☀️🌟🏞️ “Sunburst” (King Sky Ranch #2) (2022) 🏞️🌟☀️ – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: King Sky Ranch (Book #2)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Revell (June 7, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800739833
ISBN-13: 978-0800739836
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“When former Navy Seal and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.
Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.
And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he’ll need Noemi’s help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.
Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding–binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she’s discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the crossfire. Including her so-called new husband.
She’ll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell Books (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through Interviews and Reviews. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
This is the exciting second book in Susan May Warren’s Sky King Ranch series. Unlike some series, this book, nor the first one – Sunrise – is going to be a standalone read in anyway. The third book, Sundown, is going to be released in November, and these books HAVE to be read in order to understand the entire story.
This book (and series) is also connected to the series GLOBAL SEARCH AND RESCUE, so it is in the reader’s best interest to read that series prior to this one as well as characters from the series are mentioned and connected to the events of Sunrise and Sunburst.
Those books are:
The Way of The Brave (Orion Starr’s story)
The Heart of a Hero (Jake Silver’s story)
The Price of Valor (Hamilton “Ham” Jones’ story)
Readers of this book will see more of Jake and Ham with a short appearance by Orion and Jenny. Those who haven’t read the series will learn that Orion and Jenny are married and on their honeymoon, so there is a slight spoiler there. Aria (Jake’s girlfriend) nor Signe (Hamilton’s “wife”) are not mentioned in this series.
There is a reference to an assassination attempt to the fictional president that may or may not be connected to some events in this series.
Sunburst picks up after Sunrise, in more than one way:
🌟 The “Russian” that is being sought after is named
🌟 Readers of Sunrise learn Jane Doe’s real name in this book (Tae/Taylor Price), Colt calls her “Flo” for Florence Nightingale
🌟 The rescue of Colt
This book also acts as a bridge into the final book of the series, Sundown.
The cover is stunning and gorgeous, but what happens between the pages is dark territory – kidnappings, murders, terrorists, even some torture. There is a mention of abortion as well.
The prologue begins four years before the events with Ranger and Noemi meeting in Key West. Due to his military career, and knowing who she was, he walked away. This is told in repeated flashbacks.
With chapter one, the reader learns that Noemi, along with Blessing has been taken by Boko Harem three weeks earlier. There is a wounded doctor as well as Colt.
Ranger Kingston, his brother Dodge, along with Hamilton Jones and Jake Silver are there to rescue Colt. Nothing goes as planned, leaving Noemi, Blessing, and an injured Ranger behind.
The escape won’t be easy, and Noemi is forced to get them out. That leads her to her mother’s family and an unintended wedding to Ranger.
While back in Alaska (midway through chapter 3), readers learn the identity of the mysterious woman found in the middle of an Alaskan blizzard. She is definitely aware of what has happened to her, and what is going on around her – she doesn’t want to say anything though. And, who can blame her.
It is worth noting that no one on Sky King Ranch or those who interact with her see nothing wrong, and that she isn’t in therapy over her ordeal. They seem to take it in stride and continue as if she isn’t there or isn’t aware despite her cooking, cleaning, and taking care of herself and Colt.
Meanwhile, the stop in Noemi’s family’s village is anything but peaceful. She and Ranger are forced into a traditional wedding due to a misunderstanding. But, it isn’t long until trouble locates them.
It is around the 71% mark that the action returns to Alaska. At first, Ranger thinks it is one person, but there is a chance it is someone else. The plot as to why Noemi was targeted is bounced back and forth between theories which could confuse the reader and muddle the story a bit.
There are still some storylines from the first book that are remain unsolved, unmentioned, or unclear: Echo’s parents, the poacher deal (or was that the Russian guy), and the issue of the terrorist from the beginning of the book. Also, there is NOTHING mentioned of Echo’s sled team (the dogs named after the Top Gun movie pilots) or what happened to them.
This, like the first book, ends on a cliffhanger as well.
The pace alternated between fast (action) and slow (family, day-to-day, romance). At times it felt like there was too much going on. There were times I couldn’t put it down and had to keep reading. There were times it was a tedious read.
The flashbacks felt disjointed as they would come mid-chapter, mid-scene with no transitions. For some readers – that could be a bit confusing. It would’ve been nice to see Key West – 4 years ago, then Present Day – Nigeria before the flashback scenes.
That’s not to say I didn’t like the book. I did. I was actually more interested in Tae’s story than Ranger and Noemi’s story which kept this from being a 3-star read. I did enjoy the look into the Nigerian weddings. And, like the first book, the picturesque Alaskan landscape is captured in stunning detail.
For the most part, this was a high octane, edge of seat adventure that takes readers to the last few pages and beyond.
There were some elements of humor sprinkled in which I enjoyed though. One was Noemi thinking she looked and smelled like the wildlife after her ordeal. It definitely made me appreciative of indoor plumbing and showers. But, after some days in our triple digit heat (115°F+) – I can definitely relate.
There was a reference to Ranger not going “Rambo”, which brought to mind author Pepper Basham’s “Rambo Dad”, and of course I had a laugh there. If you don’t know – read her Instagram (@pepperbasham).
Distributed by Revell, a primarily Christian/faith themed publisher, this has elements of the Christian faith as part of the characters’ own traits and beliefs. These elements are NOT part of the main stories though.
Fans of the author and those who’ve read the GLOBAL SEARCH AND RESCUE series, won’t want to miss this. As of note, while GLOBAL SAR has some characters from the MONTANA MARSHALLS SERIES, none have appeared so far in this series as of this book.
I still have those books in my TBR stack, and am looking forward to the final book of this series.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Previous Book in the Series:
Publisher: Revell (January 4, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 800739825
ISBN-13: 978-800739829
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Pilot Dodge Kingston has always been the heir to Sky King Ranch. But after a terrible family fight, he left to become a pararescue jumper. A decade later, he's headed home to the destiny that awaits him.
That's not all that's waiting for Dodge. His childhood best friend and former flame, Echo Yazzie, is a true Alaskan--a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. Most of all, she's living a life Dodge knows could get her killed. One of these days she's going to get lost in the woods again, and his worst fear is that he won't be there to find her.
When one of Echo's fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. Plus, there's more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her . . .
Will Dodge be able to find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her heart?”
Next book in the series:
SUNDOWN
Series: Sky King Ranch (Book #3)
Paperback: 368 Pages
Publisher: Revell (November 1, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800739841
ISBN-13: 978-0800739843
⬆️Click Photo for Pre-Order Information
“Former Delta Operative Colt Kingston knows when someone is lying. He may not know the truth, but he sure doesn't trust Tae, the woman who is caring for his ailing father at Sky King Ranch. Behind those beautiful blue eyes, he can tell there is a troubled--and smart--woman.
A few of her stories prove true--he's found the crashed plane and the dead body inside. Still, her story of survival seems too incredible to believe . . . until the thugs she claims to be hunting her show up and threaten Sky King Ranch. Now Tae must disappear, along with her secrets.
But Colt's not about to let her go it alone. And when they discover that her secrets include the antidote to a plague that threatens the world, it'll take all three Kingston brothers to save the country they've vowed to protect.
Susan May Warren brings her Sky King Ranch series to a climactic close with this high-stakes race against the clock.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 85 novels with more than 1.5 million books sold, including Sunrise, the Global Search and Rescue series, and the Montana Rescue series. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers' Choice Awards, Susan makes her home in Minnesota. Find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com, on Facebook @SusanMayWarrenFiction, and on Twitter @SusanMayWarren.
Comments
Post a Comment