Under Fire is the thrilling conclusion to Lynn H. Blackburn's Defend and Protect series. I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been not-so-patiently waiting for Zane and Tessa's story since the beginning of the series, so I was thrilled to get an early copy of this novel. Once again, Blackburn didn't disappoint. She's filled this story with heart-pounding suspense, dangerous adventure, strong faith, and sizzling romance.

USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker is living out his dream of being a part of the team who protects the president. A fundraiser at the home of a political supporter brings Zane back to Raleigh to work with his best friend, Special Agent Tessa Reed. Oh, and did I mention she's also the woman he's been in love with since, well, forever? Having missed spending time with Zane, Tessa is equally as happy to have him back in the same city. Tessa spent years battling alcoholism, and thanks in part to Zane's involvement, she's living a healthy sober, if not somewhat lonely, life. However, she may have conquered her demons, but her past mistakes are about to come back to haunt her...and her life is at stake once again. Zane refuses to let her go through this alone, but standing with Tessa might get in the way of doing his job.

I loved this book! Tessa and Zane have both experienced so much trauma at the hands of addiction, despite being on different sides of it, but they've both found healing and have been able to rise above their challenges. Their friendship and attraction has been obvious throughout the series, so I enjoyed getting to see them grow closer. I've really enjoyed seeing the bond the team has and how they work together, and loved seeing them come together one more time before ending the series. The suspense (and everything else) was top-notch and kept me guessing the whole time. I can't wait to see what Blackburn has planned next!

Fans of Lynn H. Blackburn or anyone who just enjoys a good romantic suspense will love this novel! Be sure to start at the beginning of the series if you haven't read the previous books, and buckle up for a wild ride.

*I received a complimentary copy of Under Fire through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

Love the members of this team! Tessa was vulnerable, but still kickbutt. Not as much action as the other books in the series, but there was still tension. There was one typo on page 95. The epilogue was a little confusing and out-of-place to me. Were they considering moving there?

I really enjoyed this book. Now why its not the edge of your seat the whole books it has you on the edge of your seat sometimes. I didn't read the other books in the series but I really love this group of friends they have made themselves family. This book reminds me a lot of The O'Malley series by Dee Henderson. I Just loved how the author held nothing back with ether character, they both faced the same demon in very different ways and each tackled it head on. Tessa was a fighter and would stop at nothing to do her job and also protect the ones she loved. I loved that Both Tessa and Zaane were very strong characters neither over powered the other. Overall I really enjoyed this book the author kept it a clean read and its worth the read.

USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend--and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.

Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president's protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light.

Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?

My review: Zane and Tessa are trying to keep the president safe when he visits Raleigh. Tessa in charge of the detail that is vetting all possible threats before his arrival. As she delves into some of the threats, someone tries to kill her. This is an edge of your seat mystery that kept me reading.

I received this book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Under Fire is a riveting tale of overcoming obstacles. I found myself unable to put it down until the final page. The very first paragraph drug me in, and I was captivated all the way through. A clean romantic suspense that I definitely recommend.

Also, I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Under Fire by Lynn H. Blackburn brings action and excitement on every page. If you’ve read the first two books in the Defend and Protect series, you know Special Agents Tessa Reed and Zane Thacker well. These two have danced around a relationship for two books! Under Fire is finally their story.

Tessa and Zane are tasked with protecting the president on a trip to Raleigh, NC. But someone targets Tessa, and Zane steps in to protect her. But the two struggle to overcome the obstacles to their relationship.

I love this story! It has all the feels mixed with life-and-death action and suspense. Because this is book three, I feel like I know these characters. The story is fast paced, but emotions run deep. You could probably read this as a stand-alone, but the entire series is fantastic and it may make more sense to start with Unknown Threat. This is one of my favorite series and don’t forget the novella (Deadly Objective in the Targeted collection).

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thrilling suspense and action for Secret Service Special Agent Zane Thacker and Agent Tessa Reed. Tessa, along with Zane’s help, overcame her dependence to alcohol and is one of the most respected female agents in their department, serving as a liaison to the president’s protection detail. They have reunited in Raleigh to oversee the planning for the president’s visit to an old friend. As they work with the local police department, there are threats that must be contained as well as investigated, but soon the threat they also have to investigate is the one to Tessa. Someone wants her out of the way and she has no idea who or why. Kane wants to be more than a friend to Tessa and had stepped back to give her time to fully recover. She is attracted to him, but worries that her past will keep them from being more than colleagues. As the threats against her continue, the one perpetrating the attacks will soon learn that Tessa has been trained well and can take care of herself. As she and Zane grow closer, she will fight for their chance at a future. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Under Fire grabbed me and kept a firm hold on my attention until the end of the book. And, honestly it stayed in my thoughts even after that. The opening chapter gives great insight into the main characters and quickly made me emotionally invested in their well-being. Special Agents Tessa Reed and Zane Thacker remained best of friends even after his move away. Now they're working together again to keep the president safe during his visit to Raleigh, NC, and now they're having a difficult time just being best friends. I enjoyed reading about their faith and how it influenced their decisions. It is sprinkled naturally and lightly through the book. Tessa has a tight-knit group of co-workers and their wives. The dialogue flows well in both social and work settings. The plot has twists and turns, and situations rarely developed as I expected. There's one scene that I'm surprised didn't give me nightmares as I share a similar phobia to Tessa! I would definitely read more from author Lynn H. Blackburn and highly recommend Under Fire.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley and am sharing my opinion of this very well-written book.

Another captivating read from one of my favorites! I have been waiting for Zane and Tessa's story for quite a while and it did not disappoint. As a fan of NCIS, Zane and Tessa gave me a definite Tony and Ziva vibe which was fun. The mystery of this one kept me guessing and it has all the banter and humor I have come to expect from Lynn as well as one of my all-time favorite casts of characters. I love the friendship this crew has and am more than a little jealous over it! I adore all of Lynn's books and this one is no exception! Another lovely addition to my keeper shelf of my most favorite books!

The third book in the Defend and Protect series is by far the best and probably my favorite of all the books I’ve read by Blackburn!

Secret Service Agent Zane Thacker is now working to protect the President and even though it’s his dream job, he isn’t fully happy. He is now assigned to go back to Raleigh, North Carolina to help when the president goes on an event there. He gets to work with his best friend, Special Agent Tessa Reed; not only is she his best friend she is also the woman he is secretly in love with. Tessa has been working through her past dealing with her problems with alcohol and healing from her demons. Zane knows her deepest darkest secrets and Tessa doesn’t want to do anything that jeopardize their friendship in any way. She oversees arranging the protection for the President on his trip to Raleigh and every step of the way problems arise threatening the President and those assigned to protect.

This is the third book in the Defend and Protect series and having read all in the series, I am happy to say this is my favorite. Lynn Blackburn is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors and Under Fire lives up to my expectations of what I’m going to get when I pick up one of her books. Which is nice to say after being extremely underwhelmed by most of the romantic suspense books I have read lately. Christian fiction has become a growing market with many more options than in decades past. Blackburn has managed to overcome the typical genre stereotype formula to create a unique series that continues to be interesting. She has restored my faith with Under Fire and kept me on the edge of my seat and loving the dynamic between Zane and Tessa. Fans of the series will not want to miss this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This book starts off in an unconventional way and keeps laying out the surprises throughout the story. There’s plenty of action and romance centered around some familiar faces from previous books in the series.
I love the way Lynn writes her characters with visible flaws yet redeemable. They’re real people the reader can connect to, root for, and sigh over.
Tessa has struggled with addiction and the guys on the team are overly protective and a bit bossy. It’s okay most of the time but she wants more from her best friend Zane. Their friendship is solid, even if on the job he sometimes acts like he wants her protected by bubble wrap. Too bad she blew it with him a long time ago. The chances are slim there could be more between them.
Zane has been fighting his attraction to Tessa for a very long time. He friend-zoned himself to help her through rehab and now he’s stuck. It’s probably better to let things remain the same. Besides, she’s been targeted by someone who wants her gone and emotions just get in the way. He needs to focus on keeping her safe and helping plan an upcoming visit from the president.
Maybe it’s time for both of them to have a little bit of faith, in God, and each other.
I received a copy through NetGalley courtesy of Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group. This is my honest opinion of the book.

