by Jennifer Ryan
Series: Montana Heat #2
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Heat Level:
A Montana Man risks everything for the woman he loves . . .
Undercover DEA Special Agent Dawson King spent five months in a Montana prison establishing a fake identity to take down a ruthless drug dealer and put him behind bars. Except there’s a wild card . . . the killer’s beloved daughter. Cara Potter may appear to be on the right side of the law, but King has learned the hard way to trust no one—even someone as tantalizing as the coffee shop owner. She’s irresistible . . . but is she also dangerous?
From the moment he enters her life, King makes Cara . . . nervous. The handsome drifter says he wants to get his life together . . . but there is something about him that doesn’t quite ring true. Cara wants to believe in him, yet she holds back despite the way he awakens dormant dreams and leaves her breathless with his sexy smile, steamy kisses, his every touch.
When the explosive truth comes out and she’s betrayed by the ones she loves, Cara must decide—can she trust her heart, or should she listen to her head?
True to You by Jennifer Ryan is the second book in the romantic suspense series Montana Heat. The tale features DEA Special Agent Dawson King as he goes undercover to takedown, Iceman, a notorious drug dealer. Things get complicated when King gets close to the drug lord’s daughter Cara Potter. Suspenseful and well-paced Ryan delivered a heartwarming romance that swept me away.
Coffee Dates with True to You
- First Date: King is a sniper and special agent for the DEA. He spends five months in jail undercover to create a solid background and poses as an ex-con looking to get back on his feet. Cara Potter is the daughter of a drug lord. She runs the Crossroads Cafe and has earned a reputation for helping ex-cons turn their lives around. It’s King’s job to get a job at the cafe and take up residence in the rooms Cara offers. His mission is to get close to Cara, see if she is involved in her father’s business and find a way to take down the infamous Iceman. Cara isn’t at all what King expected and I found myself caught up in their story. King made me giggle at the beginning and I connected right away, but an incident early in made him completely swoon-worthy.
- Second Date: Woozier, Cara’s family tree is downright scary and Ryan did an excellent job of sharing her background and family while impressing me with Cara’s strength, resilience and determination to carve out a better life for herself and the people she tries to help. King is a sweetie and like Cara, I cannot help being attracted to him even as he poses as an ex-con. Ryan builds up the world that surrounds Cara as King investigates. From the beginning, there is sizzling chemistry between them, but King tries not to cross the line as Cara thinks about breaking her own rules and seducing him. I loved the Crossroads Cafe and my stomach growled with talk of cherry tarts and cinnamon donuts. I found secondary characters like Tanya the waitress, Cara’s hermit uncle and a young man trying not to follow in his Dad’s footsteps interesting. Ryan not only developed them but weaved them into the overall storyline.
- Third Date: Action, suspense, and climatic scenes had me reading into the wee-hours as both Cara and King find themselves in danger. The relationship suffers when all is revealed and while it had its sweet moments, I wasn’t totally sold on Cara’s reasoning or at least the way she acted towards King. The suspense thread ended around the eighty percent mark as Ryan focused on the romantic aspect of this tale. Grab some tissues and prepare for some awe moments. This was a great couple and despite some bumps, I had to find out if they’d get a happily ever after. You’ll have to go on your own date to find out.
True to You delivered plenty of action, heat and heartwarming moments making it the perfect read for a cold winter’s night. While this is part of a series, Ryan allows each book to have its own case and romance, so feel free to dive in.
True to You by Jennifer Ryan delivered plenty of action, heat and heartwarming moments making it the perfect read for a cold winter's night. #NewRelease #RomanticSuspense Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JoLee @ Wickedly Delicious Book Blog
I love that her coffee shop help get ex cons a second chance at life with hiring them.
Kimberly
I did too, she was a character you could easily root for.
Debbie Haupt
Oh this sounds really good and I love books set in Montana
Kimberly
I do too, such a pretty state.
Stefanie
You’re creative in how you review a book. So fun to read.
Kimberly
Thanks, Stefanie I am glad you enjoyed it.
Angela Adams
“plenty of action, heat and heartwarming moments” — that has me hooked. Thanks for the post!
Kimberly
It was a fun one with lots of action
Sophia Rose
I have been under a rock. I had no idea she wrote good suspense stories as well as the contemporary cowboy romances. This looks great. Thanks, Kimberly!
Kimberly
Happy to share it with you, Sophia!
Mary
I like suspense and I like how you did it with dates. By the third date WOWZAH! 5 months in jail is a long time. This sounds really intriguing, must check it out! Thanks for the great review.
Kimberly
Can you imagine the dedication required?
Mary
No, I could never do it. Not 5 minutes much less years! =)
Heidi
That’s dedication to spend time in prison to establish an undercover guise. This one has me intrigued.
Kimberly
*shivers* Right? I couldn’t do it.
Ethan
I really appreciate how the suspense seems to be integrated into an otherwise straightforward romance.
Kimberly
The suspense of this series has been well done, Ethan. I like that the suspense replaces the conflict or drama.
Jenea’s Book Onsession
I really like that this has so much action, and Cara and King like a couple I would love.
Kimberly
This has been a fun, intense and sexy series Jenea.
sherry fundin
You know I love romantic suspense, but that cover doesn’t do anything for me. Almost looks like a cozy.
Kimberly
Stock photo, but the suspense is very good.
Nick
Glad to hear you enjoyed this, Kim! I’ve seen this author’s books around, but haven’t read her yet. I don’t care for those covers, tbh, but I’ll need to set that aside as the inside sound wonderful.
Kimberly
Yeah, they are stock photos for sure.
Bookworm Brandee
This one sounds like an exciting read! You have me wanting to me King for sure and Cara as well. I want to know her story since she *is* the daughter of a drug lord and yet King wants her. Hmm… Oh, and the mention of cinnamon donuts…yeah, that too! LOL
Kimberly
The food talk gets me every time!
Daniela Ark
oh wow even tough it is romance it sounds intense with that scary family tree and all the action, suspense, and climatic scenes. and mixing all that with tissue-in-the-hand moments. Yeah! Sounds really good!
Kimberly
Yes, there were some scary people involved and she is daddy’s little girl!
Quinn's Book Nook
That’s great that you really loved this. I’ve always struggled with Jennifer Ryan’s books, but I know so many that love her books.
Kimberly
I’ve only read her previous series and this spinoff. Thanks, Quinn.
Melliane
This one looks great and I always love to read a good romantic suspense novel!
Kimberly
I do too Melliane. I love that the suspense replaces the drama 🙂
cindy
Cara has quite a family and King sounds tough and dreamy! This book and series sounds like it need to go on my to read list ASAP. Thanks for the great review:)
Kimberly
Can you imagine doing time to create a solid background? Eep!
Silvia
While I appreciate the fact this book can work as a stand-alone, it seems to me like I could enjoy the series in general, so I’d better get ready to check the first instalment as well 😉
Kimberly
Haha..yes that is often the case. I know I sometimes jump in and then end up going back to the beginning anyway.
Angela
I love that your reviews come with a heat level!
Kimberly
Happy to share, it is nice to have an idea of how steamy it will get 🙂