Lights Out (The SNAP Agency, Book 1)

 

NATALIE WALTERS

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2021.

How acquired: Revell Reads

(For Goodreads synopsis, scroll down.)

My thoughts: I’ve only read two of Natalie Walter’s books, the first and second book in her Harbored Secrets series, and loved both of them, so I was excited to get this first book in her new The SNAP Agency series. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with it. The author’s writing is wonderful, as always, and I loved the scenes where it was just Brynn and Jack interacting, or when they were apart and being angsty about each other. But the international terrorist/cyber terrorist plot just did not appeal to me, and I had trouble staying interested in it. The characters are all richly drawn, and the action is non-stop. I’m not sure if I’ll want to read the next book, but I do still want to read the rest of the Harbored Secrets series, and whatever I can find from the author’s backlist.

Synopsis from Goodreads: CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.

Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.

Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.

Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world--and their hearts--hangs in the balance.

Deadly Deceit (Harbored Secrets, Book Two)

NATALIE WALTERS

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2019.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

First line: In the face of small-town news, all creativity left Vivian DeMarco.

My thoughts: I loved the first book in this series so much, I was very excited to get this second book, and I think I may love it even more. Though if I went back and read the first book again, I might love it more. Maybe. I love both of them! And such beautiful covers!

We met Vivian, a hard hitting investigative journalist, in the first book. I don't remember her being the most likable person in that book, but at the end she showed she was a decent person by killing a story that could have hurt Lane, the heroine. Now we learn that that decision cost Vivian her job, and she is back in Walton, working for the local paper. She's not thrilled to be there, but it's just a stepping stone to a job at a larger paper down the road. We also met Deputy Ryan Frost in the first book. A computer hacker genius, he's being headhunted by practically every agency out there – FBI, CIA, along with private security firms. But he's finding it hard to make a decision when it means leaving Walton – and his mother and sister, who he's taken care of ever since his father abandoned their family.

The mystery was very interesting and quite different than I've come across before, involving cyber crimes, blackmail, and murder. Vivian's boss, Harold, who had become a friend and mentor, dies in the first chapter, seemingly from an allergic reaction but later determined to be murder. With his last words he tells Vivian to find Lauren, and that becomes her mission. She doesn't know who Lauren is or what Harold's interest in Lauren is, but she is determined to track her down, and to figure out who killed Harold, as are Ryan and the rest of the police force, and of course they bump heads.

Vivian and Ryan are both wonderfully written characters, both of whom come with a lot of baggage. There's a lot of internalizing, which I love. Ryan is being pulled in different directions, and feels that if he takes a job somewhere else he will be abandoning his mom and sister, just like his dad did. Vivian has her own father/abandonment issues, and feels unworthy of, well, anything that can bring happiness. She's resisted putting down roots, resisted the friendships offered her in Walton, and resists the idea of falling in love with Ryan. It was quite heart warming to watch them each grow as their values change (or at least Vivian's do), and even though the story takes place over a relatively short period of time there was nothing rushed about their relationship and the way it progressed.

I love Ms. Walter's writing, and as with the first book I was completely drawn in from the first few pages and very invested in the outcome. This book can be read as a standalone but I would urge readers to not skip the first book. And I will be eagerly awaiting the next book!

Goodreads synopsis: Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason -- to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian's only hope for finding the truth -- and the next big story -- is small-town law enforcement's lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called the Watcher force Vivian to fight for answers -- and her life.

Living Lies (Harbored Secrets, Book 1)

NATALIE WALTERS

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2019.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blog Tour Program, for review.

First line: Just let go.

My thoughts: Where do I start? I was sucked into this book from the first couple of pages. When Lane is standing on the edge of a dilapidated bridge, contemplating letting go. And Charlie, the new deputy in town, happens to come along. Not your typical meet cute!

Lane is not your typical romantic suspense book heroine either. Oh, she has lots of the qualities. Widowed, single mom, young son, doesn't date, runs a cafe in a small town. Not looking for a relationship, though for very different reasons than your average heroine. Typical qualities, but there is absolutely nothing cliché about her. Or about Charlie, who is closer to being a typical hero, but fleshed out very well. I was quite enamored of him almost immediately, and I was glad the book went back and forth between their POVs so we got inside his head and really got to know him.

Lane has secrets. No spoiler, since it's right there on the back cover copy, “dangerously depressed after the death of her husband”. Another character, a veteran, suffers from pretty severe PTSD. And Charlie is also a veteran, having recently returned to civilian life, so he's got a few issues of his own. I felt the author handled all of it beautifully, especially Charlie's reaction when he learns about Lane's depression.

Lane's little boy is adorable but not cloying, and I loved some of the scenes with her sister and seeing them become closer. Her parents were a bit misguided and career/society focused. I half expected Charlie to pull a nobody-puts-baby-in-a-corner at some point. But all's well that ends well.

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, though from what I read about the author she did already have a lot of writing experience. She's definitely good at it, and I can't wait for Deputy Frost's book to come out!

Goodreads synopsis: In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

Debut novelist Natalie Walters pulls you to the edge of your seat on the first page and keeps you there until the last in this riveting story that will have you believing no one is defined by their past.