Series:
Linear Tactical: Oak Creek (Book 2)
Air Force Combat Controller Derek Bollinger knows what it
is to feel that every breath might be his last. Enduring hell in an enemy
prison for five weeks taught him that.
The only thing that got him through it was the thought of
his family, his hometown of Oak Creek, Wyoming, and especially of Becky Mackay.
He survived, but with blood on his hands. His own. His
friends’ who died beside him. His enemies’.
And then...Becky’s.
A night that should’ve been perfect for them both turned
into a nightmare Derek can never wake up from, leaving him with only one
option: staying the hell away.
But Becky has almost lost the man she loves too many
times—first to that prison camp, then to his own demons.
She’s not going to lose him again.
Yes, that night between them changed everything. Changed
her. But change isn’t always a bad thing. And it’s time for them to stand
together to face his PTSD and their future.
Especially when an unexpected danger comes after them
both. Together will be the only way to survive.
Emotional second chance story with a bit of suspense to
complicate the reunion. Derek Bollinger, son of Finn and Charlie (
Eagle), and
Becky Mackay, daughter of Zac and Annie (
Cyclone), have been best friends all
their lives and have been in love since they were teenagers. After a PTSD
incident, Derek disappeared from Becky's life, leaving her hurt, angry, and
confused. Derek has been avoiding her, convinced Becky is better off without
him. When they come face to face, all Derek can think about is getting away
from the pain he sees in her eyes.
The first part of this book overlaps with the end of
Hero Unbound, with added detail critical to Derek and Becky's story. Becky is
furious to discover that Derek has been back in Wyoming for eighteen months
without contacting her. Then she catches him running away again. After the
experience that drove Derek away, Becky has spent the intervening months training
her mind and body to help him - if she can get him to stop running.
I ached for Derek and his pain and suffering. I
understood his fear of hurting her. But I also wanted to shake him for refusing
to talk to her about his feelings and fears. I liked Becky's determination to
confront him and make him listen to her. She gets her opportunity when the
plane he uses to fly her to a ranch crashes in the Wyoming wilderness.
I was glued to the pages as Derek fought to land the
plane safely. Besides dealing with the crash itself, Derek and Becky were faced
with severe weather conditions that could also have ended their lives. I loved
their teamwork as they raced to find shelter. Then came the fun part. Once settled
safely in a remote cabin, Becky realizes she has a captive audience for her long-awaited
talk with Derek. I loved her methods; she used every bit of her training to
break down Derek's walls. I laughed out loud at his shock and then his
fascination. I was so happy to see their progress and their realization that it
was just the beginning of fighting for their relationship.
At the same time, unexplained things are happening around
Becky. A horse she treats at a distant ranch has puzzling symptoms, and one of
the ranch hands is exceptionally hostile toward her. Not long after, her home
office catches fire. Then, there is the oddity of the plane crash. An
unexpected twist brings danger to Becky's door. This confrontation was intense,
but the resolution had me cheering for Becky and Derek. The ending was
fantastic, and I loved the scene between Zac and Derek.
I love seeing the deep ties between the new generation of
Linear Tactical characters. Most have known each other all their lives, and
their teamwork and support are rivaled only by that of their parents. I am
especially fascinated by Lincoln and can't wait to find out who Janie finds to
match with him. Colton is up next, and I look forward to reading his story.
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