💥💣🚨 “Blind Trust” (SNAP Agency #3) (2023) 🚨💣💥 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: The SNAP Agency (Book #3)
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell (April 11, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800739809
ISBN-13: 978-0800739805
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“Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for impulsivity, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can't stop herself from going all in to find out why he's coming after her. Unfortunately, she's going to need the help of the one person who questions her reckless choices more than anyone else.
Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolás Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous--to both the mission and his heart.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through Interviews and Reviews as well as Revell Reads. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Natalie Walters has been a “must-read” author for me since I read her debut book, Living Lies, the first book in the Harbored Secrets series. And, I have to admit – the SNAP Agency is the BEST of the two. I had my doubts with a fictional government agency, but Walters pulls it off with high-octane action and astonishing realism.
Since this is a series, I HIGHLY and STRONGLY recommend that readers read the first two books as well as the prequel novella, Initium, which is about the team’s origins. This book, Blind Trust, will take readers back to that novella in a stunning plot arc.
Since this is a romantic suspense, the next pairing of couples is Lyla and Nicolás’ story.
Returning from the prequel and previous books:
✨ Tom Walsh
✨ Jack Hudson
✨ Brynn Taylor-Hudson
✨ Kekoa Young
✨ Elinor Mitchell
✨ Sophie (MI5 agent, introduced in Initium)
✨ Samantha (Tom’s wife)
Walters introduces readers to:
✳️ Jerome “Jerry” Miller
✳️ Genevieve Miller
✳️ Brooks
These characters, along with other assorted good and bad characters, and some that make readers wonder their true loyalties even to the very end keep this story interesting from start to finish.
This is told from four POVS – Lyla, Nic, Brooks, and Tom.
While it starts off with a government insurance fraud case, it doesn’t stay there.
It is Lyla’s impulsive behavior during that case that has Nic rethinking his contributions to the team. Though, he’s more worried about his concern for her being detrimental to the team. That is until a threat is made against Lyla.
Nic is offered a temporary job which ties into his EOD training. She definitely thinks playing with bombs is safer than dealing with Lyla. He doesn’t hesitate to take it, but wonders if he’ll come back to SNAP afterwards. But, before that happens, Nic and the team have to solve the question of who is after Lyla. The only problem? The main suspect is dead, which should seem like an open and shut case until it isn’t.
What starts off as potential vengeance from an incarcerated felon story arc, quickly turns into something far more sinister and dangerous that involves gun-running, conspiracy theories, and a decades old case.
As each lead gets the team closer, it also gets them nowhere. This causes everything to become more convoluted and complicated. Lyla also gets frustrated when her family is put in danger during a “fun” outing.
She is also learning to trust not just Jack, Kekoa, and Tom – but Nic as well.
That isn’t the only issue. When they’re told to lay off, Tom Walsh is injured. And, Lyla finds herself connected to the 1998 Omagh bombing in a unique plot twist that circles back to Initium. Blind Trust brings the entire story and team full circle – to their beginnings.
As all of this is going on, Nic is still deciding if he is going to return to the agency, and return to Lyla who he loves more than he is saying. And, even Lyla is beginning to recognize why Nic gets upset when she plunges head-long into danger. Lyla is also realizing how much he shows up for her when he poses, albeit unknowingly, as her boyfriend to thwart a neighbor’s “pairing”.
But, before they can make any decisions and confessions – the team has to unravel the mystery before it gets out of hand in this “must-read” down to the final chapter suspense.
Drawn in from the first chapter until the last; Blind Trust has danger, intrigue, suspense, excitement, slow-burn romance, and a dose of humor balances this perfect conclusion to an exciting series. The fast-pacing and short chapters kept the story going without slowing down, even for a moment.
This had a more personal touch due to Lyla’s nickname of Stinkerbell. Mine was Tinkerbell unless I was naughty which turned into Stinkerbell or “stink”. Seeing it as Lyla’s nickname was amusing. She also had a “liking” for Moonlight Cookies. If they’re anything like Crumbl – I relate to that! As of note, in March when I went through a bad time – Crumbl was there for me, and I have been a loyal customer since.
Walters does her research and it shows thoroughly, which makes this both entertaining and as realistic as possible. She has a way of writing that puts the readers in the story and dragging them along the journey beside the characters.
I absolutely LOVED the part about the medical billing fraud, and I wished there’d been more about it. This was such a SHORT arc that I truly wished had been revisited. I’m wondering if Walters is saving that for another series as a “back-door” connection much like Kekoa was through the Harbored Secrets series.
Those who enjoy mid-1970’s to current pop culture will enjoy some of the references. One I had a laugh at was Don Ho’s “Tiny Bubbles”.
Revell is a primarily Christian publisher, so this definitely has some faith references in it. This is apparent on their “challenge” coin with non timebo mala, “I shall fear no evil”. It is not preachy in tone, but does rely on some faith elements to guide the characters.
I’m eager to see what Walters has planned next.
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; update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
Series: The SNAP Agency (Book #0.5)
Paperback: 148 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (November 3, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 979-8758901823
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“When an explosion rattled the cobblestone streets of Ireland in 1998, it left the CIA questioning one of their own, but Intel officer Tom Walsh refuses to believe his friend Sean is guilty. Tom is certain Sean wasn’t behind the misdirection of information that led to the deaths of dozens, but he’s missing and the CIA won’t go back to find him or the truth.
Unwilling to let Sean become a scapegoat for a botched mission, Tom quits the CIA and takes an unsanctioned contract job with the hopes of finding his friend and those responsible for the deadly attack. But when the new mission goes awry, Tom finds himself in a battle against an Irish dissident paramilitary group determined to strike again.
With only a hunch to go on and a red-headed bartender’s help, Tom puts himself in the path of danger and discovers his own passion for stepping in where the government can’t.
Get ready for Lights Out with this glimpse into the life of the man behind the SNAP Agency and what pushed him to find a better way to strategically protect and neutralize threats against America and her citizens. In this fast-paced novella you’ll meet Director Walsh as he assembles his team: Jack Hudson, Lyla Fox, Nicolás Garcia, and Kekoa Young.”
Series: The SNAP Agency (Book #1)
Paperback: 320 Pages
Publisher: Revell (November 2, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800739787
ISBN-13: 978-0800739782
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“CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.
Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.
Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.
Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world--and their hearts--hangs in the balance.”
Paperback: 320 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800739795
ISBN-13: 978-0800739799
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“In 1964, a group of scientists called the Los Alamos Five came close to finishing a nuclear energy project for the United States government when they were abruptly disbanded. Now the granddaughter of one of those five scientists, aerospace engineer Elinor Mitchell, discovers that she has highly sensitive information on the project in her possession--and a target on her back.
SNAP agent and former Navy cryptologist Kekoa Young is tasked with monitoring Elinor. This is both convenient since she's his neighbor in Washington, DC, and decidedly inconvenient because . . . well, he kind of likes her.
As Elinor follows the clues her grandfather left behind to a top-secret nuclear project, Kekoa has no choice but to step in. When Elinor learns he has been spying on her, she's crushed. But with danger closing in on all sides, she'll have to trust him to ensure her discoveries stay out of enemy hands.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Natalie Walters is the author Lights Out and Fatal Code, as well as the Harbored Secrets series. A military wife, she currently resides in Texas with her soldier husband and is the proud mom of three. She loves traveling, spending time with her family, and connecting with readers on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more at www.nataliewalterswriter.com.
You can find her on the following social media accounts:
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