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Evidence: Under Fire #1
Into the Storm
As a storm rolls in, a team of elite Navy SEALs arrives at a remote lodge for a wilderness training exercise that becomes terrifyingly real...
Xavier Rivera planned the exercise down to the smallest detail, but he didn't plan the arrival of archaeologist Audrey Kendrick—a woman he shared a passionate night with before betraying her in the worst way.
As the storm is unleashed on the historic lodge it becomes clear the training has been compromised. Trapped by weather, isolated by the remote wilderness, and silenced as communication with the world has been severed, unarmed SEALs face an unexpected and deadly foe.
Audrey and Xavier must set aside their distrust and desire and work together to save a team under fire and survive in a battle against the wild.
Xavier Rivera planned the exercise down to the smallest detail, but he didn't plan the arrival of archaeologist Audrey Kendrick—a woman he shared a passionate night with before betraying her in the worst way.
As the storm is unleashed on the historic lodge it becomes clear the training has been compromised. Trapped by weather, isolated by the remote wilderness, and silenced as communication with the world has been severed, unarmed SEALs face an unexpected and deadly foe.
Audrey and Xavier must set aside their distrust and desire and work together to save a team under fire and survive in a battle against the wild.
386 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2022
231 people are currently reading
7087 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Grant
49 books1,630 followersCOMING SOON
AVAILABLE NOW:
USA Today bestselling author Rachel Grant also writes thrillers as R.S. Grant. She worked for over a decade as a professional archaeologist and mines her experiences for storylines and settings, which are as diverse as excavating a cemetery underneath an historic art museum in San Francisco, survey and excavation of many prehistoric Native American sites in the Pacific Northwest, researching an historic concrete house in Virginia (inspiration for her debut novel, CONCRETE EVIDENCE), and mapping a seventeenth century Spanish and Dutch fort on the island of Sint Maarten in the Caribbean (which provided inspiration for the island and fort described in CRASH SITE).
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her archaeologist husband and demanding cat.
AVAILABLE NOW:
USA Today bestselling author Rachel Grant also writes thrillers as R.S. Grant. She worked for over a decade as a professional archaeologist and mines her experiences for storylines and settings, which are as diverse as excavating a cemetery underneath an historic art museum in San Francisco, survey and excavation of many prehistoric Native American sites in the Pacific Northwest, researching an historic concrete house in Virginia (inspiration for her debut novel, CONCRETE EVIDENCE), and mapping a seventeenth century Spanish and Dutch fort on the island of Sint Maarten in the Caribbean (which provided inspiration for the island and fort described in CRASH SITE).
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her archaeologist husband and demanding cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 333 reviews
July 6, 2024
A super quick read! It's a romantic suspense novel set in the Olympic National Park. I liked the characters and setting. I didn't like However, I'd read more of Rachel Grant's books.
October 14, 2022
5-Stars+++ This is an absolutely fantastic action-adventure-romantic-suspense and not to be missed if you love the second chance at love genre. The Olympic National Park acts as another character and adds a dimension to this book that is missing in so many others. Rachel Grant's background as an archologist and outdoor enthusiast is on full display also. I was engrossed by the story and couldn't put this one down, thoroughly enjoying the ride from beginning to end. I was not a fan to the progressive agenda on display is several of her previous books and am very happy that that that element does not appear much in this book. Grant is back to writing what she does best, and I loved this book. Be sure and read the short story Before the Storm: One Hot Night. It is not to be missed and acts as an extended prequal to this book.
Navy SEAL Xavier Rivera is determined that what happened on his last mission will not happen to another SEAL team and that is why this wilderness training exercise He has meticulously planned to take place around historic Lake Olympus Lodge the in the Olympic National Park in Washington State is so important and why it was worth destroying the reputation of the woman he had the hottest one-night stand of his life with and then betrayed.
Audrey Kendrick is ONP's park archaeologist and the person who denied the request for use of the park in a SEAL training exercise never knowing that the man she had spent the best night of her life with would lie and almost ruin her career. A month later Audrey's cameras, which are monitoring an archaeological site, go down right as the exercise is scheduled to begin. With a fierce storm approaching, she heads to the Lodge to find out why. She just wants to restore the cameras, check on her friend, Geroge Shaw, and get out. The last person she wants to see is Xavier.
Catching Audrey at the Lodge right before the training exercise is slated to begin makes Xavier suspect she is there to tank the exercise as revenge for what he did to get approval. When her concern about the cameras leads to something much more sinister, they can only depend on each other and their skills to thwart an attack on a defenseless SEAL platoon.
Navy SEAL Xavier Rivera is determined that what happened on his last mission will not happen to another SEAL team and that is why this wilderness training exercise He has meticulously planned to take place around historic Lake Olympus Lodge the in the Olympic National Park in Washington State is so important and why it was worth destroying the reputation of the woman he had the hottest one-night stand of his life with and then betrayed.
Audrey Kendrick is ONP's park archaeologist and the person who denied the request for use of the park in a SEAL training exercise never knowing that the man she had spent the best night of her life with would lie and almost ruin her career. A month later Audrey's cameras, which are monitoring an archaeological site, go down right as the exercise is scheduled to begin. With a fierce storm approaching, she heads to the Lodge to find out why. She just wants to restore the cameras, check on her friend, Geroge Shaw, and get out. The last person she wants to see is Xavier.
Catching Audrey at the Lodge right before the training exercise is slated to begin makes Xavier suspect she is there to tank the exercise as revenge for what he did to get approval. When her concern about the cameras leads to something much more sinister, they can only depend on each other and their skills to thwart an attack on a defenseless SEAL platoon.
September 7, 2022
Rachel Grant's best book yet. A Military Romantic Suspense so fresh and sharp you can smell the pine needles. Sexy and smart.
September 29, 2023
"Because you´re a mercenary and are being paid?"
"Oh no. I kill you for free."
"Oh goody. I´m flattered. Usually, mercenaries are so discriminating."
This is a four POV book, mostly told by the POV´s of Audrey and Xavier.
I really liked Audrey, she was a total boss in this. Smart, intelligent, tough as heck and quick witted. I loved her sense of survival and how she sometimes came up with the funniest comebacks that made me genuinely snort (like the example mentioned above). While I slowly came to like Xavier, I have to say he was a total ass in the beginning. It was only after he showed his protective side for Aubrey that I slowly started liking him. I wouldn´t say he is necessarily your overprotective/possessive book-boyfriend but he is somewhere in the middle.
Regarding side characters I liked Udine, even though she wasn´t mentioned as much I think she was a great friend to Audrey. I think I would have wished for Jae to have a bit more appearance, he seemed like an interesting character. I also liked Chris, he was the pandant to Udine, being Xavier´s friend.
