Release Day Review: Love in the Line of Fire by Michael Murphy #Review #Giveaway

Author: Michael Murphy
Book: Love In The Line Of Fire
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: January 23, 2017
Length: 192 pages 



Reviewed by Meredith


Synopsis

Agent Jonah Pratt heads the Secret Service team guarding the President’s husband. When a routine day turns into a dangerous assassination attempt, the stranger who dives into the melee and takes down the assassin complicates the situation, sparking Jonah’s anger.

Just back from multiple tours of duty in Iraq, Benji hides the fact that he brought the war home with him and that it continues to haunt him. His actions in stopping the would-be assassin are more instinct than strategy. And his first conversation with a furious Jonah doesn’t end well.

Losing a member of his team turns Jonah’s world upside down. And if Benji seems to know exactly what Jonah is experiencing, it’s because he went through the same thing in combat. Jonah’s work consumes him, leaving little room in his life for anything else, and Benji focuses on his studies, working to keep his nightmares at bay. But when they get together, Jonah and Benji recognize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for love and happiness—one worth fighting for.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Review

When I read the blurb for this book I had to have it. A secret service agent and a military guy? Where do I sign up. In my mind I thought it was going to be a big action suspense sort of thing with a romance weaved in. It wasn't exactly that. Love in the Line of Fire was much more emotional than I thought it would be. It didn't really focus so much on what Jonah and Benji do. It was more about who they are and how they make a relationship work.

The opening of this book was very suspenseful and then sad. When a lone gunman shoots at the President's husband and takes out one of Jonah's men it really tore at my heart. More so when we realize how close he and Jonah were. Of course this was the same moment we met Benji. His entrance is one for the grandkids. It's how these two meet and how their story begins.

I adored Benji throughout this entire book. He helped Jonah cope with the loss of his friend, he guided him through dating and romance, he rubs his aches and pains from him. He is just an amazing person. He suffers from PTSD and at one point it affects Jonah and his relationship horribly.

Now, I didn't hate Jonah. I found his shyness toward Benji in the beginning to be refreshing. As the head of security for the President's husband he doesn't have a lot of times where he doesn't have to make choices. When Benji takes the reins it's a beautiful thing. Jonah isn't horrible to Benji but I did find him undeserving of his love. Especially when Benji reacts out of fear, slight paranoia, and love. This also affects Jonah's job and it was how Jonah treated Benji after that that really bothered me. I didn't feel the forgiveness. It just didn't come across like I think it should have. I would have made Jonah grovel until his knees bled.

Other than that it's a love story about two alpha guys with a lot of busy in their lives. They need each other and they need a lot better communication. It's not high on the action and suspense but it is very high on the emotion and medium on the angst.

Giveaway

Enter the monthly review giveaway!

Contest ends January 31st!

Thanks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway