Review: The Wounded Warrior by BA Tortuga

Title: The Wounded Warrior (Rocking W: Book One)

Author: BA Tortuga

Length: 217 Pages

Category: Contemporary

At a Glance: This is a great start to the Rocking W series from BA Tortuga. The storyline is full of drama, humor, support from friends and heartwarming family moments. There’s lots of love here, and just a touch of mystery.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: When Luke’s lost everything, the only thing to do is head back home to the ranch and pray that he finds his way again.

When Navy SEAL Luke Blanchard comes back to Northeast Texas after a devastating injury, he feels like the whole world has gone dark. In a wheelchair and feeling worthless, Luke has no idea what to do, even as his twin brother Matt is determined to lift him up and help him heal.

Rory McConnell is a local prodigy, a real estate lawyer with a plan to buy up land before his bitter rival can collect it. When the Blanchard ranch goes into the red, he offers to buy out the debt. Luke backs his brother instead, but he doesn’t believe for a minute that Rory is a bad guy. No one that sexy and fun can be, right?

As Luke claws his way out of depression with a crazy idea to run a therapy ranch, he and Rory start to explore the need growing between them. Will Rory’s need for revenge against a man who damaged him forever come between them, or will it be the force which brings these two wounded men together for good?

Reader Advisory: This book contains fragmented recollection of gang-rape which happened off-screen several years earlier.

Review: After serving in the Navy SEALs, Luke Blanchard has come home to Texas a wounded warrior, and is staying on the ranch with his twin brother, Matt. Matt’s worried about Luke. Luke was always the more jovial brother, Matt the more serious, but now, Luke struggles with self-pity and being wheelchair bound. He finds solace in working on the ranch, especially with the horses.

Rory McConnell is smart, he’s out and proud, and has been buying up an abundance of land, including ranches. He has a purpose and a secret for doing it, though. He’s trying to keep the land out of the clutches of a certain developer. He shows up at the Rocking W and tries to talk Matt into selling, but he’s has already refused once, and things get a little heated. Luke, taking part in the discussion, learns that Matt is behind in the mortgage payments, so he helps his twin and becomes his partner in the ranch. That way they no longer have to deal with Rory coming around.

Luke and Rory run into each other a few times after, and Luke doesn’t know what to make of Rory; he flat out flirts with Luke. At a charity event one evening, Rory and Luke see each other again, and things get a bit out of hand for Rory. He seems to be drunk, and Luke just doesn’t know what to think. After being ill for several days, Rory’s on his way to the ranch to apologize for his actions but just can’t seem to get a break: he’s shot at, a horse almost takes off his hand, and he thinks he was drugged.

Luke and Rory eventually become involved, and Rory helps Luke fulfill his dream for a special place for men who come home injured from war, both physically and mentally, and need an outlet that will benefit them. When a video suddenly shows up on family and friends’ cell phones, Rory is ashamed and disgusted enough with himself that he goes on the run. Luke is persistent, though, and finds out where Rory is, and goes to bring him home. Everyone has a good idea who’s trying to destroy Rory, and they hope they can end it.

This is a great start to the Rocking W series from BA Tortuga. The storyline is full of drama, humor, support from friends and heartwarming family moments. There’s lots of love here, and just a touch of mystery. Along with the chemistry between Rory and Luke, I absolutely enjoyed the story, and the characters are just amazing. I want to see so much more: the success of the Rocking W, more Matt—who Luke worries about finding his happiness—and Mark, who seems to have run away from something. I’ve always liked BA Tortuga’s books, especially her cowboys, and this series has great potential. I’m invested and looking forward to the next book.

You can buy The Wounded Warrior here:
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