Lone Rider: A Wind River Valley Novel

In McKenna’s winning fifth Wind River Valley contemporary romance, two wounded veterans find solace in each other. Tara Dalton returns home to Wind River, Wyo., after her tour as a combat photographer in the Marines. Battered by severe PTSD, Tara is thrilled to find work as a wrangler at the nearby Bar C. Her high school friend Shaylene Crawford runs the ranch with the assistance of military vets. At the Bar C, Tara meets Harper Sutton, a former combat medic. The physical attraction between Harper and Tara is instantaneous, but the real allure of their relationship lies in the friendship they develop together and the selflessness they show each other. As they move together from friendship to tentative romance, Tara and Harper build their relationship on shared experiences, facing the challenges of their PTSD together. The believable and real romance between Tara and Harper is enhanced by the addition of highly dimensional supporting characters, and a minor mystery subplot increases the tension by a notch. This is a fine addition to a strong series. (Apr.)