Regarding the plot is where this book failed a bit for me. The tropes we have in here are second chance romance and also accidental pregnancy (so if you don´t like that one: definitely stay clear of this book, because it is a HUGE chunk of the plot). I liked the NAVY SEAL aspect, it made for a romance book that somehow felt like a thriller as well. The tension was there and the stakes felt high; however with that many action scenes it sometimes felt like the romance was getting lost or at least only getting second place in the story. This in return made the romance plot feel a bit shallow and rushed to me. I would have loved for Xavier to really grovel for his mistakes (which he promises he will do in the beginning) but that never really happened. There are some spice scenes in here, but they didn´t really work for me and felt a little bit awkward. This is also definitely NOT a slowburn, they are in love with each other from page 1 on and it is pretty clear. The pacing of the book is fine, I would say towards the beginning and the ending, it feels a bit slower; but the middle part of the book has (like mentioned) many action scenes which makes the pacing faster.
Overall it was an okay read where the action overshadowed the romance for me.
trigger warnings: death/murder, kidnapping
"Oh no. I kill you for free."
"Oh goody. I´m flattered. Usually, mercenaries are so discriminating."
This is a four POV book, mostly told by the POV´s of Audrey and Xavier.
I really liked Audrey, she was a total boss in this. Smart, intelligent, tough as heck and quick witted. I loved her sense of survival and how she sometimes came up with the funniest comebacks that made me genuinely snort (like the example mentioned above). While I slowly came to like Xavier, I have to say he was a total ass in the beginning. It was only after he showed his protective side for Aubrey that I slowly started liking him. I wouldn´t say he is necessarily your overprotective/possessive book-boyfriend but he is somewhere in the middle.
Regarding side characters I liked Udine, even though she wasn´t mentioned as much I think she was a great friend to Audrey. I think I would have wished for Jae to have a bit more appearance, he seemed like an interesting character. I also liked Chris, he was the pandant to Udine, being Xavier´s friend.
Regarding the plot is where this book failed a bit for me. The tropes we have in here are second chance romance and also accidental pregnancy (so if you don´t like that one: definitely stay clear of this book, because it is a HUGE chunk of the plot). I liked the NAVY SEAL aspect, it made for a romance book that somehow felt like a thriller as well. The tension was there and the stakes felt high; however with that many action scenes it sometimes felt like the romance was getting lost or at least only getting second place in the story. This in return made the romance plot feel a bit shallow and rushed to me. I would have loved for Xavier to really grovel for his mistakes (which he promises he will do in the beginning) but that never really happened. There are some spice scenes in here, but they didn´t really work for me and felt a little bit awkward. This is also definitely NOT a slowburn, they are in love with each other from page 1 on and it is pretty clear. The pacing of the book is fine, I would say towards the beginning and the ending, it feels a bit slower; but the middle part of the book has (like mentioned) many action scenes which makes the pacing faster.
Overall it was an okay read where the action overshadowed the romance for me.
trigger warnings: death/murder, kidnapping
October 9, 2022
Head into the woods and INTO THE STORM with USA Today bestselling author Rachel Grant, who has worked for over a decade as a professional archaeologist. Her knowledge, along with the experiences of her husband, an archaeologist for the US Navy, was the springboard for her latest novel. It is a tale of survival that hooks the reader at first chapter.
The protagonist is Audrey Kendrick, an Olympic National Park's archaeologist. She and Xavier Rivera, a Navy SEAL clash when it comes to giving final approval for the Lake Olympus Lodge Exercise. Their short tryst some months earlier brings an even more exciting twist to the story. You have to love Audrey! She’s smart, competent, experienced, and a fighter. The author keeps the plot jumping and moving as these two characters find they must work together and outsmart an unknown but deadly enemy. This book is fully-researched and well-written. Publication date: October 7, 2022.
The protagonist is Audrey Kendrick, an Olympic National Park's archaeologist. She and Xavier Rivera, a Navy SEAL clash when it comes to giving final approval for the Lake Olympus Lodge Exercise. Their short tryst some months earlier brings an even more exciting twist to the story. You have to love Audrey! She’s smart, competent, experienced, and a fighter. The author keeps the plot jumping and moving as these two characters find they must work together and outsmart an unknown but deadly enemy. This book is fully-researched and well-written. Publication date: October 7, 2022.
August 26, 2022
Into The Storm was an incredible, suspenseful journey for survival that hooked me at first paragraph.
A Navy SEAL, Xavier Rivera, and an Olympic National Park's archaeologist, Audrey Kendrick, don't see eye to eye when it comes to accept a SEAL special training in the forest, but when there is more than some archaelocical sites at stake they'll come together to save their lives and the lives of other people from a mysterious threat. Audrey and Xavier have spent a wonderful night together few months earlier that'll risk to put them in an even worse danger.
I loved everything of this book, the writing, the setting, the storyline, the fast pace, and the characters. Rachel Grant was a new to me author but she was a beautiful discovery, I'm already looking forward next book in this series.
Audrey is my favourite character, she is strong, smart and resourceful. Xavier is a good character nonetheles, he is an alpha but with a conscience.
I really hoped they don't find their death in the Washington forest because they have to give a chance to their relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.
December 28, 2022
Into the Storm is book one in the Evidence: Under Fire series by Rachel Grant. When Archaeologists Audrey Kendrick realised that the cameras were not working on the national park so decided to investigate. On arrival, Audrey found her enemy number one, Xavier Rivera and that he had approval from her supervisor for the Navy to use the area for a training exercise. However, Xavier and Audrey found someone had deliberately destroyed the cameras, and it became a rush to save themselves and the Navy teams from the killer. The readers of Into the Storm will continue following Xavier and Audrey to discover what happens.
Into the Storm is another fantastic start of the new Rachel Grant series called Evidence: Under Fire. I enjoyed reading this book and had a problem putting the book down, and I engaged with Into the Storm from the first page and continued to the end. I love Rachel Grant's portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Into the Storm is well-written and researched by Rachel Grant. I like Rachel Grant's description of the settings of Into the Storm, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Into The Storm will learn about the role of archaeologists of remote Indian sites and national parks in the United States. Also, the readers of Into The Storm will understand the problems military personnel have when they can no longer handle active military duties.
I recommend this book.
Into the Storm is another fantastic start of the new Rachel Grant series called Evidence: Under Fire. I enjoyed reading this book and had a problem putting the book down, and I engaged with Into the Storm from the first page and continued to the end. I love Rachel Grant's portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Into the Storm is well-written and researched by Rachel Grant. I like Rachel Grant's description of the settings of Into the Storm, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Into The Storm will learn about the role of archaeologists of remote Indian sites and national parks in the United States. Also, the readers of Into The Storm will understand the problems military personnel have when they can no longer handle active military duties.
I recommend this book.
October 7, 2022
4.5 stars
Xavier and Audrey had a steamy one night stand, but Xavier’s not so little lie about what he does for a living had unintended repercussions for both he and Audrey.
From start to finish I was hooked waiting to see what was in store for these two characters. Xavier had dug himself in to a deep trench of trouble with Audrey and I was super curious to see how he would dig himself out! And while I felt Audrey and Xavier’s relationship was insta lovey, they had potential staying power with all that they went through. The military focus working within the national park was also a really interesting spin. I’d never considered that as a training option much less the ins and outs that went along with it. Of course I do have to mention the suspense that kept me going until the very end!! So many details to wrap up…but I was satisfied with the end result.
