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Lost Guardians #1
Bright Light Dark Thunder
Walker
I was a soldier. A terrible weapon forged in secret.
Now I'm a ghost.
I've exiled myself to a remote cabin in Montana, where I intend to live out the rest of my days, buried as deep as my secrets.
Until I run into a stunning woman in a prison uniform. Or rather she ran into me, a weapon in her hand and secrets of her own chasing her. Naomi Barrett is beautiful, smart, capable and in a whole lot of trouble.
I should leave well enough alone. But when I realize how much danger she’s truly in and that I’m the only man who can save her, I don’t have a choice. Some battles choose you. And when my past threatens her as well, I’m forced to become the soldier I swore I never would be again.
On the run, I’m fighting a losing battle against my own heart as I fall for the girl with pale blue eyes.
I’d burn down the world to keep her safe. Even if it costs me what’s left of my soul.
I was trained to be the perfect soldier. But I never expected to find someone worth fighting for.
Bright Light Dark Thunder is a pulse-pounding military romantic suspense adventure filled with passion, spice, and a hard-won HEA.
I was a soldier. A terrible weapon forged in secret.
Now I'm a ghost.
I've exiled myself to a remote cabin in Montana, where I intend to live out the rest of my days, buried as deep as my secrets.
Until I run into a stunning woman in a prison uniform. Or rather she ran into me, a weapon in her hand and secrets of her own chasing her. Naomi Barrett is beautiful, smart, capable and in a whole lot of trouble.
I should leave well enough alone. But when I realize how much danger she’s truly in and that I’m the only man who can save her, I don’t have a choice. Some battles choose you. And when my past threatens her as well, I’m forced to become the soldier I swore I never would be again.
On the run, I’m fighting a losing battle against my own heart as I fall for the girl with pale blue eyes.
I’d burn down the world to keep her safe. Even if it costs me what’s left of my soul.
I was trained to be the perfect soldier. But I never expected to find someone worth fighting for.
Bright Light Dark Thunder is a pulse-pounding military romantic suspense adventure filled with passion, spice, and a hard-won HEA.
268 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
February 13, 2026
ALC. 5 stars for story and performance!!
Connor gave us a cinematic, fast paced story that I couldn’t not put down. Enjoyed every minute!
If you love books by AL Jackson, Catherine Cowles, SM West, Susan Stoker, or Riley Edwards- you’ll enjoy this one.
*Ex military hero with secrets
*FMC on the run
*Protector
*Age Gap
*Touch Her and Die
*Action/Suspense
Connor gave us a cinematic, fast paced story that I couldn’t not put down. Enjoyed every minute!
If you love books by AL Jackson, Catherine Cowles, SM West, Susan Stoker, or Riley Edwards- you’ll enjoy this one.
*Ex military hero with secrets
*FMC on the run
*Protector
*Age Gap
*Touch Her and Die
*Action/Suspense
Did Not Finish
December 18, 2025A male-written romance?! A romantic suspense—my new favorite sub-genre—with military themes?! And written and narrated by one of the all-time best male romance narrators?!
YES. YES. YES. Sign me up immediately—I need this the second it drops!!
YES. YES. YES. Sign me up immediately—I need this the second it drops!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
#Review: *Bright Light Dark Thunder* - Connor Crais - ARC [18+]
4.9/5✨
3/5🌶️
He was an ex military from special forces. She was running away from the law. Somehow, their paths crossed together and everything changed. Walker Cole was that grumpy man who just wanted to be left alone and live far away from everyone else. But Naomi Barrett destroyed that little routine he has created. She came with lots of trouble and Walker might have been her only shot at survival. But nothing was that simple, because Walker's own past came out barreling after him and it targeted Naomi as well. Will they be able to make it alive from those people who were hunting them? Will they be able to keep at bay those raw, unfiltered feelings that have started to bloom in their broken hearts?
Wow!! I was immediately captivated by this story. All that mystery regarding our brooding soldier was super intense and I liked that on top of that was added the uncertainty regarding Naomi's story. Their battles were rough, because they had to fight with some really bad guys, but also with themselves, because of all those feelings inside them which shouldn't have been present from the start. I liked how each of them was built and how those flaws weren't truly affecting the way they saw each other. It was nice to see how they were slowly starting to trust each other and how those walls began to tumble down, even if that came with a high price to pay.
I was for sure truly impressed by Connor's debut story. It kept me on my toes from the beginning until the end, being suuuper nerve-wracking, but I loved everything about it, especially because the action became more alert with each passing chapter. These characters were so broken but that offered them that amazing depth and it was nice to see them change throughout this book. If you love suspense books, then you should definitely pick this book up. It was sooo good!🩵
So grateful for being able to read this e-ARC and I need to thank Grey's Promotions and Connor for making it possible.🙏🏼
✨Tropes
▫️Morally Grey Hero
▫️Age Gap (over 10 years)
▫️Romantic Suspense
▫️Ex Military
▫️Tortured Hero
▫️Slow Burn
▫️Heroine On The Run
▫️Secret Identity
4.9/5✨
3/5🌶️
He was an ex military from special forces. She was running away from the law. Somehow, their paths crossed together and everything changed. Walker Cole was that grumpy man who just wanted to be left alone and live far away from everyone else. But Naomi Barrett destroyed that little routine he has created. She came with lots of trouble and Walker might have been her only shot at survival. But nothing was that simple, because Walker's own past came out barreling after him and it targeted Naomi as well. Will they be able to make it alive from those people who were hunting them? Will they be able to keep at bay those raw, unfiltered feelings that have started to bloom in their broken hearts?
Wow!! I was immediately captivated by this story. All that mystery regarding our brooding soldier was super intense and I liked that on top of that was added the uncertainty regarding Naomi's story. Their battles were rough, because they had to fight with some really bad guys, but also with themselves, because of all those feelings inside them which shouldn't have been present from the start. I liked how each of them was built and how those flaws weren't truly affecting the way they saw each other. It was nice to see how they were slowly starting to trust each other and how those walls began to tumble down, even if that came with a high price to pay.
I was for sure truly impressed by Connor's debut story. It kept me on my toes from the beginning until the end, being suuuper nerve-wracking, but I loved everything about it, especially because the action became more alert with each passing chapter. These characters were so broken but that offered them that amazing depth and it was nice to see them change throughout this book. If you love suspense books, then you should definitely pick this book up. It was sooo good!🩵
So grateful for being able to read this e-ARC and I need to thank Grey's Promotions and Connor for making it possible.🙏🏼
✨Tropes
▫️Morally Grey Hero
▫️Age Gap (over 10 years)
▫️Romantic Suspense
▫️Ex Military
▫️Tortured Hero
▫️Slow Burn
▫️Heroine On The Run
▫️Secret Identity
April 28, 2026
2.75–3 ⭐️ I can see it, CC will eventually get there…but this was not it for me!
Listen, Bright Light Dark Thunder has the kind of setup that should have hit several of my buttons: a fugitive CIA analyst (she), a haunted ex-soldier living off-grid in Montana (he), corrupt government shadows, forced proximity, fake-marriage cover work, “I’ll burn it all down for you” protector energy, and a romance built around two people finding each other in the middle of literal and moral wilderness.
