Review: Knox by Susan May Warren

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

He's not looking for trouble...

Montana rancher Knox Marshall's danger years are behind him. A former bull-rider, he now runs the Marshall family ranch, raising champion bucking bulls for the National Professional Bullrider's Expo (NBR-X). Wealth and success are his, but life is stable, expected, and…ordinary.  But he wants more from life...

But trouble is looking for her...

Kelsey Jones just wants a safe life, a family, a home. Onstage, the beautiful rising star of the Yankee Belles becomes the person she longs to be - vivacious and confident - burying the brokenness she carries from a violent assault. Becoming NBR-X’s next country act is key to outrunning her past and achieving the success and security she craves.

When trouble finds them both...

Knox and Kelsey's paths collide when an explosion at an NBR-X event traps them in the rubble and leaves them reeling. Kelsey’s crippling nightmares return, but for Knox, an obsession to find the bomber is ignited.

What will it cost him to protect her? 

When Kelsey’s past threatens Knox’s family, he'll have to choose between saving the Marshall legacy or becoming the protector he's always longed to be.

My Review

Be still my heart! I was thrilled to find out that the author is writing a series about the Marshall family- Rueben, the oldest brother, was my favorite smokejumper in the Montana Fire series, and the brief glimpse we see of his family when they are reunited at the end of Burnin' for You provided the perfect lead-in to more stories. I loved reading Knox's perspective and understanding his feelings about being responsible for the ranch while his siblings went on to lead exciting lives. He feels nice, safe, and old, but when Kelsey comes into his life with all her trauma and vulnerability, he is exactly what she needs, and he feels good about that. It was interesting to see the dichotomy in Kelsey's persona- the vibrant country singer who can hold a crowd in the palm of her hand, and the frightened victim who is just trying to hold it together for one more day. She drew out the hero in Knox, and he helped her feel protected and cherished for who she really is. They had great chemistry and the author did a fantastic job of showing them falling in love amid the turmoil in their lives. I loved the peace of the ranch and the way it calmed Kelsey, allowing her to realize the Lord's hand at work in her life. The pace is steady and quickens with each element of danger the characters face. Part of the story is shown from the perspective of Tate and Glo, and I'm excited for their story and the continuation of the suspenseful plot! All five books in the series are being released this year and I appreciate that we won't have long to wait between each book!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

THE MONTANA MARSHALLS (family series)
 

Book 1: Knox
Book 2: Tate (July 2019)
Book 3: Ford (September 2019)
Book 4: Wyatt (October 2019)
Book 5: Ruby Jane (November 2019)