Grant always delivers on setting, history, and suspense and this story fits the bill! Add a dash of romance and voila! Here is one a happy reader:)
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Xavier and Audrey had a steamy one night stand, but Xavier’s not so little lie about what he does for a living had unintended repercussions for both he and Audrey.
From start to finish I was hooked waiting to see what was in store for these two characters. Xavier had dug himself in to a deep trench of trouble with Audrey and I was super curious to see how he would dig himself out! And while I felt Audrey and Xavier’s relationship was insta lovey, they had potential staying power with all that they went through. The military focus working within the national park was also a really interesting spin. I’d never considered that as a training option much less the ins and outs that went along with it. Of course I do have to mention the suspense that kept me going until the very end!! So many details to wrap up…but I was satisfied with the end result.
Grant always delivers on setting, history, and suspense and this story fits the bill! Add a dash of romance and voila! Here is one a happy reader:)
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 13, 2023
for a book that is labeled as a ‘thriller’, this turned out to be nothing like what i imagined. i read the first part and did not enjoy it but decided to give ‘into the storm’ a chance to see if reading more of this story and characters would change my mind. it didn’t. the writing wasn’t terrible per say but i wasn’t able to connect with any of the characters, despite the author giving a background of many of their lives and also switching povs constantly. bc of that i felt like a lot of time was lost and the story was moving too slowly for my liking. in the end, the plot wasn’t engaging and i guess it wasn’t my cup of tea. 🥲 prob my last rachel grant book for the time being.
October 15, 2022
Unlike many other readers, I found the story to be slow, non-suspensful, and repetitive with too much emphasis .
October 6, 2022
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I was so excited to get my hands on this one.
Into The Storm is the first of a new series that’s a mix of both the Evidence and Flashpoint series. So what you’ll be getting into is a combination of archaeologists, Navy SEALS, suspense, and of course, romance (and steam!). Fans of the Evidence series in particular will be happy to see a couple of familiar faces (you can probably guess who they are seeing as this book is set in the Pacific Northwest).
I don’t want to give too much away but here’s a quick plot summary. Park archaeologist Audrey and Navy SEAL trainer Xavier have a steamy one night stand, and want to pursue a relationship, but things go wrong when Xavier betrays Audrey and almost destroys her career to get his training proposal in the park approved. The training exercise is compromised and becomes all too real when Audrey and Xavier discover that there are actual terrorists in the park.
The weather is cold and miserable, they’re trying to make it out of the wilderness alive, they have no real weapons, and they have no way to communicate the danger of their situation with the rest of SEAL teams partaking in this exercise. In short, it’s absolutely terrifying. With all this suspense you’d think there would hardly be any time for romance, but you can always count on Rachel to carve out time for romance – and sexy times of course – even when the characters’ world is falling apart.
So why wasn’t this a 5 star read for me? It’s the trope. . Still, I would recommend this to anyone looking for unputdownable suspense, reluctant allies, and on-the-run/survival kind of stories, and I can't wait for the next book!
P.S. Audrey and Xavier's one night stand takes place off page in this book, but you can read about it in the free novella Before the Storm: One Hot Night.
Into The Storm is the first of a new series that’s a mix of both the Evidence and Flashpoint series. So what you’ll be getting into is a combination of archaeologists, Navy SEALS, suspense, and of course, romance (and steam!). Fans of the Evidence series in particular will be happy to see a couple of familiar faces (you can probably guess who they are seeing as this book is set in the Pacific Northwest).
I don’t want to give too much away but here’s a quick plot summary. Park archaeologist Audrey and Navy SEAL trainer Xavier have a steamy one night stand, and want to pursue a relationship, but things go wrong when Xavier betrays Audrey and almost destroys her career to get his training proposal in the park approved. The training exercise is compromised and becomes all too real when Audrey and Xavier discover that there are actual terrorists in the park.
The weather is cold and miserable, they’re trying to make it out of the wilderness alive, they have no real weapons, and they have no way to communicate the danger of their situation with the rest of SEAL teams partaking in this exercise. In short, it’s absolutely terrifying. With all this suspense you’d think there would hardly be any time for romance, but you can always count on Rachel to carve out time for romance – and sexy times of course – even when the characters’ world is falling apart.
So why wasn’t this a 5 star read for me? It’s the trope. . Still, I would recommend this to anyone looking for unputdownable suspense, reluctant allies, and on-the-run/survival kind of stories, and I can't wait for the next book!
P.S. Audrey and Xavier's one night stand takes place off page in this book, but you can read about it in the free novella Before the Storm: One Hot Night.
October 8, 2022
I received an ARC copy from Netgalley for an honest review. A new series from Rachel Grant and a spin off of her Evidence series. This book gave me the exact adrenaline shot I needed. A successful combination of SEALs, high skilled and mind setted heroines, and vicious villains to chase. This is an authentic very well written Rachel Grant. I highly recommend it if you like both suspense and military romance.
January 13, 2023
Holy mother of Jesus Christ. This took me a looooong time. (It rarely takes me more than 3 days to finish a romance novel)
Here's a sign that your book is boring: When I willingly slip back and forth from this to academic papers - know to be boring and excessive in words.
This dragged on and on and on. The amount of time I peeked forward to see if something interesting would happen was many... too many.
There was a lot of info-dumping, not as bad as 'The King Maker', but still fairly annoying.
The writing in itself wasn't bad, it was just the pacing of it all. I was soooo close to not reading the epilogue...
But it's over, and I wont have to read it again, and for that I thank the Lord.
Here's a sign that your book is boring: When I willingly slip back and forth from this to academic papers - know to be boring and excessive in words.
This dragged on and on and on. The amount of time I peeked forward to see if something interesting would happen was many... too many.
There was a lot of info-dumping, not as bad as 'The King Maker', but still fairly annoying.
The writing in itself wasn't bad, it was just the pacing of it all. I was soooo close to not reading the epilogue...
But it's over, and I wont have to read it again, and for that I thank the Lord.
July 16, 2022
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Rachel Grant is one of the best storytellers I've ever had the pleasure of reading. The timeline adds up, even when several POV's are happening in quite a short time. Having been at the Olympic Peninsula a few weeks back myself, I very much can imagine the weather - which has to be "worse" in january. Nevertheless a very omg-how-will-they-figure-out-it's-not-what-it-seems and stay alive? All of them! Very thrilling and I never saw the last twist coming - though I had a feeling 😬...
October 7, 2022
Into the Storm is one of the best stories I have read in a while. A mind blowing rollercoaster of epic proportion. It had all that and more. Here you have an intense drama full of intrigue, suspense, angst, betrayal, kidnapping and not forgetting hot steamy sex with twists and turns everywhere you look that will have you glued to your seat until the book is finished. A very easy 5 stars and I can certainly highly recommend.
February 24, 2023
Another bullseye for Rachel Grant
From paragraph one, the action starts building and doesn't stop until the last page. This is less mystery and more about pure survival. What I appreciate about this author's perspective is that she writes as a genuine authority. Note the way she describes the environment, the things she chooses to describe and how it enhances the storyline. Loved this start to a new series and am highly anticipating the next story.
