Book Two of the Men of Honor Series Aimee can identify a killer.
Dane can keep her safe.
But is he willing to face his past to do it?
When Aimee Jansenn stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad she comes face to face with a killer. As the only witness to a crime, she falls into a deadly situation and is in need of police protection.
Dane Scott has sworn off women. Until a fireball named Aimee enters his world. Telling himself they’re just friends, he vows to protect her. Can his heart follow suit or will she change his mind about love for good?
I write books. I read almost all genres. I love sports, tea, books, and cookies. My faves are my Great Dane, my husband, & my 3 kids. (Not always in that order. :)
I'm an author with Tule Publishing. I am all about people and I love character driven stories. I love history and am a curious person who consistently wants to learn. I can't remember a time in my life where I wasn't writing or reading. I had journals as soon as I could write words. And I would get lost in books for hours as a kid. Stories and writing are how I process the world around me, what I see and experience as well as what I learn. I could talk books for hours and am happy to do so with anyone. I also love to sip tea and watch baseball.
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." - C.S. Lewis Happy Reading Everyone!
Okay, first a confession. I read "Remember Me", the first book in this series, and I loved it and I saw that this second book was out and I wanted to read it really badly. I also wanted to be able to officially review it because, well, I love finding a new author whose books I love and I love sharing that. So, I emailed the author and asked (or maybe begged- I'm not sure which) if I could review this book for her. She said YES! :)
I first met Dane in "Remember Me". I just knew I wanted his story and I knew it would be good. It sure was. He is yummy. And Aimee? What kind of a super cool name and spelling is that?! Yeah, I'm a bit biased. But, alas, the main character Aimee, is really nothing like me, so I guess I can only claim a connection to her awesome name.
The chemistry between Dane and Aimee is palpable. It had me silently (or maybe not always silently) begging for those those charged moments and physical connections. Lara does an excellent job managing the lightning.
Here's what you get with this book: a clean romance with sparks, a bit of suspense and a little faith thrown in for good measure. I was pulled into this book from the very beginning and I didn't want to put this book down. The settings change from San Diego to the Lake Tahoe area- both places that I am familiar with and love.
So yeah, I really liked this book. I'm so happy Lara Van Hulzen let me read and review this book for her. I cannot wait to see what she does next! Hopefully she is madly working at it right now. ;)
There may have been a couple instances of mild swearing. (sometimes I forget I'm reviewing and the mental notes disappear)
Continuing on from her first book Lara once again offers a read that leaves you swooning. Aimee is a spitfire, Dane is a hunk. They are both not only complex characters, but characters who are easy to relate to. Lara sets the scene with beautiful clarity, and sends you careening into Dane and Aimee's world. You are drawn into their lives, loving the people they love and fearing the people they fear. Dane has a past that has left him wounded, Aimee has a violent criminal on her tail. Can Dane keep Aimee safe. Can Aimee reach past Dane's wounded heart. Can romance spark in the midst of danger? Read 'Get to me' and find out. You won't regret it.
Want a fast, fun and engaging read…this is it!! Romance and crime blend to give the reader page-turning curiosity. Aimee and Dane live in the tension of being attracted to each other and, at the same time, unsure if each one should risk being hurt. Then there's the killer who got a good look at Aimee when she witnessed him with his latest victim.
i also love books with a sense of place. "Get to Me" goes from San Diego to Lake Tahoe, both great atmospheric locations to be immersed in.
This is book #2 in Van Hulzen's Men of Honor series. You don't need to begin with book @1 (Remember Me), but, if you haven't read it…you'll love it too.
I enjoyed this book as much if not more than the first. The author gives such vivid detail to the characters and surroundings you can easily picture the story as you read it. I love the connection between Dane and Aimee. I was also pleased to see the next book features Keith and Torie. I was hoping for them in the next book. I look forwarding to reading many more books from the author.
Sweet and sassy with a dash of faith and a heaping of sizzle, Lara Van Hulzen’s Get to Me will enchant romance readers of all ages and across all genres. Her debut novel, Remember Me, followed by this goodie soared her name to the top of my “must read” list!
This review was originally posted on Fic Central in April 2015:
After sharing a dance at Tess and Ben’s wedding, Dane can’t seem to get his mind off Aimee. Then again, she keeps popping up every time he turns around. But despite his attraction to her, he can’t focus on romance right now… or so he keeps telling himself. But when Aimee unwitting witnesses a murder, Dane will do everything he can to keep her safe, even at the expense of falling in love.
Judging Covers: I can’t really put my finger on what it is about this cover, but I just love it! The colors, the composition, the teasing glimpse we get of what’s surely Dane. Even if I hadn’t been so fortunate as to get a copy from the author, I’ve no doubt it would have caught my eye and warranted a closer look during one of my many Amazon browsing sessions.
The Verdict: Blown away again! This one has all the romance and danger and suspense I could hope for to keep me entertained — and of course the Christian aspect of it made it just perfect.
Far from his country roots, Dane is a detective in San Diego, where he’s avoiding his past and staying well away from any romantic notions. He tries so hard to be all business, but since meeting Aimee, his thoughts keep straying to her, and their attraction to each other is palpable. Photographer and artist Aimee is a free spirit who is just responsible enough to keep out of trouble but adventurous enough to have fun. But when happenstance puts her in harm’s way, Dane’s protective side comes out, allowing Aimee to work her way even further into his heart.
Dane and Aimee both have some issues when it comes to love, trust, and the possibility of a future together, but once they’re secluded away at Dane’s family ranch, they have no choice but to work through their conflicted feelings. Slowly but surely their friendship grows more solid, and as it does, she begins to chip away at the wall behind which Dane has enclosed his heart. Their relationship is a series of stops and starts as they finally begin to come to a place where they can both move forward with their whole hearts, and it’s an enthralling journey.
I would imagine that some readers used to squeaky-clean fiction may take issue with the tiny bit of very mild swearing that shows up in the story, but that’s actually one of the things I like most about Van Hulzen’s writing. Her characters are passionate and altogether human, never behaving inappropriately, but at the same time, they don’t live in a Bible-lined bubble. They’re good people that we can all relate to and understand, prone to mistakes and living in a world that is far from perfect while trying to maintain their faith and always do the right thing. The romance, people, and events in these stories feel real, and I can’t wait to see what Van Hulzen comes up with next!
***FicCentral received this book from *the author* for free in exchange for an honest review.
Book Two in the Men of Honor Series, titled Get To Me was so much fun. Lara Van Hulzen's characters were so much fun to follow around and it was hard to close the book. It all revved up quickly in a fiery fun first chapter. If you can make to the end of page 18 you are hooked.
Get To Me brings out the stories behind Dane and Aimee. Dane is the cop partner to Ben from story one. Aimee is the sister to Tess from story one as well. However, that's all the connection necessary to book one. From there on Get To Me can stand alone.
The romance is more intense in this story. And a tad spicier too. That may be more due to the personalities in the story. Aimee is a red head full of life. In fact, she is described by Dane as "sunrise mixed with fire". Her spunk leaps off of every page. Dane seemed a cool, levelheaded, take life a step at a time kind of guy in book one. But apparently he isn’t when he has feelings for a woman. And he definitely has strong feelings for Aimee.
Lara Van Hulzen has a talent. I couldn't put my finger on it fully in book one but it was there page after page again in book two. I'm still struggling to put words to it. For book one, Remember Me, I worded it like this: "The suspense plot of the story takes a bit to get going, but I never felt bored or impatient. There was a lot to sort out between the two characters and the author did a great job of keeping the story entertaining. Once the suspense plot of the story gets into action, the reader is in for a ride." Book Review of Remember Me.
Get To Me dives head strong into the action thread of the plot by chapter 3. From there on the story is moving along a white water ride to the end. Yet Van Hulzen has a knack for slowing everything down just enough to develop the characters and their inner stories. I think that is a writing gift. Anytime you slow down the plot you risk losing your reader. But she never lost me. Not once!
As the story charges to the end, a new character is introduced. Keith, is Dane's brother. Massive in size and also in "broodiness", he enters the story and immediately sparks fly between him and Torie, Aimee's roommate and friend. Excellent set up for book 3!
Overall, the story is alive and vibrant with bright, interesting characters. The tension is strong with suspense and romance. Again, as in book one, I felt the ending came abruptly with a quick resolution leaving me feeling a little jolted. However the ending is good; realistic and entertaining. Obviously this is not by mistake and more of the stylistic voice of the author.
I'm looking forward to book three (I think it’s titled Rescue Me) to be released later this year I believe. A Great Summer Read! Thanks to the author for a free copy of her book in exchange for my honest opinion.
What do you do when you know the person sitting in front of you is meant to be part of your future? What do you say? How will you be able to convince her that there is simply more there than simple attraction? For police detective, Dane Scott, he truly has his work cut out for him, that is if he can keep his mind on work and not Aimee Jansenn.
Since meeting her at her brother Ben's wedding, he hasn't been able to think of anything else except how to put some distance between them. Dane isn't ready to make any type of future with any woman especially considering a past he can't and won't forget. If only it was that easy to convince his heart of that simple truth, but no matter how much he tries to keep his feelings for her hidden, he isn't able to do that.
No matter where he goes Aimee always turns up. Fate? Perhaps, but when she witnesses a drug deal gone bad and a murder, Dane knows that there is no way he will let anything happen to Aimee, and not just because she is his best friend's sister. He is hoping that things will not getting any more dangerous for Aimee when the murderer happens to be a notorious drug lord. Things just went from bad to worse and Dane now knows it is only a matter of time before Damien finds Aimee and ensures that there are no more witnesses to his crime that could put him away for a very long time.
I received Get to Me by Lara Van Hulzen compliments of Create Space Independent Publishing Platform for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I absolutely loved this romance that readers caught a glimpse of in Remember Me, the first novel in the Men of Honor's series. This expands on that sizzling connection and in light of Aimee's life now being threatened only brings Dane's feelings for her closer to the surface. But now he has to reconcile with his past before he can move forward with his future and that is where the story gets interesting. Readers also get introduced to Torie, Aimee's best friend and roommate, also a cop for San Diego's police force and Keith Scott, Dane's brother serving in the Marines. Looks like romance readers will have their hands and hearts full in the next novel in this series soon! For me, this one easily scores a 5/5 stars in my opinion. There is just the right amount of chemistry and sparks flying between them both to keep any hopeful romantic busy!
Artist and photographer Aimee Jansenn and detective Dane Scott first meet when Aimee's sister marries Dane's best friend. They are immediately attracted to one another, but past mistakes keep them at arm's length. When a night on the town with her roommate turns into a nightmare and Aimee is the sole witness to a drug-related murder, Dane knows he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. But making sure his heart stays guarded against the fiery redhead is a whole other situation. Can he keep her safe from the murderer who is after her? And will Aimee be able to change his mind about love?
Oh my. This book was everything a romance novel should be. Filled with those "aw" cute moments that reminded me of a Hallmark movie and enough suspense to keep your heart pounding, I enjoyed every second. I hardly let go of the book once I got into it! Aimee was a lively heroine filled with spirit and just plain adorable. She was different than the normal romance heroine and I found myself relating to her A LOT, which is always a big plus in my book. And Dane. Oh, Dane. *happy sigh* You know when you just fall in love with a fictional character so much that you wish he was real? Yes, well that was Dane. A knight in shining armor, compassionate and complex and romantic. He was the perfect hero of the story! And while there was a sort of "insta-love" vibe (we don't actually read them "meet", the story begins a little later) it wasn't enough to annoy or anything. I was actually really happy that we got more scenes of them together together, instead of just the last chapter or so like usual. Overall this was such a great inspirational romance novel!
Seriously, if you like faith-based romance with lots of sizzle and a dash of intrigue this is for you! Likeable characters (including cowboys! *wink*) made for good, solid fun. Would definitely recommend and I can’t wait to read the next (and first book) in this series!
*I received this book free from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Summer is upon us and author Lara Van Hulzen has written the perfect beach or poolside read with her latest novel - Get To Me. The 2nd book in her Men of Honor series spotlights a kindling romance between Aimee Jensenn and Detective Dane Scott. Christian fiction fans will not want to miss this fast-paced blend of romance and suspense.
For Aimee and Dane, a dance they shared at Tess and Ben's wedding has set their senses on high alert. The intensity of their attraction to one another leaves them feeling vulnerable and exposed. Dane attempts to veil his feelings behind the call of duty, a cop-like protectiveness, but he's not fooling anyone... Especially not himself. The chemistry between these two characters drew me in. As the story progressed, the author kept me engaged by revealing each character's conflicted thoughts about love, trust, and their future together.
The evolving relationship intensifies after Aimee accidentally witnesses a drug lord stab a man. When it becomes clear Aimee's life is in danger, Dane along with Aimee's roommate Torie, develop a plan to hide her away until the killer can be apprehended. Here the scene shifts from the San Diego shoreline to the beautiful mountains of Tahoe - the location of Dane's family ranch. Removed from city life and the demands of work, readers catch a glimpse of Dane's country/cowbow roots. We also meet his family (Ellie was a favorite character of mine) and witness Dane confront his past. Only then is he free to explore a future with Aimee.
