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Courage
Natasha Parsons is a ride-along mental health clinician attached to the local police department. She charges into danger without a gun or badge to de-escalate crises. She’s quick on her feet and confident in her opinions. If only she could convince her by-the-book, humorless partner that she’s an asset, not the enemy. Being a cop is in Tommy Finch’s blood. She comes from a long line of cops and grew up learning how to protect and serve with honor and integrity. Getting saddled with a shrink who’s reckless and brash isn’t something Tommy signed up for. How can she do her job when she’s responsible for the safety of an unarmed civilian? No matter how often they clash on the job, an undeniable attraction simmers just beneath the surface. Can they find the courage to change so love has room to grow?
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2021
22 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Jesse J. Thoma
9 books48 followersJesse Thoma splits her professional time between graduate school and work. She is a project manager in a clinical research lab and spends a good amount of time in methadone clinics and prisons collecting data and talking to people. Jesse grew up in Northern California but headed east for college. She never looked back, although her baseball allegiance is still loyally with the San Francisco Giants. She has lived in New England for ten years and has finally learned to leave extra time in the morning to scrape snow off the car. Jesse is blissfully married and is happiest when she is out for a walk with her wife and their dog, pretending she still has the soccer skills she had as an eighteen-year-old, eating anything her wife bakes, or sitting at the computer to write a few lines. (from the publisher's website)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 26, 2021
'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'
**'Talent is helpful in storytelling but guts are absolutely essential...Also the most delicious part of a story is thinking about it, rounding it out then turning it over and over..'
3.5stars!
My first book by Jesse J. Thoma and i'm not sure that i'll be committing to reading another of her books. My reasoning is that her overall writing style is just okay nothing to shout about -- way too detailed and nonsensical in certain parts. For instance, the relationship and romance was just way too instant; little chemistry, their romantic connection felt pretentious, only working chemistry etc..
'COURAGE' is deemed as a tale of police procedural that explores having a ride along social worker (experienced in mental health & drug issues) join law enforcement/police officer on those disturbing or menacing 911 calls into the nature of reality. At times during the storyline progression, Ms.Thoma could have given up some of these lengthy descriptions and be a bit more restraint when describing any character's body part for the sake of the drama and pacing -- even though her style of writing end up working well for this particular plotline she's trying to tell. Another thing that Ms.Thoma does really good in this story is to center all the policing activities and the social stuff on strong female characters --- whether it's the mother, the best friend, the sister, the lieutenant and most of all the two leads (Natasha & Tommy).
Both fans and interested readers of Ms.Thoma's writing will find themselves entertained by the many moments of witty dialogue then on the other-hand be angry and disgusted with the the behavior of a few unappealing characters only because this/they were important to the storytelling.
In the end, this is a serious, well-plotted and timely book that will give readers much to ponder and much to enjoy.
**'Talent is helpful in storytelling but guts are absolutely essential...Also the most delicious part of a story is thinking about it, rounding it out then turning it over and over..'
3.5stars!
My first book by Jesse J. Thoma and i'm not sure that i'll be committing to reading another of her books. My reasoning is that her overall writing style is just okay nothing to shout about -- way too detailed and nonsensical in certain parts. For instance, the relationship and romance was just way too instant; little chemistry, their romantic connection felt pretentious, only working chemistry etc..
'COURAGE' is deemed as a tale of police procedural that explores having a ride along social worker (experienced in mental health & drug issues) join law enforcement/police officer on those disturbing or menacing 911 calls into the nature of reality. At times during the storyline progression, Ms.Thoma could have given up some of these lengthy descriptions and be a bit more restraint when describing any character's body part for the sake of the drama and pacing -- even though her style of writing end up working well for this particular plotline she's trying to tell. Another thing that Ms.Thoma does really good in this story is to center all the policing activities and the social stuff on strong female characters --- whether it's the mother, the best friend, the sister, the lieutenant and most of all the two leads (Natasha & Tommy).
Both fans and interested readers of Ms.Thoma's writing will find themselves entertained by the many moments of witty dialogue then on the other-hand be angry and disgusted with the the behavior of a few unappealing characters only because this/they were important to the storytelling.
In the end, this is a serious, well-plotted and timely book that will give readers much to ponder and much to enjoy.
April 4, 2021
4.5⭐️ – You can always count on Jesse J. Thoma to write solid but tender stories.
Sometimes on TV shows, the exposure scene happens in the present then viewers are taken back two hours, two days, two months earlier. That’s how Courage begins, straight into action and drama, then we’re dragged back eighteen months to the events that led to this moment. As a consequence, while we’re witness to how the relationship between Natasha and Tommy begins, on the professional as well as on the personal sides, while we see them learn to work together, get to know each other, and, yes, fall in love, there’s this sword of Damocles hanging above them. And that’s not even counting how difficult things get when Natasha’s family’s interests clash with her job.
Tomasina “Tommy” Finch is an excellent cop, always trying to be even better. Still, when she’s partnered with a social worker as part of what she sees as a PR stunt, she isn’t happy. She doesn’t need anyone to tell her how to do her job since she already does it well. Natasha Parsons is passionate about her job and willing to stand up to anyone who will get in the way and prevent her from helping those who need her. Jail isn’t always the right answer to a crime and Natasha’s job is to assess tricky situations when a perpetrator (and society) would benefit more from treatment or other kinds of help than jail time. She also has a gift to diffuse explosive circumstances and pretty soon, Tommy’s reluctance turns to respect, and more.
Neither Natasha nor Tommy are rule-breakers and dating your partner is a huge no-no. Such a powerful attraction can only be resisted for so long and that leads to stolen kisses, each more feverish than the last, lingering fingers – Natasha can’t seem to keep her hands off Tommy, especially off her cheeks, even before anything happens between them, and all that forbidden relationships should be.
Thoma writes very endearing characters, extraordinary people in normal lives. I think I’m in love with Natasha. I’m pretty sure I am, actually, and it only took a couple of chapters. She’s perfectly secure in who she is, despite the way she’s been treated by her obscenely rich parents and it only goes to show how strong she really is. She’s brilliant, driven and the kind of smartass I love in lesfic. Tommy is more basic but she’s a sweetheart and never stood a chance against Natasha’s charisma.
Another very strong point of this book is the secondary cast. From Tommy and Natasha’s colleagues to Natasha’s best friend and, above all, Tommy’s family, they’re all excellent characters. I wouldn’t say no to a story with Harry, Tommy’s older sister, as a main character.
A slow burn romance with plenty of sparks and chemistry, Courage is set in the same universe as Serenity (I’m hoping a third book is on its way, we could all do with some wisdom) and while it can probably be read as a standalone, you’ll appreciate one of the story arcs better if you have read Serenity first and have more background.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
Sometimes on TV shows, the exposure scene happens in the present then viewers are taken back two hours, two days, two months earlier. That’s how Courage begins, straight into action and drama, then we’re dragged back eighteen months to the events that led to this moment. As a consequence, while we’re witness to how the relationship between Natasha and Tommy begins, on the professional as well as on the personal sides, while we see them learn to work together, get to know each other, and, yes, fall in love, there’s this sword of Damocles hanging above them. And that’s not even counting how difficult things get when Natasha’s family’s interests clash with her job.
Tomasina “Tommy” Finch is an excellent cop, always trying to be even better. Still, when she’s partnered with a social worker as part of what she sees as a PR stunt, she isn’t happy. She doesn’t need anyone to tell her how to do her job since she already does it well. Natasha Parsons is passionate about her job and willing to stand up to anyone who will get in the way and prevent her from helping those who need her. Jail isn’t always the right answer to a crime and Natasha’s job is to assess tricky situations when a perpetrator (and society) would benefit more from treatment or other kinds of help than jail time. She also has a gift to diffuse explosive circumstances and pretty soon, Tommy’s reluctance turns to respect, and more.
Neither Natasha nor Tommy are rule-breakers and dating your partner is a huge no-no. Such a powerful attraction can only be resisted for so long and that leads to stolen kisses, each more feverish than the last, lingering fingers – Natasha can’t seem to keep her hands off Tommy, especially off her cheeks, even before anything happens between them, and all that forbidden relationships should be.
Thoma writes very endearing characters, extraordinary people in normal lives. I think I’m in love with Natasha. I’m pretty sure I am, actually, and it only took a couple of chapters. She’s perfectly secure in who she is, despite the way she’s been treated by her obscenely rich parents and it only goes to show how strong she really is. She’s brilliant, driven and the kind of smartass I love in lesfic. Tommy is more basic but she’s a sweetheart and never stood a chance against Natasha’s charisma.
Another very strong point of this book is the secondary cast. From Tommy and Natasha’s colleagues to Natasha’s best friend and, above all, Tommy’s family, they’re all excellent characters. I wouldn’t say no to a story with Harry, Tommy’s older sister, as a main character.
A slow burn romance with plenty of sparks and chemistry, Courage is set in the same universe as Serenity (I’m hoping a third book is on its way, we could all do with some wisdom) and while it can probably be read as a standalone, you’ll appreciate one of the story arcs better if you have read Serenity first and have more background.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
March 31, 2021
4.5 stars. This was the third book I read by Thoma and I think it’s save to say that I will automatically read them from now on, this was again a fantastic book. In this book two themes are intertwined and they both get the attention they deserve. In the first part of the book the focus lies on the police procedurals whereas the second part focuses more on the romance and their personal lives. I like how Thoma always seems able to write characters that feel very real even when they are dealing with some baggage that might not be too common.
Natasha is a social worker who is set on making an impact on policing concerning dealing with people affected by mental illnesses or substance abuse. Her new colleagues are skeptical if not rude, including her new partner Tommy. Tommy is an extremely dedicated and ambitious police officer, who is almost born into the police force, but she has no idea what to do or expect from a social worker. The last things she needs is a social worker telling her how to be a cop. You see that a lot of the hostility actually stems from fear of the unknown and even insecurity. The theme is very timely considering all the criticism surrounding the police force lately. What this book shows very nicely is that even cops like Tommy and some of her colleagues, who want to do the best they can to serve their community, can be set in certain customs that actually limit exploring other options and improving their ways. It touches upon some sore points, without being all negative or implying to improve the world miraculously.
There is immediate attraction between Natasha and Tommy even when they don’t even really like each other, but their romance develops quite slowly. Their personalities are different but evenly matched. Tommy is protective, confident and by the rules versus Natasha, who is flirty, explosive and has trouble with hierarchy. They are strong characters which reflected in their dialogues that were a joy to read. While feelings are soon acknowledged, they both feel that their partnership program could do a lot of good and a relationship would endanger the program, so they hold back.
The story is told in the third person from the POVs of Natasha and Tommy and has some interesting smaller storylines and strong female secondary characters. The book is situated in the same universe as “Serenity” (which I also loved btw), but can be read as a standalone. The dedication states:
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both “Serenity” and “Courage” fit the description spot on and I have a feeling that we could expect a third book in this universe. I hope so, I’ll read it. If you enjoy a good police procedural you will probably like this, recommend!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Natasha is a social worker who is set on making an impact on policing concerning dealing with people affected by mental illnesses or substance abuse. Her new colleagues are skeptical if not rude, including her new partner Tommy. Tommy is an extremely dedicated and ambitious police officer, who is almost born into the police force, but she has no idea what to do or expect from a social worker. The last things she needs is a social worker telling her how to be a cop. You see that a lot of the hostility actually stems from fear of the unknown and even insecurity. The theme is very timely considering all the criticism surrounding the police force lately. What this book shows very nicely is that even cops like Tommy and some of her colleagues, who want to do the best they can to serve their community, can be set in certain customs that actually limit exploring other options and improving their ways. It touches upon some sore points, without being all negative or implying to improve the world miraculously.
There is immediate attraction between Natasha and Tommy even when they don’t even really like each other, but their romance develops quite slowly. Their personalities are different but evenly matched. Tommy is protective, confident and by the rules versus Natasha, who is flirty, explosive and has trouble with hierarchy. They are strong characters which reflected in their dialogues that were a joy to read. While feelings are soon acknowledged, they both feel that their partnership program could do a lot of good and a relationship would endanger the program, so they hold back.
The story is told in the third person from the POVs of Natasha and Tommy and has some interesting smaller storylines and strong female secondary characters. The book is situated in the same universe as “Serenity” (which I also loved btw), but can be read as a standalone. The dedication states:
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both “Serenity” and “Courage” fit the description spot on and I have a feeling that we could expect a third book in this universe. I hope so, I’ll read it. If you enjoy a good police procedural you will probably like this, recommend!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2021
It takes a lot of courage to stand in front of a person in distress, especially if the person is armed, to calm them down and de-escalate the situation. Natasha Pearson, a social worker, has the ability to do this as a mental health clinician with the new ride-along program, where she is called to situations with a cop as her partner where people are volatile because of mental distress or substance abuse. Natasha is partnered with Tommy Finch, a cop through and through, from a family of cops. She is a role model and is absolutely convinced of the importance and rightness of good and fair police work. But being paired with a social worker is definitely not one of them. She has her concerns about safety when she has to babysit the unarmed Natasha and has no one to watch her back herself. How is that supposed to work?
Jesse J. Thoma brings two stories to life in parallel, one being the work and dynamics of the new ride-along program and how the two protagonists deal with it, and the other the romance between the two. I loved both parts. I liked riding along in the car with Tommy and Natasha and listening to them argue, fight and reach out to each other, and watching them slowly develop into a good team. They challenge not only their partner’s work but their own to make the program a success and convince other police officers that it has many positive sides. The descriptions of the situations the two get into are narrated very well and kept me on the edge of my seat hoping for the best ending.
Despite all the arguments and fights, both characters are attracted to each other from the beginning. The chemistry is there, not overwhelmingly sparkling, but good chemistry. Due to police rules forbidding a relationship between partners, the romance is a bit of a slow-burn without really being a slow burn – if that makes sense – because the author did a good job of showing their mutual feelings and how they struggled not to break the rules. I clicked with both of them from the beginning. Tommy and Natasha are confident and strong on the job, but as in real life, they also have insecurities that appear every now and then.
The supporting characters also play a strong role, especially Tommy’s family, who show Natasha that there are indeed hard-working, loving, and caring families, not just on TV. In particular, Tommy’s sister Harry and her mother play an important role. Natasha’s family is the complete opposite, rich and spoiled, who think they can do anything with money.
Even though Thomas’s book Serenity is set in the same universe, Courage can easily be read as a standalone. I haven’t read Serenity and I don’t feel like I missed anything important but I will definitely read Serenity as well.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a good cop/social worker story who enjoys angst and tricky situations.
My rating 4.5 stars.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review
Jesse J. Thoma brings two stories to life in parallel, one being the work and dynamics of the new ride-along program and how the two protagonists deal with it, and the other the romance between the two. I loved both parts. I liked riding along in the car with Tommy and Natasha and listening to them argue, fight and reach out to each other, and watching them slowly develop into a good team. They challenge not only their partner’s work but their own to make the program a success and convince other police officers that it has many positive sides. The descriptions of the situations the two get into are narrated very well and kept me on the edge of my seat hoping for the best ending.
Despite all the arguments and fights, both characters are attracted to each other from the beginning. The chemistry is there, not overwhelmingly sparkling, but good chemistry. Due to police rules forbidding a relationship between partners, the romance is a bit of a slow-burn without really being a slow burn – if that makes sense – because the author did a good job of showing their mutual feelings and how they struggled not to break the rules. I clicked with both of them from the beginning. Tommy and Natasha are confident and strong on the job, but as in real life, they also have insecurities that appear every now and then.
The supporting characters also play a strong role, especially Tommy’s family, who show Natasha that there are indeed hard-working, loving, and caring families, not just on TV. In particular, Tommy’s sister Harry and her mother play an important role. Natasha’s family is the complete opposite, rich and spoiled, who think they can do anything with money.
Even though Thomas’s book Serenity is set in the same universe, Courage can easily be read as a standalone. I haven’t read Serenity and I don’t feel like I missed anything important but I will definitely read Serenity as well.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a good cop/social worker story who enjoys angst and tricky situations.
My rating 4.5 stars.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review
March 29, 2021
I love cop stories and Jesse J. Thoma has once again delivered a good one.
It takes a lot of courage to stand in front of a person in distress, especially if the person is armed, to calm them down and de-escalate the situation. Natasha Pearson, a social worker, has the tools to do this around the new ride-along program as a mental health clinician, where she is called to situations where people are ticking out because of mental distress or substance abuse, together with a cop as her partner. First, she is partnered with Tommy Finch, a cop through and through, from a family of cops. She is a role model and is absolutely convinced of the importance and rightness of good and fair police work. But being paired with a social worker is definitely not one of them. She has her concerns about safety when she has to babysit the unarmed Natasha and has no one to watch her back herself. How is that supposed to work?
Jesse J. Thoma brings two stories to life in parallel, one being the work and dynamics of the new ride-along program and how the two protagonists deal with it, and the other being the romance between the two. And I loved both strands. I loved sitting in the car with Tommy and Natasha and listening to them argue, fight and reach out to each other, and watching them slowly develop into a good team. They challenge not only their partner's work but their own to make the program a success and convince other police officers that it has many positive effects. The descriptions of the situations the two get into are great narration and kept me on the edge of my seat hoping for the best ending. I also liked the setup of the story, we experience a dangerous situation with Natasha and get stuck there but before the resolution, and are taken back a little over a year to only slowly learn how the situation came to be in the first place.
