Red-Haired Ash Reads

Gemma Newhouse can’t remember the last twenty-four hours but she knows she was kidnapped by someone dangerous and she needs to survive. After falling into the river she finds herself being rescued by loner Boone Hendrix and his dog Atlas. While they try to figure out who is after her they can’t ignore their growing feelings for each other. 

Boone has been a side character that appeared in the Norcross Security series and I have been eager to see more of him. Boone is a loner veteran who struggles with PTSD and survivor’s guilt. He was a protective man who took his job as bodyguard seriously and would never stop until Gemma was safe. While he was protective, I did appreciate that he was never overbearing and he frequently mentioned how strong Gemma was after stressful situations. 

Gemma is the daughter of the wealthiest man in America but longs for a simple life baking. Gemma was a strong woman who refused to give up and fought for herself and her future. She knows she isn’t as strong as her kidnappers but she uses her smarts to get free and to outsmart them. I really loved Gemma and how resourceful she was. She is a sweet woman who sees past Boone’s barriers and refuses to give up on him. She loves all of him and accepts him, and his PTSD without any judgment and it was just what he needed.  

“Not broken, Boone. Bent, cracked, beaten, but not broken.”

Gemma and Boone’s relationship is a fast paced and action packed one. From the very beginning they are fighting their feelings for each other but after a few close calls they can no longer hide their feelings. I really enjoyed their fast paced relationship. My only complaint really is that Gemma talks about how her family consider her a failure for not following in their footsteps and frequently mention it in the beginning but we don’t see that ever addressed with her parents. 

Overall, this was a great romantic suspense and a great start to a new series. I look forward to reading the next book and learning more about Boone’s friend Shep. 

CW: Gemma was drugged and kidnapped; PTSD and nightmares; Boone was a POW and was tortured with his teammates and some of them died; 

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

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