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Delos #5
Hold On
Callie McKinley has been burned by love before, and has learned to carefully guard her heart. Especially from smooth-talking alpha males like Sgt. Beau Gardner. Callie is wary of the Army Delta Force operator, but she is soon taken in by his slow West Virginia drawl, his honesty and his surprising gentleness. Could Beau be worth risking her bruised heart for?
Being black ops, Beau Gardner isn’t afraid of a challenge. And beautiful Callie McKinley is a big one. He has wanted the beautiful redhead in his bed since he first saw her belly dancing at the annual holiday show at Bagram. But once he begins to break through Callie’s defenses and get to know the woman inside, he realizes he wants more than her body. He wants her heart.
To get closer to Callie, Beau volunteers to provide security for her and her sister while they work at a local orphanage. But when a routine visit to a Afghan village results in a Taliban ambush, Callie and Beau find themselves on the run. And it will take every bit of training Beau possesses to keep them alive. Can he get Callie to safety so that they can explore their growing love or not?
Being black ops, Beau Gardner isn’t afraid of a challenge. And beautiful Callie McKinley is a big one. He has wanted the beautiful redhead in his bed since he first saw her belly dancing at the annual holiday show at Bagram. But once he begins to break through Callie’s defenses and get to know the woman inside, he realizes he wants more than her body. He wants her heart.
To get closer to Callie, Beau volunteers to provide security for her and her sister while they work at a local orphanage. But when a routine visit to a Afghan village results in a Taliban ambush, Callie and Beau find themselves on the run. And it will take every bit of training Beau possesses to keep them alive. Can he get Callie to safety so that they can explore their growing love or not?
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2016
About the author
Lindsay McKenna
361 books2,503 followersI've lived six lives in one and it all shows up in the books I write, one way or another.
I was always a risk taker and broke mustangs at thirteen years old in Oregon. I learn to break them with love, not threat or pain.
At 17 years old, I picked night-crawlers (worms) out in our Oregon orchards from 9pm to midnight, every night. I earned enough money to buy my school clothes and book. I also plunked down $600 to a flight company at the Medford, Oregon airport and asked them to teach me...a girl...to fly. I soloed in 12 hours, which is average. From that time until I left for the US Navy at 18, I had accrued 39 hours of flight time in my Cessna 150 single engine airplane.
I was in the US military and was an AG3 (weather forecaster). There was no airplane club, so I couldn't fly when I was in the Navy. But I could look at the clouds in the sky ;-).
Later, I flew in a B-52 bomber for a day and night mission (18 hours total), a T-38 Talon jet, USAF, where I was riding in a "chase plane" on a test flight in a Dragonfly jet.
I was one of the first AFLA (American Fencing League of America) women fencers to fence with epee and sabre. These weapons were closed to women because they were too 'heavy' for a female to handle. I said baloney and fought the males and won half my bouts. I was part of a surge of women fencers on the East Coast in the 1970's to push for equality in the sport. Together, we changed the sport and changed the mind of the men. Today? In the Olympics? Women now fence in foil, epee and sabre, thanks to what we did as a vanguard showing the world it could be done.
I then became a volunteer firefighter when I was a civilian once more, the first woman in an all - male fire department in West Point, Ohio for three years. I became a local expert not only in firefighting, driving the engine and tanker trunks, but also had training in hazardous material (Reynoldsburg Fire Academy, Columbus, OH).
My books always reflect what I experienced. If you like edgy, gritty, deeply and emotionally intense love stories with sympathetic heroes and heroines, check out my newest series that will be available mid-Oct. 2015, and it incorporates much of what I have lived.
I was always a risk taker and broke mustangs at thirteen years old in Oregon. I learn to break them with love, not threat or pain.
At 17 years old, I picked night-crawlers (worms) out in our Oregon orchards from 9pm to midnight, every night. I earned enough money to buy my school clothes and book. I also plunked down $600 to a flight company at the Medford, Oregon airport and asked them to teach me...a girl...to fly. I soloed in 12 hours, which is average. From that time until I left for the US Navy at 18, I had accrued 39 hours of flight time in my Cessna 150 single engine airplane.
I was in the US military and was an AG3 (weather forecaster). There was no airplane club, so I couldn't fly when I was in the Navy. But I could look at the clouds in the sky ;-).
