A Book Review of Willow by Ronie Kendig, Book Two in the Metcalfes Series
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Heart-pounding intensity, thrilling heroics, a raw and gritty narrative… Absolutely convicting with a powerful impact! Simply put, a must read!
From the fierce sense of danger and a suspense that carries throughout this story, the age-old battle of good vs. evil prevails as Ronie Kendig rises to the challenge of a story on the dark, heinous underworld of human trafficking. Counterbalanced by the heroic efforts of courageous, multi-layered characters, Kendig delivers a novel full of intense action, romance, faith and grit!
Scroll down for my full review…
“To save her, he must become the evil he fights.”
Aftercare specialist Willow Metcalfe joined Mission: Liberate Everyone to help trafficking survivors navigate the healing process. When MiLE’s Obioma Compound is attacked by the Nigerian mafia, she’s taken hostage. Against nightmarish odds, she and the victims attempt an escape—and are thwarted.
A decade after leaving his beloved homeland, Chijioke “Chiji” Okorie returns to find his sister and fight for his own country. Believing a global trafficking ring behind her abduction and a string of kidnappings across Nigeria, he goes undercover to find the head of the serpent and his sister. Chiji is stunned to discover among the hostages a familiar face—a friend’s sister, Willow. The woman he vowed years ago to marry.
The man who has interfered with her escape attempts seems … familiar, kind—but Willow knows better. He reeks of the warrior ethos that has devoured many a good man. Engaged in an impossible battle and losing at every turn, Chiji is determined to complete his missions—all of them. Even if it kills him.
★★★★★ | From the first chapter, this story captivated my heart. I could not put it down! Due to its short length, I finished in a little amount of time, completely enraptured by its powerful impact.
Heart-pounding Intensity… Thrilling Heroics... A Raw and Gritty Narrative… Absolutely Convicting!
Indicative of any Kendig novel, Willow’s story begins with a fierce sense of danger and suspense that carries throughout this story. The age-old battle of good versus evil is once again the prevalent theme as Kendig rises to the challenge of centering a story on the dark, heinous underworld of human trafficking and sex slavery. She unfolds the evil horrors victims face with incredible care and skill, never glorifying the industry or going into unnecessary graphic detail. Yet, there were still parts of the story that were uncomfortable to read simply because of the horror, humiliation and dire hopelessness victims face.
However, Kendig counterbalances the darkness in her story with the deep, personal faith and heroic efforts of her main characters and organizations that work against trafficking.
Kendig delivers multi-layered characters (devout readers will delight in the re-appearance of several favorites!) who are highly skilled, courageous and offer a dynamic range of intrigue. There is some lighthearted banter and smile-inducing moments, as well as a focus on the strong familial bond that the Metcalfe family is known for.
I loved Chiji’s deeply-rooted faith and his heroic nature as a character in the Tox Files so I thoroughly enjoyed him here as a main character. Willow is a peacemaker with a heart for others and while I struggled with her impulsivity, I felt she was an excellent match for Chiji. I liked watching them battle their inner struggles and seeing their romance blossom, despite the vile circumstances surrounding their journey to each other. I found the ending of this story to be incredibly rewarding. I also dearly loved many of the secondary characters who were featured and enjoyed the groundwork that was laid here for both Range and Brooke’s stories, which I’m eagerly looking forward to!
In short, this novel is very well done, especially in such a limited word-count. A must read, but enter into the story carefully. It is heavy, honest and sometimes heartbreaking. Remember, goodness will prevail and the Light has the ultimate authority over the darkness. Also, I recommend this series be read in order to fully grasp the overarching content and themes.
Content Note: Trauma/Trigger Warnings - Sexual assault is mentioned multiple times, including rape and the rape of young children.
Lastly, I highly recommend ALL of Ronie Kendig’s novels and series, including but not limited to the Tox Files, Discarded Heroes or the Quiet Professionals.
Stone: Book 1 of The Metcalfes
Gritty and inspiring… A powerful, deeply-emotional story that completely captivated me. Stone is simply fantastic!
My Reviews on the Book of wars series By Ronie Kendig
“Fast-paced action, secret missions, hidden agendas and so much more!”
STORM RISING TAKES THE TERM PAGE TURNER TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
In this series from best-selling, award winning author, Ronie Kendig, is sure to grab readers’ attention from the very first words. When former Navy SEAL, Leif Metcalfe, is recruited to lead a team of highly trained professionals in recovering the lost Book of Wars, he finds himself up against secrets, a highly trained assassin and throngs of storms each with their own intent to kill. Readers will find themselves hungry for the next page as revelations are made and the heart-pounding hunt for the elusive Book of Wars begins…
“Heart-pounding missions to stop the activation of a super army with deadly intent.”
KINGS FALLING DEMANDS YOUR ATTENTION AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PUT IT DOWN.
As the search for the Book of Wars continues, Leif Metcalfe and his team, Reaper, will stop at nothing to keep the Neiothen from activating and destroying the world! Award-winning, best-selling author, Ronie Kendig, is back with another heart-stopping novel that will keep you simultaneously on the edge of your seat and turning the pages as fast as you can.
“Intense scenes and gripping battles… A story of loyalty, friendship and romance.”
SOUL RAGING IS A BOOK ON FIRE! READERS WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EPIC CONCLUSION.
Join Iskra and the Reaper team, as they walk through the shadows and stumble along the now-blurred line of loyalty when Leif separates from the team to battle his own demons before the final war prophesied begins. Without fail, Ronie Kendig once again delivers a story that is soul-riveting, deeply satisfying and wildly exciting with a plot that twists, turns, bends and captivates readers to the very last page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author Image Courtesy of www.roniekendig.com
Ronie Kendig is an Army brat who grew up in the classic military family, with her father often TDY and her mother holding down the proverbial fort. Their family moved often, which left Ronie attending six schools by the time she’d entered fourth grade. Her only respite and “friends” during this time were the characters she created.
It was no surprise when she married a military veteran—her real-life hero—in June 1990. Married more than twenty-five years, Ronie and her husband have homeschooled for the last eighteen years. Despite the craziness of life, Ronie finds balance and peace with her faith, family, and retired military working dog in Northern Virginia.
Ronie has a deep love and passion for people, especially hurting people, which is why she pursued and obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Liberty University. Ronie speaks and teaches across the country and mentors other writers.
CONNECT WITH RONIE: website | facebook | twitter | pinterest | instagram
