Smoky Mountains Ranger by Lena Diaz – a Review

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Description:
A dangerous mountain escape

Adam McKenzie’s protective instincts are on overdrive, but Jody Ingram is no helpless victim. She refuses to abandon the injured ranger who saved her life despite the mysterious gunmen hot on her trail. Adam must decide Jody is worth the risk to his life and his heart….

Review:

Smoky Mountains Ranger is the introductory novel in a new series, The Mighty McKenzies, by award-winning author, Lena Diaz. Jody is a young woman caught in a blackmail scheme and Adam is the law enforcement ranger whose intervention saves Jody, but uncovers a much more nefarious plot.

Adam stumbles upon Jody’s meet-and-greet-gone-horribly-wrong and his inadvertent involvement does little to improve the messy situation. Deciding Jody is in way over her head, “Tattoo Guy” has a gun on her, Adam overtakes the explosive situation and both are suddenly on the run from the thug!

In the chase, Tattoo Guy supplements his offense with a bevy of criminals and the secrets start spilling. Hiding, and still outwitting, the gang on their tail, Jody and Adam surmise that Jody’s boss has incriminating evidence against the motley crew and they won’t stop until Jody’s given up the goods.

Lena Diaz’s writing is solid as expected. In under 300 pages, she delivers the complete package. I was gripped by the mountain chase! The detailed scenes leave you in a panic; exhausted as if you’re scrambling alongside our heroes (or just hiding in wait was torturous!). I didn’t have the luxury of passing out from the pain like Adam — his/her stitch job was gruesome and imbedded itself quite graphically onto my brain. ?

I referred to an underlying, devious plot early on, and it’s unconscionable, but I don’t want to plant any seeds on that subplot, so let’s hype up the slow burn love story. Adam is more reticent about acting on their attraction because emotions are running high, people are dying and traumatizing memories are resurfacing, but Jody is a confident woman who isn’t afraid of intimacy. The connection intensifies, bemusedly, when they communicate; they listen without judgment. Oh, there is sexy indulgence, but their support and concern for each other stems from respect. And if that doesn’t depict forever kind of love…this isn’t your story. ?

The Mighty McKenzies is off to a great start. While his role may have been minimal, Adam’s brother, Duncan, a class act, will star in the next book. Since he was categorized as being “married to his job”, I think he’s primed for HEA. Make it so, Ms. Diaz!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied for review