Happy Friday! Today I’m joining the First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Reading is My Superpower, and featuring Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman.

Katangela, Africa

“Captain Rick Norton crouched near the edge of the dirt road.”

Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman

The Basics

Title: Honor Bound

Author: Hallee Bridgeman

Series: Love & Honor (Book 1 of 3)

Publication Date: September 6, 2022

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord’s mortally wounded son.

As part of the Army Special Forces A-Team on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia’s life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia doesn’t want to like anything about Rick and his team–but an unexpected attraction is taking hold.

With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he’s beginning to think that, despite their differences, they just may be able to make a life together.

My Review

Honor Bound is the perfect blend of romance, suspense, and military thriller all rolled into one! I loved the inside look at how a Special Forces team operates – the action, camaraderie, and dry wit shine with the author’s writing style. Rick and Cynthia seem like an unlikely pair at first, as they don’t see eye to eye on when violence is appropriate, but they both grow to respect and appreciate the other’s perspective. The fast-paced plot and compelling characters make this a book that fans of Dee Henderson and Ronie Kendig will love! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and Hallee Bridgeman’s backlist!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday! After a couple of weeks off, I’m back to link up with Reading is My Superpower for this week’s First Line Friday! Today I am featuring Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin.

“She ran.”

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

The Basics

Title: Dangerous Beauty

Author: Melissa Koslin

Publication Date: September 6, 2022

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

What is the price of freedom?

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She’s not a victim, she’s a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she’s determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers. But she can’t stay safely in America–unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Instead, he becomes the key to Liliana’s rescue. If he can keep his secrets hidden, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

My Review

Dangerous Beauty is the newest novel by Melissa Koslin, a fresh new voice in Christian fiction! I was immediately intrigued by the marriage of convenience plot combined with suspense, and the story did not disappoint! Liliana is a captivating heroine – smart, strong, and tough as nails, yet vulnerable. The blend of heart-pounding action, compelling characters, and powerful storytelling will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages late into the night! Fans of hope-filled romantic suspense will enjoy this one.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday! It’s time for another First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Reading is My Superpower. Today I”m featuring Come Down Somewhere by Jennifer L. Wright.

October 1944

“The Army moved in on a Sunday.”

Come Down Somewhere by Jennifer L. Wright

The Basics

Title: Come Down Somewhere

Author: Jennifer L. Wright

Publication Date: September 6, 2022

Genre: WWII Historical Fiction

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Sixteen-year-old Olive Alexander has lived on a ranch in the Jornada del Muerto region of southern New Mexico her entire life. But when World War II begins, the government seizes her family’s land for the construction of a new, top secret Army post.

While her mother remains behind, Olive is forced to live in nearby Alamogordo with her grandmother and find a place in a new school. When Jo Hawthorne crosses her path, Olive sees a chance for friendship–until she learns that Jo’s father is the Army sergeant who now occupies her beloved ranch. Already angry about her new reality, Olive pushes Jo away. But as she struggles to make sense of her grandmother’s lapses into the past and increasingly unsettling hints about what’s happening at the ranch, she slowly warms to Jo’s winsome faith and steady attempts at friendship . . . until one devastating day when the sky explodes around them and their lives are torn apart.

Seven years later, Jo returns to Alamogordo, still angry and wounded by the betrayals of that fateful day. Determined to put the past behind her once and for all, Jo hunts for answers and begins to realize the truth may be far more complicated than she believed, leading her on a desperate search to find her friend before it’s too late.

My Review

Jennifer L. Wright has written a coming-of-age story that will captivate readers of historical fiction. In the story of Olive and Jo’s unlikely friendship, we see a glimpse of the far-reaching, long-lasting effects of war – not just on nations, but on communities, families, and individuals. The Trinity nuclear test was something I had never read about, and it made for a compelling story, both for the historical aspect and the way Ms. Wright shaped the characters’ lives and stories around it. This beautifully-written story of friendship, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness is one that will stay with you long after the final page. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read whatever Ms. Wright writes next!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.