A Book Review of Word of Honor by Hallee Bridgeman, The Love and Honor Series - A Military Suspense Novel Featuring Romance and Faith
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the 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.
You can't outrun the past
FBI Special Agent Lynda Culter is investigating an ecoterrorist organization in the Alaskan wilderness when she and her partner are taken captive and he's murdered before her very eyes. The only person who can identify the key players, Lynda gets assigned to take part in a joint operation in Istanbul to take the organization down.
As a woman in a Muslim country, she'll find it much easier to move around undetected with a fake husband. Unfortunately for her, the one assigned to play the role is none other than Army weapons specialist Bill Sanders--the man who crushed her heart in college.
With a cargo bay's worth of hurt and baggage between them, these two consummate professionals must play their parts perfectly if they hope to stop those responsible for bombing oil pipelines, which has killed innocent civilians and threatened to destabilize the oil markets. Protecting Lynda becomes Bill's primary focus--but love long buried has a way of resurfacing at the most inopportune times.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★/5
Military suspense has always been, and probably always will be, my favorite form of fiction. I love a story with a formidable hero, a rich undercurrent of patriotism and brotherhood and the heart-pounding danger of missions overseas. Hallee Bridgeman delighted me with all of these things in her brand new release, Word of Honor, book 2 in her Love and Honor series.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Globe Trotting Setting · EcoTerrorism · A Second Chance at Love · A Humorous, Special Forces Hero · A Strong, Career Driven Heroine · Military Brotherhood · Faith-Based Fiction
WHAT I LIKED:
Bridgeman delivers a solid, intriguing story with mature, well-rounded, multi-layer characters in this second-chance romance. Having read book 1, Honor Bound, immediately prior to beginning this story, I found both novels to be rich in suspense, faith and military lifestyle.
Bridgeman immerses her readers into the military “family” aspect with a courageous, lovable team of special forces operators who are devoted to their job, their loved ones and their faith. The story is rich in brotherhood and camaraderie. Her characters are ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations, therefore making her novels realistic and grounded, without the “fluff” other books.
I enjoyed the beginning of this novel (as well as the first) due to the fascinating overseas locations that Bridgeman brings to life while the team is deployed on mission. There were moments of intensity, moments of suspense and then there were moments of dedicated teamwork and authentic task force action that balanced this novel out well. Bridgeman uses military terminology and language that is easy to understand but brings a level of authenticity to her books that I admired. In addition, the ecoterrorism catalyst was intriguing and kept me invested.
In this story, readers follow Bill Sanders, an enlisted Army Delta Force operator who is completing his masters degree and seeking God’s next steps for his life regarding renewing his contract with the army. Bill’s southern charm and humor made him a likable main character who knows exactly what is expected of him by his teammates and follows through without question. He is a solid, stable character with a broken past and a deep faith. His character undergoes the most personal growth.
FBI Special Agent Lynda Culter is an analyst who finds herself brought into a task force and on mission to stop an ecoterrorist organization that has ties much deeper than imagined. As she went undercover, I enjoyed her determination, her analytical mind and her reliable character. I also did not see the surprise coming that Bridgeman had planned for Lynda’s character.
Related Post: Looking for more exciting novels with strong heroines and military background heroes, check out Ronie Kendig’s new release, Range - Book 3 in the Metcalfes series or Sundown by Susan May Warren, Book 3 in the Sky King Ranch Series.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
This story was squeaky-clean. The romance was sweet and the two main characters were very mature in how they approached the second chance at love, apologies and forming a relationship. Outside of the mission, the tension in this story was mild when it came to the romance.
I felt the character flaws were surface level and could have been a bit deeper with more push/pull. I found these things to be true of the first novel in this series as well. The first half of the book was very exciting but then the second half lulled a bit and almost lost me (through interrogations), with just enough revelation there to keep me invested to the end. Both novels concluded in a quick way that didn’t support the intensity of the first portion of the book.
For me, I desired more… More action, more harrowing escapes, more heroism, more drama, more romance and passion. This novel would likely appeal more towards an older, more conservative generation of readers who border on wanting just a taste of excitement. Lastly, there was a tiny twist at the end that I didn’t love, leaving the close of the novel feeling a bit sad. I will say, I found myself very attached to this band of brothers!
SUMMARY:
This is a “yes, you should read this” recommendation from me. Despite my personal preferences, this novel stands on it’s own merit for solid, strong characters, an intriguing plot and rich faith elements. The characters are relatable and likable. There are moments of suspense, humor, brotherhood and patriotism. I believe readers who enjoy inspirational, traditional Christian fiction will find this story to be clean, exciting and authentic! I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Candace Sword Edwards | Author Image Courtesy of http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/
Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.
