The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren is the second action packed book in a series. I had not read the first book before reading this one, but even though there were some details I may have been better able to understand had I read book one, I was able to easily follow this story. There are two stories happening at the same time in this book, the main storyline follows Jake and Aria who met during a mountain rescue where both opened up more than they would have done under normal circumstances. After returning, they are both unable to forget the experience or each other. They are thrown into another tense situation when Jake follows Aria to Florida where she is vacationing and a hurricane is looming. So much happens after that and the question is, will they make it out alive.

The second storyline involves Ham who has just learned he has a daughter and that the wife he thought was dead is now presumed dead for a second time. He is worried about being a good father as well as wondering if his wife is truly dead or not. This storyline will continue in book three of the series.

This is a Christian fiction/romantic suspense. The characters learn life affirming lessons in the midst of their chaotic experiences. I thought these lessons were well written. I thought the characters were interesting. I did find Jake's character to be somewhat superhuman in all that he endured. Aria also triumphed over so much.
I found the action in the story truly suspenseful, but kind of unbelievable in many aspects which is what made this a 4 rather than a 5 star read for me. I do have a desire to go back and read the first book and watch for the third. I will recommend.

My thanks to Revell and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and offer my unbiased opinion.

"I am forgiven, I am clean. I am loved." Flawed and heartfelt characters with a very exciting and page turner story made this book amazing. I received a copy through Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

THE HEART OF A HERO is book 2 in Susan May Warren's newest series. Fans will want to read book 1 (The Way of the Brave) first as Aria and Jake's story begins there.

Jake is a former Navy Seal, and he carries a lot of baggage. Aria also struggles with her sister's death.

HEART OF A HERO contains nonstop action, adventure, romance, suspense and best of all, the Coast Guard, all set during a category 5 hurricane. There is also a very strong faith message.

I couldn't put this book down. There were a few twists (one surprised me) and one thing I saw coming but didn't...at least not in this book.

I highly recommend this book and series.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

The Heart of a Hero is Susan May Warren’s second in the Global Search and Rescue series. Jake and Aria process what happened while climbing Denali until the heat is turned up. Disaster strikes leaving them trapped in the middle of a hurricane on Key West.

I have to say, this book checks all the boxes. Jake is an exceptional hero. The heart of a marine but the soul of a boy who suffered a terrible tragedy. He’s spent his whole life since, trying to make amends for something that wasn’t his fault.

Meanwhile Aria is still living in the shadow of her twin sister turned heart donor. She now tries to live more like her daredevil sister, but keeps ending up in highly precarious positions. A medical conference takes her to Key West, where she plans to unwind and forget her attraction to Jake Silver.

When food poisoning prevents her from leaving, Aria awakens to a frightening and empty new world. Following his instinct, Jake shows up and between them they fight for personal survival, and to keep those around them safe.

As in her other books, Susan May Warren shows herself to be the mistress of intertwining motivation with circumstance, bravery with tragedy, and growth from loss. The supporting characters jump from the pages and book three should be a doozy. The Global Search and Rescue series is a triumph of storytelling.

This story was inconsistent with one of the characters having to be carried due to an injury and the next minute walking up stairs.
Maybe I misread it but I don't think so.
This just spoilt it for me.
Overall though and enjoyable read.

Boy, does Susan May Warren know how to tell a story!! This one was riveting from beginning to end, emotionally charged in so many different ways. There was, of course, Jake and Aria’s relationship (which began in the previous book in the series—do yourself a favour and read The Way of the Brave first if you haven’t already) and their fight to once again survive the worst the natural world can throw at them, but I was equally invested in the plight of several other characters who got caught up with them: resort owner Mimi and her granddaughter Yola, a stranded and heavily pregnant young woman by the name of Angel, and a few other people who get brought into the story along the way.

We also have the beginning of Ham’s story—also emotionally charged, but I won’t share details for the sake of those who haven’t read the first book in the series yet. I will say I wasn’t sure which way his story was heading until the very end, and I am now all fired up to read his story when it comes out.

But back to Jake and Aria. Jake truly does have the heart of a hero, and wow does he get into some tight situations in this story—they all do, but Jake especially—but I love that part of his journey is working out what’s driving his hero instinct. Susan May Warren always pushes her characters to look deep inside themselves to discover their motives—what they believe about themselves and about God—and yet it never feels as though this is driving the story. It ALWAYS feels as though the action is following a natural trajectory and they’re being forced to confront the things they’re struggling with internally through the situations they’re battling externally. And I think that’s one of the things I love most about Susan May Warren’s books: God shapes her characters through their storms rather than rescuing them out of the storms—in this case, in a very literal sense!