Later, I flew in a B-52 bomber for a day and night mission (18 hours total), a T-38 Talon jet, USAF, where I was riding in a "chase plane" on a test flight in a Dragonfly jet.
I was one of the first AFLA (American Fencing League of America) women fencers to fence with epee and sabre. These weapons were closed to women because they were too 'heavy' for a female to handle. I said baloney and fought the males and won half my bouts. I was part of a surge of women fencers on the East Coast in the 1970's to push for equality in the sport. Together, we changed the sport and changed the mind of the men. Today? In the Olympics? Women now fence in foil, epee and sabre, thanks to what we did as a vanguard showing the world it could be done.
I then became a volunteer firefighter when I was a civilian once more, the first woman in an all - male fire department in West Point, Ohio for three years. I became a local expert not only in firefighting, driving the engine and tanker trunks, but also had training in hazardous material (Reynoldsburg Fire Academy, Columbus, OH).
My books always reflect what I experienced. If you like edgy, gritty, deeply and emotionally intense love stories with sympathetic heroes and heroines, check out my newest series that will be available mid-Oct. 2015, and it incorporates much of what I have lived.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 1, 2019
This outing follows Cassie McKinley and Beau Mitchell, the second romance that blossomed in Forged in Fire. Beau was infatuated with Cassie from the moment he saw her belly dance as part of the entertainment at a charity event. For her part, Cassie was done with guys that only wanted her for her looks. No exceptions.
But when the sisters, and their Black Ops bodyguards, Beau and Matt Culver travel to a village to provide support, they're attacked and have to split in pairs for safety. There's some overlap as this portion is lifted and inserted with Matt's POV before delving into their courtship and the peril these two experienced on their half of the adventure.
While exciting with its own moments of danger, heroism, etc., for this reader's taste it paled following the perilous romance of the last series and since much of Beau and Cassie's adventure and outcome was covered previously and I found my interest wandering.
Rating 3.5stars
But when the sisters, and their Black Ops bodyguards, Beau and Matt Culver travel to a village to provide support, they're attacked and have to split in pairs for safety. There's some overlap as this portion is lifted and inserted with Matt's POV before delving into their courtship and the peril these two experienced on their half of the adventure.
While exciting with its own moments of danger, heroism, etc., for this reader's taste it paled following the perilous romance of the last series and since much of Beau and Cassie's adventure and outcome was covered previously and I found my interest wandering.
Rating 3.5stars
May 7, 2021
Great book
I like everything Lindsay writes. I have all her books and have read them several times over. I have a large library of books and read some over and over, her's being ones I do that too. She put herself in her stories and they are well told.
I like everything Lindsay writes. I have all her books and have read them several times over. I have a large library of books and read some over and over, her's being ones I do that too. She put herself in her stories and they are well told.
August 3, 2016
Hold On continues with a glorious story about Beau Gardner and Callie McKinley, introduced in Forged In Fire, Book 3 in the Delos Charities Series. I love the quality of Ms. McKenna's writing, as it flows with an intensity of emotions that capture your heart. With humor and passion, she wields her words with knife-edge precision and holds nothing back.
Beau is a Black Ops soldier stationed at Bagram Army Base in Afghanistan and Callie works as a volunteer for Hope Charities in a village not far away. From their first meeting during a Thanksgiving Show when Callie and her sister, Dr. Dara McKinley performed as Belly Dancers, Beau can't get Callie out of his mind. Determined to see her again, he arranges to keep his friend, Matt company while he escorts Dara and Callie to the village orphanage to help with the women and children. As a Pediatrician, Dara is on her first trip to assist medical personnel in this war torn area.
While there, Callie begins to see that Beau is not like most of the men she's been involved with during her five years in Kabul. The ice around her heart begins to melt as Beau's gentle way with children and respect for women clearly show another side to this fierce warrior surviving in a violent environment. He's different in many ways, also, because of his upbringing on Black Mountain, West Virginia, raised and loved with no pretensions.
With trust established and seeds for intimacy beginning, Callie realizes that she can let go of the past and open up fully to living again. Little do they know their lives are about to change in ways that will test themselves to their limits of endurance.
Feelings run rampant, page after page, and talk about building suspense ~ oh yeah! Beau's sensual nature coupled with Callie's fiery temperament add a steamy and wonderful dimension to a love beautifully described.
