Honor's Refuge (Love and Honor, Book Three)

 

HALLEE BRIDGEMAN

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2022.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program

First line: Missy huddled with three-year-old Lola between the nightstand and the bed, praying her little sister would stay asleep.

(Goodreads synopsis below.)

My thoughts: This third book in the Love and Honor series deviates from the path the first two books took, as the action is all in the US. Phil was the medic for an elite military team, until he was injured in a firefight in an African jungle, which resulted in the amputation of his leg. While he’s learned to navigate life with an artificial limb, he’s still struggling with feelings of loss and not feeling like a whole man. Rather than going back to work as a doctor, Phil is an EMT now. Melissa runs a shelter for victims of domestic abuse. When she has a client who needs medical care but won’t go to a hospital, Melissa calls Phil. A friendship has developed between the two of them, and while Melissa would like more, Phil does not believe he’s worthy of her, that she deserves a “whole” man.

As much as I loved Phil, I did sometimes want to knock some sense into him. How could he not see how Melissa felt, that she didn’t care about his leg? Fortunately, Melissa is patient. As in the first two books, the characterization is so well written. We had already met Phil in the first book, and were along for the ride when he was injured, and I was excited to read this book and learn more about him, and to also get to know his family. And my heart broke for him when his family was faced with a shocking tragedy, that was almost hard to even read about.

Melissa and her sister, Lola, were separated as children after their father killed their mother. As an adult, Melissa has been searching for Lola for a long time. When she tells Phil about Lola, Phil calls on two of his buddies, and the three of them track her down. Melissa’s reunion with Lola was fraught with fear and emotion. Her husband is not a good man, and as the pages flew by I became more and more anxious, knowing that there will be a confrontation, constantly expecting it, and when it finally came my adrenaline was pounding.

While faith and Christianity are a theme throughout the series, this entry explored that a little deeper than the first two books. Phil and Melissa attend the same church, and faith and acceptance play a large part in Phil’s emotional journey. His faith in God’s plan for him, his acceptance of God’s love, and eventually of Melissa’s love. A journey that I profoundly enjoyed taking with him and Melissa. The next book comes out in February, I believe, and I will be eagerly awaiting it.

*I received a free copy of this book via the publisher and have voluntarily reviewed it*

Goodreads Synopsis: When she was just five years old, Melissa Braxton watched her father take her mother's life. Separated from her sister, Lola, at that time, Melissa grew up with a strong desire to help those stuck in abusive relationships. It's why she became a family therapist and opened a domestic abuse shelter.

After losing a leg to a gunshot wound in the line of duty, Phil Osbourne has felt like a man without a purpose--until he hears Melissa's story and decides to use his Special Forces contacts to track down her missing sister. He knows what he discovers will break Melissa's heart. What he doesn't realize is that helping the women reunite will bring the cartel down on them like the Category 5 hurricane striking Miami.

Bruised yet not quite broken, Melissa and Phil battle the storm and the cartel, calling on strength they didn't know they had to escape death, save the innocent, and--just maybe--find healing in each other's arms.