I could go on and on—the writing is tight and dynamic, the action intense, the romance has both depth and chemistry—but I’ll just summarise it this way: If you love Christian romantic suspense, you’re missing out big time if you haven’t picked up Susan May Warren’s books.

Wow. That was my words when I finished this book. It started off action packed and DID NOT LET UP. This is book 2 in a series, and while I have not read book 1 - there is enough backstory filtered in that I understood what was going on. Aria is a strong female character - who carries the baggage of her past around with her. She is afraid to live, to step out on her own, to be adventurous. When she did try and be adventurous she ended up having to be saved by Jake. Jake Silver is a former SEAL who has a natural instinct to swoop in and save people. He and Aria have a strong attraction between them - that Aria is afraid of. Aria goes to a medical conference in South Florida where she ends up trapped in a hurricane. Jake follows - and the danger is strong. The hurricane becomes so strong that EVERYONE flees the island. What will happen when there is noone to help them but themselves? Can they fight the attraction and concentrate on the mission?

I have read several books by this author - she always starts off with a bang - and keeps going full throttle. She has written amazing characters where she can continue to build off them in the series. The storyline is original. I will be going back to read book one (The Way of the Brave) - and look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book through the author and JustRead blogging program - all thoughts are my own.

Wowza! What an awesome thrill ride! Susan May Warren is one of my favorite authors and I always eagerly anticipate her next release! The Heart of a Hero lived up to all my expectations!
I loved this book! Aria was a fabulous heroine, I loved her determination and her heart for others, I also found myself relating to her quite a bit, our personalities are similar!
I don't think I've met one of Susie May's heroes that I haven't loved, and in Jake I found a new book boyfriend to add to my collection, I love his steadfastness, his protectiveness, his gentleness, and that he made me laugh with his corny jokes!
I'm always in awe of this author's magnificent ability to write in such a way as to paint a vivid picture of the surroundings so I can see it my mind without slowing down the action in the slightest! And this book was no exception, I could hear the howling wind, and see the pouring rain and storm surge as though I was living through it right alongside the characters!
Also, I just have to say that I have loved Ham since he first appeared in Wait for Me, and I was so excited when I first found out that this series follows members of his team, and I was doubly excited that he is actually a POV character in this book, it was great to get inside his head and I cannot wait to read his book, The Price of Valor when it releases later this year!
The Heart of a Hero is an absolute must read, and I most highly recommend it!


I received an ebook copy of this book from the publisher. Which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own!

What an incredible story!
I loved reading jake and aria’s story.
This is the second book in an amazingly intense series by the talented Susan May Warren. I had not known what to expect when I read the first one. It was not so much a mystery as a story of man against nature. This one goes right along with the first one, and is another great read. Well, this book, in addition to that whole 'man against the elements' plot does in fact have some elements of mystery in it as well. And I loved it.


When I sit down to write reviews for a book such as this one, I always struggle with coming up with the right words to say. I don't want to give spoilers, but yet, I want to convey the depth and feeling this book gave to me.


Jake and Aria. They had a connection, there on Denali. And yet, both of them tell themselves, and each other, that it was nothing. They both want to believe it. That is where this story begins.


Aria heads to Key West for a vacation. And she finds herself in the middle of a terrible hurricane. Jake finds out that she is right in the path of the storm, and impulsively flies to her rescue.


Jake is such an amazing hero. In spite of his issues, which he is forced to deal with, he has to learn to accept himself for the person God made him. Which allows him to be the kindhearted and caring hero he really is meant to be.


Being in such extreme danger has a way of bringing things out in the open that would otherwise stay hidden. This book has that danger. The kind that leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat, flipping pages as fast as you can possibly read them.


Then, as I mentioned already, there is also a mystery woven into this story. I won't go into any more details here, but just to say it had me hooked. And completely unsure of what would happen next.


If you are looking for an intense and action packed story, then be sure and read this one!


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

You don’t want to miss this! Book two of author Susan May Warren’s newest series, The Heart of a Hero, will grab your attention from beginning to end. I daresay you will lose sleep, staying up extra late to read this unputdownable book!

As part of of his stint as a Navy Seal, and sniper, Jake Silver has spent years rescuing others in very harrowing and dangerous situations. Newly retired Jake joins Jones Inc as part of a rescue team; he hasn’t veered too far from rescuing others who find themselves in dire straits.

Aria Sinclair, a highly specialized surgeon, can’t stop thinking about Jake Silver. He rescued her from Denali just in the nick of time, but it’s her heart that cannot forget the man she almost let in. She wants nothing but to forget him and move on with her life of saving desperately ill young children; except it seems forgetting Jake is next to impossible.

When Aria heads to Florida for a medical conference, she is unaware that the hurricane predicted to miss the coast, is going to turn unexpectedly inland, bringing the Cat 4 storm directly her way. Once again, Jake Silver appears to rescue Aria but this time is different. This time there is seemingly no way out, and both Aria and Jake just might die together.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Just Read Tours via NetGalley, and am not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.

As the second in the Global Search and Rescue series, Susan May Warren continues the perilous saga of Aria and Jake. Although I felt the story was a little slow at the beginning, once the pace started to climb, it didn’t end until the last page! I enjoy any stories about the Navy SEALS and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. There is lots of page-turning drama, a little titillating romance, and some very intriguing characters, all with some spiritual inspiration sprinkled throughout. I especially loved Mimi and her wisdom; “I am forgiven, I am clean, I am loved”.

Although this can be read as a stand-alone novel, I would highly recommend reading the first in the series so you can better understand some of the back-story.

I received a copy of this from JustRead Tours through NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review.

Wow! What a rollercoaster of emotions this book brought out! I was so impressed by the writing that it made me want to search for more books by Susan May Warren. THAT is when you know a book is GOOD!
The story is full of suspense and horrible situations for Jake and Aria. Each of them end up saving the others’ life more than once due to events caused by natural disasters. They both have a love for saving lives in their own professions and it shows throughout the book. They find that until they forgive themselves for past events that were out of their control, and place God at the center of their lives, giving Him control, they will never find peace, happiness, and true love.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys inspirational suspense love stories. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

The title of this novel really captures the theme of the whole book. Both of the main characters, Jake and Aria, struggle with issues of the heart. Aria not only has to come to terms with her physical heart transplant, but also the trauma of losing her sister and her identity as she continues to live life. Jake struggles with the trauma of PTSD after a particularly difficult mission as a Navy SEAL and a childhood event that impacted his whole family. In the midst of the soul searching, there is a hurricane wreaking havoc in the south of Florida where Aria and Jake are located. This creates several life and death situations. The action and drama in this novel is non-stop, making the pace steady throughout. I loved all of the action elements as nature was not the only villain in the story. Jake and Aria go through a good bit of spiritual warfare, which I appreciated as part of their character development. The romantic tension between Jake and Aria began in the first book of this series and continued into this book. Quite the build up! I always enjoy that part of a novel ; ). This is my first series by Susan May Warren and so far I'm enjoying it. Looking forward to book 3!

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinion, which I did.**

INTENSE!

There are people who run from danger and there are those who run straight to it. Correction they run straight THROUGH it! It is if they were created to handle situations other people dread. Jake Silver former sniper and Navy Seal was created to be a rescuer. He has just returned home from a rescue mission in Alaska where he made the decision to join the Jones Inc. Rescue Team. The Team is made up of former Seals like himself who still want to make a difference in their world. One person he rescued on Denali was Pediatric Heart Surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair. The time they spent together was intense and they both are struggling with what to do with their continued strong feelings for each other. They are from different walks of life. He loves danger. She does impossibly difficult surgery to attempt to correct heart defects on infants and children and occasionally doing in-utero surgery when necessary. Aria goes to Key West to present a talk on one of her most recent surgeries and for some rest and relaxation. Her trip turns deadly when a Category 4 Hurricane comes barreling straight towards where she is staying! As the storm is at its deadliest, Aria desperately wishes for the comfort and safety of Jake. Who else would show up in the middle of a Category 4 Hurricane? The guy with a rescuer’s heart. The one that lives for danger. The one that runs through danger. Jake Silver to the rescue! Can one lone man rescue a Dr., a pregnant woman, a badly injured woman, her granddaughter, a young boy, a random guy that is supposed to be helping them & the druggie they have locked up in the medicine bay of the hospital they are all stranded in? Be ready to stay up all night because Susan May Warren has filled this novel with all manner of twists and turns and will have you all worn out when you finish reading it! It’s great! I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Revell and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

I love the adventure and danger mixed with romance in Susan May Warren's books. It really keeps things exciting and moving along at a fantastic pace. This series, like some of her other more recent, has individual stories happening along with an over arching story line. It's all connected but comes together a bit at a time. I really love this approach because it keeps everything interesting. It also means that you really must read these books in order to keep up with everything happening.

Jake is the kind of guy that runs straight into danger. Literally. It's as if he just cannot help himself. He is a hero by all definitions and in this book, he was running into danger on practically every single page. It made my heart weak. haha. I loved his strength and determination. I loved his hero kindness.

Aria is so smart and although she is battling some pretty big demons, she really keeps things together for other people when it counts. I loved watching her grow and accept herself. I was glad to have met Jake and Aria in book one and know their history there because it laid the foundation of their relationship and gave understanding to how it progressed in this book.

I always end Warren's books satisfied and happy but eagerly awaiting the next book. They just cannot come fast enough.

Content: this is a Christian fiction book and has moments of stronger Christian themes. Some moments of violence, peril, death, kissing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Susan May Warren is a master at keeping you on your toes when reading her stories! You never know what’s going to happen next, but you can be assured that something will happen and it will be completely unexpected! This is Jake and Aria’s story, who we met in book 1, The Way of the Brave.

I really liked Jake. He’s charming, brave, seriously likable, and seems to find someone or something to rescue wherever he goes. While I liked Aria, I struggled to connect with her a little bit because she sent one too many mixed signals to Jake. There was a lot of action and many twists and turns in this story - one that seriously had my mouth hanging open. I did feel like there was too much of Ham’s story, which is next in this series, in this story, I would’ve like more of Jake and Aria’s instead.

I also loved the faith message that was in this story. These lines really resonated with me, “Panic comes when we stop believing that God is good. Or, that God is sovereign. But He is both, And that is the key to peace, even in the midst of the grief or fear. Whatever Storm life brings.”

If you are wanting to read a romantic adventure with a lot of action, this is the story for you!

"I know grace is difficult to accept. It's in our nature to want to bargain for our redemption, as if we have a stake in it. But it's an all-or-nothing proposal. You can do nothing but receive it. All or nothing. I am forgiven. I am clean. I am loved."

Susan May Warren yet again weaves a heart-pounding tale laced with romance and brimming with spiritual truths but this time set on an island off Florida in the midst of a hurricane. This is book 2 in the series and I suggest reading the series in order to catch and appreciate all the nuisances in the plot and character development. Eagle-eyes will see some neat comments about characters from her previous two series (Montana Marshalls and Montana Rescue), which is super-fun for fans of the author.

The adrenaline-filled action and suspense come from surviving a hurricane and the aftermath on an island, which is a bit different from scaling an icy mountain in Alaska (which happened in The Way of the Brave). Jake proves himself a true hero who "does the hard thing despite the cost" while scrounging for supplies, helping Aria stabilize the wounded, fighting off bad guys, and rescuing multiple people stranded during the storm. Jake is impulsive, smart, wickedly resourceful, a man of action but unexpectedly sensitive and tender. Yet he has a troubled past and needs to accept forgiveness. I really enjoyed getting to know Jake's large family and hope that we'll see more of the Silver family in the future books.
Aria is a pediatric cardiac surgeon who excels at work but lacks confidence in who she is in her personal life. Haunted by her twin sister's memory who lived life so differently, she must come to terms with who God has made her to be. Jake and Aria's love is passionate and all-consuming but also self-sacrificial and they challenge each other to be better and to strive for more.
And Ham! I am hanging onto the edge of my seat for Ham's full story to unfold. Some of his backstory is told in this book and that's just a carrot dangling until The Price of Valor releases in October!

I don't know how Susan May Warren does it (and I say this every time I read her newest release), but she ramps up the quality of her novels with each new book. If you enjoy contemporary romance with plenty of action, you will love this book and series. The book will grab you from the first page with its raw, heartfelt writing, intense action sequences, deeply-layered and complex characters worthy of your love, and spiritual truths that we all need to remember.

I received a copy of the book from Revell/Baker Publishing via JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Can I just gush for a moment?

I have followed Susan May Warren since she first started writing and her books continue to amaze me with the depth and faith her characters display! This new series Global Search and Rescue is so much adventure, suspense, and faith packed into just a bit over 300 pages. IT IS AWESOME. Okay, gush over. The Heart of a Hero is book two in the series and can be read as a standalone, I do think however that by reading the first book your experience will be enhanced.

Let us start with the setting of this book, shall we?

Susan May Warren takes us from a hospital to a tropical paradise in the Florida Keys. The descriptions of the weather and the hurricane are so vivid; It was like I was the one standing in water and running for cover. I enjoyed her take on what might happen (Or probably does happen) when a hurricane comes through the Keys. Her mental picture of the hospital made me feel like I could walk into that hospital and find my way around just by the way the characters talked about it. A lot of details went into this book without making you realize they are there until you go back over the book in your mind.

The characters were some of my favorites from Susan May Warren.

I loved Aria’s spunky and sarcastic personality mixed with her shy insecurities. I think it made her even more of a believable character as we see those traits in ourselves and those around us. Aria had such passion for helping others as well, her take-charge attitude in dangerous situations is something I would hope to have in those situations. Jake. Jake. Jake. I feel like I have been rooting for him since the beginning when he was mentioned in The Way of the Brave. He has such an adventurous and protective spirit to him that is captivating. He knows what he wants in life and goes boldly after it. Basically, the definition of a SEAL. He will go down as one of my favorite characters ever; and Aria and Jake will go down as one of my favorite couples.

There are so many secondary characters that helped make this story complete, but I will let you read about them and see why I liked them just as much as the primary characters!😊 But… have I said how excited I am to see where Ham’s story ends up? Talk about Suspense!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the Amazingly vivid description, the great cast of characters, and for just the right amount of suspense to keep me from falling out of my seat. 😊 I highly recommend checking out this series if you have not already done so.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

Danger seems to find Jake and Aria. They first met on the Denali in Alaska. Aria and friends took a “vacation” to hike the mountain but Jake and friends needed to rescue them. They hit it off but fear drove a wedge and separated the two, until Aria took a forced vacation to Key West. News of a hurricane in her area sent Jake to rescue her, again. I feel like I’m reading a movie script with Warren’s books. They are intense, quick, spiritual and her characters are three dimensional. Just when you think the end is near something monumental happens to shift the story. Although the story has a strong theme of faith it’s not a preachy format, but one that gives motivation and empowerment. The first two books can be read separately but there is a continuing storyline for Ham that probably finishes up in the third book. I received an early copy through Netgalley and wrote my review voluntarily.

The Heart of a Hero is the second book in Susan May Warren’s Global Search and Rescue series, and only the second of her novels I've read. It would have helped a great deal to read that fact in the Netgalley blurb, so once again I find myself starting to read a series with already established characters and trying to figure out what happened to them in the first book of the series. In the case of this novel, it was obviously a lot. Thankfully, there were enough allusions to it throughout this novel that it worked as a standalone, but the more I read of The Heart of a Hero, the more I wished I'd read book one first. Something else that should have been mentioned in that blurb was that this is a novel of Christian romantic suspense. Since I am not a Christian, I found this novel to be more than a tad preachy for my taste, nevertheless, because this was an exceptionally gripping, intense and well-written novel, with well-defined, admirable characters who truly had depth and great backstories, it still gets 5 stars from this reader.

Jake Silver is a former Navy SEAL who, 6 months earlier, received a medical discharge from the military because he was emotionally tortured by an event in Afghanistan. He joined Global Search and Rescue because his SEAL skills made him perfect for the job. In book one, he rescued Dr. Aria Sinclair, a neonatal children's heart surgeon. She and her friends were on vacation in Alaska, climbing Mount Denali when they were literally blown off the mountain, and Jake rescued her from what might have been sudden death and/or freezing to death when a blizzard rolled in. Once rescued, their attraction to one another started with a kiss, but they were interrupted, and while Jake wanted to pursue the relationship, Aria fled.

Six months after being rescued, Aria loses an in-utero patient, the loss shakes her badly, and she takes the advice she's given and goes to Key West to relax and regroup, and soon finds herself surprised by an oncoming Category 4 (upgraded to 5) hurricane, with the resort owner having a heart/breathing crisis. Since Aria refuses to leave the sick woman, she manages to get Mimi and Yola, her daughter, to a hospital where they are stranded since the island was evacuated. When Jake, at his parents' home in Michigan, learns her whereabouts, he dons his superhero cape and rushes off to Florida to find her. What follows is one harrowing story of danger, dedication and survival. Soon there are more people holed up at the hospital, a pregnant woman, a young boy, his dog, a rather unsavory man, a 20-something drug addict, and, as if that wasn't precarious enough, dangerous criminals--prisoners who manage to escape from the Key West Detention facility escape and are on the loose once the hurricane tears down its walls.

There is also a secondary plot in this novel, in the form of Hamilton (Ham), a friend of Jake's who discovers that his wife, whom he hasn't seen in years because of her relief work in dangerous places in the world, never bothered to let him know he had a daughter. When the young girl turns up alive on a beach after a yacht explodes, a yacht his wife was on, Ham has no idea how to parent this 10-year-old, who hasn't said a single word since she was found and sent to him. This novel ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, since Ham's wife may still be alive. I dislike cliffhangers, and I didn't see this one coming, but am guessing it will be the crux of the upcoming third novel in this series.

If you like novels about Navy SEALs, enjoy non-stop action/adventure thrillers with some non-graphic second chance at romance tossed into the mix, I think you'll enjoy this gripping novel as much as I did, despite the few issues I had with it. I'm certainly planning to backtrack and read book one, and am eager to read the upcoming third novel in this series.

As mentioned at the outset, I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.