This book was really hard to get through, and I actually only got about one third in before I quit. I can usually get through a poorly crafted book eventually, but this one was just not going to happen.

The premise worked for me. Moody cowboy with a black ops past and PTSD. Valiant but emotionally scarred woman with a traffic past. Bad guys eventually coming. But the ridiculousness of the Shangri-la Wyoming town where everyone helps everyone else both with muscle and money (that gets thrown around like confetti) is just too hard to accept. I like my characters to work hard for what they achieve, but Dana barely lifts a finger and suddenly has a free wrangler, a free motor home, a free Quonset hut, the promise of free bees, etc. I'm sure she has qualities to admire, but the author didn't give her a chance to demonstrate them.

If you don't mind that type of saccharine sweetness, you might enjoy this novel, but for me, it's a hard pass

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

This is my first book by this author and it will be my last. The writing felt like it was done on auto-pilot. I literally felt nothing for the characters or their plight. The town matriarch throws money around like it grows on trees. I found it difficult to believe that a small ranching community in Wyoming was so into organic, non-GMO food. This is something found more in California than a traditionally conservative location.

I enjoyed this book. Even though this library doesn’t purchase paperbacks, I would definitely recommend it to others if it was donated. It’s a story of Dana Scott who has had some terrible things personally happen to her family and Colin Gallagher a military man who is now working as a ranch hand and he suffers with PTSD. Dana bought a farm that she wants to plant organic vegetables and also plant some fruit trees. There is a old cabin on the property that Dana also plans to fix up but keep it as originally built. Dana has help from Mary Bishop and her son Chase Bishop along with other people in the valley in getting her farm up and running. Things started happening and they started finding out about drugs and drug runners in the area. I enjoyed the book and didn’t want to put it down when I really got into it. It’s a book that I would pickup for myself if I stopped to see the new paperbacks and read the description on the book.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
This was a friends to lovers type book. Colin and Dana are thrown together on a project to get Dana’s veggie farm up and running. Both have PTSD issues from past experiences and find common ground right away.
Just when they realize what they have is more than just friendship, a threat from Dana’s past shows up on their door step and kidnaps Dana. Can Colin track the threat to find Dana and will they have their HEA ending?

Dana is looking for a place that she can live her life, do what she loves doing most, and leave the horrors of her past behind. When Colin is sent to her to help her get started, it’s the perfect setup to help him deal with his PTSD. But has that evil followed Dana to her new home?



I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

I really liked this book. I had read the other title in this series, but it had been a while. I like the suspense aspect that was introduced. It wasn't extremely over the top or forced. The two main characters meshed really well with each other and other supporting characters.

I always enjoy visiting Silver Creek - it is definitely a bit of an idyllic paradise - but the people and stories are really wonderful. This book is an emotional one and you can't read it if you aren't comfortable with two grown adults frankly and honestly talking about their emotions.

Both Dana and Colin have experienced significant trauma in their past - and are both suffering from PTSD. They are quiet, capable people who love working the land and are clearly two halves of a whole. Their physical relationship is definitely a slow-burn - but the love between them isn't. They definitely connect emotionally very quickly.

When they discover a white nationalist has hidden money on Dana's property things get very tense - and dangerous for both Dana and Colin. They both have to face their own traumatic pasts and figure out how to deal with everything that comes up.

One of the things I liked most about this book is the lack of drama between Colin and Dana in regards to their relationship. Their was definitely the potential for things to blow up between them - but they doubled down on communication and that didn't happen.

Overall - I really enjoyed this one - look forward to reading more!

Trigger warnings - <spoiler> parental loss, PTSD by the truckload, violent crime </spoiler>.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these o

This story centers around Dana Scott and Colin Gallagher.
After the death of her parents, Dana buys a ranch very much in need of work. Work she hopes with heal her. But she can’t accomplish her dream by herself and realizes she needs help.
That help comes in the form of Colin Gallagher. A former Army Ranger whose years in the military have left him a shell of his old self.
As these two work together, each starts healing mentally, spiritually and physically. But their world is shattered when domestic terrorist show up.
Though I feel the story didn’t develop to it’s potential, it was still ok enough for an afternoon of leisure.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Zebra Books. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I received Strength Under Fire as part of a Net

Dana Scott arrives in Silver Creek after leaving a dark past behind her. She purchases a derelict ranch, intending to renovate it and start anew. She is touched by the generosity of the town's citizens, including Colin Gallagher, a wrangler who assists her in tending the property. Their proximity breeds a mutual attraction, but danger is afoot on Dana's land, a danger they must face if their relationship is going to move forward.

Hoo boy. This was...not for me. The characters and community were idealized to the point of parody, the holier-than-thou, inaccurate moralizing about organic foods, the purple prose, the cartoonish villains, the apparent lack of clarity on what a vegan is (hint: they don't eat butter), a :"finale" action scene that took up fully a quarter of the book. I always appreciate the time it comes in to craft a novel, but there was really nothing redeeming here.