You’ve got a TBR pile the size of Mt. Everest or at least Mt. Whitney (for those of us in the continental US). It’s threatening to turn you into that Facebook cartoon about how the guy dies crushed by all the books on his nightstand. But, some sicko who does not understand the value of losing yourself in four or five books over a couple of days says, “Pick one. Only one.”
I don’t know about you, but if that happens to me, I want a book that will hold me hostage and keep me riveted to every word on every page.
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Will This Book Be a Direct Threat to Your Weekend?
Maaaybeee…
Here’s the thing. This book has a lot of things going for it and a few that made me frustrated. All in all, I liked it. But first, I’ll tell you what didn’t do it for me.
Repetition. There’s a lot of it. In fact, I suspect ten percent of the book at least could be cut without actually cutting anything. You’d never miss it.
Instant attraction. Thank goodness we didn’t get treated to “instalove” but I think the story would have been a whole lot stronger if the relationship aspect didn’t begin almost from the moment the couple meet. After all, they’re trapped together in the same place for quite a while. And it’s not just a preference of mine, it’s actually a problem for me in the story because how quickly things jumped in and back out and all around just didn’t ring true. Had it had some sort of a build, the personal issues wouldn’t have felt like we were getting jerked back and forth like that.
Convenience. Okay, this one might not be fair of me. Here’s the thing. The author did a good job of setting up a history of behavior that made certain events plausible–even understandable. So, kudos for not just throwing that convenience in there and letting us have to choke it down. The problem was for me that it still was a convenience instead of a real problem followed by a real solution. Can’t say more without giving away spoilers, but it’s a thing.
One generalized thing… they keep calling the little girl a “drama queen” but seriously, she wasn’t half as dramatic as the whole protection team.
But with all that, there were serious strengths, too.
The suspense. Spot on. Seriously. Tension, conflict, uncertainty. You name it, she’s got it and it’s done well. If there had been a bit more tightening of the narrative, this would have been on par with some of my favorite suspense authors. I kept turning the page, even when I needed to do other things instead.
The plot. The primary storyline–protecting someone from the bad guys, figuring out who the bad guys are, and getting the job done–excellent. Seriously, the author did a great job of keeping me guessing and second-guessing. The whats and whys, the red herrings… it’s all great because you CAN figure it all out if you pay attention, but for those who like to be surprised, you won’t be slapped upside the head with every little nuance until you’ve lost the joy of the story.
The faith. At first, this was going to be a negative. Initially, it felt as though faith were tacked on here and there to make it “Christian.” But then somewhere in the middle, it began weaving in, and the preachiness and awkwardness factors went away. I’m not sure why it made a big difference, but it did.
In the end, I’m not sorry I requested and received a free review copy, and I do look forward to seeing what else this author has to offer.
Recommended for…
Readers who love clean fiction with characters who either live their faith or begin to grow in their faith will enjoy Direct Threat. Additionally, if you enjoy suspense that follows logical storylines and don’t mind a bit of repetition, you’ll probably also enjoy the book. Looking forward to the next. I’m curious if this is an author style or unique to this book.
Direct Threat is on tour with Celebrate Lit
About the Book
Book: Direct Threat
Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 1, 2020
One little girl.
Two bodyguards.
Only one chance to guard their hearts.
Protection Inc. co-owner, Carissa Jones, an ex-cop turned bodyguard, has one goal—keep her young client safe. When her business partner brings in a new guy to help, she discovers her heart desires more. Can she still do her job and follow her heart without compromising her client’s safety?
Marc Olsen, a former Military Police officer, struggles to find his way as a civilian. He agrees to help out an old friend for the summer. He gets more than he bargained for when he’s assigned to work with the feisty co-owner of Protection Inc.
When sparks fly faster than bullets, will the bodyguards be distracted from their task, or will they work together as an even stronger team?
About the Author
Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
You can sign up for Kimberly’s newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/
More from Kimberly
Direct Threat is the first book in the Protection Inc. series. The series follows a group of bodyguards who are all either former cops or military police. They are on location in Lincoln City on the Oregon coast in book one, but their business is based out of Seattle.
I’ve been to Lincoln City more times than I can remember, but I took a research trip there with my husband, specifically for this book.
While in Lincoln City my husband and I walked the same beach my characters walk. I studied the access points to the cliffside homes from the vantage point of the beach, as this was an important aspect of the story. We also visited the ice cream shop mentioned in the book. You’ll understand the significance of the shop when you read the story.
My writing career has taken some twists and turns. When I first began writing in 2006 I wrote romantic suspense. Then switched over to writing contemporary romance, which turned out to be the genre of my first contracted book and many more after that. After writing several romantic mystery novels for my publisher, I decided to dust off my romantic suspense manuscripts and publish them. Direct Threat is one of those manuscripts.
I absolutely love reading and writing suspense as well as romance, so joining the two together comes naturally for me. I hope you will read and enjoy this story.
You can learn more about Kimberly Rose Johnson and her books at https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/
Blog Stops
Through the Fire Blogs, July 25
deb’s Book Review, July 25
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 26
A Baker’s Perspective, July 27
Texas Book-aholic, July 28
reviewingbooksplusmore, July 28
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 29
Because I said so – adventures in parenting, July 29
Quiet quilter, July 30
Inklings and notions, July 31
Maureen’s Musings, July 31
For Him and My Family, August 1
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 2
Read Review Rejoice, August 2
Daysong Reflections, August 3
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 4
Batya’s Bits, August 5
Mary Hake, August 5
Simple Harvest Reads, August 6 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Betti Mace, August 6
Just the Write Escape, August 7
Blossoms and Blessings, August 7
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kimberly is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/fe34/direct-threat-celebration-tour-giveaway
Thanks for sharing, this sounds like a wonderful book that would keep me busy reading.
This sounds like a good read and a great page turner.
Thank you for sharing your book with us. I always look forward to finding out about another great read.
Thanks for the review! I will probably give this one a try at some point.
Sounds like a great book.
The book sounds interesting. Christian romantic suspense is a fun genre to read.
Kimberly is a new author to me, this looks great
Thank you for your honest review! “Direct Threat’ sounds like a page-turner.