🩺🚁🚨 “Life Flight” (Extreme Measures Book #1) (2022) 🚨 🚁🩺 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Extreme Measures (Book #1)
Paperback: 336 Pages
Publisher: Revell (January 4, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800737334
ISBN-13: 978-0800737337
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“EMS helicopter pilot Penny Carlton is used to high stress situations, but being forced to land on a mountain in a raging storm with a critical patient--and a serial killer on the loose--tests her skills and her nerve to the limit. She survives with FBI Special Agent Holt Satterfield's help. But she's not out of the woods yet.
In the ensuing days, Penny finds herself under attack. And when news reaches Holt that he may not have gotten his man after all, it will take all he and Penny have to catch a killer--before he catches one of them.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing an advanced review copy through Interviews and Reviews. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
This book has its own story in how it made its way to me.
I originally tried to get it through Library Thing’s Early Reader program. That didn’t work. I requested to be part of JustRead’s Bookstagram campaign. That is a coin toss – 50/50 chance yes or no that I’d get it. Saw it available through Interviews & Reviews – bingo! Last – it was offered as a choice for the Revell Reads program.
I think it is safe to say I was meant to get this book.
I had read books 2-4 of the DANGER NEVER SLEEPS series, along with Protecting Tanner Hollow prior to this, so obviously I became a FAN of Lynette Eason. It’s hard not to. I won three of Eason’s books in that series on Library Thing.
As of note, I still have the first book in the DANGER NEVER SLEEPS series to read, and that is on my list.
This is the first book in the author’s new series, set for a January 2022 release – EXTREME MEASURES. There will be, according to Revell’s Spring 2022 catalog, four total books. Book #2, Crossfire, will feature Julianna James who had a SIGNIFICANT role in this book.
The main characters are Holt and Penny who met roughly two years ago when she had to save his life after Darius Rabor tried to kill him. Now, Rabor is loose, and it is Holt who has to save Penny.
Backing Penny is her flight crew – Holly and Raina. Backing up Holt – Julianna, Grace, and Marty. I loved the fact that Eason wrote Penny’s mom in as a famous actress – that had some “interesting” moments there.
Each of the support characters are PERFECTLY written and work to compliment the main characters.
In Life Flight, Eason doesn’t create just ONE case – she has two. This is not just about catching Rabor, but also Holt’s sister Rachel is trying to get him to take another look at their sister Zoe’s murder conviction.
This is different than other romantic suspense novels in that the two main leads here already know and care about each other – it is in “formalizing” their relationship and acting on it. Other books lead the reader through the suspense to get to the romance.
However, the romance is limited to a few sweet kisses and hugs in the face of danger.
The cover indicates this is going to be an exciting read. And, it is. Life Flight is definitely exciting; but it is also an intense, shocking, extreme, edge-of-seat read that has twists and turns similar to that of a thrill ride.
Eason knows how to keep the readers engaged and the use of relatively short chapters and fast-paced action keeps the story moving. I almost couldn’t put it down, and I would’ve read it in a day’s time had I not been in the middle of decorating for Christmas. By the end of chapter one, I was pretty sure I was going to need CPR, and by the end of chapter two – fairly certain a defibrillator was in the future.
Yes – that intense.
This is told mainly from Holt and Penny’s POV, though there are a few scenes from Rabor’s (the serial killer) POV. And, Rabor definitely is up there with the likes of Ted Bundy. Yikes!
Eason wasted NO time in getting to the heart of the suspense and action – Penny has to emergency land in the same mountain that escaped killer Rabor was last seen in. And, we also learn about Holt’s sister who was in the same prison. Wow! Can this be any more intense?
Right off, there was an incident with a character that caused me to wonder “what is the author thinking” and “how is that going to work now”. Let’s just say – I can’t tell you, but wow! I was impressed by the development and how it eventually played out.
In between looking for Rabor and dealing with Zoe, Holt is also getting to know Penny – though she tells him almost everything (there was one detail that she really didn’t cover).
There is also a media circus around Penny and her story. [I have to admit, I didn’t like Frankie, but he surprised me there at the end].
Rabor is cunning and vicious. Truly diabolical and bold. Eason definitely didn’t hold back with this baddie. Each encounter was creepy and calculated. It wasn’t a matter of if he’d get to Penny, but when.
Getting to the second “case”, Holt and Rachel seem to think they know why Zoe is not changing her story. And, when something seems wrong – it usually is. The twist? I saw part of it coming, yet Eason quickly turns the tables there – towards the end that is. It was something that in reviewing after, it made sense, but as you’re reading it – it is a brain workout.
The chase is equally a brain workout, and at times heart-stopping. Rabor seems to delight in taking down his enemies and stalking his prey – shootings, near-lethal drugs, kidnapping; Eason was up on her A-game with this.
Speaking of an ending … it was intense, startling, and action-packed. The “first” ending had an FBI: Most Wanted feel to it. My heart was certainly pounding. Thankfully I didn’t need CPR or a defibrillator after all.
But, the ending seemed abrupt – at first.
FYI: when a story seemingly ends too soon – it hasn’t truly ended, there is definitely a “WILD PLOT TWIST” coming. I honestly didn’t see **THAT** ending coming though. I had ZERO idea who the “last” person involved was. Even as of this review, I’m shaking my head. That too rivaled FBI: Most Wanted.
While this has only been the fourth book of the author’s that I’ve read (prior to this series, I read the book Protecting Tanner Hollow), I was really surprised by this one. Just when I thought she’d surprised me with the DANGER NEVER SLEEPS SERIES (at least books #2-#4), I got sandbagged by this one. But, I LOVED it!
It will definitely keep you up at night – if not for the serial killer aspect, the hig-octane action and excitement will. You’ll have to keep reading to find out what is coming next.
The only thing I had an issue with was the use of “BUCAR” to describe Holt’s SUV. I had NO idea what it was. I know cars, it’s a hobby of mine thanks to NASCAR. Turns out – BUCAR is SLANG for an FBI agent’s vehicle – BUREAU CAR (BUCAR). It is not a “model” of a vehicle. That was a bit confusing, so anyone reading this review – I figured it out. It was definitely unique.
Plot-wise, I wanted a LITTLE more out of what happened to Penny’s supervisor Mike Bishop. It seemed that there was potential there for that storyline and it got left behind. While I hated the guy immensely during the crisis, I had to wonder what was going on after he got “left behind”. Perhaps Eason can come back around to him in book #2.
Overall, the little things I had an issue with were substantially overshadowed by how well this was written and played out. It kept my attention from beginning to end. I am VERY much looking to see how things go in book #2 and can’t wait to see how Zoe’s storyline plays out further down the road.
Despite being distributed by Revell and being a clean read, there are very few references to Christian and faith-themes. There are some prayers – but no real mentions of God, bible quotes, or even sermons.
Those who enjoy the author’s work are SURE to enjoy this read. Fans of Elizabeth Goddard and Patricia Bradley won’t want to miss this either.
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)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
You can follow her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynetteeason/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lynetteeason
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