Montana Storm  (Resting Warrior Ranch 4) by Josie Jade & Janie Crouch-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 18, 2022

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?

•••••••

REVIEW: MONTANA STORM is the fifth instalment in the contemporary, adult RESTING WARRIOR RANCH erotic, romantic suspense series co-authored by Josie Jade and Janie Crouch- a spin off from Janie Crouch’s Zodiac Tactical series. This is former US Navy SEAL Jude Williams, and bakery owner Lena Mitchell’s story line. MONTANA STORM can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Some of the events of MONTANA STORM cross over with, and run parallel to some of the events in book four MONTANA MYSTERY.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lena and Jude) MONTANA STORM follows the building romance and relationship between former US Navy SEAL Jude Williams, and bakery owner Lena Mitchell. Five year earlier, while on deployment with the US Navy, Jude Williams, along with fellow SEALS Noah and Isaac, were captured and tortured but not all would survive. Fast forward two years, Jude Williams and Lucas Everett (Montana Sanctuary) would rescue bakery owner Lena Mitchell and Evie Taylor in the aftermath of an attack by Evie’s ex. Three more years dancing around one another would result in Lena’s humiliation when Jude apparently rejects our heroine’s attempts at seduction, a rejection that finds Jude struggling with what happened and why but all is not well in both of their lives as Jude continues to battle the demons from his past, and Lena becomes the target of madness and vengeance. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jude and Lena, and the potential fall-out as Jude’s past takes aim at our story line heroine.

Lena Mitchell’s coffee shop and bakery, Deja Brew, is a great success and with the approach of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the orders are fast and furious but when a new bakery sets up shop, everything that could go wrong for Lena threatens her business and her future in Montana. Jude Williams suffers with PTSD, violent nightmares from his time held captive, and the result finds Jude struggling to move forward in his personal life but threats against Lena push Jude to take a stand, a stand that will reveal a possible connection to the events of the past.

The relationship between Lena and Jude begins as a rescue but slowly turns into something more. For three years, Lena and Jude have danced around their attraction to one another but both struggle in the wake of nightmares and memories, none more so than our story line hero. Talking to his friends and former Navy SEALs, Jude quickly realizes he is not the only one to battle the demons that control his life but taking control means taking the steps to accept what happened and why. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. There are some scenes of light bondage.

The secondary and supporting characters include former US Navy SEALS: Lucas & Evelyn (Montana Ranch 1), Harlan and Grace (Montana Danger 2),Grant and Cori (Montana Desire 3), Noah and Kate (Montana Mystery 4) , Daniel, and Liam, as well as the introduction of auto mechanic Benjamin Phipps, and café owner Allison DeVries.

MONTANA STORM is a story of perceived betrayal and revenge, power and control, family, friendships, relationships and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is passionate and seductive; ;the characters are charismatic and energetic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Montana Sanctuary
Montana Danger
Montana Desire
Montana Mystery

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy