Book Review: Creed by Susan May Warren

About the Book:

He’s a criminal—who must become a prince to save the princess he loves. But will she have to become a criminal to save him?

In the heart-pounding conclusion to the epic Minnesota Marshalls series, Princess Imani finds herself once again in peril as she becomes the target of a deadly plot. She needs Creed – only problem is, he’s facing charges in Lauchtenland. But he’s not going to let that stop him from protecting her…even if he has to become a fugitive. But who is trying to kill her? Together, they race against time to unravel a web of deceit and conspiracy that seems to entrap the entire family. As their journey takes them from the palace to the high mountains, and finally back to Minnesota, Imani and Creed must discover the truth before tragedy destroys everything—and everyone—they love.

Read the thrilling finale of the Minnesota Marshalls series, where the fate of a family and destiny of a kingdom hang in the balance.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3rtCF0m

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My Thoughts:

Creed by Susan May Warren concludes The Minnesota Marshalls series. I recommend reading the novels in order as the Marshall siblings are plentiful. It takes time to know the siblings and their significant others, all of which are present in Creed.

Like the other installments in The Minnesota Marshalls, Creed had plenty of danger and suspense. The story held my attention throughout, and I enjoyed revisiting this loud, heroic, larger-than-life family. Creed gained my admiration with his resilience and desire to overcome. He had physical impairment, relational obstacles, and a heartbreaking past, but he grasped his future and protected his loved ones. However, underlying this fortitude, a spiritual thread in the story addressed human frailty and the need for one’s hope and spiritual strength to come from God. Overall, the suspense, romance, and spiritual themes were well-balanced.

Although I liked many aspects of Creed, the ending displeased me. After reading five books, I was ready for closure and the author left several situations open-ended. I understand she is likely setting up for another series, but it was a huge disappointment to me. I would have given this book four stars, but due to the open ending and lack of satisfaction, it only gets three.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: Ned by Susan May Warren

About the Book:

After four years of training to become a Navy SEAL, Ned Marshall is finally ready to marry the woman of his dreams, Shae Johnson. And Shae’s been uber patient, waiting, building a life as a free-lance graphic artist, moving around the globe to be with him. So, when she said yes to his proposal in Geneva, he fully expected to live happily-ever-after.

At the very least, he expected her to be waiting at the hotel for him three days after an emergency call-out. And maybe it was unreasonable to expect her to be sitting in the hotel, working on her watercolors—Shae, after all grew up in Montana, and she has adventure in her blood. So of course she’s going to go climb the beautiful Swiss mountains. Even make a friend.

But Ned isn’t thrilled with her new friend, and something about him doesn’t feel safe…

So she’s made some friends while waiting for Ned to return? Shae can’t believe that after years of sacrifice, Ned is actually angry at her—what did he expect, that she’d sit by the window? Dana and his friends are harmless, right?

Not so much. Because when Shae finds herself kidnapped, and brought to Russia, she fears the worst—she’s been swept up in a human trafficking ring. And when she’s sent to, of all places, Siberia how will Ned ever find her?

But Ned isn’t going to lose her—not after everything they’ve been through, and he’ll stop at nothing to rescue her. But when he discovers the real reason she’s been taken, he will have to become a traitor to his country if he wants her back.

Join the epic race to rescue Shae in the high-adrenaline book three in the Minnesota Marshalls series.

Amazon Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/45updZq

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My Thoughts:

An intense story from start to finish, Ned by Susan May Warren kept me flipping pages as Ned desperately searched for his fiancé, Shae, while Shae tried to stay alive after being kidnapped. I struggled to like Ned for a substantial portion of the novel as Ned was obsessed and angry from the start (rightfully so considering the circumstances). However, the plot twists and suspense held my attention throughout the book. Could anyone possibly survive everything that Ned did? I am not sure, but between the romantic suspense and the spiritual themes, I enjoyed reading Ned.

Every so often in Ned, Susan May Warren dropped fabulous quotes filled with spiritual insights. The statements felt natural with the flow of the story. Some were so impactful, I had to stop reading and take a minute to let them sink in. While the characters may have learned these truths a bit too easily (character development was limited), the spiritual insights were my favorite aspect of Ned.