From paragraph one, the action starts building and doesn't stop until the last page. This is less mystery and more about pure survival. What I appreciate about this author's perspective is that she writes as a genuine authority. Note the way she describes the environment, the things she chooses to describe and how it enhances the storyline. Loved this start to a new series and am highly anticipating the next story.
August 6, 2023
I've given this an A- for narration and a B for content at AudioGals.
Rachel Grant embarks upon a new series of romantic suspense novels with Into the Storm, book one in the Evidence: Under Fire series. The premise grabbed my attention immediately; a group of Navy SEALS arrives at a remote location for a top-secret training exercise only to find themselves fighting an invisible enemy, their communications severed and with a severe weather system closing in. As always, the author’s research and attention to detail are impeccable and she imparts a lot of fascinating detail by weaving it into the fabric of the story.
A couple of months before Into the Storm begins, its protagonists, Audrey Kendrick and Xavier Rivera, meet (in the novella, (Before the Storm: One Hot Night) when Xavier, a Navy SEAL trainer visits the Olympic National Park to scope out the historic Lake Olympus Lodge and surrounding area as a possible location for a top secret training mission. The chemistry that sparks between the couple is hot and intense, leading to their spending a passionate night together. A few weeks later, Audrey discovers she’s pregnant – despite the fact they’d used contraception – and decides, straight away that she’s going to keep the baby and that even if Xavier doesn’t want to be a part of their child’s life, telling him is the right thing to do. She asks the mutual friend that introduced them to ask Xavier to get in touch – and is delighted when, later that day, she bumps into Xavier at the Lodge, pleased to be able to share her news in person. But she realises something is wrong immediately; not only is Xavier in uniform (he never told her what he did for a living), he’s cold and hostile, telling her he’s filed a complaint about her because she refused to sign off on the Navy’s proposal for a training mission because she was angry that he’d rejected her. Reeling at the unjust and unfounded accusations that could tank her job and her career, Audrey doesn’t tell him about the baby.
(Note: It’s not essential to have listened to Before the Storm, as the relevant information is contained within Into the Storm).
A few weeks later, with her job still on somewhat shaky ground, Audrey receives a call telling her that the security cameras she’d had installed at an archaeological site after it had been looted a couple of months earlier have stopped transmitting. Concerned for the integrity of the site, and for one of the tribal elders who lives nearby, Audrey makes the treacherous drive to the Lodge to check out the circuit breakers in the basement, and is annoyed when her key won’t turn in the lock. Before she can try again, she’s attacked from behind, handcuffed and patted down – and rolls to her back to find herself looking up into the eyes of Xavier Rivera.
Xavier still feels guilty about throwing Audrey under the bus in order to make sure that this exercise could go ahead, but duty – and the importance of this particular training op – come first and regrets are a luxury he can’t afford. Thrown by Audrey’s unexpected appearance, Xavier’s immediate thought is that she’s there to stop the exercise from going ahead as a way of getting back at him for what he did, but he does listen to her when she tells him about the cameras, and decides it’s worth checking out.
At the dig site, they discover that the camera lines have indeed been cut. With this unaccounted-for activity in the area, Xavier has no alternative but to delay the op while they find out what’s going on, but when he radios the team to give the order, he’s met with nothing but dead air. Yet the communications black-out isn’t due to start for another ten minutes. Things go from bad to worse when Audrey spots that a large pit has been dug in the middle of the site, which Xavier immediately recognises as a hiding place. Those looters weren’t looters at all; whoever they were, they’d buried a cache of weapons on the site, and now they’re out there in the woods and there’s no way to warn the incoming SEAL team – who aren’t carrying live ammunition as per the terms of their permit – that any hostiles they meet will be the real thing.
Audrey and Xavier’s animosity is very real – what Xavier did was despicable so she’s certainly entitled to her anger – but at least he’s adult enough to be able to set that animosity aside and take her concerns seriously and later, to apologise, as they work together to try to alert the team as to the danger they’re in, while at the same time keeping each other safe and out of the line of fire.
I loved the premise of this book, which hits the ground running right out of the gate, the tension stretched taut right from the start as Audrey and Xavier circle each other warily while beginning to realise that whatever is going on has been meticulously planned and that the lives of the entire team and those still living on park land are in danger. Audrey is a great heroine – intelligent, determined and resourceful – and Xavier, taking that one reprehensible action out of the equation for a moment, is a hero cut very much from the same cloth – and best of all, he’s certainly not one of those chest-thumping, ‘Me Tarzan’ types so often found in romantic suspense novels.
I’ve enjoyed many of Rachel Grant’s romantic suspense novels – her Flashpoint series is a real standout of the genre – but while the suspense plot of Into the Storm works pretty well, the romance is less successful. First of all, Audrey lets Xavier off the hook a bit too easily. I was pleased when he apologised sincerely and made it clear that he’s prepared to stand up, admit what he did and take the consequences in his professional life, but still – I’m not sure I’d have been that forgiving so quickly! Then there’s Audrey’s pregnancy. I’m not the biggest fan of babies/kids in romance novels anyway, so YMMV, but the pregnancy is mentioned way too often. I also found it hard to buy that Audrey – who, at thirty-eight, has landed her dream job (and actually ended her last relationship over it) and is presented very much as someone whose career is of paramount importance to her, would go so very ga-ga over her unborn child and decide immediately to become a (possibly lone) parent. There’s no internal discussion as to how she will juggle her job and parenthood and no consideration of other options, which felt very out of character. And finally, while I did like the way Audrey and Xavier’s relationship progressed – they’re very in sync in how they approach problems and they work well together – I was never quite convinced they were together because of how they felt about each other rather than because of the baby.
I had a bit of an issue with the pacing, too. Because of the way the story is told, Audrey and Xavier can’t know what is going on while they’re in hiding or on the run from the bad guys, so to fill in the gaps, we get a number of other points of view, including Flyte (the leader of the SEAL team) Park Ranger Jae-jin Son, the Big Bad and Undine (from Cold Evidence ). While I understand the need for these other PoVs, they slow things down and, as someone who’s in it for the romance as much as the plot, take too much time away from Audrey and Xavier.
Finally, there were a couple of things that took me right out of the story, but they’re late on in the story so I’m putting them under a spoiler tag.
I was really pleased to see Nicol Zanzarella and Greg Tremblay teaming up again for Into the Storm. They’re both extremely good voice actors and their performance is polished and confident, with a good range of vocal characterisations and clear character differentiation. Their engagement with the material really helps to convey the growing emotional connection between Audrey and Xavier, and they’re as good in the in the high-stakes action scenes as they are in quieter, more intimate moments. Ms. Zanzarella reads the chapters and sections from Audrey and Undine’s perspectives, while Mr. Tremblay reads those from Xavier’s and the other male narrators; the nature of the story means there are more male characters than female ones, and while Ms. Zanzarella’s male voices are good, she’s not always able to differentiate clearly between more than a couple of them in any one scene, so that sometimes, it’s not always clear who is speaking. That’s really the only criticism I can level at the performance as a whole, and it doesn’t happen frequently.
Although Into the Storm isn’t going on my list of ‘favourite Rachel Grant books’, I enjoyed it despite my reservations, and I’ll be back for book two, Trust Me, when it comes out next year.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
Rachel Grant embarks upon a new series of romantic suspense novels with Into the Storm, book one in the Evidence: Under Fire series. The premise grabbed my attention immediately; a group of Navy SEALS arrives at a remote location for a top-secret training exercise only to find themselves fighting an invisible enemy, their communications severed and with a severe weather system closing in. As always, the author’s research and attention to detail are impeccable and she imparts a lot of fascinating detail by weaving it into the fabric of the story.
A couple of months before Into the Storm begins, its protagonists, Audrey Kendrick and Xavier Rivera, meet (in the novella, (Before the Storm: One Hot Night) when Xavier, a Navy SEAL trainer visits the Olympic National Park to scope out the historic Lake Olympus Lodge and surrounding area as a possible location for a top secret training mission. The chemistry that sparks between the couple is hot and intense, leading to their spending a passionate night together. A few weeks later, Audrey discovers she’s pregnant – despite the fact they’d used contraception – and decides, straight away that she’s going to keep the baby and that even if Xavier doesn’t want to be a part of their child’s life, telling him is the right thing to do. She asks the mutual friend that introduced them to ask Xavier to get in touch – and is delighted when, later that day, she bumps into Xavier at the Lodge, pleased to be able to share her news in person. But she realises something is wrong immediately; not only is Xavier in uniform (he never told her what he did for a living), he’s cold and hostile, telling her he’s filed a complaint about her because she refused to sign off on the Navy’s proposal for a training mission because she was angry that he’d rejected her. Reeling at the unjust and unfounded accusations that could tank her job and her career, Audrey doesn’t tell him about the baby.
(Note: It’s not essential to have listened to Before the Storm, as the relevant information is contained within Into the Storm).
A few weeks later, with her job still on somewhat shaky ground, Audrey receives a call telling her that the security cameras she’d had installed at an archaeological site after it had been looted a couple of months earlier have stopped transmitting. Concerned for the integrity of the site, and for one of the tribal elders who lives nearby, Audrey makes the treacherous drive to the Lodge to check out the circuit breakers in the basement, and is annoyed when her key won’t turn in the lock. Before she can try again, she’s attacked from behind, handcuffed and patted down – and rolls to her back to find herself looking up into the eyes of Xavier Rivera.
Xavier still feels guilty about throwing Audrey under the bus in order to make sure that this exercise could go ahead, but duty – and the importance of this particular training op – come first and regrets are a luxury he can’t afford. Thrown by Audrey’s unexpected appearance, Xavier’s immediate thought is that she’s there to stop the exercise from going ahead as a way of getting back at him for what he did, but he does listen to her when she tells him about the cameras, and decides it’s worth checking out.
At the dig site, they discover that the camera lines have indeed been cut. With this unaccounted-for activity in the area, Xavier has no alternative but to delay the op while they find out what’s going on, but when he radios the team to give the order, he’s met with nothing but dead air. Yet the communications black-out isn’t due to start for another ten minutes. Things go from bad to worse when Audrey spots that a large pit has been dug in the middle of the site, which Xavier immediately recognises as a hiding place. Those looters weren’t looters at all; whoever they were, they’d buried a cache of weapons on the site, and now they’re out there in the woods and there’s no way to warn the incoming SEAL team – who aren’t carrying live ammunition as per the terms of their permit – that any hostiles they meet will be the real thing.
Audrey and Xavier’s animosity is very real – what Xavier did was despicable so she’s certainly entitled to her anger – but at least he’s adult enough to be able to set that animosity aside and take her concerns seriously and later, to apologise, as they work together to try to alert the team as to the danger they’re in, while at the same time keeping each other safe and out of the line of fire.
I loved the premise of this book, which hits the ground running right out of the gate, the tension stretched taut right from the start as Audrey and Xavier circle each other warily while beginning to realise that whatever is going on has been meticulously planned and that the lives of the entire team and those still living on park land are in danger. Audrey is a great heroine – intelligent, determined and resourceful – and Xavier, taking that one reprehensible action out of the equation for a moment, is a hero cut very much from the same cloth – and best of all, he’s certainly not one of those chest-thumping, ‘Me Tarzan’ types so often found in romantic suspense novels.
I’ve enjoyed many of Rachel Grant’s romantic suspense novels – her Flashpoint series is a real standout of the genre – but while the suspense plot of Into the Storm works pretty well, the romance is less successful. First of all, Audrey lets Xavier off the hook a bit too easily. I was pleased when he apologised sincerely and made it clear that he’s prepared to stand up, admit what he did and take the consequences in his professional life, but still – I’m not sure I’d have been that forgiving so quickly! Then there’s Audrey’s pregnancy. I’m not the biggest fan of babies/kids in romance novels anyway, so YMMV, but the pregnancy is mentioned way too often. I also found it hard to buy that Audrey – who, at thirty-eight, has landed her dream job (and actually ended her last relationship over it) and is presented very much as someone whose career is of paramount importance to her, would go so very ga-ga over her unborn child and decide immediately to become a (possibly lone) parent. There’s no internal discussion as to how she will juggle her job and parenthood and no consideration of other options, which felt very out of character. And finally, while I did like the way Audrey and Xavier’s relationship progressed – they’re very in sync in how they approach problems and they work well together – I was never quite convinced they were together because of how they felt about each other rather than because of the baby.
I had a bit of an issue with the pacing, too. Because of the way the story is told, Audrey and Xavier can’t know what is going on while they’re in hiding or on the run from the bad guys, so to fill in the gaps, we get a number of other points of view, including Flyte (the leader of the SEAL team) Park Ranger Jae-jin Son, the Big Bad and Undine (from Cold Evidence ). While I understand the need for these other PoVs, they slow things down and, as someone who’s in it for the romance as much as the plot, take too much time away from Audrey and Xavier.
Finally, there were a couple of things that took me right out of the story, but they’re late on in the story so I’m putting them under a spoiler tag.
SPOILER ALERT
I was really pleased to see Nicol Zanzarella and Greg Tremblay teaming up again for Into the Storm. They’re both extremely good voice actors and their performance is polished and confident, with a good range of vocal characterisations and clear character differentiation. Their engagement with the material really helps to convey the growing emotional connection between Audrey and Xavier, and they’re as good in the in the high-stakes action scenes as they are in quieter, more intimate moments. Ms. Zanzarella reads the chapters and sections from Audrey and Undine’s perspectives, while Mr. Tremblay reads those from Xavier’s and the other male narrators; the nature of the story means there are more male characters than female ones, and while Ms. Zanzarella’s male voices are good, she’s not always able to differentiate clearly between more than a couple of them in any one scene, so that sometimes, it’s not always clear who is speaking. That’s really the only criticism I can level at the performance as a whole, and it doesn’t happen frequently.
Although Into the Storm isn’t going on my list of ‘favourite Rachel Grant books’, I enjoyed it despite my reservations, and I’ll be back for book two, Trust Me, when it comes out next year.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
January 16, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this brilliant book
whats not to like about a book that starts as it means to go on.. action from the first page right to the very end
seal team
national park
mercenaries
murder
the training op was underway nobody should have been up at the lodge in the national park looking around but that is just what audrey was doing, her cameras were down and with the storm coming she needed to find out why, what she wasnt expecting was to be thrown on the ground and handcuffed...
and thats when things started to get interesting....
i couldnt put this book down... so different from what i have read recently and will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors books...
whats not to like about a book that starts as it means to go on.. action from the first page right to the very end
seal team
national park
mercenaries
murder
the training op was underway nobody should have been up at the lodge in the national park looking around but that is just what audrey was doing, her cameras were down and with the storm coming she needed to find out why, what she wasnt expecting was to be thrown on the ground and handcuffed...
and thats when things started to get interesting....
i couldnt put this book down... so different from what i have read recently and will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors books...
June 16, 2024
Loved the action and setting. Loved the plot and intrigue. The romance took a back seat to the action, but it was okay. Removing a star because we didn’t get the promised groveling and it ended up being okay what he did because of *reasons*.
February 15, 2023
This was really good! Now I have to read ALL the "Evidence" books. Looking forward to it. ;)
October 17, 2022
Into the Storm is Xavier and Audrey’s thrilling romance, set in the Olympic National Park, where a routine SEAL team training doesn’t go according to plan.
Synopsis
Into the Storm jumps right into the Olympic National Park in the month of January where Dr Audrey Kendrick is hurtling toward something dangerous. The cameras she installed to keep a check on looters desecrating archaeological sites have stopped transmitting.
Then there’s Xavier Rivera, who may no longer be an active duty SEAL but is a trainer for a team who are about to start their training in frigid conditions with neither ammo nor comms.
But there seems to be a foreign presence in the forest, who are totally prepared to take down everyone and everything that stands in their way. Who are they and what is their agenda?
Review
This is my first read by Rachel Grant and what MINDBLOWING suspense she writes.
Audrey and Xavier have a bit of a past (the beginning of their story appears in Before the Storm [a prequel novella]), where she was betrayed by him in the worst possible way, which hurt her not only personally but professionally.
Narrated in the third person, Into the Storm is as thrilling as it’s emotional. With no one to share her pregnancy news with, and Xavier out there trying to save his teammates, it was terrifying to read about the situation Audrey found herself in as they face danger from unknown quarters.
With communications cut off, Xavier and Audrey need to rely on old-school methods to find the five other trainers and the sixteen SEALs who were part of the training in order to be better prepared to face their common enemy.
I love stories where the protagonists work together to defuse tough situations and this had Audrey and Xavier working together, what with her expertise of the location they are in, even when he’s concerned about her safety.
Purple is my favourite colour too, like Audrey’s, and I love collecting pretty purple things, ahem…
The author gives such a vivid description of the park and the rainforest that it all comes to life and makes the reader a part of it. The way the story was stitched together, it all came along so seamlessly. All the layers being revealed one by one made Into the Storm a hell of a journey.
I am in awe of Audrey, she’s so resourceful, brilliant, and always prepared for the worst circumstances.
There are so many beautiful moments even in the chaos, especially when Audrey and Xavier finally have a few moments to themselves.
There are scenes in the book where situations are so dire that they have to make a go for it with whatever they have at their disposal. While I would never want anyone to be in such situations, every damn bit of those made this story amazing.
It has a fitting end, a terrific climax, and a last-minute showdown that kept me on my toes and turning pages well into the night.
I’m in awe of Rachel Grant’s writing and want to read all of her books right now.
Check out one of the author’s websites: RATinformant.com (which is based on a previous book of hers).
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
Synopsis
Into the Storm jumps right into the Olympic National Park in the month of January where Dr Audrey Kendrick is hurtling toward something dangerous. The cameras she installed to keep a check on looters desecrating archaeological sites have stopped transmitting.
Then there’s Xavier Rivera, who may no longer be an active duty SEAL but is a trainer for a team who are about to start their training in frigid conditions with neither ammo nor comms.
But there seems to be a foreign presence in the forest, who are totally prepared to take down everyone and everything that stands in their way. Who are they and what is their agenda?
Review
This is my first read by Rachel Grant and what MINDBLOWING suspense she writes.
Audrey and Xavier have a bit of a past (the beginning of their story appears in Before the Storm [a prequel novella]), where she was betrayed by him in the worst possible way, which hurt her not only personally but professionally.
Narrated in the third person, Into the Storm is as thrilling as it’s emotional. With no one to share her pregnancy news with, and Xavier out there trying to save his teammates, it was terrifying to read about the situation Audrey found herself in as they face danger from unknown quarters.
With communications cut off, Xavier and Audrey need to rely on old-school methods to find the five other trainers and the sixteen SEALs who were part of the training in order to be better prepared to face their common enemy.
I love stories where the protagonists work together to defuse tough situations and this had Audrey and Xavier working together, what with her expertise of the location they are in, even when he’s concerned about her safety.
He smiled. Her strength never failed to impress him. And he was a monumental asshole for using her as he had.
Purple is my favourite colour too, like Audrey’s, and I love collecting pretty purple things, ahem…
The author gives such a vivid description of the park and the rainforest that it all comes to life and makes the reader a part of it. The way the story was stitched together, it all came along so seamlessly. All the layers being revealed one by one made Into the Storm a hell of a journey.
Hope was the only thing that kept incapacitating fear at bay.
I am in awe of Audrey, she’s so resourceful, brilliant, and always prepared for the worst circumstances.
There are so many beautiful moments even in the chaos, especially when Audrey and Xavier finally have a few moments to themselves.
There are scenes in the book where situations are so dire that they have to make a go for it with whatever they have at their disposal. While I would never want anyone to be in such situations, every damn bit of those made this story amazing.
She would not be the emotional female in this reunion of hypermasculine special forces operators.
It has a fitting end, a terrific climax, and a last-minute showdown that kept me on my toes and turning pages well into the night.
I’m in awe of Rachel Grant’s writing and want to read all of her books right now.
Check out one of the author’s websites: RATinformant.com (which is based on a previous book of hers).
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
October 7, 2022
Into The Storm was an intense read. I loved the way the author wove this story. It was full of action, suspense, tension and romance. I truly enjoyed Audrey and Xavier’s journey. I didn’t think he could redeem himself after what he did at the end of the prequel, Before The Storm but he did. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this intense thrill ride of a series. I definitely recommend to romantic suspense lovers.
Copy provided through Net Galley
Copy provided through Net Galley
November 27, 2023
Into the Storm was a fast-paced and action-packed read featuring a second chance romance.
With a storm on the horizon, a team of elite Navy SEALs arrive at a remote lodge for a wilderness training exercise. Xavier Rivera has planned every detail of the upcoming exercise but the one thing he didn't plan on was the arrival of archaeologist Audrey Kendrick. Xavier and Audrey spent one passionate night together before Xavier betrayed her in the worst way. But when it becomes clear the training exercise has been compromised, Xavier and Audrey will have to find a way to work together in order to survive a deadly enemy.
