Captain Rick Norton is leading his team an unspecified mission in the fictional Katangela, Africa, when two of his team are injured and need immediate medical attention. Doctor Cynthia Myers runs an obstetrics clinic in a remote village in Katangela, and travels to other villages as well. But her life, as well of the lives of those around her, are in danger after she fails to save the life of the son of the local warlord. Rick arrives with his team in time to chase off the warlords.
Rick and Cynthia didn’t hit it off immediately.
In fact, the opposite was almost true, with each seeing the other as closed-minded (perhaps in the same was as Elizabeth and Mr Darcy didn’t immediately hit it off with each other). Rick is gun-happy American Army, while Cynthia is a politician’s daughter who prefers to look for a peaceful solution.
I’d like to be able to say the story ended with them both finding the strengths in each other’s views, but it felt more like Rick rode roughshod over Cynthia until she agreed with him. Okay, so she shouldn’t have given him the “Army or me” ultimatum either, so there were faults on both sides.
I found the writing itself slipped into telling a little too often for my tastes, and it wasn’t always clear (for example, I initially thought the introduction showed Rick’s men attacking the village under gunfire, not local warlords). I also didn’t enjoy the casual racism or sexism, which none of the characters called out. This made me wonder if they didn’t notice, or didn’t care. Either way, I was left wondering if the characters held the same views.
That didn’t endear me to the characters.
I think my main problem was that the story focused more on the politics and the action than on the relationship to the point where I wasn’t entirely convinced by the relationship between Rick and Cynthia. Yes, I believe they fell for each other, but there’s enough of an element of Stockholm Syndrome that I’m not convinced it will last … and that’s not a good way to end a romance, especially not in the Christian market.
This is the first book in the Love & Honor series. Fans of fast-paced suspense from authors like Ronie Kendig will enjoy Honor Bound.
Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
About Hallee Bridgman
Hallee Bridgeman is the award winning and USA TODAY bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee settled with her husband in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she’s not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her.
Find Hallee Bridgman online at:
About Honor Bound
It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord’s mortally wounded son.
As part of the Army Special Forces “A-Team” on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia’s life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia tries to hold on to her anger–but an unwanted attraction is taking hold.
With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he’s beginning to think they just might overcome their differences and be able to make a life together.
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