And to be fair, there are things here that work. Connor Crais knows how to write momentum. The opening has atmosphere, the action beats are readable, and Walker’s voice has that gravelly, hyper-competent, dangerous-man-in-the-woods quality that will absolutely work for readers who want a full-throttle protector fantasy. There are also moments where the romance finds something softer beneath all the guns, blood, and tactical scanning: Walker believing Naomi when no one else does, Naomi allowing herself to break down after being forced to survive on adrenaline, the two of them slowly becoming a team while running from a conspiracy that keeps tightening around them.
But emotionally, this never fully landed for me.
My biggest struggle is that the book often mistakes intensity for depth. Everything is heightened: the danger, the attraction, the violence, the trauma, the sex, the devotion. But the emotional scaffolding underneath it felt thinner than I needed it to be. Walker is written with a lot of internal mythology: he is the weapon, the ghost, the monster, the man who has exiled himself from humanity because of what he has done. Naomi becomes the light that pulls him back. And while that is a very clear romantic framework, it also started to feel too clean, too symbolic, too dependent on Naomi functioning as his salvation rather than as a fully textured emotional equal.
That is where I struggled with the romance. Naomi is smart. She is brave. She drives parts of the mystery forward. But so much of her is filtered through Walker’s gaze that I often felt I knew more about what her beauty, softness, courage, and body did to him than I knew about the shape of her inner life. Her fear, anger, betrayal, moral disgust, professional identity, and grief over being framed are all there, but they are not given the same layered interior weight as Walker’s guilt and redemption arc. The story wants me to believe in their sweeping, life-changing love very quickly, and I could believe the adrenaline. I could believe the attraction. I could believe the trauma-bonding pressure cooker. I just needed more quiet emotional excavation before I could believe the forever.
There is also a very specific kind of masculine romance fantasy at work here. Not bad, but very noticeable. Walker’s devotion is protective, physical, possessive, and absolute. He wants to keep Naomi safe, carry the violence for her, stand between her and every threat, and become worthy of the light she brings into his life. That can be delicious. But for me, it sometimes tipped into a dynamic where Naomi’s agency narrowed into being loved, protected, desired, and eventually folded into Walker’s new life. I wanted more reciprocity. More friction. More of Naomi choosing from a place of interior complexity rather than narrative certainty.
The suspense plot was entertaining in a late-night action-thriller way, especially when the conspiracy pieces clicked into place. But because the book is so driven by pursuit, danger, and sexual/emotional acceleration, it did not always give the plot enough room to develop beyond the pressure of the situation.
So this was not a bad read for me. It has a clear audience, and I can absolutely see readers devouring the feral protector devotion, the cinematic action, the off-grid danger, and the “she is my light in the darkness” emotional fantasy. But I wanted more psychological nuance, especially for Naomi, and a romance that felt less like Walker being redeemed by her existence and more like two equally complicated people finding each other with all their contradictions intact.
Listen, Bright Light Dark Thunder has the kind of setup that should have hit several of my buttons: a fugitive CIA analyst (she), a haunted ex-soldier living off-grid in Montana (he), corrupt government shadows, forced proximity, fake-marriage cover work, “I’ll burn it all down for you” protector energy, and a romance built around two people finding each other in the middle of literal and moral wilderness.
And to be fair, there are things here that work. Connor Crais knows how to write momentum. The opening has atmosphere, the action beats are readable, and Walker’s voice has that gravelly, hyper-competent, dangerous-man-in-the-woods quality that will absolutely work for readers who want a full-throttle protector fantasy. There are also moments where the romance finds something softer beneath all the guns, blood, and tactical scanning: Walker believing Naomi when no one else does, Naomi allowing herself to break down after being forced to survive on adrenaline, the two of them slowly becoming a team while running from a conspiracy that keeps tightening around them.
But emotionally, this never fully landed for me.
My biggest struggle is that the book often mistakes intensity for depth. Everything is heightened: the danger, the attraction, the violence, the trauma, the sex, the devotion. But the emotional scaffolding underneath it felt thinner than I needed it to be. Walker is written with a lot of internal mythology: he is the weapon, the ghost, the monster, the man who has exiled himself from humanity because of what he has done. Naomi becomes the light that pulls him back. And while that is a very clear romantic framework, it also started to feel too clean, too symbolic, too dependent on Naomi functioning as his salvation rather than as a fully textured emotional equal.
That is where I struggled with the romance. Naomi is smart. She is brave. She drives parts of the mystery forward. But so much of her is filtered through Walker’s gaze that I often felt I knew more about what her beauty, softness, courage, and body did to him than I knew about the shape of her inner life. Her fear, anger, betrayal, moral disgust, professional identity, and grief over being framed are all there, but they are not given the same layered interior weight as Walker’s guilt and redemption arc. The story wants me to believe in their sweeping, life-changing love very quickly, and I could believe the adrenaline. I could believe the attraction. I could believe the trauma-bonding pressure cooker. I just needed more quiet emotional excavation before I could believe the forever.
There is also a very specific kind of masculine romance fantasy at work here. Not bad, but very noticeable. Walker’s devotion is protective, physical, possessive, and absolute. He wants to keep Naomi safe, carry the violence for her, stand between her and every threat, and become worthy of the light she brings into his life. That can be delicious. But for me, it sometimes tipped into a dynamic where Naomi’s agency narrowed into being loved, protected, desired, and eventually folded into Walker’s new life. I wanted more reciprocity. More friction. More of Naomi choosing from a place of interior complexity rather than narrative certainty.
The suspense plot was entertaining in a late-night action-thriller way, especially when the conspiracy pieces clicked into place. But because the book is so driven by pursuit, danger, and sexual/emotional acceleration, it did not always give the plot enough room to develop beyond the pressure of the situation.
So this was not a bad read for me. It has a clear audience, and I can absolutely see readers devouring the feral protector devotion, the cinematic action, the off-grid danger, and the “she is my light in the darkness” emotional fantasy. But I wanted more psychological nuance, especially for Naomi, and a romance that felt less like Walker being redeemed by her existence and more like two equally complicated people finding each other with all their contradictions intact.
April 8, 2026
I did not expect this to be fun😅
4⭐️
3/5🌶️
First person POV (MMC) & third (male side character)
Book 1 in a series of interconnected standalones
Format: audiobook
Spoiler free
Connor Crais is one of my favorite audiobook male narrators who btw needs to have his voice immortalized as gps navigation or Siri🤣 & guess what?? He’s an author too… listen he tried ok he really did & it’s a decent attempt for this being his first solo written book.
Is it cliche & farfetched? Oh yes it is
But does it all work? Yep I think so
It’s interesting to me to read only from the male perspective in a romance. I’m not sure I like it but I don’t hate it either. I think he did better than some female romance authors who give us FMCs who are literally drier than a cracker.
This book was very short & the pacing was lighting fast but again, everything just worked. Even the inexorable amount of spice for such a short page count worked. The story was well rounded. The side characters are gonna be great in their own books. & The FMC is adorable.
