☣️🦠💣 “Driving Force” (Elite Guardians Collection #1) (2022) 💣🦠☣️ – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing (March 22, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1953783198
ISBN-13: 978-1953783196
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“He's the last client she wants to protect...
Elite Guardians bodyguard/former sniper CHRISTINA SHERMAN has protected uncooperative clients before-but this time, well her client is bossy, headstrong and occasionally eats off the floor. Yes, he's a highly trained military working dog, but certainly her skills could be put to better use, right?
Not according to former Special Forces Air Commando GREY PARKER. He needs her help to protect his dog while he undergoes an experimental surgery that could restore his ability to walk. He just needs someone to keep his canine partner safe. Most of all, Grey wants back on his feet so he can track down a deranged scientist known as The Scavenger who unleashed a nerve agent that left Grey sidelined in a wheelchair.
When an attempt is made on Grey's life, and dead bodies begin piling up-with evidence the same toxin is responsible-suddenly Christina is tasked with keeping both dog and soldier alive...and with them, the secrets that could stop a terrorist attack.
But this time, even Christina might be in over her head.
Dive into the exciting ignition to the Elite Guardians Collection.”
Thank you in advance to the author, Kate Angelo, along with Sunrise Publishing for providing an advanced review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
While I’ve read several books by Lynette Eason [three (3) of the Danger Never Sleeps series; Protecting Tanner Hollow; and Life Flight (Extreme Measures)], I haven’t read her Elite Guardians series at all.
Obviously, Kate Angelo is a debut author with this novel, so she is new to everyone.
To be honest, I’d NEVER heard of these “collaboration” type of novels before last year with Susan May Warren’s Deep Haven Collection.
In late 2019, I joined a rewards group and ended up with Susan May Warren’s You Don’t Know Me (Deep Haven #6) from Tyndale. So, imagine my surprise when I saw Still the One, the first book in Deep Haven Collection presented by Susan May Warren. As it turned out, there were six (6) books by three (3) different authors.
As I still have You Don’t Know Me on the TBR, I don’t know if those characters appear in the new collection.
Obviously the goal of the publisher is to: “produce collections of 3-6 books each that take place in a favorite author’s beloved fictional town. These are fresh stories that bring to life new characters while checking in on the ones readers know so well—all under the watchful eye of the town’s original creator”.
Which, cycles back to this one from Lynette Eason.
In the Elite Guardians Collection, Eason pairs up with different authors: Kate Angelo (Driving Force), Sami A. Abrams (Impending Strike), as well as Kelly Underwood (TBA – 2022).
Angelo’s Driving Force is the return to the series, of which the last book was published in August 2017 – about 4½ years ago. As I haven’t read the last book, Chasing Secrets, I don’t know how much time has lapsed between that series and this one.
Should Eason’s books be read prior to this one? In short? No. I was able to read this without getting too confused as to who was who – though a character guide would’ve been extremely useful. However, I would highly suggest reading all four of Eason’s prior to this one as the following characters return for a significant portion of this story:
🚓 Olivia Edwards-Savage (Book #1 – Always Watching)
🚓 Katie Singleton-Matthews (Book #2 – Without Warning)
🚓 Maddy McKay-Holcombe & Quinn Holcombe (Book #3 – Moving Target; as of note – Quinn is more prominently featured in this one than Maddy)
🚓 Haley Callaghan-Rothwell (Book #4 – Chasing Secrets)
It is these four ladies that make up Elite Guardians, along new characters of:
🚓 Christina Sherman
🚓 Lizzie Tremaine
🚓 Laila Rabbinowitz (Former Mossad – think Ziva from NCIS)
Angelo’s story centers on Christina and Grey Parker; Abrams’ story is Charlie and Lizzie. And, if I am correct, Underwood COULD be writing Laila’s story (there is no information, I’m only guessing – just seems logical to me).
That said … this cover is similar to the ones from Elite Guardians – the woman on the front is apparently the heroine of the story. It’s simple but stands out a bit more than the series it continues.
This plays close to the current pandemic with more of symbolism of the X-VX chemical and Russian operatives (especially with what is going on in Ukraine). The story also features a disabled character in a wheelchair. In addition there is a gruesome death mentioned. The details aren’t too graphic – but it might be shocking to some.
There are three POVs – Grey, Christina, and “The Scavenger”.
The first chapter takes readers through what happens to Grey quite quickly, flashing forward to two years later. However, Grey never forgot how his dog tried to warn him about the Russian Biochemist until it was too late and that scene comes back to haunt him a few times.
During a basketball game there is an attempt on the Governor’s life – or is it Grey the person is after? He is slightly injured in the attack though.
After the attack, and seeing Christina in action; Grey hires her for her bodyguard services. After all, Christina is a former Special Ops Sniper for the U.S Army. Her own career having had a catastrophic end.
Christina soon learns her client is a dog. No, that’s not a knock on the dude’s appearance – he is a dog by the name of Boss, a Belgian Malinois. Laila, the former Mossad agent, along with Lizzie seem to think the job is funny. In a way it is. What the Guardians don’t know, is that Boss is a military working dog – his owner? A former Air Force captain, Grey Parker, who was injured in a biochemical attack.
Now that his career is over, Parker is training Boss to sniff out X-VX, the stuff that derailed his career. Parker has a feeling there is going to be an attack on the U.S. and Boss is the only one who could stop it. There is also the lab tech, Wally, who was on the failed mission to recover a doctor who turns out was the bad guy. Obviously, Wally would LOVE to help Grey with Boss during Grey’s surgery to possibly restore his ability to walk. In fact, Wally even feeds the dog hot dogs during the game that was abruptly aborted, so there is a closeness.
Right off, can I say this – Wally seems FAR too eager to take Boss. And, there were NUMEROUS mentions of it.
Christina soon learns there is definitely more to Grey’s work and Boss’ unique talent. It isn’t just Boss’ talent that Grey is developing – Grey wants the man who put him in the wheelchair.
It isn’t long until victims of X-VX start turning up, but so too does a shooter – it seems no matter what scene Boss and Grey show up at – the shooter is almost right there.
In chapter seven (7), readers are introduced to the scavenger who obviously has a score to settle. And as a result of the shootings, Christina begins to think Grey needs protection as much as Boss does. Of course, Boss has a crush on Christina. Grey doesn’t blame him.
Grey and Christina learn the doctor is really an instrument of The Scavenger.
The two people work together to find who The Scavenger is and what the plan really is; along with the connection between the victims. As they do, they both discover themselves, and hint at a potential future.
Obviously this wouldn’t be a romance without a happily ever after ending. And, there are some sweet surprises, especially for Christina, towards the end.
The high-octane action really builds up towards the end of the book. It wasn’t hard to guess the bad guy after a while. I will say I understood the motive, which was on par with a movie or a TV show cliché. Driving Force is intriguing, fascinating, and at times relevant. Sometimes it feels like a roller coaster ride on a rickety, unmaintained track that has seen better days.
To give the story an added technical oomph, Angelo adds in some high-tech wheels (modified Tesla) with low tech – R.I.P Bertha (R.I.P). Honestly, I would’ve preferred Bertha over the Tesla, especially with a trunk that can accommodate 3 bodies and a shovel. I had to laugh as a former employer of mine, who was Italian, wanted to measure the trunk of a 1998 Chevy sedan I had by “body count”. Obviously a joke. Those of us with larger cars get the humor.
I also had to laugh at the Australian nurse in the begin. She used a slang term – cark it. I’d heard it before in J.A.G (Mr. Rabb Goes to Washington; November 10, 1998) when the series introduced Australian Navy Officer Mic Brumby. To see it again was interesting. Loosely, it means “to die”. I wish there had been more of the lady and hoping she makes another return to future books.
There was one point where Christina was watching Boss and even the dog was getting tired of an investigator’s questions for her. It has to be sad when the dog expresses some annoyance.
Angelo highlights the use of working dogs and service dogs. Naturally, given the top-secret sensitivity, there should’ve been more care to keep Grey and Boss together at times in the beginning after the attack. But, it also showed some reality.
The short chapters and fast-faced action keep this story from losing momentum. It hits the ground running, pardon the pun, and doesn’t lose its wheels at all. The days and times could get confusing for some readers (it seemed most of the action happened on Fridays). It definitely held my interest and I would definitely be interested in not only the next book in this series, as well as any other future work by Angelo.
Sunrise Publishing is a Christian themed publisher, and as a result, books will have strong Christian themes that are essential to the character and the story itself. In a sweet moment, even the dog is praying, which I found SO endearing.
Fans of Eason’s Elite Guardians will definitely want to check this 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)
Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians Series:
Publisher: Revell (February 2, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800723260
ISBN-13: 978-0800723262
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have more than just skill and prowess in common--they're also all women. When it becomes clear that popular psychiatrist and radio personality Wade Savage has a stalker, his father secretly hires Elite Guardians in order to protect his son.
But when Wade's bodyguard is attacked and nearly killed, agency owner Olivia Edwards must step in and fill the gap. Olivia's skills are about to be tested to the limit as Wade's stalker moves from leaving innocent gifts at his door to threatening those closest to him. Olivia has the feeling that she's next on the list. And to complicate things even further, she realizes that her heart may be in as much danger as her client.”
Publisher: Revell (August 2, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800723252
ISBN-13: 978-0800723255
Click Photo for Purchase Information ➡️
“Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.
Daniel might be concerned, but he's not convinced that a bodyguard--and a female one at that--is necessary. A new attack and his niece's urgings are enough to make him reconsider. He and Katie must figure out who's behind the intimidation and threats--before a would-be killer strikes again.”
Publisher: Revell (January 31, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800723244
ISBN-13: 978-0800723248
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“When Maddy McKay and Quinn Holcombe don't show up for Quinn's surprise birthday party, his friends know that something is very wrong. Their search turns up little beyond evidence that Quinn and Maddy just decided to take off for a long overdue vacation. But it soon becomes apparent that they did not leave of their own accord.
Maddy awakens in a cement room with no idea where she is. But it's not long before she realizes she's in the clutches of a madman exacting revenge by hunting. His prey of choice? Humans. Now Maddy and Quinn must run for their lives, hoping to find their killer before the next game begins. Because if they don't win this game, they die.”
Publisher: Revell (August 1, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800723910
ISBN-13: 978-0800723910
Click Photo for Purchase Information ➡️
“Elite Guardians bodyguard Haley Callaghan may be in South Carolina, but when a photo leads investigators in West Ireland to open a twenty-five-year-old cold case, her life is suddenly in danger. Haley knows how to take care of herself; after all, she's made a career out of taking care of others. But after an uncomfortably close call, Detective Steven Rothwell takes it upon himself to stay with her--and the young client she has taken under her wing. A protector at heart, he's not about to let Haley fight this battle alone.
In a sweeping plot that takes them into long-buried memories--and the depths of the heart--Haley and Steven will have to solve the mystery of Haley's past while dodging bullets, bombs, and bad guys who just won't quit.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Lynette Eason is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 books including the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, the Hidden Identity series, the Elite Guardians series, the Blue Justice series, and the currently releasing, Danger Never Sleeps series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. Her Elite Guardians series, featuring strong, successful female bodyguards, has captured readers’ hearts and minds. Visit her at www.lynetteeason.com.
She can be found on the following social media networks:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynetteeason/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynetteeason
Kate Angelo is an author, minister, and public speaker from Southwest Missouri who works alongside her husband strengthening and encouraging marriages and families through their ministry. As the mother of five mostly grown children, she is fluent in both sarcasm and eye rolls—subjects she never intentionally taught while homeschooling. With her chihuahua taking up half of her desk space, she writes suspenseful stories of imperfect people who encounter hope and healing through Jesus. Kate is a tech enthusiast, coffee lover, productivity guru, accomplished knitter, avid boater, prayer warrior, and known klutz. Visit her at www.kateangelo.com.
She can be found on the following social media networks:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateangeloauthor
Instagram: http://instagram.com/kateangeloauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thekateangelo
* This post contains affiliate links
Comments
Post a Comment