Escape to You: A Montana Heat Novel (Montana Heat, #2)

by Jennifer Ryan

A Montana man always protects the woman he loves He discovered her during a Montana blizzard, freezing cold, impossibly vulnerable, a little boy by her side. Undercover DEA Agent Beck "Trigger" Cooke is astonished to recognize Ashley Swan-award-winning actress, famous beauty-and missing for over a year. To keep her and the child hidden from a sadistic madman, he secrets the pair away to his isolated home. No longer a prisoner, and protected at Hope Ranch, Ashley recovers and learns the tall, tempting federal agent may have a dark past, but it hasn't destroyed his sense of honor. As they shed past roles and find common ground, Ashley and Trigger can't help but fall slowly, carefully, in love. But danger still lurks outside the boundaries of Hope Ranch, for until her crazed captor is brought to justice, and Trigger's undercover past is laid to rest, none of them will ever be truly safe...

• ISBN10: 0062645250
• ISBN13: 9780062645258
• Publish Date: 7 September 2017 (first published 29 August 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 6 July 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Avon Books
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[thebookdisciple]

Escape to You by Jennifer Ryan is a suspenseful story of kidnapping, torture, and salvation. Ashley was a famous actress who disappeared from the public (and private) eye with seemingly no trace! One evening, almost a year after her abduction, Ashley manages to escape and brings along a child who was held captive as well. Lost in the Montana wildness, she stumbles upon Beck Cooke's home. He takes her and the child in and promises to protect and help them. Ashley has been tortured and is battered and terrified.

Ashley and Andrew escape pretty early in the story so the focus isn't quite on the torture, which is good to know. Ashley is very scared by the time she reaches Beck's. Her struggle is not only what had happened to her, but how the public will perceive her. She fears they won't believe her and will vilify her and that her kidnapper (who is also famous), will spin a story that makes her look like a crazy person. I struggled with Ashley because of her over concern of people's perception. I get it-she was famous and people will talk. But, after what she went through, that should be the LAST thing on her mind.

Beck "Trigger" Cooke is still struggling with his recent injury and feeling like a failure. He feels that he needs to get Ashley and Andrew out of his life quickly before he ruins them as well. However, he has strong feelings for Ashley and struggles with the desire to keep her safe and with him.

My favorite part of the story was Andrew. Seeing his adorable interactions with Beck made me melt!

 

• POV: 3rd


• Tears: no


• Trope: kidnapping


• Triggers: Obviously Ashley is tortured and some of it is described; Ryan does a good job of not being overly descriptive


• Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series


• Cliffhanger: spoiler


• HEA: spoiler

Pretend You're Safe by Alexandra Ivy, Monster in the Closet by Karen Rose, Under Fire by Scarlett Cole...then you will probably like Escape to You!

 

Escape to You

See full review on The Book Disciple

[kimbacaffeinate]

After reading the preview for this novel in the back of PROTECTED BY LOVE, I knew we would be getting an intense story. Beck is at his ranch in Montana recovering both mentally and physically from an undercover assignment that his left him weary and the target of a drug kingpin out for revenge. A snow storm is moving in and when he goes out to tend his horses he discovers someone has been in his barn. Imagine his surprise when he finds a young boy who leads him to a woman. He is shocked when he recognizes the gaunt unconscious young woman. Beck brings them inside and soon realizes these two have been abused. The tale that unfolds places them all in danger even as they build an incredible bond.

Ryan gave us quite the twisted villain and the tale had dark elements as we learn of Ashley Swan and Adam's ordeal. Beck like his brother Cade falls fast and goes into protective mode. Determined to be by Ashley's side he comes out of hiding and exposes his location to the man who wants him dead. Filled with twists, turns, and surprises Ryan had me devouring this in a single sitting.

I have liked Beck since we first met him in the Montana Men series. Cover in tattoos that share a story, his tall, rugged looks, dark clothes and scruff makes him look more like a drug dealer than a DEA agent. As the story progressed we saw him transform and it felt genuine. Like he had once again found a purpose.

Ashley was a strong and fearless character. Ryan did a wonderful job of allowing the reader to feel her emotions and gain a sense of what she endured. The flashbacks to the previous year were chilling and had an air of believability to them that sent shivers down my spine. While I knew Ashley was strong to have survived her year in captivity her kick-ass actions and cleverness made me smile. I appreciated the way Ryan allowed both characters to show their strengths and grow.

This was a dark tale with quite a bit of violence. We even spent time exploring the villain's psyche. Ryan also touched on PTSD as well as media and fan perception. I appreciated these added details and depth.

I think for fans of romance, this tale may feel more like a thriller but I ended up enjoying the ride even if it left me breathless. The romance was touching and despite the initial fast pace, I felt connected. Ryan slowed things down a little, gave us some heat and delivered a satisfying ending that left me smiling. Ryan weaved past threads into the tale and set us up for the next novel, TRUE TO YOU, Dawson Kings' story.

Copy provided by the publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer