Book Review: JACK by Susan May Warren

Marji Laine here.

I know this series is from last year, but I've only just found it! I'm SO becoming a huge fan of the Minnesota Kingstons! 

Usually I have my book reviews planned in advance, but I couldn't decide on this one. Then I spotted the cover of JACK. (I am a sucker for a pair of sensitive eyes.) I've read Susan May Warren's books before. (There is a reason why she's an award-winner, a best-seller, and a highly-acclaimed writing coach!) Most of what I'd read before were romances, heartwarming and life-changing with huge obstacles to overcome, but not mystery or suspense novels. 

I was delighted to find that this one has both a mystery and suspense. In fact, she now has so many suspense novels. You can bet I'll be enjoying a LOT of these series! 

JACK the first epic book of the Minnesota Kingstons, so I expected to have a lot of introductions. I didn't expect to get the feeling like many things had already happened. The author has done an amazing job of building in-depth back stories, and some of them have even been previously published in another series. I did a little investigating and the Alaska Air One Rescue books are a prelude to this series. I know there are at least a few characters that are shared between them. 

Something unique: (at least to me) this book started with a male perspective. The hero and heroine (Jack and Harper) share the point of view, but it was so interesting seeing the layout, the initial information, from a his-perspective instead of a hers. And I also loved getting into his head. Being the oldest in his family, he made a problem that brought conflict in before the first page of this book. Going back home to a Minnesota winter, for his sister's wedding was an issue before he ever got there. Conflict and tension was on every page even before the suspense started. 

Something refreshing: (at least to me) these characters had a realness about them. Especially their mistake and their guffaws. Not telling a lie, I was belly laughing during the dance practice! Seriously, Jack? That's the best you could come up with?? Oh, you have to read what he said! 

Something heartwarming: (at least to me) I love the family dynamic in this story. Susan May Warren didn't just fill out the characters of Jack and Harper. Each family member has a distinct personality. Each has an opinion of Jack, particularly when it comes to the dispute that he brought to the family before the book started. Some are still ticked. Some are slightly resentful. Some are completely over it. And some, like Jack's dad, have special moments. (Yes, there were tears that I had to wipe away!)

When the ignition to the suspense did happen, the elements were all there. Characters with something to hide. People with a past. Plenty of motives all around, and a missing bridesmaid who typically has her own way of doing things. Was she really "missing" or just on a lark? It was hard to say, until Jack and Harper started trying to track her and found more danger than answers. 

And the subtlety of the romance of these two is palpable. They are magnets that teeter back and forth between attracting and repelling. Definite chemistry there. 

This isn't a thriller by any means, but there is the impending danger, the ticking clock as it were, that is in all suspense books. And I LOVED it! Jack and Harper will stay with me. I'm so ready to pick up the next book in this series and hunker down for another brilliant story. And yes, I will review it.

This book's subtitle is: The grumpy tracker. The girl he never forgot. A missing bridesmaid and a second chance he doesn't deserve. Here's a little more about the book: 

Her secret blew apart his life—and now she needs his help? If only he could say no…

Ten years should be long enough for Jack to forget the girl-next-door, his kid sister’s bestie and the woman—no, girl—who derailed his life. Now, he sort of likes his loner world as a missing person’s tracker. Well, mostly. But of course, when he returns home for his sister’s wedding, there she is…
Nope, not forgotten at all.

Of course Jack the Grump has shown up for his sister’s wedding, and by the way he looks at Harper, um, clearly her sins aren’t forgiven. So what—she’s sooo over her best-friend’s brooding, dark oldest brother. Really.

Then a bridesmaid goes missing.

And sure, Harper is a journalist who knows how to sniff out truth, but the clock is ticking and there’s only one person who can help…Perfect. No problem. She’s not going to fall for her childhood crush again. Promise.

Yes, Jack can admit that Harper’s not the girl he used to call Pigtails anymore. She’s all grown up…but he’s not going to get burned again. Still, what’s a guy going to do?

So, find her missing friend, get the bride down the aisle and ditch town before they find themselves in over their heads…or worse.

Dead.

Jack is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, grumpy-to sunshine, sweet but sizzly romantic suspense about second chances and finding the family you always wanted…

Get your copy HERE!

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I was ready to pick up Conrad, book 2 of this series, but I think I'm going to go back in time and do the Alaska Air One Rescue series. I think that starts things from the beginning. And if they are anything like JACK, I'll be happily reading for the next several months. :)

In a recent book you've read, or maybe one you're reading now, what was something unique, something you didn't expect, that happened? Share in the comments and you just might win an e-copy of COUNTER POINT, book 1 from my Heath's Point Suspense series. 

But I do hope you'll pick up a copy of JACK, and I hope you LOVE it! 

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE 

There's Trouble Up North...

Meet Doyle, who finds peril in paradise in this rivals romance, book 3 in the Minnesota Kingston series by USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren

When love and danger collide, paradise plays by its own rules.

When Tiana Pepper lands on the lush island of Mariposa, she just wants to put her sad past behind her. Her goal is a new beginning as fundraiser and director of Hope House, a local orphanage.

Except she’s not the director. She’s co-director, and nobody told her she’d have to work with an impulsive, out-of-bounds, depend on his charm, annoying disaster rescuer, named Doyle Kingston.

She can run this show on her own, thanks.

Doyle Kingston, bearing the weight of his own grief, arrives at Hope House ready to leave behind a history of loss. He hopes to find forever homes for these orphans, and the last thing he expects is to have to work with a woman who thinks she’s the boss of this island paradise.

And yet…they have problems.

Like becoming the target of a local gang.

And boss, Billionaire Declan Stone has invited his fancy friends to the island to see Hope House up close, in hopes they’ll donate and get the orphanage on its feet. So…please, could they work together?

And wouldn’t you know it but among the donors is a treasure hunter who believes a pirate left a stash under Hope House. What-ever.

Then an earthquake rocks the island, kids go missing and Tia and Doyle have no choice but trust each other if they hope to save the children and each other.

Doyle is a pulse-pounding romantic suspense featuring rivals turned rescuers, where opposites attract amidst peril in paradise, are two hearts scarred by tragedy just might find a second chance at true love.

You can purchase Doyle by Susan May Warren here.

WE LOVE BOOKS!

What's HOT in Inspirational Suspense

Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery? Susan May Warren has a brand new suspense, One Last Chance, #2 Alaska Air One Rescue series, recently released from Revell.

Here's a little bit about the story: Axel Mulligan was built to be a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. He swam fast and endured long, a miracle for those in peril--until a tragedy sent him home to Alaska. Now, three years later, he's not going to let the past repeat itself. As an Air One rescue swimmer, he'll do anything to save lives--including sacrifice his own.He expects to do just that while trying to rescue a group of tourists from the icy waters of the Gulf of Alaska. But if not for the voice on the other end of the ham radio, he might have given up and let hypothermia win. That voice awakened something in his heart, and he sets out to find the woman it belongs to. Flynn Turnquist is not who Axel thinks she is. A national wildlife researcher, she's deep in the bush, tracking wolf pack patterns. Or is she? In fact, she's a former cop, tracking down a serial killer. She nearly had him--until he escaped into the wilds of the Alaska bush. When Axel finds Flynn and discovers what she's really up to, it stirs up a terrible nightmare he's been dodging for years--the kidnapping and death of his own cousin. Worse, he's led the killer right to her doorstep. Now, it's a race through Alaska to stay alive. And when tragedy strikes again, he must choose between rescue or redemption.

You can buy One Last Chance, #2 Alaska Air One Rescue series HERE from Christianbook.com

Have a great week of reading, lovers of inspirational suspense and mystery! ~ Mary Ellis

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

 BY PATRICIA BRADLEY

Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this month?

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.

You can find buy links here.

We Love Books!

What's Hot in Inspirational Suspense by Mary Ellis

Happy Tuesday, Readers. Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery this week? Susan May Warren has a brand new suspense, The Price of Valor, #3 in the Global Search and Rescue series from Revell.

Here's a little bit about the story: Former Navy SEAL Hamilton Jones thought that the love of his life was dead. But when a girl claiming to be his daughter shows up with a dire message from his wife, Ham knows he will stop at nothing to find her and bring her home. Kidnapped by rebels while serving as an interpreter in Ukraine, Signe Kincaid has spent the past decade secreting out valuable information about Russian assets in the US to her CIA handler. Fearing for her daughter after being discovered as an operative, Signe sends her to Ham for safekeeping. She's ready to give her life for her country, and she can hardly expect Ham to rescue her after breaking his heart over and over.

When Ham discovers the reason Signe has kept her distance, he must choose between love for his wife and love for the nation he has vowed to protect. Will he save the many? Or the few? USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren takes you on a global search and rescue mission where the stakes are higher than ever in this final installment of her popular series.

Here's where to buy The Price of Valor: https://www.christianbook.com/the-price-of-valor-3/susan-warren/9780800735869/pd/735866?event=Fiction|1000184#CBD-PD-Publisher-Description

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Good morning, suspense readers. Mary Ellis here. What's new in inspirational suspense? Susan May Warren releases Knox; The Montana Marshalls on March 12th from Stonewater Books. 

Montana rancher Knox Marshall's danger years are behind him. A former bull-rider, he now runs the Marshall family ranch, raising champion bucking bulls for the National Professional Bullrider's Expo (NBR-X). Wealth and success are his, but life is stable, expected, and…ordinary. He can't help but wonder if his best years are behind him.

Kelsey Jones just wants a safe life, a family, a home. Onstage, the beautiful rising star of the Yankee Belles becomes the person she longs to be - vivacious and confident - burying the brokenness she carries from a violent assault. Becoming NBR-X's next country act is key to outrunning her past and achieving the success and security she craves. Knox and Kelsey's paths collide when an explosion at an NBR-X event traps them in the rubble and leaves them reeling. Kelsey's crippling nightmares return, but for Knox, an obsession to find the bomber is ignited. When Kelsey's past threatens Knox's family, he'll have to choose between saving the Marshall legacy or becoming the protector he's always longed to be.

Click on this link to order Knox: The Montana Marshalls: https://www.christianbook.com/knox-the-montana-marshalls/susan-warren/9781943935260/pd/935264?event=Fiction|1000859#CBD-PD-Description