Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Montana Rangers #2

Ranger's Courage

Rate this book
After losing his wife, rugged forest ranger Jake Pruitt puts everything into his job. Consumed with guilt, he never thinks that he’ll be able to move on…until he meets Sari.

Sari Dunham works as a tracking dog trainer. When she’s assigned to work with Jake, the attraction is instant and undeniable. But Sari’s hiding a secret from the past and needs to keep Jake at a distance.

Will Jake’s guilt and Sari’s past destroy any chance they have at love and a future together?

Kindle Edition

Published July 3, 2018

35 people are currently reading
25 people want to read

About the author

Vella Munn

81 books79 followers
I had to edit my biography, changing my status from married to widow. Since I'm often asked how I'm doing, I'll put the answer here. For the most part I'm doing all right thanks to loving family and understanding friends.

I have two sons and four grandchildren. Two rescue dogs allow me to hug, walk, and feed them. In exchange they give me unconditional love and the occasional need for the carpet shampooer.

As the product of a rural upbringing, the wilderness, particularly mountains and evergreens are in my blood. I live in a small southern Oregon town which boasts four distinct seasons, an awesome river, and the ocean within a short drive. Ditto with Crater Lake.

Setting plays a big role in most of my writing as witness by two recent contemporary romance series set in Montana's awesome mountains.

Also writes as Dawn Flindt and Heather Williams.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
20 (31%)
4 stars
28 (44%)
3 stars
10 (15%)
2 stars
2 (3%)
1 star
3 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Heather 123.
957 reviews8 followers
August 14, 2018
DNF 20%

Second book by this author, second in the series, that I've read and unfortunately this needs to be it for me.

I couldn't get into this book either, far too slow moving to keep my attention.
Profile Image for Sawyer  ❤.
225 reviews31 followers
July 25, 2018
Find all my reviews on www.kisslikeagirl.com

Firstly, let's take a minute to appreciate the cover. He's pretty handsome, isn't he? I thought so. If I ever have to spend the night alone in the wilderness with someone, I hope it's him...

Let me start by saying, I loved the beginning of the book. Jack was a strong confident park ranger comforting a family who was looking for their daughter. He was great with the family. He was also good at dealing with Sari whos people skills left a lot to be desired. Nonetheless, even her awkward way with people was endearing in the beginning.

Then things changed. It pains me to say this because I enjoyed the authors writing style so much. I have to say it was a good book, it just wasn't a good book for me.

Both Jack and Sari have secrets. Jack tragically lost his wife and Sari has problems talking about her past. It's not really a secret as the blurb suggests. But their inability to discuss anything of depth meant they were reduced to superficial conversation and numerous disrespectful attempts to get the other person to talk about things they weren't comfortable talking about. For much of the book (like 20 - 90%) I read the words on the page thinking they're both cowards and they deserve each other.

It made me uncomfortable how fixated Sari was on Jack's dead wife. Over and over she asked questions about 'did Harmony like this?' 'what did Harmony think of that?' even though Jack repeatedly told her he wasn't prepared to talk about it. If I were in Jacks position, the relationship would have been terminated before she could get the third question out of her mouth. Her behavior was beyond inappropriate.

I'm not overly familiar with the etiquette for this situation but I imagine it would be similar to asking about an ex. It's a red flag when your date talks about their ex too much, it should be an even bigger red flag when all your date wants to talk about is your ex.

This was a hard read for me because whether I tried to imagine myself as Jack or Sari, I would have ended the relationship. I've never wanted to dump my book-boyfriend before.

Anyway, this is a story about two people learning to trust each other. It was very muchly a slow burn. The characters behaved in ways I wouldn't tolerate. However, I think there are many people who can relate to that situation and will enjoy reading about Jack and Sari falling in love and learning it's ok to be vulnerable.

With all that said, I did find myself enjoying the authors writing style. While this story didn't work out for me, I am eager to read further works by this writer

Overall, A Ranger's Courage was a well-written book. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read about the Montana wilderness without cowboys.
1,702 reviews32 followers
July 3, 2018
Ranger’s Courage by Vella Munn
After losing his wife, rugged forest ranger Jake Pruitt puts everything into his job. Consumed with guilt, he never thinks that he’ll be able to move on…until he meets Sari.
Sari Dunham works as a tracking dog trainer. When she’s assigned to work with Jake, the attraction is instant and undeniable. But Sari’s hiding a secret from the past and needs to keep Jake at a distance.
Will Jake’s guilt and Sari’s past destroy any chance they have at love and a future together?
This is Sari Dunham and Jake Pruitt's story
“A new dog and its handler are on their way. You might want to hold off starting the search until they show up.”
Jake frowned. “New?” he asked the forest ranger on the other end of his cell phone call. “The dog’s trained, right?”
“I’ve been told it is,” Hunter said. “They’re coming to us complements of the Bob’s group.”
Silently applauding Judee, Jake continued to study the newcomer. She’d corralled her long, dark hair in a single braid down her back. Despite her substantial pack, she had no trouble standing upright. A white T-shirt clung to a slender frame and smallish breasts. She had on jeans and boots.
Right now, the only thing he cared about was Sari believed in a firm handshake, her smooth skin was tanned, she wore no makeup or jewelry, and her hazel eyes were large and bright. He guessed she was nearing the end of her twenties.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
Ranger’s Courage by Vella Munn is 4 star book.
Vella's Books with Tule:
Romancing the Montana Bride
Montana Lakeside
Redeeming Her Montana Love
Montana Lakeside
His Montana Rescue
Montana Lakeside
Saved by the Montana Hero
Montana Lakeside
Taming His Montana Heart
Montana Lakeside
Ranger’s Legacy
Montana Rangers
Profile Image for Marsha Keeper Bookshelf.
4,290 reviews88 followers
July 4, 2018
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Ranger’s Courage is certainly a story that will get your emotions up, but also will have you slowing down as you watch two people who obviously are attracted to each other discover what their future holds. Jake is a reclusive ranger, a man who has let his guilt from the past overtake most aspects of his life today. He’s hiding in plain sight in many ways, with his own demons ever at his side. Sari has lost herself in her work with tracking dogs, she doesn’t let anyone into her life easily. There is an almost instant attraction between them, yet it will take a while, trust, and some dealing with the past before they really have a chance at lasting happiness.

I don’t want to give the impression that this is a slow book, it’s not… the reality of this couple’s individual pasts is slow to be revealed. I enjoyed their story, got caught up in the search and rescues that they did together. Yet, I have the feeling that their romance is the happy ending for now type. Each has great difficulty in leaving the past behind and trusting that they are worth anyone caring about in the now. I feel that this couple is still growing together, and hope that we see then in the next story as they continue their journey to a truly happy ending. It’s an emotional journey, one that not everyone is strong enough to take – so I’m rooting for a great result for Jake and Sari down the road in life.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
733 reviews9 followers
June 26, 2018
This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

The book was interesting with Jake and Sari meeting while they were searching for a missing hiker in the park. Sari and her dog helped find the missing girl and start off the attraction between them.

Both Jake and Sari had painful events in their past so it was hard for them to talk about these events and most of the story is their reluctance to share their past. It is not until the last chapter of the book that they final reveal their secrets. At that point their relationship seems to be moving forward and the story ends kind of quickly.

If you don't mind the wait til the end and can take the slow build up as they keep putting each other off, then you will enjoy this book. The times that they go on a search and rescue keeps the book suspenseful and gives it more drama.

I have not read the first book but this can be read as a stand alone book and if you have read the book, you will see Garret and Amber in a couple parts of the book. I am guessing the next book is about Hunter so I am looking forward to the next book coming out.
4,288 reviews22 followers
July 1, 2018
The second book in the Montana Ranger Series is an intense read. Ranger's Courage by Vella Munn has two likable if troubled souls who need to rid themselves of excessive baggage that is hindering their present life or finding any true happiness in the future. Ranger Jake and dog handler, Sari meet in working conditions that quickly leads to an attraction. Early on the reader is made aware of the big problems each must overcome. Still the details are slowly revealed over the course of the story.

It is an interesting story with a unique twist concerning Jake’s late wife. One I must say I had never heard of happening quite the way it did. I had been predicting all kinds of things, but the actual event was a surprise. Also, there were similarities between Jake’s former and current love interest that I did not see happening either. All of this served to make Ranger's Courage a tender but angst love story that ends with a happy right now. Hopefully they will make an appearance in the next book in the series too.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Sandi Ramirez.
1,864 reviews17 followers
July 4, 2018
This is the second book in the Montana Rangers series and I am looking forward to the third book in this series with baited breath. This is one of those books that was a little bit of a whole of a different things. This book was such a well written book that has a mystery in it that had me scratching my head and trying to remember if I read parts of the answers in the first book or should I just go with the flow and wait for the author Vella Munn to tell me on her own time. Which is what I did, by the way. This book is about Ranger Jake Pruitt and Sari Dunham the new dog tracker trainer in town. Both are single ... well sort of. Sari is new to the town and when they meet let's just say there's chemistry but the two fight it. I enjoyed reading about the training of the dogs and also about tracking lost people. I got to catch up on some past characters I know and I can not wait to see where our author takes this couple in the future in her books. I would love to visit Montana and the way the author describes it in the book, I feel like I went there in person.
Profile Image for Jennifer Schultheis.
1,316 reviews6 followers
July 7, 2018
Ranger’s Courage by Vella Munn immediately captured my attention with its eye-catching cover and intriguing blurb.

Sari Dunham and her wonderful and intelligent dog, are new to town. They are assigned to work with forest ranger, Jake Pruitt. Jake is immediately intrigued by Sara, but he’s still consumed with guilt over his wife’s murder and to be honest, Sari isn’t very forthcoming about her past and that makes conversations awkward for the two.

There were parts of the story I really enjoyed, such as, Sari’s dog, and the older couple towards the end of the book that end up being rescued by Sari and Jake. But for me, Sari and Jake’s romance didn’t cut it. I felt like Sari and Jake were reading lines off a paper without any emotion. Yes, they are both broken and vulnerable, but I didn’t feel anything at all for either of them.
Profile Image for Claire Louisa.
2,152 reviews126 followers
July 17, 2018
This is the first I've read by this author but I will be looking for the others in this series and her other books. When two people meet, both carrying loads of baggage with them, will they eventually get tired and put it down? Sari and Jake have so many internal issues from their pasts to deal with, and neither is willing to trust the other. I enjoyed the searches for the missing people in, the mountains, what a hard and terrible but often rewarding job that would be. I loved Kona, Sari's tracker dog who was an important character throughout the book. I liked the development of the relationship between Sari and Jake and hope to hear how they are going in book three.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Shelagh.
1,842 reviews25 followers
December 9, 2019
Set in Sweetheart Montana, A Ranger’s Courage is all about wounded people learning to trust again. This sweet romance features two insular people, forest ranger Jake, who refuses to talk about the murder of his wife Harmony, and dog handler Sari, who refuses to talk about her past. I loved the way the dogs in this story—there are two of them, Kona and Bear—help their humans to open up to each other. As they began to unwind the story began to flow better though I did feel that these two were slightly flat as characters go. This story would, I think, have been hard to write, and I commend author Vella Munn for tackling it. I think she nearly nailed it, but for me it was a not quite there sort of a story.
Profile Image for Sue.
1,794 reviews32 followers
July 4, 2018
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t read the first book so I found the beginning a little confusing. Once I got into the story I enjoyed it. Sari and Jake meet during a rescue mission in the mountains of Montana. Both have painful pasts that they are initially unable to share with anyone. They begin spending time together but draw back each time the other starts asking too many personal questions. Sari has trained a rescue dog and they are called upon for a second mission in this book. I was pleased when we learn both of their back stories and they break down each other’s barriers. I would like to read the rest of this series too.
257 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2018
The second book in the series, the story of two people with a truck load of baggage trying to be friends with one another as well as find one another sexually attractive. Too many questions about his dead wife that he kept trying to avoid and yet she insisted on asking. Is that what you do? The search and rescues are interesting, entertaining, keeps the book suspenseful and gives it slightly more drama is what probably kept me reading to the end. If you don't mind waiting until the end and can take the slow build up as Jake and Sari keep putting each other off, then you probably will enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Donna.
176 reviews4 followers
July 4, 2018
Sari and Jake meet while on a search and rescue with her dog Kono. They both have their own personal issues that they each keep close to their own hearts. When the heat begins between them they give themselves over to the passion, but still do not trust themselves to trust each other with their secrets. Having secrets is not good for their relationship. Is it even a relationship? How will this couple did a way to trust each other and make their life work together? You will have to read to find out. I definitely recommend this one! You will not be disappointed! Pick yours up today!
Profile Image for Laura D.
1,127 reviews
July 24, 2018
Sari has come to Montana to start over. She has spent a lot of time training her dog in search and rescue. Jake lost his wife and carries tremendous guilt. When Sari is called in to assist with the search for a teenage girl Jake starts to feel protective of her. They have an instant connection. He admires the job she does and the bond she shares with her dog. Jake makes her feel like she is enough. Can they trust each other to share their painful past? Your past can either make you stronger or keep you in a holding pattern. They have to figure out a way to move forward. Good read.
Profile Image for Karen Roma.
2,762 reviews33 followers
June 21, 2018
Ranger's Courage is a amazing sequel to the first in this series, and is jam-packed with heartfelt and deeply emotional moments, learning to let go of the past, and finding the one person that is willing to love you for who you are.

