If you have yet to read an Irene Hannon novel this is a great place to begin. But I encourage you to go back and start at the beginning of the series. Yes, this could be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but in first reading, Buried Secrets and Thin Ice, you will grasp so much more and be introduced to one of the main characters of this story.
How's this for choosing a novel that is super close to home? The characters are very close to Potosi, Missouri, which is right down the road from where I live. The main character is battling Post Concussive Syndrome which my husband is now battling after being hit by a drunk driver. Coincidence? I don't think so. This was perfect timing!
Irene Hannon is a favorite of mine. I love this Missouri girl who writes about places I visit. Her attention to detail is a marvel as it allows me to feel as if I am present in the story.
Storytelling is a gift of Hannon. She knows how to bring a story to life through using characters that we can relate to. We are able to feel their emotion in so many ways. The fear they feel jumps off the pages to make the reader ponder what they would do in that circumstance. We feel their wounds, anger, and most importantly their hope! Hannon magically weaves faith into something believable for us. It is something the reader not only desires for the characters, but for their own life.
Yes, Hannon not only weaves a magnificent story, but brings a message of healing, hope, and finding faith in the midst of any circumstance. She is brilliant! Nothing better than closing the last page and marveling over the pages you were gifted to read.
This is the third and last novel in the Men of Valor series. Oh, I have loved this just as much as every other novel and series I have had the pleasure of reading. The story flows quickly. It moves at a pace that keep you turning pages with a curiosity as to what is to come.
We once again meet Finn McGregor. With a name like that you just expect hero, right? He is a strong character. Wounded, but living with a faith that will allow him to overcome. He's seeking some time of rest and decision making. His neighbor across the woods is Dana Lewis. She too is searching for solitude and healing. Her character is just as strong. I love that both of these characters have been through such trials, but they are not about to give up. These two together bring something really special for the reader.
Another character is the sheriff. He is placed in a circumstance that brings the reader to wonder just what they would do in his position. He has to make some difficult decisions. These are decisions of right or wrong. But as his character develops I found myself feeling so sorry for him. Of course he knows what is right. He is an honorable man, but that man also has a wife battling early onset Alzheimers and he is determined she has the best care possible. Wouldn't we all what the same? I find him trying to turn things to make them seem right even though in his heart he knows what he is about to do is so very wrong.
Now, of course in this area it wouldn't do to tell a story without something sinister taking place in the woods, right? Oh, the evils that take part in the dark when you think no one is looking.
A Romantic Suspense filled with so much more. That's what I love about Hannon. She brings so many aspects to a novel other than just a great story. For me that's what writing is all about and that's the kind of novels I want to be a part of.
This novel was a gift from Revell for sharing my review with you.
Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty novels, including Buried Secrets, Thin Ice, and the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. In addition to many other honors, she is a seven-time finalist for and three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.
