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turquoiseavenue's review
3.0
Wow, I was not at all prepared for the fast-pace, high energy of Allegiance, Book 1 in Lisa Phillips new Benson First Responders series! Oh, what a tangled web it was… With plenty of action and gripping, edge-of-your-seat suspense, I was immediately invested in seeing this mind-bending thriller through to the end!
HIGHLIGHTS:
Human Trafficking ᐧ Multiple Murders ᐧ A Thrilling, Fast Pace ᐧ Complicated Familial Relationships ᐧ An Empathetic EMT Heroine ᐧ A Devoted Police Detective Hero ᐧ A Tangled Web of Secrets, Lies and Deception ᐧ A Budding Romance
When I came across Lisa Phillip’s new Benson First Responders series, I was intrigued by the synopsis of Allegiance, a story centered around a police detective and an EMT in the fictional town of Benson, WA. What sounded like a promising, exciting plot proved to be just that!
From the first chapter, Phillips had me captivated. The suspense started high and took me on a riveting journey to uncover the deceit that was currently brewing in Benson. It became clear to me early on that I wasn’t sure which character I could trust and which ones I couldn’t, adding to my thrill and keeping me invested in the story. The plot was complex, exciting and full of hidden threats and danger. I couldn’t put it down!
There are some faith-based elements of the characters, each being Christians and working through their own disappointments and confusion in different ways. There is also a romance brewing between the two main characters that was soft and subtle.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
I really wanted to love this story – However, many times I found myself confused in the midst of the fast-pace of this story, whether by revelations, plot, dialogue, characters or thought processes. Some things simply didn’t make sense; it was as if the author understood it, but the reader wasn’t privy to the backstory. The characters’ backgrounds were revealed in a delayed, broken manner without great detail. Their inner conflicts were repetitive, inner thoughts redundant and character growth was minute. Several things happened purely for convenience of the story but wouldn’t have made sense in reality (both Michelle and Lucas knowing where Freya lived and simply showing up). The characters didn’t react the way I expected them to, probably because I was confused by them and their thoughts. There were gaps, secondary characters and events that I thought would be significant only to not be mentioned again or to leave me hanging.The romance between the two main characters was based on assumptions, physical attraction (though I’m not sure I ever read a physical description of Freya) and not nearly enough time together without chaos ensuing. Throughout the novel, it was as if the written words sounded good and right, but the reliability, execution and background detail weren’t there. Lastly, the ending wrapped up quick, with several mysteries still needing resolution – perhaps in the books to come, I hope?
Overall, the action and pace of this story were fantastic. I enjoyed the human trafficking angle but wished to have heard more from the victim’s POV. I stayed invested because of the tangled web that Phillips created, captivated by the mystery and “whodunnit” snare, hardly able to put the book down. More than halfway through the story, I began to enjoy the characters and their romance more. I will definitely come back to read more of this series and see if the questions I was left with will be answered in the books to come. If you like a clean, mind-bending, complex thriller with lots of action, then you may enjoy this book!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary e-copy of this book from the author as part of her ARC Street Team via Book Funnel. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. It is my hope that you found this review thoughtful, informative and encouraging.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Human Trafficking ᐧ Multiple Murders ᐧ A Thrilling, Fast Pace ᐧ Complicated Familial Relationships ᐧ An Empathetic EMT Heroine ᐧ A Devoted Police Detective Hero ᐧ A Tangled Web of Secrets, Lies and Deception ᐧ A Budding Romance
When I came across Lisa Phillip’s new Benson First Responders series, I was intrigued by the synopsis of Allegiance, a story centered around a police detective and an EMT in the fictional town of Benson, WA. What sounded like a promising, exciting plot proved to be just that!
From the first chapter, Phillips had me captivated. The suspense started high and took me on a riveting journey to uncover the deceit that was currently brewing in Benson. It became clear to me early on that I wasn’t sure which character I could trust and which ones I couldn’t, adding to my thrill and keeping me invested in the story. The plot was complex, exciting and full of hidden threats and danger. I couldn’t put it down!
There are some faith-based elements of the characters, each being Christians and working through their own disappointments and confusion in different ways. There is also a romance brewing between the two main characters that was soft and subtle.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
I really wanted to love this story – However, many times I found myself confused in the midst of the fast-pace of this story, whether by revelations, plot, dialogue, characters or thought processes. Some things simply didn’t make sense; it was as if the author understood it, but the reader wasn’t privy to the backstory. The characters’ backgrounds were revealed in a delayed, broken manner without great detail. Their inner conflicts were repetitive, inner thoughts redundant and character growth was minute. Several things happened purely for convenience of the story but wouldn’t have made sense in reality (both Michelle and Lucas knowing where Freya lived and simply showing up). The characters didn’t react the way I expected them to, probably because I was confused by them and their thoughts. There were gaps, secondary characters and events that I thought would be significant only to not be mentioned again or to leave me hanging.The romance between the two main characters was based on assumptions, physical attraction (though I’m not sure I ever read a physical description of Freya) and not nearly enough time together without chaos ensuing. Throughout the novel, it was as if the written words sounded good and right, but the reliability, execution and background detail weren’t there. Lastly, the ending wrapped up quick, with several mysteries still needing resolution – perhaps in the books to come, I hope?
Overall, the action and pace of this story were fantastic. I enjoyed the human trafficking angle but wished to have heard more from the victim’s POV. I stayed invested because of the tangled web that Phillips created, captivated by the mystery and “whodunnit” snare, hardly able to put the book down. More than halfway through the story, I began to enjoy the characters and their romance more. I will definitely come back to read more of this series and see if the questions I was left with will be answered in the books to come. If you like a clean, mind-bending, complex thriller with lots of action, then you may enjoy this book!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary e-copy of this book from the author as part of her ARC Street Team via Book Funnel. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. It is my hope that you found this review thoughtful, informative and encouraging.
_amberlovestoread's review
5.0
I always love reading Lisa Phillips and the universe that she has created with Last Chance County/Benson and this book did not disappoint! I honestly did not want to put it down because I was anxious to figure out who was behind it all. Oftentimes, I know exactly where a book is going to go and who the guilty parties are, but this one had enough twists and turns, you won't know for sure until the end... and even then there's a bit more mystery that I'm sure we'll pick up in the next installment. In addition, I found the main characters were interesting and their individual faith walks were relatable to anyone who has had a struggle in their faith walk.
While this story is part of a universe created in other series, you don't need to have read any of her other books to enjoy this one (although I do highly recommend reading Lisa Phillips' other books too!) Can't wait for the next one!
While this story is part of a universe created in other series, you don't need to have read any of her other books to enjoy this one (although I do highly recommend reading Lisa Phillips' other books too!) Can't wait for the next one!
kateangeloauthor's review
5.0
My library didn't have this in audiobook (gasp!) so I recommended they purchase it. To my horror, ten people jumped ahead of me to read it! Good thing I purchased the kindle book too! I did listen to the audio and it was worth the wait. Having someone read to me is so much better than when I read to myself. And like always, Lisa Phillips did not disappoint. Just when you think you know what's happening
melmo2610's review
3.0
Another explosive and exciting read from Lisa! Her stories are always thrilling and keep me on the edge of my seat. Liked this one!
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