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Blue Justice #2
Called to Protect
For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fianc� for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She's over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.
When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?
Bestselling author Lynette Eason warns readers to buckle in for a fast and furious ride that will have their hearts pumping from the very start.
When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?
Bestselling author Lynette Eason warns readers to buckle in for a fast and furious ride that will have their hearts pumping from the very start.
447 pages, Library Binding
First published July 31, 2018
1248 people are currently reading
1982 people want to read
About the author
Lynette Eason
182 books3,765 followersLynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and then obtained her masters in education from Converse College. Author of twenty inspirational romantic suspense books, she is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). In 1996, Lynette married "the boy next door" and now she and her husband and their two children make their home in Simpsonville, South Carolina."
Series:
. Amazon Adventure
. High Stakes
. Women of Justice
Series:
. Amazon Adventure
. High Stakes
. Women of Justice
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
July 7, 2018
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
My favorite two things about this book were how much the talents of K-9 officer Hank were featured and that the human trafficking angle was handled so expertly as to highlight the dangers of it while not delving into the nastiest parts. The author handled both of these things like an old pro, with lots of grace, spot-on details, and creativity.
A couple of key things were highly predictable to me, but that did not stop this book from easily sliding into my top-five list of new releases in 2018. There were enough surprises along the way that I was kept intrigued and flipping pages faster and faster the deeper I got into the story. The human trafficking aspect was perhaps the most inspiring angle of all, as there was so much hope for redemption and escape fused into each chapter. This isn’t an easy book by any means, as the aforementioned topic hints, but it is a must-read for all suspense fans.
There were a few “too convenient” things, such as a garden planted behind a gas station. That one in particular felt like it was put there simply to aid a character in her journey rather than being logical. A little more creativity for those moments of convenience would have been appreciated, because it really felt that the answers came a bit too easily in those instances.
One thing that I found a little distracting was the variety in amount of detail given. Most were spot-on, dig-deep sort of research: The diabetes medications and how the pods worked were so realistic and easy to understand, and it was very clear the author looked up loads of medical things to add great depth to the scenes and plot. A couple of other areas lacked any sort of detail whatsoever: “Tool” was used every time “bolt cutters” was the tool being asked for or used. Why not just say “bolt cutters” rather than “bringing a tool to cut the lock off” and similar all four times? It felt like the author wasn’t familiar with the tools required in this situation and didn’t bother to run a quick Google search to add that extra bit of atmosphere to the story. I think why it felt like that to me is that the officer asking for and using the tool would have known what it was called and referenced it by its name rather than just saying “tool.” This isn’t like Ms. Eason, as her novels are typically rich with detail and the rest of the book reflected that same richness. I’m hoping it was simply an anomaly and that it was fixed before the final printing.
This story felt cleaner than the previous installment of the series. I only noticed one crude phrase and zero expletives or profanities. I was very happy about the lack of negative content. Even though the faith aspect was light, the cleanness factor definitely felt God-honoring the whole way through, and I appreciated that very much. I hope that continues as the series progresses.
This book was even better than its predecessor, and it makes me want to read its sequel immediately. It’s really too bad it isn’t yet available (as of July 7, 2018). Hurry, Lynette! I want more of the St. John family saga!!
Rating: 4 stars
My favorite two things about this book were how much the talents of K-9 officer Hank were featured and that the human trafficking angle was handled so expertly as to highlight the dangers of it while not delving into the nastiest parts. The author handled both of these things like an old pro, with lots of grace, spot-on details, and creativity.
A couple of key things were highly predictable to me, but that did not stop this book from easily sliding into my top-five list of new releases in 2018. There were enough surprises along the way that I was kept intrigued and flipping pages faster and faster the deeper I got into the story. The human trafficking aspect was perhaps the most inspiring angle of all, as there was so much hope for redemption and escape fused into each chapter. This isn’t an easy book by any means, as the aforementioned topic hints, but it is a must-read for all suspense fans.
There were a few “too convenient” things, such as a garden planted behind a gas station. That one in particular felt like it was put there simply to aid a character in her journey rather than being logical. A little more creativity for those moments of convenience would have been appreciated, because it really felt that the answers came a bit too easily in those instances.
One thing that I found a little distracting was the variety in amount of detail given. Most were spot-on, dig-deep sort of research: The diabetes medications and how the pods worked were so realistic and easy to understand, and it was very clear the author looked up loads of medical things to add great depth to the scenes and plot. A couple of other areas lacked any sort of detail whatsoever: “Tool” was used every time “bolt cutters” was the tool being asked for or used. Why not just say “bolt cutters” rather than “bringing a tool to cut the lock off” and similar all four times? It felt like the author wasn’t familiar with the tools required in this situation and didn’t bother to run a quick Google search to add that extra bit of atmosphere to the story. I think why it felt like that to me is that the officer asking for and using the tool would have known what it was called and referenced it by its name rather than just saying “tool.” This isn’t like Ms. Eason, as her novels are typically rich with detail and the rest of the book reflected that same richness. I’m hoping it was simply an anomaly and that it was fixed before the final printing.
This story felt cleaner than the previous installment of the series. I only noticed one crude phrase and zero expletives or profanities. I was very happy about the lack of negative content. Even though the faith aspect was light, the cleanness factor definitely felt God-honoring the whole way through, and I appreciated that very much. I hope that continues as the series progresses.
This book was even better than its predecessor, and it makes me want to read its sequel immediately. It’s really too bad it isn’t yet available (as of July 7, 2018). Hurry, Lynette! I want more of the St. John family saga!!
Rating: 4 stars
December 11, 2018
I feel like I love Lynette Eason's writing more with every book I read of hers. This series is one of her best and the characters practically spring off the page. Chloe was a great heroine and I loved all the page time that Hank the dog got. As much as I enjoyed book one, this one was better and also easier to follow.
Blake was a good hero. Strong without being pushy or overbearing. Talk about impossible options!! This guy has got it bad. Either turn on his entire life and kill the folks there with him, or lose his daughter. One thing I really admired was how Eason managed to portray his feelings and his predicament, showing the pain in his heart without getting down into melodrama.
I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, and it complicated matters to have Claire's relative Rachel caught up in this same human-trafficking group. I was keeping up my hopes for Blake's daughter pretty well, but I really wasn't sure about Rachel's chances. Definitely an edge-of-your-seat read!
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ebook copy. A positive review was not required.
Blake was a good hero. Strong without being pushy or overbearing. Talk about impossible options!! This guy has got it bad. Either turn on his entire life and kill the folks there with him, or lose his daughter. One thing I really admired was how Eason managed to portray his feelings and his predicament, showing the pain in his heart without getting down into melodrama.
I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, and it complicated matters to have Claire's relative Rachel caught up in this same human-trafficking group. I was keeping up my hopes for Blake's daughter pretty well, but I really wasn't sure about Rachel's chances. Definitely an edge-of-your-seat read!
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ebook copy. A positive review was not required.
May 14, 2020
For your information this book has stolen my heart and you must go read it.
I have not enough words to eloquently describe this book nor give it the level of praise it deserves. 💖 Just trust me when I say it's absolutely marvelous.
I have not enough words to eloquently describe this book nor give it the level of praise it deserves. 💖 Just trust me when I say it's absolutely marvelous.
July 18, 2018
Lynette Eason is back with another action- and emotion-packed suspense novel - And this one does not disappoint. Even the cover is gorgeous.
I loved the two main characters. Blake MacCallum was a super sweet and incredibly realistic character, and I loved his daddy's heart and relationship with his daughter. Chloe is also a fabulous character; I loved her compassionate, empathetic heart mixed with a hefty dose of spunk. Chloe and Blake's relationship was spot-on. I appreciated the slow, sweet romance not based on physical attraction as opposed to the "insta-love" shallow romances portrayed in novels so frequently these days. The secondary cast of Brady, Linc, Izzy, etc, was great, as well. I loved the cameo appearances of Daniel Matthews and Quinn Holcombe () from Eason's Elite Guardians series. Loved that touch, although I found it slightly odd that there weren't the same connections to that series in Oath of Honor.
The plot was sound and the action and suspense kept me reading. Finished this one in less than 24 hours. I was slightly concerned about the subject matter (human trafficking), but Eason did a wonderful job of showing this very real, relevant, and horrendous issue without going into too much gruesome detail. Living in one of the top areas for human trafficking in the country, this was very eye-opening.
Probably the thing I love most about this series is the family dynamic. Family\sibling relationships are so infrequently portrayed in fiction, or if they are, they don't feel realistic. But the Blue Justice series does a great job with the family relationships, and the sibling banter is always epic.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed Called to Protect, and am on the edge of my seat waiting for book 3! Highly recommend this series.
CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 17+. There is a fair amount of violence and some detailing of human trafficking, as well as some light romance.
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
I loved the two main characters. Blake MacCallum was a super sweet and incredibly realistic character, and I loved his daddy's heart and relationship with his daughter. Chloe is also a fabulous character; I loved her compassionate, empathetic heart mixed with a hefty dose of spunk. Chloe and Blake's relationship was spot-on. I appreciated the slow, sweet romance not based on physical attraction as opposed to the "insta-love" shallow romances portrayed in novels so frequently these days. The secondary cast of Brady, Linc, Izzy, etc, was great, as well. I loved the cameo appearances of Daniel Matthews and Quinn Holcombe () from Eason's Elite Guardians series. Loved that touch, although I found it slightly odd that there weren't the same connections to that series in Oath of Honor.
The plot was sound and the action and suspense kept me reading. Finished this one in less than 24 hours. I was slightly concerned about the subject matter (human trafficking), but Eason did a wonderful job of showing this very real, relevant, and horrendous issue without going into too much gruesome detail. Living in one of the top areas for human trafficking in the country, this was very eye-opening.
Probably the thing I love most about this series is the family dynamic. Family\sibling relationships are so infrequently portrayed in fiction, or if they are, they don't feel realistic. But the Blue Justice series does a great job with the family relationships, and the sibling banter is always epic.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed Called to Protect, and am on the edge of my seat waiting for book 3! Highly recommend this series.
CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 17+. There is a fair amount of violence and some detailing of human trafficking, as well as some light romance.
FTC DISCLOSURE: I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
July 9, 2018
'God, why is this happening? Why do you hate me? What did I ever do to you?'
In this second installment of her Blue Justice series, Eason shines! Chloe St. John and her German Shepherd Dog partner, Hank, are a team. He is probably the only male that she likes. She is so over romance.
Deputy U.S. Marshall Blake MacCallum is assigned protection duty to a judge who is trying to get stiffer sentences for human trafficking. When Blake's daughter is kidnapped with orders that she will not be released unless he kills the judge, the race is on to bring down those responsible. Chloe St. John is called in to assist with her dog, Hank, and soon she finds herself attracted to the stoic marshall.
Eason takes her readers on a mighty fine ride with this one, so buckle your seatbelts at the first page. Fast paced, well developed, multi-layered characters make this one unforgettable read. I am completely hooked! And there are several more St. John siblings, so we have more books to look forward to. This one is a keeper!
*My thanks to the publisher for a preview copy of this book. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.
In this second installment of her Blue Justice series, Eason shines! Chloe St. John and her German Shepherd Dog partner, Hank, are a team. He is probably the only male that she likes. She is so over romance.
Deputy U.S. Marshall Blake MacCallum is assigned protection duty to a judge who is trying to get stiffer sentences for human trafficking. When Blake's daughter is kidnapped with orders that she will not be released unless he kills the judge, the race is on to bring down those responsible. Chloe St. John is called in to assist with her dog, Hank, and soon she finds herself attracted to the stoic marshall.
Eason takes her readers on a mighty fine ride with this one, so buckle your seatbelts at the first page. Fast paced, well developed, multi-layered characters make this one unforgettable read. I am completely hooked! And there are several more St. John siblings, so we have more books to look forward to. This one is a keeper!
*My thanks to the publisher for a preview copy of this book. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.
July 8, 2018
I just finished the second book in the Blue Justice series, and a warning, once you turn that first page the nonstop action is going to make you keep turning and gasping, as the shoes start to drop. This one is just as good as the first, and we are with the St. John family, and mainly Chloe and her K-9 Hank, but other members of this police family are here.
The book deals with the tough subject of human trafficking and we meet it first hand when a member of their family goes up missing.
While the author is giving us different family relationships here, and there is more than one, we deal with murder as a way of shutting someone up, there doesn’t seem to be any regard for human life, and when the final move is shown it holds many surprises. A don’t miss book, with a final tease at the end!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell and was not required to give a positive review.
The book deals with the tough subject of human trafficking and we meet it first hand when a member of their family goes up missing.
While the author is giving us different family relationships here, and there is more than one, we deal with murder as a way of shutting someone up, there doesn’t seem to be any regard for human life, and when the final move is shown it holds many surprises. A don’t miss book, with a final tease at the end!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell and was not required to give a positive review.
April 9, 2020
About this book:
“For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She's over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.
When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Blue Justice” series. Review of the first book, Here!
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are remembered & said; Prayers & Thanking God; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Rachel wonders if God hates her & why He would allow this; Brady (in the preview of the next book in the series) doesn’t come across as super happy with God; Mentions of prayers & praying; A mention of the mission field; A mention of a church camp; A mention of sainthood;
*Note: Mentions of evil.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘screw up’, five ‘dumb’s, seven ‘idiot’s, eight forms of ‘shut up’s, and thirty-five ‘stupid’s; Mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & eye rolling; Pain, being kidnapped, being chased, being locked up in cages, & being sprayed with chloroform (three times, semi-detailed); Finding dead/murdered bodies & how it happened (up to semi-detailed); Car accidents, pulling weapons, being shot at, nearly being shot, seeing others shot, blood/bleeding, & gunshots (semi-detailed); Shooting criminals & seeing deaths (up to semi-detailed); Seeing someone fall off a roof & die (semi-detailed); Seeing abuse & girls hit/beaten (up to semi-detailed); K-9 officers take down criminals & cause them pain (up to semi-detailed); Bombs/explosions & fires (semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of kidnappings, being held hostage, being locked up, & threats of killing; Many mentions of threats; Mentions of suicides & another saying she would have committed suicide; Mentions of killing/murders, finding dead bodies, & how they happened (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of abuse, abusers, injuries, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of beatings, being hit/pushed, & being murdered; Mentions of car accidents, injuries, & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of guns, bullets, & aiming the guns towards others; Mentions of bombs & explosives (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of mafias, criminals, crimes, rap sheets, arrests, jail/prison, & the death penalty; Mentions of hitmen; Mentions of someone nearly drowning; Mentions of fathers beating their kids (including Blake’s father); Mentions of drugs & drugging others; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, bars, & injuries through a bar fight; Mentions of cigarettes & smoking; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of a divorce & intense custody battle; A few mentions of attempted murders; A few mentions of hints of self-harm; A few mentions of domestic abuse & a husband beating his wife; A couple mentions of a mother drowning herself and her children on purpose (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a mugging; A couple mentions of gossip; A mention of a girl’s parents who were killed on the mission field;
*Note: Mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of social media.
Sexual Content- a hand/fingers kiss, a forehead kiss (by a creep), a head kiss, three barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, & Hand holding (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Rachel was born out of wedlock; Prologue is in Penny’s point of view right before and after she is kidnapped for human trafficking; A trafficker touches Rachel under her shirt & kisses her forehead; All about many, many, many mentions of human/sex trafficking rings, finding the girls, them being auctioned off, & the untouched ones who get sold for more money (we do see a trafficker’s POV and hear comments); Mentions of a mom prostituting herself & then later selling her daughter (which is why the daughter later committed suicide); Mentions of boyfriends, girlfriends, dating, exes, & cheating; A few mentions of a birth father telling the mother to have an abortion; A few mentions of kissing & kisses; A few mentions of blushes; A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of the girls not being raped by the traffickers; A couple mentions of a man checking Penny out; A couple mentions of websites of human traffickers; A couple mentions of finding a boyfriend kissing another girl; A couple mentions of flirting; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of revealing clothes & bathing suits; A mention of dressing the victims in lingerie.
-Chloe St. John
-Blake MacCallum
P.O.V. switches between them, Rachel, a man involved in the trafficking (x3), Derek (x1), Carson (x1), & Penny (in the Prologue)
320 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{Not for young readers at all or those sensitive to human trafficking.}
Human trafficking is never easy to read about—and I’m of the opinion that we should never get used to hearing about it because it’s not right. It’s awful, horrendous evil that happens to too many people across the world.
Because of this major plot point, I was already a bit concerned reading this book after hearing about it in the first book. But, because I really do appreciate the fact that the author created a series about a family that truly loves each other and sees each other often, I decided to take a chance on this book. I will most likely end up finishing this series because of this reason.
All that said, I don’t think this was the author’s best. It was good, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as her past books (though, I will admit that could be completely because of the human trafficking) and I wasn’t really a big fan of Blake.
I do have my usual romantic suspense genre complaints of the random kisses in very un-romantic places (such as in the room connected to the room with two murdered bodies) and the typical suspense/mystery being wrapped up a little too quickly in the end.
There also were a couple parts that seemed obvious that I think a trained professional like Chloe would have picked up on. Whether I picked it up because I’ve taken classes in the criminal justice industry or it was a weaker plot point for the readers to guess what will happen next (and it’s most likely the second), it was disappointing that Chloe didn’t catch it. *Spoiler*
One more thing to note is that the back-cover says that Chloe was dumped by her fiancé where as in the book (on page 28) it says they were dating and she thought they might be heading towards a lifetime commitment, but they were only dating.
Overall, this was not my favorite, but it does talk about an evil that is out there that people (who are old enough to be able to understand the horrors and not become scared or paranoid) need to be aware of for their own safety and for those around them.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She's over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in her lap.
When US Marshall Blake MacCallum's daughter goes missing, he's ordered to kill the judge he's protecting and tell no one about his daughter's disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?”
Series: Book #2 in the “Blue Justice” series. Review of the first book, Here!
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are remembered & said; Prayers & Thanking God; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Rachel wonders if God hates her & why He would allow this; Brady (in the preview of the next book in the series) doesn’t come across as super happy with God; Mentions of prayers & praying; A mention of the mission field; A mention of a church camp; A mention of sainthood;
*Note: Mentions of evil.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘screw up’, five ‘dumb’s, seven ‘idiot’s, eight forms of ‘shut up’s, and thirty-five ‘stupid’s; Mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & eye rolling; Pain, being kidnapped, being chased, being locked up in cages, & being sprayed with chloroform (three times, semi-detailed); Finding dead/murdered bodies & how it happened (up to semi-detailed); Car accidents, pulling weapons, being shot at, nearly being shot, seeing others shot, blood/bleeding, & gunshots (semi-detailed); Shooting criminals & seeing deaths (up to semi-detailed); Seeing someone fall off a roof & die (semi-detailed); Seeing abuse & girls hit/beaten (up to semi-detailed); K-9 officers take down criminals & cause them pain (up to semi-detailed); Bombs/explosions & fires (semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of kidnappings, being held hostage, being locked up, & threats of killing; Many mentions of threats; Mentions of suicides & another saying she would have committed suicide; Mentions of killing/murders, finding dead bodies, & how they happened (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of abuse, abusers, injuries, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of beatings, being hit/pushed, & being murdered; Mentions of car accidents, injuries, & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of guns, bullets, & aiming the guns towards others; Mentions of bombs & explosives (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of mafias, criminals, crimes, rap sheets, arrests, jail/prison, & the death penalty; Mentions of hitmen; Mentions of someone nearly drowning; Mentions of fathers beating their kids (including Blake’s father); Mentions of drugs & drugging others; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, bars, & injuries through a bar fight; Mentions of cigarettes & smoking; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of a divorce & intense custody battle; A few mentions of attempted murders; A few mentions of hints of self-harm; A few mentions of domestic abuse & a husband beating his wife; A couple mentions of a mother drowning herself and her children on purpose (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a mugging; A couple mentions of gossip; A mention of a girl’s parents who were killed on the mission field;
*Note: Mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of social media.
Sexual Content- a hand/fingers kiss, a forehead kiss (by a creep), a head kiss, three barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, & Hand holding (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Rachel was born out of wedlock; Prologue is in Penny’s point of view right before and after she is kidnapped for human trafficking; A trafficker touches Rachel under her shirt & kisses her forehead; All about many, many, many mentions of human/sex trafficking rings, finding the girls, them being auctioned off, & the untouched ones who get sold for more money (we do see a trafficker’s POV and hear comments); Mentions of a mom prostituting herself & then later selling her daughter (which is why the daughter later committed suicide); Mentions of boyfriends, girlfriends, dating, exes, & cheating; A few mentions of a birth father telling the mother to have an abortion; A few mentions of kissing & kisses; A few mentions of blushes; A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of the girls not being raped by the traffickers; A couple mentions of a man checking Penny out; A couple mentions of websites of human traffickers; A couple mentions of finding a boyfriend kissing another girl; A couple mentions of flirting; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A few mentions of revealing clothes & bathing suits; A mention of dressing the victims in lingerie.
-Chloe St. John
-Blake MacCallum
P.O.V. switches between them, Rachel, a man involved in the trafficking (x3), Derek (x1), Carson (x1), & Penny (in the Prologue)
320 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{Not for young readers at all or those sensitive to human trafficking.}
Human trafficking is never easy to read about—and I’m of the opinion that we should never get used to hearing about it because it’s not right. It’s awful, horrendous evil that happens to too many people across the world.
Because of this major plot point, I was already a bit concerned reading this book after hearing about it in the first book. But, because I really do appreciate the fact that the author created a series about a family that truly loves each other and sees each other often, I decided to take a chance on this book. I will most likely end up finishing this series because of this reason.
All that said, I don’t think this was the author’s best. It was good, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as her past books (though, I will admit that could be completely because of the human trafficking) and I wasn’t really a big fan of Blake.
I do have my usual romantic suspense genre complaints of the random kisses in very un-romantic places (such as in the room connected to the room with two murdered bodies) and the typical suspense/mystery being wrapped up a little too quickly in the end.
There also were a couple parts that seemed obvious that I think a trained professional like Chloe would have picked up on. Whether I picked it up because I’ve taken classes in the criminal justice industry or it was a weaker plot point for the readers to guess what will happen next (and it’s most likely the second), it was disappointing that Chloe didn’t catch it. *Spoiler*
One more thing to note is that the back-cover says that Chloe was dumped by her fiancé where as in the book (on page 28) it says they were dating and she thought they might be heading towards a lifetime commitment, but they were only dating.
Overall, this was not my favorite, but it does talk about an evil that is out there that people (who are old enough to be able to understand the horrors and not become scared or paranoid) need to be aware of for their own safety and for those around them.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
October 13, 2018
Well, I loved this book a lot more than I thought I was going to!
A relatively minor gripe--I didn't feel like the blurb matched the story that well. The romantic tension was so light I'm not even sure it was there. Yes, the romance was there (very light and beautiful), but the whole "can't trust another man" attitude just never seemed right for the Chloe I saw. Yes, she'd been hurt, but that didn't stop her from reaching out to Blake or from accepting his attentions when he started offering them. In my mind, that's not a drawback--I love the way it really was so much better--but just a bit of a head-scratching moment after I finished.
The subject matter was definitely heavy (human trafficking), but I thought the author did a good job of portraying the seriousness without dragging us through the gutter. It was never in question what happened to the girls who were sold, and there was talk of "untouched" girls bringing higher prices, etc., but most of the details were left unspoken, which I really appreciated. Things did get a bit heavier toward the end, but it still didn't feel overboard. That said, it's definitely a mature topic, and I don't recommend this for young readers.
I really liked Blake and the way he dealt with the issues in his past, which were more complex than they seemed at the beginning. Rachel's perspective was interesting and heart-wrenching in more than one way. Her medical issues added another level of tension to several parts of the story, which I really liked.
And my favorite part--the St. John family--was even better than in the first book! (Or maybe it's just that I didn't spend half the book worried that one of them was going to turn out bad...) Loved Chloe's interaction with all her siblings--Linc especially. And Derek! I barely got to know him in Oath of Honor, but I think I'm in love. <3<3<3
4.5 stars
Content--themes of combating human trafficking (see above); violence and threats; deaths, including murders; mention of a child born out of wedlock
A relatively minor gripe--I didn't feel like the blurb matched the story that well. The romantic tension was so light I'm not even sure it was there. Yes, the romance was there (very light and beautiful), but the whole "can't trust another man" attitude just never seemed right for the Chloe I saw. Yes, she'd been hurt, but that didn't stop her from reaching out to Blake or from accepting his attentions when he started offering them. In my mind, that's not a drawback--I love the way it really was so much better--but just a bit of a head-scratching moment after I finished.
The subject matter was definitely heavy (human trafficking), but I thought the author did a good job of portraying the seriousness without dragging us through the gutter. It was never in question what happened to the girls who were sold, and there was talk of "untouched" girls bringing higher prices, etc., but most of the details were left unspoken, which I really appreciated. Things did get a bit heavier toward the end, but it still didn't feel overboard. That said, it's definitely a mature topic, and I don't recommend this for young readers.
I really liked Blake and the way he dealt with the issues in his past, which were more complex than they seemed at the beginning. Rachel's perspective was interesting and heart-wrenching in more than one way. Her medical issues added another level of tension to several parts of the story, which I really liked.
And my favorite part--the St. John family--was even better than in the first book! (Or maybe it's just that I didn't spend half the book worried that one of them was going to turn out bad...) Loved Chloe's interaction with all her siblings--Linc especially. And Derek! I barely got to know him in Oath of Honor, but I think I'm in love. <3<3<3
4.5 stars
Content--themes of combating human trafficking (see above); violence and threats; deaths, including murders; mention of a child born out of wedlock
May 12, 2020
Fantastic. Quick read. Loved the characters. Interesting plot b
November 29, 2020
The intensity and excitement continues here; this author delivers once again. I'm glad I already have the third novel on hand.
November 21, 2021
Wow, wow, wow. This is amazing. I only have one story left to read in this series (yes, I've totally been reading them out of order), and (aside from Derek's novella 😕) not a single St. John story has disappointed. 😍 They're just amazing.
This.book.is.just.so.good. I'm not going to say it's better than Brady's story (#3), but it's really, really good. 💙 Never-let-go suspense, believable characters, law enforcement jargon (which I love, even though it might confuse some readers), an amazing K-9, all the sibling love, Chief St.John (she has adults from all different law enforcement branches scared of her 😂), amazing romance (better than most Eason romances I've read 😍), really good family dynamics (contrasted with the more common screwed-up families, so the amazing family stands out even more), and POV switches that are timed too well. And this one didn't even have the weird info dumps that some law enforcement books (maybe even Eason's) have. 🤩
Just amazing.
This one definitely had some content (that's obvious from the synopsis), but it's handled well. It doesn't beat around the bush about what's going on, but I was never uncomfortable reading it. And right and wrong are really clear, which means that I wouldn't worry about recommending this to some people.
In short: If the human trafficking aspect isn't too much for you, this is Highly Recommended!!!!!!!
This.book.is.just.so.good. I'm not going to say it's better than Brady's story (#3), but it's really, really good. 💙 Never-let-go suspense, believable characters, law enforcement jargon (which I love, even though it might confuse some readers), an amazing K-9, all the sibling love, Chief St.John (she has adults from all different law enforcement branches scared of her 😂), amazing romance (better than most Eason romances I've read 😍), really good family dynamics (contrasted with the more common screwed-up families, so the amazing family stands out even more), and POV switches that are timed too well. And this one didn't even have the weird info dumps that some law enforcement books (maybe even Eason's) have. 🤩
Just amazing.
This one definitely had some content (that's obvious from the synopsis), but it's handled well. It doesn't beat around the bush about what's going on, but I was never uncomfortable reading it. And right and wrong are really clear, which means that I wouldn't worry about recommending this to some people.
In short: If the human trafficking aspect isn't too much for you, this is Highly Recommended!!!!!!!
April 9, 2020
A riveting suspense that hooked me in the prologue and didn't let me go until the last page! Lynette Eason expertly handled the serious issue of human trafficking with tact and honesty - bringing awareness to the victims' emotions and experiences, the statistics and how people are preyed upon for financial gain. I finished this book with empathy for the victims and a desire to learn more about the issue. I also really enjoyed learning more about K-9 dogs with the details the author included - Hank was impressive in his element.
The focus is primarily suspense and action, but I was happy that the romance felt more natural as opposed to sudden. Chloe and Blake make a great team, relying on each other for strength and encouragement. It was also fun to see the St. John clan again - a chaotic, loyal and loving family with a welcoming spirit and a heart for justice and the law. I can't wait to read the next book, so I can catch up with this family in addition to enjoying another suspense I can't tear myself away from! An excellent read!
The focus is primarily suspense and action, but I was happy that the romance felt more natural as opposed to sudden. Chloe and Blake make a great team, relying on each other for strength and encouragement. It was also fun to see the St. John clan again - a chaotic, loyal and loving family with a welcoming spirit and a heart for justice and the law. I can't wait to read the next book, so I can catch up with this family in addition to enjoying another suspense I can't tear myself away from! An excellent read!
August 4, 2018
Lynette is one of my all time favorite authors, and I always eagerly anticipate her new releases! Called to Protect was a fabulous romantic suspense that I absolutely loved! I fell in love with the St. John family earlier this year in the first Blue Justice novel, Oath of Honor, so I was super excited to get to hang out with all my old friends again. I was really looking forward to Chloe's story, and it exceeded all my expectations! Chloe was a great character, I found her career as a K-9 officer fascinating, and I absolutely loved her K-9 partner Hank! Blake was an awesome and very admirable hero! I really liked that the romance between Chloe and Blake developed slowly, even though they were clearly attracted to each other the romance sort of took a slight backseat to the suspense which I thought was great for this story! The storyline in this one is very unique, I predicted one of the plot points early on and was very pleased when the characters finally listened to me! LOL! The suspense was fantastic, Lynette has once again outdone herself and upped the thrills, and chills that never fail to get your adrenaline pumping, making it impossible for you to move away from the edge of your seat!
Overall, while I think Oath of Honor is still my favorite of the series so far, I did absolutely love every moment of Called to Protect and cannot wait for the next book in the series! I highly recommend Called to Protect, and all of Lynette's books!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
Overall, while I think Oath of Honor is still my favorite of the series so far, I did absolutely love every moment of Called to Protect and cannot wait for the next book in the series! I highly recommend Called to Protect, and all of Lynette's books!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
May 30, 2024
This story was such a tangle of clues, in a good way, I had a time figuring it all out, which I enjoyed!
Characters:
Chloe and Hank were awesome! Hank is such a smart dog and so cute! Chloe was a good level-headed character. I enjoyed reading about her!
Blake was also a great character and I loved how much he adored Rachel and the lengths he went to in order to find her! My heart!
Speaking of Rachel...I loved her!
Derek and Linc were nice additions as well! And can I just say I loved the cameo appearances of characters from Eason's other series!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
A touch and tastefully handled.
Content Warning:
This book deals with human trafficking so be warned. There isn't anything descriptive it just deals with the reality of it. It's very tastefully done and pulled off well, in my opinion.
Overall:
This was a great story! I loved the K-9 aspect of it, and just the whole story was great with so many twists and turns and different faucets!
Characters:
Chloe and Hank were awesome! Hank is such a smart dog and so cute! Chloe was a good level-headed character. I enjoyed reading about her!
Blake was also a great character and I loved how much he adored Rachel and the lengths he went to in order to find her! My heart!
Speaking of Rachel...I loved her!
Derek and Linc were nice additions as well! And can I just say I loved the cameo appearances of characters from Eason's other series!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
A touch and tastefully handled.
Content Warning:
This book deals with human trafficking so be warned. There isn't anything descriptive it just deals with the reality of it. It's very tastefully done and pulled off well, in my opinion.
Overall:
This was a great story! I loved the K-9 aspect of it, and just the whole story was great with so many twists and turns and different faucets!
February 28, 2019
I just love, love, love the St. John family. They are probably one of my all time favorite fictional family. Their banter, teasing, and love for one another is really humorous and enjoyable to read about.
This book probably wasn't my favorite of the series, but it definitely was really good. This book keep you on the edge of your seat nearly the entire time. The action, mystery, and suspense keep you reading and flipping pages.
I really liked Chloe's and Blake's characters. Their emotions were real and they themselves felt like real people. I also really liked Hank. He was such a smart and awesome dog!
I cannot wait to read Linc's story! He has been in almost every single one of these books and I really want to read about him now. xD
I just really love this series. If you love great suspense, romance, and a book that has great family relationships, then this book series is for you! :D
This book probably wasn't my favorite of the series, but it definitely was really good. This book keep you on the edge of your seat nearly the entire time. The action, mystery, and suspense keep you reading and flipping pages.
I really liked Chloe's and Blake's characters. Their emotions were real and they themselves felt like real people. I also really liked Hank. He was such a smart and awesome dog!
I cannot wait to read Linc's story! He has been in almost every single one of these books and I really want to read about him now. xD
I just really love this series. If you love great suspense, romance, and a book that has great family relationships, then this book series is for you! :D
March 1, 2019
Full review on FaithfullyBookish.com
The personal connection of these characters to human trafficking and the resulting emotional adds power to the message of awareness and need.
Chloe is strong, smart, and powerful, especially with her K-9 partner Hank by her side. Eason admirably treats this partnership with the meticulous respect it deserves. Blake is one of the good guys… well-versed in the gifting of sacrificial love whether the recipient is family, friend, or stranger.
This fast-paced plot is captivating and moving on a deeper level than the average story. Called to Protect is sure to impact readers with the power of knowledge, compassion, and empathy. I highly recommend this book, it is frankly a must-read title for fans of romantic suspense.
I borrowed an ebook of this title through a paid subscription service. The opinions expressed are my own.
The personal connection of these characters to human trafficking and the resulting emotional adds power to the message of awareness and need.
Chloe is strong, smart, and powerful, especially with her K-9 partner Hank by her side. Eason admirably treats this partnership with the meticulous respect it deserves. Blake is one of the good guys… well-versed in the gifting of sacrificial love whether the recipient is family, friend, or stranger.
This fast-paced plot is captivating and moving on a deeper level than the average story. Called to Protect is sure to impact readers with the power of knowledge, compassion, and empathy. I highly recommend this book, it is frankly a must-read title for fans of romantic suspense.
I borrowed an ebook of this title through a paid subscription service. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 10, 2018
Good suspense novel! I enjoyed this second novel of the Blue Justice series even more than the first.
Chloe St. John is the main character in Called to Protect. Like her mother and some siblings, she is involved in law enforcement. Chloe's partner is a K-9 named Hank. Hank is good at tracking people and finding drugs.
Blake's daughter, Rachel is abducted and he is given a difficult ultimatum in order to get her back. Rachel is my favorite character in the novel. She shows strength, intelligence and heart. Her actions are realistic for how a teenager would behave.
While I figured out who the villain was before the reveal, I still enjoyed the suspense that unraveled.
My new favorite Eason novel! The covers for this series are great!
Chloe St. John is the main character in Called to Protect. Like her mother and some siblings, she is involved in law enforcement. Chloe's partner is a K-9 named Hank. Hank is good at tracking people and finding drugs.
Blake's daughter, Rachel is abducted and he is given a difficult ultimatum in order to get her back. Rachel is my favorite character in the novel. She shows strength, intelligence and heart. Her actions are realistic for how a teenager would behave.
While I figured out who the villain was before the reveal, I still enjoyed the suspense that unraveled.
My new favorite Eason novel! The covers for this series are great!
February 18, 2020
This was a great book. The author did a great job with taking a very difficult subject, human trafficking, and with just enough detail provide a suspenseful, heartbreaking, eye-opening story. My heart broke for the victims and throughout the pages you have hope for a happy ending but at the same time worried that the girls will not get it.
Rachel - at first I was a bit irritated with her plan to save the girls, but as the story developed she changed from a naive teen to a courages, brave young lady.
Chloe - I really enjoyed her. She was a strong but realistic character and I just loved her K9 partner. It was great to see how the two worked together and made a strong team.
Blake - what a man with integrity - he faced a very difficult situation and remained strong in his faith and decisions.
The suspense and action was great - I felt it was a bit more realistic than in book 1. There were so many possibilities and twists, I found myself thinking late into the night about possible endings. I did guess who the guy behind everything was early on but it didn’t decrease the suspense factor.
The romance was also sweet and realistic. The characters had attraction from the start but there was no insta-love and they took it slow.
I loved the fact that two characters from the Elite Guardians series made an appearance.
Great series and looking forward to the rest of the books.
Rachel - at first I was a bit irritated with her plan to save the girls, but as the story developed she changed from a naive teen to a courages, brave young lady.
Chloe - I really enjoyed her. She was a strong but realistic character and I just loved her K9 partner. It was great to see how the two worked together and made a strong team.
Blake - what a man with integrity - he faced a very difficult situation and remained strong in his faith and decisions.
The suspense and action was great - I felt it was a bit more realistic than in book 1. There were so many possibilities and twists, I found myself thinking late into the night about possible endings. I did guess who the guy behind everything was early on but it didn’t decrease the suspense factor.
The romance was also sweet and realistic. The characters had attraction from the start but there was no insta-love and they took it slow.
I loved the fact that two characters from the Elite Guardians series made an appearance.
Great series and looking forward to the rest of the books.
August 4, 2018
Wow, this book is chock full of exciting moments and it is a suspenseful ride from the get-go. I enjoyed getting to know Chloe a little better and Blake and Rachel were great additions to this series. The mystery/suspense part of the plot flowed well an kept me invested throughout the book. Another winner for Lynette Eason!!
I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
September 27, 2025
Excellent second book in the Blue Justice series! Some parts were tough to read due to the human trafficking subject matter, though it was handled very well. The suspense was nonstop, and I loved getting to spend more time with the family. A strong 5 stars.
June 23, 2018
Called To Protect gripped me from the very first page. This exhilarating novel is packed with suspense and action, combined with the camaraderie of friendship, family, and the bonds forged in the midst of terrifying chaos. Cases that threaten the investigators’ family increase the stakes as clues must be unravelled and leads followed, creating a fantastic story.
Lynette Easton’s first book in the Blue Justice series was outstanding and this second book, Called To Protect follows suit. It has everything you could want in a gripping suspense novel, as well as touches of romance. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on family the Blue Justice books showcase. Each book follows a member of the St. John family, a large, loud and loving group of crime fighters - from FBI agents to detectives and police officers.
Called To Protect is Chloe’s story. When a traffic accident leads to the discovery of a human trafficking ring, Chloe is happy she and her K-9 partner Hank were on the scene, especially when the discovery leads back to Chloe’s missing niece. US Marshall Blake MacCallum is brought into the case when it is uncovered that his daughter Rachel was one of the captured girls, held to ransom as a threat to get Blake to kill a National Judge. Chloe, Blake and Chloe’s brother Linc, team up and race against the clock to track down Rachel’s captors.
Called To Protect was impossible to put down. Its story of young girls taken and sold for profit was horrifying, yet Chloe, Hank, Blake and Linc are the people (and dog) for the job. It’s a personal case for them all and they stop at nothing to bring those responsible to justice. Rachel is a strong and determined young girl and, thanks to sections written from her perspective, gives the reader a strong reason to become emotional invested in her rescue. Hank’s part in the story was particularly interesting, and there are plenty of twists and big action scenes to keep you hooked.
The plot of Called To Protect remains focused on the unfolding case, but there are a few moments reserved for Blake and Chloe to realise they share a connection. They have been distant friends over the years, thanks to the connection through Linc, but spending time together on the case enables them to realise they have feelings that extend beyond friendship. The sweet romantic tension never steals the focus, but adds a nice extra element to this exciting novel.
Called To Protect is an engaging and exciting suspense and, if the teaser is anything to go by, the next book is the series, Brady’s story, is sure to be just as well-written and compelling.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Lynette Easton’s first book in the Blue Justice series was outstanding and this second book, Called To Protect follows suit. It has everything you could want in a gripping suspense novel, as well as touches of romance. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on family the Blue Justice books showcase. Each book follows a member of the St. John family, a large, loud and loving group of crime fighters - from FBI agents to detectives and police officers.
Called To Protect is Chloe’s story. When a traffic accident leads to the discovery of a human trafficking ring, Chloe is happy she and her K-9 partner Hank were on the scene, especially when the discovery leads back to Chloe’s missing niece. US Marshall Blake MacCallum is brought into the case when it is uncovered that his daughter Rachel was one of the captured girls, held to ransom as a threat to get Blake to kill a National Judge. Chloe, Blake and Chloe’s brother Linc, team up and race against the clock to track down Rachel’s captors.
Called To Protect was impossible to put down. Its story of young girls taken and sold for profit was horrifying, yet Chloe, Hank, Blake and Linc are the people (and dog) for the job. It’s a personal case for them all and they stop at nothing to bring those responsible to justice. Rachel is a strong and determined young girl and, thanks to sections written from her perspective, gives the reader a strong reason to become emotional invested in her rescue. Hank’s part in the story was particularly interesting, and there are plenty of twists and big action scenes to keep you hooked.
The plot of Called To Protect remains focused on the unfolding case, but there are a few moments reserved for Blake and Chloe to realise they share a connection. They have been distant friends over the years, thanks to the connection through Linc, but spending time together on the case enables them to realise they have feelings that extend beyond friendship. The sweet romantic tension never steals the focus, but adds a nice extra element to this exciting novel.
Called To Protect is an engaging and exciting suspense and, if the teaser is anything to go by, the next book is the series, Brady’s story, is sure to be just as well-written and compelling.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
October 4, 2018
What a ride! From the get-go, "Called to Protect" will sweep you up into non-stop action and a harrowing tale of human trafficking that is absolutely riveting. As a father with daughters myself, I simply cannot imagine what it would be like to have your daughter kidnapped by traffickers and forced into a cage while awaiting a horrific fate. It's absolutely tragic to think that these sorts of things happen! As such, I found that this book preyed on my emotions even more than Eason's novels usually do, and I simply couldn't put the book down until I was able to see how everything resolved.
Eason continues to showcase her skills as an author of romantic suspense, because this second novel in the series is every bit as good as the first one! The cast of characters are well-fleshed out, and though Chloe and Blake may be the stars of the show, the secondary characters also add much to the tale (with perhaps the dog, Hank, stealing the show!) Chloe and Blake's relationship didn't always ring true for me, partly because I couldn't figure out Blake's age and marital status until farther into the story. I think if I'd known his backstory earlier, I would have been a bigger fan of the sparks that catch between them. But as the story progressed and I got to witness their sacrificial care for each other, I was sold! I am entirely certain that readers who are typically attracted to novels with romantic elements will find much to love here. And for those readers just looking for some excellent suspense, then they should look no further because this second novel in the Blue Justice series absolutely delivers!
Called To Protect is another thrilling novel from Lynette Eason's creative mind. I enjoyed every moment and give this book a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Eason continues to showcase her skills as an author of romantic suspense, because this second novel in the series is every bit as good as the first one! The cast of characters are well-fleshed out, and though Chloe and Blake may be the stars of the show, the secondary characters also add much to the tale (with perhaps the dog, Hank, stealing the show!) Chloe and Blake's relationship didn't always ring true for me, partly because I couldn't figure out Blake's age and marital status until farther into the story. I think if I'd known his backstory earlier, I would have been a bigger fan of the sparks that catch between them. But as the story progressed and I got to witness their sacrificial care for each other, I was sold! I am entirely certain that readers who are typically attracted to novels with romantic elements will find much to love here. And for those readers just looking for some excellent suspense, then they should look no further because this second novel in the Blue Justice series absolutely delivers!
Called To Protect is another thrilling novel from Lynette Eason's creative mind. I enjoyed every moment and give this book a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
February 2, 2019
Called to Protect — Blue Justice series #2 By: Lynette Eason
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: Present day
Genre: Suspense, mystery
Location: Columbia, SC
Main characters:
Chloe St. John: K-9 Cop
Blake MacCallum: Deputy U.S. Marshal
Rachel MacCallum: Blake's 17 year old daughter, abducted
Benjamin Worthington: Judge whose life is in danger
Linc St. John: Chloe's brother, FBI special agent
Carson Langston: Kidnapper AKA Ethan Wright
I know I nit-pick at times when I notice things in books that could be better, or I roll my eyes at corny dialog, or have issues with how a story unfolds. But to be honest, I couldn’t find a thing about this book I didn’t like. Ms. Eason’s storytelling is simply extraordinary.
Something like Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series, the St. John family in this Blue Justice series are all in law enforcement, tight knit and amazing at what they do. In this second book we are focused on Chloe St. John, a K-9 cop and her faithful dog Hank, who is incredibly loveable!
Chloe’s sixteen year old cousin was abducted 6 months ago, and in the beginning of this book a good friend’s daughter is also taken. U.S. Marshal Blake MacCallum is trying to renew a relationship with his estranged daughter when she disappears. FBI, U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement become aware of a human trafficking ring when responders to an accident are being shot at from large truck carrying a number of frightened girls, one of whom is Blake’s daughter, Rachel.
This is the beginning of a wild ride of suspense as Blake and Chloe are on the hunt for the people involved, and why the human traffickers seem to want a district judge to be killed.
Very good book! Can’t wait to get my hands on Code of Valor!
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: Present day
Genre: Suspense, mystery
Location: Columbia, SC
Main characters:
Chloe St. John: K-9 Cop
Blake MacCallum: Deputy U.S. Marshal
Rachel MacCallum: Blake's 17 year old daughter, abducted
Benjamin Worthington: Judge whose life is in danger
Linc St. John: Chloe's brother, FBI special agent
Carson Langston: Kidnapper AKA Ethan Wright
I know I nit-pick at times when I notice things in books that could be better, or I roll my eyes at corny dialog, or have issues with how a story unfolds. But to be honest, I couldn’t find a thing about this book I didn’t like. Ms. Eason’s storytelling is simply extraordinary.
Something like Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series, the St. John family in this Blue Justice series are all in law enforcement, tight knit and amazing at what they do. In this second book we are focused on Chloe St. John, a K-9 cop and her faithful dog Hank, who is incredibly loveable!
Chloe’s sixteen year old cousin was abducted 6 months ago, and in the beginning of this book a good friend’s daughter is also taken. U.S. Marshal Blake MacCallum is trying to renew a relationship with his estranged daughter when she disappears. FBI, U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement become aware of a human trafficking ring when responders to an accident are being shot at from large truck carrying a number of frightened girls, one of whom is Blake’s daughter, Rachel.
This is the beginning of a wild ride of suspense as Blake and Chloe are on the hunt for the people involved, and why the human traffickers seem to want a district judge to be killed.
Very good book! Can’t wait to get my hands on Code of Valor!
July 26, 2018
Called To Protect is the second book in the Blue Justice series that takes place in Columbia, South Carolina. The series revolves around the St. Johns family of law enforcement and the medical profession. It is a large family and I am happy to think that maybe that means a long series is in store. The matriarch of the family is the Chief of Police and the siblings work in the same police department as well as the FBI. This is the story of Chloe and her K-9 Partner, Hank, and a family friend, Blake MacCallum, a US Marshall. Blake's daughter, Rachel, goes missing and someone is threatening to kill Rachel if Blake doesn't kill the Federal Judge that he is protecting. The judge is sponsoring a bill to make a heavier sentence to those convicted of human trafficking and someone wants to stop him. A semi trailer truck was involved in a wreck and was found to have drugs and girls that have been missing. The girls appear to part of human trafficking ring involving drugs. It becomes apparent that everything is tied together. A task force is put in place to pool resources from different federal agencies to find the culprits.
This is a fast paced and action packed story that is typical Lynette Eason. Ms. Eason knows how to tell a tale full of great likable characters, danger and suspense. It is edgy and stressful as law enforcement works to find the bad guys and thus the victims as quickly as possible. A little faith and romance rounds the story out for a great Christian suspense. We see appearances of characters from other series as well.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell through NetGalley for an honest review. The opinions stated are mine only.
This is a fast paced and action packed story that is typical Lynette Eason. Ms. Eason knows how to tell a tale full of great likable characters, danger and suspense. It is edgy and stressful as law enforcement works to find the bad guys and thus the victims as quickly as possible. A little faith and romance rounds the story out for a great Christian suspense. We see appearances of characters from other series as well.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell through NetGalley for an honest review. The opinions stated are mine only.
August 1, 2018
The St. John family is once again forefront in the Blue Justice series, and this book focuses on K-9 cop, Chloe St. John. When US Marshal Blake Mac Callum's daughter goes missing, he and Chloe join forces as her cousin is also missing under similar circumstances.
