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Defend and Protect #2
Malicious Intent
Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company's cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been heralded by government, medical, and advocacy groups and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose--and how far will they go to get what they want?
Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to spend the rest of his life with her. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life's work, her own life, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
Perfectly balancing chilling suspense and uplifting romance, award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a story of revenge, greed, and overcoming that you won't want to put down no matter how late it gets.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to spend the rest of his life with her. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life's work, her own life, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
Perfectly balancing chilling suspense and uplifting romance, award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a story of revenge, greed, and overcoming that you won't want to put down no matter how late it gets.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2022
101 people are currently reading
2994 people want to read
About the author
Lynn H. Blackburn
21books1,471followersLibrarian Note: Also writes under the pen name Lynn Huggins Blackburn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
February 7, 2022
3 stars for a romantic suspense mystery /thriller. This book opens with Secret Service agent Gil Dixon and his partner, Zane Thacker, going to Dr. Ivy Collins house to question her about $200 of counterfeit bills her company deposited into her company's bank account. They interrupt people torturing Ivy. While this may seem like a Hallmark movie with a dashing knight rescuing a damsel in distress, Ivy actually saves Gil's life by shooting 1 of the villains who was about to kill Gil.
This theme of a strong woman and a strong man continues throughout the book. Gil and Ivy have history. They were teenagers in love, but her mother moved away and Ivy never contacted Gil again. Now it is 15 years later.
There is far too much romantic angst for my taste, sometimes 1/2 a chapter, for the 1st 2/3rds of the book. Each of them worries that past history and bitterness will prevent them from rekindling their love. However, that part of the ending is telegraphed from the beginning. Gil does solve the mystery of who is behind the attack on Ivy.
I usually read mysteries and thrillers. I requested this from LibraryThing because it looked like an interesting thriller, not realizing that romance would be one of 2 dominant themes throughout the book. However, if you like romantic suspense, then you will probably like this book. There are reviews praising it for the right blend of romance and thrills.
One quote: p.243-Gil thinking: "Who could understand woman? He had no clue what was going on with her. She wasn't sending him mixed signals. No, that would be too easy. Normal women sent mixed signals.
Ivy was sending him signals in encrypted code."
This would be ok for many readers--no profanity, no sex, and only a small amount of violence at the beginning. But it was not my cup of tea, and I won't be reading any more books by this author.
It was a fast moving book. I read it in 3 days.
Thanks to the author and Revell Books for sending this ARC through LibraryThing.
This theme of a strong woman and a strong man continues throughout the book. Gil and Ivy have history. They were teenagers in love, but her mother moved away and Ivy never contacted Gil again. Now it is 15 years later.
There is far too much romantic angst for my taste, sometimes 1/2 a chapter, for the 1st 2/3rds of the book. Each of them worries that past history and bitterness will prevent them from rekindling their love. However, that part of the ending is telegraphed from the beginning. Gil does solve the mystery of who is behind the attack on Ivy.
I usually read mysteries and thrillers. I requested this from LibraryThing because it looked like an interesting thriller, not realizing that romance would be one of 2 dominant themes throughout the book. However, if you like romantic suspense, then you will probably like this book. There are reviews praising it for the right blend of romance and thrills.
One quote: p.243-Gil thinking: "Who could understand woman? He had no clue what was going on with her. She wasn't sending him mixed signals. No, that would be too easy. Normal women sent mixed signals.
Ivy was sending him signals in encrypted code."
This would be ok for many readers--no profanity, no sex, and only a small amount of violence at the beginning. But it was not my cup of tea, and I won't be reading any more books by this author.
It was a fast moving book. I read it in 3 days.
Thanks to the author and Revell Books for sending this ARC through LibraryThing.
August 11, 2024
I think I liked this one better than the first?!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this again. So good.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this again. So good.
February 24, 2023
3.5 stars, personally.
About this book:
“Her years of research and sleepless nights are about to pay off . . . if she can stay alive.
Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company's cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been praised by government, medical, and advocacy groups, and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose--and how far will they go to get what they want?
Meanwhile, US Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to mend their broken relationship. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life, her life's work, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.�
Series: Book #2 in the “Defend and Protect� series. Review of Book #1 Here! Mentions characters from the “Dive Team Investigations� series and does give slight spoilers from those books.
Spiritual Content- Psalm 19:14 is noted in the Acknowledgments; A Scripture is quoted in a sermon; Prayers; Church going; Talks about God & praying; When recalling being tortured, Ivy kept praying but was certain that God wasn’t going to answer her prayers, that she was going to die; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, services, songs/hymns, a pastor, & a sermon; A mention of a Bible study; A mention of it probably being “extra sinful� to ogling a worship leader (Ivy noticing Gil);
*Note: A couple mentions of aliens.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb�, a ‘for crying out loud�, a ‘freaking�, a ‘screw up�, a ‘suckers�, two ‘crap’s, two ‘sheesh’s, three ‘gah’s, three forms of ‘shut up�, three forms of ‘ticked/ticked off�, three forms of ‘wimp�, twelve ‘stupid’s, and fifteen forms of ‘idiot�; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Shooting, Being shot at, Seeing someone shot, Gunfire, & an Explosion (up to semi-detailed); Pain, Injuries, & Almost being kidnapped (up to semi-detailed); Just before the book starts, Ivy was held hostage & tortured in her own home (being stunned, fingers broken, slapped, being burned, and passing out; she also has to explain and walk through the events with the police, all up to semi-detailed; She was certain that she was going to die); Many, many mentions of deaths (including in the line of action), bombs/grenades, seeing others shot, being shot, shootings, shooters, gunfire, blood/bleeding, pain, & injuries (including recapping events from Book #1); Many mentions of Ivy being tortured, blood/bleeding, pain, injuries, passing out, shooting someone in self-defense, & the possibility of being killed (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of suicidal thoughts & someone almost deciding to end his life (the person went through therapy and found it helpful, *Spoiler* ); Mentions of finding a dead body, blood, & how it happened (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kidnappings & attempts (adults and a child); Mentions of a child being drugged & threatened with losing a limb (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a work accident causing a man to lose a limb & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of violence, threats, ransoms, cyber threats, ransomware, & hackings; Mentions of thieves, stealing, stolen items, & betrayal (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of crimes, crime scenes, criminals, jail, arrests, & counterfeit money; Mentions of scams, a con-man, & a woman using people for her benefit; Mentions of drugs, addicts, being high, & a possible overdose; Mentions of cigarettes & smoking (& Ivy being burned by one); Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of car accidents; A few mentions of alcohol, someone being drugged (in his drink), & getting drunk; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of tattoos; A couple mentions of someone being sideswiped by a car & killed (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of human trafficking; A couple mentions of bullies/teasing in school; A couple mentions of a gambling addiction; A couple mentions of cocktails; A mention of a murderer; A mention of war; A mention of Ivy’s biological father never being in the picture; A mention of partying & drinking; A mention of gossip; A mention of eavesdropping; A mention of a lottery; A mention of a wife getting ready to leave her husband; A mention of someone filing for a divorce; A mention of a man looking like he ran over a puppy (after hurting someone);
*Note: Mentions of yoga (Ivy does yoga typically); Mentions of brand name (Apple products, Barbie, Coke, Band-Aid, & Geber); A few mentions of GQ magazine; A few mentions of an author, fictional characters, & a movie/book (L. M. Montgomery & The Princess Bride); A few mentions of sport teams; A couple mentions of car brands; A mention of Google; A mention of Uber; A mention of Comic-Con.
Sexual Content- Two hand kisses, an almost kiss, four nose kisses, seven forehead/hair kisses, seven barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three semi-detailed kisses, and a detailed kiss; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Lots of Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Remembering touches & embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to touch; Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Ivy & Gil sleep in the same house multiple times for her safety (nothing sexual happens; there is a comment of her thinking they don’t need a chaperone, but he says she hasn’t been paying enough attention if she thinks that); a ‘babe�, five forms of ‘hot�, and ten ‘baby’s; Many mentions of dating, dates, exes, break-ups, & boyfriends/girlfriends; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of blushes & winks; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of a guy making the key to a girl’s apartment (we’re not told the reason why, but they are not a couple); A few mentions of couples kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of Ivy’s mother having many boyfriends, but always keeping them away from Ivy; A few mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of human trafficking; A couple mentions of a staged kidnapping so the boyfriend can look like a hero to his girl; A couple mentions of a guy making passes at Ivy; A couple mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of a girl being boy crazy, even in elementary school; A mention of a man acting like he wants to make beautiful babies with a woman; A mention of Ivy’s mother sleeping around; A mention of staring at someone’s lips; A mention of a woman possibly being violated; A mention of a man not being a masochist; Love, falling/being in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of Ivy showing more skin than she’s comfortable with due to one of the men tearing her shirt when being tortured; A mention of underwear.
-Ivy Collins
-Gil Dixon
P.O.V. switches between them & the villain (x4)
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
Despite really struggling to understand what was happening in the first couple chapters, I did really enjoy this suspense novel. Much more than the first book in the series, for sure.
It took about halfway through for me to like Ivy. I preferred Gil’s POV because he saw more in her than she did of herself. Plus he had it so bad for her. It was giggle worthy at times because of how much he likes her. The “he fell first and he fell hard� trope was in play in this novel and I’m always excited to see that trope. Add in the childhood best friends trope, and I’m totally okay with a the main trope being the second chance romance trope.
The pacing was well done, and the action was believable. There was a good amount of faith content and also none of the typical suspense tropes that I see much too often. (I’ve used the word ‘trope� too much in this review already, my apologies.)
I love the friendships and the importance of friends in this book. I think that’s the main reason why I enjoyed this book. They (especially at the end) were a well-oiled machine in making plans and all the details of taking a villain down. It was really satisfying, actually, to read about. Even if they were a bit too nosy at times, I liked their banter and caring for each other.
I’m honestly bummed that I didn’t read this authors books in publication date order, because Sabrina just seems like the coolest and I think I would have loved seeing her and the others from the “Dive Team Investigations� series again.
While typing up this review, I wasn’t sure on a personal rating of 3.5 or 4 stars, because I did really enjoy the story, but I think I’ll be going with a 3.5 due to the torture Ivy goes through before the book starts. If dwelt on too long, it can turn a sensitive reader’s stomach. I’m definitely looking toward to catching up on this author’s books and also reading Tessa’s story soon.
Link to review:
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“Her years of research and sleepless nights are about to pay off . . . if she can stay alive.
Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company's cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been praised by government, medical, and advocacy groups, and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose--and how far will they go to get what they want?
Meanwhile, US Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to mend their broken relationship. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life, her life's work, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.�
Series: Book #2 in the “Defend and Protect� series. Review of Book #1 Here! Mentions characters from the “Dive Team Investigations� series and does give slight spoilers from those books.
Spiritual Content- Psalm 19:14 is noted in the Acknowledgments; A Scripture is quoted in a sermon; Prayers; Church going; Talks about God & praying; When recalling being tortured, Ivy kept praying but was certain that God wasn’t going to answer her prayers, that she was going to die; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, services, songs/hymns, a pastor, & a sermon; A mention of a Bible study; A mention of it probably being “extra sinful� to ogling a worship leader (Ivy noticing Gil);
*Note: A couple mentions of aliens.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb�, a ‘for crying out loud�, a ‘freaking�, a ‘screw up�, a ‘suckers�, two ‘crap’s, two ‘sheesh’s, three ‘gah’s, three forms of ‘shut up�, three forms of ‘ticked/ticked off�, three forms of ‘wimp�, twelve ‘stupid’s, and fifteen forms of ‘idiot�; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Shooting, Being shot at, Seeing someone shot, Gunfire, & an Explosion (up to semi-detailed); Pain, Injuries, & Almost being kidnapped (up to semi-detailed); Just before the book starts, Ivy was held hostage & tortured in her own home (being stunned, fingers broken, slapped, being burned, and passing out; she also has to explain and walk through the events with the police, all up to semi-detailed; She was certain that she was going to die); Many, many mentions of deaths (including in the line of action), bombs/grenades, seeing others shot, being shot, shootings, shooters, gunfire, blood/bleeding, pain, & injuries (including recapping events from Book #1); Many mentions of Ivy being tortured, blood/bleeding, pain, injuries, passing out, shooting someone in self-defense, & the possibility of being killed (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of suicidal thoughts & someone almost deciding to end his life (the person went through therapy and found it helpful, *Spoiler* ); Mentions of finding a dead body, blood, & how it happened (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kidnappings & attempts (adults and a child); Mentions of a child being drugged & threatened with losing a limb (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a work accident causing a man to lose a limb & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of violence, threats, ransoms, cyber threats, ransomware, & hackings; Mentions of thieves, stealing, stolen items, & betrayal (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of crimes, crime scenes, criminals, jail, arrests, & counterfeit money; Mentions of scams, a con-man, & a woman using people for her benefit; Mentions of drugs, addicts, being high, & a possible overdose; Mentions of cigarettes & smoking (& Ivy being burned by one); Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of car accidents; A few mentions of alcohol, someone being drugged (in his drink), & getting drunk; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of tattoos; A couple mentions of someone being sideswiped by a car & killed (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of human trafficking; A couple mentions of bullies/teasing in school; A couple mentions of a gambling addiction; A couple mentions of cocktails; A mention of a murderer; A mention of war; A mention of Ivy’s biological father never being in the picture; A mention of partying & drinking; A mention of gossip; A mention of eavesdropping; A mention of a lottery; A mention of a wife getting ready to leave her husband; A mention of someone filing for a divorce; A mention of a man looking like he ran over a puppy (after hurting someone);
*Note: Mentions of yoga (Ivy does yoga typically); Mentions of brand name (Apple products, Barbie, Coke, Band-Aid, & Geber); A few mentions of GQ magazine; A few mentions of an author, fictional characters, & a movie/book (L. M. Montgomery & The Princess Bride); A few mentions of sport teams; A couple mentions of car brands; A mention of Google; A mention of Uber; A mention of Comic-Con.
Sexual Content- Two hand kisses, an almost kiss, four nose kisses, seven forehead/hair kisses, seven barely-above-not-detailed kisses, three semi-detailed kisses, and a detailed kiss; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); Lots of Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Remembering touches & embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to touch; Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Ivy & Gil sleep in the same house multiple times for her safety (nothing sexual happens; there is a comment of her thinking they don’t need a chaperone, but he says she hasn’t been paying enough attention if she thinks that); a ‘babe�, five forms of ‘hot�, and ten ‘baby’s; Many mentions of dating, dates, exes, break-ups, & boyfriends/girlfriends; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of blushes & winks; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of a guy making the key to a girl’s apartment (we’re not told the reason why, but they are not a couple); A few mentions of couples kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of Ivy’s mother having many boyfriends, but always keeping them away from Ivy; A few mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of human trafficking; A couple mentions of a staged kidnapping so the boyfriend can look like a hero to his girl; A couple mentions of a guy making passes at Ivy; A couple mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of a girl being boy crazy, even in elementary school; A mention of a man acting like he wants to make beautiful babies with a woman; A mention of Ivy’s mother sleeping around; A mention of staring at someone’s lips; A mention of a woman possibly being violated; A mention of a man not being a masochist; Love, falling/being in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of Ivy showing more skin than she’s comfortable with due to one of the men tearing her shirt when being tortured; A mention of underwear.
-Ivy Collins
-Gil Dixon
P.O.V. switches between them & the villain (x4)
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
Despite really struggling to understand what was happening in the first couple chapters, I did really enjoy this suspense novel. Much more than the first book in the series, for sure.
It took about halfway through for me to like Ivy. I preferred Gil’s POV because he saw more in her than she did of herself. Plus he had it so bad for her. It was giggle worthy at times because of how much he likes her. The “he fell first and he fell hard� trope was in play in this novel and I’m always excited to see that trope. Add in the childhood best friends trope, and I’m totally okay with a the main trope being the second chance romance trope.
The pacing was well done, and the action was believable. There was a good amount of faith content and also none of the typical suspense tropes that I see much too often. (I’ve used the word ‘trope� too much in this review already, my apologies.)
I love the friendships and the importance of friends in this book. I think that’s the main reason why I enjoyed this book. They (especially at the end) were a well-oiled machine in making plans and all the details of taking a villain down. It was really satisfying, actually, to read about. Even if they were a bit too nosy at times, I liked their banter and caring for each other.
I’m honestly bummed that I didn’t read this authors books in publication date order, because Sabrina just seems like the coolest and I think I would have loved seeing her and the others from the “Dive Team Investigations� series again.
While typing up this review, I wasn’t sure on a personal rating of 3.5 or 4 stars, because I did really enjoy the story, but I think I’ll be going with a 3.5 due to the torture Ivy goes through before the book starts. If dwelt on too long, it can turn a sensitive reader’s stomach. I’m definitely looking toward to catching up on this author’s books and also reading Tessa’s story soon.
Link to review:
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
February 28, 2022
This is a fast paced, action-packed suspense that starts off with a bang that doesn't stop until the end. Gil Dixon, Secret Service Agent for the Raleigh, North Carolina office, and Dr. Ivy Collins, bioengineer and developer of prosthetics, are childhood friends that haven't seen each other for fifteen years. When counterfeit money is deposited in Ivy's company, Hedera, Inc's bank account, Gil and his partner investigate. Office hours are over, so they arrive at her home only to find the door open, and Ivy being tortured by three assailants, one of whom Ivy is able to shoot before they attack Gil. The invaders are trying to get Ivy's password to her computer system at work and she refused to give it to them.
It is a wild ride to find out who and why someone wants into her system and apparently to get to a huge sum of money that she has but is not supposed to touch. Since only those close to her know about it. This means that someone close to her is behind it all. Right? That is very disturbing. And they will do anything to get to it, it seems, including putting people in danger to get to Ivy.
Ivy and Gil, along with Gil's sister, Emily, has some unfinished business to talk about. Things ended on an awkward note all those years ago. But their friendship is still there.
This is one suspense filled story that involves the local Secret Service agents and an FBI agent we met in the first book. I was kept engaged the whole book and enjoyed the camaraderie between the realistic, likable characters along with the mystery, action, and maybe some romance. This is a story that I would highly recommend to those who enjoy romantic suspense with characters who are brought together in their work, friendship, and faith.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
It is a wild ride to find out who and why someone wants into her system and apparently to get to a huge sum of money that she has but is not supposed to touch. Since only those close to her know about it. This means that someone close to her is behind it all. Right? That is very disturbing. And they will do anything to get to it, it seems, including putting people in danger to get to Ivy.
Ivy and Gil, along with Gil's sister, Emily, has some unfinished business to talk about. Things ended on an awkward note all those years ago. But their friendship is still there.
This is one suspense filled story that involves the local Secret Service agents and an FBI agent we met in the first book. I was kept engaged the whole book and enjoyed the camaraderie between the realistic, likable characters along with the mystery, action, and maybe some romance. This is a story that I would highly recommend to those who enjoy romantic suspense with characters who are brought together in their work, friendship, and faith.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
June 4, 2022
3.5 stars!
Characters: I struggled with the characters in this book. Gil and Ivy really didn't have any problems apart from their failed romance and the villains being after Ivy. I would've liked to see them have some additional flaws to work through. I also felt like Ivy's perspective didn't add that much to the story. Obviously, she had to be in there because the villains were after her, but she almost would've worked better for me as a side character. I did enjoy seeing all the characters from the first book again.
