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Jackson Hole #9
Wolf Haven
She's caught in her past until he showed her a future…
Some things can never be forgotten. A helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Capture. Torture. Now U.S. Navy nurse Skylar Pascal is struggling to regain control of her life after a trauma that nearly destroyed her. After losing so much, an ideal job at the Elk Horn Ranch in Wyoming offers Sky something she thought she'd never find again…hope.
Former SEAL Grayson McCoy has his own demons. But something about Elk Horn's lovely-yet-damaged new nurse breaks something loose. Compassion—and passion. And even as Gray works with Sky to piece her confidence back together, something deeper and more tender begins to unfurl between them. Something that could bring her back to life.
But not even the haven of Elk Horn Ranch is safe from dangers. And all of Sky's healing could be undone by the acts of one malicious man…
Some things can never be forgotten. A helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Capture. Torture. Now U.S. Navy nurse Skylar Pascal is struggling to regain control of her life after a trauma that nearly destroyed her. After losing so much, an ideal job at the Elk Horn Ranch in Wyoming offers Sky something she thought she'd never find again…hope.
Former SEAL Grayson McCoy has his own demons. But something about Elk Horn's lovely-yet-damaged new nurse breaks something loose. Compassion—and passion. And even as Gray works with Sky to piece her confidence back together, something deeper and more tender begins to unfurl between them. Something that could bring her back to life.
But not even the haven of Elk Horn Ranch is safe from dangers. And all of Sky's healing could be undone by the acts of one malicious man…
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 25, 2014
153 people are currently reading
1078 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay McKenna
360 books2,504 followersI've lived six lives in one and it all shows up in the books I write, one way or another.
I was always a risk taker and broke mustangs at thirteen years old in Oregon. I learn to break them with love, not threat or pain.
At 17 years old, I picked night-crawlers (worms) out in our Oregon orchards from 9pm to midnight, every night. I earned enough money to buy my school clothes and book. I also plunked down $600 to a flight company at the Medford, Oregon airport and asked them to teach me...a girl...to fly. I soloed in 12 hours, which is average. From that time until I left for the US Navy at 18, I had accrued 39 hours of flight time in my Cessna 150 single engine airplane.
I was in the US military and was an AG3 (weather forecaster). There was no airplane club, so I couldn't fly when I was in the Navy. But I could look at the clouds in the sky ;-).
Later, I flew in a B-52 bomber for a day and night mission (18 hours total), a T-38 Talon jet, USAF, where I was riding in a "chase plane" on a test flight in a Dragonfly jet.
I was one of the first AFLA (American Fencing League of America) women fencers to fence with epee and sabre. These weapons were closed to women because they were too 'heavy' for a female to handle. I said baloney and fought the males and won half my bouts. I was part of a surge of women fencers on the East Coast in the 1970's to push for equality in the sport. Together, we changed the sport and changed the mind of the men. Today? In the Olympics? Women now fence in foil, epee and sabre, thanks to what we did as a vanguard showing the world it could be done.
I then became a volunteer firefighter when I was a civilian once more, the first woman in an all - male fire department in West Point, Ohio for three years. I became a local expert not only in firefighting, driving the engine and tanker trunks, but also had training in hazardous material (Reynoldsburg Fire Academy, Columbus, OH).
My books always reflect what I experienced. If you like edgy, gritty, deeply and emotionally intense love stories with sympathetic heroes and heroines, check out my newest series that will be available mid-Oct. 2015, and it incorporates much of what I have lived.
I was always a risk taker and broke mustangs at thirteen years old in Oregon. I learn to break them with love, not threat or pain.
At 17 years old, I picked night-crawlers (worms) out in our Oregon orchards from 9pm to midnight, every night. I earned enough money to buy my school clothes and book. I also plunked down $600 to a flight company at the Medford, Oregon airport and asked them to teach me...a girl...to fly. I soloed in 12 hours, which is average. From that time until I left for the US Navy at 18, I had accrued 39 hours of flight time in my Cessna 150 single engine airplane.
I was in the US military and was an AG3 (weather forecaster). There was no airplane club, so I couldn't fly when I was in the Navy. But I could look at the clouds in the sky ;-).
Later, I flew in a B-52 bomber for a day and night mission (18 hours total), a T-38 Talon jet, USAF, where I was riding in a "chase plane" on a test flight in a Dragonfly jet.
I was one of the first AFLA (American Fencing League of America) women fencers to fence with epee and sabre. These weapons were closed to women because they were too 'heavy' for a female to handle. I said baloney and fought the males and won half my bouts. I was part of a surge of women fencers on the East Coast in the 1970's to push for equality in the sport. Together, we changed the sport and changed the mind of the men. Today? In the Olympics? Women now fence in foil, epee and sabre, thanks to what we did as a vanguard showing the world it could be done.
I then became a volunteer firefighter when I was a civilian once more, the first woman in an all - male fire department in West Point, Ohio for three years. I became a local expert not only in firefighting, driving the engine and tanker trunks, but also had training in hazardous material (Reynoldsburg Fire Academy, Columbus, OH).
My books always reflect what I experienced. If you like edgy, gritty, deeply and emotionally intense love stories with sympathetic heroes and heroines, check out my newest series that will be available mid-Oct. 2015, and it incorporates much of what I have lived.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 3, 2017
Save yourself the time and energy and skip this one. The only riveting thing about this is the blurb. The unbelievably fluffy writing with bad grammar, the thin plot, and underdeveloped wooden characters made this book a real chore to finish.
A Navy RN nurse not being able to figure out she's pregnant for weeks was a little bit WTF really? But her reaction to the news and reasoning for not adding it up was the extra cherry on top:
"Now that I understand why I was getting so tired, my breasts enlarging, feeling even more exhausted than usual, I can relax. I thought I was getting some kind of a disease or something."
And no, unfortunately she's not joking. As for the hero Gray, he can tell at first glance from across the street that the heroine is half Native American and was in the Navy and suffers from some kind of trauma. If that wasn't enough super SEAL powers, he manages to figure out a few hours later exactly what kind of torture she endured by merely looking at her scarred wrists. -_- Come on. There was no sense of suspense or realism in this book. Everything is just given away and we are told what the characters feel, how they are healing with their PTSD and how the hero 'sexually' awakens the heroine. The number of times that word is used in here scared me a little given the context it was used in. How in the hell can someone feel sexual? O_o Lost me. Some really weird word choices going on in here. And I'm not even touching the ridiculous 'villain' of this story that shows up and disappears in a blink and conveniently looks just like the Taliban man who tortured Sky. RME.
The author also had this really bad habit of repeating the characters names through 90% of the dialogue. Was she worried that we would forget names? We know who is talking to who there was no need for these verbal cues.
I mean...
"I'm not sorry, Sky, about what happened between us last night. Not one bit."
"I'm not sorry, either, Gray, but I don't know about today or tomorrow."
"Sky, I'm not going to pressure you. I can see you're worried about it."
"I'm sorry, Gray, but this is new to me. I don't know the rules."
"We both agree to make up the rules as we go, Sky."
"Yes. Thank you, Gray. I needed to hear that."
"Everything's in your court, Sky."
MAKE IT STOP. Have I entered planet of the robots? "Why are you sad Sky? Are you happy Sky? Tell me what's wrong Sky?" Sky sky SKY! Dear Lindsay McKenna, nobody talks this way in a conversation. PS: Your author bio pic with the owl is super rad.
I got nothing else.
A Navy RN nurse not being able to figure out she's pregnant for weeks was a little bit WTF really? But her reaction to the news and reasoning for not adding it up was the extra cherry on top:
"Now that I understand why I was getting so tired, my breasts enlarging, feeling even more exhausted than usual, I can relax. I thought I was getting some kind of a disease or something."
And no, unfortunately she's not joking. As for the hero Gray, he can tell at first glance from across the street that the heroine is half Native American and was in the Navy and suffers from some kind of trauma. If that wasn't enough super SEAL powers, he manages to figure out a few hours later exactly what kind of torture she endured by merely looking at her scarred wrists. -_- Come on. There was no sense of suspense or realism in this book. Everything is just given away and we are told what the characters feel, how they are healing with their PTSD and how the hero 'sexually' awakens the heroine. The number of times that word is used in here scared me a little given the context it was used in. How in the hell can someone feel sexual? O_o Lost me. Some really weird word choices going on in here. And I'm not even touching the ridiculous 'villain' of this story that shows up and disappears in a blink and conveniently looks just like the Taliban man who tortured Sky. RME.
The author also had this really bad habit of repeating the characters names through 90% of the dialogue. Was she worried that we would forget names? We know who is talking to who there was no need for these verbal cues.
I mean...
"I'm not sorry, Sky, about what happened between us last night. Not one bit."
"I'm not sorry, either, Gray, but I don't know about today or tomorrow."
"Sky, I'm not going to pressure you. I can see you're worried about it."
"I'm sorry, Gray, but this is new to me. I don't know the rules."
"We both agree to make up the rules as we go, Sky."
"Yes. Thank you, Gray. I needed to hear that."
"Everything's in your court, Sky."
MAKE IT STOP. Have I entered planet of the robots? "Why are you sad Sky? Are you happy Sky? Tell me what's wrong Sky?" Sky sky SKY! Dear Lindsay McKenna, nobody talks this way in a conversation. PS: Your author bio pic with the owl is super rad.
I got nothing else.
February 3, 2015
Initial Thoughts: About 3.5 stars. An enjoyable read about two people suffering from PTSD. Loved the wolf pups.
The Review:
When it comes to military romance, Lindsay McKenna excels at portraying the men and women of the armed services with dignity and respect. She can write about characters in war torn countries and of returning heroes dealing with adjusting to civilian life.
In Wolf Haven, nurse Sky Pascal has taken a new position as a nurse at a ranch in Wyoming. Sky has returned from a rotation in Afghanistan where she suffered a terrible ordeal at the hands of the Taliban. She was tortured and has had terrible nightmares and she suffers from severe PTSD.
Grayson McCoy, an ex-Navy SEAL runs the wildlife center at the ranch. He too, suffers from PTSD and understands what Sky is going through. While Gray has never been serious about women, he feels an attraction to Sky and feels the need to protect her.
While parts of the romance were a little predictable, it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. I enjoyed watching Sky and Gray get to know each other. I loved how Sky worked with visiting children on the ranch and of course, the wolf pups were cute. The story was a little angsty, but considering what the main characters went through, it was never over the top. Wolf Haven was a nice love story and a perfect distraction from real life. I'm looking forward to picking up more books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for a review copy of this book.
The Review:
When it comes to military romance, Lindsay McKenna excels at portraying the men and women of the armed services with dignity and respect. She can write about characters in war torn countries and of returning heroes dealing with adjusting to civilian life.
In Wolf Haven, nurse Sky Pascal has taken a new position as a nurse at a ranch in Wyoming. Sky has returned from a rotation in Afghanistan where she suffered a terrible ordeal at the hands of the Taliban. She was tortured and has had terrible nightmares and she suffers from severe PTSD.
Grayson McCoy, an ex-Navy SEAL runs the wildlife center at the ranch. He too, suffers from PTSD and understands what Sky is going through. While Gray has never been serious about women, he feels an attraction to Sky and feels the need to protect her.
While parts of the romance were a little predictable, it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. I enjoyed watching Sky and Gray get to know each other. I loved how Sky worked with visiting children on the ranch and of course, the wolf pups were cute. The story was a little angsty, but considering what the main characters went through, it was never over the top. Wolf Haven was a nice love story and a perfect distraction from real life. I'm looking forward to picking up more books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for a review copy of this book.
December 17, 2014
Received an ARC for review
I've said it before and I'll probably say it again. I am so VERY thankful for all of our servicemen and women. I couldn't do what they do and am very grateful for those who can.
That said, I've read Ms. McKenna before and enjoyed it, so I requested this one. I didn't realize it was part of a series. I was in no way lost because previous couples just pop in and out and there's no discussion of anything that happened in past books. Gray was just yummy. A hot former SEAL who loves wolves and horses, how much better can you get. Plus he was perfect for Sky. Don't pick this one up thinking you'll fly thru reading it. It has so much in it that you want to slow down and enjoy it.
I've said it before and I'll probably say it again. I am so VERY thankful for all of our servicemen and women. I couldn't do what they do and am very grateful for those who can.
That said, I've read Ms. McKenna before and enjoyed it, so I requested this one. I didn't realize it was part of a series. I was in no way lost because previous couples just pop in and out and there's no discussion of anything that happened in past books. Gray was just yummy. A hot former SEAL who loves wolves and horses, how much better can you get. Plus he was perfect for Sky. Don't pick this one up thinking you'll fly thru reading it. It has so much in it that you want to slow down and enjoy it.
April 14, 2015
Skylar Pascal has been through a lot. A helicopter crash then captured and tortured by terrorists, well it is no wonder that she suffers from PTSD. Now that she is back in the States she is trying her best to get her life in order.
Grayson McCoy has also dealt with his fair share of things. This former Navy SEAL also suffers from PTSD and he longs to help Skylar in her quest to heal. As the two of the work together they also find themselves developing deep feelings for each other…
Wolf Haven is the ninth book in the Jackson Hole series (which is a series spins off from the Morgan's Mercenaries saga). While it is not my favorite book in the series (I have only read four of them so far) it is still a nice story. I am happy to say that this book can totally be read as standalone or even out of order.
Grayson McCoy has also dealt with his fair share of things. This former Navy SEAL also suffers from PTSD and he longs to help Skylar in her quest to heal. As the two of the work together they also find themselves developing deep feelings for each other…
Wolf Haven is the ninth book in the Jackson Hole series (which is a series spins off from the Morgan's Mercenaries saga). While it is not my favorite book in the series (I have only read four of them so far) it is still a nice story. I am happy to say that this book can totally be read as standalone or even out of order.
November 24, 2014
In Wolf Haven (Jackson Hole #9) by Lindsay McKenna, Skylar "Sky" is a former ER and Navy RN. While she was in Afghanistan, a mission went tragically wrong and the results were horrific. Suffering from severe PTSD and now back in civilian life, Sky finds she can no longer do the job she once did. It is a struggle for her to move on from what happened, and a struggle to get through each day. Unable to find and keep a job, unable to continue living with her parents, Sky has no idea what comes next. When she gets a job at Elk Horn Ranch, Sky starts to feel just a little bit lighter and have some hope for the future.
Former SEAL Gray also works at Elk Horn Ranch, helping guests and working the wild life haven side of the ranch. As soon as Gray first sees Sky, he feels an instant connection to her. Gray knows all about PTSD, and as he gets to know Sky better both personally and professionally, the connection and the attraction between them grows. Both of them want more ... but neither will push it. Gray patiently is there for Sky, making her realize she doesn't have to do it all alone, it's ok to lean on someone. With Gray by her side and a sense of peace at Elk Horn Ranch, Sky slowly begins to heal and feel like her former self again.
Both of them have issues in their lives they are dealing with, but together life seems brighter. Together can they get through the rough patches of life and the sudden danger in Jackson Hole, finding a future with each other?
In Wolf Haven, Lindsay took me on an emotionally charged journey. Lindsay writes with great flow and seamless transition from scene to scene, blending it all together perfectly. Sky has a lot on her plate, from her PTSD, her new relationship with Gray, and her family dynamics. She is a courageous, strong heroine, even if she does still feel scared and anxious. I didn't feel like her character had to grow, because she is not a weak character. Sky needed to heal and the healing she needed to experience and the way Lindsay brought it to life was powerful and very believable. I really liked Gray, what he stood for and how he was with Sky. He has his own past he's dealing with, and being with Sky helps him cope with that when he never thought he'd be able to. I really liked the maturity of both of these characters, and how they desire each other so strongly but don't rush into anything. They also don't put a huge emphasis on the fact that they work together, they just make things work.
Wolf Haven is about so much more than a relationship between two people. Lindsay explores PTSD indepthly, and she does not sugar coat anything. There is a strong sense of realism in Lindsay's writing, and the raw emotions of the characters will at times make you want to cry for them. Lindsay obviously knows what she's writing about...she shows us what war does, that when a soldier leaves war it's not left on the battlefield, but part of that comes home. She also gives the reader a strong understanding of PTSD, how and who it affects...it is not a solitary disorder.
I liked the animals in Wolf Haven, and the sense of peace and love that animals bring to people, how therapeutic they can be. There are quite a few secondary characters in Wolf Haven, and they all have their roles and work well with the plot line. Lindsay's descriptions of the people and the place really bring it to life, and I could particularly picture Iris very well! Wolf Haven is part of Lindsay's Jackson Hole series, but can definitely be read as a stand alone.
Well paced with a great writing style that is easy to fall into, Lindsay gives us strong, memorable characters and situations in Wolf Haven. I'd recommend Wolf Have to any romance reader looking for a romance with strong military and western tones that will make you care and feel for and with the characters.
I was given a free copy of Wolf Haven for an honest review. Lindsay has a website with all her news and a newsletter you can sign up for at http://www.lindsaymckenna.com/
Former SEAL Gray also works at Elk Horn Ranch, helping guests and working the wild life haven side of the ranch. As soon as Gray first sees Sky, he feels an instant connection to her. Gray knows all about PTSD, and as he gets to know Sky better both personally and professionally, the connection and the attraction between them grows. Both of them want more ... but neither will push it. Gray patiently is there for Sky, making her realize she doesn't have to do it all alone, it's ok to lean on someone. With Gray by her side and a sense of peace at Elk Horn Ranch, Sky slowly begins to heal and feel like her former self again.
Both of them have issues in their lives they are dealing with, but together life seems brighter. Together can they get through the rough patches of life and the sudden danger in Jackson Hole, finding a future with each other?
In Wolf Haven, Lindsay took me on an emotionally charged journey. Lindsay writes with great flow and seamless transition from scene to scene, blending it all together perfectly. Sky has a lot on her plate, from her PTSD, her new relationship with Gray, and her family dynamics. She is a courageous, strong heroine, even if she does still feel scared and anxious. I didn't feel like her character had to grow, because she is not a weak character. Sky needed to heal and the healing she needed to experience and the way Lindsay brought it to life was powerful and very believable. I really liked Gray, what he stood for and how he was with Sky. He has his own past he's dealing with, and being with Sky helps him cope with that when he never thought he'd be able to. I really liked the maturity of both of these characters, and how they desire each other so strongly but don't rush into anything. They also don't put a huge emphasis on the fact that they work together, they just make things work.
Wolf Haven is about so much more than a relationship between two people. Lindsay explores PTSD indepthly, and she does not sugar coat anything. There is a strong sense of realism in Lindsay's writing, and the raw emotions of the characters will at times make you want to cry for them. Lindsay obviously knows what she's writing about...she shows us what war does, that when a soldier leaves war it's not left on the battlefield, but part of that comes home. She also gives the reader a strong understanding of PTSD, how and who it affects...it is not a solitary disorder.
I liked the animals in Wolf Haven, and the sense of peace and love that animals bring to people, how therapeutic they can be. There are quite a few secondary characters in Wolf Haven, and they all have their roles and work well with the plot line. Lindsay's descriptions of the people and the place really bring it to life, and I could particularly picture Iris very well! Wolf Haven is part of Lindsay's Jackson Hole series, but can definitely be read as a stand alone.
Well paced with a great writing style that is easy to fall into, Lindsay gives us strong, memorable characters and situations in Wolf Haven. I'd recommend Wolf Have to any romance reader looking for a romance with strong military and western tones that will make you care and feel for and with the characters.
I was given a free copy of Wolf Haven for an honest review. Lindsay has a website with all her news and a newsletter you can sign up for at http://www.lindsaymckenna.com/
November 21, 2014
Lindsay McKenna writes some astounding stories of awe-inspiring courage and love. I’ve read so many of her books, and each book is a testimony of her talent in creating characters with layers of depth, stories that bring you happiness and sadness, and circumstances that take you on a journey of selfless heroism and valor.
Navy ER nurse Skylar Pascal comes back home alive, surviving capture and torture in Afghanistan. No amount of therapy can erase the pain and torment of she had gone through in the war ravaged country. As she tries to find a footing in the midst of normal life, PTSD does not make it easy for her to keep at jobs. Her search for sanity and survival brings her to Elk Horn Ranch, Wyoming and she gets her first stable job at the ranch taking care of the young guests and running the dispensary.
Ex-Navy Seal Grayson McCoy is the pioneer in helping create a safe haven for wild life on Elk Ranch and Skylar brings out all his protective instincts. Having experienced insurmountable suffering and PTSD, he can really understand Skylar’s plight and is only a step away from lending a helping hand.
As Gray and Skylar work together, flickers of awareness ignite between them. As Skylar gains her confidence back, Gray stokes the flickers into embers of passion. As Skylar heals mentally and physically, Gray finds his center with Skylar. Skylar blossoms in Gray’s protection and the Elk Horn Ranch heals her with its open skies and warmth of the wilderness. Yet sometimes the wilderness and a safe haven can be threatened from the inside….
Wolf Haven is another remarkable story of two war veterans, coming back home wounded, and trying to find a place in the norm of life. McKenna does an outstanding job of etching Gray and Skylar, their recuperation and wellness, their support and empathy for each other and the humbleness of nature gives them a safe haven to heal with each, for each other. McKenna pays much need attention to the minutest of details of the healing process…..truly a wonderful story in its simplicity of love and complexity of emotions.
Received an ARC from Harlequin via Netgalley for a honest review.
Navy ER nurse Skylar Pascal comes back home alive, surviving capture and torture in Afghanistan. No amount of therapy can erase the pain and torment of she had gone through in the war ravaged country. As she tries to find a footing in the midst of normal life, PTSD does not make it easy for her to keep at jobs. Her search for sanity and survival brings her to Elk Horn Ranch, Wyoming and she gets her first stable job at the ranch taking care of the young guests and running the dispensary.
Ex-Navy Seal Grayson McCoy is the pioneer in helping create a safe haven for wild life on Elk Ranch and Skylar brings out all his protective instincts. Having experienced insurmountable suffering and PTSD, he can really understand Skylar’s plight and is only a step away from lending a helping hand.
As Gray and Skylar work together, flickers of awareness ignite between them. As Skylar gains her confidence back, Gray stokes the flickers into embers of passion. As Skylar heals mentally and physically, Gray finds his center with Skylar. Skylar blossoms in Gray’s protection and the Elk Horn Ranch heals her with its open skies and warmth of the wilderness. Yet sometimes the wilderness and a safe haven can be threatened from the inside….
Wolf Haven is another remarkable story of two war veterans, coming back home wounded, and trying to find a place in the norm of life. McKenna does an outstanding job of etching Gray and Skylar, their recuperation and wellness, their support and empathy for each other and the humbleness of nature gives them a safe haven to heal with each, for each other. McKenna pays much need attention to the minutest of details of the healing process…..truly a wonderful story in its simplicity of love and complexity of emotions.
Received an ARC from Harlequin via Netgalley for a honest review.
November 20, 2014
WOLF HAVEN, HQN, 11.25.2014 review by Cynthia Reifel
I have read many Lindsay McKenna books and I yet to find one I didn't like. Wolf Haven is no exception.
This book is about Sky Pascal, an RN with the U.S. Navy and, Grayson McCoy, a former SEAL.
These two are both vets who have PTSD. Sky has also been tortured before being rescued from her torturers in Afghanistan.
They meet at a ranch used for families to visit and explore and also used for rescued wild wolves. The owner of the ranch knows they both have PTSD and believes they are meant for one another.
When Sky first starts working at the ranch with Gray, she is broken, having constant nightmares and chronic anxiety. Grey immediately understands what she is going through and sets about doing everything he can to help her. They find and raise three baby wolves whose mother and 3 siblings were killed by a bear and that helps start the healing process with Sky. Then, helping care for children of some of the families that come to the ranch, specifically a boy with autism, helps even more.
What continues to amaze me about Ms McKenna is her depth of knowledge and understanding about PTSD and how people have to deal with this syndrome EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! Not just the people who have it but, EVERYONE around them. Reading about the steps taken to help Sky to deal with and live with her PTSD is fascinating. I especially loved the interaction with her and her retired Marine father and how their relationship evolves.
It's a pity that everyone who has PTSD or who has family or friends with PTSD is not made to read this book! They would learn so much.
One more thing = water boarding = Had heard about it many times, never thought about it because it was the Taliban being water boarded so, who cared, right? I was absolutely APPALLED when I found out what it actually entails. Lindsay, you never cease to amaze me.
February 26, 2016
I learned a lot about how it feels to have PTSD from the perspective of the heroine - the physical manifestations are quite difficult. However, I am not a fan of this type of writing. I don't like to be told about the story vs. letting the characters live or talk it out. So, three stars because it was educational.
January 16, 2019
I want so badly to give this book a higher rating. The truth is I love the Hero, I love the sappy romance and the sweet wolf pups. I will likely reread this at some point. Still, I can't deny that this book is plain bad writing.
Plot holes. They exist, and they are numerous.
Continuity errors. Those, too, are numerous.
Ill-planned suspense plot. There was no reason for it, it did not fit the book, and it was so poorly detailed and carried out that the book suffered for it.
Sappy, cheesy, OTT, eye-roll inducing, repetitious, descriptive bog -- take your pick, because they are all here.
Did I mention I will probably reread this one? This is one of those books that I know is incredibly bad, but dang it, I loved it -- the basic storyline, the romance, and Gray is a new favorite hero. Do I recommend reading it? Not really. There are far better options by this author. But, I'm clinging to my copy.
Plot holes. They exist, and they are numerous.
Continuity errors. Those, too, are numerous.
Ill-planned suspense plot. There was no reason for it, it did not fit the book, and it was so poorly detailed and carried out that the book suffered for it.
Sappy, cheesy, OTT, eye-roll inducing, repetitious, descriptive bog -- take your pick, because they are all here.
Did I mention I will probably reread this one? This is one of those books that I know is incredibly bad, but dang it, I loved it -- the basic storyline, the romance, and Gray is a new favorite hero. Do I recommend reading it? Not really. There are far better options by this author. But, I'm clinging to my copy.
February 24, 2015
Excellent book, full of courage and love and healing. It is also unusual in that it showcases a heroine who is suffering from PTSD. Sky was a Navy nurse who was captured and tortured for two weeks before being rescued. She spent six months in the hospital recovering from her wounds and trying to cope with her PTSD. No longer able to handle the stress of being an ER nurse, she has come to Elk Horn Ranch for another type of job. Besides being resident nurse for the dude ranch side of the business, she will also be assistant to Gray McCoy, head of the wolf rescue part of the ranch.
Gray is a former SEAL who has found his own peace in working with the animals. Besides his memories from the war, he also lost his wife when she was murdered by drug runners in South America. He's very familiar with what Sky is going through.
I loved seeing the connection that Sky and Gray had from the very beginning. Gray recognized Sky as being former military from the moment he saw her, creating their first bond. When Iris, the owner of the ranch, filled Gray in on Sky's issues, his protective instincts kicked in. He worried about making things worse for her, but having suffered from his own PTSD, he was determined to try. Sky found herself trusting Gray from the moment she met him. I loved seeing the way that he helped her settle in on the ranch, giving her the assistance she needed while not trampling on her pride.
The first night she was on the ranch, sharing the employee quarters with Gray, she suffered from one of her nightmares. Gray's immediate response and the sensitivity with which he deals with it are just what Sky needs. She had had great stores of inner strength before her capture, but the torture had destroyed her ability to cope with all the things she was feeling. Gray made her feel safe and protected. Sky had also been feeling ashamed of her reactions and emotionalism, and Gray helped her see that there is nothing wrong with what she feels.
Over the next several weeks, being around the animals and the outdoors starts Sky on the road to healing. She and Gray rescue three wolf puppies that give her a focus for the nurturing spirit that she has been finding again. I also loved seeing her work with the autistic little boy Justin, and how her own sensitivity makes her able to reach him.
The connection that Gray and Sky share also begins to grow in other ways. Gray has been grieving for his wife for a couple years, but meeting Sky made him realize that there was still some life left to be lived. He's drawn to her beauty, but also to the strength of the spirit he sees in her. I loved the way that he is determined to keep his feelings under control and not push her for something she's not yet ready for. On Sky's side, she was attracted to Gray early on, but feels that she is too broken for him to be interested in her that way. I loved seeing how his patience allows her to see herself for the complete woman she really is. One of my favorite things was that the relationship was built over several weeks and months, and wasn't a case of insta-love. Both of them were determined to be sure of their own feelings.
Sky was also dealing with the problems of her relationship with her father. As former military himself, he did not handle her PTSD well. In fact, he treated her very badly and I really wanted to smack him about for the things he said to her. It wasn't until she got to know Gray and listened to some of the things he had to say, that she began to think that there was more going on with him. I loved seeing how her new understanding helped them repair their relationship. I loved seeing how Gray was determined to protect her from any more hurt, and that it was his insight that made the difference.
The suspense part of the story was actually very small. For all the buildup of the man who had triggered one of Sky's attacks, he didn't really play much of a part. There was tension that built when the attackers escaped, and and I was really expecting something intense to happen because of it. But the resolution wasn't what I expected at all. Still was very good!
Gray is a former SEAL who has found his own peace in working with the animals. Besides his memories from the war, he also lost his wife when she was murdered by drug runners in South America. He's very familiar with what Sky is going through.
I loved seeing the connection that Sky and Gray had from the very beginning. Gray recognized Sky as being former military from the moment he saw her, creating their first bond. When Iris, the owner of the ranch, filled Gray in on Sky's issues, his protective instincts kicked in. He worried about making things worse for her, but having suffered from his own PTSD, he was determined to try. Sky found herself trusting Gray from the moment she met him. I loved seeing the way that he helped her settle in on the ranch, giving her the assistance she needed while not trampling on her pride.
The first night she was on the ranch, sharing the employee quarters with Gray, she suffered from one of her nightmares. Gray's immediate response and the sensitivity with which he deals with it are just what Sky needs. She had had great stores of inner strength before her capture, but the torture had destroyed her ability to cope with all the things she was feeling. Gray made her feel safe and protected. Sky had also been feeling ashamed of her reactions and emotionalism, and Gray helped her see that there is nothing wrong with what she feels.
Over the next several weeks, being around the animals and the outdoors starts Sky on the road to healing. She and Gray rescue three wolf puppies that give her a focus for the nurturing spirit that she has been finding again. I also loved seeing her work with the autistic little boy Justin, and how her own sensitivity makes her able to reach him.
The connection that Gray and Sky share also begins to grow in other ways. Gray has been grieving for his wife for a couple years, but meeting Sky made him realize that there was still some life left to be lived. He's drawn to her beauty, but also to the strength of the spirit he sees in her. I loved the way that he is determined to keep his feelings under control and not push her for something she's not yet ready for. On Sky's side, she was attracted to Gray early on, but feels that she is too broken for him to be interested in her that way. I loved seeing how his patience allows her to see herself for the complete woman she really is. One of my favorite things was that the relationship was built over several weeks and months, and wasn't a case of insta-love. Both of them were determined to be sure of their own feelings.
Sky was also dealing with the problems of her relationship with her father. As former military himself, he did not handle her PTSD well. In fact, he treated her very badly and I really wanted to smack him about for the things he said to her. It wasn't until she got to know Gray and listened to some of the things he had to say, that she began to think that there was more going on with him. I loved seeing how her new understanding helped them repair their relationship. I loved seeing how Gray was determined to protect her from any more hurt, and that it was his insight that made the difference.
The suspense part of the story was actually very small. For all the buildup of the man who had triggered one of Sky's attacks, he didn't really play much of a part. There was tension that built when the attackers escaped, and and I was really expecting something intense to happen because of it. But the resolution wasn't what I expected at all. Still was very good!
November 15, 2014
Wolf Haven by Lindsay McKenna (Jackson Hole #9)
4 STARS
Wolf Haven made me understand a little more about what water boarding is like. How PTSD can effect someone for along time. It also showed the joy of seeing wolves. I wanted to hold and feed the cubs too. I could picture so well a little girl trying to herd the chicks around a yard.
Wolf Haven made me understand and feel with the characters. Skylar Pascal came home from Afghanistan with real issues and having a hard time being able to fit back into her profession, and family. Skylar has pride and wants to work and be normal again.
Grayson McCoy former SEAl has had to deal with some of the problems that Skylar is dealing with and wants to help her. Grayson is in charge of the Wolf preserve on Elk Horn Ranch. He is also the boss of Skylar. He is very attracted to Skylar.
The setting is Jackson Hole, WY on Elk Horn Ranch
I would love to visit a place like the ranch and also learn about the wolves and other animals.
Lindsay McKenna writes a lot about people with military experience and dealing with PTSD. Having a hard time coming back home to all the changes in them fitting back into life. Then I think that there are so many real soldiers that are dealing with that very issues every day.
Things that are hard for us to hear and understand, but is so much harder for those who pay the price for our freedoms and safety.
I will continue to read and get lost in Lindsay's stories.
I was given this ebook to read from Net Galley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give honest review of Wolf Haven.
Website: www.lindsaymckenna.com Lindsay McKenna has a quarterly newsletter that you can sign up. It has contests for newsletter subscribers only.
4 STARS
Wolf Haven made me understand a little more about what water boarding is like. How PTSD can effect someone for along time. It also showed the joy of seeing wolves. I wanted to hold and feed the cubs too. I could picture so well a little girl trying to herd the chicks around a yard.
Wolf Haven made me understand and feel with the characters. Skylar Pascal came home from Afghanistan with real issues and having a hard time being able to fit back into her profession, and family. Skylar has pride and wants to work and be normal again.
Grayson McCoy former SEAl has had to deal with some of the problems that Skylar is dealing with and wants to help her. Grayson is in charge of the Wolf preserve on Elk Horn Ranch. He is also the boss of Skylar. He is very attracted to Skylar.
The setting is Jackson Hole, WY on Elk Horn Ranch
I would love to visit a place like the ranch and also learn about the wolves and other animals.
Lindsay McKenna writes a lot about people with military experience and dealing with PTSD. Having a hard time coming back home to all the changes in them fitting back into life. Then I think that there are so many real soldiers that are dealing with that very issues every day.
Things that are hard for us to hear and understand, but is so much harder for those who pay the price for our freedoms and safety.
I will continue to read and get lost in Lindsay's stories.
I was given this ebook to read from Net Galley and Harlequin. In return I agreed to give honest review of Wolf Haven.
Website: www.lindsaymckenna.com Lindsay McKenna has a quarterly newsletter that you can sign up. It has contests for newsletter subscribers only.
November 26, 2014
First of all, I’d like to thank Lindsay McKenna for her service to our country and for shining a spotlight on a very serious problem facing our soldiers. PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) not only affects soldiers, but their friends and families as well. I think it’s very important to keep talking about it and very wise of Lindsay to use WOLF HAVEN as a platform for living with PTSD.
Sky and Gray found healing while working the ranch, rearing wolf puppies and sharing their experiences and their lives with each other. I thought the story was equally heart-breaking and beautiful. I did feel at times that the PTSD side overshadowed other aspects of the story, including the romance but it didn’t hamper it.
WOLF HAVEN is intriguing and insightful. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys powerful storylines and well-developed characters.
***I was gifted a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***
Sky and Gray found healing while working the ranch, rearing wolf puppies and sharing their experiences and their lives with each other. I thought the story was equally heart-breaking and beautiful. I did feel at times that the PTSD side overshadowed other aspects of the story, including the romance but it didn’t hamper it.
WOLF HAVEN is intriguing and insightful. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys powerful storylines and well-developed characters.
***I was gifted a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***
December 15, 2014
This was a good story about a female war veteran who is suffering from PTSD. She finds a job on a ranch and becomes close to her male boss who happens to have served as a Navy SEAL and has also suffered PTSD. I enjoyed this story, however I am guessing because this is a series of books that I feel a little like I am missing a bit about his background. His wife died and not much was explained about it other than he could not save her....there is a quick explanation at the end of the book, but there was not much of one. I also felt as if alot of the storyline that could have provided some more drama and tested her in her PTSD was not developed. The book came to a pretty quick conclusion.
October 9, 2019
This is a good, basic romance. Sky was a nurse in the navy who survived a helicopter crash only to be taken hostage and tortured for two weeks. Gray is a big, gentle, ex-SEAL who runs the the wildlife center on the ranch Sky comes to work on. They both suffer from PTSD, although Gray is much farther down the road to recovery.
They fall for each other almost immediately, but they hold off telling the other of their feelings. That's not annoying, though. There are cute kids, cute wolf pups, and kind adults. This is the kind of book where you basically follow the characters through their days.
The only negative thing I have to say is that the danger subplot could have been cut out and no one would notice.
They fall for each other almost immediately, but they hold off telling the other of their feelings. That's not annoying, though. There are cute kids, cute wolf pups, and kind adults. This is the kind of book where you basically follow the characters through their days.
The only negative thing I have to say is that the danger subplot could have been cut out and no one would notice.
April 13, 2023
This story is about a helicopter crash, and the capture and torture of a U.S. Navy nurse Skylar Pascal. Skylar is suffering the effects of PTSD and was let go from jobs she found or not hired at all. Finally, she was told to apply at Elk Horn Ranch and she was hired. Upon meeting her new boss exNavy Seal Grayson McCoy, she felt something click inside her, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She loved her job and Gray was a big help with her combat with the demons of PTSD. As this is a love story, Gray and Sky grew closer and closer in their relationship. No question about it they were in love. This an interesting insight into the problem of PTSD and what it does to a person and what helps them come to terms with and regain their health and mental state. A good story.
October 10, 2017
I'm usually a pretty open and fair lover of all books, but this was just bad. The author couldn't stop jumping POV every other line, nor could she stop throwing in plot holes. First half of the book the female lead is tall and can only take baths, second half she is small and can now take showers. She's 50% Native American with ginger hair and blue eyes. And everything about the main male can be related to being a SEAL. He drinks coffee in the morning, like a SEAL, he feels emotions, like a SEAL, etc. The suspense part of this book never came to a climax. There was a bad guy, but he never does anything. I can honestly say I'm disappointed in this book.
September 2, 2018
Starts out strong 💪 and keeps you there throughout the whole book.
At the start with the ride in the medavac, it was as if I was there. With Sky reliving her darkest time and the way that she was let go by the government brings it to my reality. Lindsay McKenna has done it again.
At the start with the ride in the medavac, it was as if I was there. With Sky reliving her darkest time and the way that she was let go by the government brings it to my reality. Lindsay McKenna has done it again.
July 3, 2017
It was as though the author was trying to use corny writing as a weapon and choke me with it. If I read one more "Grey is so handsome" / "Sky is so beautiful" / "I wanna bang him/her" I will probably eat the book. It would be far more entertaining.
Warning: convenient PTSD is convenient.
Warning: convenient PTSD is convenient.
July 26, 2019
While I enjoyed the PTSD portrayal and the romance budding between the two main characters - and the wolves! LOVED the wolves - the writing was repetitive enough to make me cringe. Couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
March 21, 2020
Considering that this was book 9 in an ongoing series, it wasn't bad. I enjoyed learning about the wolves and Sky's Indian heritage. There was a lot of good information about PTSD. There was a bit too much detail about their sex life for me.
June 10, 2022
The timelines in this book don't add up. Which seems to be an issue through out the series. Great characters, and storyline but there are unanswered questions. When did she get past her no shower PTSD? How did she get pregnant before they started having sex? The timelines are skewed.
November 13, 2025
Dit boek heeft een serieuze re-write nodig. Het idee is top maar er is geen diepgang en er zijn teveel dingen waar ik me aan erger betreft de schrijfstijl. Misschien wel het slechtste boek dat ik heb gelezen dit jaar.
December 6, 2018
I enjoyed Skylar and Gray's book. This may be my favorite out of this series so far.
October 22, 2019
This was really good. To see what happens to people who have PTSD, it's amazing how people can still function. But to know that there is help available is great news.
March 12, 2020
it was a great book
kept me intrested from the first page i dont usually rwad romance novels i normaly read mysteries. it was a nice cgange of pace
kept me intrested from the first page i dont usually rwad romance novels i normaly read mysteries. it was a nice cgange of pace
January 19, 2021
Great series
Read
March 10, 2021Two former war veterans dealing with PTSD find love and acceptance on a dude ranch. A true to life journey of the tumultuous emotions one must experience when coping with trauma.
June 17, 2021
Absolutely loved this book. Love everything about vets and animals. Great combination. ⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥⭐🔥
August 3, 2021
This was fine. Unfortunately my heart wasn't in it.
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