I love Susan May Warren's ability to make you "feel" her character's emotions. That is something that not every author can do for me and that is one reason why I always come back to her books.
To be honest I was a little apprehensive about Jake Silver's story. I didn't really like him in the first book, he seemed to be the character that played too loose with the rules. I loved Orion and Ham, but I didn't have high expectations for Jake or Aria(shrugs).
However, Warren did a great job of fleshing out their character, delving into their fears, regrets and weaknesses. It is for those reasons I came to connect with them, because who doesn't have fears, weaknesses or regrets?
At times I was put out with the flipfloping between Jake and Aria's "should we/shouldn't we," but then I was reminded of how indecisive I can be when it comes to really trusting someone or making life decisions.
So this book really got me reflecting.
This book has been one of the few books that has truly pulled me in recently!
The action pulled me in, once the book gets going it never stops!
And this is why SMW is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, she has both the suspense and the great, deep character stories.
I loved the message of forgiveness. And I can't wait for Ham's story!!!!!
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. My review is completely my own honest opinion.

Another wild ride in this series.

I liked this one better than the best, despite all the technical stuff about sailing a catamaran in the beginning.

Aria and Jake were secondary characters in book 1 and we already know them. They had a connection, but then there was a misunderstanding. But Jake hasn't been able to forget Aria and she still has feelings for him, despite what she tells him and herself.

When Aria goes to FL for a conference and some vacation time, she gets sick and sends Jake a text by mistake. Knowing there's a hurricane coming, he doesn't even think twice and goes after her.

How many problems can these two get in? ALL THE PROBLEMS! Wild ride doesn't begin to describe it. And every time, they're there for each other and for those around them.

Looks like Ham's story is next and we'll finally get the to see him with his family complete, after a series of problems, I'm sure.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Readers will need to read the first book of the Global Search and Rescue series to fully understand this story. With little background information to begin with, readers may feel a little lost. Ex-Navy Seal Jake is the main focus in this story. After rescuing Aria off a mountain in Alaska, Jake realizes that he may never have a relationship with her. Both Jake and Aria have so many issues from the past that complicates this story. I loved the strength and wisdom of Mimi. I love the way the team always supports each other. Switching back and forth between Jake and Ham did get a little confusing. Readers who enjoy lots of action and drama will live this book. The cliffhanger at the end will leave readers anticipating the next in the series. Recommended!

THE HEART OF A HERO...Susan May Warren
A stage 4 hurricane is coming and rescuer Jake goes after Ava, now they both are trapped. We meet Ham’s little girl, still not speaking. And how he is struggling with the past. Feeling lost as to how to communicate and take care of this little girl. They all have a past and dealing with those issues. A good story of life for these people and getting to know them and the work they do. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion Net Galley and Revell.

I've read more than sixty Susan May Warren books and I can honestly say she is in a class all her own when it comes to romantic suspense full of action and adventure. She has an amazing talent for weaving a circle of close-knit family and friends into dangerous situations full of challenges most would run from.

The Heart of a Hero was just such a story. Her characters are appealing, yet realistically flawed and imperfect. The southernmost setting of Key West is one I love and could totally visualize the story playing out there with a threatening storm closing in and vicious criminals on the lose.

The main thing I love though in every Susan May Warren book, is her ability to seamlessly blend a thrilling story with spiritual inspiration that always goes straight to my heart. Some of my favorite quotes:

"God showed up in the storms. And saved-not from disaster, but through it, even when she couldn't see the shore."
"Good could take the hard memories and diminish them, replace them with good. In his hands, my heart is safe. He protects it. Heals it. I can trust him, because even when it hurts, life is good. And he is sovereign."

As ever, I am looking forward to The Prince of Valor and seeing how the Global Search and Rescue series all comes together. There are enough clues hidden in The Heart of a Hero to solve at least one of the mysteries if I am guessing correctly. I appreciate Revell Publishing through Netgalley making a copy of The Heart of a Hero available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

The Heart of a Hero is the second book in the Global Search and Rescue series. This book has one disaster after another, as the characters are pushed to their limits (again) and face the truth behind God’s sovereignty, accepting forgiveness and maybe even a romantic future.

We met Aria and Jake in book one of the series as they climbed, fell off and then were rescued off Mt Denali. Now, Aria has been forced to take a vacation by her boss, this time in Florida, and she’s pointedly ignoring what happened between her and Jake. Jake wants nothing more than to chase Aria down and convince her they could be together, but he’s not sure she should want him, especially knowing the secrets and bodies his past hides. When a category 5 hurricane bears down on Florida, Jake jumps on a plane to go and help Aria, but they will have to rescue each other many times over before the storm is done.

I think I’ve said in a review before that I love reading Susan May Warren’s books but I am rather glad I’m not one of her characters. They seem to have to face an endless stream of disasters where everything that could go wrong does. But it doesn’t feel overly dramatised. It kind of feels like real life at the moment. And if anyone could survive a tropical storm and everything that follows, it would be Jake (former SEAL and genuine good guy) and Aria (doctor, trauma and heart specialist). But the events of this book push them both to the edge and they have no choice but to rely on each other and God.

This book has so much to love about it. Jake and Aria’s story began in book one, so it’s best if you read the series in chronological order. And Ham’s story, which will feature in book three is started in this book with some dramatic circumstances and a jaw dropping ending.

With an enigmatic team of characters and some wonderful, heart-wrenching scenes of soul bearing, Heart of a Hero is a romantic and thrilling book.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

I adore this series. Just…gosh. I binged book 1 in prep for this one, and really wasn’t sure if it could possibly be as good—book 1 was amazing!

Heh. I underestimated Susan May Warren. And I’ve read her books before, so it’s not like I didn’t know it was possible.

This book is stunning. Much like book 1, it has nonstop action and twists and turns. “Can’t they catch a break?” No, no they can’t! And yet, Warren maintains believability like nobody’s business. It’s truly remarkable.

Please do rush out and get every book in this series. 😂😂

And while you’re at it, get the Marshall series, too, because there are defo some crossover references! I love itttttttt!!

I received a copy of the book from the publisher and JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions are my own.

Take a deep breath before diving in! From the moment the story opens you are thrown into action and it continues throughout the story. Jake Silver and Aria Sinclair continue their story that was started in The Way of the Brave. Aria heads to Key West for a medical conference and when Jake finds out a Category 4 hurricane is headed there he hops on a plane to save the day and boy does he save the day. They both must forgive themselves for their past decisions/mistakes/issues and learn to walk in the present as the people God has made them to be. Action packed from beginning to end, you won't want to put it down.

An inspirational, fast-paced, exhilarating story from Susan May Warren, “The Heart of a Hero” will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Although it’s a very exciting story, I unfortunately could not get into it. I didn’t love “The Way of the Brave,” but Aria and Jake’s story from that book really intrigued me. I was excited to read this one, but as much as I wanted to love this book, it’s just not for me.

Warren’s attention to detail is incredible, and the plot is crazy thrilling, but it’s a lot to keep up with. There are just so many details and unfamiliar terminology that is hard to keep track of. Warren also includes a third point of view from the hero of the final novel in this series, Hamilton Jones, but the inclusion of Ham’s point of view just added another complicated layer to an already complex storyline, and it became too much.

Even though this book is just not for me, I would still recommend it to readers. Although I didn’t enjoy the constant action and plot twists, other readers will appreciate this story. Personally, I have to give it a 2.5/5 stars, but as I said, I still encourage readers to give it a try.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is part of a series.  Although I read #2 before #1, I was fairly ok guessing at the story line but it might serve better to read in order.  This is a Christian romance, which means a romance that includes God and religious leaning.  There is no sex, not much violence and ends with a happy ending.

Since I've not read book #1, I am unclear on some of the characters, but what I am sure of is that I need to read #3 when it comes out.   The writer made me care about these characters.  There was action and parts that made me stop and think about what I would do if I was put in their situation.  The whole book felt like a non stop marathon.  I started and it was hard to stop.

Though this is a christian romance, I did not feel like religion was foisted upon me.  It was more like warm thoughts and caring for the characters for the other characters involved.  

The premise of the book was simple.  The heroine had a "moment or two" in book one and then the heroine felt embarrassed and ran away.  The hero felt so much for the heroine, he went after her.  To tell you the truth, I'm not sure I would have if I was him.  Anyway, it was good for her that he did chase her, because she really needed the help.  Yes, she is a tough and independent woman, but this was a very serious situation that she was in and she took responsibility for others.  The two of them worked together and even though it was a book, I could feel that their connection was a good one.

I enjoyed this book.  The story wasn't dark or scary like a psychological thriller.  It was simply two people taking care of others while they tried to survive themselves.

"The Heart of a Hero" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. This is the second book in the series, and Jake and Aria's romance really started in the previous book. I'd recommend that you read that book first if you want to fully understand their complicated romance. My main problem was that Ham and Signe's romance was a part of this book, especially as this information will have to be repeated in Ham's novel, anyway. (Plus I didn't find their past "romance" very romantic since Ham insisted on finding and trying to rescue Signe when she kept telling him not to. Stalker?)

Rescuer Jake dashes off after Aria when he realizes she's facing a hurricane. They're trapped with the hurricane hitting... Then suddenly we're following Ham as he thinks about the mission he was supposed to complete that didn't go as planned, how he wasn't able to talk to the guy he wanted to talk to, and about his painful past with Signe. He thinks, he talks, but there is no suspense. Ham's scene's broke the built up suspense for me. The suspense from all of the physical danger was built up again, only to be broken again due to a Ham scene.

I also discovered that I can accept pushing the limits of what is humanly possible when it comes to a talented team working together to rescue people. However, Jake was usually acting as a one man army...er, Navy. He pushed the limit of what I could accept, then pushed it again, and again, and again. Superhero! There were some very suspenseful scenes, but Jake's ultimate success was never in doubt. While the romance moved forward as they came to accept that it was okay to be happy, Jake and Aria still had some major issues to work through. I assume this will continue to develop in the next book.

Really, the story wasn't a romance so much as Jake coming to terms with how he felt that he had hurt people due to poor on-the-spot decisions and how Aria felt guilty over having her sister's heart. Their growth and healing was well done as was the Christian content. A lady that Aria rescued kept explaining to Jake (and Aria) that God's forgiveness doesn't have to be earned, just accepted. There was no sex or no bad language.

Phenomenal. Not only is this book my favorite Susan May Warren book I have read to date, but I dare say it lands in the top 5 of most impactful Christian fiction books I have ever read. The spiritual truth bombs that were mixed into the romance and action of this book were incredibly powerful. I caught myself reading something and then re reading it several times while I reflected on it. Such a neat story of God's love and his grace. I would rate this book 20 stars if it was possible!

Wow, wow, wow, yes, I know this is such an elegant way of showing how much I love this book. *rolls eyes*

I've put off writing my review of The Heart of a Hero a week now. You know why? Because I have no idea how to do a top five favorite book so far this year without spoiling it.

From The Way of the Brave we could see that Jake had a past. A sad one. I just didn't know how sad or painful it would be.

(I am still in shock and am writing a longer, better review once I've recovered!)

The first book in this series was in Alaska and WOW, there was so much action I thought, “My goodness what else could go on with these characters?” Well, this is a Susan May Warren’s book and I have to remember, what I’ve said MANY times . . .

“This author keeps us on the seat of our chairs gripping the armrest trying to breathe. In this story, there is action, romance, drama, running for their lives, kidnapping attempts, shootings, pain, Oh, the pains! I’m so glad I’m not one of her characters because of all the things she puts them through. WOW! The action is non-stop and jaw-dropping.”
SO, I shouldn’t have been surprised that in continuing the series, this author would keep that action-packed, high-drama, intensity going.
In this story, we find out more regarding Jake and Aria and their struggles. Their lives have so much past pain and feelings of failure. Will they be able to rise above the raging waters of self-doubt before it takes them down? Can they find acceptance in each other?
We also get a teaser of what’s to come in the next book. We meet Ham’s little girl and read about some of the struggles he’s dealing with. I personally enjoyed reading connections to the Montana Marshalls series Susan May Warren wrote. It’s always fun to reconnect with past characters from her other books.

I think I will continue to apply this disclaimer to all my reviews from now on:
I'm at a loss to have words eloquent enough to convey the depth of emotions and feelings I get each time I pick up one of Susan May Warrens' books. In each of her books, I find wonderful life lessons of the love of God, woven in such a way that it is real and not fake or pushed.
Whatever Ms. Warren writes I'll read because I know I'll be captivated and blessed in a way that is life-changing.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dr. Aria Sinclair saves pediatric heart patients; she decided to become a doctor when she was younger and needed medical attention. Aria was born with a faulty heart, and never got the chance to thrive. Her twin sister Kia was the daredevil, and shared her exploits with Aria, as a way of sharing life with her. When Kia dies in a freak accident, and Aria receives her heart, she decides to live in a way that would make Kia proud. She’s been taking risky vacations with her two best friends, as a way of living life for Kia. During one of those trips, she and her two friends get stuck on a mountain in Alaska, and need to be rescued. One of her rescuers is Jake Silver. There is a connection there, but Aria doesn’t see Jake as the type to make a commitment, and things get interrupted before they can develop. Meanwhile, back home, Jake and Aria end up at the same party, and get the chance to reconnect. He discovers that she is heading down to the Florida Keys for a conference. While she is there, she accidentally sends Jake a text that gives him the idea that she wishes he were with her. Meanwhile, there is a category 5 hurricane barreling toward the island where Aria is staying. Jake decides to head into the storm, so to speak, to see if this thing with Aria can go anywhere.

Jake has a huge amount of patience with Aria. She is smart, but gets lost in her head at times, while Jake is busy actually living. He knows what he wants but he can’t force Aria to want him back. She is flighty at times, and seems unsure of herself in regard to relationships. Fortunately, she is very sure of herself when it comes to being a surgeon. She ends up weathering the hurricane in a hospital, because she doesn’t want to leave a patient. By some miracle, Jake ends up finding her at this hospital, and bringing her yet another patient. There are numerous challenges that these two have to confront, but they navigate them all. And Jake keeps bringing stray people back to the hospital to get care from Aria. They do eventually figure things out and they do get away from the hurricane destruction, but not without issues.

There is a strong sense of community in this book. There is the community of hurricane survivors, as well as the strong friendships that both Jake and Aria have with their closest friends. This is one of the best parts about this book. The author makes these relationships come alive. She digs deep into what makes each one work, and she has both Jake and Aria dig into their own history to figure out why they choose the things that they choose. This was a delightful aspect of this book. The only part that this reader took issue with was the way everything gets resolved so conveniently. Having lived with hurricanes for over 50 years, there is nothing easy about finding loved ones who are separated because of a hurricane, or getting rescued several times at just the right moment. However, it adds tension to the story, and moves it along at a brisk pace!

Emotions and feelings run deep in “Heart of a Hero”, by Susan May Warren (Revell), an action-packed romance with a broken hero who masks his pain with “charm and jokes” but still has that larger than life quality that makes fictional characters appealing.
Jake is solid, strong, brave, adventurous, and carries a lot of baggage. His selflessness and kindness are almost endearing when we get a glimpse of the insecurities, vulnerability and hurt he hides.
While I found this story enjoyable, with its hurricane devastation scenario, Aria’s reluctance to embrace romance and accept or live with her and Jake’s differences and the pact and tendency to compartmentalize things (what happened in Alaska stays in Alaska) seem to take a big part of the story.
I found Aria took too many risks, considering her clinical condition and the knowledge she has because of her job as a doctor, or perhaps the character is prone to natural disasters, this time a hurricane in Florida.

“Oh, she loved this man. And it could really hurt. But maybe it was worth every single crazy, dangerous moment of it.”

The Heart of a Hero, the second novel in award-winning author Susan May Warren’s Global Search and Rescue series, takes readers to the beautiful island of Key West, where a relaxing trip to the beach quickly turns into a rescue mission as a devastating hurricane threatens to destroy the lives of everyone in its path.

While The Heart of a Hero can be read as a standalone novel, the story begins a week after the conclusion of The Way of the Brave, the first book in the series. There are some secondary storylines and characters featured in both books that play a role throughout the series. Therefore, I do recommend reading this series in order to get the maximum enjoyment of all the storylines.

Readers were introduced to former SEAL Jake Silver in The Way of the Brave, and he is still dealing with the pain of his prior mistakes, including those with Dr. Aria Sinclair. When Aria is caught in a deadly hurricane, can Jake overcome his past and come to her rescue?

Jake and Aria’s story is a heartwarming tale of second chances, redemption, and rediscovering faith. Charming and charismatic Jake Silver stole my heart ever since I met him in The Way of the Brave, and I have been rooting for him to get his happy ending. The banter between Jake and Aria was so well done, and one part of the novel even brought me to tears. Get ready for a dangerous, action-packed, wild ride to romance. This is Susan May Warren at her best!