Both are attracted to each other from the beginning, despite all the arguments and fights. The chemistry is there, not overwhelmingly sparkling, but good chemistry. Because of the police rules about never having a relationship with a partner, the romance becomes a bit of a slow burn without really being a slow burn, if that makes sense to you. Because the author did a good job of showing the feelings of the two and how they struggle not to break the rules. I clicked with both of them from the beginning. Tommy and Natasha are confident and strong on the job, but as in real life not perfect, both also have their insecurities that shine through every now and then.
The supporting characters also play a strong role, especially Tommy's family, who show Natasha that there are indeed hard-working, loving, and caring families, not just on TV. In particular, Tommy's sister Harry and her mother play an important role. Her own family is the complete opposite, rich and spoiled, who think you can do anything with money.
I didn't know Thomas's book Serenity was set in the same environment, but Courage can easily be read as a standalone. I didn't feel like I missed anything important. But I will definitely read Serenity as well.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a good cop/social worker story including angst and tricky situations.
My rating 4.5 stars.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review
It takes a lot of courage to stand in front of a person in distress, especially if the person is armed, to calm them down and de-escalate the situation. Natasha Pearson, a social worker, has the tools to do this around the new ride-along program as a mental health clinician, where she is called to situations where people are ticking out because of mental distress or substance abuse, together with a cop as her partner. First, she is partnered with Tommy Finch, a cop through and through, from a family of cops. She is a role model and is absolutely convinced of the importance and rightness of good and fair police work. But being paired with a social worker is definitely not one of them. She has her concerns about safety when she has to babysit the unarmed Natasha and has no one to watch her back herself. How is that supposed to work?
Jesse J. Thoma brings two stories to life in parallel, one being the work and dynamics of the new ride-along program and how the two protagonists deal with it, and the other being the romance between the two. And I loved both strands. I loved sitting in the car with Tommy and Natasha and listening to them argue, fight and reach out to each other, and watching them slowly develop into a good team. They challenge not only their partner's work but their own to make the program a success and convince other police officers that it has many positive effects. The descriptions of the situations the two get into are great narration and kept me on the edge of my seat hoping for the best ending. I also liked the setup of the story, we experience a dangerous situation with Natasha and get stuck there but before the resolution, and are taken back a little over a year to only slowly learn how the situation came to be in the first place.
Both are attracted to each other from the beginning, despite all the arguments and fights. The chemistry is there, not overwhelmingly sparkling, but good chemistry. Because of the police rules about never having a relationship with a partner, the romance becomes a bit of a slow burn without really being a slow burn, if that makes sense to you. Because the author did a good job of showing the feelings of the two and how they struggle not to break the rules. I clicked with both of them from the beginning. Tommy and Natasha are confident and strong on the job, but as in real life not perfect, both also have their insecurities that shine through every now and then.
The supporting characters also play a strong role, especially Tommy's family, who show Natasha that there are indeed hard-working, loving, and caring families, not just on TV. In particular, Tommy's sister Harry and her mother play an important role. Her own family is the complete opposite, rich and spoiled, who think you can do anything with money.
I didn't know Thomas's book Serenity was set in the same environment, but Courage can easily be read as a standalone. I didn't feel like I missed anything important. But I will definitely read Serenity as well.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a good cop/social worker story including angst and tricky situations.
My rating 4.5 stars.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for receiving an ARC for an honest review
May 8, 2021
3.5 Stars
“Courage” by Jesse J. Thoma is a cop drama with a twist and also with a dash of romance.
Tommy Finch is a cop from a family of cops. She’s a good, experienced cop and goes by the book with everything she does while trying to live up to the Finch name. Natasha Parsons is a social worker who is assigned to be Tommy’s ride-along partner in a bid to bridge the gap with mental health and substance use calls. Tommy isn’t thrilled part of a program where her policing is being called into question.
The plot and story were fine and relevant. I enjoyed reading the storyline about a social worker who starts going on calls with the police. I found the calls the responded to interesting and varied and it brought light to me at least, about everything cops have to deal with along with traffic and crime. Especially things they aren’t in any way equipped to deal with, like mental illness. I liked that this isn’t common to read in lesfic and thought Thoma did really with this aspect of the book.
My issue with “Courage” is the dash of romance aspect. Tommy and Natasha meet and sparks fly immediately. They flirt and have a token resistance to their relationship as it’s against rules to date your partner. I did like them together, especially all of their bickering and arguing. They obviously had the same goals and objectives while working together but each had very different ways of getting there. They always tried their best to be open minded with one another and eventually learned from one another. However, it felt like Thoma forgot about the romance until the last quarter of the book and by then Tommy and Natasha had already said I love you’s and had sex before they ever went on an official date. I guess you could say that they were dating the whole time as they weren’t shy about their feelings or attraction but I feel like I missed out on the small things that I love about romances. When I read a romance, I want an actual romance, not just the highlights.
While I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone wanting a romance or romance heavy. This is well written and I would recommend it for someone who’s looking for something different and doesn’t mind the romance being in the background.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.
“Courage” by Jesse J. Thoma is a cop drama with a twist and also with a dash of romance.
Tommy Finch is a cop from a family of cops. She’s a good, experienced cop and goes by the book with everything she does while trying to live up to the Finch name. Natasha Parsons is a social worker who is assigned to be Tommy’s ride-along partner in a bid to bridge the gap with mental health and substance use calls. Tommy isn’t thrilled part of a program where her policing is being called into question.
The plot and story were fine and relevant. I enjoyed reading the storyline about a social worker who starts going on calls with the police. I found the calls the responded to interesting and varied and it brought light to me at least, about everything cops have to deal with along with traffic and crime. Especially things they aren’t in any way equipped to deal with, like mental illness. I liked that this isn’t common to read in lesfic and thought Thoma did really with this aspect of the book.
My issue with “Courage” is the dash of romance aspect. Tommy and Natasha meet and sparks fly immediately. They flirt and have a token resistance to their relationship as it’s against rules to date your partner. I did like them together, especially all of their bickering and arguing. They obviously had the same goals and objectives while working together but each had very different ways of getting there. They always tried their best to be open minded with one another and eventually learned from one another. However, it felt like Thoma forgot about the romance until the last quarter of the book and by then Tommy and Natasha had already said I love you’s and had sex before they ever went on an official date. I guess you could say that they were dating the whole time as they weren’t shy about their feelings or attraction but I feel like I missed out on the small things that I love about romances. When I read a romance, I want an actual romance, not just the highlights.
While I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone wanting a romance or romance heavy. This is well written and I would recommend it for someone who’s looking for something different and doesn’t mind the romance being in the background.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2021
4.5 stars. Set in the same universe as Serenity, Thoma has again done a great job of exploring difficult, relevant topics in an accessible way, whilst also managing to include a believable romance and some much needed elements of humour.
Natasha is a social worker with a great reputation on the street. She’s been hand-picked to work with the police as part of a ride-along programme to show how social workers paired with the police can deescalate situations and lead to more positive outcomes for those with mental health and addiction struggles.
Tommy is a cop from a family of cops. She’s not particularly impressed to have been landed with Natasha as her partner, no matter how good looking she thinks she is. She believes herself to be a good cop and isn’t sure why everyone feels Natasha will have something to offer - except perhaps to get her killed.
The book opens with a bang, then cuts back approximately 18 months to tell the story of how Natasha gets to that day. I’m not a huge fan of flashbacks in the majority of cases, but I actually enjoyed this approach for this book. It doesn’t give too much away and introduces some important characters whilst giving you something to provide some context on the journey back to that day.
Covering a number of difficult topics, in my opinion Thoma excels in her discussions of mental health, drugs and policing. The narrative forces you to think and examine your own thoughts and feelings on the topics without ever feeling too
The working relationship between Tommy and Natasha is great and this is where a lot of the humour comes in. I enjoyed the back and forth they both have, along with the way they both consistently reevaluated their approach to work, each other, the ride-along programme and their families. As a couple they have great chemistry and you can really imagine them together. I enjoyed the sort of slow burn they have to have due to the job and how this solidified their want for each other.
Tommy’s family are really well written, especially her mother and sister. I particularly enjoyed the family scenes at the dinner table and the grounding they provided for both the characters and the narrative.
You don’t need to have read Serenity to read this - one bit part character in Serenity appears here in a little more details and a couple of other Serenity characters are mentioned, but you wouldn’t need to know anything about them to enjoy Courage. I would happily recommend both Serenity and Courage and am hoping Thoma has a third book in the works for this universe.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Natasha is a social worker with a great reputation on the street. She’s been hand-picked to work with the police as part of a ride-along programme to show how social workers paired with the police can deescalate situations and lead to more positive outcomes for those with mental health and addiction struggles.
