Good read--not great, not horrible
McKenna was an independent woman until her dad and stepmom died, leaving her half siblings to her care. She's struggling.
Nixon's mom split when he was little, his dad died while he was deployed. He's home to get the farm in order and to figure out his life plan.
Character development for Nix and McKenna is pretty good. We get a lot of conversation and, through it, some back story. However, Zack and Mandy turn around abruptly and with no regression, and all because of Nix. That's not realistic, especially as Nix is an only child but somehow has skills with teenagers. Maybe his dad was amazing?
Plot was the big thing in the story, and sadly, it wasn't paced well. The story was a nice romance, a few complications in town, then wham, blam, Alec appears with a contract, Nix pulls in buddies, then the story lags, then breakthrough and action, and at the same time, things come to a head at home.
Setting is unique. This town has an amazing pizza place the author took from real life.
This is a good series starter. Nix pulls in his 4 SEAL buddies and business partners for what Alec needs help with. And Alec is another former SEAL, in the DHS, so maybe he'll get a story.
GOOD QUOTE
“You know, life isn’t some big mystery. It’s simple. Not always easy—but when you break it down it’s nothing more than a series of choices. Right or wrong, you have to live with them. Then you need to decide what you’re going to do with the consequences. Learn? Grow? Celebrate? What value did your choice bring to you?”
Do I need to read books before this one: no
Would I read more of the series: probably
Cliffhanger: no
POSSIBLE TRIGGERS
Sex: multiple scenes
Language: 164 F words, 91 Lord's name in vain, 144 S words
Violence: multiple fist fights, one severe beating, harassment, reports of sexual assault, death by guns, report of plane crash, bomb threat
CRITIQUE (spoilers)
Nixon reflects at one time in his failed last mission, and that's all we get. Not even PTSD.
I Googled the Sultana, and I still don't know what that is.
Nix had a bad marriage, but they don't address it.