True to You (Montana Heat #2) by Jennifer Ryan

Title: Montana Heat: True to YouMontana Heat: True to You
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense
Series: Montana Heat (Book 3)
Format:  Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (February 27, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0062645285
ISBN-13: 978-0062645289
Author's Website: http://jennifer-ryan.com/index.html
Notes: I received an eARC copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Agent Dawson King has spent the last five months undercover in the state prison. His mission is to create a cover which will get him close to the daughter of Iceman, one of the deadliest lieutenants of the Guzman drug cartel. Agent Dawson has a score to settle with the man because he tricked the DEA into doing his dirty work. He set up a rival cartel's son to be murdered by the DEA for which Dawson pulled the trigger.

What the DEA has on Cara, Iceman's daughter, suggests she wants nothing to do with the man. From time to time, however, he shows up at her shop and that makes their dealings suspicious. She has a soft spot for ex-cons trying to get their lives back on track and that is what the DEA hopes to exploit. She owns a coffee shop called the Crossroad Cafe where she gives ex-cons  a chance to earn an honest wage while providing food and lodging too. Everything in the DEA's files seems to suggest she has nothing to to with her father's shady dealings, but if she does, this could be Dawson's (who uses the undercover guise of Chris Hickman aka Flash) chance to gain the knowledge he needs to put the lowlife and the cartel out of business. The only problem is Cara.

Cara has learned the hard way not to trust people. She gives her employees one chance, and if the blow it, that's it. There are no second chances. She shies away from relationships, and keeps mostly to herself. When Dawson, however, walks into her cafe she knows her reserve is about to be tested. The man is hardworking, sinfully handsome, and unlike any of the other ex-cons she's hosted. She's not quite sure what to do with him, but she knows what she'd like to.

Jennifer Ryan never disappoints and this is another fast-paced, high-stakes, action-packed, roller coaster ride of a read with plenty of twists and turns and characters that seem to leap to life off the pages all centered around a plot that keep you glued to the pages. It's the second book of the Montana Heat series, and I think this one might be my favorite book of hers yet. You could possibly read this one as a standalone, but I suggest you read the first book to find out how Trigger and Ashley came to be a couple, and how Scott fits into everything.

Cara is a complex character as is her dad. Their relationship is rather twisted and just as complex as they are. There is a backstory that we eventually become privy to. Cara has all but written off her dad, but can't seem to get rid of the man.While some might wonder why she doesn't up and leave, she has her reasons.

Dawson is in a hard position. He's falling for Cara, but he has a job to do. He knows Cara hates lies, but to blow his cover could have dire consequences and ruin his mission. I loves seeing these two fall for one another and seeing their relationship grow. Dawson's been warned not to start up anything romantically with Cara, but eventually he can't seem to resist her. Likewise, Cara fears a relationship, but there is just something about Dawson that draws her to him.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. Action, drama, suspense, and romance--it's all in there--wrapped in a highly entertaining story that grabs's your attention right from the very beginning and doesn't let go. I absolutely adored it. If you haven't read one of Jennifer Ryan's books you're in for a treat. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I definitely recommend this one.

Order of the Montana Heat series:

Early Review of Escape to You (Montana Heat, #1) by Jennifer Ryan

Title: Montana Heat: Escape to You
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Romance Suspense
Series:  Montana Heat (Book 2)
Format: Hardcover; 320 pages
Publisher: Avon (August 29, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0062697196
ISBN-13: 978-0062697196
Author's Website:
Notes: This one does include violence towards women, so be aware. I received an ARC from the publisher at RWA. All quotes need to be checked against the final version as they are subject to change prior to publication. All errors involving quotes are most likely my own.

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Ashley Swan disappeared a little under a year ago from the Hollywood spotlight. She was at the height of her career and still climbing after winning her first of what many predicted would be many Oscars. With no evidence of foul play or anything to suggest she'd met her end, many believed she simply gave it all up and walked away. But when Ashley Swan stumbles onto the property of a DEA agent in the middle of a snow storm severely under dressed with a young boy in tow the truth of what really happened begins to unfold. She did not walk away. She was kidnapped.

Now trying to reclaim her life with the help of Beck, she'll need to make sure the man who kidnapped her doesn't get away with it. For the man who took her has powerful friends in high places, and enough dirt on many others that getting charges to stick on him will be very difficult.

Escape to You is the first in the Montana Heat series and a spin-off from her Montana Men series. DEA Special Agents Caden and Beck "Trigger" Cooke first make an appearance in Stone Cold Cowboy. Caden's story can be found in the Montana Heat prequel novella, Protected by Love. This story, of course, contains Beck's.

This was a roller coaster ride of a read. There were twists and turns, highs and lows, and just when you thought you knew everything that was going on, another layer of the story is revealed. There is a lot going on in this one and it makes for a very addictive and suspenseful read.

Ashley is a very strong and brave young woman who feels like a shell of her former self. She'd been touted as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. Now she looks like she could play the starring role on The Walking Dead without any makeup. When she sees a means to escape from her captor, however, she doesn't hesitate to take the young boy who was held captive with her along. Considering she has to carry the boy a good portion of the way in her condition, that says a lot about her character.

Beck, just came off of an undercover assignment that went terribly wrong, and is in hiding from those he attempted to bring down. He's hoping to stay out of the spotlight, and when Ashley tells him her story, he realizes they need to be very careful how they handle things. Ashley is afraid the media will twist things on her and make her out to be the villain. If the charges against her kidnapper don't stick, she'll forever be looking over her shoulder wondering if he's out there somewhere planning to come after her once again.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. It had all the things I look for in a good romantic suspense novel. I loved the chemistry between the two main character, the drama of the situation, the suspense from not knowing if the kidnapper would be caught, and all the twists and turns Ms. Ryan threw in between. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a FAN rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice. I highly recommend this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Order of the Montana Heat series: