ARC for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley

Strength Under Fire is book 3 in the Silver Creek series by Lindsay McKenna, slow developing but a great read.

Dana and Colin come together but have so much baggage it takes time to trust, help each other, build a friendship, know when to leave each to their own, communication and maybe find a way to show the love in their hearts for each other…

I have always enjoyed this author, but this book was a huge disappointment. I felt like I was being lectured on environmental issues - I don't mind some of this, but felt it was way too much. As far as the dialogue, for two people who were supposedly "withdrawn", they certainly managed to talk their issues and feelings to death! I found myself skipping over many pages just to learn how the plot developed. As far as the supporting characters, they were not very believable - everyone was a little too good to be true. I think the concept of a community that supported each other could have been more realistically portrayed. Frankly, I just couldn't relate to the main characters. My advice is quit preaching to the audience unless you're a pastor.

Dana Scott has just moved to Silver Creek after a family tragedy. She’s hoping for a new start raising organic produce. With help from a local ranching family, she just may get her wish. Colin Gallagher’s PTSD pretty much keeps him a loner. When his boss asks him to work for a neighbor on her ranch. He jumps at the chance. As these two strangers work and live together their feelings for each other grow. Dana and Colin will be brought even closer when danger from her past shows up in the area. They’ll find they need Strength Under Fire to put their pasts behind them.

Lindsay McKenna’s Silver Creek series continues with her third book in the series Strength Under Fire. She brings together two people trying to put their pasts behind them and continue on with their lives. A woman whose family tragedy has her changing locations to start over. A man whose past keeps him apart from others. Two strangers learn to work and trust each other while dealing individually with their demons. Strength Under Fire shows a stranger to the valley just how helpful and accommodating the locals can be. A man seems to come out of his shell as time goes by. Lives that were forever changed by past tragedies just may move on through finding each other and hard work with some danger thrown in. Strength Under Fire moves two strangers through the steps of getting to know each to friendship and they hope individually more. A lot of hard work and helpful locals just make this stranger to the area a success in the future. A woman who gets drawn into her recent past because of her family tragedy and a man who is determined to protect the woman he’s come to care about just may find the happiness and love they never thought they’d have. Lindsay McKenna has written a wonderful story of live in a rural area of Wyoming where the people help and encourage each other even newcomers. An ideal Shangri-La area where the residents work and plan together to make they're and the world a better place to live. A must read for Lindsay McKenna fans. Strength Under Fire is a great story in her cowboy writing genre. A great read and I look forward to more in the Silver Creek series from Lindsay McKenna.

The title of this book summarizes much about the characters created by Lindsay McKenna. They all learn how to survive in lives whose safety was breached by fire. There are all kinds of dangers, each leaves its own brand of scar. And in STRENGTH UNDER FIRE we meet many who are living different lives than they ever pictured. Scars seen or hidden. But wounds that take seemingly forever to heal if indeed they ever do.

Silver creek is an imaginary place where folks thrive under the care and watchful eye of neighbors who become family. Paying forward is understood. Every man or woman is judged on their character. Trust is earned. Mary has a huge role in building these relationships while investing in the budding businesses and ranches that abound in her town.

Colin has military scars, the kind that are unseen, but very real all the same. Colin has successfully walled himself off emotionally. He is given the opportunity to work with Dana as she pours herself into building her ranch. It is through the generosity of folks like Mary and others in Silver Creek that folks like Dana and Colin find a strong foothold in this community. Dana also has scars. Colin realizes that Dana has a tragic history that she holds close to her chest. He hopes that with time Dana feels comfortable trusting Colin with her past, just as he has with her. This is a unique couple that are fabulous caring characters who would be so good for each other.

STRENGTH UNDER FIRE is more about coping and finding footing after the fire. The entire Silver Creek series centers on characters finding their inner strength. The will to live and for many find success and dare we hope for happiness.

Neither Colin nor Dana are looking for anything even remotely resembling a relationship. But that is what they truly need and deserve. Lindsay McKenna opens doors for her characters. There is always an element of angst in these series. With each page Lindsay McKenna keeps us on the edge of our seats waiting to see how these folk face down their fears. There is a sense of urgency embedded in each page of STRENGTH UNDER FIRE. Lindsay McKenna makes it a race to the end with the goal simply survival. But for Dana and Colin we wish for so much more. As part of Silver Creek series we get to revisit some wonderful characters as they play an important role in this installment.

There’s a bonus reading the Silver Creek series by Lindsay McKenna. A wealth of knowledge imparted as an integral part of these stories. I love my home gardens. I have an issue with insecticides because I worry about my grand doggies, hummingbirds and butterflies. So when Mary is talking about companion planting, she immediately had my full attention. STRENGTH UNDER FIRE is a bold story about survival. Typical fare by Lindsay McKenna. Strong intelligent women who are competent members of society. Dana and Colin make a fabulous team as stars in this latest installment.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

What an action packed romance! There is a bit of everything in this book, the drama of drug dealers, budding romance, former military hero battling PTSD, and the very tragic history of Dana. I don't want to give too much away as it takes a while to know what causes Dana to be so sad and broken while we know right away that Colin suffers from his military service.

It is almost too good to be true to have such giving neighbors and willing friends to help out when someone needs it. I like that we see some of the previous couples in the book and as always, Mary!

A sweet romance that builds slowly and strong enough to overcome their past traumas, and to see that love healing them. What a great analog of the broken pots practice of repair in Japan.

As always, looking forward to the next book and the introduction of a new character to Silver Creek.

Well done! I found this book to be an enjoyable read. I thought it was well written, the characters well thought out, and the plot interesting. I did find it slow moving at times, which is unusual for this author, but that happens. I would have liked a bit more action but that is a personal preference. All in all well done.

This is the story of two wounded people who both have major issues. Both Dana and Colin suffer from PTSD after having experienced traumatic experiences in their life. Dana, when she was 18-years old, found her violently murdered parents when she returned home after she had completed her farm chores. Colin also endured a violent experience. When he was in the military and working with the Navy SEALs, his team was ambushed. Everyone died, but him. Because of these events, both of them have trouble, normally, navigating in the real world.

Dana has decided to restart her life. Therefore, she sells her family’s farm and, uses the money to buy a huge farm so she can move away from her bad memories. However, the land includes an inhabitable cabin that needs a lot of work before she can actually live in it. Unfortunately, she does not have enough money left to be able improve, and accomplish everything that needs to be done.

Luckily, when Dana applies for a job, she meets Mary, who turns out to be her “fairy godmother.” Mary offers to help Dana pay for her crops. She also lends her the use of tools, machines, and anything else she may need to work the farm. She moves a mobile home to Dana’s land so she and Colin will have someplace to stay until her cabin becomes habitable. Mary even reassigns Colin to work for Dana. He is currently working as a full-time wrangler on her own ranch.

Even though Dana and Colin have not even begun to recover from their traumatic experiences, they work well together because they clearly understand each other’s issues. They are both hard workers and have no problem spending hours fixing up the farm and the cabin. As the couple works together, they begin to trust and respect each other. They become friends and eventually fall in love.

Unfortunately, just as Dana and Colin begin to work happily together and to enjoy each other’s company, they accidentally get mixed up with some drug dealers. These evil men have been using Dana’s abandoned farm for their own nefarious reasons. At this point, this story becomes a page-turner with non-stop action and intrigue.

The author also includes two horses, Gypsy and Pattycake, and a service dog named Bandit, The three of them are also main characters in this book. They all help Dana and Colin work on the farm and escape from the villains in the story. Dana and Collin talk to them as if they are humans. And they clearly communicate with their humans in the same way!

Lindsay McKenna skillfully highlights Dana’s and Colin’s issues and their difficulty to trust and interact with other people. She uses this story to clearly illustrate the important role that respect and understanding play in healing people with PTSD issues.

Books that touch on PTSD are near and dear to my heart. It is a battle that isn't easily won and not a lot of people understand or comprehend all that alot of those men have seen or done that can impact their lives. Great book full of emotion and great back stories.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Strength Under Fire is the third title in the Silver Creek series, and I’ll admit that I’m coming into this series a bit late but I didn’t feel the least bit lost. In fact, I’ve gone and downloaded the earlier books that I’ve missed in order to get caught up before the next release in March of 2022. Yeah, it was that good that I wanted to know what I’d missed.