Knowing Ms. McKenna is continuing with new books that will feature these well loved people makes my day!
Beau is a Black Ops soldier stationed at Bagram Army Base in Afghanistan and Callie works as a volunteer for Hope Charities in a village not far away. From their first meeting during a Thanksgiving Show when Callie and her sister, Dr. Dara McKinley performed as Belly Dancers, Beau can't get Callie out of his mind. Determined to see her again, he arranges to keep his friend, Matt company while he escorts Dara and Callie to the village orphanage to help with the women and children. As a Pediatrician, Dara is on her first trip to assist medical personnel in this war torn area.
While there, Callie begins to see that Beau is not like most of the men she's been involved with during her five years in Kabul. The ice around her heart begins to melt as Beau's gentle way with children and respect for women clearly show another side to this fierce warrior surviving in a violent environment. He's different in many ways, also, because of his upbringing on Black Mountain, West Virginia, raised and loved with no pretensions.
With trust established and seeds for intimacy beginning, Callie realizes that she can let go of the past and open up fully to living again. Little do they know their lives are about to change in ways that will test themselves to their limits of endurance.
Feelings run rampant, page after page, and talk about building suspense ~ oh yeah! Beau's sensual nature coupled with Callie's fiery temperament add a steamy and wonderful dimension to a love beautifully described.
Knowing Ms. McKenna is continuing with new books that will feature these well loved people makes my day!
August 3, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Hold On is Book 5 of the Delos Series. This is a book about Callie McKinley and Beau Gardner. If you’ve read the series, Callie and Beau were introduced in Forged in Fire. Hold On is their story, about a fateful day when Callie, Beau, Dara (Callie’s sister) and Matt Culver, a member of the family behind the Delos charities and a member of a Special Forces team in Afghanistan (Beau is a member of Matt’s team) were traveling from Bagram Army Base to an Afghan village to give aid to the villagers. Matt’s and Dara’s story was told in Forged in Fire (if you haven’t read that, it too is an amazing, heart-pounding story.) This book is a standalone but if you haven’t read the Delos series, you really are missing out on some amazing, fast-paced, intriguing reading.
I couldn’t do this story justice to try to describe it but Ms. McKenna has once again created a heart-pounding story that showcases the interactions and developing relationship between Callie and Beau. I like that Callie is a strong personality and that Beau is an amazing soldier but is also a strong, tender, loving human being. They have a story that I cannot describe but I just loved these two. Beau really comes thru for Callie and his calmness, tenderness and toughness really help her through their story and later, to move on with her life. Ms. McKenna has written yet another hero that I just wanna hug. Read the book and be ready for a wild ride – you won’t be sorry.
I couldn’t do this story justice to try to describe it but Ms. McKenna has once again created a heart-pounding story that showcases the interactions and developing relationship between Callie and Beau. I like that Callie is a strong personality and that Beau is an amazing soldier but is also a strong, tender, loving human being. They have a story that I cannot describe but I just loved these two. Beau really comes thru for Callie and his calmness, tenderness and toughness really help her through their story and later, to move on with her life. Ms. McKenna has written yet another hero that I just wanna hug. Read the book and be ready for a wild ride – you won’t be sorry.
August 13, 2016
Emotional romance
Such a great first book of three!! I love the "Delos" series!! Beau is smitten with Callie when he sees her and her sister doing belly dancing for the troops. He courts her, knowing he's found his soul mate. When his friend Matt Culver and him provide escort for Callie and her doctor sister, Dara to an Afghan village their van is attacked. Beau & Matt splits up to keep the sisters safe, due to their satellite phone being damaged they must travel 35 miles to get back to base, while dodging the taliban pursuing them through rough, Ricky terrain. Exciting, adventurous, dangerous, terrifying, and romance.
Such a great first book of three!! I love the "Delos" series!! Beau is smitten with Callie when he sees her and her sister doing belly dancing for the troops. He courts her, knowing he's found his soul mate. When his friend Matt Culver and him provide escort for Callie and her doctor sister, Dara to an Afghan village their van is attacked. Beau & Matt splits up to keep the sisters safe, due to their satellite phone being damaged they must travel 35 miles to get back to base, while dodging the taliban pursuing them through rough, Ricky terrain. Exciting, adventurous, dangerous, terrifying, and romance.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews