Book review :
Near Miss is book one in C.S. Smith’s steamy romantic suspense series featuring former special operators from the US and UK. This book is a whirlwind of trust issues, of secrets and of feelings that can't be denied.

The story revolves around Sophia, a young woman who gets a new job at an US company that makes projects for Afghanistan, and Lachlan , the man she has to research, because the man who helped her get the job thinks this ex-military is involved in illegal arms selling. Sophia is hard not to like, while Lachlan has his Scottish charm, his alpha struggles yet a tender heart.

With someone illegally selling arms to the Afghans, and making it look like Lachlan is the culprit, the pair will have to have some pretty fancy footwork to keep him being charged with treason. If he can prove his innocence, and both survive the betrayal. They just might end up with a HEA.

The author has well penned the storyline and all the characters are well plotted. Language is lucid and easily comprehendable.

I loved the precious, heart warming details and the things that made this book unique, like the scenes involving the painting and the meeting with the veteran. I liked a lot about this book, the fact that it kept you guessing, you reach almost the middle of the book until you realize who is the bad character. Do grab your copy today.

I am thankful to netgalley and the publisher for providing me the copy of the book in return of an honest review.

Happy Reading!

This was a great book and the start of a brand new series. Ms. Lewis' characters were believable as Sophia trying to investigate whether Lachlan was involved in arms dealing with the Afgans. As she delves deeper, both are in danger. This is an action packed book I thoroughly enjoyed and will be reading the next one.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was an intense read and it had me guessing the whole way. Was Sophia being roped into making Lachlan out to be a criminal or does she gain her own perspective on Lachlan and his security dealings.

Great read and one that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I love the protective love vibe these two have as well. It works!

I could not put this book down!
Near Miss is a fantastic romantic suspense that keeps you guessing!
This was a great read full of lots of twists & turns!

2.5 stars

Near Miss is an okay novel with a decent plot, and I was somewhat interested throughout. However, I just couldn't see any legit connection between Sophia and Lachlan. Furthermore, neither of their backgrounds were fleshed out enough for me to connect with them myself.

When I read the blurb, I understood Sophia--perhaps overoptimistically--to be a hands-on expert on Afghan social issues and developmental needs. I really thought she and Lachlan would cross paths in Afghanistan. However, in reality, she's a young former legislative aid for a member of Congress who somehow landed the position of Director of Legislative Affairs at the company Lachlan also works for. It's pretty obvious that she got the position thanks to her BFF's father (a former 4-star admiral) who also wants her to spy/but not spy spy on Lachlan. Anyway, she never actually seems to do her job; she mostly just bumbles around. In short, I wanted to see more demonstrable competence rather than naïve insecurity.

Lachlan's current sitch is clearer; someone is trying to make it look like he's smuggling arms to a warlord in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, he's suffering from guilt for an op gone bad, partially because he trusted the wrong person. He's pretty gritty and cynical and under the microscope from the get go, and I think his character suffers a little from not having the opportunity to be anything other than a guy on the edge. But with a Scottish accent, yum. (That said, the Scottish slang that peppers both his quoted speech and the narrative around it comes across as a little forced at times.)

Together, I just don't see it. They start off with a little love/hate that quickly becomes an inability to stop thinking of one another. But I didn't feel the connection; I was just told there was one. The story does move along, though, and there's definitely a target audience for it. It just didn't do it for me.

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!

This book is good romance suspense.

So I had my suspicions since the beginning and I was right !! It’s a well written book.
I like the fact that there isn’t a lot of clichés.
Lachlan is the alpha man that I like in my books. He is Scott so he’s the perfect man.
It’s a good slow burn romance book.

One problem I didn’t really connect with Sophia. But I connect with Lachlan so it’s a good book.

I look forward to read the next one because Emily and Nathan intrigue me so much.

Thank you netgalley for this book

4.5*

It's been so long since I've read a romantic suspense, this was a great book to break that pause.

Thit is the story of Sophia, a young woman who gets a new job at an US company that makes projects for Afghanistan, and Lachlan , the man she has to research, because the man who helped her get the job thinks this ex-military is involved in illegal arms selling. Their book is a whirlwind of trust issues, of secrets and of feelings that can't be denied.

I liked a lot about this book, the fact that it kept you guessing, you reach almost the middle of the book until you realize who is the bad character. Both the hero and the heroine are nicely shaped in their flaws and in their humanity, Sophia is hard not to like, while Lachlan has his Scottish charm, his alpha struggles yet a tender heart. I loved the supporting characters, especially their fun friends, I cannot wait for their book! I also loved the precious, heart warming details and the things that made this book unique, like the scenes involving the painting and the meeting with the veteran.

The book was well written, nice paced, I liked that the villains weren't featured too much in the story as you get in some romantic suspense. But I would have preferred more romance over the suspense. Also, it's worth mentioning, this is a book that has a very real feel, it doesn't dive much into clichés, the character's struggles are real, they are imperfect and they react as humanly as possible. There is not much of the sugar coated layer some romantic suspense books offer, there is raw life here.

My half of star is missing because I didn't feel particularly connect to the characters or to the story, but I did enjoyed this construction and for a debut novel it is a very good one. I look forward to read the next one in the series.

I received a copy of this in order to offer my personal view on it.

Another amazingly written story in this intriguing series with excellent pacing, perfectly developed characters and story line… is there anything else you could ever need? Highly recommended. Very highly recommended.