Book description:
You can't override the heart
It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord's mortally wounded son.
As part of the Army Special Forces A-Team on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia's life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia doesn't want to like anything about Rick and his team--but an unexpected attraction is taking hold.
With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he's beginning to think that, despite their differences, they just may be able to make a life together.
My review:
I ran across this author a few months ago and downloaded a few free e-books by her, but had not read them yet. Then this book came up for review, her first with a major Christian publisher. I was intrigued, and requested it. It is one of the best first reads by a new-to-me author I have read for a while.
The two main characters are pure gold. They far from hit it off at first meeting, and are totally opposites. She is a pacifist against killing, and is a doctor who saves lives. He is a soldier who kills to save others. One funny scene: he is going in to see his injured men, and she made him leave his guns outside, and attempted to make him leave his gun also. He replies that he is a weapon, and that anything within his reach can be used as a weapon. "Comes down to it, I could strangle you with my boxers or smother you with my socks. You want me to leave them outside too?"
I enjoy military fiction, and this author's first (I think) attempt at it was a home run out of the park. I loved the team of guys she created, and found myself chuckling at their nicknames: Swanson was "pot pie", Fisher was "Trout", Sanders was "drum stick". One thing I really like and enjoy in a book is the back and forth between characters, and Bridgeman did an excellent job on that....especially between the two main characters, Rick and Cynthia.
The drama and suspense were also well done, along with the descriptive writing. I could easily see in my mind the places they were traveling to get out of the danger they found themselves in. I felt pulled into the book, and the action and danger seemed so realistic and well written, that it felt like a true glimpse into what our special forces soldiers face and go through.
Through the arguing and discussion between Rick and Cynthia about her pacifism and the killing and violence he and his men regularly faced and did, the author addressed the issue of Christian men in the military having to kill. Though fictional, I enjoyed reading about Rick's Christian experience and walk as a special forces soldier, and how he unwound when on leave. And thanks to the author, I have been hungry for a good hamburger because of all the talk of eating them in the book.
I loved this book, and it is truly one of the best Christian military type books I have read. If this is an indication of the author's writing talent and abilities, I definitely need to read more of her work.
The only complaint I have: I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and wished the author had made that part of the story a little more detailed.....maybe included an epilogue.
Something unusual about this trilogy: This first novel released this month. The second will release October 4, and the third will release November 1. I am looking forward to reading the other two, and thankfully will not have to wait long.
I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.
About the author:
Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.
Check out her website for a few free e-books, the first ones in a few series.
Honor Bound is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.
Thanks to Revell for the review copy.
Book #2 releasing October 4, 2022
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