This novel is for fans of romantic suspense with an emphasis on romance. There is much more in this novel about relationships than suspense. There is a great deal of character thought about potential romance and reactions to romantic actions. There is a long section on decorating an apartment and another on donuts. There is a bit of suspense as someone is out to get Tessa but it is minor to the emphasis on the romantic relationship between Tessa and Zane. There is also a quick bit of suspense near the end.

One odd aspect of Tessa's character is that she is, by her own account, a recovering alcoholic. Interestingly enough, she never seems to struggle with the temptation to drink, even when under pressure or in a stressful situation. I would have liked to see her character presented a little more realistically in that area.

The plot centers around protecting the president during a visit to a private residence. While the team does background checks and investigates threats, most of the action in the novel revolves around the team keeping Tessa safe from attack. I was impressed, however, with the amount of work going into a presidential visit.

There is a very good faith message included.

This novel is for readers who like a romance aspect much stronger than the suspense.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Under Fire, book 3 in Lynn Blackburn’s Defend And Protect series, checked all the boxes for my expectations of a great romantic suspense novel. First there’s the plot — the Raleigh office of the Secret Service is charged with investigating all threats to the President in advance of his visit for a pricey fundraiser. I liked the details of how leads are tracked down and eliminated or expanded upon. But as the author is known to do, Blackburn throws twists and turns in to keep the agents and her readers scrambling. 😉 The two main characters are Zane and Tessa, secondary characters from previous books in the series. I loved the friends-to-more story arc. Their friendship is extra special, but when the sparks start to fly, serious sizzle commences! In addition to dodging bad guys’ attacks, tracking down rumors on the wind, and the inept advances of a colleague, the two grow their relationship . I loved every minute! Baggage from their pasts have to be sorted through, but Blackburn knows how to write a very satisfying happily-ever-after. For fans of this series, all the gang is back so you can see how all the characters are doing. The encouragement and support exhibited by the group was a great example of how the Christian life is meant to be lived. And the epilogue features a sneak peek to her new series. I cannot wait!

I could not put Under Fire down! A great addition to any romantic suspense lover’s library, this one is a highly recommended read!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

Under Fire, by Lynn H Blackburn, is the third book in the Defend and Protect series. While this is part of a series that takes over when the previous left off with some of the same characters, this is also a great stand alone story. In this story we get to see how Tessa moves forward after her struggle with alcoholism and we get to meet Zane after accepting the job of protecting the President of the United States. When the President is schedules to go to Raleigh to visit old friends and help with a fundraiser, Zane is sent ahead of him and Tessa is in charge of making sure everything is ready and safe for the visit.

This is a fast-paced story that gripped me from the very beginning and help it to the very end. The story has several twists and turns and threats against Tessa and the President at the same time. This is a very enjoyable story to read. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery in the story. This has been an extremely fun series to read with how close the members of the Raleigh Secret Service and other agencies. I enjoyed how they look out for each other, how they support each other and how they look to God for guidance and protection.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

Recently, I read "Under Fire" by Lynn Blackburn. The characters were well-developed. The story moved along at a good pace. I like how the heroine had a sweet tooth. She wasn't your typical heroine. This book should appeal to readers who are fans of suspense and especially romantic suspense. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters. I liked how the author gave the heroine and the hero authentic struggles, though in real life, I'm not sure how the believable the romance between the two would be. However, that did not detract from my enjoyment of the story, because after all, it's fiction.

I feel like I’ve been waiting for Zane and Tessa’s book for so long, but it was definitely worth it! Their romance is so sweet, especially with the history between them.

Blackburn begins with scenes that show some background of their relationship and reveal Tessa’s struggles. Tessa and Zane have developed an unique friendship that becomes such an important part of their relationship. I loved seeing their relationship deepen as they deal with what separates them.

And of course, the friendships they have with the other characters added to the book. This is what makes me love Blackburn’s stories so much. She has these realistic characters you can’t help but fall in love with. As you read, they become your own friends. Getting glimpses of Gil and Ivy, Luke and Faith, and even Charles and Hope and Ben and Sharon made this even more enjoyable.

The suspense element was on point. Blackburn always has me on the edge of my seat as the characters work to unravel the mystery and escape danger.

Overall, Under Fire is an enjoyable tale with an exhilarating suspense thread and sweet romance.