Tommy is a cop from a family of cops. She’s not particularly impressed to have been landed with Natasha as her partner, no matter how good looking she thinks she is. She believes herself to be a good cop and isn’t sure why everyone feels Natasha will have something to offer - except perhaps to get her killed.
The book opens with a bang, then cuts back approximately 18 months to tell the story of how Natasha gets to that day. I’m not a huge fan of flashbacks in the majority of cases, but I actually enjoyed this approach for this book. It doesn’t give too much away and introduces some important characters whilst giving you something to provide some context on the journey back to that day.
Covering a number of difficult topics, in my opinion Thoma excels in her discussions of mental health, drugs and policing. The narrative forces you to think and examine your own thoughts and feelings on the topics without ever feeling too
The working relationship between Tommy and Natasha is great and this is where a lot of the humour comes in. I enjoyed the back and forth they both have, along with the way they both consistently reevaluated their approach to work, each other, the ride-along programme and their families. As a couple they have great chemistry and you can really imagine them together. I enjoyed the sort of slow burn they have to have due to the job and how this solidified their want for each other.
Tommy’s family are really well written, especially her mother and sister. I particularly enjoyed the family scenes at the dinner table and the grounding they provided for both the characters and the narrative.
You don’t need to have read Serenity to read this - one bit part character in Serenity appears here in a little more details and a couple of other Serenity characters are mentioned, but you wouldn’t need to know anything about them to enjoy Courage. I would happily recommend both Serenity and Courage and am hoping Thoma has a third book in the works for this universe.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2021
I love a serious police procedural. Add in an enchanting romance with beautiful characters, and you have the perfect novel. That is exactly what I found in Courage by Jesse J. Thoma.
Natasha Parsons is a mental health worker who is hired to ride along with a police officer to help with mental health and drug use calls. She is partnered with Tommy Finch. Tommy comes from a family that has policing in their DNA. She knows her job, and she doesn’t want any unarmed social worker riding along, endangering them both, and telling her how to do her job. This obviously sets up not only a workplace-romance scenario, but also an enemies-to-lovers relationship. Add in work, family, and community politics as well as the drama of police work in general, and you have an amazing story that I couldn’t put down.
I really liked the premise of this book and the author’s style of writing. The pace is perfect. The characters are realistic and easy to connect with. I was hooked on page one, and was sad to leave this tale when I reached the end.
I was a bit surprised to realize it, but this is my first Jesse J. Thoma novel. Obviously I have some catching up to do, because if her former books are as good as this one, I don’t want to miss any of them.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
Natasha Parsons is a mental health worker who is hired to ride along with a police officer to help with mental health and drug use calls. She is partnered with Tommy Finch. Tommy comes from a family that has policing in their DNA. She knows her job, and she doesn’t want any unarmed social worker riding along, endangering them both, and telling her how to do her job. This obviously sets up not only a workplace-romance scenario, but also an enemies-to-lovers relationship. Add in work, family, and community politics as well as the drama of police work in general, and you have an amazing story that I couldn’t put down.
I really liked the premise of this book and the author’s style of writing. The pace is perfect. The characters are realistic and easy to connect with. I was hooked on page one, and was sad to leave this tale when I reached the end.
I was a bit surprised to realize it, but this is my first Jesse J. Thoma novel. Obviously I have some catching up to do, because if her former books are as good as this one, I don’t want to miss any of them.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
August 23, 2021
Courage by Jesse J. Thoma 3.75 Stars
I really liked Thoma's book, Serenity so I picked up her latest, Courage. I was a number of chapters into it when I realized this book was in the same universe as Serenity. Duh. So really, if you haven't read Serenity yet, you can easily read this one. But I do highly recommend reading Serenity, which I gave 5 stars.
This is about policewoman Tomasina “Tommy” Finch who is assigned a new partner. Tommy comes from a family which just about every member is a police officer and her mother is practically a legend. Tommy's new ride-along partner, is mental health clinician/social worker Natasha Parsons. Tommy is skeptical about the experimental program. Natasha's job would be to deal with public who are having mental issues, trauma etc. Tommy thinks Natasha would just put herself and Tommy in danger.
In general, the current procedure when the police officers are confronted with a member of the public in mental crisis which may or may not be drug induced is to confront the person, subdue and arrest. Natasha wants to change that by tying to talk and calm the person and evaluate if they need to go to the hospital, mental facility and/or determine if they are dangerous to themselves or public.
This is a good book that deals with Tommy and Natasha's attraction to each other even as they clash over how best to deal with the public – Tommy feels Natasha is putting herself and others in danger and Natasha feels the police escalate the problem rather than helping. Their forbidden romance only puts the program in jeopardy that Tommy eventually sees is working.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked Thoma's book, Serenity so I picked up her latest, Courage. I was a number of chapters into it when I realized this book was in the same universe as Serenity. Duh. So really, if you haven't read Serenity yet, you can easily read this one. But I do highly recommend reading Serenity, which I gave 5 stars.
This is about policewoman Tomasina “Tommy” Finch who is assigned a new partner. Tommy comes from a family which just about every member is a police officer and her mother is practically a legend. Tommy's new ride-along partner, is mental health clinician/social worker Natasha Parsons. Tommy is skeptical about the experimental program. Natasha's job would be to deal with public who are having mental issues, trauma etc. Tommy thinks Natasha would just put herself and Tommy in danger.
In general, the current procedure when the police officers are confronted with a member of the public in mental crisis which may or may not be drug induced is to confront the person, subdue and arrest. Natasha wants to change that by tying to talk and calm the person and evaluate if they need to go to the hospital, mental facility and/or determine if they are dangerous to themselves or public.
This is a good book that deals with Tommy and Natasha's attraction to each other even as they clash over how best to deal with the public – Tommy feels Natasha is putting herself and others in danger and Natasha feels the police escalate the problem rather than helping. Their forbidden romance only puts the program in jeopardy that Tommy eventually sees is working.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2021
4.5 stars. Set in the same universe as Serenity, Thoma has again done a great job of exploring difficult, relevant topics in an accessible way, whilst also managing to include a believable romance and some much needed elements of humour.
Natasha is a social worker with a great reputation on the street. She’s been hand-picked to work with the police as part of a ride-along programme to show how social workers paired with the police can deescalate situations and lead to more positive outcomes for those with mental health and addiction struggles.
Tommy is a cop from a family of cops. She’s not particularly impressed to have been landed with Natasha as her partner, no matter how good looking she thinks she is. She believes herself to be a good cop and isn’t sure why everyone feels Natasha will have something to offer - except perhaps to get her killed.
The book opens with a bang, then cuts back approximately 18 months to tell the story of how Natasha gets to that day. I’m not a huge fan of flashbacks in the majority of cases, but I actually enjoyed this approach for this book. It doesn’t give too much away and introduces some important characters whilst giving you something to provide some context on the journey back to that day.
Covering a number of difficult topics, in my opinion Thoma excels in her discussions of mental health, drugs and policing. The narrative forces you to think and examine your own thoughts and feelings on the topics without ever feeling too
The working relationship between Tommy and Natasha is great and this is where a lot of the humour comes in. I enjoyed the back and forth they both have, along with the way they both consistently reevaluated their approach to work, each other, the ride-along programme and their families. As a couple they have great chemistry and you can really imagine them together. I enjoyed the sort of slow burn they have to have due to the job and how this solidified their want for each other.
Tommy’s family are really well written, especially her mother and sister. I particularly enjoyed the family scenes at the dinner table and the grounding they provided for both the characters and the narrative.
You don’t need to have read Serenity to read this - one bit part character in Serenity appears here in a little more details and a couple of other Serenity characters are mentioned, but you wouldn’t need to know anything about them to enjoy Courage. I would happily recommend both Serenity and Courage and am hoping Thoma has a third book in the works for this universe.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Natasha is a social worker with a great reputation on the street. She’s been hand-picked to work with the police as part of a ride-along programme to show how social workers paired with the police can deescalate situations and lead to more positive outcomes for those with mental health and addiction struggles.
Tommy is a cop from a family of cops. She’s not particularly impressed to have been landed with Natasha as her partner, no matter how good looking she thinks she is. She believes herself to be a good cop and isn’t sure why everyone feels Natasha will have something to offer - except perhaps to get her killed.
The book opens with a bang, then cuts back approximately 18 months to tell the story of how Natasha gets to that day. I’m not a huge fan of flashbacks in the majority of cases, but I actually enjoyed this approach for this book. It doesn’t give too much away and introduces some important characters whilst giving you something to provide some context on the journey back to that day.
