The Seal by Juliette N. Banks

June 27, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Seal by Juliette N. Banks
Black Hawk Security series, Book One
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

He’s sworn to protect, and never love again, but will she be the one to breach his walls?

My name is Josh Hawke, decorated SEAL and founder of Black Hawke Security. Some might call me arrogant. Women call me cold. Those who truly know me call me dangerous.

I’m all those things.

My priority is my elite team of former special ops who fulfill our contracts with governments and some of the most powerful people in the world.

When a famous rockstar hires us to protect his daughter, it’s just another job. Until I meet Cassy Cartwright and her intense green eyes send a bolt of chemistry through me.

She’s as infuriated as I am by it.

The last thing I want is private security intruding on my quiet, hard-fought-for life. Even if he is six foot four and the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.

Not interested.

Josh is going to distract all the clients in my hair salon and… protect me from the stalker who is out of prison and looking for me again thanks to my rock star father’s comeback hit.

But that’s all I want from him.

I can’t say I wasn’t warned—the book overview clearly stated this was a steamy romance with spice. But wow. My eyes were reading Tien Tsin chile pepper-level steamy!

The hero, Josh Hawke, is a decorated SEAL who openly admits to being arrogant, cold, and dangerous. He’s well aware of his eight-pack abs, which he maintains through regular workouts in the private gym at his Black Hawk Security (BHS) headquarters. Josh, along with his elite team of paramilitary experts, runs BHS, a company that provides high-stakes security services.

The chemistry between Josh and the heroine, Cassy, is immediate and intense. It’s easy to see why Cassy was taken in by his Alpha presence, good looks, and wealth—complete with his Maserati SUV and expensive clothes. Josh, in turn, was hooked from the moment he laid eyes on Cassy. Her photo captivated him, but in person, she was even more stunning. When their eyes locked, he was hypnotized by her green eyes.

Cassy is independent, successful, and strong-willed. But even she can’t resist Josh’s charm—especially when he becomes the one person who can truly protect her.

And she needs protection. Years ago, Cassy was stalked and kidnapped by a dangerous man named Isaac, who’s now escaped prison. Her father wisely hires BHS to keep her safe. The suspense element in this story kept me on edge—every twist had me rooting for everyone’s safety. I felt a sense of relief when Josh was near, just like Cassy did.

The supporting cast is well developed and adds richness to the story. I especially enjoyed getting to know Josh’s crew at BHS—they’re the kind of characters I hope to see again in future books. Cassy’s world also feels real and grounded, especially through her connections at her salon. Her co-workers and clients added humor and warmth that balanced out the intensity of the action scenes.

One thing to note: there’s a fair amount of profanity, which I’m no stranger to myself. Sometimes a well-placed F-bomb gets the point across. However, I personally found the use of strong language in the sex scenes off-putting—it just didn’t feel romantic to me. That said, the scenes were easy to skim past and didn’t detract from the gripping suspense and solid plot.

Overall, The Seal was a fast-paced, action-packed, and thoroughly entertaining read. If you enjoy romantic suspense with high heat and high stakes, this one is definitely worth picking up.

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Low April Sun by Constance E Squires

May 16, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Low April Sun by Constance E Squires
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

On the morning of April 19, 1995, Delaney Travis steps into the Social Security office in Oklahoma City to obtain an ID for her new job. Moments later, an explosion shatters the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building into rubble. Her boyfriend Keith and half-sister Edie are left to assume the worst—that Delaney perished in the bombing, despite lack of definitive proof. Twenty years later, now married and bonded by the tragedy, Edie and Keith’s lives are upended when they begin to receive mysterious Facebook messages from someone claiming to be Delaney.

Desperate for closure, the couple embarks on separate journeys, each aiming for an artists’ community in New Mexico that may hold answers. Alongside their quest is August, a recovering alcoholic with a haunting connection to the bombing. Raised in the separatist compound of Elohim City, August harbors secrets about Timothy McVeigh, the perpetrator of the attack, and his own possible involvement in the tragedy. When his path crosses with Edie, he must choose whether to tell anyone about his past.