I love Lynn H. Blackburn’s romantic suspense books. I’ve read them all because she keeps me engaged, entertained, and trying to figure out how it will all work out.

In Under Fire, the reader finally gets the story behind Tessa and Zane’s friendship. We’ve seen them hate each other and we’ve seen them be friendly. But in Under Fire, we see everything. Y’all, this book!

I loved this story. I was so hooked on their romantic backdrop that I kept turning the pages. Fortunately there were also some suspense elements that made me eager to turn the page as well. And the ending, well it hints at a new series to come and I’m all for it.

Ms. Blackburn is a must-read. If you’ve never taken a chance on her books, correct that today! You don’t want to miss the last book in the series.

*This book is number 3 in the series but can be read as a standalone in my opinion.

**I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

Lynn Blackburn's Under fire is exciting and suspenseful, an enthralling story from beginning to end. Book three in the Defend and Protect series reunites the characters from earlier books and I always enjoy updates on characters form other books. Tessa and Zane are well developed including flaws. They are both strong characters who show quite a bit of growth as the plot progresses. I have really enjoyed all three books in this trilogy.
So brew a pot of tea and settle in for a suspenseful read.
I was given a copy of Under fire by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Wow! What an amazing series and story! The characters and story line kept my interest and engaged from beginning to end with lots of action and drama!

Special Agents Zane and Tessa, along with her team, are assigned to protect the President and eliminating any potential threats before his arrival to their area Raleigh NC. I liked that the other characters from the previous 2 books in this series were also included in this story. I liked the teams energy, integrity, faith and family focus. What an amazing bond they shared!

I highly recommend this Christian fiction, clean romantic suspense series! I can’t wait to see what this author is going to write next. She is one of my favorite authors to read.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

About this book:

“USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend--and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.
Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president's protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light.
Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?”


Series: Book #3 in the “Defend and Protect” trilogy. Review of Book #1 Here! And Book #2 Here! Mentions characters from the “Dive Team Investigations” series and does give slight spoilers from those books. Also mentions a couple from the novella “Deadly Objective” by this author.


Spiritual Content- A handful of Scriptures are read & quoted; Prayers (including quite long prayers and talking to God), Thanking God, & Blessings over food; Talks about God & forgiveness; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Tessa says she refuses to allow alcohol to steal the life God has for her; As a child, Zane didn’t understand why God gave him his mother when other kids had good mothers; Zane prays that he knows God has the power to fix others, but he doesn’t understand why He doesn’t (this is not brought up again); Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches & church going; A few mentions of forgiveness & a man wondering if Zane would still tell him about God if he knew what he did; A couple mentions of being Blessed & blessings; A couple mentions of sins & a sinner; A mention of wishing someone Godspeed; A mention of people in a town “walk[ing] the talk” when it comes to their faith; A mention of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; A mention of Mother Teresa; A mention of someone’s “eternal reward”; A mention of someone sounding like they’re calling “down fire from heaven”;
*Note: Mentions of Greek gods & a Roman god (Janus); A few mentions of evil; A few mentions of Tessa’s demons & her fighting them; A few mentions of a protest group having neon-crosses (because the person that was killed last name is Cross); A mention of someone’s smile looking a “little wicked”; A mention of being jinxed; A mention of someone knocking on wood (superstition); A mention of voodoo; A mention of someone saying they saw UFOs.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bah’, a ‘blasted’, a ‘blooming’, a ‘duh’, a ‘screw up’, a ‘shoot’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘suckers’, two ‘crap’s, three ‘dumb’s, five forms of ‘ticked/tick off’, ten forms of ‘stupid’, and twenty forms of ‘idiot’; A couple mentions of curses (including Zane bites back choice words once; others are said, not written); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Being attacked, Being strangled, Fighting/Self-Defense, Pain, Blood, & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Seeing a multi-vehicle car wreck (semi-detailed); A hangover (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to shoot someone (a few times, not serious); In the opening chapter, Tessa has a hangover (from drinking, but also someone drugged her drink so she remembers nothing and is freaked out); Tessa has struggled with an alcohol addiction for years (later says her first drink was in middle school and that she’s the type who should never have alcohol because she will always want more), goes to rehab prior to the main of the book, and says she’ll always be an alcoholic but she’s healing and doesn’t want to go back to how she was; Zane had a “nightmare” of a childhood due to his mother being an alcoholic (details of him being terrified, upset, & not able to understand why she was like that; He knows it’s not true that he’s not important enough for someone to sacrifice for, but it’s been imbedded in him because of his childhood; He made a comment once to Tessa about not being able to trust a woman who drinks because he might one day love a woman “who needs alcohol more than she needs [him]”); All about many, many mentions of threats, threats of harming and killing, domestic terrorists, crimes, criminals, arrests, jails, protests, violence, & hits on different people (including towards government officials, barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of being shot/shot at, being strangled, injuries, pain, a fire burning down a house, explosions, attacks, & deaths (some of the events in Book #1, up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of hangovers, drinking, bars, getting others drunk, alcohol, alcoholics (Tessa and Zane’s mother), rehab, sobriety, & going to AA meetings (Tessa); Mentions of the death penalty & a criminal being executed on multiple charges (eight murders, sexual assault, & battery); Mentions of murders & murderers; Mentions of death wishes & not having one (it is discussed between Tessa and Zane, & a family member asked if she was depressed or had a death wish because of her career choice); Mentions of someone being shot, blood/bleeding, someone being injected with insulin (deadly for those not diabetic), & a gun being aimed (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of grenades, bombs, explosions/explosives, & threats of blowing people/places up; Mentions of biological weapons & plans to cause harm/ill on others with chemicals; Mentions of a multi-vehicle car wreck, possible wrecks, injuries, & being tailed (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of poison, being poisoned, wondering if something is poisoned, & deaths (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of Tessa being drugged & abducted (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of abusive family members, addicts, & substance abuse; Mentions of drugs, drug addictions, being drugged, & women at bars being drugged; Mentions of a possible stalker; Mentions of a break-in; Mentions of snakes, a death from a snake bite, & Tessa’s extreme fear of snakes; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of some men believing that women shouldn’t work in law enforcement & misogynists; Mentions of childhood trauma; A few mentions of blood/bleeding & a crime scene looking bloody (because of red food dye); A few mentions of being robbed; A few mentions of blackmail; A few mentions of parties & the party scene; A couple mentions of possible suicides; A couple mentions of school shootings; A couple mentions of gossip; A mention of a man beating his wife to death; A mention of a death from an overdose; A mention of someone threatening to drown another; A mention of kids being trafficked; A mention of someone almost having a panic attack; A mention of a DUI; A mention of a scam; A mention of a father leaving his family; A mention of nicotine; A mention of vomiting; A mention of bullies; A mention of a man being a “pain in the rear”; A mention of someone getting their rear kicked; A mention of something being “a kick in the pants”; A mention of a family’s pet being run-over (does not happen);
*Note: Mentions of mental illnesses (including someone who is mentally ill but refuses to take medicine, someone being locked inside their “mental landscape”, someone’s mind being broken after something bad happened, and someone thinking another has a mental illness but hasn’t been diagnosed); Mentions of brand names (Spam, Coke, Barbie, Krispy Kreme, & Louboutin shoes); Mentions of Uber; A few mentions of Apple products & features (iPad, Find My Friends, Siri, & FaceTime); A few mentions of awards (Tony, Emmy, & Oscar); A couple mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of Disney princesses & Mickey Mouse; A couple mentions of Zoom; A couple mentions of plastic surgery & Botox; A couple mentions of an actor & fiction characters (Jack Nicholson & the Cleaver family); A mention of Agatha Christie.