The theme focus of this book is human trafficking which is a difficult subject to read about, yet it is in the forefront of today's news. Eason handles it beautifully showing how easy it is to abduct a girl in today's society. She describes the treatment and handling of the girls without so much detail that it is gruesome; but at the same time, making it obvious what a horrible situation sex trafficking is.
Hank the K-9 was one of my favorite characters. It was obvious how well trained he was and how much he wanted to do the job he was being asked to do. Chloe and Blake had a great never give up attitude and were determined to find Blake's daughter and Chloe's cousin. The slowly developing romance between Blake and Chloe was sweet and did not take away from the main focus of the human trafficking.
Riveting and compelling from beginning to end, Eason does an excellent job with a horrible and sensitive subject
** I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
The theme focus of this book is human trafficking which is a difficult subject to read about, yet it is in the forefront of today's news. Eason handles it beautifully showing how easy it is to abduct a girl in today's society. She describes the treatment and handling of the girls without so much detail that it is gruesome; but at the same time, making it obvious what a horrible situation sex trafficking is.
Hank the K-9 was one of my favorite characters. It was obvious how well trained he was and how much he wanted to do the job he was being asked to do. Chloe and Blake had a great never give up attitude and were determined to find Blake's daughter and Chloe's cousin. The slowly developing romance between Blake and Chloe was sweet and did not take away from the main focus of the human trafficking.
Riveting and compelling from beginning to end, Eason does an excellent job with a horrible and sensitive subject
** I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
December 10, 2018
Eeeeepppp!!!! I adore the St. John family! And Hank, Chloe's K-9 partner! That dog is a superstar and it's worth reading the book just for Hank's scenes (says the crazy dog loving reader.) I do so love a great canine hero and Hank is the best!
Called to Protect is book two in Eason's Blue Justice series (plus one novella in The Cost of Betrayal collection) though it can easily be read as a standalone novel. What draws me to this series is the great family dynamics - close siblings all in law enforcement (except one.) and their mother is the police chief! Love the quirky dysfunction -- the way their teasing banter brings some much needed relief from the tough subject matter -- human trafficking. Though Eason handles it with care and compassion, it's still sobering and chilling -- especially when the story is told from Blake's daughter's point of view.
The suspense is layered with complications and a network of ruthless criminals which makes this the kind of hair-raising page-turner a reader won't want to put down. It's intense and dramatic and, yes, even romantic in all the right places. Brilliantly done and now I'm eagerly looking forward to reading Code of Valor (book three) only it doesn't release until the spring. Sob!
Called to Protect is book two in Eason's Blue Justice series (plus one novella in The Cost of Betrayal collection) though it can easily be read as a standalone novel. What draws me to this series is the great family dynamics - close siblings all in law enforcement (except one.) and their mother is the police chief! Love the quirky dysfunction -- the way their teasing banter brings some much needed relief from the tough subject matter -- human trafficking. Though Eason handles it with care and compassion, it's still sobering and chilling -- especially when the story is told from Blake's daughter's point of view.
The suspense is layered with complications and a network of ruthless criminals which makes this the kind of hair-raising page-turner a reader won't want to put down. It's intense and dramatic and, yes, even romantic in all the right places. Brilliantly done and now I'm eagerly looking forward to reading Code of Valor (book three) only it doesn't release until the spring. Sob!
March 18, 2019
First off, this book tackles a tough subject: human trafficking. It’s not a subject I enjoy reading about, but it’s real. It’s happening everyday. This author handled it well without being too graphic.
The main characters Chloe and her K-9 parter, Hank were delightful. Only I wanted more of Hank and his work! Even though Chloe was going through some tough times, she was able to keep her focus and do the right thing. For the most part. I can’t say I even come close to approving her actions near the end, and I wanted to shake her!
I liked Blake. He had a very hard job to handle, and I appreciate his resolve. And his love for Rachel was so sweet!
There were a few times in this book that grew frustrated with how things were handled or the things that felt a little dramatic, but there weren’t many. Several people died in this book, and several on screen, but there really was no gory details for which I applaud the author! I did find out that my gut instinct was correct about the one behind everything, but I certainly didn't have all the pieces in place!
I hope this book serves as a serious reminder of how important it is to really know people and be aware of your surroundings.
I will probably read the next book in this series.
The main characters Chloe and her K-9 parter, Hank were delightful. Only I wanted more of Hank and his work! Even though Chloe was going through some tough times, she was able to keep her focus and do the right thing. For the most part. I can’t say I even come close to approving her actions near the end, and I wanted to shake her!
I liked Blake. He had a very hard job to handle, and I appreciate his resolve. And his love for Rachel was so sweet!
There were a few times in this book that grew frustrated with how things were handled or the things that felt a little dramatic, but there weren’t many. Several people died in this book, and several on screen, but there really was no gory details for which I applaud the author! I did find out that my gut instinct was correct about the one behind everything, but I certainly didn't have all the pieces in place!
I hope this book serves as a serious reminder of how important it is to really know people and be aware of your surroundings.
I will probably read the next book in this series.
August 20, 2018
This book was a FAST read for me. It held my attention all the way through. In fact, I read it, start to finish, in one day.
I loved Chloe and Hank. I think Hank's probably my favorite character. I also loved seeing the rest of the St. John siblings.
I'll admit that I had my suspicions early on as to who was the mastermind, and I wasn't wrong. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Fans of fast paced, romantic suspense will enjoy this book.
I received a copy from the publisher as part of the Revell Reads program in order to share my thoughts and opinions. I was not required to like the book; only to give my opinion honestly. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Irene Hannon, Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason
Rating - 4 stars
I loved Chloe and Hank. I think Hank's probably my favorite character. I also loved seeing the rest of the St. John siblings.
I'll admit that I had my suspicions early on as to who was the mastermind, and I wasn't wrong. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Fans of fast paced, romantic suspense will enjoy this book.
I received a copy from the publisher as part of the Revell Reads program in order to share my thoughts and opinions. I was not required to like the book; only to give my opinion honestly. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of Irene Hannon, Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason
Rating - 4 stars
April 23, 2021
Woah, another harsh book about human trafficking? Yeah, I don't love books with the all too real crimes but it happens a lot and actions should be taken to show the horrors that happen to girls that get kidnapped. Called To Protect was good but sickening with the bad guys, other than that I enjoyed the book.
Blake and Chloe were characters I loved following along with as they fought to get to the bottom of what was going on with Blake's daughter and the order to kill the man he was protecting.
This book dealt with lies, kidnappings, threats, and a spouse that cheated all are mentioned though cleanly.
I loved reading about Hank, it was neat to learn a little about a K-9 and what they help the police with, the searches were descriptive without being boring too.
Blake and Chloe were characters I loved following along with as they fought to get to the bottom of what was going on with Blake's daughter and the order to kill the man he was protecting.
This book dealt with lies, kidnappings, threats, and a spouse that cheated all are mentioned though cleanly.
I loved reading about Hank, it was neat to learn a little about a K-9 and what they help the police with, the searches were descriptive without being boring too.
December 25, 2019
review to come...
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