Wind River Cowboy

McKenna revisits the beautiful landscape of Wyoming in her sensitive, powerful third Wind River Valley contemporary (after Wind River Rancher). Kira Duval is a decorated veteran grappling with PTSD. She finds a job on a ranch started by fellow veteran Shaylene Lockhart; it’s a working ranch where veterans can hold meaningful jobs and begin to heal. Kira is pleasantly surprised when she learns that Garret Fleming, the only other member of her Special Forces team to survive an ambush in Afghanistan, is also working on the ranch, and they will be sharing a house together. Kira is assigned to cook and clean for Shay’s difficult, alcoholic father, who is recovering from a stroke. When his abusive behavior triggers her PTSD, Garret stays by her side to support her. As Kira and Garret reveal that they have harbored romantic feelings for each other for years, they begin to heal from the wounds of the past and the trauma of survivor guilt. McKenna has carefully interwoven the devastation of trauma with the power of healing love. Agent: Claire Gerus, Claire Gerus Literary. (Apr.)