Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman is my book club’s pick this month. While it is the first in her Love And Honor series, I jumped ahead a few months ago and read Honor’s Refuge. Not a big problem, but I am glad I went back to book 1 — so much great backstory. A great romantic suspense from a new-to-me author, Honor Bound is a fresh take on the typical plotting in that genre. I really liked it!
Captain Rick Norton and his Army Special Forces are on a mission to subdue Chukuwereije, a warlord terrorizing the villages in the jungles of Katangela, Africa, when their mission is interrupted to extract the daughter of America’s vice president.
Dr. Cynthia Myers has used her medical mission in a remote village in Katangela to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of Chukuwereije’s mortally wounded son and becomes a target for the warlord’s revenge.
Rick is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia’s life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia tries to hang on to her anger–but an unexpected attraction is taking hold.
With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he’s beginning to think they just might overcome their differences and be able to make a life together.
Hallee Bridgeman is the award winning and USA TODAY bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee settled with her husband in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she’s not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her.
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My Impressions:
Honor Bound is the first book in Hallee Bridgeman‘s Love And Honor series. I read book 3 first, but I don’t recommend that. 😉 The series features a Green Beret unit assigned to very special operations, including exfiltrations (getting good guys away from bad guys). In Honor Bound, the reader is introduced to the whole squad with lots of backstory for those who will have their own book later. I never felt overwhelmed by the many characters or their life details. It is all presented so naturally. Book one features unit leader Rick and a very important doctor who does not want to be rescued. Set in a fictional African nation, you get jungle and terrorists. The first half of the book is intense, as the group seeks to exit the jungle alive. The second half of the book is set in the US as the two main characters navigate their budding relationship. I really liked this. It is very different from most romantic suspense novels where danger follows the characters up to the end. It actually makes a lot of sense and allows the romance to develop, or not, in a natural way, not influenced by adrenaline. There are, as expected, ups and downs for the two, but it isn’t really a spoiler to say there is a happily-ever-after. This is Christian romance after all.
I expect my book club to like Honor Bound. It ticks all the boxes we look for — interesting story and setting, a faith message that is natural and not preachy, and a good bit of action. I think they are really going to like the fresh storytelling. For myself, I give it a recommended rating.
Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
This is an author I am wanting to try this year. I just got this book out from the library yesterday and hope to get to it this month.