A Book Review of Fatal Code by Natalie Walters, Book Two in The SNAP Agency Series - A Romantic Suspense Novel
*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
Natalie Walters is back with another great release! Intrigue, romance, suspense and diverse characters! This story had it all!
With a hunky Hawaiian hero and sweet, nerdy, science-geek heroine, Fatal Code surprised me in highly entertaining ways with its emotional depth and unique scientific intelligence! A clean, enjoyable romance with lovable, multi-layered characters, a high-stakes plot and plenty of heart-pounding suspense that readers will not want to miss.
Scroll down for my full review!
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.
Natalie Walters sucks you into the global race for space domination in this perfectly paced second installment of her SNAP Agency romantic suspense series.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★/5
Natalie Walters is back with another great romantic suspense release!
The characters truly made this story for me! With a hunky Hawaiian hero and sweet, nerdy science-geek heroine, this story surprised me in some highly entertaining ways! Readers met Kekoa Young, a former Navy cryptologist and current computer guru for the SNAP agency of Washington, D.C., in Lights Out, book one. Fatal Code is his story and introduces readers to Elinor Mitchell, his neighbor and… current assignment. I loved the chemistry between these two diverse characters and enjoyed this book for being what it is, a clean romance with a high-stakes plot.
What I liked:
Kekoa’s Hawaiian heritage and culture were rich and brought a fresh, unique flare to him as a lead character. Elinor was a great heroine in a quiet way with her highly intelligent mind and cute science puns! Each of the main characters were multi-layered. They individually grieved the loss of loved ones, and worked to overcome specific insecurities. Their growth both individually and together was raw and rewarding. That aspect added an emotional depth to the novel, giving it plenty of heart and making both Kekoa and Elinor lovable and relatable.
The nuclear, scientific aspect and the code breaking intelligence portions of the novel were truly fascinating and something I haven’t read before. The information was presented well in an uncomplicated manner that was easy to follow.
Related Post: Malicious Intent by Lynn Blackburn, Book II in the Defend and Protect Series, a romantic suspense series!
Kekoa and Elinor’s romance was perhaps one of my favorite portions of the story as their chemistry was enjoyable and fun, building over time, thus keeping me very invested in the story.
The suspense throughout this novel maintained at a great high/low pace with plenty of heart-pounding moments to keep me interested, while interspersed with character development and backstory construction. There were also some fantastic faith-based elements that were layered throughout the story and presented really well, including letting go of pain and trusting God, because He is always watching over us.
The ending was mildly surprising but did leave me somewhat bewildered with the various aspects that came into play. I felt like I was missing something and as if the ends weren’t tied up as neatly as I would have hoped. However, because the rest of the story was so great, I purposely overlooked that personal preference in my rating.
Summary:
Overall, I enjoyed this story and felt it had a really great balance between intrigue, romance, suspense and character development! Something Natalie Walters always does well in my opinion… Readers who enjoy books by Ronie Kendig, Lynette Eason and Susan May Warren will definitely enjoy this novel as well. I recommend Fatal Code!
Also, do not miss…
Initium: The SNAP Agency Beginning, A Novella
Lights Out: Book 1 of the SNAP Agency Series!
The SNAP Team is a diverse, intriguing group of characters that work together to neutralize threats, adding a sense of heroism to this story. In addition to the highly skilled cast of characters, Walters introduced a second-chance romance for Brynn and Jack. Their internal struggles and inner dialogue allows readers into their hearts and minds, making them relatable and enjoyable. As the characters surrender to personal growth, the romance deepens and blossoms. Walters’ characters were grounded in their faith offering a subtle but strong faith-based element to her fiction that I also enjoyed.
A riveting, explosive release!
From the intense, complex plot that reveals human trafficking and cyber-terrorism, to the brilliant cast of highly-skilled, dynamic characters, Lights Out’s fast-paced action and dramatic unfolding completely captivated me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: Emilie Hendryx Haney
