August 1, 2024
When the FEMA offices in Kansas City are bombed, ostensibly by a terrorist group known as Forever Freedom, one of the victims is the best friend of FBI special agent Amberlyn Reiner. A photo of one of the suspects shows a tattooed wrist and a varsity sports ring from the Pine Falls, VA, high school where Luke Steele, Marine Corps military aide to the U.S. president, was mercilessly bullied. Luke is ordered to return to Pine Falls, ostensibly for his 15th class reunion, but really so that he and Amberlyn (as his fake girlfriend) can search for the bomber. Luke's only friend from that time, Pastor Mosely, turns out to be ex-CIA and a great help to the investigators. Small-town secrets, hatreds, and vengeance result in several more deaths before the bomber is identified. VERDICT Abramson ("Saint Squad," "Royals," and numerous other series) was with the CIA for six years before beginning her prolific writing career. This is a skillfully done thriller with a dash of romance, lots of action, and even violence, but no sex or coarse language. The romantic ending is predestined.--Roland C. Person
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Starred review from September 15, 2024
Abramson kicks off her newest series with a bang! FBI Special Agent Amberlynn Reiner is in the middle of a call with her best friend when the line goes dead. Moments later, she discovers that the Kansas City FEMA building where Chanelle had just started working was bombed by Forever Freedom, a terrorist group Amberlynn had been investigating. Amberlynn must put aside all thoughts of her friend to brief the President. In the Situation Room, she meets Luke Steele, a military aide to the President, who recognizes the championship ring on one of the suspect's fingers from his high-school football team. Quickly, a plan is put in place for Amberlynn to accompany Luke as his date for his high-school reunion. Pine Valley is the last place Luke wants to go; he was bullied mercilessly as a high-school student and hasn't been back since. Romance takes a back seat to the action, but it's not long before strong feelings develop. Fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard will be delighted to find another author who writes edge-of-your-seat, inspirational, romantic suspense with strong female characters.
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