Review of The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren

About the Book ~

Jake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too. Now he can't get her out of his head, and when he hears she is in the path of a hurricane down in Key West he can't help but jump on a plane to rescue her.

Aria has dedicated her life to helping children born with defective hearts. After all, she was one of those children. Now driven to succeed, she lives a lonely, stressful life. One she would have lost on Denali if it hadn't been for Jake. Jake is exciting and handsome, but he's also dangerous, and she's already lost one person she loves. She can't bear it again.

It's not until she finds herself trapped in the middle of a category 4 hurricane that she can admit she needs Jake desperately. With their very survival in the balance, can they hope for a second chance at life . . . and love?

For more information about Susan May Warren and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Find a place to huddle down while reading The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren because you will be swept away by this epic story! The Heart of a Hero features Jake and Aria -- who readers got to know a little through an excellent setup in The Way of the Brave -- as they fight against their hearts, their false narratives, and the brute strength of a hurricane! Like...why aren't you reading this book right now?

The hurricane angle in The Heart of a Hero hooked me right away! This had such a disaster movie vibe -- with an incredible faith angle, but more on that in a moment! Between the ragtag crew, the danger from the storm itself, and the danger the storm unleashed (no spoilers!), each new development had my eyes rushing to keep up with the flipping pages. And my little scaredy-cat self is thankful I got to experience these terrifying ordeals from the safety of my cozy nook!

As the title suggests, Jake and Aria struggled with their hero hearts. Jake believed himself to be more villain than hero; Aria believed her life to be a mistake, causing her to fear actually living life. And God's heart leapt from the pages as Jake and Aria grappled with surrendering their hearts to Him. This story is for anyone who has ever believed they must be worthy of forgiveness through the qualifying lens of a debt that can never be repaid while an internal shame megaphone reminds them of this over and over again. This story is for everyone because it proclaims these freeing truths: we are forgiven, washed clean, and loved.

Four Stars ~ The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren is thrilling, healing, and not to be missed! The Heart of a Hero is the second book in the author's Global Search and Rescue Series. This could be read as a standalone; however, the backstory and an on-going mystery will be more easily understood if the series is read in order.

Possible triggers ~ Death, traumatic situations, physical attacks.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren

About the Book ~

Haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong, former pararescue jumper Orion Starr has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team. But he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali in Alaska.

Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from her guilt. The former CIA profiler and psychiatrist green-lighted an operation against the Taliban that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she'll be forced to trust her life to the most dangerous of heroes -- the man she nearly killed.

Orion and Jenny will have to put their wounds behind them to save their friends...and their hearts.

For more information about Susan May Warren and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

I recommend reading The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren while buried under a mountain of blankets. You'll still be cold, but you can remind yourself that you're not lost in an avalanche of ice and snow as you burrow deeper into the blankets, LOL!

As a mountain girl, I enjoyed the snowy nature of The Way of the Brave! However, I know nothing about climbing an icy mountain prone to avalanches, so there was a lot of technical information to learn. The author definitely did a lot of research for The Way of the Brave, and the action picked up pretty quickly. I absolutely LOVE a good Man VS Nature story, and the author nailed this! The captivating intensity was everything I hoped to find in such a storyline. Additionally, there's intriguing and emotionally-tugging setup for future books in the series -- something the author also does really well!

Orion and Jenny's relationship was forged in the fires of shared hardships! Their backstory -- though brief -- gave them a strong connection. A connection they both held on to when their worlds were shattered. I enjoyed seeing how that connection deepened when they reconnected -- through even more hardships! I also enjoyed the setup for Jake and Aria's story and getting a glimpse of who they are now.

The hero quality of this series is evident. Like seriously, look at that swoony cover, and have you read the title??? But what makes a hero? Is it a man who never needs help? Is it a woman who has never made mistakes? These questions make up some of the spiritual themes of Orion and Jenny's story as their separately (and together), confront their fears, break free from the past, and bravely give God the broken pieces of their hearts. And the way God's love and grace leaps from the pages might result in a soggy book!

Four Stars ~ The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren is an exciting story with an important message! This is the first book in the author's new Global Search and Rescue Series from Revell. I'm looking forward to the next book, The Heart of a Hero!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!