Title: Her Survivor
Series: Black Eagle Ops #1
Author: Vonnie Davis
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Military Romance
Published: July 19, 2016
Publisher: Loveswept
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:
Navy SEAL Dustin Frank can handle physical pain; it’s his soul that needs mending. After losing part of his leg in an explosion, the panic triggered by his PTSD nearly drives him over the edge. So Dustin retreats to the Eagle Ridge Ranch, a charming hideaway tucked into the Hill Country of Texas. There he finds solace in the arms of a shy beauty who reawakens desires he thought he’d lost forever—and who makes him want to lose control, just when he needs it most.
Kelcee Todd sees beyond Dustin’s scars to the real man beneath: fiercely protective, strong yet tender. She wants nothing more than to feel his battle-hardened hands on her body. However, Kelcee is not the ordinary small-town girl she appears to be. Her brother is a killer with ties to the Russian mob, and after her testimony put him in prison, he’s out and eager for revenge. Now Dustin is her best defense, even if it could cost him everything. Kelcee could never ask him to make that sacrifice . . . but she can’t stop him, either.
Read on for my thoughts on Her Survivor. No true spoilers, promise.
It takes just the right touch when an author is weaving life changing injuries into a series that centers around returning war veterans, their struggles and success, the loves that they will meet and the new direction that their lives can turn now. Vonnie Davis has done that and more with a compassionate voice that understands the pain but also holds out hope for a future, perhaps a different one than these men had planned but still a future to face head on.
Welcome to Wounded Warrior Falls, Texas. A small town and a large ranch, The Eagle Ridge Ranch, where the often thought mystic healing abilities of this area are the strongest. ZQ, the former commander of our brave men has set up his ranch as a retreat for his men, to heal and perhaps more – only time, and their abilities will tell for that readiness part of his plans. For now they need to heal, and there is no place on earth better. And if a bit of matchmaking finds its way into the equation, all the better to ZQ’s mind.
**One thing to be aware of in this story, our hero is dealing with PTSD, it’s triggers, flashbacks and descriptions of those events are vivid and lifelike. Just be aware of the subject matter that is a major part of this story, and should that be a trigger for you personally, then you aren’t going into the story blind.**
Kelcee and Dustin get off on the wrong foot at first. Unfortunately, Dustin has a serious case of foot-in-mouth disease that takes a little bit of time to cure himself of – but eventually he gets his act together. The attraction is pretty obvious between them from the start, and it seems the matchmaking is going well… but there are always bumps in any relationship, and Kelcee and Dustin are no exception.
Kelcee is a strong woman who has dealt with her own demons. She has her secrets, and they could be deadly. Dustin will try to shield her from the realities of his injuries, but the no nonsense Kelcee won’t put up with that. She’s either in this relationship for the long haul, for everything – or nothing, his choice.
Her Survivor is one of those stories with a lot going on in it. I didn’t find it overwhelming at all, in fact it made perfect sense, but there are layers being built for the rest of the series. The secondary characters are lively, interesting and full of their own to be told tales. Overall, I enjoyed this one very much and am looking forward to the rest of the series. There is an underlying thread to follow, and the next hero to find his match – so well worth the wait, in my opinion.
If you enjoy your Romance more on the realistic side with a bit of suspense tossed in, then you would enjoy Her Survivor. I’d recommend it and believe the series is going to be just as intense and captivating as this first story is. Indulge and enjoy.
*I received an e-ARC of Her Survivor from the publisher, Random House Publishing – Loveswept and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
Available for the Kindle
Thank you for taking the time to read and review HER SURVIVOR, book one of my series. I’m doing copy edits this weekend of book two and cringing at some of my dumb mistakes. This series is an emotional one for me to write. My grandson served in Afghanistan, was injured, and is battling his own PTSD demons. As I write these books, he keeps telling me, “Keep it real, Grandma.”
Hi Vonnie,
You’re welcome. It is very obvious that you are keeping your grandson’s directions in mind as Her Survivor was indeed “real”. It’s never easy to truly convey in typed words just how a book affects one – words are, after all, left up to the interpretation of the reader… but your words touched me, made not only the characters very real, but the difficulties of our returning vets as well. No one can “understand” without going through it, but we can certainly feel empathy and respect for the sacrifices made.
I am looking forward to the next story, I’m certain it will evoke just as many emotions as the first. Thank you for stopping by and commenting, it’s appreciated.