This. Book. Is. So. Good.

I am a sucker for a good romantic suspense. I'll nearly always pick up a Christian suspense if I suspect it will be thrilling, have a romantic side plot, or just be plain amazing, aka Lynn H. Blackburn's books.

The wild start of Unknown Threat wasn't what I expected, in fact it was better than anything I expected, from page one readers will be pulled into this exhilarating suspense where you'll be kept guessing from page to page.

Now, as to characters, wow! I love, love, love the characters, all of them. Luke, Faith, Zane, Tessa, Gil, and the cameos of characters from her last series, Dive Team Investigations! The characters together were awesome, I loved the brotherhood, the family likeness of the team, and the matchmaking best friends and mentors who wouldn't stop adding a dash of humor even in the middle of the suspenseful scenes.

The faith content was very slight but it was still there to a point. I liked the lessons that Blackburn added. I do wish there had been more focus on the faith side of things, though there was more faith shown than in some of the recent Christian fiction I've read.

Warnings: Suggestions of a character cheating on their spouse, a stalker of sorts, and other things of the like.

Recommendation: 16/18

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Lynn Blackburn’s novel Unknown Threat starts out with a bang! Literally. The reader is immediately grabbed with this twisting romantic suspense that features the Secret Service and the FBI. Not known for working well together — interagency rivalry, you know — the two law enforcement agencies are forced to cooperate as Secret Service agents are murdered. The case is puzzling, because the methods are so different, but FBI agent in charge, Faith Malone, is dogged in her working of the case. And Secret Service agents won’t remain on the sidelines when their fellow agents are targeted. SA Luke Powell and Faith are thrown together to identify who is responsible. The romance between the two main characters is new, no past bad blood, and I liked that. That’s not to say that their relationship didn’t sizzle. LOL! The investigation is a puzzler, and the two are kept on alert as more threats and dangers emerge. I found the case intriguing and was kept guessing as to just whodunit. Blackburn’s novels are faith-filled, but never preachy. The reader gets real and relatable people and their struggles. And for fans of Blackburn’s previous books, a couple of favorite characters make cameo appearances.

If you are looking for a fast-paced suspense with a good dose of romance, then I recommend Unknown Threat.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

I have read Lynn Blackburn’s novels before so I had some expectations of what I would find in this one. Unknown Threat is the first in the series Defend and Protect so there is ample room for building the characters and suspense. Thankfully, even though there is law enforcement and such, there are no political standings put forth so anyone can enjoy this without feeling “the other side” is sending a message. I felt the characters were well constructed and the first layers were revealed with more fleshing out to come in future installments. I am hopeful that the moments that felt somewhat blunted will have an explanation in the next book. The case itself was intriguing and added a lot to the enjoyment of the read. I felt the interactions and inside looks within the agencies were detailed and accurate. I feel there is a lot more to come, and additional suspense and character development, in the coming series installments. This is reinforced with the first five pages of the next book that were included at the back of this one. This review is solely my personal opinion and belongs entirely to me. I received a review copy through the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other means of compensation were, or will be, provided. ( )

In Unknown Threat the agents have to learn to trust each other. They have knowledge of each other and am unsure just how much to trust each other. It would be hard to have to do this when you have previous knowledge but have to learn to work together anyway as Luke and Faith have to do. A very suspenseful read as you begin to wonder exactly what has been going on and what will happen next. ( )

“Mondays were the worst.” Who doesn’t agree with that statement?! And with that sentence, Lynn H Blackburn deftly hooks the reader. The timbre of Unknown Threat, ( #1 Defend and Protect) escalates as we find out that Secret Service agents in the Raleigh office are being picked off systematically. Can FBI Special Agent, Faith Malone, work with Luke and get past his hatred of the FBI, to discover who wants to eradicate his team?
Plenty of drama, sweet romance, and explosive action make this a story to remember. I love the way that Luke and Faith must put aside their pasts with their hurts and baggage to forge a relationship. Little snippets make us aware of another team member whose romance may be the subject of the next book. I appreciate that Blackburn adds a humorous dimension to very tense moments and keeps the suspense below heart attack level.
I have read Blackburn’s Dive Team Investigations series and was pleased to find the same level of team camaraderie and loyalty between members of Luke’s Secret Service agency. That pervading sense of family makes me eager to get my hands on the next book in the series.
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through Library Thing. All opinions are my own, unsolicited thoughts. ( )