Ned lands as book three in The Minnesota Marshalls series. It is essential to read these stories in order as Fraser, the protagonist of book one, played a supportive, but substantial role in this book. Ned also included characters from novels prior to this series (some I had read, some I had not) and trying to keep everyone’s story straight felt overwhelming. Ned is not my favorite book in this series, but I enjoyed it and I am anticipating book four, Iris. 3.5 Stars for Ned by Susan May Warren.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: Jonas by Susan May Warren

About the Book:

Jonas Marshall is done storm-chasing, plagued with the memory of a terrible accident that paralyzed a fellow chaser, so the last thing he’s going to do is run into more danger. Now, he’s just a simple weatherman deploying dirigibles in an experiment to track weather patterns in Slovenia.

As far from danger as he can get.

But danger comes knocking in the form of hiker in need of rescue, and he can’t deny that her companion—beautiful Sibba Kovac—is a great distraction from the guilt that haunts him…until she paraglides right out of his life.

Probably for the best.

But danger still won’t leave him alone when a storm knocks his dirigibles out of the sky, and he happens upon one that looks tampered with…

It is. And worse, it’s carrying what could be radioactive waste. At least according to EOD expert Sibba…who finds herself face-to-face with the rescuer she can’t forget. But she’s not looking for him—her grandfather is missing, and she’ll stop at nothing to find him.

When her missing grandfather leads to the threat of a dirty bomb, she’s the only one who can stop it. And Jonas is the only man brave enough to run into danger with her. But she doesn’t have room in her heart to love him—not when she lives with death in her periphery. Can the right man, at the right time help her see beyond her fears to a future?

And if they have a chance to save the world, can Jonas let go of the woman he loves?

The thrilling second book in the epic romantic suspense of the Minnesota Marshalls!

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My Thoughts:

Jonas brought all the danger, suspense, and romance that I expect in Susan May Warren’s novels. The story clipped along at a fast pace, and it was hard to put the book down. I liked Jonas and Sibba together as a couple, partially because they worked so well as a team. Their relationship was fertile ground for the spiritual themes of the story. Warren drove home the idea of finding God in the storm, but also integrated other ideas about forgiveness, choosing to live despite war/danger, and God reaching into the darkness.

Jonas lands as book two in The Minnesota Marshall’s series by Susan May Warren. The Marshall family is a bit larger-than-life, but I like them, especially when they are all together and the family dynamics start playing out. I recommend reading this series sequentially to get to know all the Marshall children. Of the two books available in the series, Jonas is my favorite, but I can’t wait to read Ned’s story in book three! 4.5 Stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: Fraser by Susan May Warren

About the Book:

Fraser Marshall is pretty sure his career as a Spec Ops fighter is over. Yes, he’s gone into private security, working for Jones, Inc, but his last gig ended with him wounded and taken captive. And those wounds just won’t heal. The last thing he wants to do is stick around his family’s winery pressing grapes. But what choices does he have?

The answer comes via a panicked phone call from his kid brother, Creed.

Help, Fraser. I’m in over my head…

Yeah he is, because he’s run away with a princess, with her bodyguard hot on the trail. And said bodyguard, Pippa Butler is going to hunt them down, no matter the cost.

Even if she has to join forces with a bossy, arrogant former American SEAL. But Pippa has her own set of lethal skills, and if Fraser gets in the way, she’ll leave him on the side of the road. Still, maybe he’s not a terrible side-kick. He is handsome, and he makes her laugh…

No, no, bad Pippa! She has no room for a man—an American—in her life. And Fraser hasn’t ever considered slowing down. Even if Pippa has him wondering if there is a different future ahead.

But there’s more to the story than a Romeo-and-Juliet runaway romance. Princess Imani has seen a murder, and the perpetrator isn’t going to let her get away. Will Fraser and Pippa find the couple first?

And if they do, can they work together to keep them safe?

It’ll be tough if their hearts get in the way…

Dive into book one of the epic, romantic, globe-trotting suspense of the Minnesota Marshalls!