Language: Clean.
Moral/theme: My memory's a little foggy on the themes in this one, but I do remember one of the themes being second chances (for Gil and Ivy's romance).
Plot: Suspenseful moments, unknown villains, and a developing romance moved the plot along.
Romance: Clean. Just kissing.
Writing: Lynn H. Blackburn's clear, fast-paced writing style worked great for this novel.
Overall: Malicious Intent was an interesting read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and romantic suspense.
Characters: I struggled with the characters in this book. Gil and Ivy really didn't have any problems apart from their failed romance and the villains being after Ivy. I would've liked to see them have some additional flaws to work through. I also felt like Ivy's perspective didn't add that much to the story. Obviously, she had to be in there because the villains were after her, but she almost would've worked better for me as a side character. I did enjoy seeing all the characters from the first book again.
Language: Clean.
Moral/theme: My memory's a little foggy on the themes in this one, but I do remember one of the themes being second chances (for Gil and Ivy's romance).
Plot: Suspenseful moments, unknown villains, and a developing romance moved the plot along.
Romance: Clean. Just kissing.
Writing: Lynn H. Blackburn's clear, fast-paced writing style worked great for this novel.
Overall: Malicious Intent was an interesting read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and romantic suspense.
March 1, 2022
'Lord, I need you. I always need you. But if you don't help me, I won't make it till supper.'
Wow! That's what I said often during the reading of this novel. This is Lynn Blackburn's best work ever, in my opinion. Blackburn has simply outdone herself here. She has a great plot, outstanding characters and a suspense that doesn't stop. And let's not forget those two main protagonists: Gil Dixon is one of the best heroes and Ivy Collins is pretty much perfect. If ever two characters were made for each other, these two were. I love it when I connect with characters so quickly and easily. No two ways about it: this book is just over the top. This group of Secret Service and FBI agents are just great. I loved catching up with some from a previous series, too. They are just so cool!
If ever I were in a situation where I needed help, I'd definitely choose this group. Hands down. Everyone's character is larger than life here, and I love that. The spiritual thread is amazing, too. I can't wait for Zane and Tessa's story. Bravo and well done!!
My thanks to Revell for a copy of this book via the Net Galley platform. The opinion here is my own entirely.
Wow! That's what I said often during the reading of this novel. This is Lynn Blackburn's best work ever, in my opinion. Blackburn has simply outdone herself here. She has a great plot, outstanding characters and a suspense that doesn't stop. And let's not forget those two main protagonists: Gil Dixon is one of the best heroes and Ivy Collins is pretty much perfect. If ever two characters were made for each other, these two were. I love it when I connect with characters so quickly and easily. No two ways about it: this book is just over the top. This group of Secret Service and FBI agents are just great. I loved catching up with some from a previous series, too. They are just so cool!
If ever I were in a situation where I needed help, I'd definitely choose this group. Hands down. Everyone's character is larger than life here, and I love that. The spiritual thread is amazing, too. I can't wait for Zane and Tessa's story. Bravo and well done!!
My thanks to Revell for a copy of this book via the Net Galley platform. The opinion here is my own entirely.
August 14, 2024
Childhood sweethearts reconnect, even after 15 years the feelings are still there. Ivy is being attacked when Gil and his partner arrive to question her about an incident. The reunion isn't the moment that either imagined, but it puts them together and Gil's protective instincts are immediately on high alert. I was invested in stopping whoever was after Ivy and questioning who could be responsible. The group of characters keep me absorbed in this story. Their friendship, the support of one another and fun teasing/banter between made me love this group and I was happy to once again see characters from her Dive Team series. I did feel like there were a few loose ends not tied up as nicely and I might of liked, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the story.
March 1, 2022
This book gets ALL the stars. Truly it was ah-mazing! With this read Lynn, has firmly cemented herself as my favorite suspense author. Gil and Ivy are among my favorite characters ever and their friend group is my favorite group of friends, I want to be part of their group!! Lynn's writing style is easy to read, and I love the way she weaves in humor throughout the story. I laugh out loud countless times during her books, and that is always one of my most favorite elements of her books. The mystery of this one is exciting and the back story of Gil and Ivy adds a great layer to an already awesome read. Honestly, I can't recommend this and all of Lynn's other books enough. They have a permanent home on my keeper shelf.
I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
March 4, 2022
Malicious Intent is the second book in the Defend and Protect series. I haven't read the first one, but I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic thriller. In fact, this is the first book I have read by the author. I found the book to be a page turner with plenty of action and swoon worthy romance. The book was filled with faith and inspiration as well. I will definitely be reading more books by Ms. Blackburn. *I was given a copy of the book by Revell Publishers and this is my honest opinion.
June 22, 2022
Woah…this book didn’t slow down. From page 1 until the last we were blasting!
The story was SO good! Even with all of the moving parts I was so engaged and invested in the outcome!
Ivy & Gil were ADORE! ABLE! I loved them so much! Their history was the sweetest thing, and I LOVED that even after 15 years they just fell back into a rhythm that was indicative of soulmates!
They had open communication with each other and I loved every interaction they had! They both relied on God and turned to prayer and I loved that about them as well!
THE TEAM CHEMISTRY.
Y’all! Lynn is AMAZING at writing a team that truly feels like a family and I adored this team SO MUCH!
GUYS! We got to see the Carrington dive team again! 🤩😍 I ADORED that series and I love that the author is keeping the series in the same universe!
I enjoyed having a few chapters from the “bad guy’s� perspective! And I loved that even though I wasn’t surprised by the bad guy, it wasn’t a cut & dry find either.
I did pick up the second book in the series without reading book 1. (It was a bit of a necessity) But I didn’t feel like I missed anything, the characters actually talked a bit about what happened in the first book. Personally it just made me really excited to pick up and read book 1! So while it can be a standalone, I would DEFINITELY recommend reading the series in order so you get the FULL experience of the team chemistry and some insight on their thought process during this story.
I really really enjoyed this story! Lynn H. Blackburn has QUICKLY become a favorite suspense author for me! Definitely going on my “auto buy author� list.
I do have a few questions about some loose ends I’m not 100% sure if they were purposely left untied or if they were kind of forgotten/glazed over in the sheer size and constant movement of the story�
Nothing crazy or glaring, but enough that if it showed up in the next book I wouldn’t be taken aback at all.
Overall it didn’t take away from the experience or the most adorable last chapter! I loved the story and CANNOT wait to be back in this world!
4.5/5 stars
*I received this book from the publisher **All opinions are my own
The story was SO good! Even with all of the moving parts I was so engaged and invested in the outcome!
Ivy & Gil were ADORE! ABLE! I loved them so much! Their history was the sweetest thing, and I LOVED that even after 15 years they just fell back into a rhythm that was indicative of soulmates!
They had open communication with each other and I loved every interaction they had! They both relied on God and turned to prayer and I loved that about them as well!
THE TEAM CHEMISTRY.
Y’all! Lynn is AMAZING at writing a team that truly feels like a family and I adored this team SO MUCH!
GUYS! We got to see the Carrington dive team again! 🤩😍 I ADORED that series and I love that the author is keeping the series in the same universe!
I enjoyed having a few chapters from the “bad guy’s� perspective! And I loved that even though I wasn’t surprised by the bad guy, it wasn’t a cut & dry find either.
I did pick up the second book in the series without reading book 1. (It was a bit of a necessity) But I didn’t feel like I missed anything, the characters actually talked a bit about what happened in the first book. Personally it just made me really excited to pick up and read book 1! So while it can be a standalone, I would DEFINITELY recommend reading the series in order so you get the FULL experience of the team chemistry and some insight on their thought process during this story.
I really really enjoyed this story! Lynn H. Blackburn has QUICKLY become a favorite suspense author for me! Definitely going on my “auto buy author� list.
I do have a few questions about some loose ends I’m not 100% sure if they were purposely left untied or if they were kind of forgotten/glazed over in the sheer size and constant movement of the story�
Nothing crazy or glaring, but enough that if it showed up in the next book I wouldn’t be taken aback at all.
Overall it didn’t take away from the experience or the most adorable last chapter! I loved the story and CANNOT wait to be back in this world!
4.5/5 stars
*I received this book from the publisher **All opinions are my own
January 3, 2022
Now I'm the kind of gal who likes books with romance more than suspense. I can leave the nerve-wracking, dead-body-in-the-bathroom behind, but give me all of the longing looks and finger brushing. In the best/most frustrating way possible, Lynn Blackburn does a fantastic job at thwarting the romance. She drops just enough emotional breadcrumbs through her books to keep me hustling along. It's slow burn at its best. Because in her books, it isn't a secret fiancée who interrupts that first kiss. No, it's a gunshot or an attempted kidnapping.
And so, I will continue to take the things that make me wonder if my security system is up to date, as long as the romance stays as riveting.
I also love the little groups of friends she creates. She did it in her dive team series, and it's happening again here. Ivy found a protective group of friends and the childhood sweetheart she thought she'd lost. And, goshdurnit, Tessa and Zane had better figure out their mess in the next book!
Well done, Mrs. Blackburn! Can't wait for the next round.
Uh, I think I'm supposed to tell y'all that I'm on this book's launch team and received a free ARC copy. This review, however, is all me, folks.
And so, I will continue to take the things that make me wonder if my security system is up to date, as long as the romance stays as riveting.
I also love the little groups of friends she creates. She did it in her dive team series, and it's happening again here. Ivy found a protective group of friends and the childhood sweetheart she thought she'd lost. And, goshdurnit, Tessa and Zane had better figure out their mess in the next book!
Well done, Mrs. Blackburn! Can't wait for the next round.
Uh, I think I'm supposed to tell y'all that I'm on this book's launch team and received a free ARC copy. This review, however, is all me, folks.
February 6, 2022
A fast-moving read that races from the opening page. Ivy and her company are under attack, but the reasons aren't clear. What is clear is that the boy she fell in love with is back in her life years after she ghosted him. The question is what they're going to do about it. Gid can't believe Ivy is back and will do anything to keep her safe. This book is everything I've come to expect from the author: riveting romantic suspense. It's a read I highly recommend.
March 27, 2022
Another great book my Lynn Blackburn. Gabe is definitely hero material and his relationship and history with Ivy made the book turn for me. Not to mention the suspense had me guessing and engaged with every page.
I cannot wait for book 3!!
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher but my review was not required nor influenced.
I cannot wait for book 3!!
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher but my review was not required nor influenced.
March 9, 2022
It was fun to return to the characters that I enjoyed so much in book one, Unknown Threat, and even to catch up a bit with the characters from the Dive Team Investigations series. This second chance at romance story threw the main characters together early on in the book and I was definitely curious to find out what had caused the long separation between the two.
The threat to Ivy was double edged. It seemed that someone wanted access to her company and needed her various passwords and information. This was a definite threat to the company, yet it was also a threat to Ivy as the book opens up with Ivy clearly having been tortured for information. I was impressed with the depth of the planning that the villain had gone to in order to try to gain the access needed. And I was impressed with the way the investigators, including Gil, went about trying to piece a lot of information together while also attempting to keep Ivy safe.
It was nice to see Gil reconnecting with Ivy. He definitely had deep feelings for this woman and worked hard to not only keep her safe, but also to let her know that he felt that they should move forward from the past and that he wanted a future together. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
The threat to Ivy was double edged. It seemed that someone wanted access to her company and needed her various passwords and information. This was a definite threat to the company, yet it was also a threat to Ivy as the book opens up with Ivy clearly having been tortured for information. I was impressed with the depth of the planning that the villain had gone to in order to try to gain the access needed. And I was impressed with the way the investigators, including Gil, went about trying to piece a lot of information together while also attempting to keep Ivy safe.
It was nice to see Gil reconnecting with Ivy. He definitely had deep feelings for this woman and worked hard to not only keep her safe, but also to let her know that he felt that they should move forward from the past and that he wanted a future together. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
March 14, 2022
Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn checks all the boxes off for a Romantic Suspense novel. The first chapter dives into a character, who happens to be the heroine of the story, who has been tortured recently. From then on, the story moves forward with trying to discover who harmed her and why. Of course, the heroine, Ivy, runs into someone from her past, the heroine, Gil, who actually has loved her and wanted to come back into her life. As the story progresses, the suspense is heightened also, allowing the readers to jump into the action just like the heroine and the hero. On the same vein, the romance is questioned, then jumped into with full emotions. When the climactic moment is revealed, there is many different elements that make the final answer different than I have ever seen before. Has it been done before? Not in any novel that I have devoured. Can I see it happening in real life? Most definitely. Overall, Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn does give fans of romantic suspense just what they want. Plenty of action sprinkled with fighting emotions across the page. Fans of Colleen Coble and DiAnn Mills should be pick this novel. They would definitely enjoy time spent with this story.
I received a complimentary copy of Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
March 18, 2022
It’s no secret that I love reading about suspense that includes the alphabet agencies. Ms Blackburn is very adept at writing some of the best suspense out there. I’m glad we get to see characters from her previous books. This adds to the atmosphere of camaraderie and brings a layer of expertise into the picture.
Ivy and Gil have a long history broken by a painful experience and 15 years of distance. Scary circumstances bring them together again but can past hurts be healed?
This story had an intriguing and unique premise and enough people with questionable backgrounds to keep you guessing at who was behind the threat. The danger was palpable on every page. “Her week had been surreal. She’d been dropped right into a Salvador Dali painting, where everything she knew was still there but distorted in new and mostly disturbing ways.�
I liked the way that God was never far from Ivy or the agents helping her. “Lord, I don’t know what to do, so my eyes are on you.� After all, part of the reason they are the good guys is that they can call on God to sustain them in their risky jobs.
I thoroughly enjoyed this absorbing, suspenseful tale. I am glad there is more to come in the Defend and Protect series.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Ivy and Gil have a long history broken by a painful experience and 15 years of distance. Scary circumstances bring them together again but can past hurts be healed?
This story had an intriguing and unique premise and enough people with questionable backgrounds to keep you guessing at who was behind the threat. The danger was palpable on every page. “Her week had been surreal. She’d been dropped right into a Salvador Dali painting, where everything she knew was still there but distorted in new and mostly disturbing ways.�
I liked the way that God was never far from Ivy or the agents helping her. “Lord, I don’t know what to do, so my eyes are on you.� After all, part of the reason they are the good guys is that they can call on God to sustain them in their risky jobs.
I thoroughly enjoyed this absorbing, suspenseful tale. I am glad there is more to come in the Defend and Protect series.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
March 9, 2022
I love how the author intertwines characters from prior novels into this one. A great cast of characters.
I enjoyed this novel, but would have preferred more time spent on the suspense or action and less on the re-connection/romance. Most of my ŷ friends rated this novel four or five stars so my opinion is against the grain.
I look forward to reading the conclusion in the series.
I enjoyed this novel, but would have preferred more time spent on the suspense or action and less on the re-connection/romance. Most of my ŷ friends rated this novel four or five stars so my opinion is against the grain.
I look forward to reading the conclusion in the series.
April 10, 2025
I am loving this series so much. I want to read this book again just to spend more time with these characters. On to the next book in the series.
March 8, 2022
Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn is the second book in Defend and Protect series. Personally, I feel it is best to read Unknown Threat first. When I began reading Malicious Intent, I felt like I had missed out on key information (or a prequel). Malicious Intent is a fast-paced romantic suspense. Dr. Ivy Collins and U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon have a history which is evident from the first moment. It has been fifteen years since they last saw each other, but they have not forgotten each other. They still care for each other. Before they can get their happily happy ever, Gil and his colleagues need to figure out who is after Ivy. I thought the story contained good writing and it moved along at a swift pace. There are two main characters and five secondary characters. Ivy is a smart, resilient woman with a good heart. Gil is a protector with a heart of gold. He provides emotional support for Ivy during her time of need. The mystery involves violence. It is explained in a matter-of-fact way (not gory but detailed). There are several suspects. It was one little detail that allowed me to identify the wrongdoer. Romance is the main game in Malicious Intent. An incident in the past has kept Gil and Ivy apart. They never stopped caring for each other and we are privy to all of their thoughts regarding the matter. I would have preferred less romance with a more complex mystery. Romance lovers, though, will enjoy it. I like how faith was incorporated into the story. It is light but present. There is no foul language or intimate scenes in the book. We get to catch up with Faith and Luke from Unknown Threat as well as their colleagues. I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up Malicious Intent. I enjoyed this suspenseful story with its strong women and handsome men. Malicious Intent is a thrilling tale with savvy Secret Service Agents, a resolute researcher, a steadfast sister, caring colleagues, and a dangerous desperado.
March 15, 2022
4.5 stars
Clean Rating: mostly Squeaky
This book was far better than I expected!
I absolutely loved the relationships and I have to say, Blackburn writes these amazingly well. There is something special about the way she can describe and characterize each person, giving them a unique voice and a special influence. She writes friendships so well, I honestly wish I had friends like the Secret Service office seems to. LOL!
All that being said, the pacing was great! There were a few moments were it felt like it lagged and some scenes that could have been cut, but this was my only quibble with this book! While I understood Ivy, I related so hard to Gil, that I couldn’t help but smile and nod my head in sympathy over and over again.
The mystery itself strung me along quite a bit and I wasn’t sure till close to the end what was going on. This book was clean, had no smutty content at all and kept the romance sweet and pure, even with the obvious romantic tension between characters that have known and loved each other for a long time.
I also loved how characters from her previous dive series showed up as well! I always love those kinds of easter eggs and recycling of characters if you will.
If you enjoy Christian suspense books that are clean and well written, you will definitely enjoy this book! I didn’t realize that this was book 2 in the series and I liked it so much that I am currently listening to book one on audio book! I'm looking forward to reading book 3 when it comes out!
Clean Rating: mostly Squeaky
This book was far better than I expected!
I absolutely loved the relationships and I have to say, Blackburn writes these amazingly well. There is something special about the way she can describe and characterize each person, giving them a unique voice and a special influence. She writes friendships so well, I honestly wish I had friends like the Secret Service office seems to. LOL!
All that being said, the pacing was great! There were a few moments were it felt like it lagged and some scenes that could have been cut, but this was my only quibble with this book! While I understood Ivy, I related so hard to Gil, that I couldn’t help but smile and nod my head in sympathy over and over again.
The mystery itself strung me along quite a bit and I wasn’t sure till close to the end what was going on. This book was clean, had no smutty content at all and kept the romance sweet and pure, even with the obvious romantic tension between characters that have known and loved each other for a long time.
I also loved how characters from her previous dive series showed up as well! I always love those kinds of easter eggs and recycling of characters if you will.
If you enjoy Christian suspense books that are clean and well written, you will definitely enjoy this book! I didn’t realize that this was book 2 in the series and I liked it so much that I am currently listening to book one on audio book! I'm looking forward to reading book 3 when it comes out!
March 22, 2022
Gobsmacked, that's me after finishing Malicious Intent. Not sure there are words enough to describe how good this book is so I'm just going to gush!!!!
From the romance -- hello, reunion romance!!! There's nothing like a redeeming teenage love gone bad romance!!! And the suspense is so compelling -- set at a whiplash pace and steeped with intrigue. And that opening scene. Yikes!!!!!! I can't even...have your defibrillators handy. But the investigative side of this novel is just as riveting as Ivy and Gil and company work at putting all the pieces together.