Covering a number of difficult topics, in my opinion Thoma excels in her discussions of mental health, drugs and policing. The narrative forces you to think and examine your own thoughts and feelings on the topics without ever feeling too
The working relationship between Tommy and Natasha is great and this is where a lot of the humour comes in. I enjoyed the back and forth they both have, along with the way they both consistently reevaluated their approach to work, each other, the ride-along programme and their families. As a couple they have great chemistry and you can really imagine them together. I enjoyed the sort of slow burn they have to have due to the job and how this solidified their want for each other.
Tommy’s family are really well written, especially her mother and sister. I particularly enjoyed the family scenes at the dinner table and the grounding they provided for both the characters and the narrative.
You don’t need to have read Serenity to read this - one bit part character in Serenity appears here in a little more details and a couple of other Serenity characters are mentioned, but you wouldn’t need to know anything about them to enjoy Courage. I would happily recommend both Serenity and Courage and am hoping Thoma has a third book in the works for this universe.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2021
As a big fan of Jesse Thoma’s writing I was underwhelmed by her latest book Courage. I found the character of Tommy unsettling. Yes she is a big, strong and ethical police officer. Yet Tommy was compliant to anyone who exerted a power position, her mother, Natasha, or Harry. This compliance reduced the tension between her and Natasha.
As well I felt lectured about the need for police reform. I am all for police reform and introducing a crisis team to assist police with mental health and substance issues but the repetition of the same facts over and over again put me back in school.
3.25 ⭐️
As well I felt lectured about the need for police reform. I am all for police reform and introducing a crisis team to assist police with mental health and substance issues but the repetition of the same facts over and over again put me back in school.
3.25 ⭐️
April 13, 2021
This was a rather good book, but unfortunately a lot was lost on me because it's based in the USA and I'm a Spaniard. I don't grip all the subtleties of the recent cases of supposed police brutality, the gun control, the black lives matter movement, and all these things there in America. But the romance... oh the romance was so sweet. Tommy and Natasha were a little "too" perfect for my taste, but anyway their love story was really spellbinding.
And maybe there will be a second book, this time starring Harry — Tommy's sister — and we will get a glimpse of the life of Tommy and Natasha. Maybe.
And maybe there will be a second book, this time starring Harry — Tommy's sister — and we will get a glimpse of the life of Tommy and Natasha. Maybe.
April 6, 2021
If I'm being honest it took me quite a few chapters to get into 'Courage' by Jesse j Thoma. I do love a good cop story and once I got into this story I flow through the pages.
The book is full of action, drama, and romance. The story is good, and nothing seems to be rushed like found in other cop stories I've read over the years. The slow-burn romance is most definitely there and is certainly off the charts when they do finally get there. I would like to see a sequel, not sure if that will happen tho but would like to see how things grow between the pair and to see how things actually improve in the local police department with the help of the new program and Natashas help.
Natasha Parson is a ride-along mental health clinician attached to the local police department. She runs into danger, minus a gun or a badge to try and de-escalate crises. She confident at her job, and quick when it comes to an emergency. But she's finding it hard to convince her new work colleagues and her new partner who goes by the book, humorless and finds it hard to convince her she's an asset and not the enemy.
For Tommy Finch, being a cop is in her blood. Her family comes from a lineup of cops and she grew up learning how to protect and serve with honor and integrity. Getting saddle with a shrink who reckless and brash isn't something Tommy signed up for. She feels she can't do her job correctly when she's responsible for the safety of an unarmed civil.
No matter how often they class on the job, attraction simmers just beneath the surface.
This is the first book I've read by Jesse J Thoma, I gave it a nearly for 4*
I was given a copy for an honest review.
The book is full of action, drama, and romance. The story is good, and nothing seems to be rushed like found in other cop stories I've read over the years. The slow-burn romance is most definitely there and is certainly off the charts when they do finally get there. I would like to see a sequel, not sure if that will happen tho but would like to see how things grow between the pair and to see how things actually improve in the local police department with the help of the new program and Natashas help.
Natasha Parson is a ride-along mental health clinician attached to the local police department. She runs into danger, minus a gun or a badge to try and de-escalate crises. She confident at her job, and quick when it comes to an emergency. But she's finding it hard to convince her new work colleagues and her new partner who goes by the book, humorless and finds it hard to convince her she's an asset and not the enemy.
For Tommy Finch, being a cop is in her blood. Her family comes from a lineup of cops and she grew up learning how to protect and serve with honor and integrity. Getting saddle with a shrink who reckless and brash isn't something Tommy signed up for. She feels she can't do her job correctly when she's responsible for the safety of an unarmed civil.
No matter how often they class on the job, attraction simmers just beneath the surface.
This is the first book I've read by Jesse J Thoma, I gave it a nearly for 4*
I was given a copy for an honest review.
March 11, 2021
LOVED this!!
Natasha has a degree in social work and is using it as an advisor to the police force. She has been assigned to Officer Tommy as a partner in the field. Her goal is to deal with situations where the suspect needs mental health or substance abuse help instead of them going to jail when the hospital is a much better option. She truly believes in this program and will defend it tirelessly. Tommy comes from a family of cops. She is a by the book kind of officer and VERY dedicated to her job. She thinks Natasha will not only get in her way but be a liability who might get her injured or worse. These two women clash and argue but there is something more than animosity because of the job here, isn’t there?
I adored everything about this book!! The story was wonderful, the writing on point, it was technically sound and really well paced. I loved these characters, they are dynamic, emotional, complex and realistic. It was impossible for me not to get seriously invested in them and worry about them when they took dangerous calls and be so happy for them when things go well. The secondary characters are pretty great too! Zookeeper and Parrot Man from Ms Thoma’s book Serenity make a few appearances too! (FYI, Serenity is also a most excellent book!) This tale is full of drama both in the field and out and kept my attention throughout. This is one of those books you won’t want to put down and will be put in your reread pile quickly.
Natasha has a degree in social work and is using it as an advisor to the police force. She has been assigned to Officer Tommy as a partner in the field. Her goal is to deal with situations where the suspect needs mental health or substance abuse help instead of them going to jail when the hospital is a much better option. She truly believes in this program and will defend it tirelessly. Tommy comes from a family of cops. She is a by the book kind of officer and VERY dedicated to her job. She thinks Natasha will not only get in her way but be a liability who might get her injured or worse. These two women clash and argue but there is something more than animosity because of the job here, isn’t there?
I adored everything about this book!! The story was wonderful, the writing on point, it was technically sound and really well paced. I loved these characters, they are dynamic, emotional, complex and realistic. It was impossible for me not to get seriously invested in them and worry about them when they took dangerous calls and be so happy for them when things go well. The secondary characters are pretty great too! Zookeeper and Parrot Man from Ms Thoma’s book Serenity make a few appearances too! (FYI, Serenity is also a most excellent book!) This tale is full of drama both in the field and out and kept my attention throughout. This is one of those books you won’t want to put down and will be put in your reread pile quickly.
March 22, 2021
My first encounter with a Thoma book came last year with Serenity. That book is wonderfully written and enjoyable while dealing with the tough subject of addiction and kicking the habit. When I saw Thoma wrote another book along the lines of this I just had to pick it up. On a side note, I wonder if Courage and Serenity are part of series, it isn’t mentioned anywhere officially, but both take place in the same city and some characters from Serenity have a tiny part in Courage or get a mention. Both books do have this what I assume is some sort of AA or NA chip/ medal on the cover.
On to the story in Courage. The book starts with what you can call a flash forward in the first chapter, this sets the tone for the book. After the flash the book tells the story of the 18 months leading up to that event. Usually I hate this sorta thing, I just keeping waiting for the book to catch up basically, but for this one I almost forgot we had the flash forward to begin with. Natasha is a social worker who starts on a ride-along trial within the police department. She is partnered with straight shooting Tommy who comes from a family of cops and feels like her work is being devalued and she’s going to be hold back by this program. From the get go it’s clear the two mains have a connection and after a rocky start they find their groove and the author has done a great job in developing both their professional and personal story. I feel like most of the story is focused on the professional side of things, but there is a good dose of personal. The dialogue between the characters is my absolute favourite, the way they interact is pretty recognisable for me. The supporting characters are strong as well and play an important role in the story, I think it’s something this author does very well.
It’s clear this author has experience with people who suffer from mental health and/or substance use issues, only with experience can you write something that feels like it’s real. Thoma does a great job writing strong characters, as in well fleshed out but also opinionated and strong in a more literal way, I like it. A lot actually. If I were to give a dislike it would have to be with some of the names. Tommy and her sister Harry, it’s all just a little too masculine for me, not to mention confusing.
Big plus for me is how slowly the relationship is developing between the mains and how they put a pause on it for the job and all that, really well done. Them taking it slow doesn’t mean this is a slow burn by the way, feelings are acknowledged pretty early on.
Great story, sweet romance, amazing characters, 4.5 stars
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
On to the story in Courage. The book starts with what you can call a flash forward in the first chapter, this sets the tone for the book. After the flash the book tells the story of the 18 months leading up to that event. Usually I hate this sorta thing, I just keeping waiting for the book to catch up basically, but for this one I almost forgot we had the flash forward to begin with. Natasha is a social worker who starts on a ride-along trial within the police department. She is partnered with straight shooting Tommy who comes from a family of cops and feels like her work is being devalued and she’s going to be hold back by this program. From the get go it’s clear the two mains have a connection and after a rocky start they find their groove and the author has done a great job in developing both their professional and personal story. I feel like most of the story is focused on the professional side of things, but there is a good dose of personal. The dialogue between the characters is my absolute favourite, the way they interact is pretty recognisable for me. The supporting characters are strong as well and play an important role in the story, I think it’s something this author does very well.
It’s clear this author has experience with people who suffer from mental health and/or substance use issues, only with experience can you write something that feels like it’s real. Thoma does a great job writing strong characters, as in well fleshed out but also opinionated and strong in a more literal way, I like it. A lot actually. If I were to give a dislike it would have to be with some of the names. Tommy and her sister Harry, it’s all just a little too masculine for me, not to mention confusing.
Big plus for me is how slowly the relationship is developing between the mains and how they put a pause on it for the job and all that, really well done. Them taking it slow doesn’t mean this is a slow burn by the way, feelings are acknowledged pretty early on.
Great story, sweet romance, amazing characters, 4.5 stars
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
March 20, 2021
Tommy Finch came from a family that stood for law and order. Her mother and her sister were both cops like Tommy. Tommy wanted to write her detectives exam so she could move up the chain of command. She’s not interested in a relationship, preferring to play once in a while with the woman who themselves weren’t interested either. Lately she didn’t date all that much. Now the bosses in her department decided to try a new way of dealing with the calls that came from the mentality ill or drug addicts. Most cops were not trained how to manage these calls and the city wanted to try seeing how retraining would work.
Natasha Parson, mental health clinician was the person charged with making it work. Now she finally had the chance to show how her method worked better for everyone. The bonus was having Tommy Finch, a hot butch as her partner. She comes from money and thanks to a trust fund she doesn't needn't help from her parents. They weren’t on her side. Now she’s doing the work she’s trained for.
Ms Thoma has given us a story that we’ve seen before but she tells us her version and made this a really nice read. Wonderful way to spend some time just being quiet. Very enjoyable book.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books
Natasha Parson, mental health clinician was the person charged with making it work. Now she finally had the chance to show how her method worked better for everyone. The bonus was having Tommy Finch, a hot butch as her partner. She comes from money and thanks to a trust fund she doesn't needn't help from her parents. They weren’t on her side. Now she’s doing the work she’s trained for.
Ms Thoma has given us a story that we’ve seen before but she tells us her version and made this a really nice read. Wonderful way to spend some time just being quiet. Very enjoyable book.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books
July 11, 2021
Loved this book - a real hummdinger that moved me to tears more than once. Loved the story, the characters and the whole set up - highly recommended. Best book read this year?
April 24, 2021
Content warnings: manipulation, gun shot, graphic sex
I was initially hesitant about picking up this romance centered around police work, but since I really enjoyed Thoma’s previous novel Serenity (my review), I had to give this a go. And Thoma didn’t disappoint: she did a good job of tackling the topic of police reform.
Natasha Parsons comes from money. But instead of attending galas and standing around looking pretty, she loves her job as a social worker and is passionate about using her skills to deescalate crises. Tommy Finch comes from a family of cops. When she gets paired with Natasha, a civilian who needs her protection, she is less than thrilled.
That is the synopsis you are going to get from me because I still cannot figure out the romance storyline. It’s instalust on day one when they still sort of dislike each other, and all their early moments are thoughts about how the other person is gorgeous and hot. I felt mostly confused and didn’t feel any chemistry. If this weren’t a romance, I would’ve enjoyed it immensely more.
I really liked Natasha though. I love that she believes in herself and believes in her job. And then there is Tommy, who seems cool but that’s it. The Finch family is very lovely, especially compared to Natasha’s, and if there is going to be a sequel starring Harry, Tommy’s sister, and maybe Kayla, Natasha’s best friend, I would love to see more moments with Alice Finch, Harry and Tommy’s mother.
The book opens with one intense scene where Natasha is trying to deescalate the situation and the rest of the story is told in chronological order. I didn’t think that particular choice added anything to the book. Throughout the read, while Thoma’s writing and the overall plot is smooth and enjoyable, there is something odd about the feel of time, like one second they were here and the next they were across the room, and also some of the dialogues. None of these bothered me too much but I did have to pause and reread sometimes.
For me, the story picked up pace some 70% into the book. I liked the cameos of some characters from Serenity, and how Zookeeper is a somewhat important character here, but at 70% or so is when the stakes are higher. Also, the sort-of romance conflict was done well as it was very plausible, nothing too dramatic, and didn’t happen too close to the ending. The overall pacing of Courage, maybe sans the romance, was very good.
All in all, I liked the approach to the topic of police reform, but since it is also a romance, I couldn’t say I particularly enjoyed reading about Natasha and Tommy falling in love.
(2 stars for the romance and an additional star for dealing with police work sensibly.)
I received a digital review copy from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was initially hesitant about picking up this romance centered around police work, but since I really enjoyed Thoma’s previous novel Serenity (my review), I had to give this a go. And Thoma didn’t disappoint: she did a good job of tackling the topic of police reform.
Natasha Parsons comes from money. But instead of attending galas and standing around looking pretty, she loves her job as a social worker and is passionate about using her skills to deescalate crises. Tommy Finch comes from a family of cops. When she gets paired with Natasha, a civilian who needs her protection, she is less than thrilled.
That is the synopsis you are going to get from me because I still cannot figure out the romance storyline. It’s instalust on day one when they still sort of dislike each other, and all their early moments are thoughts about how the other person is gorgeous and hot. I felt mostly confused and didn’t feel any chemistry. If this weren’t a romance, I would’ve enjoyed it immensely more.
I really liked Natasha though. I love that she believes in herself and believes in her job. And then there is Tommy, who seems cool but that’s it. The Finch family is very lovely, especially compared to Natasha’s, and if there is going to be a sequel starring Harry, Tommy’s sister, and maybe Kayla, Natasha’s best friend, I would love to see more moments with Alice Finch, Harry and Tommy’s mother.
The book opens with one intense scene where Natasha is trying to deescalate the situation and the rest of the story is told in chronological order. I didn’t think that particular choice added anything to the book. Throughout the read, while Thoma’s writing and the overall plot is smooth and enjoyable, there is something odd about the feel of time, like one second they were here and the next they were across the room, and also some of the dialogues. None of these bothered me too much but I did have to pause and reread sometimes.
For me, the story picked up pace some 70% into the book. I liked the cameos of some characters from Serenity, and how Zookeeper is a somewhat important character here, but at 70% or so is when the stakes are higher. Also, the sort-of romance conflict was done well as it was very plausible, nothing too dramatic, and didn’t happen too close to the ending. The overall pacing of Courage, maybe sans the romance, was very good.
All in all, I liked the approach to the topic of police reform, but since it is also a romance, I couldn’t say I particularly enjoyed reading about Natasha and Tommy falling in love.
(2 stars for the romance and an additional star for dealing with police work sensibly.)
I received a digital review copy from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2021
Jesse J. Thoma is a new-to-me author, so I did not really know what to expect. But, this is an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers romance between a police officer and a social worker/ mental health clinician. Tommy comes from a family of cops and is working her way to become a detective. She's worked hard to prove herself. Then, she's forced by the powers that be to be partnered with a social worker. Natasha is a social worker who specializes in mental health issues. For Tommy and the other cops in her department, being forced to babysit a civilian does not seem like a good use of their time. Good thing Nat has a forceful, stubborn personality, ready to change these opinions for the better.
I like the story and the subsequent romance. The chemistry and attraction between the 2 mains are very apparent from the start. They try to restrain themselves though, being work partners and all. That ratchets up the tension, naturally. I also like the side characters, like Tommy's family and Nat's best friend. As a reader, I find myself cheering on Nat in her work and also in wanting Tommy and her to have a happy ever after.
**Thanks to Bold Strokes Book for giving me ARC in exchange for honest review.**
I like the story and the subsequent romance. The chemistry and attraction between the 2 mains are very apparent from the start. They try to restrain themselves though, being work partners and all. That ratchets up the tension, naturally. I also like the side characters, like Tommy's family and Nat's best friend. As a reader, I find myself cheering on Nat in her work and also in wanting Tommy and her to have a happy ever after.
