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On Solid Ground: Book 3 in The Grounded Series
Trusting each other is the only way to defeat the evil they face.The exciting conclusion of the award-winning Grounded Series trilogy.While tracking illegal immigrants through hidden passageways on Apache land in Arizona, FBI agent Gage Youngblood, stumbles upon a human trafficking operation. Before he can pursue, an unexpected call from Qiana Apachito, his former girlfriend, now heading up the local Indian Affairs Office for the Department of Justice, interrupts his mission. He finds himself grudgingly helping her investigate an unearthed corpse, a corpse they suspect may be the body of a man they pursued years earlier in a clandestine mission; a mission that would be career-ending for them both. Their quest to identify the human remains and true cause of death leads them to several young girls living in the clutches of a cult leader with sinister plans. While searching for answers, they must reexamine their relationship and deal with unhealed emotional wounds. Can these ex-lovers, combine their talents and put aside their anger and hurt long enough to bring down the trafficking operation, free the enslaved women and rekindle lost love? Find out in this high stakes, action-packed adventure across the Arizona desert.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2021
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Jansen Schmidt
6 books22 followersI am an award-winning author of women’s fiction and romance. My debut novel On Common Ground was a finalist in the Great Beginnings Contest sponsored by the Utah chapter of Romance Writers of America and earned a 5-Star Readers’ Favorite Award. The first two books in the Grounded Series garnered prestigious Readers' Crowned Heart Awards from InD’Tale Magazine and The Ties That Bind, Book One in the Family Ties Series, earned the Literary Titan Gold Award. My new release, Broken Ties, also received a coveted Readers' Favorite 5-Stars.
My husband and I moved to historic Vicksburg, Mississippi in 2015, where we own and operate a lovely Victorian B&B. I never pass up a good meal or a good theater production. In my free time I enjoy cruising and trips to Disney World. I love reading romance, thrillers, mysteries, biographies and anything that’s well written and captivating.
My husband and I moved to historic Vicksburg, Mississippi in 2015, where we own and operate a lovely Victorian B&B. I never pass up a good meal or a good theater production. In my free time I enjoy cruising and trips to Disney World. I love reading romance, thrillers, mysteries, biographies and anything that’s well written and captivating.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 11, 2021
"On Solid Ground" delivers simmering passions and complex emotions with a dose of chilling realism.
Read full review in the 2021 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
February 8, 2023
Fascinating, surprisingly complex, beautifully written
I was completely absorbed by this book! So much better than I expected, though with how much I loved the earlier two I shouldn't have been surprised. It was utter perfection and I loved every bit of it.
Gage and Qiana are thrown back together when new evidence comes to light that links them to an incident connected to her sister's disappearance. Even though the emotional wounds from their hasty break-up are still fresh after two years apart, these two can't avoid picking up where they left off and sorting out the details as they go along.
Their romance is deeply emotional, very moving, and an exquisite example of soulmates bringing out the best in each other. I loved their journey, their heartfelt intimacy, and their HEA was sublime.
While they are reconnecting, they're also embroiled in a complex investigation that was as suspenseful as any I've ever read. At first you think it's one thing, then it looks like another, then you find out it's quite a different problem altogether. Eventually the conspiracy is revealed and the villains are brought to justice, giving us an entire new level of satisfaction with the resolution for the many victims.
Nahele was a fantastic character, a perfect impromptu assistant for Gage, and I adored the fact that he got his own HEA as well. This book has all the feels, all the emotional impact a reader could hope for.
It's connected to the earlier books in this series by involving Trevor, Noah, and Fallon in the investigation, and linking it to prior events that we read about in the second book. If you read any of the earlier book, you don't want to miss this one. I highly recommend the series, and especially this book, for anyone who loves contemporary romantic suspense. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I was completely absorbed by this book! So much better than I expected, though with how much I loved the earlier two I shouldn't have been surprised. It was utter perfection and I loved every bit of it.
Gage and Qiana are thrown back together when new evidence comes to light that links them to an incident connected to her sister's disappearance. Even though the emotional wounds from their hasty break-up are still fresh after two years apart, these two can't avoid picking up where they left off and sorting out the details as they go along.
Their romance is deeply emotional, very moving, and an exquisite example of soulmates bringing out the best in each other. I loved their journey, their heartfelt intimacy, and their HEA was sublime.
While they are reconnecting, they're also embroiled in a complex investigation that was as suspenseful as any I've ever read. At first you think it's one thing, then it looks like another, then you find out it's quite a different problem altogether. Eventually the conspiracy is revealed and the villains are brought to justice, giving us an entire new level of satisfaction with the resolution for the many victims.
Nahele was a fantastic character, a perfect impromptu assistant for Gage, and I adored the fact that he got his own HEA as well. This book has all the feels, all the emotional impact a reader could hope for.
It's connected to the earlier books in this series by involving Trevor, Noah, and Fallon in the investigation, and linking it to prior events that we read about in the second book. If you read any of the earlier book, you don't want to miss this one. I highly recommend the series, and especially this book, for anyone who loves contemporary romantic suspense. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
April 14, 2023
Although I hadn't read the first two books in the series, the book was so descriptive that you quickly catch up on the storyline and characters. The Apache background and human trafficking aspects were interesting. The renewing relationships and professional relations are so well written. I was engrossed in the investigation and hoping they would find all the answers that they were looking for.
January 14, 2023
Riveting
Gage and Quiana's chemistry had me hooked from beginning to end. Believable, gritty characters with a complex plot that could be tomorrow's top news story. Will definitely look for her next books!
Gage and Quiana's chemistry had me hooked from beginning to end. Believable, gritty characters with a complex plot that could be tomorrow's top news story. Will definitely look for her next books!
January 18, 2025
Jansen Schmidt takes us back to the Apache reservations in Arizona and brings some of my favorite characters from book two in the three-part series On Hallowed Ground, which I also enjoyed reading. The drama is ratcheted up when an FBI agent discovers a human trafficking operation on the Rez.
The mystical lore of American Indians continues with the lead heroin who is gifted with healing and foresight. She is also hopelessly in love with the rugged FBI agent spearheading the human trafficking investigation.
Schmidt's characters are intriguing, and her descriptions of the rugged and beautiful Arizona surroundings are compelling. This is another solid effort and a fine read.
The mystical lore of American Indians continues with the lead heroin who is gifted with healing and foresight. She is also hopelessly in love with the rugged FBI agent spearheading the human trafficking investigation.
Schmidt's characters are intriguing, and her descriptions of the rugged and beautiful Arizona surroundings are compelling. This is another solid effort and a fine read.
March 23, 2023
I haven't read the first two novels of this trilogy, but that was no problem. My problem was that the pace was too slow for my taste. I know arrests have to be made by the book, but I don't like reading too much about getting the paperwork right, providing warrants or BOLOs. The novel lacks suspense. The bureaucracy regarding American Indian reservations was a bit confusing as I don't know anything about it. This was more a love story than a thriller.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews