Book Review of Rescue Me by Lara Van Hulzen

Oh boy, do I love wounded cowboy stories! And Lara Van Hulzen's last book in her Men of Honor Series is no exception.

Keith is a soldier with a wounded heart. 
Torie’s secrets haunt her. 
Can they trust love enough to mend what’s broken? 

Torie Walker is a police officer with a past she’d like to stay hidden from. Staying at her best friend’s cabin in the mountains over Christmas is just what she needs. However, when a handsome cowboy saunters into her life, she takes the risk and trusts him with her secrets. 

Keith Scott is a United States Marine, Force Recon. Home for the holidays, he intends to spend a quiet Christmas with his family. What he doesn’t plan on is Torie Walker, a woman who mends his heart and makes him want to love again.


Torie is a familiar character for those who have followed along with Van Hulzen's entire series. She starts out in book 1, Remember Me, and finally gets her happily ever after in book 3. Her tough cop exterior has made her a strong character from the beginning, but in this story we get to see into the darker corners of her soul as she faces an old enemy - a very personal one. It was fascinating to see the two polar opposites of strong and weak in this amazing woman. Van Hulzen did a great job of making all her sides believable.

Keith was introduced in book 2, Get To Me. He came on the pages as a brooding and maybe broken soldier. It was fun to open up that package as I read through Rescue Me. Keith, as all of us, has many facets to his character. Both his pain and his joys are deep and three-dimensional. He was a fantastic hero.

Overall, I love this series. A great and fun read for anyone who likes romance with a twist of faith. I found book three had a much slower pace than the first two books that clipped along with great tension. It wasn't a problem for me as I was well invested in the characters by that point. Perhaps this one is best read as a series. However, the story line doesn't need the previous ones to be understandable. Despite the slower pace, I enjoyed it. Rescue Me holds you close enough to keep you reading to find out more about the "fear" in our strong and ever-capable Torie.

The setting was fabulous - a cabin in the mountains at Christmas! Great fun. The supporting characters were intriguing and added a sense of balance to Keith's personality. There is even a glimpse of the Newlyweds, Aimee and Dane.

Overall a good story, a fun, heart-warming romance and a great read.

Thanks to the author for a chance to review this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Check it out!

Also, stay tuned as Lara's next series, Return to Silver Bay, is set to be out in March 2016. 

Book Review of Get To Me by Lara Van Hulzen

Aimee can identify a killer.

Dane can keep her safe.

But is he willing to face his past to do it?

When Aimee Jansenn stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad she comes face to face with a killer. As the only witness to a crime, she falls into a deadly situation and is in need of police protection.
Dane Scott has sworn off women. Until a fireball named Aimee enters his world. Telling himself they’re just friends, he vows to protect her. Can his heart follow suit or will she change his mind about love for good?


Book Two in the Men of Honor Series, titled Get To Me was so much fun. Lara Van Hulzen's characters were so much fun to follow around and it was hard to close the book. It all revved up quickly in a fiery fun first chapter. If you can make to the end of page 18 you are hooked. I was.

Get To Me brings out the stories behind Dane and Aimee. Dane is the cop partner to Ben from story one. Aimee is the sister to Tess from story one as well.  However, that's all the connection necessary to book one. From there on Get To Me can stand alone.

The romance is more intense in this story. And a tad spicier too. That may be more due to the personalities in the story. Aimee is a red head full of life. In fact, she is described by Dane as "sunrise mixed with fire". Her spunk leaps off of every page. Dane seemed a cool, levelheaded, take life a step at a time kind of guy in book one. But apparently he isn’t when he has feelings for a woman. And he definitely has strong feelings for Aimee.


Lara Van Hulzen has a talent. I couldn't put my finger on it fully in book one but it was there page after page again in book two. I'm still struggling to put words to it. For book one, Remember Me, I worded it like this:

"The suspense plot of the story takes a bit to get going, but I never felt bored or impatient. There was a lot to sort out between the two characters and the author did a great job of keeping the story entertaining. Once the suspense plot of the story gets into action, the reader is in for a ride." Book Review of Remember Me. 

Get To Me dives head strong into the action thread of the plot by chapter 3. From there on the story is moving along a white water ride to the end. Yet Van Hulzen has a knack for slowing everything down just enough to develop the characters and their inner stories. I think that is a writing gift. Anytime you slow down the plot you risk losing your reader. But she never lost me. Not once!

As the story charges to the end, a new character is introduced. Keith, is Dane's brother. Massive in size and  also in "broodiness", he enters the story and immediately sparks fly between him and Torie, Aimee's roommate and friend. Excellent set up for book 3!

Overall, the story is alive and vibrant with bright, interesting characters. The tension is strong with suspense and romance. Again, as in book one, I felt the ending came abruptly with a quick resolution leaving me feeling a little jolted. However the ending is good; realistic and entertaining. Obviously this is not by mistake and more of the stylistic voice of the author.

I'm looking forward to book three (I think it's titled Rescue Me) to be released later this year I believe. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, check out Lara's website, her goodreads author page and her book! You can get it off her site, or by visiting amazon(.ca), amazon(.com) or Barnes and Noble.

A Great Summer Read!

Thanks to the author for a free copy of her book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review - Shattered by Dani Pettrey

I read the first book in this series (Submerged) and thoroughly enjoyed it,  making my anticipation for book two intense. Dani Pettrey offers the second book in her Alaskan Courage Series with Shattered.

Piper McKenna couldn’t be more thrilled that her prodigal brother, Reef, has returned to Yancey, Alaska, after five years. But her happiness is short-lived when Reef appears at her house covered in blood. A fellow snowboarder has been killed. Despite the evidence, Reef swears he’s innocent. And Piper believes him.

Deputy Landon Grainger loves the McKennas like family, but he’s also sworn to find the truth, and he knows those closest to you have the power to deceive you the most. With the sheriff pushing for a quick conviction, pursuing the truth in this case could mean the end of Landon’s career.

As Piper wages her own search, the two head deep into Canada’s rugged back country–and unexpected complications. Not only does their long friendship seem to be turning into something more, but the search for answers is becoming deadlier with each step.

I was very happy to see the book followed up on the hinted love story from book one between Landon and Piper. Pettrey's characters are lively and realistic. I love Piper's tenacity countered by Landon's sturdiness. They make an intriguing couple, only deepened by the long history they have as friends.

I found the action and suspense inviting and fast moving. The plot moved along covering many different locations and even more pitfalls. Pettrey writes a great romantic suspense!

Overall, the plot and characters are a hit. A good read.