Determined to discover exactly what happened, Izzy's investigation sends her headfirst into a criminal organization, possibly with cops on the payroll--including someone from her own family. With her dead partner's handsome homicide detective brother Ryan shadowing her every move, Izzy's head is spinning. How can she secure justice for her partner when doing so could mean sending someone she loves to prison? And how will she guard her heart when the man she's had a secret crush on for years won't leave her side?"
Author: Lynette Eason
Length: 369 pages
Format: paperback, hardcover, e-book
This was the greatest book to get out of my suspense genre slump. (Yes, that is a thing...I declared it) It has been a few years since I read a honest to goodness suspense book. But since starting my blog and BookTube, I have been reading outside of my comfort zone more and more. (This is both exhilarating and horrifying)
"Oath of Honor" is the first book in Lynette's new series called Blue Justice. Book two comes out the summer of 2018...and I need it to be here now. I NEED the next book!
This series is following the St. John family, each one is in law enforcement someway or another.
St.John children:
Brady
Lincoln (Linc)
Chloe
Isabelle (Izzy)
Derek
Ruthie
Each sibling makes a small cameo in book one. I cannot wait to read everyone's stories!
Now on to actual review of the book...
So I knew Izzy's partner dies. Everyone knows. It's on the back of the book. But what I DIDN'T know is how fast I would fall in love with Kevin. He was so charming, and witty, and he did not deserve to die!! I needed a minute to just compose myself when he was initially shot. Then I found out he was only 26, and about lost it. HE WAS SO YOUNG! I was already hard-core shipping him and Izzy, not going to lie. They were best friends for pete's sake.
It was perfect...(currently tearing up because I had so many plans for them, they were so young, they had their whole lives in front of them)
BUT, I will be content with Mr. Ryan Marshall (Kevin's brother btw). Okay, by content I mean completely and utterly happy with him. The Marshall and St. John families had been friends for YEARS, they live across the street from each other. So all the kids grew up together. So Ryan and Izzy ending up together (though the age difference is there...) was music to eyes. Is that a thing?
I LOVE when childhood friends end up together. there's nothin' like it.
Marshall children:
Chris
Ryan
Cathy
Kevin
You learn in the book that Chris Marshall died in Afghanistan 18 months before Kevin was killed. (Um, major plot twist in this aspect)
So the Marshall's have been through A LOT in the last two years.
Instead of letting it harden him, Ryan stayed faithful to God and turned to Him throughout the entire book in prayer.
That was one of the many things I enjoyed about it, both Izzy and Ryan held on to their faith. They never once scream at God, or question Him. They knew they couldn't make it alone, and trusted He would take care of it all.
This book gave me some serious Blue Bloods vibes, and I'm HERE for it!! A huge family all in law enforcement, they are all close, they have family dinner...it was fabulous to see it from a Christian world view.
I loved each and everyone of the characters. they were super goofy and witty but professional when they needed to be. They knew how to balance work and family.
The sibling banter brought many a smile to my face, and a giggle to the surface. I love when families feel real, and I can connect with them through the pages.
There were many things I enjoyed, but at the same time there were a few things that confused me.
A few aspects felt rushed to me, or just thrown in for paper length. For instance , we get a small portion from the villain's perspective, it didn't actually have to be there. It didn't add to the plot, and we never heard from him again.
I felt like 6 different cases were going on at one time, we find out a bit about Chris' death, but even that felt weird. It didn't feel like it really enhanced the plot. (Though I guess it technically did)
There was some minor character's character development that fell flat, but maybe we'll see them again in an upcoming book.
Also, this is probably just me but I'm gonna say something anyway, Izzy is described in the book to have green eyes. However the girl on the cover has blue eyes.
There were quite a few plot twists throughout the book! It did keep me guessing. The book ended completely different than I thought it would, though it was anticlimactic in my opinion.
I LOVED that Lynette dedicated this book to all our officers in blue, it brought a smile to my face. Though this was a work of fiction, what they do is real and dangerous. They were on my mind the entire time I read the book. I am so thankful to all our officers around the world, and their families.
I rate this book a 4/5 stars. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense.
All in all I did enjoy the book, I love Eason's writing style, the main characters were great, the families were great. I cannot wait for the rest of the series to come out.
Quotes:
"And don't forget. Only 23 years to go."
She rolled her eyes. "You remember?"
"Of course. And I'm holding you to it."
"Right," As a teenager, she'd promised to marry him when she turned fifty if they were both still single.
He shrugged."She had horses."
"What? Ryan Marshall, you only wanted to go out with her so she would invite you over to ride a horse?"
He flushed. "Yeah."
"Izzy! What are you going to do?"
She turned, walking backwards. "I'm going to think abut buying a horse."
*I was sent this book by the publisher for my honest review* *All opinions are my own*
I am always up for a Lynette Eason book. Amazing review, Alysha!
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