Eeeepppp --- and speaking of 'company,' not only do we get the whole gang from the first Defend and Protect book but we also get all kinds of Dive Team Investigators cameos too. And the camaraderie is so much fun -- full of banter and teasing and the kind of heart-to-hearts only the best of friends can get away with. I'm more than a tad shy of giddy over these guys!!!!!!
Love the balance the author achieves between the suspense and romance and faith elements in this story. With touches of humour seamlessly woven throughout. I'd go from laughing uproariously to cowering under my blankets with the flick of a page! Honestly think this might be Lynn H. Blackburn's best book yet...but I might have to go back and re-read the Dive series and this one just to make sure. :-)
Oh -- and no worries if you haven't read Unknown Threat or the previous series -- Malicious Intent reads beautifully as a standalone as well.
From the romance -- hello, reunion romance!!! There's nothing like a redeeming teenage love gone bad romance!!! And the suspense is so compelling -- set at a whiplash pace and steeped with intrigue. And that opening scene. Yikes!!!!!! I can't even...have your defibrillators handy. But the investigative side of this novel is just as riveting as Ivy and Gil and company work at putting all the pieces together.
Eeeepppp --- and speaking of 'company,' not only do we get the whole gang from the first Defend and Protect book but we also get all kinds of Dive Team Investigators cameos too. And the camaraderie is so much fun -- full of banter and teasing and the kind of heart-to-hearts only the best of friends can get away with. I'm more than a tad shy of giddy over these guys!!!!!!
Love the balance the author achieves between the suspense and romance and faith elements in this story. With touches of humour seamlessly woven throughout. I'd go from laughing uproariously to cowering under my blankets with the flick of a page! Honestly think this might be Lynn H. Blackburn's best book yet...but I might have to go back and re-read the Dive series and this one just to make sure. :-)
Oh -- and no worries if you haven't read Unknown Threat or the previous series -- Malicious Intent reads beautifully as a standalone as well.
October 27, 2022
I loved every minute of this book! I am quite firmly #TeamSabrina so to have her show up is just fantastic. But let me say that Ivy is nearly tied with her at this point. I gave up sleep for this book so that right there speaks volumes because I love sleeping. Gil. Oh my word, he is wonderful. The characters are all fabulous and the team dynamic sets this series apart.
August 25, 2024
I loved the two main characters here! Their romance was sweet, and I really appreciated how much Ivy prayed. That was really refreshing.
April 25, 2022
I loved book 1, so duh, of course I'm going to request the sequel to review! Unfortunately, I didn't love this book as much as the first, but it was still enjoyable and kept me on my toes.
First of all, I loved getting back into the lives of these characters. Zane, Gil, Luke, Faith, Tessa...I adore these folks. There didn't seem to be as much banter in this book, though, which was a huge disappointment after book 1.
I enjoyed Gil's character, and his interactions with everyone, and the way he fiercely loved and protected both Ivy and his sister, but honestly, the only character growth I noticed was him reconciling with the past, and learning how to interact with Ivy. While this could be argued that this was the only character arc he needed, I personally believe that it just...fell flat.
And then let's talk about Ivy, shall we? Super intelligent, emotionally strong (but at her breaking point because who wouldn't be after being tortured with a curling iron), and very sweet. But again, there's no...depth to her character? Like Gil, she has to reconcile with the past and learn to know Gil again. The most inner conflict we see is stress because people are trying to kill her—which is definitely conflict, don't get me wrong, I just...I don't know how to put it into words, haha!
I guess the best way to say it is that it's definitely a plot-driven story...but not really a character driven story. Which is okay, as long as you still love the characters and the plot keeps you involved. But it just...fell very flat for me.
This is a short review (for me), buuuuut honestly, that pretty much sums it up. I enjoyed it, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a clean romantic suspense novel (I didn't mind the romance, it was just pretty meh) with a good message (they trusted God, prayed, all that good stuff, and it was actually very good), I just personally didn't find myself super attached to the story, even during the suspenseful parts.
(And I think the name Daniel is absolutely epic. #iykyk)
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
First of all, I loved getting back into the lives of these characters. Zane, Gil, Luke, Faith, Tessa...I adore these folks. There didn't seem to be as much banter in this book, though, which was a huge disappointment after book 1.
I enjoyed Gil's character, and his interactions with everyone, and the way he fiercely loved and protected both Ivy and his sister, but honestly, the only character growth I noticed was him reconciling with the past, and learning how to interact with Ivy. While this could be argued that this was the only character arc he needed, I personally believe that it just...fell flat.
And then let's talk about Ivy, shall we? Super intelligent, emotionally strong (but at her breaking point because who wouldn't be after being tortured with a curling iron), and very sweet. But again, there's no...depth to her character? Like Gil, she has to reconcile with the past and learn to know Gil again. The most inner conflict we see is stress because people are trying to kill her—which is definitely conflict, don't get me wrong, I just...I don't know how to put it into words, haha!
I guess the best way to say it is that it's definitely a plot-driven story...but not really a character driven story. Which is okay, as long as you still love the characters and the plot keeps you involved. But it just...fell very flat for me.
This is a short review (for me), buuuuut honestly, that pretty much sums it up. I enjoyed it, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a clean romantic suspense novel (I didn't mind the romance, it was just pretty meh) with a good message (they trusted God, prayed, all that good stuff, and it was actually very good), I just personally didn't find myself super attached to the story, even during the suspenseful parts.
(And I think the name Daniel is absolutely epic. #iykyk)
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 28, 2022
This is only the second book of Lynn Blackburn's I've read, and I LOVE IT!!!
(Now I'm going to have to go back and read all the others that had missed my radar. ;-D)
Malicious Intent is so, SO funny, and has tasteful dashes of romance that are clean, but also don't distract from the mystery or danger elements.
I really like the second chances trope she used for Gil and Ivy- that is one of my favorite styles of writing. They make the cutest couple, and yet, they're realistic.
Also, we see the return of the Cherry Coke jokes, which are hilarious.
Only negative element that I found is that "Cr*p" was used twice. Minor whiteout duty.
I received this book as an ARC from the author in exchange for a review as part of Lynn's Launch team. The opinions and thoughts above are my own. A positive review was not required.
Available for purchase at:
(Now I'm going to have to go back and read all the others that had missed my radar. ;-D)
Malicious Intent is so, SO funny, and has tasteful dashes of romance that are clean, but also don't distract from the mystery or danger elements.
I really like the second chances trope she used for Gil and Ivy- that is one of my favorite styles of writing. They make the cutest couple, and yet, they're realistic.
Also, we see the return of the Cherry Coke jokes, which are hilarious.
Only negative element that I found is that "Cr*p" was used twice. Minor whiteout duty.
I received this book as an ARC from the author in exchange for a review as part of Lynn's Launch team. The opinions and thoughts above are my own. A positive review was not required.
Available for purchase at:
April 25, 2022
4.5 stars
Overall, a really well plotted story that kept me guessing about which of the suspects was actually responsible for the kidnapping and why they were going after Ivy. It was very intense to dive right into a torture scenario... I would have liked to have some sort of preparation for what I was going to start reading about, but at the same time I appreciated that details were kept matter-of-fact and not graphically described.
Gil was a great leading man and an enjoyable character to spend time with. I liked how he interacted both with Ivy and with his circle of friends, because it’s really nice to see healthy relationships between adults in books. He’s clearly a strong man, especially in character.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
Overall, a really well plotted story that kept me guessing about which of the suspects was actually responsible for the kidnapping and why they were going after Ivy. It was very intense to dive right into a torture scenario... I would have liked to have some sort of preparation for what I was going to start reading about, but at the same time I appreciated that details were kept matter-of-fact and not graphically described.
Gil was a great leading man and an enjoyable character to spend time with. I liked how he interacted both with Ivy and with his circle of friends, because it’s really nice to see healthy relationships between adults in books. He’s clearly a strong man, especially in character.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.
February 5, 2022
So good! Review to come!
March 6, 2022
"Malicious Intent" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the second in a series, but it works as a stand alone. I liked the first part of the story, but it started to break down for me near the end. The bad guy started off by having lackeys torture Ivy for the password to her computer system so he could steal something (rather than asking her to give them what he ultimately wanted). As time passed, either the author or the bad guy forgot his original plan.
Ivy was smart and resilient. Gil was a caring and considerate guy. He made her food, provided physical protection and emotional support, and apologized when Ivy got upset with him for doing his job. I think she was upset that she needed protection. Gil was just doing what she'd been okay with before: planning a way to keep her safe while also keeping her protectors' safe. Gil even made sure she had a gun to protect herself and listened to her concerns, but she kept asserting her independence in unhelpful ways. Like one of Gil's main suspects wanted to meet with her alone in her office, and she did so because she couldn't believe that any of the suspects would harm her. Right or wrong, this expressed her doubts about Gil's judgement and abilities in a way that hurt Gil.
Ivy was ashamed of how her mother wronged Gil's family. Ivy had to accept that he'd really already forgiven her. There was no sex or bad language. The torture was clinically described by Ivy to the police and was somewhat graphic but not in an intense, gory way.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Ivy was smart and resilient. Gil was a caring and considerate guy. He made her food, provided physical protection and emotional support, and apologized when Ivy got upset with him for doing his job. I think she was upset that she needed protection. Gil was just doing what she'd been okay with before: planning a way to keep her safe while also keeping her protectors' safe. Gil even made sure she had a gun to protect herself and listened to her concerns, but she kept asserting her independence in unhelpful ways. Like one of Gil's main suspects wanted to meet with her alone in her office, and she did so because she couldn't believe that any of the suspects would harm her. Right or wrong, this expressed her doubts about Gil's judgement and abilities in a way that hurt Gil.
Ivy was ashamed of how her mother wronged Gil's family. Ivy had to accept that he'd really already forgiven her. There was no sex or bad language. The torture was clinically described by Ivy to the police and was somewhat graphic but not in an intense, gory way.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 28, 2022
I was really excited to read Gil and Ivy's story, since we learned in book one that there is some history between them, and what a history it was.
I love the Secret Service team. The way they work well together, developed a friendship and how they handle their cases are interesting. I also love that we see characters from the first series popping back up here.
The action and suspense was fast paced and what I want in a suspense, though it was a bit limited compared to the romance portion. But the times I was held in suspense provided me with that thrill I enjoy.
The romance, this is where I lost some enjoyment in the story. I enjoyed Gil and Ivy as individuals, and also together, but there were small things for me, which made this not the favourite romance I have read. Small things from a nickname I did not like (I keep thinking of a pony), to the realistic assumption that they know each after a 15-year gap and the epilogue which did not match to children aged 9 and 8.
Overall it was an enjoyable romantic suspense, and one which are receiving high ratings on ŷ.
This can be read as a standalone, though I did enjoying knowing the history of all the characters involved.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I love the Secret Service team. The way they work well together, developed a friendship and how they handle their cases are interesting. I also love that we see characters from the first series popping back up here.
The action and suspense was fast paced and what I want in a suspense, though it was a bit limited compared to the romance portion. But the times I was held in suspense provided me with that thrill I enjoy.
The romance, this is where I lost some enjoyment in the story. I enjoyed Gil and Ivy as individuals, and also together, but there were small things for me, which made this not the favourite romance I have read. Small things from a nickname I did not like (I keep thinking of a pony), to the realistic assumption that they know each after a 15-year gap and the epilogue which did not match to children aged 9 and 8.
Overall it was an enjoyable romantic suspense, and one which are receiving high ratings on ŷ.
This can be read as a standalone, though I did enjoying knowing the history of all the characters involved.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
February 25, 2022
Wow! I'm just loving the this new series and this one has to be the best!
I loved the edge of your seat, holding your breath scenes.
I enjoyed this so much! It was just to good to put down!
The characters are well rounded out and the plot had me totally hooked from the beginning.
I'm so happy that Ivy finally got her own story. She's just awesome and fun in getting to know.
I've learned so many things just by reading this book.
This author's research comes from the heart and has fun doing it. It shows through her writing.
I think I fell in love with her writing with her very first novel and I've been a fan ever since.
This book has all the ingredients for an awesome roller coaster ride that readers will love. I know I did!
This book is a well deserved 5 star story.
I loved the edge of your seat, holding your breath scenes.
I enjoyed this so much! It was just to good to put down!
The characters are well rounded out and the plot had me totally hooked from the beginning.
I'm so happy that Ivy finally got her own story. She's just awesome and fun in getting to know.
I've learned so many things just by reading this book.
This author's research comes from the heart and has fun doing it. It shows through her writing.
I think I fell in love with her writing with her very first novel and I've been a fan ever since.
This book has all the ingredients for an awesome roller coaster ride that readers will love. I know I did!
This book is a well deserved 5 star story.
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