4⭐️
3/5🌶️
First person POV (MMC) & third (male side character)
Book 1 in a series of interconnected standalones
Format: audiobook
Spoiler free
Connor Crais is one of my favorite audiobook male narrators who btw needs to have his voice immortalized as gps navigation or Siri🤣 & guess what?? He’s an author too… listen he tried ok he really did & it’s a decent attempt for this being his first solo written book.
Is it cliche & farfetched? Oh yes it is
But does it all work? Yep I think so
It’s interesting to me to read only from the male perspective in a romance. I’m not sure I like it but I don’t hate it either. I think he did better than some female romance authors who give us FMCs who are literally drier than a cracker.
This book was very short & the pacing was lighting fast but again, everything just worked. Even the inexorable amount of spice for such a short page count worked. The story was well rounded. The side characters are gonna be great in their own books. & The FMC is adorable.
March 20, 2026
Audio in single style 5/5🎧
Story and characters- for a debut novel 4/5⭐️
Spice 3/5🌶️
Story and characters- for a debut novel 4/5⭐️
Spice 3/5🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2026
Thank you to Grey's Promotions and Connor Crais for an eARC to read and review before publishing.
Bright Light Dark Thunder by Connor Crais was my first true Romance written by a male author, and I absolutely devoured it.
Bright Light Dark Thunder is Jason Bourne meets Taken meets your favorite forced-proximity Romance. Connor’s experience as an actor, audiobook narrator, and author is apparent as he expertly crafts the tension between Walker and Naomi. This tension helps fuel the plot as Walker becomes enmeshed in Naomi’s world.
I would have loved to spend a little more time in this story, especially the climax and ending, but I was beyond pleasantly surprised with my first Connor Crais novel.
Bright Light Dark Thunder by Connor Crais was my first true Romance written by a male author, and I absolutely devoured it.
Bright Light Dark Thunder is Jason Bourne meets Taken meets your favorite forced-proximity Romance. Connor’s experience as an actor, audiobook narrator, and author is apparent as he expertly crafts the tension between Walker and Naomi. This tension helps fuel the plot as Walker becomes enmeshed in Naomi’s world.
I would have loved to spend a little more time in this story, especially the climax and ending, but I was beyond pleasantly surprised with my first Connor Crais novel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I loved this book. I was anxiously waiting for this book and gobbled it up. This book has so much for everyone. Written in male pov, it would be great for a mans first romance. It has the grit men like but the love women crave.
I had gotten an advanced copy of the book but not audio. I purchased the audio from Connor and received early. Having both was amazing.
Not sappy but definitely a romance. Can't wait for another from Connor!
I had gotten an advanced copy of the book but not audio. I purchased the audio from Connor and received early. Having both was amazing.
Not sappy but definitely a romance. Can't wait for another from Connor!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝕃𝕀𝔾ℍ𝕋𝕊 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝕋ℍ𝕌ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ ✨
Connor Crais
I knew this was a must read! Because let's face it, with the hundred of books Connor’s narrated, you just know he knows exactly what we want in a romance story but with his spin on it and I was absolutely HERE 👏🏻FOR 👏🏻IT. 👏🏻
𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 + 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
Bright Lights Dark Thunder is Connor Crais first solo romance book, and it truly reads like a great action movie! He did say he loves action movies, and was writing to that premise. From the start you're captivated, hooked with the “I need to know!” It gives off a bit of Jack Ryan vibes mixed with Jason Bourne, will the element of on the run.
I’ve read a handful of military romance stories, while this one wasn’t too much into the military, I thought Connor did a great job of balancing the suspense, romance and action, where you were on the edge of your seat, wondering what was going to happen next and where do we go from here. Then because the FMC is on the run, you get that mystery element tied with the alpha protector and a slow burn. But it’s all worth it, cause when the spice hits….good lord!
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨:
Walker Cole is a recluse, living off the grid for the last six years, (after his time in the military) isolated and away from people and all he wants is to be left alone.
Naomi Barrett, the daughter of an FBI Agent, who has always wanted to help people, as that’s what she knows from growing up, but now a CIA analyst, who uncovered something she absolutely shouldn’t have and lands herself in prison.
The best part…. Walker and Naomi’s “meet cute”, if you even want to call it cute, but it’s a mix of captivating, funny in a not funny way and heavy on the, “what the hell is going on” vibes. I’d say more, but honestly YOU. HAVE. TO. READ. IT.
I just love how right away, there is something about Naomi that captivates and interests Walker and he immediately wants to help her. And if anyone can do it, it’s Walker. The story will take you on a wild action packed ride, where you’ll unpack betrayal, secrets, government cover ups, a chilling haunting past with a fake marriage, because this is a romance after all.
𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
🎧Ok, TBH, I was worried at first because it was a solo narration with just Connor, because of course he would write this story and narrate as well. But honestly, when he was voicing Naomi’s parts, I couldn’t even tell it was him, and he voiced her so well that it almost felt like it was a duet narration. Because if anyone can do both roles, it would be Connor Crais. Walker is from the south, Connor gives Walker this drawn out southern hick voice with a growl that will have you on your knees. And because I said it is set like an action movie, it flows so well it will play out in your mind.
✨Bright Lights Dark Thunder out today on KU, paperback and audio!
🏷️bright lights dark thunder • Connor Crais • new release • military romance • suspense action • packed on the run fmc • recluse mmc • release day • bookstagram • book edits • book review • romance reader • bookish • book community • bookedbybrie
#newrelease #militaryromance #booksta #bookreview #romancereader
Connor Crais
I knew this was a must read! Because let's face it, with the hundred of books Connor’s narrated, you just know he knows exactly what we want in a romance story but with his spin on it and I was absolutely HERE 👏🏻FOR 👏🏻IT. 👏🏻
𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 + 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
Bright Lights Dark Thunder is Connor Crais first solo romance book, and it truly reads like a great action movie! He did say he loves action movies, and was writing to that premise. From the start you're captivated, hooked with the “I need to know!” It gives off a bit of Jack Ryan vibes mixed with Jason Bourne, will the element of on the run.
I’ve read a handful of military romance stories, while this one wasn’t too much into the military, I thought Connor did a great job of balancing the suspense, romance and action, where you were on the edge of your seat, wondering what was going to happen next and where do we go from here. Then because the FMC is on the run, you get that mystery element tied with the alpha protector and a slow burn. But it’s all worth it, cause when the spice hits….good lord!
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨:
Walker Cole is a recluse, living off the grid for the last six years, (after his time in the military) isolated and away from people and all he wants is to be left alone.
Naomi Barrett, the daughter of an FBI Agent, who has always wanted to help people, as that’s what she knows from growing up, but now a CIA analyst, who uncovered something she absolutely shouldn’t have and lands herself in prison.
The best part…. Walker and Naomi’s “meet cute”, if you even want to call it cute, but it’s a mix of captivating, funny in a not funny way and heavy on the, “what the hell is going on” vibes. I’d say more, but honestly YOU. HAVE. TO. READ. IT.
I just love how right away, there is something about Naomi that captivates and interests Walker and he immediately wants to help her. And if anyone can do it, it’s Walker. The story will take you on a wild action packed ride, where you’ll unpack betrayal, secrets, government cover ups, a chilling haunting past with a fake marriage, because this is a romance after all.
𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣:
🎧Ok, TBH, I was worried at first because it was a solo narration with just Connor, because of course he would write this story and narrate as well. But honestly, when he was voicing Naomi’s parts, I couldn’t even tell it was him, and he voiced her so well that it almost felt like it was a duet narration. Because if anyone can do both roles, it would be Connor Crais. Walker is from the south, Connor gives Walker this drawn out southern hick voice with a growl that will have you on your knees. And because I said it is set like an action movie, it flows so well it will play out in your mind.
✨Bright Lights Dark Thunder out today on KU, paperback and audio!
🏷️bright lights dark thunder • Connor Crais • new release • military romance • suspense action • packed on the run fmc • recluse mmc • release day • bookstagram • book edits • book review • romance reader • bookish • book community • bookedbybrie
#newrelease #militaryromance #booksta #bookreview #romancereader
February 26, 2026
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ
🖤 Morally Grey Hero
⏳ Age Gap (10+ years)
🔎 Romantic Suspense
🎖️ Ex-Military MMC
🔥 Tortured Hero
🐢 Slow Burn
🏃♀️ FMC on the Run
🕵️♂️ Secret Identity
🌎 He’d Burn the World Down for Her
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book told solely from the MMC’s POV, and let me tell you, I loved it. This is romantic suspense that leans heavier on the suspense, but it absolutely delivers on every front.
Walker Cole is a ghost. Living off the grid, isolated, trying to keep both his location and his demons buried. After his time in the military (think enhanced super-soldier vibes), all he wants is to be left alone.
Naomi Barrett, daughter of an FBI agent, has always wanted to help people. Now a CIA analyst, she uncovers something she shouldn’t have and ends up labeled a fugitive after escaping an unsanctioned prison transport.
Their “meet cute”? In the woods. When Naomi takes Walker hostage. I mean, come one...does it get any better than that?
Something about Naomi immediately pulls at Walker. He doesn’t understand it, but he knows one thing: he believes her. And Walker being the only person in the world who does is enough for Naomi. What follows is an action-packed ride full of trafficking rings, betrayal, conspiracies, government cover-ups, haunting pasts, a fake marriage, and an abandoned town that isn’t as empty as it seems.
I wish I’d paired this with the audiobook because I know Connor would’ve absolutely crushed this entire story, but that just means a reread is in my near future.
The ending was deeply satisfying, and I’m genuinely hoping this turns into a series (or at least a duet). There are definitely side characters I’d love to see more of.
Thank you, @connorcrais and @greyspromo for the ARC.
🖤 Morally Grey Hero
⏳ Age Gap (10+ years)
🔎 Romantic Suspense
🎖️ Ex-Military MMC
🔥 Tortured Hero
🐢 Slow Burn
🏃♀️ FMC on the Run
🕵️♂️ Secret Identity
🌎 He’d Burn the World Down for Her
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book told solely from the MMC’s POV, and let me tell you, I loved it. This is romantic suspense that leans heavier on the suspense, but it absolutely delivers on every front.
Walker Cole is a ghost. Living off the grid, isolated, trying to keep both his location and his demons buried. After his time in the military (think enhanced super-soldier vibes), all he wants is to be left alone.
Naomi Barrett, daughter of an FBI agent, has always wanted to help people. Now a CIA analyst, she uncovers something she shouldn’t have and ends up labeled a fugitive after escaping an unsanctioned prison transport.
Their “meet cute”? In the woods. When Naomi takes Walker hostage. I mean, come one...does it get any better than that?
Something about Naomi immediately pulls at Walker. He doesn’t understand it, but he knows one thing: he believes her. And Walker being the only person in the world who does is enough for Naomi. What follows is an action-packed ride full of trafficking rings, betrayal, conspiracies, government cover-ups, haunting pasts, a fake marriage, and an abandoned town that isn’t as empty as it seems.
I wish I’d paired this with the audiobook because I know Connor would’ve absolutely crushed this entire story, but that just means a reread is in my near future.
The ending was deeply satisfying, and I’m genuinely hoping this turns into a series (or at least a duet). There are definitely side characters I’d love to see more of.
Thank you, @connorcrais and @greyspromo for the ARC.
March 5, 2026
Strong concept with plenty of potential, but it didn’t fully work for me
It took me 6 days to finish this book...
...I procrastinated every evening, hesitating to continue the book
...I couldn't commit to it, I kept falling asleep after a few pages
...But I finished 6 audiobooks in the same period #enoughsaid
My favorite quotes:
What I loved:
👨🏻Connor Crais is undeniably talented, both as an author and as a narrator
✍🏻the dedication "For Mrs. C -I'd burn all down for you, baby"
📝the writing style in general, it flowed smoothly
💚the premise, which held a lot of potential: a tough-as-nails woman on the run, joining forces with a genetically enhanced ex-special forces
🛟how he has the compulsive need to save her ALL. THE. TIME.
📚their conversation about what kind of books she reads IYKYK
🔚2 epilogues
➕bonus epilogue (via newsletter sign-up)
What I struggled with:
⚖️the imbalance between the amount of inner thoughts (too much), dialogue and action
🐌the slow slow burn, their first kiss is 50% into to the book 😭
❌the romantic buildup felt a bit off, I was missing a bit of "je ne sais quoi"... 🤷🏻♀️ Maybe because it is single POV, as we only get insight into his thoughts, his struggles, his pining,...
What you need to know:
📕standalone
🫂single POV
😨romantic suspense
⛰️Montana
🪖ex-military tortured hero x CIA analyst on the run
🖤morally gray hero
💕he falls first, he falls harder
🔪OTT protective MMC
🧓🏻age gap (10 yrs)
🤏🏻forced proximity
🐌slow slow burn
❤️HEA
For the safety squad:
🌶️spice
🦺content warnings
It took me 6 days to finish this book...
...I procrastinated every evening, hesitating to continue the book
...I couldn't commit to it, I kept falling asleep after a few pages
...But I finished 6 audiobooks in the same period #enoughsaid
My favorite quotes:
We were trained to work individidually as well as in a team. One man could take down an outpust or a base. Together, we could level a large city.
Being this close doesn't make me feel more in control. It makes me feel less.
It's easy to be cynical. It's hard to hope.
What I loved:
👨🏻Connor Crais is undeniably talented, both as an author and as a narrator
✍🏻the dedication "For Mrs. C -I'd burn all down for you, baby"
📝the writing style in general, it flowed smoothly
💚the premise, which held a lot of potential: a tough-as-nails woman on the run, joining forces with a genetically enhanced ex-special forces
🛟how he has the compulsive need to save her ALL. THE. TIME.
📚their conversation about what kind of books she reads IYKYK
🔚2 epilogues
➕bonus epilogue (via newsletter sign-up)
What I struggled with:
⚖️the imbalance between the amount of inner thoughts (too much), dialogue and action
🐌the slow slow burn, their first kiss is 50% into to the book 😭
❌the romantic buildup felt a bit off, I was missing a bit of "je ne sais quoi"... 🤷🏻♀️ Maybe because it is single POV, as we only get insight into his thoughts, his struggles, his pining,...
What you need to know:
📕standalone
🫂single POV
😨romantic suspense
⛰️Montana
🪖ex-military tortured hero x CIA analyst on the run
🖤morally gray hero
💕he falls first, he falls harder
🔪OTT protective MMC
🧓🏻age gap (10 yrs)
🤏🏻forced proximity
🐌slow slow burn
❤️HEA
For the safety squad:
🌶️spice
🦺content warnings
March 17, 2026
This book was easy to read and very fast paced. It read almost like a movie.
I did think that the pacing was a bit too fast in some parts but I still enjoyed the story. I loved that the story was only from the MMC POV and a few from the villain POV. I really liked both characters and how well they worked together.
I look forward to picking up more from this series.
I did think that the pacing was a bit too fast in some parts but I still enjoyed the story. I loved that the story was only from the MMC POV and a few from the villain POV. I really liked both characters and how well they worked together.
I look forward to picking up more from this series.
March 8, 2026
3⭐️ for story, extra ⭐️ for his amazing voice.
March 4, 2026
This was so fun! This story is fast paced and I enjoyed every moment. The suspense element gave me goosebumps at times and I had to convince myself to take a break so I didn’t read it all in one sitting.
Naomi and Walker meet in the woods while she’s on the run from her prison guards. Walker’s background in the military allows him to know that there’s more to her simple story and the adventure that instinct leads them down os a wild path of combat friends, old grudges and political power.
Tropes:
🎖️Ex Military Hero
🏃♀️Woman on the run
❌Them against the world
🔥He will burn the world down for her
🔎Age Gap
🩶Morally gray MMC
🌶️Spice
Thanks to the author and Grey’s Promotions for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Naomi and Walker meet in the woods while she’s on the run from her prison guards. Walker’s background in the military allows him to know that there’s more to her simple story and the adventure that instinct leads them down os a wild path of combat friends, old grudges and political power.
Tropes:
🎖️Ex Military Hero
🏃♀️Woman on the run
❌Them against the world
🔥He will burn the world down for her
🔎Age Gap
🩶Morally gray MMC
🌶️Spice
Thanks to the author and Grey’s Promotions for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
March 10, 2026
One of my favorite narrators wrote a book, so of course I had to listen to it. And yes, listen—because Connor also narrates it, duh.
This isn’t exactly a typical romance novel, and that’s one of the things I appreciated most about it. The story is told entirely from the male main character’s point of view, so the reader only experiences what Walker knows and feels. That perspective made the story feel very intimate and personal.
Walker is a former special forces soldier, a man shaped and hardened by the system he once served. He was hiding from everything somewhere in Montana until he found Naomi… or maybe she found him.
What really stood out to me was how effectively Walker’s emotional journey comes through in the narration. Through Connor’s voice, you can feel the weight of Walker’s past, his trauma, and his struggle to allow himself to feel something for another person. At times the story is raw and even heartbreaking. 💔
And of course, there’s something undeniably compelling about a fiercely protective hero who would burn the world down for the woman he loves.
Walker and Naomi have to fight hard for their happy ending, but the payoff feels well earned.
Overall, this felt like a refreshing take on romance. Being written by a man and told entirely from the male perspective gives it a different emotional texture than many romances I’ve read, and I really enjoyed that.
Connor Crais as both the author and the narrator—perfect. 👌🏻
This isn’t exactly a typical romance novel, and that’s one of the things I appreciated most about it. The story is told entirely from the male main character’s point of view, so the reader only experiences what Walker knows and feels. That perspective made the story feel very intimate and personal.
Walker is a former special forces soldier, a man shaped and hardened by the system he once served. He was hiding from everything somewhere in Montana until he found Naomi… or maybe she found him.
What really stood out to me was how effectively Walker’s emotional journey comes through in the narration. Through Connor’s voice, you can feel the weight of Walker’s past, his trauma, and his struggle to allow himself to feel something for another person. At times the story is raw and even heartbreaking. 💔
And of course, there’s something undeniably compelling about a fiercely protective hero who would burn the world down for the woman he loves.
Walker and Naomi have to fight hard for their happy ending, but the payoff feels well earned.
Overall, this felt like a refreshing take on romance. Being written by a man and told entirely from the male perspective gives it a different emotional texture than many romances I’ve read, and I really enjoyed that.
Connor Crais as both the author and the narrator—perfect. 👌🏻
March 4, 2026
I'm going with 3 stars for this one. It reads like a 2 star on the front half and a 4 star on the back.
Important to note, this is first person POV from the MMC and third person from a male bad guy. There is no FMC POV (which I didn't hate).
The good: The plot is solid and intriguing, that was why I kept reading it. The dialog is well written. The action/fight scenes are both exciting and have continuity. The sex was good, more frequent than I would have expected when people are trying to kill you, but hey, if you're going to die, right?
The book starts off a little rocky in the first few chapters. I found the inner monologue to be very cringy for most of the book and that's the majority of what we have at the beginning.
I had a mild epiphany when I hit the point in the book that I am almost 100% certain was the part he wrote first. It was a fantastic scene/sequence. The rest of the book was great, so I'm guessing he had to write backwards/fill in the front half of the book. I could be way off, but that is how it reads.
Important to note, this is first person POV from the MMC and third person from a male bad guy. There is no FMC POV (which I didn't hate).
The good: The plot is solid and intriguing, that was why I kept reading it. The dialog is well written. The action/fight scenes are both exciting and have continuity. The sex was good, more frequent than I would have expected when people are trying to kill you, but hey, if you're going to die, right?
The book starts off a little rocky in the first few chapters. I found the inner monologue to be very cringy for most of the book and that's the majority of what we have at the beginning.
I had a mild epiphany when I hit the point in the book that I am almost 100% certain was the part he wrote first. It was a fantastic scene/sequence. The rest of the book was great, so I'm guessing he had to write backwards/fill in the front half of the book. I could be way off, but that is how it reads.
March 5, 2026
Looks like I’m in the minority here...
Since Connor Crais is one of my all time favorite narrators, I was super excited to hear that he wrote a book. Also, how interesting with a romance written by a man, right?
However, for me it felt like this was a man, wanting to write a suspense/action novel, but tried turning it into a romance (for obvious reasons) and I’m sure all of us romance audiobook lovers will jump on it regardless. Unfortunately it lacked depth and didn’t work for me. (I’m sorry C.C..!)
I really wanted to finish it to review it properly but to be completely honest, it was hard. It felt long, somewhat repetitive and it just didn’t do it for me.
It was very insta…something. Everything? I guess I just didn’t buy that he would sacrifice and risk everything for a woman he just met, who held him hostage, only because she made his black heart pitter patter at first sight.
There’s no real tension or chemistry between them so him being instantly horny for her doesn’t sit quite right with me. I need buildup. Not him immediately fantasizing about her naked when they’ve spent less than 24h together.
I don’t feel any connection between them and certainly no indication that she’s into him. Maybe her POV would’ve helped with that, I’d rather have hers than Logan’s. I feel no connection at all with Naomi and I feel like I know nothing about who she is and why. I also feel like everything is pretty superficial with Walker and his backstory feels a bit wishy washy.
💭 Random thoughts:
- Sorry, but him jerking off in the bathroom of their shared hotel room, with a woman he doesn’t know on the other side of the wall, fantasizing about her after she just survived something traumatic is creepy - not sexy.
- Did I miss something,
🎧 Audiobook narration was great, as always.
Since Connor Crais is one of my all time favorite narrators, I was super excited to hear that he wrote a book. Also, how interesting with a romance written by a man, right?
However, for me it felt like this was a man, wanting to write a suspense/action novel, but tried turning it into a romance (for obvious reasons) and I’m sure all of us romance audiobook lovers will jump on it regardless. Unfortunately it lacked depth and didn’t work for me. (I’m sorry C.C..!)
I really wanted to finish it to review it properly but to be completely honest, it was hard. It felt long, somewhat repetitive and it just didn’t do it for me.
It was very insta…something. Everything? I guess I just didn’t buy that he would sacrifice and risk everything for a woman he just met, who held him hostage, only because she made his black heart pitter patter at first sight.
There’s no real tension or chemistry between them so him being instantly horny for her doesn’t sit quite right with me. I need buildup. Not him immediately fantasizing about her naked when they’ve spent less than 24h together.
I don’t feel any connection between them and certainly no indication that she’s into him. Maybe her POV would’ve helped with that, I’d rather have hers than Logan’s. I feel no connection at all with Naomi and I feel like I know nothing about who she is and why. I also feel like everything is pretty superficial with Walker and his backstory feels a bit wishy washy.
💭 Random thoughts:
- Sorry, but him jerking off in the bathroom of their shared hotel room, with a woman he doesn’t know on the other side of the wall, fantasizing about her after she just survived something traumatic is creepy - not sexy.
- Did I miss something,
🎧 Audiobook narration was great, as always.
April 2, 2026
Book 44 of 2026
“I don’t care if I lose whatever humanity I have left. I’d sacrifice my life and my chance to be with her to save her.”
I have been a longtime fan of @ConnorCrais because he is a top three male narrator for me! I absolutely love his work – the inflection, the desire, the gruffness. It’s perfect. I always love when I see his name on narration, and I have read books by authors unfamiliar to me simply because HE is the narrator. So when I found out that he was going to write his own book – whew, sign me up. Plus, he hit a troupe that I am currently all over, which is romantic suspense. All the troupes here work so, so well together – close proximity, ex-military tortured hero who is morally grey, a heroine on the run and a delicious slow burn between them.
Now, I have to say this… @ConnorCrais used the perfect foil when it comes to a MALE writing a romantic suspense novel. He hit all the right notes because the romantic suspense lends itself to a great male perspective, which is the only one we got. The story is completely from Walker’s perspective, and @ConnorCrais did this masterfully. We get great insight from his history, his military background, being a trained killer, his protectiveness. I mean, listen, his dedication to his wife -- “For Mrs. C, I’d burn it all down for you, baby.”
“You make me feel things I thought were dead in me.”
But it’s clear that @ConnorCrais has been narrating romance for a while because he made the chemistry between Walker and Naomi palpable. I loved the slow burn here, the change in dynamics. From her taking him captive in the woods, to finding out their backstory, to watching them join forces to take down evil. I absolutely loved it, and of course, when the two came together it was utter combustion. I mean, whew… it was delicious, people. I love a man who is ALL IN for his woman.
@ConnorCrais wrote us a fast-paced book that I was immediately pulled into. I loved the mystery, the layers, how it kept me on my toes. The fact that we are rooting for these two flawed characters tells you they were written in a compelling way. I am so excited that we are getting a story for Static next! YES! I am already completely invested. Having @ConnorCrais behind the mic AND the pen is an amazing combo, and I can’t wait for more of our Lost Guardians.
Rating – four and a half stars
Format – audiobook
“I don’t care if I lose whatever humanity I have left. I’d sacrifice my life and my chance to be with her to save her.”
I have been a longtime fan of @ConnorCrais because he is a top three male narrator for me! I absolutely love his work – the inflection, the desire, the gruffness. It’s perfect. I always love when I see his name on narration, and I have read books by authors unfamiliar to me simply because HE is the narrator. So when I found out that he was going to write his own book – whew, sign me up. Plus, he hit a troupe that I am currently all over, which is romantic suspense. All the troupes here work so, so well together – close proximity, ex-military tortured hero who is morally grey, a heroine on the run and a delicious slow burn between them.
Now, I have to say this… @ConnorCrais used the perfect foil when it comes to a MALE writing a romantic suspense novel. He hit all the right notes because the romantic suspense lends itself to a great male perspective, which is the only one we got. The story is completely from Walker’s perspective, and @ConnorCrais did this masterfully. We get great insight from his history, his military background, being a trained killer, his protectiveness. I mean, listen, his dedication to his wife -- “For Mrs. C, I’d burn it all down for you, baby.”
“You make me feel things I thought were dead in me.”
But it’s clear that @ConnorCrais has been narrating romance for a while because he made the chemistry between Walker and Naomi palpable. I loved the slow burn here, the change in dynamics. From her taking him captive in the woods, to finding out their backstory, to watching them join forces to take down evil. I absolutely loved it, and of course, when the two came together it was utter combustion. I mean, whew… it was delicious, people. I love a man who is ALL IN for his woman.
@ConnorCrais wrote us a fast-paced book that I was immediately pulled into. I loved the mystery, the layers, how it kept me on my toes. The fact that we are rooting for these two flawed characters tells you they were written in a compelling way. I am so excited that we are getting a story for Static next! YES! I am already completely invested. Having @ConnorCrais behind the mic AND the pen is an amazing combo, and I can’t wait for more of our Lost Guardians.
Rating – four and a half stars
Format – audiobook
March 8, 2026
⭐ 4
🌶️ 2
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 8, 20, 22, 24, 26, epilogue 2
❤️🔥 Swoon Factor: 2.5
👫 Walker + Naomi
📚 Tropes/Themes: romantic suspense, thriller, political intrigue, insta-love, protective MMC, military romance, touch her and die, morally gray, age gap
👀 Dual POV 1st + 3rd person
💔 Content warnings: murder, death, stalking, mild gore, violence mentions of drug, weapon and human trafficking
🎀 Special editions: none
Ok daddy Connor, I see you 😂
So I admit the main reason I applied for this ARC was because it was written by Connor Crais 🥵, and I was genuinely interested to read a romance written by a man, and it was really enjoyable!
I don't think I've read a romance quite like this (I don't read much military romance) but it was full of action, suspense and romance. I mean, right from the start you're pulled into the story and the tension doesn't really stop until the end. I really enjoyed that the majority of the story is told from Walker's perspective.
My only real complaint is that I wish it had been longer. You don't really get to learn much about Naomi as a character outside of her immediate history and I would have liked more background on her I think. I also hope this is going to end up being part of the series that will explore some of the other characters that were mentioned 🤞🏼 And even though I hate spice in epilogues, it (the epilogue, not the spice 😂) made me smile 🥹
🌶️ 2
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 8, 20, 22, 24, 26, epilogue 2
❤️🔥 Swoon Factor: 2.5
👫 Walker + Naomi
📚 Tropes/Themes: romantic suspense, thriller, political intrigue, insta-love, protective MMC, military romance, touch her and die, morally gray, age gap
👀 Dual POV 1st + 3rd person
💔 Content warnings: murder, death, stalking, mild gore, violence mentions of drug, weapon and human trafficking
🎀 Special editions: none
Ok daddy Connor, I see you 😂
So I admit the main reason I applied for this ARC was because it was written by Connor Crais 🥵, and I was genuinely interested to read a romance written by a man, and it was really enjoyable!
I don't think I've read a romance quite like this (I don't read much military romance) but it was full of action, suspense and romance. I mean, right from the start you're pulled into the story and the tension doesn't really stop until the end. I really enjoyed that the majority of the story is told from Walker's perspective.
My only real complaint is that I wish it had been longer. You don't really get to learn much about Naomi as a character outside of her immediate history and I would have liked more background on her I think. I also hope this is going to end up being part of the series that will explore some of the other characters that were mentioned 🤞🏼 And even though I hate spice in epilogues, it (the epilogue, not the spice 😂) made me smile 🥹
March 3, 2026
- romantic suspense
- ex-military hero
- heroine on the run
- insta-love
- forced proximity
- no third-act breakup
- 🌶️🌶️.5/5
- single pov (his)
At under 300 pages (seven hours on audio), Bright Light Dark Thunder wastes no time getting into the action.
Walker meets Naomi deep in the Montana wilderness and, even though she’s technically holding him hostage, he immediately feels this instinct to protect her.
When he helps her escape, the dynamic shifts and she slowly realises she can trust him. From there, they team up on what I’ll call a secret mission because absolutely no spoilers. The plot is interesting, intense, fast-paced, and constantly moving.
Something else that adds interest is the story being told entirely from Walker’s POV, aside from a few chapters from the man hunting them 👀. That limited perspective enhances the tension because you’re experiencing everything through his lens.
The romance leans a little toward insta-love for me. But given the shorter length and the high-stakes situation, it makes sense. There isn’t a lot of room for drawn-out slow burn when danger is literally breathing down their necks.
That said, I still had a great time bingeing the audiobook, especially with Connor narrating it himself. I really hope this isn’t the last romance he writes.
- ex-military hero
- heroine on the run
- insta-love
- forced proximity
- no third-act breakup
- 🌶️🌶️.5/5
- single pov (his)
At under 300 pages (seven hours on audio), Bright Light Dark Thunder wastes no time getting into the action.
Walker meets Naomi deep in the Montana wilderness and, even though she’s technically holding him hostage, he immediately feels this instinct to protect her.
When he helps her escape, the dynamic shifts and she slowly realises she can trust him. From there, they team up on what I’ll call a secret mission because absolutely no spoilers. The plot is interesting, intense, fast-paced, and constantly moving.
Something else that adds interest is the story being told entirely from Walker’s POV, aside from a few chapters from the man hunting them 👀. That limited perspective enhances the tension because you’re experiencing everything through his lens.
The romance leans a little toward insta-love for me. But given the shorter length and the high-stakes situation, it makes sense. There isn’t a lot of room for drawn-out slow burn when danger is literally breathing down their necks.
That said, I still had a great time bingeing the audiobook, especially with Connor narrating it himself. I really hope this isn’t the last romance he writes.
March 7, 2026
Thank you to Connor Crais (& team) for the ALC, all opinions are my own.
I’ve never read anything like this before, told in single POV from the MMC’s perspective.
I was hooked at the start, & wrapped up in the mystery of Walker’s past & Naomi’s present. There was a strong pull between them from the minute they met, and I loved that she was never afraid of him, tough in her own way.
There was definitely more focus on the suspense than the romance, though Walker did give us a lot of yearning & was ready to burn the world down for Naomi. I couldn’t fully get a grasp on her side of things, which can be tricky in single pov.
It did lose my attention at some point along the way, possibly because of the story or my own mood (I’m not generally drawn to morally grey men).
🎧 Connor Crais is my top male narrator, so I’d really love any audio he voices. As the author as well, he definitely knew how to voice his characters’ emotions and intentions, which really amplified the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this read, though I’m not sure I would have felt the same without the audio.
✦ tropes & stuff:
⚡️ romantic suspense
🖤 heroine on the run
⚡️ age gap
🖤 morally grey ex-military hero
🔗 forced proximity
🐢 slow burn
💙 single 1st person pov (the MMC’s)
🎧 audio + ebook | ⭐️: 4 | 🌶️: open door |
📖 Bright Light Dark Thunder by Connor Crais
💜: romantic suspense (mf)
🎙 narrated by: Connor Crais
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
I’ve never read anything like this before, told in single POV from the MMC’s perspective.
I was hooked at the start, & wrapped up in the mystery of Walker’s past & Naomi’s present. There was a strong pull between them from the minute they met, and I loved that she was never afraid of him, tough in her own way.
There was definitely more focus on the suspense than the romance, though Walker did give us a lot of yearning & was ready to burn the world down for Naomi. I couldn’t fully get a grasp on her side of things, which can be tricky in single pov.
It did lose my attention at some point along the way, possibly because of the story or my own mood (I’m not generally drawn to morally grey men).
🎧 Connor Crais is my top male narrator, so I’d really love any audio he voices. As the author as well, he definitely knew how to voice his characters’ emotions and intentions, which really amplified the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this read, though I’m not sure I would have felt the same without the audio.
✦ tropes & stuff:
⚡️ romantic suspense
🖤 heroine on the run
⚡️ age gap
🖤 morally grey ex-military hero
🔗 forced proximity
🐢 slow burn
💙 single 1st person pov (the MMC’s)
🎧 audio + ebook | ⭐️: 4 | 🌶️: open door |
📖 Bright Light Dark Thunder by Connor Crais
💜: romantic suspense (mf)
🎙 narrated by: Connor Crais
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
February 26, 2026
Listen. There’s a chance I have some bias here because Connor is one of my top favorite narrators (like his voice basically sponsors my audible catalog) but this was a fantastic solo debut.
I was drawn in from the very beginning and just kept getting more and more sucked in as the story progressed. The pacing was fantastic and by the time the climax hit, I was on the edge of my seat with anxiety. Romantic suspense is a favorite genre of mine and he pulled it off perfectly with the balance between spice and plot. Due to the length of the book I was expecting the romance to come across as more insta-love but I was pleasantly surprised that while you know the timeline is fast, it didn’t actually feel that way.
Loved the epilogues and that glimpse into Walker and Naomi’s HEA. I am for sure looking forward to whatever is up next!
I was drawn in from the very beginning and just kept getting more and more sucked in as the story progressed. The pacing was fantastic and by the time the climax hit, I was on the edge of my seat with anxiety. Romantic suspense is a favorite genre of mine and he pulled it off perfectly with the balance between spice and plot. Due to the length of the book I was expecting the romance to come across as more insta-love but I was pleasantly surprised that while you know the timeline is fast, it didn’t actually feel that way.
Loved the epilogues and that glimpse into Walker and Naomi’s HEA. I am for sure looking forward to whatever is up next!
March 8, 2026
I love romantic suspense and Connor is one of my favorite narrators so I was so excited for this book. Funny enough, I didn’t listen to it! The writing flowed really well and kept me engaged the whole time. I would’ve loved even more! This is a short book, and I would’ve loved more details into Walker’s past, how he got to be a super soldier, how the program worked etc. the ending came a little fast for me and I think that could’ve been drawn out a little more too. The only complaint I have about the writing is that our MMC has a southern twang, but in the writing the only way you know is because of all the “aints” Walker says. There’s no other indication in his dialogue or inner thoughts that shows he’d have a twang so the “aints” pop up and feel a little out of place. I’m sure it’s not as noticeable on audio. Overall great debut, and looking forward to the next!
March 7, 2026
Thank you to Greys Promotion and the author for an early copy of this one!
I was so excited to read this book because I love Connor as a narrator and interested to see his writing! I think this story was pretty gripping right from the start. It starts off pretty quickly, action wise, and doesn’t stop! It’s one of those books that just keeps you locked in because you have to know what happens next. I enjoyed the characters so much and I loved getting a story from the MMC point of view since with romance we usually get either just the FMC or dual. I also loved the chapters from Logan’s POV.
I think it’s funny that I was actually hearing Connor’s voice as I was reading, since I’m so used to him narrating, so I’m sure the audiobook for this is also fantastic and I’ll probably listen to that at some point.
I can’t wait to read more from Connor!
I was so excited to read this book because I love Connor as a narrator and interested to see his writing! I think this story was pretty gripping right from the start. It starts off pretty quickly, action wise, and doesn’t stop! It’s one of those books that just keeps you locked in because you have to know what happens next. I enjoyed the characters so much and I loved getting a story from the MMC point of view since with romance we usually get either just the FMC or dual. I also loved the chapters from Logan’s POV.
I think it’s funny that I was actually hearing Connor’s voice as I was reading, since I’m so used to him narrating, so I’m sure the audiobook for this is also fantastic and I’ll probably listen to that at some point.
I can’t wait to read more from Connor!
May 9, 2026
My first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. It was a fresh and interesting read and very much romantic thriller. Walker is living his best life as a hermit until Naomi comes crashing into his woods one day. She’s been falsely accused of a crime to silence her and prevent her from blowing the lid off a government conspiracy. It was nice to see Walker come alive and back to himself over the course of the story. This is told exclusively from walker’s pov - which I love! We need more male single pov romances. We did get chapters from the pov of the bad guy who’s trying to kill them which was great to fill in background details and context. Overall a great story. I’d definitely read other books by this author in the future.
February 20, 2026
Take the utterly male energy of Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum distilled into a complex and guarded MMC. Add the appreciation of a strong and competent FMC and an unabashedly romantic love story gleaned from narrating hundreds of romance audiobooks and you have the perfect combination that is author Connor Crais. He has written a book as fast paced and tense as a Jason Bourne thriller. Yet it has the slow, sensual moments of the best romance books. Walker and Naomi are characters that will stay with me. Oh, and did I mention the truly cruel and terrifying villain? Yep, we get one of those too.
This book has everything I need from a riveting military suspense romance. Crais describes the settings and action with the kind of detail that lets me see the story play out like a film in my mind. Of course, that is aided by his own narration of the audiobook. While usually I do prefer duet narration, if anyone can pull off a solo narration it is this author who also happens to do the best male as female voice acting I know. And the Texas twang of Walker compared to the soft, deadly purr of the villain, Logan? Chef’s kiss.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to listen to and review an advanced copy of this audiobook.
I hear there just might be a sequel…sign me up!
This book has everything I need from a riveting military suspense romance. Crais describes the settings and action with the kind of detail that lets me see the story play out like a film in my mind. Of course, that is aided by his own narration of the audiobook. While usually I do prefer duet narration, if anyone can pull off a solo narration it is this author who also happens to do the best male as female voice acting I know. And the Texas twang of Walker compared to the soft, deadly purr of the villain, Logan? Chef’s kiss.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to listen to and review an advanced copy of this audiobook.
I hear there just might be a sequel…sign me up!
February 26, 2026
Call me intrigued….an open-door spicy romance written by a well known, favorite audiobook male narrator?! This delivered! There was action, danger, drama, suspense, secrets, passion, romance! Expecting love out his retirement from the military alone, Walker encounters Naomi, a woman on the run. He makes the choice to save and her, even if that comes with danger. He didn’t expect to fall for her. She’s feisty, he’s protective. Lots of suspense, lots of action, I was hooked.
Thanks to the author and Grey’s Promo for the eARC
Thanks to the author and Grey’s Promo for the eARC
March 20, 2026
OMG new to this Author and so not disappointed!
Evenly paced, a great read. Never slowed or stalled where I was looking for a scene to be over. The opposite I couldn't devour the pages fast enough.
The story line and spicy romance was a short intense build but it didn't feel that way. You were drawn into the why the two would connect so quickly.
The epilogue was one of best I've ever read. Hoping this author continues this HEA couples story into their newly discovered relationship and business.
Now to find another of his books.
Evenly paced, a great read. Never slowed or stalled where I was looking for a scene to be over. The opposite I couldn't devour the pages fast enough.
The story line and spicy romance was a short intense build but it didn't feel that way. You were drawn into the why the two would connect so quickly.
The epilogue was one of best I've ever read. Hoping this author continues this HEA couples story into their newly discovered relationship and business.
Now to find another of his books.
Review of advance copy
I've only read a few books that were told entirely from the male POV and I greatly enjoyed this one. Walker was an elite operative living secluded from the world until he ran into Naomi in the woods. She's on the run from the government when they arrested her for finding some hidden files. Together they fight to clear her name and bring justice.
Both Walker and Naomi were well written and I love their chemistry and banter. The story flowed well and was engaging.
Both Walker and Naomi were well written and I love their chemistry and banter. The story flowed well and was engaging.
March 7, 2026
incredible story, amazing audiobook, Connor Crais nailed both!
Nothing better than when one of your favorite narrators writes a military/government themed romantic suspense and narrates it too! This book, Walker and Naomi’s adventures, will keep you hooked until the very end. The danger. The intrigue. Oh and the steamy times! It’s all mind bending, suspenseful brilliant storytelling.
Congrats Connor Crais on an incredible book.
Five huge stars from me!
Nothing better than when one of your favorite narrators writes a military/government themed romantic suspense and narrates it too! This book, Walker and Naomi’s adventures, will keep you hooked until the very end. The danger. The intrigue. Oh and the steamy times! It’s all mind bending, suspenseful brilliant storytelling.
Congrats Connor Crais on an incredible book.
Five huge stars from me!
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