Books & Spoons Review for SAFE AT HAWK'S LANDING by Rita Herron

31/12/2017

She’s sworn to protect her students—he’s sworn to protect her

Charlotte Reacher found her calling teaching art therapy to teens. But when her attempt to stop a kidnapping leaves her wounded and unable to see anything beyond trauma and fear, she’s hesitant to trust the stranger who promises to keep her safe.

FBI agent Lucas Hawk knows Charlotte’s the only witness to the human-trafficking abduction that shook his Texas hometown. Determined to find the victims, he must convince her to work with him—even while resisting his growing desire for her. Every hour is critical for the kidnapped girls. And every breath Charlotte takes could be her last.

Startling first pages to the story pulled me into this riveting, action-filled, emotional story. The plot for this story is well thought out and the premises of the story has so much 'meat' into it, I can't help but wish there would have been a chance to get more into the details, that things didn't have to feel so rushed to come to the conclusion as they at times with the category length novels do.
I really enjoyed the story of FBI agent Lucas Hawk and Charlotte Reacher, the art therapy teacher. The connection between them was palpable, it was natural and true. The feelings bloomed fast, took root, the danger they were in just tighten the bond they shared. I enjoyed the first book in the series and it was delightful that Harrison and Honey had such a prominent part of this story, as well.
Lucas has never entertained the thought of a relationship, yet looking at his brother's happiness has made him yearn for something more in life. Lucas is a good man, smart, kind, considerate, and protective. It takes just one look at Charlotte, and his convictions of bachelorhood start to change.
Charlotte grew up in the system, with a large birthmark on her cheek, giving the kids a reason to torment her. Her skin might be fixed by a surgery, but the wounds deep in her mind still get sore time to time. Especially with the new insecurities of her blindness her need to be independent and not lean on anyone for help is stronger than ever. I thought she took that need a bit too far in a couple of instances, but the uncertainty of her situation warranted some extreme reactions.
The suspense with the human trafficking, with the kidnapped girls, and the ring to hunt young 'merchandise' for sex slaves, really hit hard with the realistic storytelling. With the tangible fear, the urgency of the cases to save the girls as soon as possible while still potential to rescue them, and the knowledge that time was running out on these innocent souls to be saved, I admit, it had an emotional, heartwrenching effect on me, having me in tears and biting my nails, as the story unfolds.
With horrifying, gory crime ring on the lose, the Hawk brothers have a time sensitive case on their hands, with leads that no one wants to believe to be true. Gripping and enthralling suspense with the sweetest, tender romance on the side make a great addition to Hawk brothers series, entertaining and touching story at the same time
~ Four Spoons

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. Although she wanted to be a writer then and actually scrawled her first novel at age twelve, she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a kindergarten teacher instead. Ten years ago, she traded her classroom storytelling and puppets for a computer and now writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.
Having sold over fifty books to date, she enjoys spinning spine-tingling romantic suspense tales filled with murder, mayhem, and spicy romance as well as sexy romantic comedies. Rita Herron currently writes romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and she’s writing dark, gritty romantic suspense thrillers for Amazon Montlake.