Lilith Saintcrow's "Duty" is a gripping urban fantasy novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world where supernatural beings and humans coexist. The story centers around a determined protagonist who is torn between her duty to protect humanity and her own desires. Saintcrow's world-building is rich and immersive, and her characters are complex and engaging. With its fast-paced plot and intriguing mythology, "Duty" is a must-read for fans of the genre.

My rating: 3 stars. This book stumped me as which category to put this one. It’s not quite romance, because there are no love scenes … but there was chemistry between the main characters. Not quite military, although the main and secondary characters are both from the military, but not active. If you wanted to classify this mystery, it’s pretty vanilla.

Did I like the book? I’m still on the fence with this one. There has a hodge podge bit of everything that made it, in my mind, a bit confusing to read … and in some cases not realistic. Without giving the plot away, the author claims that the female character is one thing and then plays her out over and over doing something else. Same with the male and secondary male characters.. I guess that this book would appeal to other readers - just not me!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This is book two in The Ghost Squad series and it is Paul and Beck’s story. Paul and Beck’s have history as they used to be high school sweethearts but all that fell apart when Paul enlisted in the army. Paul has now received a Honorable Medical Discharge from the Army after being severely injured on there last mission and now he is returning home to Granite Falls but things in the town are not what they seem on the surface. Beck’s was upset when Paul enlisted and then she ended up marrying a man that they went to school with but now Beck’s is going through a nasty divorce and after everything that he put her through she will be just glad to get it all over with and maybe then she can get on with her own life but what she wasn’t expecting was for Paul to return to there hometown but Beck’s is determined to stay away from him as much as possible as she has gone through enough to last her a life time and the last thing that she needs is to be drawn in by Paul again. Will this be a second chance for Paul and Beck’s or has too much time past and things happened that have made them totally different people to what they used to be well you will just have to read this book to find out what the outcome is for them. The characters and storyline along with the twists and turns are what makes this book a real page turner with lots of action and I can’t wait to read more books by this new author to me.

One of the best thrillers I have read so far this year!

Paul is coming home after being injured in service only to be reunited with his high school love, Beck, by his well meaning Aunt Hel. What he discovers has been going on with Beck and the small town they're from is not what he expected at all.

With several good twists and turns, this book will keep you turning pages until you've read every word.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review this book.

Great read, lots of action. When Paul comes home from leave leave, he is picked up be his aunt and his ex girlfriend. But something is wrong.when Beck goes shopping with the woman that took her in when she needed somewhere to go, lilt does she know the are picking up Paul. Can she keep her secrets while living under the same roof.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. ThE opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Going back home is tough and when you live in small towns, even tougher. Your past catches up with you just like it does for Paul, especially when your first and only love is living with your aunt. I would have hoped Paul caught on to what was going on with Beck sooner but it was still a good story and I did enjoy their story from rekindling an old romance to the danger and suspense.

This is my first book by Lilith Saintcrow. 8 should note this is marketed as a romance novel, but I would call it romantic suspense. There is nothing saucy in this book, but definitely romantic.

Becca is despite to leave her abusive husband a cop in town. He refuses to grant her a divorce. Her old high school flame comes back to town after joining to Army fresh out of school. People are after her. In the end they discover a lot of bad things that happened in town and all the bad guys get caught. It was a very suspenseful read.

This is #2 in a series that appears to follow a secret Army task force for six. I would definitely read the rest of the series.

Triggers: domestic violence, abortion, attempted murder

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this book. In exchange for my feedback. This is my true and honest review.

If I had to pick a theme song for this book - it would be Girl on Fire by Cameron Marlowe. This book is definitely about never forgetting your first love and maybe finding it again later in life.

Paul was the gunnery sergeant for the Ghost Squad. The second in command who kept everything humming. With the lieutenant retired and making his own home in New Mexico - Paul is definitely at loose ends. Which leads to him heading to his hometown for a family reunion for the first time in many many years. When he gets home - his aunt immediately reconnects him with Beck - his high school sweetheart. The one he was going to marry - but life got in the way. Beck's circumstances have changed drastically since they were together. She's trying to divorce her police deputy husband and escape the abuse and pain of that marriage. Since she and Paul were together she's been through hell - and she's still there. When she and Paul come back together - its clear that even through all they've both been through - now might be the right time for both of them.

It was wonderful to see Beck emerging out of the horrorshow that her life had become and taking charge of her life again - even if she has a few TSTL moments. I also like the arc of the reconnection between them. Even in the fast timeline of the book, the romance made sense and really worked.

Trigger warnings - abuse, abortion, and parental abandonment. There are no sexy-times in this book - as it really is the beginning of the second chance for Beck and Paul that makes sense. But make no mistake - the romance is very strong in this book.

I received this via NetGalley as an ARC, but these opinions are all mine.

An intense, heart wrenching, and gripping story. There's a lot of emotions, there's grief, there's the aftermath of war and the corruption of men.
A very good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

ARC provided for my honest review and opinion. This book is suspenseful and engaging from the beginning. It is a page-turner that gives enough romance and suspense to keep you flipping through the night.

