Grace Under Fire
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4.3 • 854 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Michael Buchanan will need every bit of his extensive skill set when he appoints himself as bodyguard to a woman determined not to need one in this thrilling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood.
Grace Isabel MacKenna has a hundred things to do today. Killing someone isn't one of them. It is supposed to be a quick visit to Boston for the Buchanan anniversary party, then on to Scotland to collect an inheritance. She checks into her hotel and then decides to go for a brisk walk. But after getting lost, she ends up with a wounded man stumbling into her arms—and his shooter coming after them both. When she fires back in self-defense, she doesn’t expect him to drop dead. After Isabel endures an interrogation by police, she is free to go, thanks to the Buchanans dispatching former Navy SEAL and now lawyer Michael Buchanan to assist her.
Isabel knows she should be grateful for Michael’s help, but since she’s harbored an extreme dislike for him for years, gratitude is difficult to muster. Michael has appointed himself her de facto guardian, and she’s stuck with him despite their constant bickering and sizzling attraction. Even when Isabel goes to Scotland to claim her inheritance, Michael follows her—but he isn’t the only thing she can’t shake. Mysterious threats against Isabel surface, and before they can deal with their growing feelings for each other, Michael and Isabel must first survive.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Garwood (Wired) entices with this high-intensity romantic suspense novel. Recent college graduate Grace MacKenna is in Boston to celebrate her sister's husband's parents' anniversary when she stumbles into an active crime scene. While walking from her hotel, a shooting victim running from his assailant collapses into her. His would-be killer quickly follows, and, though traumatized, Isabel manages to grab the victim's gun and shoot the attacker before he can do any more damage. Michael Buchanan, a Navy SEAL turned attorney and Grace's least favorite of her sister's husband's brothers, meets her at the police station, quickly appoints himself as her lawyer and bodyguard, and helps her field questions from cops. Michael even follows Isabella on a trip to Scotland the following week to claim the land she inherited from a great uncle, determined to protect her and worried that her involvement in the shooting may not have been an accident. Indeed, Michael and his FBI agent brothers soon discover that there's a price on Isabel's head. As Isabel and Michael work together to untangle this mystery, the simmering attraction between them only grows. Garwood delivers plenty of twists to keep the suspense brewing and a subplot about Grace's potential music career adds color. Readers will be hooked.
Customer Reviews
Very enjoyable read
ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review Grace Under Fire.
Julie Garwood is my all time favorite author, especially her Historical's. I enjoy her contemporary romances but in all honesty her best work are her Historical's, which I really miss.
This was part romance, part suspense/mystery combined. This was a good contemporary romance. But I was left with wanting a little more in the romance department.
Isabel has graduated college and is at a crossroads in her life on what direction she wants to go. She has always loved music, writing and some singing. But she made a promise to her mom before she died that she would put that all on hold and get a degree. Her mother felt that her love for music wouldn't really provide for her future, so Isabel honored her Mom's wishes.
Isabel had also just inherited an estate in Scotland from an Uncle that came with some stipulations for inheriting the place. The Uncle wasn't endeared to the family and Isabel was considering giving the estate sale to charity. She was planning on taking a trip to visit Scotland with her sister.
Isabel was also going to attend a family party before her trip. Her sister's in-law's family, who she loves, were planning an anniversary party for their parents and Isabel was invited. She was looking forward to seeing everyone, but not one in particular individual, Michael Buchanan. They're relationship was tenuous. They were paired off in the bridal party for her sister's wedding to Michael's brother. And let's just say that there was definitely some tension between the two, I call it what it was and say attraction and sexual tension. Neither "liked" the other and they didn't really get along that well. But they definitely left a lasting impression on each other. So all that to say Isabel wasn't looking forward to seeing HIM again.
Isabel heads to Boston and check's in a hotel to rest before the party. She takes a long walk as she has a lot on her mind about her future and music. She has decided she is going to pursue her love of music and her main focus will be writing songs. On her long walk on a particular trail Isabel witnesses a attempted murder as well as assisting that hurt individual. That is really the premises of the mystery suspense part of the story. And this is the beginning of Michael and Isabel's reacquaintance. Michael was in the military, navy seal, and is now a lawyer. So he was alerted about Isabel's situation and decided to come assist her.
This is the beginning of their journey to HEA. Both in the past were attracted to each other but Micheal at the time was aware of the season that both were in. Especially Isabel who was in college and felt she wasn't really ready or able to have a relationship. And Michael wasn't sure if he was either. So now that the two reconnect we see the struggle each has with their attraction and the progress and evolution of their love for each other. Michael was more hesitant and cautious while Isabel was more open to them being together.
I loved these two together, they were opposites and so complimented each other. Micheal was my ultimate idea of a hero and Isabel was my absolute favorite type of heroine. Michael was alpha, smart, protective and stubborn. Isabel was smart, sweet, kind, quirky and fun.
Side note here, Isabel has talent. She can sing, write songs/music and is beautiful. So part of the story is her journey to becoming famous. And Michael is now in the process of a career change of joining the FBI. So each is also going through new career and life changes too. So cute takes to the story is Isabel's driving, which is adds some fun and cute moments to the story. And the family dynamic's is absolutely my favorite moments in the book. The brothers interaction and the sister's moments together are absolute gold in my humble opinion.
I really loved these two together, but I do have some point that I found disappointing. And I'll address here. The first is the beginning of the story didn't flow smoothly. It was choppy and a little hard to follow, especially the scene with the attempted murder, that was the most disoriented of all. My other issue and this is something that makes me a little sad is the depth of the writing for Isabel and Michael love story. I felt it could have been much more in-depth with more heart and emotion written into it. Part of me understands that she threw a mystery/suspense portion into the story but I think it took away from and distracted from their love story. It could have been given more depth and emotion and this would have been a major winner. I have to say it again but I miss her historical romances as JG has such a gifting on writing beautiful, rich love stories. But hence I digress. The last portion of the story with the solving of the mystery of who's trying to kill Isabel was also murk and jumbled, very difficult to follow.
Age:
H-28
h-23
But all in all this was an nice and enjoyable read and would definitely recommend.
Never a dull moment
I throughly enjoyed this book. Lots of action and romance.
Another extraordinary read
Julie Garwood never disappoints! Following this family through the years has brought so much joy. This is one book/story you won’t want to put down!