Series: True Heroes (Book 2)
LOVE IS AN ACT OF BRAVERY
Retired Navy SEAL Alex Rojas is putting his life back together, one piece at a time. Being a single dad to his young daughter and working at Hope's Crossing Kennels to help rehab a former guard dog, he struggles every day to control his PTSD. But when Elisa Hall shows up, on the run and way too cautious, she unleashes his every protective instinct.
Elisa's past never stays in her rearview mirror for long, and she refuses to put anyone else in danger. But with Alex guarding her so fiercely yet looking at her so tenderly, she's never felt safer . . . or more terrified that the secrets she keeps could put countless people in grave peril. The only way for both to fully escape their demons will take the ultimate act of courage: letting go and learning to trust each other.
Terrific story with a good blend of suspense and romance. Elisa is on the run when she encounters Alex and his daughter, Serena (aka Boom). Desperate for a place to stop and earn some money before her past catches up with her again, Elisa is drawn by the feeling of safety she has when she's with Alex.
I really liked both Alex and Elisa. Alex is a single dad of a ten-year-old daughter. He is putting his life back together after leaving the SEALs, working with the dogs at the kennels and trying to keep his PTSD under control. He can be very intense, but there is also an unexpected core of kindness and sensitivity that comes out around Elisa. He also has some trust issues that have kept him from forming any new romantic relationships. Elisa is a woman who has lost the ability to trust her own judgment after falling in love with a man who wasn't what she thought he was. After losing her sense of self to his emotional and mental abuse, she finally found the courage to escape. But she doesn't seem to be able to run far or fast enough to escape his reach until she encounters Alex and Boom.
The opening scene was a real attention grabber for me. Elisa is in a hospital emergency room waiting to be seen when she overhears Alex getting irate with a staff member. I ached for her and the fear she felt listening to him. That fear turns to confusion and curiosity after she meets Boom and sees Alex's gentleness with his daughter, and has that same gentleness turned on her. I liked the courage it gave her to track down the kennel to return Boom's glove. Her arrival at the kennel was perfect timing, as Alex desperately needed someone who could be their admin assistant, and Elisa needed a job. Right from the start, Alex had an incredible sensitivity to Elisa's fears and had the perfect balance of protectiveness and support.
I loved seeing their relationship develop. Elisa is wary and determined not to depend on anyone but herself. She was burned in the past by the people who should have supported her. I loved watching Alex approach Elisa with the same kind of gentleness he used with some of the dogs, and how she responded with growing trust. That trust helped her open up to Alex and the others about her trouble. I loved how Alex's support of Elisa gave her the confidence to insist on being part of whatever the men found out about her ex. It wasn't all about Elisa either. Alex has had his own issues, thanks to his memories of the war, problems that put him on edge and make it hard to be around other people. There is something about Elisa that helps to ground Alex in the present, and helps to calm him down. There is also an intense attraction that simmered under the surface as they got to know each other, and I enjoyed seeing them give in to it as their trust in each other grew. Unfortunately, Alex made a boneheaded move when something happened that triggered one of his deepest fears. It very nearly had tragic consequences before he realized the truth.
The suspense of the story was very good. The bad guy is known from the beginning, with the suspense being the anticipation of seeing him foiled. The intensity grows with each revelation or encounter, until the final confrontation. I loved the unquestioning support from the whole Hope's Crossing team as each of them uses their skills to keep Elisa safe. My heart was pounding as Elisa faced down her ex and her new-found confidence gave her the strength she needed. There was an interesting twist at the end that linked this book with the first one. I can't wait to read the next one and see if it is also linked.
I loved the secondary characters. Alex's partners are wonderful with their support of him both personally and professionally. I also enjoyed their teasing as Elisa I adored Greg and Gary and how they watched out for Elisa. But my two favorites were Boom and Souze. Boom was a terrific kid. I loved the relationship she had with Alex, from her negotiating abilities to her own way of watching out for him. I loved watching her bond with Elisa, and the science project scene was great. The dog Souze was fantastic. His immediate connection with Elisa was cool and I enjoyed seeing how protective he was of her. I ached for him a bit as his training with Alex didn't always go as well as Alex wanted. I also loved the relationship between Souze and Alex, especially when it came to Alex's PTSD. There was a heartwarming scene as Souze pulled Alex out of an episode that probably wouldn't have ended well. It was great to see Souze finally find his new place in the world.
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