4 Stars

One Liner: An entertaining read

Of all the things Grace Isabel McKenna can do, she didn’t expect to kill a man by shooting him between the eyes. Her short visit to Boston for the Buchanan anniversary party turns into a police investigation. The unexpected developments delay her Scotland trip to claim her inheritance and bring the infuriating Michael Buchanan back into her life.
Michael is a navy SEAL and a lawyer- Isabel’s lawyer until the case is solved. Neither of them is happy about the arrangement, but Michael knows he will do anything to keep Isabel safe. The attraction between grows just as the case gets complicated. Isabel’s trip to Scotland puts her life at risk. Michael follows her, but can they unearth the criminal intent on getting rid of Isabel? What about their feelings for each other? The duo has a lot to deal with.
The story comes from the third person POV.

My Views
This is the 14th book in the series and can be read as a standalone. However, knowing a little backstory will make it more enjoyable. Slow Burn has Kate and Dylan’s story, where Isabel is first introduced. Isabel is Kate’s younger sister. Reading Murder List (Regan & Alec’s story) might be a good idea.
Reading the book made me realize an important point. The book will get two different ratings based on whether I consider it a standalone or a part of a popular series. But since I read around 65-70% of the books in the series, I chose to rate it based on the series template.
Here’s why:
• Alpha hero
• A charming heroine (will come to this later)
• Hot and flawless bodies
• A family full of FBI agents, judges, business owners, etc.
• Steamy romance (2ish level)
• Recurring characters (quite a few)
These can make a book a hit or flop, depending on the reader and how they perceive the elements. It worked great for me because I expect these elements (except the second one) from this series.
The beginning is a bit choppy and messy, probably coz mine is an ARC with an uncorrected proof. I remember how the other books began, and I'm hoping this will be polished to that level.
The pacing is also a bit slow, which could be because of the plotline. It has many things going on and off. There’s also some info about the Buchanan couples for new readers.
The suspense takes its own sweet time to unravel, which is how it is in the other books. I could pretty much guess when things would go for the last punch.
Michael and Isabel have good chemistry, and their banter was fun to read. However, I felt there could have been a deeper connection between them. There was enough material for it.
Michael is headstrong or dumbass, as Isabel calls him. He’s got flaws but makes a decent impression. Maybe not as much as Dylan or Alec (or Nick or Noah)… you get the point.
Now Isabel… she’s 23 and has just graduated, so maybe I can forgive her for being a bit stupid. From what I remember, Isabel seems to be the weakest (or not strong enough) female lead in the series. It could be because she was under Kate and Dylan’s care, but she’s not what I’d call a Garwood heroine.
However, the book has comic relief, thanks to Isabel’s driving skills. She’d ace it in Indian traffic (you know if you know). Her driving plays a vital role in the story, and I love how it is incorporated into the plot.
The mystery is also a bit weak in this one. It kind of pales out (but the comic relief might just save it if you have a twisted sense of humor). Still, the mystery could have been better.
I love revisiting some of the previous characters from the series (it can be confusing if you don’t know them). They made the book so much better.


To sum up, Grace Under Fire is an entertaining and enjoyable read. Just go with the flow in this one and then read the previous ones in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Quintessential Garwood, Grace Under Fire was such a fun book. Isabel has finished university and is on her way to see her sister near Boston before she goes to Scotland to claim her inheritance in Scotland. Unfortunately, she stumbles onto a man who has been shot and winds up part of the investigation. And who should come along but Micheal Buchanan, who just happens to be the most irritating of her brother-in-laws brothers? I liked the ties into the Buchanan/McKenna history in Garwood's historicals. The suspense and mystery of what happened keep both characters on their toes. That, and Isabel's frightening driving.
I wouldn't call it enemies to lovers, more two people who aren't interested in declaring their attraction to each other because they're going in different directions. But they can share that they want each other, and build their relationship from there.
Do you need to suspend disbelief a bit when reading? Sure. But I'm ready for Garwood to take me away and Grace Under Fire was a perfect adventure for that.

It’s been so long since we received the newest book by Julie Garwood. And I already know that I am going to love her newest book, Grace Under Fire, in the Buchanan-Renard series.

Grace Under Fire catches up with the Buchanan family, including Michael Buchanan (who is going to fall harder than his other siblings with Grace). The thing I find very interesting is that we briefly read about Grace MacKenna before. She is the sibling of Kate MacKenna, who marries Dylan Buchanan in Slow Burn (book five in the series). I briefly forgot about her, but then I remember her again as I read the book, which also meant I ended up reading the series again. Each book in the series can be read as a stand alone, so don’t get confused if you haven't read the series before. I do recommend you do this if you are into suspense thriller romance books.

Back to Grace Under Fire, we will get to read more about Grace MacKenna and Michael Buchanan as they investigate together for the killer hunting down Grace. It may not be the ideal partnership, since they both dislike each other. But you know what they say when you keep on bickering, the more sparks there will be. That’s the situation with Grace and Michael. Whenever they stop bickering with each other, they genuinely have sparks between them that make their relationship even more confusing. And of course, they are going to deny it since they both have opposite outlooks on life.

I really love this book. It made me miss Julie Garwood books all over again. She needs to keep on writing more because I love a good suspense thriller romance book. Plus, it’s so cute to read when her alpha male falls in love, especially Michael. He is a bit clueless about it that I wanted to shake him at times while I was reading his parts.

Even though I love Julie Garwood and the world she has built around the Buchanan- Renard series, I struggled to find the desire to read this book when I found out who the main characters were going to be. But once I got started, I grew to love Michael and Isabel. The book was filled with chemistry, humor and great characters but also a few bumps along the way.

Grace Under Fire attempts to follow the formula for the previous books in the series but doesn’t quite nail it. There is something off about the mystery aspects of the story. And since I still find it a really good read, I am hesitant to explain in detail for fear of spoiling the book. I will say this though, the mystery in the beginning felt like a jumbled scenario at first but towards the end it felt lackluster.

Especially when compared to the previous books and how well-crafted the mystery and killer aspects were. For instance, Killjoy book 3 in this series and my favorite, was practically a master class in merging the mystery and romance genres. Both sides of that story felt fully fleshed out and woven together beautifully. Whereas in “Grace Under Fire” the mystery sometimes feels like it was haphazardly thrown together and with the exception for a handful of scenes, it feels almost unnecessary. Yes, it does initially push our main characters together but for what feels like the first 60 % of the book they are actually brought together for other reasons. And because of those reasons the Mystery and Scotland related parts are on the backburner and sometimes a bit forgettable.

The characters have some pretty solid and believable chemistry and are fun to read. I enjoyed Isabel’s strengths, sense of humor and her drive to find her place not only in the family but in life. She was an easy heroine to like. She doesn’t turn into a whimpering mess when Michael does stuff to push her away and she knows that she is worth loving. But I felt a few of her traits were overstated to the point that it was kind of unbelievable and just shy of annoying. For example, how EVERYONE she meets magically opens up to her because she is willing to listen. It was made out to be such a big deal and shocking for her friends to witness, which is fine, except for every time it happens it is made out that way. So, it loses quite a bit of its impact.

Michael Buchanan is a twenty-eight-year-old former Navy Seal, Lawyer and soon to be FBI agent. Add in the fact that he graduated college at twenty and it’s easy to see he is an overachiever. Now the above-mentioned résumé had me rolling my eyes skyward. But thankfully this is something addressed by Isabel in what is one of the funniest moments in the book. No, I am not going to spoil it by sharing a quote from the book, you got to read it for yourself. Overall, as the Hero of the story he is a solid character. He is likeable and has pretty good reasoning behind his actions. And the banter between himself and Isabel is so much fun to read.

Overall, I am glad I read this book. It surprised me and reminded me that things aren’t always what they seem. Plus, I got to revisit characters that I loved from past books and fall in love with two more. This also serves as a reminder to me that I have yet to not enjoy a book written by Julie Garwood. And aside from my previous mentioned nitpicks I enjoyed it enough that I didn’t put it down once I started and I can’t wait to buy a copy to go on my bookshelf.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book. I am loving this series as it is hitting all the points I love about romantic suspense with a touch of law enforcement men. I have already read this book several times since I first received it. Grace Isabel MacKenna is truly a woman who is Grace under Fire. This story is ridiculously good with characters I fell in love with.

Let's start with Grace who goes by Isabel. She reminds me of a friend who spent her last few years in high school taking care of her ailing father who ultimately passed before she graduated. This is something that is so hard to imagine and what she shared with me in her moments of sorrow and pain resonates with what Isabel experiences. This immediately makes Isabel relatable to me. Her dreams and why she elected not to go forward with them are soul-rending. I do find her viral youtube fame to be realistic and her realizing what she really wants in life as the story progresses is wonderful.

This story moves at a fast pace because within a few chapters, Isabel goes through some big trauma that has me blinking. I'm impressed and wish that if I were ever in the same situation, I would be as calm and collected. Her "mishap" brings forth a man she wanted to avoid. A man that spurred her for no reason she could understand. She wasn't even dating him or asked to date him. This man is Michael Buchanan. Let's talk about Michael. He is . . . unbelievable. He not only retired from the Navy as a Navy SEAL, but he has a law degree. In addition, he is looking to start his career with perhaps the FBI. This is completely unrealistic at this young age. But is it? I would have thought this was a fantasy until I learned about Jonny Kim this last year.

Let's talk about Jonny Kim. At the age of 32, he was already a SEAL and HARVARD Medical Doctor. Keep in mind, that it takes 8 years to earn your doctor's degree. A law degree takes 2 years. So if you take 32 minus 6, he would have been 26 if he was a SEAL and a lawyer. So Michael being an overachiever is actually plausible at this young age. Is this intimidating? Yes. For Isabel, it is because she wasn't sure what she wants to do with her life and she doesn't feel as accomplished.

The chemistry between Isabel and Michael is hot. They have a slight enemies-to-lovers situation but not exactly. Michael is conflicted and whilst he may be accomplished in his work life, and his personal life I want to smack him upside the head, several times.

Whilst Isabel is trying to figure out what she wants to do post-graduation, she also travels to Scotland. I love Scotland. The shenanigans that occur there are crazy. I loved it. Isabel and how people unload their problems on her is hilarious. I completely know the feeling. I adored this book from beginning to end. Just writing this review makes me want to go re-read passages I liked. This contemporary romance with a dash of suspense is highly recommended to everyone.

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been reading Julie Garwood's books for a LOOOONG time, and they're always guaranteed to be a suspenseful, steamy ride. While that was still the case for this one, and I enjoyed the plot immensely, it just didn't click with me. Specifically, Isabel didn't click with me at all. To be honest, I spent more of the book annoyed with her than anything else, because she accused people of thinking her innocent and naive, and spent the entire book doing nothing to prove that wrong. She had a couple of really good moments for me (no, like, literally...two moments that I approved of where she was actually truly standing up for herself) and the rest of it was spend with her head in the clouds.

This is hard for me, because I read Jordan's and Regan's love stories and adored them both, so I was expecting the same out of this one. I liked Michael quite a bit, I enjoyed the "spotlight of fame" subplot that was happening, and I honestly think I could have loved this book if not for Isabel. It's entirely possible that this is solely a ME thing, and not everyone, or potentially anyone else, will feel this way about her, so take that with a grain of salt. If you're a Julie Garwood fan, definitely still give this a try. I'll absolutely continue to read her books in the future, but this was a solid three star read for me.

Grace Under Fire
by Julie Garwood
Pub Date: July 19, 2022
Berkely
Buchanan-Renard #14
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I so enjoy getting back into the Buchanan family. Michael Buchanan will need every bit of his extensive skill set when he appoints himself as bodyguard to a woman determined not to need one in this thrilling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood.
* Romance * Contemporary * Suspense
This can be read as a stand-alone if you have not read the others in the series. But read it! It's a great romance/suspense. And this takes place in Scotland!!
I am recommending this title and will be purchasing it for our library.
4 stars

Grace Under Fire brings back the Buchanan family, which I throughly enjoyed. You don’t need to read the previous books about the Buchanan’s, this can be read as a stand-alone. As usual there is romance, intrigue, suspense and action. Another great summer read from Julie Garwood.

After graduating college, the only thing Grace Isabel MacKenna is thinking about is collecting her inheritance from an estranged relative and then moving on with the rest of her life. Only, things do not go as planned and an injured man stumbles into her path and she ends up killing his attacker. Michael Buchanan, a close family friend, assigns himself as her watchdog vowing to protect her from all harm.

Verdict: I always love a good romantic suspense from Julie Garwood. I can always guarantee that anything she publishes will be highly enjoyable. That said, this book, unlike many of her works felt a little disjointed; almost like it was two books in one. The first half of the book really developed Grace’s family life as well as her career into music and song writing. It did little to address the larger problem at hand – the inheritance in Scotland and why she was being hounded to sell it away. The second half of the book delved deep into her and Michael Buchanan’s relationship and suspenseful antics that took place in Scotland. While the read was still highly enjoyable, I do think the transition between the first and second half of the book could have been smoother.

Good book! I loved this book! It had it all! It had suspense, intrigue, action, romance, murder, and even a great who done it! And it was funny! It had some hot FBI , navy seals, guys! The storyline was so interesting and as I said it was funny too! It was a very enjoyable read! I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment of the Buchanon Family series. This is so entertaining and kept me going. I could not put the book down!

What a treat to get another Buchanan book! It was fun to get reacquainted with the characters from previous books in the series but this one could be read as a standalone as well. It has two very strong characters. Michael is a real hunk though not in touch with his feelings. Isabel is multidimensional, from dreamy about her music to clever and capable… but she can’t drive worth a damn.

It is an enemies to lovers trope wrapped in a thriller/ action adventure. Michael is a hunky, sinfully sexy lawyer and protector-type while the beautiful, sympathetic Isabel sometimes spaces out. But for good reason, she has a lot going on: she’s been part of a vicious crime and she just left college and is being propelled into a singing career.

People are out to kill her for some land she just inherited. But she kills one of them first. That’s not really a spoiler. It is the second sentence in the book!

It is a classic amusing Garwood tale coupled with her signature action adventure/thriller. And it delivered just like all the rest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Romantic suspense at its best - a beautiful woman who is a talented songwriter and a great listener is at her sister's in-laws awaiting a trip to Scotland when her whole world changes (some good, some bad). Of course, a handsome man helps her save the day. Loads of fun

It has been quite a while since I read a Julie Garwood book. Isabel is related to the Buchanans through her sister. When she ends up in trouble the Buchanans jump to her assistance. ARC from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed the latest installment in the Buchanan-Renard series. Loved Isabelle in her sister's story years ago, and this did not disappoint. I enjoyed the rapport between the two leads, but also enjoyed getting to see characters from the previous books. Well done.

I enjoyed this book. It’s been a while since Julie has published a book. I especially liked the h. She was spunky and willing to give back as good as she got. It was nice to revisit the Buchanan family. I’d like to see a series with the Macallisters from Scotland.

Julie Garwood returns to her longest running and beloved Buchanan/MacKenna/Renard series with _Grace Under Fire_, bringing Grace Isabel Mackenna to Nathan's Bay, home of the Buchanan clan, for an anniversary celebration.
Isabel was introduced in an earlier story, where she was given an inheritance that propels her into a dangerous situation requiring the protection of Michael Buchanan, Navy SEAL, lawyer, and all-around man's man.
The tropes in this book, including their instant chemistry, at a time when she was too young and believed he disliked her, and both character's extreme talents, will appeal to fans of both Kristin Ashley and Suzanne Brockmann, whose books also feature talented protagonists, and very strong male characters.
The storyline at this book allows for the inclusion of a large number of characters from previous titles in the series, allowing a seamless continuation for regular readers and the option for it to be read as a standalone. Anyone picking it up can then go back to an earlier title or the beginning, as small pieces of the others' stories are introduced to Isabel.
This book provided an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, and offers readers the possibility of a new offshoot, with the introduction of the MacAllisters, Scottish relations whose story begs to be told.

#GraceUnderFire #NetGalley

It was supposed to be a quick visit to Boston for the Buchanan anniversary party, then on to Scotland to collect an inheritance. Isabel Grace McKenna checks into the hotel and then decides to go for a brisk walk. But after getting lost she ends up with a wounded man stumbling into her arms, and then his shooter coming after them both. When she fires back in self-defense, she doesn’t expect him to drop dead.

The Buchanans send former Navy SEAL and now lawyer,Michael Buchanan, to help her deal with the police, and after Isabel endures hours of interrogation she's finally free to go.

It's hard to be grateful to Michael when she's disliked him for so long, but when the threats to Isabel keep coming, he's appointed her bodyguard as she heads to Scotland. Danger lurks in every village, and they work together to find the person targeting Isabel. Readers of the Buchanan series will love catching up with all the players. Recommended. #GraceUnderFire #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

This book was a delight to read. It was full of laughter and romance and suspense. I loved the two main characters. I have read this whole series and I enjoyed this one the best. I love Julie Garwood books!

Julie Garwood's GRACE UNDER FIRE continues her FBI involving the Buchanan family. Most fans will have read about Noah, Theo, Alec, and Nick Buchanan, and now its Michael's turn. He is a former Navy seal, a lawyer, and, according to Isabel, a "dumbass"

Grace Isabel MacKenna has been invited to Nathan's Bay for the anniversary celebration of the elder Buchanans. She travels to Boston with plans to go on to Scotland to claim an inheritance. Grace decides to go for a walk along the Freedom Trail. Always a little spacey because she is thinking about the songs she wants to write; she wanders far from her path and straight into a crime scene. A man has been shot and the perpetrator is trying to finish the job when Grace stumbles in. She sees a gun on the ground and kills the bad guy. The Buchanans send Michael to stand as her lawyer while she is questioned by the police. She is soon set free.

Isabel and Michael are attracted to each other but try to fight it. Michael is sure Isabel is not the woman for him. Even as she tries to be rid of him, Michael dogs her heels. To get away from him and all the celebrity brouhaha resulting from her singing one of her songs with the singing sensation of the day, Isabel skips off to Scotland alone, Back in Boston, the Buchanans find that someone has ordered a kill on Isabel, something to do probably with her inheritance of a large land holding in Scotland. Despite wanting to be alone, Michael finds Isabel on day one of her trip, and he is by her side for the duration. They fight their feelings for each other and then they don't. Michael is trying to keep Isabel alive, and Isabel is trying to ditch Michael to keep him alive.

There's lots of banter between the two and an amusing recurring motif of Isabel and driving.

If you are a fan of Julie Garwood and the Buchanans, or even if you are not, the book is a fun read.