Not too many authors handle the task of taking on and
telling the stories of military men and women returning
from active service and in many cases battlefront
conditions as well as Lindsay McKenna. It is a special
talent -- a knack so to speak -- to put these heroes back
into mainstream America. McKenna is fair and kind but
spot on accurate and honest. NIGHT HAWK in the tenth book
in her Jackson Hole, Wyoming series.
In NIGHT HAWK by Lindsay McKenna being honest about her
characters doesn't necessarily translate into
complimentary. NIGHT HAWK centers on a ranch being run by
various ex-military men. I guess the big question is
whether they are ever really ex-military. These heroes
never fully extricate themselves from the discipline of
their previous experience no matter what arm of the
military they belonged to. Around the Triple H the ranch
hands blend in very well with the neighboring ranchers
and are committed to the welfare of theirs. Difficult
goal to be sure.
Many ranchers returned from military service to personal
problems and that is the case with Triple H. Kai Tiernan
has no place to go after leaving the Army but she has
great attributes as a mechanic. Surely unusual for a
female but Kai's life has been non-conforming. Basically
raised by an older brother and a detached father Kai
lacked that female influence. Joining the Army was a big
step for Kai. It was a break from the harsh reality of
living with a father who had no room in his life for a
daughter.
So once released from active duty Kai was searching for a
job and hopefully a place she could call home. Talon Holt
owned Triple H. He was willing to give Kai the chance to
start her new life. Kai couldn't have been happier.
Sometimes our past has a way of catching up with us at
unexpected moments and Kai wound up facing a part of her
past that she truly felt was better behind. Gil Hanford
was part of her past. Kai's husband Sam died in service
and Gil was his best friend. The three of them shared a
wonderful friendship but Gil had carefully hidden a
powerful attraction to his best friend's wife. Now both
Gil and Kai find themselves at Triple H. Would they face
their past and be able to move forward towards something
that would benefit each of them. Or would their shared
experiences prevent any hope for a future.
Gil is a remarkable guy -- in the beginning he seemed
uncharacteristically needy. Kai on the other hand
showcases her independence. Kai was blooming at the
Triple H. She loved being part of this amazing family.
She was willing to put her angst with Gil aside in order
to stay put. On his part Gil knew he owed Kai
explanations but he was reticent to reopen old wounds.
These two people needed time to mend. Perhaps it was a
bit of luck or fate that had them both wind up on the
same doorstep so to speak.
NIGHT HAWK is the absolutely correct title for this love
story written by Lindsay McKenna. It was unexpectedly a
very touching tale about love and lost. The ongoing theme
affected more than just the two main characters with the
supporting cast lending itself perfectly to the message.
After losing his comrade, Sergeant Gil Hanford thought a
visit to the man's widow would be the decent way to honor
his late friend. But Gil found more than comfort in Kai
Tiernan—he had always secretly desired beautiful Kai, but
a
sudden, mutual passion helped assuage their grief…until
duty
reared its head, removing him from her arms, seemingly
forever.
Four years later, Kai is starting over at the Triple H
Ranch
in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Born a rancher, she is looking
for
a new beginning—but her new boss is unforgivably
familiar.
Kai has tried to move past the memory of what happened
between her and Gil, even though she's never forgiven him
for leaving her. But even as they begin their journey
toward
something new and oh-so-uncertain, a shadow emerges,
determined to claim Kai for itself.
Excerpt
Gil put his hands on his hips, staring at her. “I’m the
foreman.”
Kai closed her eyes for just a moment, opened them,
feeling the air sucked out of her lungs. “Y-you work
here, too?” No! That wasn’t possible! This couldn’t be
happening! Her mind worked at the speed of light. Her
heart expanded with traitorous emotions, wanting Gil.
Again. God, she could not go there! The bastard had
walked out on her after five days of the most wonderful
loving she’d ever experienced with a man. Gil had left
suddenly without explanation, never to return. She hadn’t
seen him for four years.
Anger flowed through Kai. Gil had used her as a
convenient sex partner to bury himself in to get rid of
his grief. His brother Rob, a Delta Force operator with
another team in Afghanistan, had been killed. Gil had
seen his brother’s body to the morgue at Bagram and then
looked her up.
Touching her brow, Kai saw his generous mouth moving into
a resistant, thin line. She remembered that mouth. Far
too well. The pleasure he’d given her. Kai had never
known such tenderness and vulnerability in a man until
Gil had walked into her life for those five days. She’d
been a widow for a year. When he reappeared, he said he
needed her. Silly her. She’d believed him and they had
ended up in a five-day sexual feast that was the best
thing that Kai had ever encountered with a man. Yet, on
the sixth morning, when she awakened, Gil was gone. No
note. No explanation. No email. No…nothing. She wished
she could have forgotten him, but she never had.
And now, he was towering over her, all six feet of him,
broad, capable shoulders beneath a white cowboy shirt, a
black leather vest stretching across his powerful chest.
His Levi’s were worn and dirty, but from Kai’s view, his
strong, hard thighs were just as beautiful now as they
were when they’d captured her legs and held her in place
to give her the most incredible pleasure she’d ever had.
And then, he’d run. Kai had never felt so used by a man.
Now, the bastard was standing there, defensive,
bristling, and she could feel the energy pouring off him
toward her. She was only five feet seven inches tall. She
wasn’t short, but she wasn’t Gil’s height, either.
What would he do? Try to get her fired? Invent some lame
excuse to let her go? Would he do that to her after what
they’d shared? She searched his eyes, which were now a
darker, stormy blue. Kai could feel how taut and upset he
was. It felt as if they were two boxers in a ring sizing
each other up, looking for weak spots, a place to get in
and punch, taking the other down.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy