Series:
Resting Warrior Ranch (Book 5)
Kill first, ask questions later.
It's the instinct former-SEAL Jude Williams must fight
every time someone touches him. His six months being tortured in an enemy
prison camp may be long over, but he's got scars -- all over his body and mind
-- keeping that time at the forefront of his psyche.
So how could he even consider giving in to the desire he
has for the town's coffeehouse owner?
Lena Mitchell has big gray eyes and a bigger smile --
she's full of life, right down to her purple and teal streaked hair.
There are so many reasons Jude should stay away from her.
So many ways he's bad for her. But when danger shows up on Lena's door, keeping
his distance is no longer an option.
He'll protect her from any threat.
But who will protect her from him?
Whew! Another RWR book sucked me in from the first page
and didn't let go until I turned the last page. At least this time, I started
the book early enough in the day that I finished it before midnight! Jude and
Lena have been dancing around each other since the guys started the ranch.
Everyone from the ranch to the town can see that they have it bad for each
other.
Like the other men of the RWR, Jude has PTSD. He spent
six months in an enemy prison camp being tortured and hearing his friends being
tortured. One was rescued early, and the other was rescued after Jude. He feels
terrible guilt over the latter's extended torture and later suicide. Jude has
daily nightmares that leave him screaming and fighting ghosts, to the detriment
of his bedding and walls. The violence of his dreams keeps him from pursuing
Lena because he fears hurting her. That doesn't stop him from wanting what he
won't allow himself to have.
Lena is the proud owner of the town's coffee shop, Deja
Brew. She bakes all the goodies she serves herself and provides custom orders. Lena
is cheerful and friendly to everyone, but Jude holds a special place in her
heart. She wants him and is pretty sure he wants her too, but she doesn't know
what is holding him back. In the first book of the series,
Montana Sanctuary,
she was kidnapped along with her friend Evelyn and has had nightmares about her
experience ever since. Lena is the kind of person who makes other people feel
better and hesitates to share her problems. She always thinks others have it
worse, so she buries her feelings. Then her car breaks down near the kidnapping
spot, and she has a panic attack. The first person she thinks of to call is
Jude, and he comes running. But when she takes her courage in hand and kisses
him, he shuts down and leaves. Leah is devastated by his rejection.
I loved watching the relationship between Leah and Jude
finally take off. Jude has been so afraid of hurting Leah that he is miserable.
His friends have tried to help, but he's caught up in his fears. I loved how
Daniel gave him a metaphorical kick in the pants, giving Jude a different perspective.
When he witnesses a special moment between a friend and his lady, Jude finally
realizes he can no longer fight his feelings. I loved seeing him take a chance
and go to Lena. As he explained his actions and what was behind them, the
rawness of emotion was heartbreaking. I loved Lena's reaction and immediate
support and understanding.
Once Jude decided to take a chance, he was all in. After
three years of friendship and flirtation, the ease of their connection was
fantastic. I loved how perceptive Jude was when it came to Lena and how he
could always tell when something bothered her. Communication was a vital part
of their relationship, and I loved how open and honest they were with each
other.
I ached for Lena when she started having problems at her
business. For someone who cares so much about the people around her, having her
baked goods suddenly go wrong was devastating for her. The first incident with
the cookies could be chalked up to an accident, but the episode with the pies
said something else was going on. The answer was not what I expected, and I
felt Jude's fear for Lena when he figured it out. The situation with Lena at
the bakery was terrifying, and I was on the edge of my seat until she was safe.
The final confrontation was fantastic. The epilogue was a great wrap-up for
this book, and I loved seeing the changes in Lena and Jude.
I love the close friendships among the men of the RWR.
Because of their shared experiences, they know when to get involved and when to
back off. There is some hilarious teasing back and forth, especially when Jude
and Lena finally get together. The women's friendships are also tight. Lena and
Evelyn are especially close due to their shared trauma. It's fun to see the
ladies get together and share the joys of their relationships but also get
support when things don't go so well. I can't wait to read Daniel's and Liam's
stories.
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