The set-up for this book takes placed in the prequel novella, Before the Storm: One Hot Night, which shows Audrey and Xavier's night together as well as his betrayal of her. I believe that novella is essential reading before picking this book up as otherwise you're missing out on all the backstory between the characters.
Xavier was a Navy SEAL before he was injured on his last mission during which members of his team were killed. Due to lingering effects from the injuries he sustained on that mission, Xavier can no longer take an active role and is now relegated to a more advisory role. Audrey is an archaeologist in Olympic National Park which is where the training exercise is to take place. She initially denied the Navy's request to use the park before being overruled due to a lie told by Xavier. When this book opens, Audrey and Xavier aren't in a good place and it takes a while for them to overcome that. Xavier is apologetic but I liked that Audrey didn't let him off the hook right away. Eventually the pair were able to work things out and I was happy with the direction their relationship went.
The plot in Into the Storm was incredibly fast-paced with the story taking place over the course of a few days. After Audrey's arrival in the park, Xavier intercepts her with the goal of getting her out of the park before the exercise starts but the situation goes wrong pretty much immediately. I liked how quickly everything moved as it kept the tension up and forced the characters to rely on each other despite their history. With Audrey having extensive knowledge of the park, she becomes a real asset in helping the pair survive the situation. After the two work out their issues, they work surprisingly well together and I liked that Audrey didn't let Xavier sideline her. The reveal of who was behind the attack on the exercise was very well done and I liked how the author connected everything. The scene where Audrey and Xavier confront the man responsible was suspenseful and the author kept you guessing until the very end.
Overall Into the Storm was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a great romantic suspense.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
With a storm on the horizon, a team of elite Navy SEALs arrive at a remote lodge for a wilderness training exercise. Xavier Rivera has planned every detail of the upcoming exercise but the one thing he didn't plan on was the arrival of archaeologist Audrey Kendrick. Xavier and Audrey spent one passionate night together before Xavier betrayed her in the worst way. But when it becomes clear the training exercise has been compromised, Xavier and Audrey will have to find a way to work together in order to survive a deadly enemy.
The set-up for this book takes placed in the prequel novella, Before the Storm: One Hot Night, which shows Audrey and Xavier's night together as well as his betrayal of her. I believe that novella is essential reading before picking this book up as otherwise you're missing out on all the backstory between the characters.
Xavier was a Navy SEAL before he was injured on his last mission during which members of his team were killed. Due to lingering effects from the injuries he sustained on that mission, Xavier can no longer take an active role and is now relegated to a more advisory role. Audrey is an archaeologist in Olympic National Park which is where the training exercise is to take place. She initially denied the Navy's request to use the park before being overruled due to a lie told by Xavier. When this book opens, Audrey and Xavier aren't in a good place and it takes a while for them to overcome that. Xavier is apologetic but I liked that Audrey didn't let him off the hook right away. Eventually the pair were able to work things out and I was happy with the direction their relationship went.
The plot in Into the Storm was incredibly fast-paced with the story taking place over the course of a few days. After Audrey's arrival in the park, Xavier intercepts her with the goal of getting her out of the park before the exercise starts but the situation goes wrong pretty much immediately. I liked how quickly everything moved as it kept the tension up and forced the characters to rely on each other despite their history. With Audrey having extensive knowledge of the park, she becomes a real asset in helping the pair survive the situation. After the two work out their issues, they work surprisingly well together and I liked that Audrey didn't let Xavier sideline her. The reveal of who was behind the attack on the exercise was very well done and I liked how the author connected everything. The scene where Audrey and Xavier confront the man responsible was suspenseful and the author kept you guessing until the very end.
Overall Into the Storm was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a great romantic suspense.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
September 6, 2022
Absolutely loved this book! The storyline was well-written and consuming and the characters engaging and charismatic. The story is full of descriptive scenes that make you feel like you’re there and gripping character actions that combined will have you glued to your seat from start to finish. There is plenty of drama, danger, action, mystery, rekindling romance, friendship, intrigue, suspense, alpha SEALs, and a sweet, wonderful HEA for Audrey and Xavier.
From Audrey and Xavier’s steamy one-night stand came complications of epic proportions when they have to work together to save each other and others from a supposed training op turned targeted attack. With communications cut off and no clue what’s really happening they have to work together and trust each other explicitly in order to help their friends and get out alive.
From Audrey and Xavier’s steamy one-night stand came complications of epic proportions when they have to work together to save each other and others from a supposed training op turned targeted attack. With communications cut off and no clue what’s really happening they have to work together and trust each other explicitly in order to help their friends and get out alive.
June 13, 2023
Audrey is an archaeologist that one day meets a stranger (Xavier) and has a brief romance with him but then turns out to be a Navy SEALs working on a secret wildernes training exercise and tries to screw her over for *reasons*
The story was more of a mix between a videogame and an action film than a romance and I surely enjoyed the adventure/survival part of the story more than the romance.
I liked the mentions about tribes and colonialism and was surprised of how much I liked reading a story with multiple POV but sadly the pace of the story was weird, it took me too long to finish it, the insta-love story was super rushed and that last act was predictable and at that point I was so ready for the story to end.
I found so funny the parallels between Audrey and Bella Swan, both went to live in Forks with their dad when their parents divorced and later one of their parents went to live in Arizona.
Overall this could've been a great read but I found one of my pet peeves: I loathe reading books or watching movies where the US soldiers (SEAL in this case) are the good guys and the Russians (or Middle Eastern if they are terrorists, Mexicans or latins if its related to drugs, etc) are the bad guys. I'm not a fan of US military propaganda.
Others things that I didn't like:
- Mention of rape. Because apparently it's common to use rape as a tool in any story.
- Cringe moment when in one of the most heartfelt scene when she declared her love, she said "I love You, Chief Warrant Officer {Name}"
Ew. What the fuck. The cute moment was roughly cut and so awkward to read.
The story was more of a mix between a videogame and an action film than a romance and I surely enjoyed the adventure/survival part of the story more than the romance.
I liked the mentions about tribes and colonialism and was surprised of how much I liked reading a story with multiple POV but sadly the pace of the story was weird, it took me too long to finish it, the insta-love story was super rushed and that last act was predictable and at that point I was so ready for the story to end.
I found so funny the parallels between Audrey and Bella Swan, both went to live in Forks with their dad when their parents divorced and later one of their parents went to live in Arizona.
Overall this could've been a great read but I found one of my pet peeves: I loathe reading books or watching movies where the US soldiers (SEAL in this case) are the good guys and the Russians (or Middle Eastern if they are terrorists, Mexicans or latins if its related to drugs, etc) are the bad guys. I'm not a fan of US military propaganda.
Others things that I didn't like:
- Mention of rape. Because apparently it's common to use rape as a tool in any story.
- Cringe moment when in one of the most heartfelt scene when she declared her love, she said "I love You, Chief Warrant Officer {Name}"
Ew. What the fuck. The cute moment was roughly cut and so awkward to read.
July 17, 2022
What a wonderful book this is! I am not a fast reader, and usually it takes me a few days to get through any book this length. But I did not want to put this one down (unless I absolutely had to) as the story had completely taken me in, so I finished it in less than 1 1/2 days. And now I have a book hangover..
I love it when a book has a strong, intelligent female lead, and Audrey does not disappoint. In the beginning her love interest Xavier appears to be an absolute dickhead, as the way he behaved towards her in the near past was unforgivable.. But as it turns out he had compelling reasons to behave the way he did. So as a reader you hope they will reconcile.
The storyline has everything you could ever wish for: It is breathtaking until the very end, so full of suspense, deep emotion, danger, surprising twists and turns. And as a little bonus this book integrates the worlds of Ms. Grant's Evidence and Flashpoint series, as a few popular characters of both series show up (or are at least mentioned). I love this, as somehow it adds more credibility to the whole construct.
I was lucky to receive an Advance Reading Copy from the author, but I honestly love and recommend this book!
I love it when a book has a strong, intelligent female lead, and Audrey does not disappoint. In the beginning her love interest Xavier appears to be an absolute dickhead, as the way he behaved towards her in the near past was unforgivable.. But as it turns out he had compelling reasons to behave the way he did. So as a reader you hope they will reconcile.
The storyline has everything you could ever wish for: It is breathtaking until the very end, so full of suspense, deep emotion, danger, surprising twists and turns. And as a little bonus this book integrates the worlds of Ms. Grant's Evidence and Flashpoint series, as a few popular characters of both series show up (or are at least mentioned). I love this, as somehow it adds more credibility to the whole construct.
I was lucky to receive an Advance Reading Copy from the author, but I honestly love and recommend this book!
August 26, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
At 20% through I was ready to pluck my eyes out 👀…
It’s not that it is a bad book as much as I feel like I am running around in circles with the minute descriptive narration, endless theories running in a character’s head (yes, because it is a multi POV in third person book), or the pages it takes Rachel Grant to get one action through.
I don’t want to know what a whole mountain looks like from all sides, what kind of rock formation it has and whether or not the soil is adequate for digging, trekking or burying! 🤦🏻♀️
Yet! I can proudly announce that I am now an expert on mountain geology and tribal history 👩🏻🎓
But I kept reading because I am not a quitter and I wanted to know how he takes the news that she’s pregnant with his child!!
The Plot though is very well written and thought through. I do not pretend to understand military operations but their MO and contingency plans seem fact checked and credible enough.
I’ve read much better Navy SEAL books with more intriguing plots. It was ok but I have to confess that I did doze off a few times 🤓 followed by skipping through paragraphs and pages. Romance was a bit rushed but the ending is cute.
At 20% through I was ready to pluck my eyes out 👀…
It’s not that it is a bad book as much as I feel like I am running around in circles with the minute descriptive narration, endless theories running in a character’s head (yes, because it is a multi POV in third person book), or the pages it takes Rachel Grant to get one action through.
I don’t want to know what a whole mountain looks like from all sides, what kind of rock formation it has and whether or not the soil is adequate for digging, trekking or burying! 🤦🏻♀️
Yet! I can proudly announce that I am now an expert on mountain geology and tribal history 👩🏻🎓
But I kept reading because I am not a quitter and I wanted to know how he takes the news that she’s pregnant with his child!!
The Plot though is very well written and thought through. I do not pretend to understand military operations but their MO and contingency plans seem fact checked and credible enough.
I’ve read much better Navy SEAL books with more intriguing plots. It was ok but I have to confess that I did doze off a few times 🤓 followed by skipping through paragraphs and pages. Romance was a bit rushed but the ending is cute.
July 17, 2022
I'm a big fan of Rachel Grant, and was lucky enough to receive an ARC of her upcoming release Into the Storm. Wow! What a rollercoaster ride - full on action from the get go. Her writing is so detailed and descriptive you can see it all happening in your mind's eye. It's as if you are there living through it all. The action and suspense is 5* along with the romantic element. Loved it.
I don't want to give anything away, so will just say: You need to read this book!
I don't want to give anything away, so will just say: You need to read this book!
November 10, 2022
Archaeologist Audrey Kendrick had no idea that Xavier Rivera was a Navy SEAL when he submitted his plan for a tactical training operation to be held in the park where she works. After she rejects his plan, Xavier goes around her and uses their one night stand as the reason for her rejection. Audrey almost loses her job over the incident, and even though she is filled with anger, she knows she must tell Xavier that their night together resulted in pregnancy. When the training operation goes awry, and a group of Russian mercenaries infiltrates the park, Audrey and Xavier must put their differences aside in an effort to warn the SEALS that their training op has become all too real.
Into the Storm is an excellent romantic suspense, balancing the amount of action with a blossoming love story. The characters are well developed and the suspense plot is layered enough to keep the reader's interest. Once again, Rachel Grant uses her experience as an archaeologist to add depth to the story, but this time, she also uses the experiences of her husband in his job assessing environmental impact caused by the training operations of Navy SEALS. The only issue I have is that near the end of the book the story wraps up a little too quickly, and much of the conclusion to the mystery happens off page. Overall, though, Into the Storm is an entertaining military romance with an engaging story and likable characters.
Into the Storm is an excellent romantic suspense, balancing the amount of action with a blossoming love story. The characters are well developed and the suspense plot is layered enough to keep the reader's interest. Once again, Rachel Grant uses her experience as an archaeologist to add depth to the story, but this time, she also uses the experiences of her husband in his job assessing environmental impact caused by the training operations of Navy SEALS. The only issue I have is that near the end of the book the story wraps up a little too quickly, and much of the conclusion to the mystery happens off page. Overall, though, Into the Storm is an entertaining military romance with an engaging story and likable characters.
May 18, 2023
Into the Storm by Rachel Gant
A Navy SEAL, Xavier Rivera, and an Olympic National Park's archaeologist, Audrey Kendrick, don't see eye to eye when it comes to accept a SEAL special training in the forest, but when there are more than some archaeological sites at stake, they'll come together to save their lives and the lives of other people from a mysterious threat. Audrey and Xavier have spent a wonderful night together few months earlier that'll risk putting them in an even worse danger.
The weather is cold and miserable, they’re trying to make it out of the wilderness alive, they have no real weapons, and they have no way to communicate the danger of their situation with the rest of SEAL teams partaking in this exercise. In short, it’s absolutely terrifying. With all this suspense you’d think there would hardly be any time for romance but there is some romance in the story.
I cannot what to read the next installment of this series.
A Navy SEAL, Xavier Rivera, and an Olympic National Park's archaeologist, Audrey Kendrick, don't see eye to eye when it comes to accept a SEAL special training in the forest, but when there are more than some archaeological sites at stake, they'll come together to save their lives and the lives of other people from a mysterious threat. Audrey and Xavier have spent a wonderful night together few months earlier that'll risk putting them in an even worse danger.
The weather is cold and miserable, they’re trying to make it out of the wilderness alive, they have no real weapons, and they have no way to communicate the danger of their situation with the rest of SEAL teams partaking in this exercise. In short, it’s absolutely terrifying. With all this suspense you’d think there would hardly be any time for romance but there is some romance in the story.
I cannot what to read the next installment of this series.
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