I was deeply moved by Jake and Sari’s story and the author did a wonderful job of building their background and describing the difficulties faced with moving forward. I look forward to the next book and more of Ms Munn’s engaging characters.
Profile Image for Donnajo.
2,377 reviews
July 2, 2018
I voluntarily read a advanced reader's copy of this book for a honest opinion

Ranger's courage by Vella Munn, book two in the Montana Ranger's series. This is a great addition to the series with it's likable characters, great storyline and character development. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing what it brings to us. I recommend this series if you enjoy romance.
Profile Image for Louise Bird.
672 reviews5 followers
July 3, 2018
This is a book that deals with life circumstance and how one must deal with their past to be able to trust again.
Grief and regret overshadows Jake . Sari’s abandonment and homelessness from her past affect her ability to let anybody in. She fears that she will be judged if she shares her past.
The first rescue mission starts the romance and the lessons learned from the last brings it to bloom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
905 reviews
July 9, 2018
I enjoyed this mountain rescue story and the part of Sari training her dog was so interesting.
The chemistry between Sari and Jake was so there you would have thought they would have got together so fast but the hard times they had both been through kept them hitting the breaks when things would start to get serious.
Was a real good read I would recommend, buts it’s Hunter’s story I’m really waiting for.
Profile Image for Cathy.
790 reviews
September 3, 2019
RANGER'S COURAGE by Vella Munn. Unfortunately, this book didn't quite do it for me. The main characters - Jack and Sari were not believable as a couple. The trust issues were huge and I never really felt the connection. Jack is wracked with guilt and Sari hides too much for the relationship to stand a chance. I did keep reading, hoping things would change but they didn't. I did enjoy the dog and some secondary characters. (received ARC for honest review)
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
June 30, 2018
Good read. I enjoyed the story as well as finding Jake and Sari to be great characters. I did find the story a little slow moving, dragging in several parts. Overall an enjoyable story though. Both Jake and Sari have issues from their past that they still dealing with. Together they may help another heal but are they willing to risk it?

Profile Image for poppy.
4,590 reviews28 followers
October 24, 2018
This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first one. This one is Jake and Sari's story I really enjoyed getting to know these two they were good likable characters my heart just broke at times for these two they are both a little bit broken but in different ways. This was a really good read I am looking forward to the next one in the series
Profile Image for BookSnuggle.
1,234 reviews4 followers
August 1, 2018
Ranger’s Courage is book number two in the Montana Rangers series. This is Sari Dunham and Jake Pruitt’s story.

This story was just okay for me. I liked the characters but felt the story moved too slow and just didn’t keep my attention.

I reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
1,884 reviews20 followers
August 5, 2018
Really enjoyed this book, but that didn't come as a big surprise. I am beginning to find that I am really enjoying all her books

I enjoyed the search for the missing child and that everything turned out ok and then when they had to go back out for another rescue. Don't want any spoilers but the book held your interest and was certainly worth reading.

Profile Image for Martha Huggart.
28 reviews
September 13, 2018
Brrrr! Ms Munn has a way with her words.

I could feel the cold seeping into my bones just reading her description of the second search. I also loved the ending. Hopefully, Kona’s mom has found her forever love and a great mother substitute. I highly recommend this series.
Profile Image for Jacki.
1,044 reviews4 followers
June 26, 2018
2.5☆
What I liked:
Part of a series: Montana Rangers
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading Hunter's story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
Profile Image for Paula Pugh.
2,372 reviews11 followers
July 9, 2018
Ranger’s Courage is a novel about a deep, emotional journey for a couple of hurting people both trying to overcome the odds and find love. Truly a touching and moving book.
Profile Image for Jan L.
1,003 reviews21 followers
October 30, 2021
Boring

The only courage this ranger needed was to be a character in this book. I skimmed more pages than I read.
Profile Image for Becky Burciaga.
1,541 reviews19 followers
December 5, 2018
An emotionally charged, at times depressing story of two damaged people who found healing in each other. There were times I found the story of frustrating, but as the story wove its way to its conclusion, those frustrating parts made sense and I saw their necessity to the over all arch of the story. This has been a series well worth reading.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
Profile Image for Tracie R.
2,143 reviews
October 6, 2018
Ranger’s Couragey is the second book in the Montana Rangers series and a great follow up to Ranger’s Legacy. Emotional, engaging and intense all of this and more went into Jake and Sari story and I really enjoyed reading this one and look forward to reading more
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews