Smoky Mountains Ranger

The Mighty McKenzies #1

by Lena Diaz

A dangerous mountain escape.
An attraction neither can deny.

Adam McKenzie’s protective instincts are on overdrive, but Jody Ingram is no helpless victim. She refuses to abandon the injured ranger who saved her life despite the mysterious gunmen hot on her trail. When their forced flight through treacherous mountain terrain leads to unbridled passion, Adam must decide if guarding Jody 24/7 is worth the risk to his life and his heart…

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Harlequin, Romance, Fiction

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2019

About the author

Romantic suspense author, Lena Diaz, is a four time winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence in Mystery and Suspense. She's also a former Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finalist and has won numerous other awards.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Suspense Romance, and this is the first book in the Mighty McKenzies series. This book starts off by the Ranger runs into a suspense scene where he cannot figure out who was good and who is bad, but he guessed the woman needed saving. Of course they fall in love each other, but the romance I feel was done very well. This is a short fast pace book. I think I finished reading this book in just over 2 hours. This story is told by the Ranger Adam and the woman he saves Jody. I really love Ranger Adam and Jody characters, and I think they worked well together. There are twisted and turns in this story which made the story even better. This story was well-written and I could see the area the characters where in. (*)

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story had potential, but the author lost me with all the crying, insta-lust/love and, come on, sex after a serious, life threatening injury where the H might have lost his leg? He had just come out from surgery less than 48 hours before, for goodness sake. It was just too OTT. And was it just me, but didn’t anyone else think that Jody needed intensive therapy before starting a serious relationship? Granted, she lost her trust in the system once, but I still thought she needed serious help.

[Paula Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Law enforcement ranger Adam McKenzie is going about his usual patrol when he comes across a woman, Jody Ingram, who has a gun pointed at her. He intervenes, and the two wind up on the run in the Smoky Mountains National Park, trying to escape from a band of thugs determined to kill them. The thugs seem to think Jody has something they want, but Jody is clueless as to what it could be.
(You'll find, as you read this, that Jody isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.) Will they make their way back to civilization in order to try and find out what has put them in this mess?

Smoky Mountains Ranger gets off to an action-packed, suspenseful start, but like a lot of Intrigue books, tends to sag in the middle. However, it gets itself over the line with a good climax that provides an interesting motive for the mayhem and wraps up all the storylines more than satisfactorily, even though this is part of a mini-series. (Adam has three brothers who are all in some form of law enforcement, natch.) But I'm fine with that. I just really prefer to my romantic suspense stories to wrap up without unanswered questions, mini-series or not. So I'm thankful this book did!

Where the book mostly sinks is in the character of Jody Ingram. She definitely rates up there in the Too Stupid To Live category. She's also on a constant (and I mean constant) crying jag. But Adam just thinks that this adds to her adorableness. Blech. Good for him, I guess! But her behaviour for a large part of the book just did my head in! She's the sort of person prone to a dramatic statement such as, "I killed him!" When, you know, it was absolutely nothing near the case. I mean, who says that? She just constantly got on my nerves the entirety of the book and I never warmed to her.

There was also some glaring errors as far as I was concerned. Jody was sexually abused by her adoptive father. She claims that a psychiatrist and social worker said she was an attention-seeking liar during her adoptive father's trial, and that the judge was paid off to find her adoptive father not guilty. Firstly, a social worker or psychiatrist would never say that about a child who had made sexual abuse allegations. They might raise reasonable doubt or provide alternate theories. And if for some reason they did say that (yikes), then it would likely be they were an expert witness for the defence. In that case, the prosecution would have their own expert witness to verify the complainant's claims. And the last time I checked, sexual assault on a child is a criminal offence and the judge doesn't decide guilt or innocence in such a case. That's for a jury to decide. It definitely took me out of the story. Stuff like that isn't hard to research!

It's still a good read. If Jody wasn't so annoying and if the plot could have maintained its taught pacing, it would have been a four star story. It's especially good if you like books that wrap all the plot strands up even though it's part of a mini-series.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Park Ranger, Adam McKenzie, was checking a closed trail in the park when he heard a man and woman arguing. When he saw that the man was holding a gun on her, he put a plan in motion to save her. They managed to get away from the man and ran down the mountain. But he was on their trail and had backup so they couldn't slow down for a minute. Jody Ingram didn't understand why they were after her, just knew her life depended on getting away.

I loved Adam. He was so perfect a character! In the beginning, Jody came across as being weak but she was anything but. She turned out to be quite capable and always wanted to help others. I admired that she wouldn't leave Adam behind even if it meant the bad guys could catch her. I was telling her to run at the same time I was glad she stayed.

The story has action and adventure, death and murder, but there is also romance and tragedy.

3.25 stars

[Bonnie Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that back group of the Smoky Moutains will have you wanting to go and live on them. But this story will leave you stunned when reading it through with a beautiful girl fighting for her life and a sexy as hell Ranger that is head over heels for her in love will protect her with his life.

[Toth Jo-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to read this book, but once I got into the book it was a great story. The story of Judy Ingram was interesting. For she seems naive but there is more to her than you realize. The story is like a tangled ball that needs to be unravelled. She doesn't even know what is going on. Adam McKenzie is a perfect foil for her. He is gentle and patient. He also has a big heart. As this story works its way thru there is a few surprises in it. It also has a lot of action and suspense in it. Looking forward to the next book on this family. I like the reputation this family has. It sounds like they've earned it. So it should be fun to follow the 3 brothers yet to come.

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 STARS!

Excitement abounds in the kick-off to a new series by Lena Diaz! With the first book in The Mighty McKenzies series, we get to know Adam and hear tidbits about his parents and siblings, all taking on upholding the law as their life's work. This story is filled with intrigue and action in the beginning, and a good bit of emotional turmoil and family drama woven in. Really enjoyed the start to the series and look forward to more to come!

When park ranger Adam McKenzie stumbles upon a man and a woman in the park, he's certain something is off with them. Turns out he's right when he realizes the man is taking the woman at gunpoint and jumps in to try to rescue her!

Jody Ingram unwittingly got herself into a mess and has no clue how to get out of it. When this heroic park ranger puts himself in the line of fire to help her, she's very grateful. As time is running out and they are cut off from the real world, they race against time to find a way out of the clutches of a band of mad men.

[Cindy Reifel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Mckenzie is a Ranger in the Smoky Mountains. He is checking out a closed area when he hears talking. He slowly comes up behind a man with a gun and, a woman arguing with him but, unfortunately, backing up too close to the edge of a cliff.
Adam manages to save Jody's life by throwing them both over the cliff.
Jody has been working part time in a PI's office to get experience for the job she actually wants when her boss and, her best friend both disappear within a week. She went up to the mountain because, she thought, her best friend had texted her to meet her there.
When Adam and Jody manage to get way from the gunman, they have to continue to run as the man that Adam took down has a whole group that is hunting them both for something Jody doesn't believe she has.
This book was non-stop, roller coaster action. I love books that I can't put down because, I HAVE TO see what's happening next!!!
This is one of those books!

[Shirley Linn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 starsWow, I absolutely loved this book.
April 1, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
From the first page until the last it was pulse pounding, edge of your seat suspense. Not only does this author know how to write a suspenseful storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat. She creates wonderful, flawed and endearing characters. They pull you in and keep you pulling for them until the end. I can't wait to read the next book. I would definitely recommend this book and this author.

[Lexi O'Brien (blackcanarybooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid five star thriller from Lena Diaz (I expected no less, honestly, she's one of my favorites,) with likeable characters, a smart heroine with a heart of gold, and a kind, charismatic male lead. I didn't mark the spoiler tag on this review because my spoiler is also a trigger warning, however: there is in depth, fairly discussion of childhood sexual abuse. It is handled respectfully and is not treated as a prop or a throwaway plot device, however, but I felt a warning important. The Mighty McKenzies is a great series from a great writer, definitely reccomended.

[Mary Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoky Mountains Ranger
(The Mighty McKenzies Book 1)
Lena Diaz

Grabs you from the beginning and keeps pulling you in until the end.
Loved the pairing of Jody and Adam. Both strong caring individuals.
With tense suspenseful happenings creating a puzzle they hope to solve before the evil finds them.
A great start to a new series. Can’t wait to read more.

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. When Adam McKenzie comes between two people fighting on one of the trails he’s not sure if it’s a lovers spat or something else. So he approaches very carefully.
He doesn’t want to cause any problems, but things don’t seem right. Soon he’s helping Jody out and
there running for there life.

Buy the book and see what happens. A page turner and so much more to come.

[Netta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Plenty of action but I think the characters are too awkward and there are too many run-on sentence that makes the reader out of breath. Sometimes I couldn't catch up. Other than that not bad.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I was a little slow to start this book for some reason but this book left me guessing all the way to the end. As soon as I finished this book, I went to get the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to others.

[Russell Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read

This book was a great read. I especially enjoyed the way it was written.it had two story lines which will hold your attention for the entire read.

[Rebecca Delio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

I enjoyed this story very much, it was hard to put down and I am looking forward to reading more stories by this author...

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Suspense, Mystery & Detective, Thriller, Romantic Suspense

Miniseries
The Mighty McKenzies

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Suspense, Mystery & Detective, Thriller, Romantic Suspense

Miniseries
The Mighty McKenzies