He’s had everything handed to him. She built her life from nothing.
From growing up on the treacherous streets of New Orleans to being captured by terrorists in Syria, there’s not much Iris Sullivan hasn’t faced in her twenty-six years. When a mysterious operative asks for her help countering a growing threat on the home front, Iris heads to unfamiliar circles in the all-too-familiar city that shattered her carefree childhood and built her unconquerable spirit.
Barrett Jones was the life of the party until news of his twin brother’s death upended his picture-perfect life. Junior year at Tulane and an intriguing new classmate offer a distraction from his grief until Barrett discovers his own connection to the scandals and secrets surrounding Jonny’s death. Can he unravel the web of lies that destroyed his brother before it ensnares the woman he loves as well?
Will the darkness of the past destroy Iris and Barrett’s future, or will they breach their differences and fight together for the light of truth that can set them free?
My review:
I rarely review a book on my blog that was not given to me to review. Occasionally, I find a book such a great read that I take the time and effort to leave a review here on my blog.
This book deserves that. Man, what an excellent book.
The author was new to me until back in April. She was recommended in a Facebook group I am in. I read her 4 book series The Sons of Vigilance, and loved them. I did a blog post about the series. Link here.
But this book may outshine those. It is that good.
Main characters:
Barrett Jones. Wealthy frat boy living in a frat house. He lost his twin brother when he became radicalized by Islamic terrorist groups and was killed in the Syria by the US military. That changed him, and he quit his partying ways and got serious about God.
Silas Landry. Barrett's best friend and room mate. Also a Christian, he was adopted by a great family, having been in the foster system part of his life.
Iris Sullivan (Sully). Christian, and foster sister of Silas, Marine, and sent to the same college her foster brother and Barrett attend. Her mission is to investigate why and how so many students are being radicalized by Islam. She has not seen her foster brother for several years, and they had no idea they would meet up at the college.
There was a different element in this story than most Christian fiction. It is not uncommon for the guy to be older than the female. In this story, Barrett is 20 years old, and Iris is 26 years old.
It is a military romance, but the developing relationship between Barrett and Iris was quite entertaining. There is the age difference of course, and they were so totally opposite. He was raised in wealth - she teasingly calls him a 1 percenter - and she grew up on the streets and in foster care. This is not a lighthearted romance, but one where the characters have depth and have to get really serious about life and their relationship.
It is hard to explain why this was such an awesome read. The relationships between Barrett, Iris, and Silas were great. Watching Barrett slowly change was part of it. When the book starts, he has quit his partying ways, and is living for God....but still not overly mature. That changes over the course of the book, due to losing his twin brother Johnny, and falling for Iris from the get-go.
There are terrorists, fighting, a voo doo chick who is queen of her area of the city, and tons of suspense and drama. There were guys I thought were bad, but turned out to be good, and guys I thought were good that turned out bad.
And the truth about Johnny and his death. I guessed part of it, but was totally surprised at the truth about him.
This was seriously an amazing book, and one of the best I have read this year. And I have read 514.
This is an author to watch, and she has already become one of my favorite authors.
About the author:
HANNAH HOOD LUCERO is a wife, mom of three, Army veteran, and self-proclaimed word-slinger. While it is the brackish waters of the Mississippi Sound that flow through her veins, western North Carolina holds her heart. Her love for storytelling is the fruit of a lifetime of cultivation in the vibrant cultures of the Gulf Coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains. She currently resides in South Mississippi with her husband and three children on their ten-acre homestead. They have one dog, thirteen chickens, and at least fifty species of mosquitos, depending on the month of the year. When she isn’t in the garden, at the stove, or homeschooling, she can be found at her computer—just follow the sound of frenetic typing. Her motto is, “Draft, edit, read, repeat.”
Check out her website: HannahHoodLucero.com
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