The Heart of a Hero is highly recommended for readers of action-filled contemporary romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

“I know Jesus is in you, Jake. There’s just too much hero in you not to see it. Now it’s time for you to open your eyes and see it too.”

Another great story from Susan May Warren. The action was believable but did not override the plot nor the romance. Highly recommended!

The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren is the continuation of her Global Search and Rescue series, which is an excellent series full of heart-pounding adventures, real-to-life heroes, and unbelievable situations which grow and challenge the already tough and brave characters. I absolutely loved the first book in Ms. Warren's series, The Way of the Brave, and was thrilled to discover this second book, The Heart of a Hero. Although the reader can easily pick up with the plot and characters in the second book, I would recommend reading the first book in the series for a greater background and depth to add to this book. Even merely from the description the reader is drawn into the pages of the book with the two featured characters' struggles along with the ravaging category 4 hurricane threatening to tear them apart.
Jake Silver, a former sniper and Navy SEAL, has a hard time moving on from the horrible situations he encountered in his time serving his nation. However, Jake's role on the rescue team with his former teammates adds a sense of calm and purpose to his life.  Jake doesn't give up on anyone and is willing to do just about anything, including put his life in danger, just to help someone else.  Jake's family means the world to him and is a huge part of his life.  With Jake's struggles with his past, he also carries the guilt from an unfortunate accident and tragedy in his family's life.  Jake carries a huge load of guilt on his shoulders, but hasn't let anyone truly see it except for Dr. Aria Sinclair, the woman he can't forget but can't go after. After his role in the rescue on Denali, Jake can't seem to forget the beautiful and brave Aria Sinclair. Although Jake is drawn to Aria and wants to see her again, Jake reluctantly avoids her, after being warned off by Aria's friends.  When Jake hears that Aria is down in Florida with a category 4 hurricane coming at her, there's nothing else to do but fly down and rescue her!
Aria is a dedicated pediatric surgeon and pours her life into her work, oftentimes leading to the detriment of her own health as well as extreme loneliness and stress. When Aria's colleagues confront her about her overworking, they offer her a relaxing vacation to Key West, Florida. After accepting their generous and forceful offer, Aria finds her time away from work relaxing. While on vacation Aria seems to be reminded constantly of her dangerous adventure on Denali, but not because of the trauma of the situation, but the handsome, funny, and brave man that rescued her, Jake Silver.  Aria knows that she can't be a good fit for Jake with her lifestyle and extreme focus on work, but when she is trapped in the midst of a dangerous hurricane, he is the only person she can think about. Will she survive this?  Can Jake make it to her in time?  What will become of their unsure friendship?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Heart of a Hero and have always greatly appreciated Ms. Warren's exceptional writings. She makes her characters familiarly flawed like each one of us, but grants them growth and courage to overcome their past to have hope and faith in a future. The main characters were very well portrayed and had great depth and emotions. I also enjoyed the way that Ms. Warren incorporates the other characters of the book, although more minor in their role, she leads the reader to then discover the next featured character in the next book of the series. What a well-written, adventurous, romantic, and suspenseful work!

Disclaimer: Revell graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren
This book is so aptly named. Because if Jake Silver isn’t a hero than I have no idea who is, I mean he is almost a super hero. And boy does he have heart! And this is a story all about heart, physical and spiritual.
But maybe because of who he is, Jake Silver has trouble believing that after all the things he has done as a Navy Seal that he can be forgiven by God - because he can’t forgive himself.
Aria Sinclair is a top surgeon still struggling with the fact that her twin died and gave Aria her heart. She is also a hero as she constantly gives of herself and tries to be worthy of this gift.
I thought Susan May Warren couldn’t write a book with more action and adventure than the last one – but she definitely has in this one.
But the one thing I truly appreciate about her books is that the story of redemption and salvation are clearly communicated as God’s will for our lives. Her characters are deep and she writes so you feel their pain and see their path to wholeness and God’s love.
One truth that I loved from the book is this one. “Forgiveness is a moving target. You have to find it and tell yourself the truth every day, as declared in God’s word. You are forgiven. Nothing can separate you from God’s love.”
Well, and these too:
“You know what a hero is? It's someone who does the hard thing despite the costs.”
“If you’re looking for a hero, you don’t have to look farther than Jesus.”

Highly recommended!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley but these opinions are all my own.