Member Reviews

I loved Sunrise, the first in the Sky King Ranch series. When a book is that good, you wonder if the next in the series can live up to the high standard the first one set. In the case of Sunburst, the answer is a resounding yes.

Ranger Kingston is on a mission to rescue his brother Colt, who’s been taken hostage by terrorists. He doesn’t expect to find someone else that he knows among the people they’re trying to free. Noemi Sutton was captured when she was on a humanitarian mission. She never thought she’d see Ranger Kingston again, and certainly not in the middle of nowhere, Nigeria.

Ranger and Noemi have a history of mutual attraction, but it ended on a sour note. Now, when they find themselves separated from the rest of the rescue mission, the only way they can possibly survive and get out of Nigeria is to pretend they’re married. But when they find Noemi’s family on her mother’s side—and her uncle is an actual Nigerian prince who wants to do their wedding up right—can they maintain that facade?

Warren does it again. She creates a world where the characters are genuine, the action is enthralling, and the romance is ultimately sweet. Ranger and Noemi are almost maddening at times with their struggles to move past old hurts and take a chance on building a new relationship. But Warren shows us why they struggle, and that makes it easy to have compassion for them. Like any of us walking this earth, they have baggage and issues and fears, and they each have to work through those things in their own ways.

It was quite a surprise to have Noemi’s family turn out to be actual royalty! Her uncle and the rest of her family members were just a joy to read about. Warren uses that part of the story arc to share a bit about Nigerian culture with the reader, and I loved it. I know very little about Nigeria, and I always appreciate the chance to learn something when I’m reading. I also loved that they just welcomed Noemi back, no hassle, no headache. She was family, and she was home, and that made my heart so happy!

As always, Warren does a masterful job of making faith an integral part of the story without beating you over the head with a King James Bible. It isn’t a blind faith. It’s a faith that sometimes wavers. The characters have to wrestle with God and work some things out. Noemi struggles to trust that God is with her, while Ranger wrangles with issues that go to the heart of who he thinks he truly is. But they ultimately find their faith strengthened by the trials they face, and we can find encouragement in that.

You can read Sunburst as a stand-alone; however, I highly recommend starting with Sunrise and seeing the entire story arc unfold. Susan May Warren has written another bang-up good Christian romantic suspense novel, and I eagerly await the third in the series!

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** “But will we trust God only when things go the way we want? The verse says to fear no evil for God is with you. The evil is the lies Satan wants to tell you — that you’ll never be anything.” **

Susan May Warren once again delivers another fabulous romantic thriller with “Sunburst,” the second installment of her Sky King Ranch series.

Four years after a meeting filled with sparks, Ranger Kingston finds himself in the position to rescue Noemi Sutton in Nigeria. As they make their escape, they find the sparks rekindling, all while being chased by some evil men.

Ranger and Noemi must determine if there’s something worth fighting for in their relationship, all while fighting for their lives.

Warren fills “Sunburst” with great characters that contain very real flaws and are deeply relatable. She also includes some great themes, like needing to be wanted; the pitfalls of assumptions, pride and miscommunication; dealing with the question of whether God abandons us (“You don’t need to know where you’re going, just the one who is with you. And there is no one better to have on your side than the almighty God. He has a path, and it’s good”); you don’t have to depend on yourself only; love can change everything; and “Faith is stepping forward without knowing the destination.”

A huge theme is dreams vs. duty — allowing oneself to follow one’s dreams as opposed to doing something because duty calls for it. “And right now, you’re walking through the valley of the shadow of death. But that’s the thing … it’s just a shadow. It’s just the looming fear. And I get it — the death isn’t only physical. It’s the death of your dreams and your future and everything you ever wanted.”

Fans of authors like Lynette Eason and Terri Blackstock will love this book. It could be read as a standalone, but there are a few plot points that will be clearer if you read the first novel, “Sunrise.”

Five stars out of five.

