, she met none other than Dev Mitchell. All the feelings she felt for him as he helped to protect her five years ago came flooding back. She had lost touch with him after their rescue but had always wanted to find him but had been unable to track him down. What would it be like to have him back in her life? Would their feelings be the same? Did the bond they forged during their five day run-for-their-life still be there five years later?

I liked this story but it felt like it dragged a bit at times. I am not a fan of descriptive sex scenes and there is only one in this book. I could feel the emotions and the feelings they felt towards each other without the descriptive scene.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

Andy and Dev have a slow burning romance. It gives McKenna time to pound into the reader how women are often treated in the military. She does tend to over do her message but maybe some people just do not get it at first. As a retired pilot who was too old when the military started accepting women as pilots I had a much easier time. The men i flew with were professionals and treat me as just another pilot.

Andrea “Andy” Whitcomb can't forget the pilot who was shot down with her in Afghanistan. Devlin “Dev” Mitchell can't forget the female pilot he came to admire so much when they spent 5 days together running from the Taliban. A new airport in Wind River Valley, her return home, his new job. Is there a reunion for these two Wind River Protectors?

Four years ago Andy Whitcomb left the Air Force not thinking to ever see the pilot who helped her to survive five days running from the Taliban in Afghanistan. She can't stop thinking about him and regretting that she wasn't able to tell him thank you. Dev Mitchell couldn't stop thinking about the woman he quickly became to admire and respect when they spent time together after being shot down on a mission. Andy goes from flying airplanes to Blackhawk helicopters after leaving the service. Living in Los Angles and working for the police she crashes and decides its time for a change and heads home to Wind River Valley after her mother mentions that the new airport is opening soon. Deciding to apply for a job, Andy runs into the the one person she never thought to see again, Dev. Dev is surprised to see Andy. The feelings they had for each other in Afghanistan are stronger than years before. She gets the job. Andy and Dev try to keep their relationship on a professional level but soon realize that won't be possible. Her parents want to meet Dev and thank him for what he did for Andy all those years ago. As they reveal their pasts to each other and work and hang out together they become closer. They talk about their mutual past experience and how it has effected them. They go on missions together for the county. They do some hiking together and come across the sheriff's dispatcher who was attacked. A traffic accident has Dev worrying about Andy when she helps out on the rescue. Andy reveals about her grandmother's foundation and what it does and the family wealth. He realizes how he feels about Andy. Andy has realized how strong her feelings are for him. Her family comes in for the grand opening of the airport and Dev gets to meet her two brothers and sister. Between her and her parents they try to get her siblings to come home and work. Each has a dangerous type job. They became wranglers at a young age. Andy and Dev go out a work as wranglers to keep in shape. She's always been put off of relationships because of the men she's had contact with. Dev wanting to have a serious relationship with Andy shows his patience. Andy realizes that Dev is like her father and the type of man she's been looking for. They decide to take their relationship to the next level. On their day off they go hiking to one of Andy's favorite places but come across the county drug dealers who are using their camping spot as a drop zone. They're out numbered and they must evade the drug dealers to get away and contact the sheriff. It brings back to Andy the feelings and anxiety from them running from the Taliban. They're new experience brings them closer together. They reveal their feelings and when they get home plans are made for the future.

Lindsay McKenna brings to life the lives of military pilots and how they deal with their shared past and work toward their future. Wind River Protectors is the 8th book in the Wind River series. The series gives you a look at the affects of combat on military pilots. The whole series plays homage to our military men and women who suffer from PTSD in its different forms and how these brave heroes must work through there experiences. She sets the scene of these heroes who have regrets about their parting four years earlier and who get the opportunity to renew their acquaintance and pick up the relationship, and go where they'd never thought it would. I was hooked from the beginning and sad to see the book end. Can't wait for the next in the Wind River series.

Wind River Protector is the 8th book in the Wind River Valley series by Lindsay McKenna. It's not exactly a second chance romance, but one could sort of call it that. Andy and Dev met each other under some serious and dangerous situation which you will read about in the prologue of the book and then fate chose to separate them. The connection was there, but it wasn't their time to be together after all. 5 years later, fate decided that it was time and Andy got a new job at the same place Dev started working a few weeks ago.

The storytelling of the romance and the suspense part of the story were balanced in my opinion and they worked well with each other. I liked how Dev and Andy started to explore who the other person was and how their relationship developed. The friendship and later the love they had was well written and my favorite part of the book. The whole drug dealing ordeal was also a good part of the story, but it didn't steal the spotlight. The book was good and I would recommend it.

The beginning was the only part I enjoyed, folks. I loved the heart pounding drama that set the stage to what I had hoped was going to be a great romantic read. However, the mechanical writing and overly windy dialogue that took over after this main couple's initial meeting completely killed my interest by 30%.

I wish this author continued writing success and hope others enjoy this book. Unfortunately, the writing style it morphed into kept me from be able to see this one to the end.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

Andy Whitcomb loves nothing more than blue skies, but when her helicopter crashes in California, she’s ready to return home to the peace of Wind River Ranch. The good news is – that there’s a chance for her to fly helos for the county sheriff’s department. Bad news – the person in charge is none other the ex-Army Black Hawk pilot, Dev Mitchell. Dev can’t believe his eyes when Andy walks into the interview, but if he’s going to be her boss, their relationship has to remain strictly professional.

This story is an emotionally gripping and engaging slow burn romance with some intense life threatening situations. The characters are strong, vivid and easily draw readers into their story while the relationship is a slow burn building with lots of passionate intensity, readers are in no doubt that Andy and Dev belong together. This story is a clean romance that provides readers with the illusion of quite a bit of time passing and the characters growing closer together the longer they spend time together which gives them time to overcome their emotional issues to finally reach for their happily ever after.

The plot is set a steady pace and has lots of intense conversations as the couple get to know each other, both have past issues that have them hesitant to reach for forever after relationship, so the story has a lot of emotionally powerful moments and reflections. While some of the conversations seem to be a little repetitive, the overall spacing of the conversations and some thrilling suspense and excitement gives readers an overall ‘real life experience’ kind of story that can really enjoy.

Wind River Protector by Lindsay McKenna is an engrossing and challenging book. The highest praise I can give is that upon finishing this book, I bought and read the rest in the series. This is real life, folks: injured and damaged folks returning from out wars in the Middle East. Captain Andrea Whitcomb was shot down over Afghanistan and endured only because of Lt Dev Mitchell who was the only survivor of a plane that wrecked at the same time her helicopter had. The hiked and hit for days before being rescued and abruptly parted at the base. Andy had tried to find Dev, but to no avail. She had had enough of war. She resigned and returned to the United States where she worked for several years for the Los Angeles Police Department for several years before a hobbyist's drone caused her copter to crash. As she was explaining the accident to her parents, they let her know that the new airport in rural Montana was on the brink of opening and with it a search and rescue operation that was currently looking for pilots. She was ready to go home.

This entire series revolves around veterans, many with PTSD and the citizens that are there for them when the world has forgotten. Aside from those stories, are the stories of love and commitment that evolve from these relationships. Andy and Dev met up again at a cafe in her hometown. After a surprise reconciliation, she went on to discover that her would be her supervisor at the search and rescue. The attraction between them is as strong as ever and they become fast friends. Their relationship grows organically as they head toward a relationship born of friendship and mutual interests. This is a beautifully written book, full of adventure and budding romance. The characters are real and raw with painful experiences in their pasts, almost too real sometimes. I cannot tell you how much you will love this book, as well as learn from it. I seriously recommend it to any and all.

I received a free ARC of Wind River Protector. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #windriverprotector

Wind River Protector is a well written romance. I enjoyed the plot and the dynamics between the characters. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Good book that started with heart-stopping intensity, moved to a fantastic, slow-burn romance, and finished with another bout of gripping intensity. The book opened four years earlier as Air Force pilot Andy is providing close air support for a Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan. The firefight is fierce and Andy watched as the helicopter ended up getting shot down just as she also took aircraft crippling fire. I was on the edge of my seat as Andy ejected into the middle of enemy territory. Fortunately for her, the Black Hawk pilot also survived and came looking for her. She and Dev teamed up and spent five days on the run before they were rescued. She never forgot the time she spent with him.

Fast forward four years. Andy left the Air Force and went to work for the LA Police Department as a pilot. A crash there left her shaken and longing to return home to Wind River. Word of a new air unit for the sheriff's department makes the move even more appealing. What she doesn't expect is to find that one of her bosses is Dev. Meanwhile, Dev is just as stunned to find Andy as one of the applicants for the pilots jobs. He thought of her often in the intervening years.

I loved the part describing their time in Afghanistan. Though he was surprised to find a woman pilot, Dev never looked down on Andy or treated her as less than capable. Having dealt with more than a few Neanderthal-like pilots, Andy was pleasantly surprised by Dev's attitude. Neither expected to feel drawn to the other, but their circumstances prevented anything personal from being explored. When Dev returned to his unit immediately after their rescue, they never had a chance to really talk.

Dev and Andy's surprise and pleasure at seeing each other again could not be denied. It was also clear that the connection they felt before was still there, but with the added obstacle of being boss and employee. I loved their decision to be friends, taking the time to get to know each other over a period of months. The connection that they forged during their five days in Afghanistan made it easier for them to share some of their deeper issues, such as Dev's grief over the loss of his young wife years earlier, and Andy's problems with trusting people after being abandoned as an infant by her mother. I enjoyed their mutual respect for each other's abilities and strengths as they worked together. I especially liked the scene at the truck accident, as Dev worried about Andy on a personal level, but was also proud of what she accomplished. I laughed out loud at the truck driver and his amazement at how such a "Squirt" was able to move him.

One of the things I liked most about Dev was his sensitivity. He is truly a 21st-century man, willing to express his emotions, including tears. I also liked how well he was tuned in to Andy. The way he was able to help her through the adrenaline crash and emotional firestorm after their near encounter with the drug smugglers was fantastic. There was also a sweet scene early on in the book as he surprised Andy with the arrival of two interviewees for the other pilots' positions. Dev fits in well with her family, too, I especially enjoyed his long talk with Gabe, and how much alike they seemed to me.

I loved Andy for her kick-ass abilities, but also ached for the vulnerability caused by her start in life. I really enjoyed the acknowledgement that women and men think differently, each bringing something different to a problem. I especially enjoyed how it was Andy who sensed approaching danger both in Afghanistan and in the mountains. I loved her close relationship with her family and the sisterhood with her fellow pilots.

The development of the relationship between Dev and Andy was fantastic. Because of the added complication of their work relationship, they had to make the extra effort to keep their working hours relationship professional, and save anything else for their off hours. I liked that they both felt that a solid friendship was a prerequisite to anything deeper. I loved the time they spent together doing things as simple as ranch work and hiking gave them the time to talk and really learn about each other. Not rushing into physical intimacy made the relationship feel much more realistic.

There was a nice bit of suspense included as the county's issues with drug smugglers continue to plague them. There was a little foreshadowing as Andy's first flight with Dev included visiting areas where drug drops were known to take place. Andy's brother Gabe, an undercover DEA agent, makes an appearance in this book. His conversation with Dev adds to the building feeling that something is going to happen. I was on the edge of my seat at the end when Andy and Dev had their close encounter with the smugglers, wondering if they would make it out safely. The resolution was very satisfying and felt realistic in the way it happened.