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My Thoughts:

Fraser by Susan May Warren offers an intense story of adventure, danger, and romance. I enjoyed Fraser and Pippa’s growing relationship as they traversed Switzerland and Italy in pursuit of Creed and Imani. Fraser and Pippa are well-matched in skills and personality. The danger accelerated their relationship a bit, but the occasional banter and romantic kisses felt perfectly timed. Between the suspense and romance, it was hard to put this novel down.

Fraser by Susan May Warren kickstarts The Minnesota Marshalls series. The novel borrows from Susan May Warren’s previous series and Rachel Hauck’s House of Blue series. It is not necessary to read the other books as Fraser works as a standalone. I found the ending satisfactory, but several situations were open-ended as this book leads directly into book two, Jonas. I’m eager to read the rest of the series. Four stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Spotlight: Fraser by Susan May Warren

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Fraser by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Fraser 

Series: The Minnesota Marshalls #1 

Author: Susan May Warren 

Publisher: SDG Publishing 

Release Date: February 14, 2023 

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Fraser Marshall is pretty sure his career as a Spec Ops fighter is over. Yes, he’s gone into private security, working for Jones, Inc, but his last gig ended with him wounded and taken captive. And those wounds just won’t heal. The last thing he wants to do is stick around his family’s winery pressing grapes. But what choices does he have?

The answer comes via a panicked phone call from his kid brother, Creed. 

Help, Fraser. I’m in over my head… 

Yeah he is, because he’s run away with a princess, with her bodyguard hot on the trail. And said bodyguard, Pippa Butler is going to hunt them down, no matter the cost. 

Even if she has to join forces with a bossy, arrogant former American SEAL. But Pippa has her own set of lethal skills, and if Fraser gets in the way, she’ll leave him on the side of the road. Still, maybe he’s not a terrible side-kick. He is handsome, and he makes her laugh… 

No, no, bad Pippa! She has no room for a man—an American—in her life. And Fraser hasn’t ever considered slowing down. Even if Pippa has him wondering if there is a different future ahead. 

But there’s more to the story than a Romeo-and-Juliet runaway romance. Princess Imani has seen a murder, and the perpetrator isn’t going to let her get away. Will Fraser and Pippa find the couple first? 

And if they do, can they work together to keep them safe? 

It’ll be tough if their hearts get in the way…

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | IndieBound | BookBub

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Also Available

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Excerpt

The GPS wouldn’t tell her what level the room was on, but she’d start here, work her way up. She followed it down the hall…

Stopped in front of a door, her heart thumping hard.

It was open. Partially, at least. She hadn’t brought her handy little Glock 26, thinking that she probably wouldn’t shoot Creed, despite what she found.

But she did have a taser, and this she pulled out, flicked off the safety.

Eased open the door.

The man stood with his back to her, wearing a jean jacket, a pair of cargo pants, boots. Short hair, although not quite military short, and just from the wide set of his shoulders, his lean torso, the stance of his legs, he looked like he could handle himself.

Clearly not the boy from the bar.

He must have heard the door opening, because he turned, hard. Stared at her.

Blue eyes. Painfully, impossibly blue—so blue they stopped her cold.

And then she spotted what dangled from his hand.

Imani’s necklace. The tracker.

“Who are you?” She raised the taser.

She had the sense of a tiger, his eyes darkening, crouching, ready to pounce.

“Who are you?” he said, his voice quiet.

She pointed to the necklace. “That doesn’t belong to you.”

“Who does it belong to?” He lifted it, and it dangled from his fingers.

Only then did the disarray of the room sink in—a lamp shattered on the floor, the bed mussed, pillows on the floor, and was that a bloody hand on the doorframe to the balcony?

“Where is she?”

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About the Author

With nearly 2 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA, and Carol award-winning author of over ninety novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill, and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com, and Christmas novellas. With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. She’s a three-time RITA finalist and an eight-time Christy finalist.

Connect with Susan by visiting susanmaywarren.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Fraser and $10 Susan May Warren Store gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 21, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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