Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Luke's lost everything when it comes to his job and more, but he always has a home with his brother to go back to...
 
When Navy SEAL Luke Blanchard comes back to Northeast Texas after a devastating injury, he feels like the whole world has gone dark. In a wheelchair and feeling unmoored from his life, Luke has no idea what to do, even as his twin brother Matt is determined to help him heal, even if it takes a butt-kicking.

Rory McConnell is a local prodigy, a real estate lawyer with a plan to buy up land before his sworn enemy gets a hold of it. When the Blanchard ranch goes into the red, he offers to buy out the debt. Luke backs his brother instead, but he doesn't believe for a minute that Rory is a bad guy like so many locals say he is. No one that sexy and hilarious can be, right?

As Luke claws his way out of depression with a crazy idea to run a therapy ranch, he and Rory start to explore the need growing between them. Will Rory's need for revenge against the man who damaged him forever come between them, or will it be the force that binds these two men together in a better life than either of them believe in?

First edition published at Pride Publishing, June 2017.

Book Review

‘The Wounded Warrior’ is a fantastic story, and if it’s any indication of what the rest of the series will be like, it’s going to be a winner as far as I am concerned. There are cowboys and horses, a former Navy SEAL now in a wheelchair and fighting depression, a real estate lawyer with an ax to grind and a stubborn determination to stop the evil land developer’s plans, a cast of hilariously wonderful secondary characters, and a roller coaster of a romance. With a setting in a small town in Texas you can see where this is going – or you think you can, because this author managed to surprise and delight me at every twist and turn of this suspense-filled tale.

Luke is in a wheelchair – for now – but he can still more than stand up for himself. He is also determined to walk again but it’s going to be a long, tough road to get there. The horses help him calm down when things get bad, so he develops a plan to convert the family ranch into a place for therapy. That is easier said than done though, because Luke and his twin brother constantly struggle to stay in the black. Both men are too proud to accept charity, but help and support is something Luke is slowly learning to admit might be helpful on occasion. His spirit is unbroken, and that is one of his greatest assets in his fight to find a new normal.

Rory has been bullied in the past, but he has become a successful real estate lawyer and plans to take revenge on his old tormentors by destroying their business. Buying up land before they can is his strategy, but in the case of Luke and his brother, Rory is having a harder-than-usual time convincing them. Rory has his heart in the right place, has been out since he was a teenager, and is definitely attracted to Luke. Luckily Rory doesn’t give up easily – pursuing the man he is falling for turns out to be far more difficult than he thought.

Luke and Rory have a lot of obstacles to overcome, mostly Luke’s stubborn refusal to believe he is attractive as a lover and partner. But there are external difficulties as well, and the villain is an evil, manipulative man, so Luke and Rory never know where the next attack is going to come from. It’s a good thing they have a few supporters in Luke’s brother, Rory’s loyal assistant, and an assortment of other colorful, quirky characters who populate this book. These guys need all the help they can get.

If you like wounded men who have to fight themselves and others before they can be together, if you enjoy stories with lots of intrigue, suspense, and business machinations, and if you’re looking for a read that is entertaining and funny, touchingly emotional, and a wonderful ode to human determination, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. From the setting to the people to the language – I loved it all!

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 286 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	17-June-2025
Price	$5.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Wounded-Warrior-Rockin-Book-ebook/dp/B0F8JD4XSH