Duty
By @LilithSaintcrow
Pub Date 10/21/2022
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice 🧊/5
KU No

Duty by Lilith Saintcrow is a suspense story about a soldier - Paul Klemperer - who’s returned home on medical leave to attend a family reunion. It’s the first time he’s been home since he left for boot camp over ten years ago. He’s surprised to find his high school girlfriend Beck living with his aunt while she’s getting divorced. Paul quickly realizes that Beck’s husband Joe has been abusing her, and he’s ready to make sure she’s safe, but when Beck goes on the run, Paul realizes there are people more dangerous than Joe, and Beck’s life is in jeopardy if he can’t help her.

This story is a mixed bag for me. The writing is really good, there’s a charming quality to Saintcrow’s writerly voice that I enjoyed. The characters are strongly written and quirky. On the other hand, the writer throws in so much description that there’s quite a bit of repetition. I thought this was a romantic suspense book, but, no, it’s just suspense. Paul and Beck never even kiss. Had I known there would be zero romance (except the acknowledgment at the end that they were getting back together), I wouldn’t have read it. So, some good qualities and no romance makes this a three star rating gif me.

Duty is book two in the Ghost Squad series by Saintcrow, and it can be read as a standalone. Let me know if you read - I’d love to discuss!

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#bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookshelf #romancereader #currentlyreading #bookish #readnow #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendation #BooksToRead #allthebooks #netgalley

Thank you @netgalley - I was given an ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this was an intense read. I couldn't put it down! An estranged pair find themselves thrown together in a small town with lots of secrets. An abusive marriage, a crooked deputy, and an injured soldier clash in this story of romance and intrigue.

I read Lili St Crow's Strange Angels series years ago and remember it fondly, so I jumped at the chance to read something new from her. Thank you to Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an intense read. The culpability of the people in power is staggering. Bullies are always bottom dwellers but when in a position of power they are plain scary. Beck should have the power of the law behind her all things considered. But her remarkable journey to freedom makes for one neck of a read.

I can’t tell if this was a case of right book wrong time, or if the story overall wasn’t right for me. I wanted there to be a bit more of outward expressions of love from Paul and Beck. He cInstantly was saying in his head how he wanted her and needed to keep her safe, but then when he’d vocalize it, he would always just say his aunt would kill him if anything happened to her. Really?! I get at the beginning he was still hurt and didn’t have all the facts, but then when it was finally time to fess up he was just like, “Man, Hel would really kill me if she got hurt.”
Also it just felt a little all over the place for me, so many things were going on and some things they only brushed the surface of and it left you kind of wondering the whole time.

Duty is a lovely story about a tragic situation (trigger warnings at the very end). Although it is billed as romantic suspense and I was confident in an HEA, I also found it to be somewhat weighted down with sadness and despair. That's not bad, per se, and it's definitely realistic, but those hoping for a story typical of the trope might find themselves a little disappointed. The story is not lacking, however. It's compelling and, even knowing the caveats, worth the read.

Paul and Rebecca were high school sweethearts separated when Paul enlisted in the Army after graduation. He quickly tracked into black ops (or something like that) while she ended up marrying a guy they both knew in high school. Both situations went south, with Paul's leading to an honorable medical discharge, and Beck's leading to divorce proceedings. Paul arrives home for a reunion just as Beck is on her last reserves.

Actual romantic activity between the two is limited to their individual thoughts, which we're privy to due to alternate chapters told in their respective third-person voices. Beck is too traumatized by her soon-to-be ex husband and past regrets to even think of a different, more hopeful future with Paul. Paul, on the other hand, fills the gaps by letting us know that he's all in, that he's there to slay dragons, and that he's back in her life forever if she'll have him.

Otherwise, the story is entirely about Beck finding her way out of the mess of her life, while simultaneously figuring out how to tumble her ex's house of cards. Along the way, mostly through Paul, we learn that our weary, skittish heroine used to be full of life and mischievousness, giving us hope that she'll find herself there again someday.

This story is third (I think) in a series but my first. It follows the guys on Paul's team. Although we learn a lot about the guys through Paul's thoughts, we only meet one. Not having the full team descend on the town to aid Paul in his quest to help Paul is a real deviation from the military romantic suspense genre, but it's also more realistic, and it allows the author to use words to tell the story rather than superhuman heroics. I liked that a lot, but some might find this novel a little too cerebral in that regard.

Would I read the other novels in this series? Yes, but I would go in knowing I'm in for more of a literary ride than a steamy beach read.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

Trigger warnings: Domestic abuse, violence, PTSD

Wow! I'm loving this book and series! This book had everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, bad cops, drug pins, and some great black ops guys! The characters were awesome, funny, and bad azzes! The storyline was so very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! It was an awesome read! I highly recommend reading this book and series! Plenty of action, and great characters! Don't miss out on this one! I found me a great new to me author too! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Duty, second book in Ghost Squad series had me wrapped and I had a hard time keeping away from my story, the characters are interesting and kept me entangled in the story line!.