The world as Dana knew it ended with the death of her family by domestic terrorists. Now dealing with PTSD, Dana is setting out to begin her life somewhere far from the memories, and the killers who are still free to inflict more harm on innocent people. She’s found a rundown property that she’s sunk just about her last dollar into but oh, what Wildflower Ranch could be one day – with a lot of work and help along the way. Dana’s been welcomed into the tight-knit community with open arms and has been offered the help of a local ranch’s wrangler, Colin, as overall help and handyman. Neither expected what was about to descend on them or the emotions that would make two loners a loving couple.

Colin also must deal with severe PTSD from his military days. He prefers to work alone or with very few people so while it isn’t exactly completely alone, working with Dana to bring Wildflower Ranch back to its former self isn’t that difficult of a chore. Sure, there’s hard work ahead but there’s also the attraction between Colin and Dana to consider. With an unexpected discovery, Dana will be thrust back into the attention of the domestic terrorists who killed her parents… and now their sights are on her.

I was easily caught up in Strength Under Fire and the struggles of Dana and Colin as they worked the land, brought the property slowly back, and each dealt with their own unique experiences with PTSD. The romance is definitely a slow burn but that doesn’t mean that the emotions aren’t fully engaged and burning hot. These two people have been through so much, watching them lower barriers around each other, learn to trust, and yes, to love each other was an emotionally charged backdrop to the danger they will face. Dana’s past is about to rear its ugly head once again as those who killed her parents are determined to eliminate her as well. Colin’s history as a Ranger will come into play since those old instincts, that knowledge never truly leaves a lawman or military man. There are some intense moments when Dana is in real danger but fast thinking on both of their parts will bring an ending that these domestic terrorists never expected.

I enjoyed myself in this story. There are some things that I feel might be a trigger for some readers. In my opinion, anything dealing with PTSD, or a family being killed could be a trigger, but only each individual will know if that is true for them… simply something I felt needed to be mentioned.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Dana and Colin are interesting characters who come from different backgrounds but share a reaction to events in their lives. I loved how there was a cross over from the Wind River books. There is all the danger, tension, and romance you in the plot. One thing for sure - if there was really a Silver Creek I would be packing and moving. A town almost too good to be true and full of great secondary characters.

Strength Under Fire by Lindsay McKenna is the latest in her Silver Creek series. It features survivors, currently experiencing PTSD, Dana Scott and Colin Gallagher. Dana has just purchased Wildflower Ranch, an abandoned hundred acres originally settled by German settlers, but now abandoned. Colin is an ex-Army Ranger, currently working for Chase Bishop. Chase and his wife, Cari run the Three Bars Ranch with his mother, Mary Bishop, Who had plenty of money and uses it to help people that want to be contributing members of society. Mary runs a grocery store in Silver Creek that carries all organic products: no GMOs, no chemical fertilizers, etc. In order to accomplish this she offers to totally bankroll Dana; Pay her to work her ranch, supply her with equipment and labor, give her horses, build a barn, supply a mobile home in which she can live. Dana has apparently found Shangri-la. Mary even sends Colin to be a permanent employee. Colin's PTSD is such that it is difficult for him to work as part of a group. Chase has helped in manage it so far, but working with Dana is the ideal solution. Chase will pay the bill.

This is a romantic thriller, and in that sense, it is a good story. The problems I have with the book include the fact that McKenna obviously has an agenda and supports it by flat, repetitive, circular dialogue. The idea is good but she has her characters talk way too much, redundancy is rampant. This has become more and more McKenna's m.o. in her most recent books and it is a shame to see such a talented author succumb. I can't really recommend this book unless, books replete with an agenda are you jam.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Strength Under Fire by Kensington Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #kensingtonbooks #strengthunderfire

Once again, Lindsay McKenna delivers a “romance with more” in Strength Under Fire. Dana Scott, new owner of Wildflower Ranch, and her wrangler, Colin Gallagher, are planning to organically farm fruits, vegetables and herbs for the Silver Creek, Wyoming community in which they live. I loved learning more about organic farming and the importance of beehives as a way to increase production yields, along with the lasting effects of PTSD on our first responders and returning military personnel. This is a wonderful series which informs the reader of timely topics with each book.

