This took a while to read. As they began to discuss sexual assault I was worried that it would be an underlying theme. Thankfully it was not. Great strong female lead character. ( )

I liked this book but didn't love it. I was excited to start reading it because I have been on the look out for a good romance featuring a military man or woman. Well, I found this one about an ex-Navy SEAL with PTSD and thought it sounded pretty good. My problem was it took me awhile to read it (I kept picking it up then setting it aside to read something else) because I got tired of hearing about him being a SEAL. I mean I read the blurb, so I know he's ex-military I don't it told to me repeatedly, I counted at least 60 times in the first 30% of the book that the word SEAL was written and that doesn't count the times he's referred to as warrior or solider, etc. I liked the story and the relationship of Shelby and Dakota and I'm glad I didn't give up on it.

Thanks Netgalley for providing the ARC. ( )

Fantastic book. It starts with a rush as Dakota is attacked by a grizzly and must save himself and get to a hospital. While there he meets Shelby, a deputy, who ends up rescuing him when he gets an infection. After he recovers both are asked to serve as trackers for two escaped convicts who have a connection to them both. Shelby's life is in danger and Dakota steps in to protect her. As the search goes on, they grow closer and find that they have the power to heal each other.

I loved both Shelby and Dakota. Besides being a kick butt kind of deputy she is also one of the best trackers in the area. She is frequently called out to find lost campers and so on. Nine years earlier she had been the one to find a man who had brutally raped and murdered a young woman. When she met Dakota she learned that the young woman had been his older sister. Shelby is very attracted to Dakota and is amazed at his skills in the woods. She also finds that his experiences as a SEAL enable him to help her through her own grief over her brother's death. I loved seeing Shelby's kindness and warm heart work on Dakota's stress. She was also able to see past his issues to the kind and gentle man that was also there. She noticed it the most in the care he took of his rescued wolf and how good he was with the little boy they rescued. I also loved her self confidence but that she could also accept when she needed help after she barely escaped one attack. I was impressed by the way that she and Dakota worked so well together and the trust that they built with each other.

Dakota had come home to Jackson Hole after leaving the SEALs. Because of his PTSD he keeps himself apart from everyone and lives alone in the woods. When a grizzly attack sends him to the hospital he can't wait to be released to go back where he feels safe. Shelby was there when he arrived and can't believe he wants to go back immediately, as injured as he is. He accepts her cellphone number in case he needs help, and calls her when he realizes he is suffering from an infection. As he recovers he finds that there is something about Shelby that calms him. When he is with her even being around people is something he can handle. His biggest worry as his feelings for Shelby grow is that his PTSD could cause him to hurt her. When it becomes obvious that the escaped convicts are after Shelby his protective instincts kick in. He was determined that nothing would happen to her and he used every bit of his training to protect her. I especially loved the ending and seeing how much their love was able to counteract the terrible things they had been through.

One of the things I like best about Lindsay McKenna's books is the love and respect that she shows for the military. As a veteran herself she is fully aware of what they go through every day and her books open a window to that world for her readers. ( )

4 STARS

It seems to be that most of all Lindsay McKenna stories have some military theme to them. This is no exception. Dakota is an ex-navy seal dealing with PTSD. So he lives high up in the Teton mountains in a cabin no running water. He hunts for most of his food. He found a wolf pup that a bear killed his whole family and Dakota rescued and raised him. Storm he calls him.

When Dakota was out checking on his traps he runs into a grizzly bear. He takes a beating for he is able to kill the bear. He has his pockets full of items that he was trained to have with him. he uses a tourniquet to slow bleeding, puts pad and duck tapes his arm. He knows he need help fast and his truck is a mile away. He makes it to hospital parking lot.

Shelby is a deputy sheriff and is picking up some paperwork at hospital when she sees a truck park into two spaces and she thinks he is drunk when she sees all the blood. Calls for help and gets him into the hospital. Dakota has seen the doctor once before and she knows what is problem is.

Dakota gets Shelby to take care off Storm till he gets done. He has no plans to stay overnight in the hospital. Dakota tells Shelby that she won't know where he lives. Shelby is a tracker like Dakota and she knows right where his cabin is. She gives Dakota her phone number in case of emergency. He ends up needing it.

Shelby and Dakota end up tracking together to find missing campers and they work well together. Then they end up working too capture two escape convicts that are personal to both of them. They rape and tortured Dakota's older sister and Shelby is the one who tracked them down last time and took them in for it.

They sure encounter a lot of wildlife in the back country. This starts off with lots action and drama and continues throughout the book. It deals with some issues of PTSD that soldiers go through and law enforcement. Dakota helps Shelby to cope with some of the events that she is facing. Shelby helps him to cope with his problems and gets him to talk about what he went through.

I like it that they both end up saving each other at different times. They are able to work to save some of the lost. They are both strong characters and have good points and faults that make them human.

Their are a few love scenes and some scenes describing what Dakota's sister suffered through years ago.

I am sorry for all the soldiers that are facing PTSD and are having a hard time fitting back into regular life. I hope that the drugs work for them to help their cortisol levels even out. Thank you for your service where ever you serve or what ever you do to serve this country and keep us safe. Thank you.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of The Loner when finished by Netgalley.
June 18th 2013 by Harlequin HQN 384 pages ISBN:0373777728 ( )