Montana Storm by Josie Jade & Janie Crouch
Resting Warrior Ranch #5

Slow burn to the extreme as it has taken several books for Jude and Lena to finally come together…but it was well worth the wait!

What I liked:
* Jude: stoic, strong, quiet, caring, big, dominant, has nightmares and PTSD, afraid of hurting those he loves, and he loves Lena
* Lena: baker, bubbly, outgoing, seeks approval of others, pleaser, image is important, has PTSD from kidnapping, loves Jude
* That the time is finally right for the two to explore their relationship
* That Jude finally talked to someone that helped him see things more clearly
* The way the two managed to communicate once they opened the door to the possibilities
* Getting to see how the characters in the series are doing
* The suspense-mystery portion of the book and finding out who was creating the problems
* That the two were well suited to one another
* That the team is always there for one another
* The positive ending

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Knowing that war is evil and leaves scars…as do other traumatic experiences

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

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

4-5 Stars ( )

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. ( )