5 Star Book Review: Brooke by Ronie Kendig, Book 4 in The Metcalfes Series | Shared in Partnership with JustRead Publicity Tours
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Welcome to the Blog + Review Blitz for Brooke by Ronie Kendig, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours
Scroll down for more information about this book and learn how to enter a giveaway to win the entire series!
Title: Brooke
Series: The Metcalfes #4
Author: Ronie Kendig
Publisher: Task Force Press
Release Date: February 6, 2023
Genre: Clean with faith elements, Romantic Suspense
Prioritizing career over family cost Brooke Metcalfe Mulroney everything—her relationship with her siblings, her marriage, her children. Written off by her family, she delves deeper into her work. Until a life-altering moment offers a chance at something she didn’t know she wanted—redemption. But her self-centered ways nip at her heels as she goes on the lam to do what she knows is right.
Former Special Forces operator and founder of MiLE, Cord Taggart wages war on human trafficking by taking the violence to the wicked, determined to never again let an innocent die because he did nothing. But maybe he’s bitten off more than he can chew this time as he works to track down New York City high-powered attorney Brooke Metcalfe, who is MIA. Then there’s her brothers who have threatened to chase him into the afterlife should he fail.
Tricky are the hours as Cord negotiates many battles: freeing the captives, demolishing the Trench that has made millions off the skin-trade industry, and his growing, deep-rooted feelings for the bombshell in her highfalutin tower. Brooke must put her life—and heart—in the hands of the thick-skulled operator.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository
Don’t Miss the Other Books in The Metcalfes Series:
HUman Trafficking · Slow Burn Romance · A FIght to Escape
MY REVIEW: ★★★★★/5
“‘She matters. It’s why I do what I do — they matter, the people. If they’re alone in the world, or caught in this net... Whether someone’s son or daughter, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, grandkid. It’s the one lost sheep. We’re the sheepdogs, remember?’
They all knew the saying that there were three types of people: sheep, the wolves who seek to devour the sheep, and the sheepdogs who do what it takes to protect the sheep. Many times, that wasn’t pretty. In fact, it was often downright bloody. ”
Author Ronie Kendig has broken my heart time and again, in all the best ways, with this series. Brooke’s story was a riveting, heart-rending conclusion to the Metcalfes collection. While delivering horrendous and heartbreaking circumstances for her characters, Kendig offered the promise of hope, of rescue and of redemption. Brooke was a novel that brought tears to my eyes, destroyed me and challenged me while simultaneously encouraging me, uplifting me and entertaining me.
In the age old battle of good versus evil, Brooke begins with a secret, as this brave, self-reliant woman sets out alone to find two children who had been taken from her care. In Brooke’s daring attempt to locate them, the action in this story begins immediately and captivated me with it’s many twists, turns, harrowing moments and nail-biting suspense. Like Kendig’s other stories, former military heroes step in and begin to unfold the mystery of Brooke’s sudden disappearance and how they can locate her. There is witty banter, tension and camaraderie between these brothers-in-arms as they join forces to wage the battle against the horrendous evil that is human trafficking.
The pace and suspense in this novel were well structured, keeping me highly entertained. The main characters were well developed. I enjoyed both Brooke and Cord Taggert so very much. Cord had a propensity to rush in to save to the day, but despite his impulsivity and sometimes exaggerated self-opinion, readers glimpse his soft, heroic heart and willingness to wage war on the behalf of those who are innocent and unable to fight for themselves. Brooke’s character arc showed the most growth as she slowly begins to realize the mistakes of her past in locking away her heart as her predicament slowly tears down those barriers and displays the beauty and assurance that can be found in sharing life with those who love you.
The romance in this story had plenty of tension, the push and pull very enjoyable. I loved these two characters together and despite the fact that I normally don’t like slow burns, I felt this one had just enough angst and flirtation to keep me happy.
Kendig once again delved into the topic of human trafficking with the utmost care and while not shying away from the hard truths, she avoided any detailed scenes. The truths were hard to read and uncomfortable to my heart, but not uncomfortable to read in the context of this novel. She balanced the darkness of trafficking and slavery with the hope of rescue.
I loved this quote that perfectly illustrates that concept:
“Plans were in place. The team ready to move. Righteousness would hold evil accountable. ”
Summary:
A definite must-read for romantic suspense lovers! Please know this book, like the others in the series, is clean fiction but does touch on the very real truths of trafficking and what victims face. It is heartbreaking, but this novel is presented in a way that readers will find uplifting too.
Content and Trigger Warnings: Human trafficking including abduction, child slavery, imprisonment, child rape, abuse, electrocution, rape and misconduct of adults with minors.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ronie Kendig is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty books. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband have returned to their beloved Texas after a nearly ten-year stint in the Northeast. They survive on Sonic runs, barbecue, and peach cobbler that they share--sometimes--with Benning the Stealth Golden. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters.
Connect with Ronie by visiting roniekendig.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Did you enjoy my review of Brooke?
Feel free to visit my reviews of other books I’ve read by Ronie Kendig, then come back here to enter the giveaway to win a paperback copy of The Metcalfes!
JustReads Tour Giveaway | Enter To Win A Signed Collection of the Metcalfes!
(1) winner will receive the entire signed set of The Metcalfes paperbacks!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 15, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 22, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Thrilling · Military Working Dog · Fast-Paced
Author Steffani Webb (under the mentorship of Ronie Kendig) has delivered an action-packed new release that will have romantic suspense readers and dog-lovers alike devouring the pages!
From the explosive beginning to the sweet, heartwarming ending, this book had me captivated. With well-rounded characters, appearances from other beloved characters and an intense plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat, Webb entertains and delights readers with this new military style romantic suspense!