ARC Review–Honor Reclaimed (HORNET #2) by Tonya Burrows

Expected publication: May 27th 2014 by Entangled: Select



Former Marine sniper Seth Harlan is determined to prove that he can still do his job despite his ongoing battle with PTSD. When an old friend contacts HORNET to rescue a black ops soldier, Seth's stability is strained. He knows all too well what it's like to rot inside an enemy camp, praying for rescue and waiting for death. And he's not about to leave a man behind.

Photojournalist Phoebe Leighton just stumbled into the middle of an arms deal. Teaming up with a ragtag team of mercenaries is the last thing she wants to do--especially when she realizes Seth Harlan is assigned to the mission. He may ignite a passion in her she thought long dead, but Phoebe's hiding a secret that could destroy him.

With a bomb in the mix, HORNET's mission is suddenly about a lot more than an abandoned soldier. Racing against the clock, Seth, Phoebe, and the rest of the team struggle to stop a ruthless warlord bent on power, revenge...and death.

What an EMOTIONAL read! Bless Seth's little PTSD having soul, he just broke my heart. Being from a military and UBER patriotic family, I revere our soldiers, ex, current and future. So to see one in such turmoil, even if it is fiction, really works my emotions. I NEED for it to be fixed. Tonya Burrows takes care of her characters. Even though they go through hell and back, she gives them the peace and love that they have so rightly earned. (Can you tell I'm feeling Memorial Day?)

I will admit at first, I had some BIG TIME issues with Phoebe. No spoilers, but if Seth had left her butt to the bad guys at first, I couldn't have blamed him. She does redeem herself admirably and turns out to be just what Seth needs to help fight his demons, and even earns the respect of some of Seth's more buttholey Hornet teammates. She has patience and empathy for Seth and atones for her mistakes in her past treatment of Seth.

I also really appreciate the fact that a large part of the story focuses on the mistreatment of women by some radical men in Islamic nations, not all, and not even the majority, nor is this problem isolated among Muslims. Human trafficking, forced childhood marriages, all types of physical abuse is rampant and Honor Reclaimed puts a light on a tiny part of that epidemic. This was a valiant book, both in content and characters.

Honor Reclaimed, lest we forget, is also a very sexay romance. The heat between Seth and Phoebe is incendiary, and luckily also part of Seth's, shall we say, therapy. Not only does Seth reclaim his honor and life, he finds a home and acceptance. I am definitely on board for the rest of this series and anything else Tonya Burrows sees fit to publish. I was extremely impressed, entertained and touched. Job well done, Ms. Burrows, brava.






Amazon/B&N/Kobo/ARe/Entangled publishing

 
Writing has always been my one true love. I knew since I was 6 years old that I wanted to be an author, but didn't finish my first novel until 8th grade. It was an epic sci-fi/fantasy/mystery/romance mash-up and writing The End was one of the proudest moments of my young life.

I share my life with my fur-babies: two dogs, Ella and Otto, and a ginormous cat named Nabisco. (Yes, like the cookie company. What? I told you I like my sweets, didn't I? No? Well, now you know. Hi, I'm Tonya and I'm a junk food junkie.)

 
 

Website/Facebook/Twitter/Goodreads