Revell provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

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What an adventure this second book in the Sky King Ranch series is. This story starts out as a tense rescue mission when Ranger Kingston, the strong, former Navy Seal is seeking his triplet brother Colt who is being held hostage. Their pilot brother Dodge is part of the rescue effort. Ranger finds more than expected in Africa when a beautiful unforgettable woman, Noemi, from his past is one of the hostages. Perhaps he has found his future too.
This book is a wild ride. Noemi is a wonderful character who gives Ranger a hard time and convinces him that they will be safer traveling under the guise that they are a married couple. She leads them to her relatives who are ecstatic at her arrival. That visit led to some very entertaining reading, and I love knowing that the author wrote this portion in honor of her own daughter-in-law, Precious. Before she can think twice their wedding is planned and performed so her mother's family can join in and welcome Ranger properly. Heart touching and humorous. The couple move on to Alaska after another daring rescue and more of the Kingston Ranch life with added danger.
It's an excellent story with such interesting and rich characters. I look forward to the next book and Colt's story. These books can be stand-alone but why would you want to read about one triplet and miss out on the others?
I want to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of this book. I really enjoyed it, and this is my own personal opinion.

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Award-winning author Susan May Warren pens her second novel featuring the Kingston triplet brothers, who joined military different branches.

In Sunburst, former Navy SEAL Ranger Kingston answers the call to rescue his brother Colt in Nigeria, not expecting to find his first love – aid worker Noemi Sutton – also being held hostage. Noemi and Ranger need to work together if they want to leave Africa alive. Can they discover why Noemi was kidnapped by Nigerian terrorists?

Ranger is a problem solver, but even he doesn’t know how to solve his biggest problems – a medical condition and guilt from an earlier mission weighing him down. Noemi, the only daughter of another SEAL, has been on her own since her father’s death, feels that she is not worthy to be loved by God or anyone else. What will it take for them to overcome their self-imposed emotional isolation from others and recognize the strength in working together?

Known for her inspirational action-filled novels, Warren writes flawed characters and a captivating storyline. Like her other books, Sunburst has faith journeys, suspense, edge-of-your-seat adventure, and of course, a clean romance (even a Nigerian wedding!). Colt’s story has been slowly unfolding in the second book, setting the stage for the final book, Sundown, coming in late 2022.

Recommended for adult collections and high school readers. Kudos to Warren for having a heroine who is of African descent, and for seamlessly adding Nigerian wedding traditions to the storyline.

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews.

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This was another great suspense by Susan May Warren, action packed with a lot of thrilling scenes and twists. I loved every action and suspenseful scene and the chemistry between Noemi and Ranger was strong.

I enjoyed the flash backs to Noemi and Ranger's relationship 4 years ago, so that the reader could see how their relationship developed and what went wrong, because the feeling between the two was still clearly strong.

He thought she'd slow him down. He could barely keep up with her.

The mystery/suspense thread continues from book one, so I would recommend reading the series in order, just to get the full back story of what happened and why the relationship between the three brothers are strained.

What I always love about this author's books is the way she waves the spiritual thread within the story, which never makes it sound preachy but just fit. I found the same again with this book.

You've always spent your life looking forward, the destination in mind. But faith is stepping forward without knowing the destination.

Highly recommended to fans of Susan May Warren and romantic suspense.

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Susan May Warren has reached a new pinnacle in romantic suspense with Sunburst. The second in the Sky King Ranch Series this is one thrilling rip-roaring read. There are not many who can stand with this master writer. Taking place in Nigeria and Alaska this story never misses a beat. These two lands come to life in the story as well as the people who inhabit them.

While some could easily read this as a stand-alone since at first the connections between storylines seem to be separate, my recommendation is reading the series. Many of the characters are so finely interwoven in each other’s lives even with events that begin as seemingly unrelated. Yet by the end the entwining of those events is wonderfully if terrifyingly made.

I was hooked from the beginning of this book, and you will be too. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to read top notched romantic suspense that is done with no profanity, sex scenes or violent gore. Your faith will be renewed as the characters find that theirs are in this realistic superb book.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

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Susan May Warren ramps up the action in Sunburst, the second installment of her Sky King Ranch series. Everything I love about Susan May Warren’s books continues to remain evident in this series…strong, handsome heroes with military backgrounds, fast-paced dangerous situations, family drama, romance, and beautiful spiritual messages incorporated into the storyline. Even though she has been a phenomenal writer over the years, somehow Susan May Warren’s writing just keeps getting better and better.

While Sunburst COULD be read as a standalone novel, there is an overall plot arc and characters featured in book one that continue to play a role throughout the series, so it is recommended to read Sunrise first to guarantee maximum enjoyment of the series.

Sunburst features an international setting for the majority of the storyline, this time focusing on a terrorist camp and other areas throughout Nigeria, and the return to Sky King Ranch in Alaska. As Susan May Warren explains in her author note, Nigeria has a very special connection to her and her family. Although marriage of convenience storylines are not ones that I intentionally seek out, Susan May Warren creates a convincing situation in which this scenario is appropriate in a contemporary setting. If Susan May Warren writes it, I know it will be a must-read for me.

Sunburst ends with a cliffhanger that has readers eagerly waiting until November 2022 for Colt Kingston to have his own story.

“If anyone could help her save the world, it was Colt Kingston.”

Sunburst is highly recommended for readers of action filled contemporary romance and romantic suspense. You won’t want to miss this series!

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

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Warren always delivers a fantastic story with likable characters and interesting settings. Sunrise was set in Alaska as they searched for a friend and found a lot more. Sunburst was just beautiful, set in Nigeria and Alaska. Ranger and Dodge are on a mission to rescue Colt and other captives. But there is much more to these captives than the guys realize. I really enjoyed learning about the wedding traditions of Nigeria, you can tell Warren did the research. Each of the boys will get their story, not sure about the sister, and will have their own romance and adventure. There is a common thread connecting the stories and I’m intrigued about where it’s headed. I’m always thrilled to received an advanced copy and write my reviews voluntarily.

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I absolutely loved this book! It's the second book in Susan May Warren's thrilling Sky King Ranch series and I'd definitely recommend reading the first one before diving into this one. This has a very different feel than the first book, especially the first half, but it was just as good. In fact, I think I actually liked this one even better, which is saying a lot because I adored Sunrise.

There were quite a few intense and adrenaline-fueled moments that had my heart racing. There was never a dull moment, that's for sure. But I also appreciated the fact that there were some much needed spots where I could catch my breath. I thought it was very well balanced.

Noemi was awesome. She was such a fierce heroine with a ton of spunk and determination. And Ranger? Where do I even begin? He's such a good and honorable guy. Saying he's swoonworthy doesn't do him justice. These two were just so perfect for each other.

A lot of this book takes place in Nigeria, which was so fascinating. I really enjoyed learning more about the culture and meeting some of Noemi's family.

I can't even tell you how eager I am for the next book. That ending? Oh my! I need it ASAP!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

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This story was so good! I was captivated starting with the gorgeous cover! I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this story from the chemistry between Noemi and Ranger, the action, and the pops of humor that were spread throughout. I also love seeing how the triplets relationships are mending and growing.

I loved Noemi and Ranger! Their chemistry leapt off the page and their banter was perfect. I was rooting for them all the way! The action was perfectly paced and unexpected at times (which I always love!), and there was a scene at the end that, well let’s just say I would definitely trust having these brothers protect my back!

Sunburst is book 2 of the Sky King Ranch trilogy. While I think it would be more fulfilling to read Sunrise first because of the family dynamics, I do think you could easily read this one as a standalone. I cannot wait for the final story, Sunset, which will be about Colt. Ms. Warren has really peaked my interest with this story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light.

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A fasted pace Christian Romantic suspense that I've come to expect Susan May warren. And while she isn't my favorite suspense writer I did enjoy this one. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept turning pages late into the night because I had to find out what happened. Which is a good thing in a suspense novel.

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Sunburst by Susan May Warren is the much-anticipated second book in her action-packed Sky King Ranch series. I absolutely loved Sunburst and have thoroughly enjoyed this series by Ms. Warren as well as all of the books I have read authored by her. The amount of adventure, mystery, and intrigue that Ms. Warren packs into her books is remarkable and part of the reason I always enjoy reading her works. I truly appreciate how in Sunburst Ms. Warren especially captures a unique culture and brings her readers to experience a true Nigerian wedding and family. I enjoyed the humor, the intense action, the challenges, as well as the gritty situations that the characters faced in this book. This is one of those books where as soon as I turn the last page I am already wanting to read it again. Sunburst exceeded my already high expectations and I am eagerly waiting for the third book in this series!
Sunburst continues Ms. Warren's series that focuses around a rather unique group of triplet brothers in the rugged and beautiful wilds of Alaska. Each Kingston sibling has an intense military background, is highly motivated and trained, and is willing to face death and danger in order to help others. So it should come as no surprise to the readers when the book begins with a dangerous mission. Dodge and Ranger are part of a special nighttime operation with their military pals with plans to rescue their other brother Colt and his traveling companions from some dangerous terrorists. When not everything goes to plan, Ranger is left to survive in the Nigerian jungle with a young teenage girl named Blessing and someone he never thought he would ever see again, Noemi the woman who broke his heart.
As Noemi, Ranger, and Blessing escape from the terrorists and into the unknown land, Ranger is gravely injured. The ragtag group faces some extremely challenging obstacles and seemingly impossible to escape situations, including one seemingly arraigned marriage. Will Noemi and Ranger's past cloud their judgment and make their fight for survival even more precarious? Or will their extreme circumstances lead them to discover the truths of the past and allow each one to find forgiveness? Why is this terrorist group so focused on tracking down and capturing or killing Noemi and her group? Can Ranger protect Noemi and Blessing from this evil group? Can he protect his heart from being broken again? And can Noemi and Ranger return to their faith in God? Read Sunburst to find out how the story ends! You won't be disappointed!
Disclaimer: Revell graciously provided me with a copy of this book through Net Galley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

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Sunburst
by Susan May Warren
Book 2 in the Sky King Ranch series
Rating: 4.5/5

I just finished reading this amazing book and I'm in awe. The author has done an amazing job of capturing the reader's attention from the very beginning and making you fall in love with Ranger and Noemi. I highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Sunrise, before reading this one so you don't get confused about the characters. You could probably be ok reading it as a standalone but I don't think it will be as enjoyable. The author also brings back some other characters from her other series which was fun to read.

First, I didn't think that they could match the beauty of the first book cover, but I was wrong. This cover is absolutely stunning.
Second, the dedication at the beginning of the book to the author's daughter-in-law was beautiful and provides an even more authentic Nigerian setting to the story. I was swept away to Africa and though there was a lot of intense action, the traditional Nigerian wedding scene was so much fun. I love that the author was able to really delve into the Nigerian culture since I am not as familiar with it as a reader.
Third, the main characters are so good for each other. The author does some flashbacks about how they met and what happened but who doesn't love a story about second chances. Their chemistry was so good and I loved how strong Noemi was - not a typical damsel-in-distress.
Fourth, the author is always really good at incorporating her faith into her stories. The spiritual journey that Noemi goes through is very relatable while Ranger's insecurities regarding identity feel very familiar.

Highly recommend this action-packed, suspense-filled adventure to Nigeria and the Alaskan Bush with romance, intrigue and heart.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

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I very much enjoyed this book. It was well written with well crafted characters. It was not formulaic and held my attention through till the end.

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Susan May Warren never disappoints. Her blend of action, romance, family and faith are without equal.
And at the beginning her note telling the way she brought her own family into this book and the connection of Nigeria to the story shows how personal this book is to her and what a gift this connection has been.
This story is the ultimate in suspenseful. The story is complex and powerful in story and message. The message that God sees us and really cares whether we feel it or not is the overarching theme here.
And it turns out that Alaska and Nigeria come together so well in romantic suspense!

I loved Sunrise, the first in this series and this book and can’t wait now for Sundown the last in the series! Seeing all the Kingston brothers work together along with other characters from previous books made this a very satisfying read.
And as usual, there are many meaningful quotes in her books. These are my favorites:

“You asked how I know everything is going to be okay. The answer is because every time my world gets darker, I see God.”

“Don’t get me wrong - a man in control of his emotions is a man who can make wise decisions. But it’s not good to ignore them. Even God acted out of emotion – love -- when he made his biggest decision ever. Sure, it was completely in accordance to his character, so in that way, it was logical. But to the human heart, nothing made sense of his decision to save us. To die for us. He did it because of love.”
“You don’t need to know where you’re going, just the one who is with you.”
“He has a path, and it’s good.”
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

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Sunburst is the second installment from Susan May Warren's Sky King Ranch series. I thought it was good. Four and a half stars.

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I truly don't know how Susan May Warren manages to a) come up with so many clever and discrete plots, given how incredibly prolific she is--love it!!--and b) interweave characters and plot references across so many of her series, and keep them all straight! It's amazing!

Readers of the Marshall Family and Global Search & Rescue series will particularly enjoy the ongoing Easter eggs here in this series/book, though it's not necessary to have read them prior.

The book reads as though it were taken straight out of recent headlines; I couldn't help but remember Boko Haram's terrible kidnappings of 276 Chibok schoolgirls in 2014. (As of last summer, 112 remain missing. :'( Nor was this an isolated incident, unfortunately.) I pray Warren's book encourages readers to continue to pray and advocate for rescue and change--both physically and spiritually.

Similar to both aforementioned series, the action doesn't stop here in _Sunburst_. I liked it better than _Sunrise_ (book 1 in the series), I think because I had a better idea at this point of alllll the characters :D and how they all fit together! And as ever, Warren included some powerful zingers of spiritual truth. She weaved the gospel in throughout, as well as did a great job at challenging especially Ranger and Noemi to trust each other, their family members, and ultimately their Creator.

It was great to get to know the Kingston family (et al!) better, and I look forward to reading their ongoing adventures in the next book.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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I enjoyed the second book in Susan May Warren's Sky King Ranch series. It's got suspense, thrills, links to previous books and of course romance. I think that this is a book that you will get more from if you read it in series order. It explains some of the back stories of the characters which add to this story.

I liked the theme's of this book. One was that God sees us. the other spoke to adapting to change and how we cope with that. I enjoyed the main characters and the way they interacted with others in the story. I got this in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed reading this and look forward to the next book in this series.

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Absolutely loved every second of this book. I love when there is action and adventure wrapped into romance. It will always be my go to lazy day read and this is one I likely will pick up a physical copy once on sale

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Sunburst is the second book in Susan May Warren’s Sky King Ranch series. Dodge and Ranger fly to Nigeria to rescue Colt and a few others kidnapped by terrorists. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Ranger and Noemi become separated from the rest of the rescuers as they race for their lives along with 15-year old Blessing. Ranger is injured and fighting for his life as they head to Noemi’s uncle’s home where they hope to reconnect with Dodge for a safe flight home. Along with the suspense there is romance, some Nigerian culture and customs, and even a Nigerian wedding. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the story and can’t wait to continue with the Kingston family. I thoroughly enjoy Susan May Warren’s books and highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Revell Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to review Sunburst in exchange for my honest review.

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