I’ve been waiting for Lights Out by Natalie Walters to arrive and was excited to be a part of the launch team for it. Let me tell you, it’s a super book. It has all of the elements I like in romantic suspense. There’s plenty of action, solid characters, and a nice little romance.

Action

From the start, you’ll be intrigued. Something bad is about to happen, but you won’t understand the full extent of the crime until the end. The bad guys are very bad and seem to be one step ahead of our hero and heroine. But it’s all quite believable. I didn’t feel like Walters had contrived anything to just keep the suspense going. It was easy to see how the villains stayed ahead of the game. And I spent a good deal of energy trying to guess how the good guys would stop them.

Characters

Jack Hudson, the hero, is a member of the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP), and don’t you love the name of that organization. Jack is a cancer survivor, which has made him extremely resilient. I liked this story line because it made him more believable to me. He’s smart, handsome, very capable, and strong. Brynn Taylor, is a CIA analyst, who knows how to take care of herself. She’s a talented and intelligent woman, who’s a force you don’t want to mess with. The secondary characters have unique personalities and skills that I’m sure we’ll learn more about in future installments. Several of them help to relieve the tension, and you’ll find yourself chuckling from time to time when Kekoa is on the scene.

Romance

Jack and Brynn have a past and it isn’t pretty. So, for a good portion of the book Jack is trying to determine if he can trust Brynn since his feelings are resurfacing, and Brynn is trying to deny the feelings she doesn’t want to have for Jack. There’s a good amount of tension between the two which makes their dynamics very interesting. And, if you like a romantic build up then this story will delight you.

Faith

It’s a Christian Fiction book and there’s a clear faith element, but it’s understated and even if you’re not a Christian you’ll not feel like religion is being crammed down your throat. Anyone should enjoy this book. Jack is the strong one where faith is concerned. You know from the start, his faith has carried him through some very trying times. Brynn has had her faith tested, so the story for her is finding her way back and learning to trust God with things that have happened in her life.

Lights Out by Natalie Walters – Final Thoughts

Lights Out is a great start to a new series. It’s unique, well-written, entertaining, and the kind of book that keeps you engaged until the end. I didn’t want to put it down and only stopped reading when my eyes couldn’t stay open any longer. Because I was on the launch team, I received a complimentary copy of the book, but I also purchased it because I like to support authors I like and if I buy a copy of the book then I can gift it to some lucky person who I think will enjoy the story too. Five stars for Lights Out.

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