Sometimes the worst wounds can’t be seen. Lucas Everett knows that firsthand. It's why he and his former Navy SEAL brothers created the Resting Warrior Ranch. They aren’t doctors, but they can offer the healing freedom of their Montana range. And they specialize in training service and emotional support animals to help sooth even the worst emotional scars. Usually, soldiers show up at their door. But this time it's Evelyn Taylor—a soldier in a very different kind of war. She's as skittish as one of the horses Lucas gentles. But he’s learned how to be patient with animals, and he’s more than happy to be patient with this quiet beauty too. When Evelyn’s past nightmares show up in Montana, she thinks she has to run again, but Lucas isn’t going to let that happen. He’s protected his country against the worst types of threats, and he’ll protect her too. She’s met the rancher, but now she’s about to meet the SEAL.

Some mistakes haunt you forever. Harlan Young knows that from personal experience. Walking away from Grace Townsend, even with the best intentions and no other choice, still haunts him to this day. So when he had the chance to return to Montana, and be part of something as special as the Resting Warrior Ranch, he took it. Here he can help train service and emotional support animals for former soldiers with PTSD. And maybe, just maybe, convince Grace to give him a second chance. He never expected that second chance to be in the form of a fake marriage in order to save the land she loves so much. But he’ll do it, as well as help fight the danger closing in on her. She thinks she’s alone, but she’s wrong. She knew him as a boy, but now he's a man. And real men don’t run.

No one is guaranteed tomorrow. Grant Carter knows that fact intimately. The shrapnel sitting on his spine from an IED is a daily reminder. But the constant pain won’t stop him from working at the Resting Warrior Ranch, training service and emotional support animals to help people with PTSD—something else he’s intimately familiar with. He’ll fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. When his neighbor, shy veterinarian Cori Jackson, is humiliated by her ex-boyfriend for things she’d like to experiment with in bed, Grant is more than happy to show her real men aren’t threatened by an adventurous spirit. The more time he spends with her, the more he realizes the literal girl-next-door is the one for him. And when Cori finds herself in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy surrounding the animals she treats, Grant will make sure she makes it out alive. He's a fighter. Was one in the Navy SEALs and still is one today. And he’ll fight for Cori. Even if it costs him everything.

Some nightmares you don’t wake up from. Noah Scott spent two months in an enemy prison camp but made it out alive—unlike most of his SEAL team. He’s one of the lucky ones but doesn’t always feel that way with his scarred body and daily fight against PTSD. Working with the animals at the Resting Warrior Ranch helps. So what if he trains service dogs, fosters a couple of kittens, and has an alpaca as one of his best friends? He’ll take whatever holds back the darkness. When beautiful Kate Tillbeck arrives at the Resting Warrior Ranch neck deep in danger, Noah knows he can’t stand by silently. Especially when the threat centers around a dog fighting ring—and some of the pups he trained may be involved. But to save the animals he loves and the woman he can’t get out of his mind, Noah will have to embrace the darkness he’s pushed down for years. And hope he doesn’t lose himself in the process.

Kill first, ask questions later. It’s the instinct former-SEAL Jude Williams must fight every time someone touches him. His six months being tortured in an enemy prison camp may be long over, but he’s got scars—all over his body and mind—keeping that time at the forefront of his psyche. So how could he even consider giving in to the desire he has for the town’s coffeehouse owner? Lena Mitchell has big gray eyes and a bigger smile—she’s full of life, right down to her purple and teal streaked hair. There are so many reasons Jude should stay away from her. So many ways he’s bad for her. But when danger shows up on Lena’s door, keeping his distance is no longer an option. He’ll protect her from any threat. But who will protect her from him?

Daniel Clark is the leader. The one who ensures everyone makes it out alive. He took that responsibility seriously when he and his team served in the Navy SEALs together, and he takes it seriously now at the Resting Warrior Ranch. When he and his men broke up the Riders—the vicious dogfighting gang who also kept some human captives—they got everyone to safety. Except for the woman who’d been caged—Emma. She disappeared into the night. So when she shows up in his tiny Montana town—in bad physical shape, begging not to be taken to the hospital—Daniel can’t believe it. He does the only thing he can: brings her home. He’s a warrior, not a caregiver, but he’ll have to be both in this case. The people after her don’t just want to put her in a cage this time. They want her dead. But if they want to get to Emma, they’re going to have to go through Daniel. And that’s not going to happen.

Raised in a cult where opinions and freedom in women were not tolerated, Mara Greene narrowly escaped a life as a child bride—one where she would’ve been shared and owned by all the men in the compound. Her testimony helped put the cult leader in prison, but she’s never truly gotten past the horrors inflicted on her. Her conditioning to keep silent persists even now—despite having found a safe haven at the Resting Warrior Ranch. Here she’s safe, but still always alone and trapped in her silence. Liam Anderson is always the first team member to crack a smile or a joke. No one—not even his Navy SEAL brothers—know about his painful past or the truth he hides behind his charming mask. He’s captivated by fragile Mara and wants to help her heal. Watching her find her voice is the most amazing thing he’s ever known. And it doesn’t take long to realize she’s healing him just as much. When Mara’s past resurfaces, Liam won’t let her face it alone. He’ll be her personal protector no matter what it cost. No one is going to steal her voice again.

Psychiatrist Rayne Westerfield has found purpose in helping patients, especially those with PTSD, heal at the Resting Warrior Ranch. For her, there’s no greater calling than equipping people to fight the worst of their demons. But she’s never allowed anyone to help her fight her own. She’s kept her distance. Kept herself buttoned up tight. Even the people in the small Montana town she’s known for years—the ones she calls friends—don’t know who she really is, and the fears she hides. And that’s okay. But it’s not okay to Cole Phillips. The FBI agent’s first interaction with the Resting Warrior Ranch a few months ago wasn’t under the best of circumstances, but he’s determined to make up for that now. Where everyone else sees ice in Rayne, he sees fire. And he’s not going to let her fears keep him at a distance. Especially not when Rayne witnesses something she shouldn’t and a killer comes after her. Cole will battle the criminal determined to silence her, and the fears she’s buried so deep. The healer has fought for everyone else. Now this warrior will fight for her .

Growing up with addict parents and extreme neglect, Jensen Chambers learned early to only depend on himself. A family was something he’d never thought he’d have, but the people at the Resting Warrior Ranch have become exactly that. Yeah, Garnet Bend is about as small as towns come, but big cities never did him any favors anyway. So when Kenzie Hurst—with her manicured nails and stilettos that obviously don’t belong in Montana—shows up with trouble on her high heels, Jensen isn’t going to just sit by. This is family. This is his town. He’ll be dåmned if he’ll let outside danger destroy the peace they’ve worked so hard to build. But when the mysterious beauty needs protection only Jensen can provide, he can’t turn her away. She may wear Prada, but her sweet smile and engaging laugh is drawing him in. Making him want to keep her around permanently. High heels and all. Someone wants Kenzie dead, but Jensen—and the Resting Warrior Ranch team—are about to show her that around here, they look out for their own. And that includes her.

_A woman who can’t remember. A soldier who wishes he could forget._ Hunter Everett may have gotten out of the Special Forces, but the demons that haunt him aren’t as easy to escape. His friends keep encouraging him to come stay at the Resting Warrior Ranch. After all, it was created for people like Hunter—soldiers with PTSD struggling to readjust to civilian life—but he isn’t interested. It’s better, safer, for everyone if he just remains alone. Until he discovers Jada Moyer—bruised, terrified, and with no memory of anything about her life. Cops and criminals alike seem to be gunning for this gentle beauty, but she doesn’t know why. Hunter can’t leave her to face it on her own. The more they learn, the deeper the rabbit hole goes. But one thing they both know for the only way to create a future is for them both to face their pasts... And hope they survive.