A review by lexee9
Storm by Janie Crouch

4.0

I loved this book!!! I was sooo happy to get Noah and Marilyn's story! I have met the characters before in the Risk series (which were fantastic!) and it was great getting to know them better and watch how they figured out their road to be together. Noah is a retired soldier that has become quiet after getting out the military and stays out on his ranch mostly. Marilyn is a mother of 2 that has come to the New Journey's shelter after leaving an abusive relationship. Marilyn caught Noah's attention from the first time he saw her but he could see the wariness in her regarding everything. This book picks up when Marilyn is moving into the new New Journey's building as building manager and Zac, Annie, Bree, Tanner, Cassandra, Noah, and Trigger show up to move everything in. I loved getting to see the way that Noah was with Marilyn. He wants to make sure that he doesn't trigger her or make her uncomfortable but it is not in a pitying way or a way that doesn't show that he respects her and thinks she is strong. I loved the development of this story. If you have read the Risk series then this book will feel familiar as it does happen at the same time as the last book in that series but this is from a different point of view and we get so much more with Noah and Marilyn. I loved getting to see all the things that I hadn't gotten in the Risk series with this couple. If you haven't read that series, you will be able to pick this one up without any issues either. It is a stand alone read. I loved the action and intrigue for sure. There are some potential triggers in here for people as Marilyn is from an abusive relationship and had a ton of horrible things done to her. She is dealing with PTSD and guilt and shame over anything along with building herself back up as a person. She is a fantastic mother and it is great watching her always protect her children. This story is a slow build and it needed to be for our main couple because of what Marilyn had been through. I loved the building of trust with both Marilyn and her kids that Noah was so great at. It was at their pace, with no pressure. This was a story that I couldn't put down once I picked it up. It just pulled me in from beginning to end and touched my heart with it. Just a fantastic read!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.