As the 20-year anniversary of the bombing approaches, fracking-induced earthquakes shake the ground of Oklahoma City, mirroring the unsettled lives of its residents. In their quest for answers, Edie, Keith, and August seek to understand how the shadows of the past continue to darken the present, as the ground beneath them threatens to give way once again.

Understanding the past, so one can move into the future.

Life is always more complicated than we mere mortals want to admit. Humans are a mess of contradictions, stories, lies and half-truths. I liked how the author wove all these into this story.

Being that I was alive during the time of the Oklahoma City Bombing, this book grabbed my attention. I wanted to see how the characters handled the situation and the aftermath. I liked that the author kept the stories of the various characters complicated and the mystery threaded through the story was good, too. It showed that life, as I said above, is complicated. There were times, though, where the story was a bit slow and it took some effort to get through it. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood for this book and wasn’t ready for something this heavy. Other readers may absolutely love it, so don’t be deterred. There is intrigue to the story that will ensnare many readers.

If you want a different take on the events of the Oklahoma City Bombing, the aftermath and the people who lived through it, then this might be the book for you. Give it a try.

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Mantee by CC Woods

April 1, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Mantee by CC Woods
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rated: Best Book
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Mantee is a deeply moving story of friendship between a teenager and a manatee. Packed with action and unforgettable characters, Mantee takes readers on a journey down the East Coast, from NYC to Florida.

Stylish and Fun to Read: The unique voice and wordplay in Mantee is immersive and you’ll be drawn into an enchanting universe that’s inspired by the beauty of nature.

Perfect for fans of adventure books and tales that are inspirational. Reading Mantee will leave you feeling motivated and happy.

This story is a hoot!

It is hard to know where to begin. The Manatee, who chuffed her friendliness at our narrator right off the bat, is probably the place. I fell in love with her pudgy grey face right at that first ‘chuff,’ too. But perhaps I am getting ahead of myself.

First off, the discerning reader notices some misspellings, like ‘mantee’ and Flurda. There are some odd abbreviations, too. Yet, these aren’t mistakes…they are our first tip about the narrator. He’s a bit short on education but is completely full and overwhelmingly enthusiastic. He’s enthusiastic about life, about friends, about great places to live, but most of all, about Mantee.

We readers encounter their friendship as our narrator realizes there are some local dangers to Mantee. He’s got to get her to a safer place, maybe even to far away Florida. No one could predict their journey south, and the hardships, but also friendships they encounter. Every moment is exciting or hopeful or dangerous. Author CC Woods somehow manages to tell us something about our own dreams through the wild efforts of the narrator here.

I can’t say enough about Mantee. It’s funny and quirky and it’s very difficult to say it’s great for a specific type of reader or age group. I think if you would just like to be swept off into an engaging adventure regardless of your age, give it a try.

I give Mantee 5 stars (and a best book rating) and would give more if the scale went higher.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Simply Lies by David Baldacci

March 26, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Simply Lies by David Baldacci
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Mickey Gibson, single mother and former detective, leads a hectic life similar to that of many moms: juggling the demands of her two small children with the tasks of her job working remotely for ProEye, a global investigation company that hunts down wealthy tax and credit cheats.

When Mickey gets a call from a colleague named Arlene Robinson, she thinks nothing of Arlene’s unusual request for her to go inventory the vacant home of an arms dealer who cheated ProEye’s clients and fled. That is, until she arrives at the mansion and discovers a dead body in a secret room—and nothing is as it seems.

Not only does the arms dealer not exist, but the murder victim turns out to be Harry Langhorne, a man with mob ties who used to be in Witness Protection. What’s more, no one named Arlene Robinson works at ProEye.

In the blink of an eye, Gibson has become a prime suspect in a murder investigation—and now her job is on the line until she proves that she was set up. Before long, Gibson is locked in a battle of wits with a brilliant woman with no name, a hidden past, and unknown motives—whose end game is as mysterious as it is deadly.

Former detective Mickey Gibson now works from home for a global investigations company. While she misses the field and action of her former police days, her two young children usually make up for the lack of action in her days now. When a colleague calls with a simple task for Mickey she doesn’t think twice about heading out to check over a house. Discovering a dead body inside, Mickey’s life is immediately turned upside down and she finds herself unwillingly drawn into a dangerous and fast paced world.