**Thanks to Bold Strokes Book for giving me ARC in exchange for honest review.**
August 29, 2025
Story: 5 ⭐️
Narration: 4 ⭐️
Narration: 4 ⭐️
April 19, 2021
Natasha starts a new job with the police force where she will help initiate a pilot project to include social workers in day to day police operations. This is not well received by most of the police officers, including her new partner Tommy. As anticipated, over time Tommy and the other officers begin to see the benefits of the project as they watch Natasha time and again prove incredibly effective in her efforts. As Natasha and Tommy’s working relationship grows, so does their personal relationship. They both develop strong feelings for each other but refuse to start anything official at the expense of their jobs and the fledgling project they have spent so much time to make successful. Regardless, the relationship is brought to the attention of their supervisor and they have to find a way to save their jobs without sacrificing their feelings and their future together.
There were some slow parts and Tommy spends an oddly long amount of time trying to grasp the benefits a social worker can bring to the police force. Other than this weird mental hurdle Tommy and the other police officers have to get past, the book was good... really good. 4 stars from me. Also, it made me laugh, and I will always give a funny book a good rating.
There were some slow parts and Tommy spends an oddly long amount of time trying to grasp the benefits a social worker can bring to the police force. Other than this weird mental hurdle Tommy and the other police officers have to get past, the book was good... really good. 4 stars from me. Also, it made me laugh, and I will always give a funny book a good rating.
May 6, 2021
What do you get when you pair a free spirited social worker with a no nonsense cop?
I liked this story more than I thought I would. It was more heavy handed toward the cop/social worker relationship than the romance aspect of it, so if you read this thinking it'll be about the two protags falling in love with procedural cop stuff happening in the background, you'd be wrong, it's the opposite. The story showed us that cops aren't bad people and not all bad guys are really that, bad. Thoma wrote us a story that shed light on mental health and how it can affect rational thinking. A 911 call doesn't always have to end in violence with handcuffs and a ride to the slammer. The relationship between Tommy and her sister, Harry, who was also a fellow cop, was funny and the typical "bro" relationship between the two butch lesbian sisters. Harry was a great ice breaker, listener, ass-kicker, and sounding board for her sister. Tommy was great, very straight-laced, by the book, type of cop, whereas Natasha, the social worker, was the opposite. Natasha ruffled Tommy's feathers every chance she got and it was quite a delight to read. I love when a playful kitten tries to rouse the stern lion. As their professional relationship matured, their romantic one was slowly blossoming. It was nice, because it happened as they worked together. The courting took place right in their place of work and at Tommy's mother's dinner table. Not awkward at all. Their revelation of their feelings for one another didn't happen as a surprise to us readers because Natasha and Tommy were always up front about their growing feelings with each other, as opposed to keeping it to themselves inside an inner dialogue meant for us. The sex, however, was a nice surprise. Thoma is a new author to me so I was unsure how she went about two characters solidifying their love. I was pleased.
I rate this 4 stars and wish their was just a smidgen more of romance to evenly balance the story out.
I liked this story more than I thought I would. It was more heavy handed toward the cop/social worker relationship than the romance aspect of it, so if you read this thinking it'll be about the two protags falling in love with procedural cop stuff happening in the background, you'd be wrong, it's the opposite. The story showed us that cops aren't bad people and not all bad guys are really that, bad. Thoma wrote us a story that shed light on mental health and how it can affect rational thinking. A 911 call doesn't always have to end in violence with handcuffs and a ride to the slammer. The relationship between Tommy and her sister, Harry, who was also a fellow cop, was funny and the typical "bro" relationship between the two butch lesbian sisters. Harry was a great ice breaker, listener, ass-kicker, and sounding board for her sister. Tommy was great, very straight-laced, by the book, type of cop, whereas Natasha, the social worker, was the opposite. Natasha ruffled Tommy's feathers every chance she got and it was quite a delight to read. I love when a playful kitten tries to rouse the stern lion. As their professional relationship matured, their romantic one was slowly blossoming. It was nice, because it happened as they worked together. The courting took place right in their place of work and at Tommy's mother's dinner table. Not awkward at all. Their revelation of their feelings for one another didn't happen as a surprise to us readers because Natasha and Tommy were always up front about their growing feelings with each other, as opposed to keeping it to themselves inside an inner dialogue meant for us. The sex, however, was a nice surprise. Thoma is a new author to me so I was unsure how she went about two characters solidifying their love. I was pleased.
I rate this 4 stars and wish their was just a smidgen more of romance to evenly balance the story out.
August 26, 2023
I was impressed with the job that the social worker does in this book. I love a good story where it is not all shoot ‘em up. Admiring someone who uses words and caring to overcome a situation is easy for me.
I liked the story but at one point about 2/3 of the way through it kind of dragged for me. It picked right back up and I enjoyed the ending very much. Overall I can easily recommend this book.
I liked the story but at one point about 2/3 of the way through it kind of dragged for me. It picked right back up and I enjoyed the ending very much. Overall I can easily recommend this book.
July 16, 2021
4.5 ⭐️
Wow! What an excellent mix of things I always find most enjoyable in a book! There was drama, there was suspense and intrigue, there were a lot of feels, chemistry and most importantly - there was a story that touches on a subject that we must talk more about as a society and so very interesting and important to read about (i'm sure it was just as important to write) during the times we're living today.
I haven't read the other book in this universe, but I can confidently say that I'm adding it to my "want to read" file and will read it soon.
Courage is a story that centers around two main characters- Tommy and Natasha. Tommy is a very dedicated police officer who wants nothing more but to serve the society. She always plays by the book, doesn't break rules, and is hesitant to work with a new social worker that has been recently adder to her police department and Tommy is partnered with. The said social worker Natasha, is also very dedicated to her job and sees the flaws that policing has when dealing with POCs and people with mental health disorders. She knows that she can help to improve the ways in which police deals with such people and is not afraid to speak up when she knows things could be improved.
I found the chemistry between the characters written well and convincing. I was honestly rooting for them to be together from the very beginning, although I did have doubts of whether they'd be strong and smart enough to overcome the issues that would arise if they started a romantic relationship. I found the whole story very compelling and addictive, I couldn't put the book down even though I just started a new job that requires most of my attention at all times. I just didn't want to stop.
I loved how the book starts with a dramatic scene, where we don't know how the characters got there and how and whether they'd get out of it alive. The book gives us a small snapshot of that scene and then takes us back 18 months to the time where Natasha's work with the police started.
The side characters were also very interesting and I wouldn't mind reading another book about them (Natasha's bestfriend and Tommy's family). They all had their own strong characters and weren't just thrown in for the side part.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys reading stories that are taking place in contemporary times and deal with issues that are a hot topic. Also to those who enjoy reading books about the police, social work, family bonds, friendship, and just generally enjoy good books.
Wow! What an excellent mix of things I always find most enjoyable in a book! There was drama, there was suspense and intrigue, there were a lot of feels, chemistry and most importantly - there was a story that touches on a subject that we must talk more about as a society and so very interesting and important to read about (i'm sure it was just as important to write) during the times we're living today.
I haven't read the other book in this universe, but I can confidently say that I'm adding it to my "want to read" file and will read it soon.
Courage is a story that centers around two main characters- Tommy and Natasha. Tommy is a very dedicated police officer who wants nothing more but to serve the society. She always plays by the book, doesn't break rules, and is hesitant to work with a new social worker that has been recently adder to her police department and Tommy is partnered with. The said social worker Natasha, is also very dedicated to her job and sees the flaws that policing has when dealing with POCs and people with mental health disorders. She knows that she can help to improve the ways in which police deals with such people and is not afraid to speak up when she knows things could be improved.
I found the chemistry between the characters written well and convincing. I was honestly rooting for them to be together from the very beginning, although I did have doubts of whether they'd be strong and smart enough to overcome the issues that would arise if they started a romantic relationship. I found the whole story very compelling and addictive, I couldn't put the book down even though I just started a new job that requires most of my attention at all times. I just didn't want to stop.
I loved how the book starts with a dramatic scene, where we don't know how the characters got there and how and whether they'd get out of it alive. The book gives us a small snapshot of that scene and then takes us back 18 months to the time where Natasha's work with the police started.
The side characters were also very interesting and I wouldn't mind reading another book about them (Natasha's bestfriend and Tommy's family). They all had their own strong characters and weren't just thrown in for the side part.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys reading stories that are taking place in contemporary times and deal with issues that are a hot topic. Also to those who enjoy reading books about the police, social work, family bonds, friendship, and just generally enjoy good books.
June 10, 2021
I really like this one. The program both MC's were involved got my attention from the beginning. I like the idea in general. The hot and cold to start between characters and the absolute welcome in the family in the middle and end was so uplifting.
I don't think we see often, but it happens that, sometimes, it is not your personal family but the one that you take on who will complete your life.
I found both characters perfect for each other.
Very good Book.
I don't think we see often, but it happens that, sometimes, it is not your personal family but the one that you take on who will complete your life.
I found both characters perfect for each other.
Very good Book.
April 28, 2021
2 stars. Natasha Parsons is a ride-along mental health clinician who gets partnered with officer Tommy Finch. Tommy's whole family are cops and she wants to be just as good as her mother was. Tommy is a good officer through and through. She cannot also help that she is attracted to her new partner, Natasha. Natasha is attractive and easy to talk to, even if they clash about everything involved in being each other's partners. Natasha thinks differently when it comes to mental health than Tommy does and is trying to prove to Tommy and other officers that she can help with certain calls.
This book was fine. It was not a bad novel, I just thought the romance was a bit over the top. Tommy is a bit too protective from the beginning and I did not like that. Natasha and Tommy's romance evolved a little too quick for my liking and I did not like that at all. There was no slow burn, it kind of seemed like they instantly fell in love with each other which is never my favorite storyline. I would not recommend this novel. I read it quickly, but I do not want to read it again and there are many better novels to read. I just never got the full feeling that they were falling for each other, and I wish there was a little more tension between the characters. This novel was also very forgettable.
This book was fine. It was not a bad novel, I just thought the romance was a bit over the top. Tommy is a bit too protective from the beginning and I did not like that. Natasha and Tommy's romance evolved a little too quick for my liking and I did not like that at all. There was no slow burn, it kind of seemed like they instantly fell in love with each other which is never my favorite storyline. I would not recommend this novel. I read it quickly, but I do not want to read it again and there are many better novels to read. I just never got the full feeling that they were falling for each other, and I wish there was a little more tension between the characters. This novel was also very forgettable.
April 30, 2021
I had not read anything by Jesse Thoma until last year's Serenity, and it blew me away. It was a non-typical romance involving a heroin addict, and it was five stars for me. The title Courage didn't dawn on me until I saw the Serenity Prayer at the beginning of the book, so now I'm hoping Wisdom is next.
This is the story of a dyed-in-the-wool police officer and a social worker who ride together in hopes of saving maybe some people who would normally slip through the cracks. They each hate the idea at first so there's a slight enemies-to-lovers feel but neither of them can deny their chemistry. They also know they can't act on it while they are partnered. Each has a different family dynamic that created their backgrounds, and they really worked for me.
Jesse Thoma is a really great writer who deserves more attention.
This is the story of a dyed-in-the-wool police officer and a social worker who ride together in hopes of saving maybe some people who would normally slip through the cracks. They each hate the idea at first so there's a slight enemies-to-lovers feel but neither of them can deny their chemistry. They also know they can't act on it while they are partnered. Each has a different family dynamic that created their backgrounds, and they really worked for me.
Jesse Thoma is a really great writer who deserves more attention.
December 19, 2022
This is a police story, with protagonists serving in the police department of a large American city.
One of the protagonists is Natasha, a social worker who wants to try to implement a police action system with cases of the mentally ill or people in need of psychological help, which can provide medical assistance instead of punishment. The other protagonist is Tommy, a family saga cop, with father, mother, brother and sister also in the police force, one way or another.
Of course, Tommy does everything according to the rules and has a very conservative police behavior. Natasha's pretensions cannot be positive and will only hinder police work. But it is Tommy who is designated as Natasha's partner, so they both have to learn to live with each other, which is difficult at first. But the fact that they are both attracted to each other will make it a little easier. Or maybe it won’t make it any easier.
Both are multifaceted, even complex characters, especially Natasha. Both have a strong will and resist when they have to assess whether they can start a relationship, their professional goals are too important to risk everything. But there are things they will have to face by force, even if they don’t want to.
For me, this has been an interesting story, very entertaining and with rhythm. And with a little tension and excitement in some parts. I really enjoyed it.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review
One of the protagonists is Natasha, a social worker who wants to try to implement a police action system with cases of the mentally ill or people in need of psychological help, which can provide medical assistance instead of punishment. The other protagonist is Tommy, a family saga cop, with father, mother, brother and sister also in the police force, one way or another.
Of course, Tommy does everything according to the rules and has a very conservative police behavior. Natasha's pretensions cannot be positive and will only hinder police work. But it is Tommy who is designated as Natasha's partner, so they both have to learn to live with each other, which is difficult at first. But the fact that they are both attracted to each other will make it a little easier. Or maybe it won’t make it any easier.
Both are multifaceted, even complex characters, especially Natasha. Both have a strong will and resist when they have to assess whether they can start a relationship, their professional goals are too important to risk everything. But there are things they will have to face by force, even if they don’t want to.
For me, this has been an interesting story, very entertaining and with rhythm. And with a little tension and excitement in some parts. I really enjoyed it.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review
March 17, 2021
This one was a fast read for me. I like the books with the shorter chapters. I really enjoyed the book from the beginning to the end. This author is new for me and my list of new authors seems to be increasing every week/month. I will definitely check out her other work in the future.
Tommy is a police officer whose full family are cops. She does everything by the book and is very dedicated to her work. Natasha is a Mental Health Clinician (Social Worker). Natasha is working alongside the police to help them that are more needing help with their mental health than a jail sentence. She feels strongly that those with mental health/drug abuse need the program that she is offering and not a jail sentence. She’s been partnered with Tommy who at the beginning doesn’t think it is a good idea and is against the partnership.
You feel the chemistry between the pair from the beginning even though they clash and argue quite a lot throughout the storyline. It is slow burn which I prefer, so they don’t instantly hop into bed after a couple of chapters. I loved the storyline, the writer’s writing style, the pace was just right and I loved the secondary characters (especially Harry who is Tommy’s sister and a character called the Zookeeper).
Definitely recommend giving it a read.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Tommy is a police officer whose full family are cops. She does everything by the book and is very dedicated to her work. Natasha is a Mental Health Clinician (Social Worker). Natasha is working alongside the police to help them that are more needing help with their mental health than a jail sentence. She feels strongly that those with mental health/drug abuse need the program that she is offering and not a jail sentence. She’s been partnered with Tommy who at the beginning doesn’t think it is a good idea and is against the partnership.
You feel the chemistry between the pair from the beginning even though they clash and argue quite a lot throughout the storyline. It is slow burn which I prefer, so they don’t instantly hop into bed after a couple of chapters. I loved the storyline, the writer’s writing style, the pace was just right and I loved the secondary characters (especially Harry who is Tommy’s sister and a character called the Zookeeper).
Definitely recommend giving it a read.
I received an ARC copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
May 13, 2021
This romance could be considered book 2 of the Serenity Series. Not sure if Thoma is classifying it as such, but some of the characters from that romance is in this one. I think I liked this one equally to Serenity.
Tommy Finch comes from a long like on cops. (I think Tommy's sister would be a main if there is another book in this series). She is a hard worker and eager to move up in the ranks like her mother did. She does not want to be part of the new program where a Social worker is teamed up with her to help Police learn how to diffuse mental health situations. This mental health worker is Natasha Parson. Natasha just wants to help and Tommy doesn't want to be told how to do her job.
This made for a very good read. From the moment Tommy and Natasha meet the chemistry is electric. Sure, Tommy doesn't want to work with Natasha and she makes it known on the first day, but as you read through the books it shows how they begin to work with each other and also figure out how to resist each other. Thoma really does a great job with developing these mains and she also gives us a enough supporting characters to make the story have some depth, but not too many where you can't remember who is who. There is also some suspense that is part of the story that further helps you want to keep reading. Courage pulled me in and kept me reading and hoping for more to come in future books.
4.5 stars.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Tommy Finch comes from a long like on cops. (I think Tommy's sister would be a main if there is another book in this series). She is a hard worker and eager to move up in the ranks like her mother did. She does not want to be part of the new program where a Social worker is teamed up with her to help Police learn how to diffuse mental health situations. This mental health worker is Natasha Parson. Natasha just wants to help and Tommy doesn't want to be told how to do her job.
This made for a very good read. From the moment Tommy and Natasha meet the chemistry is electric. Sure, Tommy doesn't want to work with Natasha and she makes it known on the first day, but as you read through the books it shows how they begin to work with each other and also figure out how to resist each other. Thoma really does a great job with developing these mains and she also gives us a enough supporting characters to make the story have some depth, but not too many where you can't remember who is who. There is also some suspense that is part of the story that further helps you want to keep reading. Courage pulled me in and kept me reading and hoping for more to come in future books.
4.5 stars.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
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