In the most emotional story of the Silver Creek series, Dana Scott and Colin Gallagher are both beset by pain, albeit for very different reasons. Still saddened by the loss of her parents, Dana moved to Silver Creek, Wyoming and bought the Wildflower Ranch. It might have taken just about every last penny she had, but it offers a clean break. A fresh start. Something to replace the pain. At first glance the picturesque town touches Dana's heart. She is ready to get started and plans on restoring the ranch's cabin and bringing the acreage back to life. Advised to hire a wrangler, Dana is referred to Colin Gallagher.

Colin needs a job. He needs money in his pocket. And, he is a very hard worker. ex-military. Also, Colin is suffering from PTSD. All he wants is to do is to make enough money to start over again. What Colin did not plan was to begin to foster feelings for his new employer, Dana.

More about Dana's loss. Her parents were wonderful, but she lost them to domestic terrorists, and the nefarious group doesn't plan on stopping there. No, she is a loose string. Her life is in jeopardy and it doesn't take long for tentacles of danger to begin touching her. This brings out the protective instincts that are ingrained in Colin.

Strength Under Fire was definitely my favorite book of the series. I loved the previous two books, Silver Creek Fire and Courage Under Fire, but this had a different vibe to it, a more emotional, compelling edge. Dana and Colin needed love and hope and I loved watching their transition in that direction, even with danger looming at every turn.

Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Dana Scott comes to Silver Creek to try and get over a family tragedy. She has purchased run-down Wildflower Ranch.

Colin Gallagher is in Silver Creek to make some money as a ranch hand, and get over issues that took place during his military career.

Two lost souls who need each other, but don't want to fall too quickly.

Silver Creek, a community with some magical weather and people, work with Dana and Colin to get the ranch back on its feet. When danger comes calling, will Dana and Colin be able to keep themselves safe or will they fall victim to its wrath!

A very engrossing novel. Lots of town involvement with Dana and Colin, but that's the way this town rolls. I loved learning about the diverse subjects that Ms. McKenna put in this novel. I made sure I had my laptop next to my tablet to fact check some of the things that were written! I love when a book gives me some knowledge along with my reading time.

Four stars because there seemed to be some redundancies, but the knowledge gained almost made that a moot point...almost!.

A beautiful and intriguing “family style” romance with a touch of danger. After the death of her parents, Dana Scott moves to Silver Creek, Wyoming and buys the Wildflower Ranch. The cabin on the property needs a little work, well a lot of work, but the land is perfect for her organic garden. Meeting Mary Bishop makes a world of difference to Dana’s introduction to Silver Creek. Mary owns Mama’s Store and helps Dana get started at the ranch and arranges for someone to help her on the property. Colin Gallagher, former Army Ranger, has been working for Mary’s son Chase, but working for Dana, on her smaller ranch, will help him deal with his PTSD. Dana soon fits in to the life at Silver Creek and she and Colin slowly admit to the attraction between them. Criminals had been using Wildflower Ranch while it was abandoned and they are waiting for the right time to take back what is theirs. Will Colin be able to protect Dana and end the threat to her and the ranch? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Another great visit to Silver Creek. Dana came to Silver Creek looking for peace after the brutal murders of her parents. The daughter of Oregon farmers, Dana researched growing conditions in communities around the west before choosing to buy Wildflower Ranch. After sinking almost every penny into the purchase, she needs a job to make ends meet until her first crops come in. The story opens as Dana prepares for an interview with Mary Bishop, the local organic market owner and force of nature within the community. One of Mary's projects is to encourage and help newcomers to the valley, and Dana is the latest to benefit. I loved the interview where Mary offered Dana unexpected levels of help, from equipment to a guaranteed market for her produce to the services of a wrangler. One of the things I've loved about this series is the idea of a community working together for the common good.

Colin works for Mary's son Chase on his ranch. A former Army Ranger, Colin has severe PTSD and wants a position where he can avoid being around many people. Chase, former military himself, has done his best to accommodate Colin's needs and happily loans Colin to Dana to help her out.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Colin and Dana develop. They recognize each other as kindred spirits right away. Both of them struggle with their pasts, feeling broken and empty, but discover unexpected energy between them. Living and working together gives them a chance to build a solid friendship and feelings of trust. I liked how they understood each other's occasional need to be alone to cope with memories without feeling left out or ignored. As the weeks go on and they get to know each other better, their friendship begins to deepen to something more. One of my favorite things is their willingness to communicate openly about their feelings, fears, and interest in seeing where it all goes. Both Dana and Colin hold back a little, wary of confessing their love and scaring the other one away.

When Dana stumbles on bags full of money hidden in her broken-down cabin, both she and Colin sense impending danger. Though Colin has attempted to bury his time as a Ranger, his protectiveness flares up, and his Ranger instincts resurface. After turning the money over to law enforcement, news of its connection to her past stuns Dana. The book takes an intense turn when Dana is abducted by those looking for the bags. I loved Dana's ability to keep her head despite her fear. I felt she held her own quite well when faced with the threat of death. Taking her fate into her own hands took some courage and determination.

At the same time, Colin witnessed the abduction from too far away to do anything about it. His fear for Dana sent him racing after her. I loved that he did so in a controlled manner, drawing on his Ranger experience. I was glued to the pages as he kept on her trail while keeping law enforcement in the loop. There were a couple of twists that changed the dynamics and brought danger closer to Colin and Dana. The final confrontation was terrific. I thought Colin showed amazing restraint, but his reasoning made sense for where he is in his life.

I loved the ending as Colin and Dana open up fully about their feelings. While neither is completely clear of their past hurts, both realize that together there is more light than darkness. I loved Colin's big moment and the evidence of how well he understands and loves Dana, and the profound effect she has had on his life and heart.

I always learn something new when I read a Lindsay McKenna book. I liked the emphasis on organic farming and learning a bit about how it's done. I also liked the parts about using herbs as medicines when possible while not disregarding modern medicine when needed.

The book finished with a teaser for the next Silver Creek story, and I can't wait to read it.

Dana Scott came to Silver Creek to start a new life, leaving the memories of her parent's murder behind. Using most of her savings, she bought an old broken ranch with the hopes of bringing it back to life. With the hopes of getting a job and earning the money to get started, she meets with the matriarch of the town, Mary Bishop, Mary offers Dana much more than a job. She offers Dana the chance to farm her land as she planned as her sponsor. Dana leaves the meeting overwhelmed, with the promise of assistance in the form of farm equipment, a place to live while she repairs the old cabin on her new property and a hand to help her get it all up and running.

Former Army ranger Colin Gallagher works for Mary's son Chase on Chase's ranch. He suffers from severe PTSD. As former military himself, Chase understands Colin's struggles, letting him work on projects around the ranch he can handle by himself, knowing it was less stressful for him to work independently. When Chase offers him to chance to work with Dana on her ranch, he jumps at the opportunity. Working the land together brings them peace until a surprising discovery threatens everything they're working toward.

This is an emotional story of two broken souls trying to get through each day. Working the land provides each of them a deep sense of peace, but working it together helps them learn to trust and sets them on a path of healing. At times this story feels a little forced and contrived, but is easily dismissed in the strength of the emotions revealed through the thoughts and dialogue between Dana and Colin. Their struggles to overcome painful memories and their efforts to not to be consumed by them are made clear as their growing relationship and heart to heart talks set them on a path of healing This third installment of the Silver Creek series can be read as a stand alone, and, to me, is the best the series so far.

This was a very easy read with a great story. This about two people trying to make a new start in their life’s while dealing PTSD. They end up caught in the middle of a deal gone bad. They make it out together and decide to get married. It would be good book to read on a cold winter day.

Pretty disappointed in this book. Aside from the first quarter of the book waxing poetically about organic farming and misusing the term vegan the romance fell flat for me. This was definitely a tell me book. The characters flat out tell each other what they are feeling towards each other, that is fine to a point. They tell me everything thing, but what I really like is when I see it, when the author shows me through action how they feel. I didn't get any of that and therefore I didn't get any chemistry from them. What little action and suspense was in the book was good but there wasn't enough of it.

Thank you Netgalley for this copy, as always this review is honestly and voluntarily given.

I liked a lot of the story. Some seemed a bit too good to be true. The conversations were exceptionally involved and in-depth. I keep those feelings to myself so kind of skipped ahead when it occurred later in the book. I also skip intimate details. Not much of that fortunately. The bad guys provided excitement and interest. The dog was a delightful bonus. The book kept me turning the pages to get to the happily ever after. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.