Fantastic second chance story and incredible suspense. I started reading last night and kept going until I was finished - way too late AGAIN! I simply could not stop reading. We met Harlan and Grace in Montana Sanctuary, and even then, it was obvious there was something between them; there were so many sparks flying. In this book, we discover why Grace is so rude to Harlan and why he takes it without protest.

Harlan and Grace knew each other in high school and had plans to elope after graduation, getting Grace away from her abusive father. Then one day, Harlan was gone without a word, leaving Grace alone, devastated, and angry. Ten years later, Harlan returned to Montana with his SEAL buddies to start the Resting Warrior Ranch and found Grace married to another man. When her husband dies in an accident, Harlan hopes for a second chance.

Grace is struggling to hang on to her ranch. The documents she needs to prove her right to it are missing, and the state is threatening to take the land. Her creepy neighbor pressures her to sell him the ranch and gets belligerent when she refuses. As the deadline draws near, Grace doesn't know what to do.

Harlan can tell something is eating at Grace and won't give up until he finds out what it is. Despite their animosity, when there is a break-in at her house, Harlan is the first one she calls. Harlan's protective instincts are further aroused when he finds out an archaic law may keep Grace from hanging on to her ranch. So, he offers to marry her to give her the time she needs to find her paperwork.

I loved watching the rekindling of the relationship between Harlan and Grace. Harlan never stopped loving her despite how he walked away. Grace spent many years nursing her anger toward Harlan and convincing herself that she hated him. But there was no denying the way he made her feel. I felt like it wasn't too much of a struggle for her to accept his help. It also gave them a chance to put the past to rest. The story of why Harlan left the way he did broke my heart for both of them. It also opened the opportunity to start again, and I loved seeing them get to know each other as adults. They grew closer as they worked together to discover why her neighbor was so determined to gain control of her ranch.

The story's suspense was complex and kept me glued to the pages as I puzzled out the clues along with Harlan and Grace. Her neighbor, Wayne Gleason, appeared to be pulling every dirty trick in the book to force Grace to sell. The harder he pushed, the more curious Grace and Harlan were about what was driving him. As they closed in on the truth, the intensity of the attacks increased. I did not expect what they found, as my mind was leaning in another direction, and I loved the surprise of it. I liked the plans that Harlan and Grace made to trap Wayne, but they didn't realize that there was another player. I wanted to yell at Grace when she decided to go off on her own. My heart beat double-time when it went wrong, and I felt Harlan's fear when he realized what had happened. Wayne's evil was palpable as he carried out his plan, and things looked really bad when he put the second part in motion. I wasn't sure how Harlan and Grace would get out of trouble, but one can never count out his brothers-in-arms. The capper was Harlan catching up to Wayne, which made me very happy. I loved the ending and seeing Grace and Harlan's love stronger than ever.

I loved seeing more of Lucas and Evelyn from Montana Sanctuary and that they are moving forward from the trauma of that book. I especially loved the realism of the lingering effects of what happened. I also liked getting to know a little more about the other Warriors. The bonds of their brotherhood are strong, and I like how they watch out for each other. I can't wait for the next book in the series. ( )

Montana Danger by Josie Jade & Janie Crouch
Resting Warrior Ranch #2

True love never dies…it is like a banked fire that can flare to life if nurtured and fed the right fuel. This story was a perfect read for this cold wet dreary day and will send me to bed with a smile on my face.

What I liked:
* Grace: rancher’s widow, artist, good friend, in a legal bind due to her neighbor, threatened, worried, abandoned by her high school boyfriend (Harlan), still attracted to the man who broke her a decade ago
* Harlan: Ex-SEAL, part of the Resting Warrior Ranch team, good friend, wants to make things right and fix things with Grace, protective, lethal, caring, giving, and a very good person
* The resting warrior men and the way they are there for one another
* The friends of Grace that probably will end up with the men on the ranch
* The location – do want to get to Montana someday
* The way Harlan is there for Grace
* The first solution to Grace’s legal situation that Harlan offers – and the way it eventually turns out
* That the chemistry and caring between Grace and Harlan was never really lost and was easily rekindled when the time was right
* Why the neighbor wanted Grace’s ranch
* The way the bad guy was dealt with
* Knowing that there is a third book in the series to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Wayne Gleason: Grace’s neighbor and a reprehensible and evil man working with another to do grievous harm

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )