Nikki Wright is desperate to help her brother, Bobby, who hasn’t been the same since escaping from a detainment camp run by terrorists in Colombia. Rumor has it that he betrayed his navy brothers and conspired with those who held him hostage, and both the press and the military are hounding him for answers. All Nikki wants is to shield her brother so he has time to recover and heal.
But soon they realize the paparazzi are the least of their worries. When a group of men try to abduct Nikki and her brother, Bobby insists that Kade Wheaton, another former SEAL, can keep them out of harm’s way. But can Nikki trust Kade? After all, the man who broke her heart eight years ago is anything but safe…
Hiding out in a farmhouse on the Chesapeake Bay, Nikki finds her loyalties—and the remnants of her long-held faith—tested as she and Kade put aside their differences to keep Bobby’s increasingly erratic behavior under wraps. But when Bobby disappears, Nikki will have to trust Kade completely if she wants to uncover the truth about a rumored conspiracy. Nikki’s life—and the fate of the nation—depends on it.
GENRE: Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction
PUBLISHER: Waterfall Press
RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2016
PAGES: 290
“It was a slow fade from belief to disbelief, one that was so gradual she hardly realized it was happening.”
Wow! I was riveted to this story from word one! I started it last night … and finished it last night. No way was I going to sleep until I had reached the end. Lack of sleep notwithstanding, I also learned a few things that are handy to have around in case you find yourself RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE.
- a Navy SEAL or two or three (this probably goes without saying but Kade & his friends proved quite helpful… plus … you know… a little eye candy never hurts when you’re under a lot of stress)
- a secluded beach house (just don’t get too comfy there because you never know when you’ll have to run again)
- some books to read (always, always, ALWAYS have an emergency book bag! The only thing worse than running for your life is being on the lam with nothing to read!)
- snacks (because you don’t want to add “hangry” to your list of problems)
- a RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE buddy (the buddy system shouldn’t be limited to swimming pools)
Between Bobby’s PTSD and the uncertainty surrounding his time with the terrorists in Columbia … and the unresolved romantic tension between Kade & Nikki … and the fact that they were all RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES, I’m glad I was reading this on my Kindle because I surely would have sustained a paper cut from frantically turning the pages of a hard copy.
The issues raised with Bobby’s time in captivity, his return to American soil, and the struggles he faces after that (running for his life notwithstanding) are written with both authenticity and sensitivity, as well as relevancy to recent news events. How often have I jumped to conclusions about a hot-button news story and let the media be my judge and jury? How little do I think of the families and their reactions, their emotions, the nightmares they are living through while their loved one is brought before the court of public opinion and found guilty? Disillusioned opened my eyes to my own tendencies in this area, and I know it’s something I will be more aware of in the future.
Kade and Nikki? Their past feelings for each other – which are still brewing beneath the surface – combine with their present tension to create a sizzling romantic subplot! It never overpowers the action or the suspense but it blends nicely with it to heighten the drama and keep the heart rate elevated. Like the romance, the faith storyline doesn’t get in the way. It’s there, ever-present and honest, in a natural context that avoids being preachy but is vitally important to Disillusioned.
Bottom Line: A lot of people are disillusioned in Christy Barritt’s latest pulse-pounding suspense novel. Figuring out who and how will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Well-plotted, well-written, and well-done all around, Disillusioned is a must-read for any fans of high-stakes action and romantic suspense. While it revisits some people and places from Dubiosity, Disillusioned reads perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
My Rating: 4 stars / Excellent!
KissingBook Level: 3 / Will forget to breathe on more than one occasion
Christy Barritt is an author, freelance writer and speaker who lives in Virginia. She’s married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious–but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. She’s only won one contest in her life–and her prize was kissing a pig (okay, okay… actually she did win the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery for her book Suspicious Minds also). Her current claim to fame is showing off her mother, who looks just like former First Lady Barbara Bush.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.
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Other Books by Christy Barritt
What about you? What would be on YOUR essentials list for running for your life?
Carrie, thank you for the great review! I’ve not yet read Christy’s books.
you are most welcome! I’ve only read a couple but I really need to add her backlist to my TBR!
I read her Hazardous Duty book and loved it! I guess she kind of got buried under all the other authors I’ve been reading lately. Glad to know she has more books coming out, like I need to add more to my TBR pile!
Um, specifically in my ‘have to run’ bag, would be chocolate. Definitely. And of course whichever book I’m currently reading.
oh. yes. CHOCOLATE. Definitely a must.
I read “Dubiosity” and really, really, really look forward to reading this one after reading your review!
yay! You will enjoy the references to Dubiosity then too 🙂
I’d definitely have to have the Navy SEAL, plus I’d need an alternate mode of travel, because running and I don’t mix. The athletic genes skipped me–I’m athletically challenged! I don’t think I could even walk fast for my life at this point in my life. 😀 I guess it might depend on the motivation, though! I’m sure the SEAL could figure something out. And yes, definitely the chocolate!
The book sound intriguing. I don’t think I’ve read any of her books yet.
LOL i didn’t think about transportation – yes, running is only in theory for me too haha