🚑 "Active Defense" (Danger Never Sleeps #3) (2021) 🚑 - Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Danger Never Sleeps (Book #3)
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell (January 5, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800729366
ISBN-13: 979-0800729363
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“As a former field surgeon in Afghanistan, Heather Fontaine is used to life-or-death situations. She just didn't expect them to follow her home. When she returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house--and threatened her friends--she assumes it is the stalker who has been following her and creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble has followed her even there.
Luckily, a stalker isn't the only one watching Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it's what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead--and why--before it's too late.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing an advanced review copy through Library Thing. A positive review was not required nor requested and all words are my own.
I won the second book Acceptable Risk from Library Thing last year, and knowing they were part of a series, I bought Collateral Damage (Brooke’s story) from Amazon. I have not read that book, but Acceptable Risk (Sarah’s story) was a non-stop action read. So, seeing that this one (Active Defense) was up on Library Thing … let’s just say … I AM SO GLAD I WON IT! WOW!
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| [Don't they all look so great together???] |
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| [It wasn't easy to stand the books up like this, but I managed to get it done!!] |
This is Heather Fontaine’s story.
Being that this is a series, favorites from the two previous books (guys and ladies) return – Travis, Caden, Asher, and Gavin; along with Brooke, Sarah, Ava, and Gina.
The plot, like the previous book I read … was exciting, action packed, and definitely not what I was expecting. Seriously … I … WAS ... NOT … EXPECTING … THAT!!
I also read Eason’s novella Protecting Tanner Hollow so it isn’t like I’m not familiar with her work – she’s just that good at keeping up the actionand keeping the reader surprised.
Let’s talk about that action! Really! Starting off with a reluctant suicide bomber, this also includes a kidnapping, murder, and blackmail. So, to say this was an addictive read is a GROSS UNDERSTANDMENT. Some of these can also act as a trigger for those dealing with such. Also, there is mention of child abuse and alcoholism.
Heather’s story starts off with a reluctant suicide bomber, but it doesn’t end there. As soon as she gets home – there’s a stalker. Who and why? She doesn’t know and isn’t sticking around to find out.
While her friends want to help, childhood trauma from foster homes prevents her from not just asking for help – accepting it as well. She trusts only herself. So, she handles things her way. And, that leads her friends to worry.
Thankfully, Travis is there in the shadows and not taking no for an answer.
After an accident, Travis is there to help her. And, the two find danger everywhere. Even with an innocent teen (Ryker) who is being abused. He too, despite what is going on, doesn’t hesitate to jump in to help.
Travis, Heather, and Ryker have to run from the bad guys who’ve found them. They’re also trying to figure out the “WHY”. Why is someone insistent on getting to Heather.
The plot gets even more exciting with a kidnapping and another bomb. And, did I say murder? We find out there is one which is definitely connected to the case, but how? Or is it? One thing that could be certain – it ties back to Kabul.
This is one moment where Ryker shines as an asset, and I truly hope Eason gives us more of him – if only to know how he’s doing.
A sweet and also sad moment is when Travis takes Heather to his family’s place. Two of the horses were named Herman (my late grandfather’s middle name) and Marie (my late grandmother’s middle name – incidentally married to Herman). And, like my grandfather – Herman was dying of cancer. My grandfather passed away in 1980 of lung cancer. So, the human/horse parallels were interesting.
Travis has good memories about his family – Heather has bad ones. She finally admits to Travis how she ended up in the system; as well as the lessons she learned in foster care that have a continued impact on her.
Eason hit the emotional heartstrings on this one, as well as the ones that get inflamed at any kind of injustice.
There was an interesting quip about the bad guys – “where’s the rule they have to be smart?” – I LOVED that! Thank you, Caden!
In addition to Heather’s problems, Ryker has his own. Eventually everything in his part of the story culminates but also leads to the “wanting to help people who don’t want our help” moments. This is truly a realistic part of the story that some might resonate with.
Despite the seriousness of the story, the opening paragraph of chapter 20 had me in a small fit of giggles. It’s one of those “laundry list” of things that “I’m glad we didn’t have any more of that on our way here” things. The way it was written provided the giggle.
But, it is a moment in which social media is used that gets Heather’s attention – a video – and this one nags at her because of an item the suicide bomber had – one that survived the bombing. And, it is that item that slowly connects everything. Once that starts – everything makes sense.
The climax was thrilling, devastating, shocking, and thrilling! I honestly didn’t see it coming, nor did I see the “who” coming.
This is definitely one of my favorite genres. While there were small moments with Heather and Travis’ romance, it was primarily a suspense read.
There are also moments of sadness and grief. And, Eason demonstrates what grief can do in the best cases and in the worst cases. That isn’t all she does – she full tackles, head-on, the realistic views of social media abuses, military bashing, mother-in-laws, as well as the dual serving couples.
Eason’s writing draws the reader in and, for me, the short chapters made this a SUPER quick and easy read. It is also easy to see the action in your mind. She also had multiple little plot points in it that made it hard to predict where it was going and “who” the villain was. I had ONE suspect on my list – and I was wrong. Usually not, but, I was. And, I’m still not sure how I feel about being wrong on that.
I also wanted to know who scored Heather’s signature on a document that could’ve impacted the kidnapping case. Oh, how I wish I could talk about that plot point! Let me add this – “OH MY GOODNESS!!”.
And, there were two people watching Heather after all. Readers will need to read it to see who the second person was … and why. And, it is a MAJOR plot point as well.
The terms “exciting, heart-stopping, pulse-pounding, head-spinning” are not adequate enough.
As this is an uncorrected ARC, there were a few typos in it, but nothing that affects the overall story.
While this can work as a standalone, I will state that it works so much better when series are read together.
This is NOT the final book in the series. Book #4 – Hostile Intent (Ava’s story) comes out later this year (August 2021).
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| [Click picture to pre-order and read a description] |
I will definitely be reading Hostile Intent when it comes out (sooner if I get an ARC of it).
This is distributed by Revell which tends primarily to Christian fiction. This has some slight references to God along with short prayers. These are not central to the plot though.
Fans of the author and genre will more than likely enjoy this particular read. Those who’ve read the previous two books won’t want to miss out.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Previous Books in the Series:
Publisher: Revell (January 7, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 080072934X
ISBN-13: 978-0800729349
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“Honorably discharged from the Army after an explosion nearly killed her, former military psychiatrist Brooke Adams has set up shop to help others--but her days of helping military personnel are over. She's got her own battles to fight from her time overseas, and she's not equipped to take on more. Former Army Special Ops Sergeant First Class Asher James could handle anything that war sent his way--terrorists, bombs, bullets. The only thing that scares him now is sleep. As the shadows close in, the nightmares begin.
Finally convinced that he needs help, Asher makes an appointment with a counselor, and Brooke is pressed by her boss to take him on. When he arrives at her office she isn't there--but a dead body is. Brooke is devastated when she walks in, and Asher is a conveniently strong shoulder to cry on. But she can't take him on as a client after sharing such an intimate and unprofessional moment, can she? And he's not sure he can handle sharing his deepest fears with such a beautiful woman.
When it becomes clear that Brooke was the real target of the attack--and that her secrets go even deeper than his own--Asher vows to protect her no matter what.”
Series: Danger Never Sleeps (Book #2)
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell (August 4, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800729358
ISBN-13: 978-0800729356
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“Sarah Denning is a military journalist with the Army in the Middle East when her convoy is attacked and she's taken hostage. When former Army Ranger Gavin Black is asked by his old unit commander--Sarah's imposing father--to plan an extremely risky rescue, he reluctantly agrees and successfully executes it.
Back in the US, Sarah is livid when she's discharged on a false psychiatric evaluation and vows to return to the Army. Until she learns of her brother's suicide. Unable to believe her brother would do such a thing, she puts her plans on hold and enlists Gavin to help her discover the truth. What they uncover may be the biggest story of Sarah's career--if she can survive long enough to write it.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason
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