Sexual Content- Staring at someone’s lips (once), two fingers-to-lips touches, a hands/fingers kiss, three head/forehead kisses, two nose kisses, eight barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Remembering kisses (not-detailed); Wanting to kiss; Lots of Touches, Embraces, Warmth, Shivers, Hand holding, & Nearness (including a massage with a moan & touching another’s thigh and knee, up to semi-detailed); Wanting to touch & embrace (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); In the opening chapter, Tessa wakes up in a motel with her shirt missing (she was not sexually assaulted/raped, but it implies that it could have gone that way; She is ashamed of it); Two forms of ‘hot’ and three ‘baby’s; Many mentions of dates & dating; Mentions of sexual assault, sexual harassment, possible scandals from it, & the women being paid off; Mentions of kisses, kissing, & making out; Mentions of men that can’t take no for an answer; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of couples kissing & imagining someone kissing another (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of when a drunk Tessa threw herself at Zane (he said no and nothing happened); A few mentions of a woman clinging onto Zane; A few mentions of players & a couple men dating more than one woman at a time; A few mentions of come-on lines, making passes, & being hit on; A few mentions of winks & blushes; A couple mentions of someone thinking that it would be a “disservice to all humankind” if a certain guy reproduced; A couple mentions of making it where a man can’t father children; A couple mentions of a man’s new wife being younger than his youngest son; A couple mentions of anyone (male or female) “says no, the answer is no” (said by Tessa regarding a woman clinging onto Zane); A couple mentions of crushes;A mention of a man’s childhood being full of “drugs, sex, and violence”; A mention of it not being wise for a(n unmarried) couple to be allow together at night; A mention of nothing “physical” happening between two friends; A mention of a creepy guy; A mention of Zane wanting to make sure a rapist can never do it again; A mention of a marriage being consummated; A mention of a man trying to get rid of/hide his pregnant girlfriend; A mention of a prenup that would leave a man a pauper if his does to his new wife what he did to his previous wife (no details); A mention of a mistress; A mention of someone feeling like they’re cheating; A mention of a hook-up; A mention of a man being called a dog (by Tessa); A mention of a woman possibly wanting to fall for a man who’s more attracted to her mind than her body; A mention of a man wolf-whistling at Tessa; A mention of a woman batting her eyes (said in a mocking way); Both Tessa & Zane are attracted to each other, but they have stayed friends for years because of different reasons; Love, falling/being in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Tessa kicks a male attacker in a “sensitive place”; A few mentions of rears (including wanting to shoot a man in his rear, a man being a pain in the rear, and someone getting their rear kicked); A couple mentions of some threats being more of a “personal nature” (from women to a man, no details given); A mention of a curvy woman; A mention of some men being unable to “keep their pants up”; mention of Tessa kicking a “foot to the—” on a male attacker (cut-off, but implied where); A mention of someone butting out of a conversation; A mention of being the butt of jokes.

-Tessa Reed, age 35
-Zane Thacker
P.O.V. switches between them & someone else (x3)
352 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)

{ Because of some content, I would say this book is best for older girls who are very interested in law enforcement and considering it as a career path. }

This was a wild ride from start to finish. At first, I was a little concerned with what I was getting myself into because of the opening chapter. Which is somewhat how I felt at the beginning of the second book in this series as well. But I continued on to “help” solve the mystery. ;)

One thing I’ve really enjoyed about this trilogy is the friendship circle. How welcoming they all are to the newcomers and how they all have the others’ backs. They might be a bit too nosy at times, but it’s because they care for each other. They’re quick to pray for and with each other (long, legit prayers, I might add) and I truly just love that. It’s what has made this series good in my eyes. (Side note: The epilogue was cute and sweet and confused me to pieces. I assume it’s a preview of the author’s next series?)

There’s a lot of suspense elements in this trilogy, and while I definitely enjoy the uniqueness of those elements, the author doesn’t shy away from having broken characters who are in the process of healing. Especially in this novel. Tessa is a recovering alcoholic (though, she says that she’ll always been an alcoholic, despite going to rehab and AA meetings, so I don’t know if I agree with that statement) and we see some of her worst moments thanks to time skips. Because of the opening chapter of Tessa waking up drugged and missing some of her clothing, and the frequent mentions of the almost rape throughout the rest of the book, I definitely don’t recommend this book for those in BFCG’s target ages. This author has a knack for showing the nitty-gritty parts of a law enforcement career and I would say only older high school girls that are seriously considering it as a career, would be the only ones I would recommend this book to in the 9-19 age range.

My minor is in criminal justice (hence why I read so many FBI and suspense books) so I enjoyed looking at all the different details of this plot and trying to wrap my mind around all the loose ends, trying to future out how everything was connected.
There were a couple twists I didn’t see coming and a few I did, but overall it was a wild ride that kept me engaged and questioning everything. Not a book I would easily recommend, but I will say that I mostly enjoyed it.



Link to review:



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.