I’ve always enjoyed David Baldacci’s books, and this standalone novel didn’t disappoint. I found Mickey to be a modern, relatable and thoroughly enjoyable character. Much of her character and situation should strike a chord with many people and I thought she was an excellent hook into the story. I also thought Baldacci did an excellent job keeping the pace of the story fast but not so quick that I couldn’t keep up. There is a lot going on in this book and quite a few plots and sub-plots interweaving together and this could have easily turned into a mess where there was just too much going on. I feel Baldacci really is exceptional (in this and others of his works) with keeping that balance.

I thought the villain was also an excellent character, though I do admit the different layers and complications of the plot got quite a bit at times. I found I did need to suspend a little bit of my disbelief – there were just so many layers and twists I found myself at a few points pausing to wonder if this really was believable. Baldacci’s skill, however, had me so caught up in the plot and action that overall I did find it logical and while upon reflection I’m not certain that parts are realistic, there is ample evidence with enough planning and foresight everything is potentially possible and I did find myself caught up in the book and pacing it was quite easy to suspend a little disbelief and keep going with the action. I’m not sure all readers will feel this way – but if you enjoy Baldacci’s style and other works then this is absolutely along a similar vein and is admittedly very well thought out.

With a complicated plot, plenty of moving parts and a very solid pace readers should find this action orientated murder mystery a good read. I’m happy with this book and at the moment it stands alone so there’s no history or prior books in the series that need reading. I’d also pick up a second book about this character and read another one of her adventures.

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A Team Of Three by Brad Lee

March 25, 2025 By Leave a Comment


A Team Of Three by Brad Lee
Publisher: Simply Sensible Entertainment
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Freedom isn’t free.

America’s newest enemy launches an audacious plan to incapacitate the country. A never-before-seen danger is about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. And the world faces a crisis unlike any before.
Can intelligence analyst Haley put the puzzle together in time from the safety of her office – or is she meant to risk it all as a field asset?

Is Axe, a former Navy SEAL, capable of overcoming a foe with nothing to lose?
The clues are cleverly hidden. The threats are terrifying.

And the stakes have never been higher. For the USA, the world, Axe, and Haley.
They are on their own, in deep, and desperate.

All they have is each other, their dedication, and their skills… but will that be enough to prevent death and destruction?
Join them for their most dangerous mission yet.

It was meant to be a fairly simple – albeit covert – missions. Axe would break into a Mexican cartel’s mansion, rescue the American nurse being held kidnapped there and with Kelton driving the getaway boat the three of them would return to America, safe and undiscovered. As Axe and Hayley know all too well – the only easy day was yesterday.

I have absolutely loved the first two books in this series – A Team Of One and A Team Of Two – and so I had very high expectations for this third book. I was not disappointed. This is quickly growing to be both my new favourite author and series.

While I do feel this book can be read by itself, I admit to having a stronger and quicker emotional connection to the team members and small cast of characters because of the previous installments. I don’t feel they would be necessary to read to thoroughly enjoy this book, though I can see sooner or later the weight of these life altering situations and the shared history will mean readers will need some of the background knowledge and not simply be able to pick up anywhere in the series. We’re not there yet – but I can see that might occur sometime soon.

Similarly to the previous two books I loved that this is a fast paced, action oriented adventure and mystery story. There is a giant plot going on overhead, with a number of working parts and links. I was pleased this time – unlike in the second book – we learn more about the big picture as Haley and Axe do and I think this helped give the plot and momentum of the story a more linear feel to it. I admit I prefer this style of storytelling and while the back and forth of the second novel is still good, my preference is the style shown in this and the first book.

The characters are believable and relatable. While Hayley is almost preternaturally smart and Axe unbelievably brave and focused, I could relax and just go with the flow on these points when really I don’t necessarily need a real-life type of person in my adventure and espionage style stories. We want our heroes to be larger than life. Axe was certainly in dangerous situations and Hayley had to work hard to analyse her data and put the puzzle together, but we do want them to get there in the end before the bad guy wins.

I feel readers who are happy with action paced, fast moving and addictive stories where it’s clear from the beginning that the good guy will win – they’ll just need to work for it – then this should be a book right up your alley. With plenty of action and adventure, a solid plot that grows and expands and some very memorable characters this was a brilliant read and one I will happily be adding to my keeper shelf. I can’t wait for more of this series and author. Recommended.

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Dirty Money by Richard Stark

December 2, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Dirty Money by Richard Stark
Publisher: The University Of Chicago Press
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Parker’s got a new fence and a new plan to get the loot back from a botched job. But a bounty hunter, the FBI, and the local cops are on his tail. Only his brains, his cool, and the help of his lone longtime dame, Claire, can keep him one step ahead of the cars and the guns in this final Parker thriller.

Parker has a new plan to get back the money he lost in his most recent adventure. Returning to the small town and avoiding the many swarming police and government agencies is the least of his problems when more old faces begin to turn up unexpectedly.

This is the final Parker book and I was both thrilled and devastated to have reached it. Not only is this the last book of the series, but it’s the culmination of the triology rounding out the series as a whole. While it might be read alone I would strongly suggest readers at least read the two previous books as there is not a huge introduction to some of the previous characters that were involved in this particular heist. I do think readers should be able to follow along but I’m confident the enjoyment will be much better knowing the whole of this tale.

Readers who enjoy their mysteries to be a little on the leaner, grittier side should find this whole series a delight. Parker isn’t exactly a villain or bad guy – but equally he is far from a hero. He’s usually so focused on the job, and of ensuring his own odds are the best they can be, he doesn’t have a lot of time or space for social niceties or playing games. It’s a pure delight to read as the writing itself is equally spare, lean and focused on the point. I’m very much going to miss having another book to look forward to like this.

While most of the books in this series revolve around a heist – and the planning going into it or the repercussions coming out of it – this book is more involved in recovering the money stolen in a previous heist. This only occurred two weeks previously in the book so the heat is still very intense and I loved that this plot was pretty much a different perspective on a well known theme. I loved this book so much and can strongly recommend it to all mystery/action readers.

An exceptional ending to a fabulous series, this is a great heist/adventure style of mystery. I can easily recommend all the books in this delightful series and am certainly going to reread this a number of times in the future.

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Ask The Parrot by Richard Stark

September 19, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Ask The Parrot by Richard Stark
Publisher: The University Of Chicago Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

In Ask the Parrot, the followup to Nobody Runs Forever, ruthless thief Parker is back on the run, dodging dogs, cops, and even a helicopter. His escape brings him to rural Massachusetts, where he is forced to work with a small-town recluse nursing a grudge against the racetrack that fired him. Even in hiding, Parker manages to get up to no good. It’ll be a deadly day at the races . . .

On the run from the law, Parker is trying to find somewhere to lay low until the worst of the heat passes. Finding a semblance of refuge in a small town with a hermit who has a big idea, Parker is determined to make the situation work for him. But can they both turn their fortunes around and stay out of the grasp of the law?

While there is a thread interweaving through all the Parker books, by and large they all stand very well on their own. The last three books ever written, however, are a little more closely linked – and this is the middle book of that. While in one respect I do feel anyone can pick this book up by itself and thoroughly enjoy the lean, gritty and slightly old-fashioned hard-boiled heist novel, I equally really do feel a deeper connection and enjoyment would be had if the reader had also read the previous book to this – “Nobody Runs Forever”.

This book picks up mere minutes after where Nobody Runs Forever leaves off, and while it’s extremely clear the main thrust of what occurred in that book (three robbers got away with a large sum of money, one of whom was Parker) a lot of the depth of trouble Parker currently finds himself in really is laid as groundwork in the previous book. That said, this is an exceptionally well written story, and I did love how the seemingly unconnected people in the small town all began to weave together into their story – rather like a tar baby sucking everything in and not letting anything fully go.

If you haven’t read the previous books in this series, I can strongly recommend them. This is a brilliant series and a superb set of gritty, slightly grim and very lean heist novels that have utterly enthralled me these last few years. I will be deeply sorry to read the last one (there’s only one more left for me in this series) and since the author passed away a number of years ago this time there’s really no hope for any more to come.

With an older style of writing that remains refreshingly wonderful even in this modern era, this is a great series and an excellent book. I’m actually looking forward to going back to the start of the series and re-discovering them all again. Highly recommended.

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A Team Of Two by Brad Lee

August 8, 2024 By Leave a Comment


A Team Of Two by Brad Lee
Publisher: Simply Sensible Entertainment
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Across Los Angeles, all electronics are suddenly destroyed.

Gone forever. Useless. Is it a single terrorist attack? Or the opening salvo in a larger, sinister plot?

Brilliant young intelligence analyst Haley is convinced the USA is about to be bombed back to the Stone Age, resulting in chaos, death, and destruction.

Has someone successfully created a tactical EMP—electromagnetic pulse—device?

And if so, can she and Axe, a former Navy SEAL, find and stop them before the world as we know it is destroyed?

Or is the situation even more dire than it seems?

Across a three mile radius in LA including a number of their busiest freeways, all electronics simultaneously die. Cars, smart-gear, lights, everything. Is this an isolated attack, or the start of something far greater? Hayley is convinced the whole of the USA is about to be bombed back into the stone age, but she can’t find the proof required to appeal to the powers that be. So once again, Hayley and her former Navy SEAL partner, Axe, are going it alone, determined to save the world.

This book is set just a few months after the ending of A Team of One and I really enjoyed the fact the characters had progressed somewhat after their crazy ordeal in the previous book. Even so, I enjoyed that this book still very much had the feel of picking up just a little after where the last one left off. I loved a few cameos from characters in the first book – and equally adored the introduction of a few more secondary characters that I very much want to know better in the coming few books. This author has a real knack for writing characters I find highly enjoyable and definitely want to get to know better.

I will admit that in some places this book doesn’t have the break-neck speed of the previous book. At first, I thought I’d find the story dragged, but quite the contrary I found it helped build the momentum and, in many ways, kept me eager to turn more pages and find out how everything fit together and how it would all build even further. While there was one main plotline – the EMPs – there were a few smaller threads both supporting and circling around the storyline. There was also an unfinished thread from the previous story. So, while I could understand if some readers feel this book wove a little more back and forth and didn’t simply slam you face-first into the action like the previous book, I honestly feel this added complexity to the plots and the solid weaving together of everything added quite a richness into everything and helped me enjoy the story even more.

The vibrant and interesting characters coupled with the high speed action and the complexity of the plot meant that I practically lost an entire weekend to reading this book without a break and a deeply resented the few times I was forced to stop reading. This book is rather like crack – so be warned: once you start this it will be extremely hard to put it down. While I do feel readers can enjoy this book if they pick it up alone, I would strongly recommend going back to book one (and that book by itself was phenomenal to my mind) mainly because there are a number of secondary characters as well as some small aspects to why Axe and Hayley trust each other so deeply and work so well together that comes from that previous book. This book I think will just feel more complete to readers who have read the first one.

An exhilarating and thoroughly enjoyable action-based mystery/espionage style of book this is a brilliant author and a fabulous new-to-me series that I am thoroughly hooked on. Bring on the next one!

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Operation Congo by William Meikle

June 4, 2024 By Leave a Comment


Operation Congo by William Meikle
Publisher: Severed Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A mission to the Congo starts badly for S-Squad and gets worse fast as they trace a team of captured WHO medics to a lost world in the interior.

The Squad are isolated, split up, and face terrors long since thought extinct.

Mokele-mbembe walks this jungle.

And he is not alone.

The S-Squad has been sent deep into the jungles of Congo, far from where even a satellite phone can call for help. A WHO team of medics have been captured and more than just the natives are restless. As usual things quickly move from bad to worse as the team is split up and the monsters start coming from all directions. Can the team and their targets return back to safety?

I absolutely love this series and I was thrilled the Scottish lads finally managed to get a ticket to somewhere warm. I also really enjoyed how a few of the squaddies had some profound growth in their character arcs and this was a true joy to read – along with the big beasties and everyone needing to steer clear of being a tasty snack for the monsters.

If you’ve read even one of the previous books (and I can’t recommend strongly enough you give them all a whirl – this is the best series) you’ll know roughly what to expect. Our team of Scottish heroes are sent into the back of beyond to rescue a group of civilians. Things are nothing like what they appeared to be at first glance and soon monsters are trying to eat everyone in sight.

With loads of bullets flying and more than a few wise cracks from our squaddies this is yet another delightful romp of a book. I was particularly impressed with both the high number (and decent quality and placement) of the quotes managed by the squaddies referencing the movie, Aliens. A few scattered quotes are normal for this series, but in this book the author really outdid himself.

If you’re looking for a complicated plotline or an intricately woven story this won’t suit what you’re after. But if you love a bunch of wise-ass soldiers being brave, fighting the monsters and rollicking along then this is definitely the book for you. I love this series and can strongly recommend them all – especially this addition.

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A Team Of One by Brad Lee

April 5, 2024 By Leave a Comment


A Team Of One by Brad Lee
Publisher: Simply Sensible Entertainment Inc
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Former Navy SEAL “Axe” Southmark is enticed out of retirement to help the analyst and the President. But does he have what it takes to save the world?

As a Navy SEAL, Axe was trained to never give up. But after fifteen years on the front lines, it was time to let younger, faster men take the reins.

When he’s enlisted to help the President’s niece search for both a terrorist on the loose and a traitor in the government, he doesn’t hesitate.

It’s what he does: protects the vulnerable and kills bad guys.

With New York City threatened by a virtuoso bomber, there’s plenty of both to be done.

Will they be able to stop a madman before it’s too late? And is there more to the plot than meets the eye?

Find out in this wild ride of a story.

Former Navy SEAL, Axe is trying to settle into civilian life and find his niche when a former colleague reaches out with an enticing offer from left field. The President’s niece has uncovered some unusual activity in her job as a junior analyst, but unwilling to be treated differently she knows she needs more data. As Haley and Axe begin to uncover more, they realise this goes far deeper – and higher, politically – than either of them could have believed. Can they save New York and the country?

I purchased this book on a whim, having never heard of the author before and boy am I glad I did. This is a deliciously woven story with some excellent characters and a solid pace. I enjoyed the fact a little time was spent at the start showing us who Axe is and what he’s capable of. While still enjoyable the first few chapters were more of a scene-setting pace, easing the reader in and allowing them to get conformable with the author’s writing style and get to know the characters. Readers should also be aware that while this book does have a strong military theme the author has seemed to take great care to keep it primarily plot and character focused – there is plenty of gun, action and military detail here, but the characters and plot always seem to take the primary focus which I loved.

Pretty soon though I found the pace grew quicker and more action orientated. By the time we reached the middle of the story I found it exceptionally difficult to put the book down and to go about daily life. As more pieces of the puzzle came together – and as the Big Bad Plan began to take action – the pace really skyrocketed and all I wanted was to read the next chapter and then the next. Be prepared to stay up later than you expected for this one. It’s been quite some time (like a year or more) since I’ve stayed up into the very early hours on a workday just to read “a little bit more” but I truly just couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.

I really felt the author had a good blend of action and adventure along with plot and characterization. I’m always a little nervous of military-heavy sorts of books because while I enjoy some strong details in the story, I find often military-based outlooks can be a bit gun or weapon heavy. This book had a really good balance I feel, it was realistic and detailed enough to satisfy readers who want every piece of information, but the characters and plotting were also detailed – and fast paced enough – to not have me feel bogged down by this. I also felt that while the “taking over the world” sort of overall plot is not very new, this was a different enough take on that to feel fresh and the action and characters certainly kept my attention focused and I didn’t need to skip forward.

Finally, I also was seriously impressed with some of the plot twists towards the end of the book. A section revolving around the president in particular really impressed me and – for me personally at least – it was a unique, outside-the-box type of solution that I’ve never read before. Even now, days after finishing this book I’m still turning it over in my mind and thinking about the book as a whole and how some of these plot aspects unwound. I found the book as a whole exceptional.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book and was very happy to see it is part of a series. I had ordered the next two books and the first in a different series by this author before I’d even reached the half way point of reading this. I am quite eager to see what’s in store for Axe and Haley in the next installment. A really enjoyable and fast paced read. Recommended.

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