The new novel from the bestselling author of Lone Rider. For some, love is the only medicine . . .After a harrowing tour of duty in Afghanistan, Army nurse Lily Thompson escapes to Wind River Ranch to find herself once more. Working as a caregiver to foreman Jake Murdoch’s elderly mother, Lily almost feels at peace—except for the unsettling presence of Jake, a tight-lipped, intimidating man … unsettling presence of Jake, a tight-lipped, intimidating man everyone calls Bear. But one look in the powerful ex-Marine’s eyes and Lily glimpses a vulnerability that shakes her soul: a hurt she understands all too well—and longs to heal . . .
Jake is ready to rail at the fates when Lily moves into his home. Everything about this captivating woman calls to him, demanding that he abandon his solitary stance and start to live again. But Jake is a man who knows that no one can save him from the past that stalks his heart and mind. Not even sweet, achingly beautiful Lily. Still, that doesn’t stop his longing to pull her into his arms—and keep her there forever. Will time, and patience, bring them the courage to make their connection real? . . .
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Home to Wind River (Kindle Edition) by Lindsay McKenna Another great job Lindsay… I love this series… Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book. Jake Murdock and Lily Thompson are both vets with PTSD. He has been the foreman a WIND RIVER RANCH for three years and needs help to care for his mom her broke her hip. Lindsay has been out for about six months and is looking for work…she an RN but unable to work in a hospital because of her PTSD. Maud who owns the ranch and animal shelter where Lily volunteers thinks she is a perfect fit and she is. This book like all the other help to explain a lot about PTSD. We meet some old friend like Shay and Reese and others… then there is Sage… I cried and laughed and cried some more. I love the strength of both Jake and Lily… the feelings, love, understanding and some good loving all get us to our HEA. Looking forward to WIND RIVER PROTECTOR….
It’s wonderful that this series is about veterans, their very real life problems and the strength that some have in them to survive.
Good story
This is a new author for me. I love the inspiration and faith the author wrote in the book. The two main characters helped each other to heal at the same time falling in love.
Enjoyed immensely!
This book explained PTSD where you understood much more what the characters were feeling and you felt that our nation should do so much more to help our soldiers fight this terrible thing. With thanks to our defenders—good book! glenda
The bond first and then love. Amazing.
This was okay for me. The writing wasn’t bad, but I did feel like the story got repetitive after while. It was just a repeat of the problems Jake and Lily have from their PTSD. Don’t get me wrong, I know that PTSD is a part of these characters lives, but this was supposed to be a romance. There just wasn’t a lot of it. Jake and Lily’s relationship is very much a slow burn, and I get why that needed to happen. When they meet, neither of them is in a place for a relationship. Most of the story felt more like a friendship, not a romantic relationship. I didn’t read any of the previous books in this series, but I didn’t feel like that kept me from reading this one.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Home to Wind River is the 7th book in Lindsay McKenna’s Wind River series, and, while this novel works well as a standalone, to really understand the dynamics of this series, I’d suggest starting at the beginning and reading these novels in the order written, since each of these novels introduces one or more of the couples you’ll meet in this novel, which is one of my favorites thus far, and I give it 4.5 stars.
What you need to know if you’re new to this series is that the Wind River Ranch is staffed almost entirely by, and intended to help heal, former or ex-military personnel, all suffering from PTSD and/or physically or emotionally damaged by their experiences while in the service. Equine therapy is a large part of what goes on there, as is psychological therapy, and PTSD victims helping other PTSD victims in a safe, sane and peaceful environment, a 100,000 acre ranch. If you’re looking for a lot of action, intrigue, and hot sex, you won’t find it here, but what you will find is something Ms. McKenna does so well, a slowly unfolding, soul-deep exploration of her characters, the trauma that brought them to the ranch, and the way in which these characters deal with it, and come together to help heal one another.
The vets in this novel are Jake Murdoch, ex-recon Marine with PTSD, 3-year resident, and current foreman at the ranch. His mother, Jenna, recently fell and broke her femur, and when Jake asks Maud Whitcomb, owner of the ranch, what to do, since their busy season is already underway and he can’t pick up and leave, Maud agrees to have Jenna brought to the ranch and find a qualified nurse to help her recover from her injury. Enter one nurse, Lily Thompson.
Lily experienced the horrors of war all in one traumatic night while in an Afghan village, a night that left her with a severe case of PTSD, its flashbacks and nightmares, all resulting in an honorable medical discharge. Now, she can’t stand the sight of blood, or tolerate loud noises, chaotic scenes or big crowds, making her unable to return to working in a regular hospital environment. Instead, she has been working part-time as a waitress/cook at a local diner, sleeping in a back room there rent-free, and also working part-time at an animal shelter, taking comfort in cooking at the diner, and in caring for these unwanted, injured or abandoned animals.
When Maud contacts Lily and offers her a full-time job during the projected two months that Jenna Murdoch will be recuperating at Wind River Ranch, she jumps at the chance to return to nursing. Since Jenna will be living in the foreman’s house with Jake and his mother, to cook, clean and see to Jenna’s care and rehabilitation, she will be in daily contact with the very closed off, stoic, silent and untouchable Jake. It’s a perfect arrangement for Jenna and Lily,who get along famously, but will emotionally damaged Lily be able to also heal herself, and how will these two PTSD sufferers handle each other’s issues and limitations, as well as their attraction to one another? Will their close association help them heal each other? Add one very pregnant, abandoned, border collie that Lily rescues at the roadside, 7 puppies, a lot of character development, soul searching, serious dialogue, self-realizations and understanding, and I think this novel will be one you’ll remember fondly for years.
My only issue with this novel, and the reason I gave it 4.5 stars rather than 5, is that some of the dialogue and inner reflections of both main characters became somewhat redundant, and for that reason, the pacing of this novel was just a tad too slow. Otherwise, I found it an informative and deeply moving story about what the horrors of war do to those who are serving our country, with wonderful characters and a deep understanding of PTSD and those who have to live with it and heal from it.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
I had great hopes for this book, especially because my heart goes out to anyone who suffers from PTSD or any other mental disease that keeps them from leading a full and rewarding life, most especially our brave and selfless military men and women. Unfortunately, this book read more like a medical journal that just kept repeating and repeating symptoms. While the author wrote all the correct dialogue to support the subject theme of this book, she failed miserably at writing an emotionally compelling book that could even begin to engage my tender and empathetic heart. It’s a nice story but I’ve read this author’s work before and this book was a real disappointment. I read a complimentary copy of this book provided by Kensington Books through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
Rather run of the mill but still good to read especially if you’ve read the other books in the series. Has characters from previous books, which always keeps the book on target for the series.
I have read most of the Wind River series and all are standalone reads, with PTSD being the theme for at least one of the characters. That being said, Lily and Jake’s story was good reading with a continuity of characters making an appearance from previous books. A beautiful story of life and finding love after coming home from combat, it is a warm hearted read that leads to a HEA for Lily and Jake. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for gifting me “Home to Wind River”. My opinion is my own. 4.25 Stars!
Jake Murdoch is foreman and a former Marine recon who has been home for three years and still suffers from PTSD but his employer is wonderful about hiring veterans, most of which suffer from PTSD, and gives them the opportunity to build something lasting so they have time to recover and rebuild their lives.
Lily Thompson is a former Army nurse who lived through a horrible, devastating event during her tour in Afghanistan. She is suffering from nightmares and flashbacks that are debilitating. She lands at Wind River hoping for a fresh start. She has been hired to be the nurse to Jake Murdoch’s mother, Jenna, while she recovers from a broken hip (femur) for two months. She will be living with Jenna and Jake in Jake’s house. The time she spends with Jake and Jenna help to begin to heal her heart and mind. She doesn’t know if she will ever be whole again but she is hoping that Jake can help her while she helps him.
This was a wonderful story about the battle scars that our veterans bring home after their tours of duty in war-torn areas of the world and the difficulties they face in settling back into civilian life. Their fears and nightmares are real and life-changing. Jake is patient and kind and, even though he has a gruff side, he shows his softer side to Lily, as he also begins to heal. The story is well-written and awe-inspiring.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my review.
Home to Wind River is the latest in Lindsay McKenna’s Wind River series but is a standalone story on it’s own.
Lily was a nurse and was stationed in Afghanistan. She loved her job as a nurse and loved caring for the Afghani citizens until a night that would change her life forever. Jake spent much more time overseas and saw the many horrors of war. As Lily and many others, he suffers from PTSD.
Jake is a foreman at a ranch in Wind City. He has about 100 people under him. It’s a good job for him because he is out in the open most of the time. He still has the nightmares and issues from the PTSD but they have become less frequent. When it does happen, they are as vivid and horrifying as ever.
Lily is working part time at a animal rescue but she really needs a full time job as she cannot survive on this job. Because of her PTSD she can’t handle regular nursing which upsets her because of her love of nursing.
Jake and Lily meet when she is asked to come and care for his mother for a couple of months at his home. Jake’s mother Jenna fell and broke her hip. Lily feels optimistic about the job since it is very varied; some nursing, transporting Jenna to appointments, helping her at home and cooking.
Jake a Lily are attracted to one another but don’t act on it as it may be crossing the line. Jake also knows that Lily isn’t ready, that she is still so raw inside from her experiences. Jenna, Jake’s mom, loves Lily and they all get along great.
Will Jake and Lily ever be in the place to have a relationship?
I have read most of the books in this series and enjoyed this one just as much! I loved that Jake let Lily meet the man behind the gruff exterior, the kind and sensitive man. I loved Jake’s need to take care of Lily, to help her get through her episodes and anxiety. He could explain issues she was experiencing because he had gone through them himself. He also let Lily decide if and when they would go further than the attraction, which she needed.
Pregnant Sage and her puppies? You have to read the story to see how rescuing Sage brought together everyone! Adorable and heartwarming.
Wind River is one of those small towns where everyone knows one another and cares about as well. I love how these people take care of one another! I’d live there!!