Get To Me is independently published and available for purchase at amazon.com.
Get to Me by Lara Van Hulzen is an excellent book. Aimee sees someone being murdered and she can identify him. So the murderer is after her. Aimee’s best friend is a police offercier and so is the best man at her sister’s wedding. Dane is also very handsome and ready to be of help. It ends up with Dane taking Aimee to his parents ranch where he knows she will be safe. In books like this you usually hear more about escaping the killer and how they are trying to get him, but in Get to Me the story is more about Aimee and Dane’s friendship and how Dane is having a hard time forgetting his past and moving on. The killer is only in the first and last parts of the book. I guess that is alright, but I like more of the book to be suspenseful. Another thing I didn’t care for was the occasionally use of swear/slang words. I mean it wasn’t often, but more than I like. Also the last part I didn’t care to read the very vivid description. I won’t say what it is about in case you want to read this book. I think you really should, because it is excellent. I would give it 5 stars if the author would have left out the parts I mentioned. I do recommend it.
Thank you to the Author/Publicist for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
Get to Me by Lara Van Hulzen is the fabulous second installment in the Men of Honor Series.
Dane Scott is a cowboy at heart, but works as a detective in San Diego. Despite his southern gentlemanly manners, rugged good looks, and amazing Texan drawl, he's carrying deep wounds from the past. He'll admit he's broken - so much so that he's built a wall around his heart and hasn't allowed any woman to even begin to chip away at it.
Aimee Jansenn is a photographer and a sketch artist. While she is a bit of a free spirit and loves a good adventure - she knows her limits and won't intentionally do anything reckless or that might put herself or those she loves in harms way.
When Dane & Aimee meet - she does more than turn his head, she manages to begin to chip away at that wall he carefully erected around his heart. He can't stop thinking about her and when she not only witnesses a crime, but also ends up in the criminal's crosshairs, Dane finds he not only wants to, but needs to protect her.
I absolutely loved reading this book! It's full of little twists and turns; their relationship is like a West Coast Swing - he pulls her in, then pushes her away only to pull her back again. The frequent references to music whether it be The Doobie Brothers, Patsy Cline, or any of the other songs and artists mentioned only enhance that feeling of a dance.
Another win by Lara Van Hulzen - a perfect marriage of suspense, romance, and faith.
If you haven't read the "Men of Honor" series, I highly suggest you do. This is book 2 of the series, and we are introduced to Aimee and Dane. Dane Scott has sworn off women and relationships until he is best man at Aimee's sister's wedding. There is a definite connection between Aimee and Dane. All through the plot there is the push and pull of Dane's interest, and the mystery of why he has sworn of relationships. Will he let Aimee into his life?
I also liked that I saw a parallel to the prodigal son and the love and forgiveness God has for us.
This book was great. It was hard to put down, the story line was amazing, actioned packed.
Dane Scott, a detective, and Aimee Jansenn, an artist meet at the wedding of Dane's best friend and Aimee's sister. They are drawn to each other, but try to do everything in their power to ignore the attraction becoming just friends. Dane has baggage he needs to get over. Aimee is insecure, but a sparky redhead who loves life. Aimee witnesses a murder and now Dane will do everything he can to protect her. A good clean Christian book with characters that make you want to hug them and join in their adventure. I recommend this book for an enjoyable, quiet evening, by a warm fireplace.
I really love a fast paced, intense book, and this one did not disappoint. These characters started strong and I enjoyed getting to know them. This story had so many ups and downs that I had a hard time putting it down. The suspense was great and the romance was hot.
There were a few words in this book that I am not fond of. But the message of letting God help with your forgiveness was loud and strong. A great read!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
A very enjoyable read although I didn't like it quite as well as the first book. I'm not a fan of the 'I got hurt once so now I'm going to steel my heart and never love again'. I liked Dane, Aimee, Keith, Torie and the rest. This was just a bit more implausible than the first book. Don't get me wrong, it was still a sweet, clean, enjoyable romance and I look forward to more by this author.
Really liked this story, even better than the first book in the series! The characters are real and easy to relate to. I also like how characters from a previous book get their own storyline in the next book. Looking forward to the next book in the Men of Honor series.
Get To Me is a lovely romantic suspense! The characters are fun, and their backstories are interesting. Even though you know the bad guy, there is enough intrigue to keep you reading into the night. I'm looking forward to another installment in the Men of Honor Series!