For the past year, Chloe St. John has been working as a K-9 cop with her German shepherd partner, Hank. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, Chloe has decided that Hank is just about the only male she likes. She’s over the whole romance thing and focuses her attention on doing her job. Because a serious case of human trafficking with connections to her missing cousin just landed in … in her lap.
When US Marshall Blake MacCallum’s daughter goes missing, he’s ordered to kill the judge he’s protecting and tell no one about his daughter’s disappearance or she will die. Blake races against the clock to rescue his daughter while Chloe and Hank are asked to be a part of the task force assembled to bring down the traffickers. Chloe finds herself attracted to the silent, suffering man, but thanks to her previous bad judgment, she wonders if she can trust him. And can Blake trust himself around this firecracker of a woman?
Bestselling author Lynette Eason warns readers to buckle in for a fast and furious ride that will have their hearts pumping from the very start.
more
I love Lynette Eason’s books and Called to Protect is no exception. I have enjoyed the family aspect of this series. Especially how they are protective of one another. Though the topic of this book involves human trafficking, Lynette handles the subject beautifully, allowing the reader to swept up in the story despite this difficult subject. Well done!
This is a fantastic series! Lynette doesn’t disappoint! I read this story in one sitting! I was hooked from the first page and I enjoyed the Christian themes throughout this story.
Triggers: human trafficking
What a thrilling ride. The author has you on the edge of your seat either shouting don’t do it, NOOO or a shake of the head. This family is once again front and center in this standalone with carryover characters (each one being about one of the siblings). Chloe is a K-9 officer and stumbles into a massive Human Trafficking ring. He is an Marshall trying to hide his daughters disappearance and the threat that followed. Needless to say the siblings rally and join forces from all angles. It’s well written without the graphic details that can easily be imagined. Since these two both have baggage and positions which cause them to become closed off and in control you almost miss the subtle nuances that show their interest but the pull is there. It’s filled with action and consequences, heroes in unexpected places and a story that pulls at the heartstrings.
This book had me turning pages quickly to see how everything worked out. I’m enjoying this series and while I liked book one the best so far, I did enjoy Called to Protect. Good suspense, even some points of view from the villain, and a light romantic thread. Good mix for this story.
Wonderful novel full of twists and turns and lots of suspense. Hard to put down. Love the “family” of characters and the spiritual growth of the characters.
When Chloe St. John and her German Shepherd Hank are called to the scene of an accident, everyone is shocked at what they discover. US Marshall Blake MacCallum has trusted his secret to only one person—Chloe’s brother.
As Chloe and Blake join the task force to find human traffickers, protect a judge, and search for Blake’s daughter, they spend a lot of time together. Blake is impressed with Chloe’s capability (and he can’t help but notice she’s a pretty woman).
With plenty of high-stakes, intense situations (often with a few other St. Johns in the vicinity), Lynette Eason delivers another romantic suspense read that takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, keeping heartrates raised until the final pages. Pulse-pounding suspense alongside strong family ties, and of course, the starting shoots of a romance for another St. John sibling.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Called to Protect focuses on Chloe St. John, a K-9 cop, and Blake McCallum, a US Marshall. Both are personally invested in solving a human trafficking case since they have loved ones who’ve gone missing. Having grown up together, they worked very well together as a team, but I especially enjoyed the scenes with Hank, Chloe’s K-9 partner. I’m a dog lover, and I enjoyed reading about Chloe and Hank’s work and their special bond.
This story gave me a lot of emotions. As I was reading, I was excited, frustrated, and eager to see how everything turned out! I really wanted to see those criminals brought to justice! This story felt extremely relevant to our current society as human trafficking is a huge problem not just in foreign countries but in the United States as well. I appreciate Lynette Eason shedding light onto such a complex issue. I’m hoping that those who read this book will become aware of the signs and dangers of human trafficking and will learn how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
As with the first story in the Blue Justice series, I would have been happy if there had been some more faith-building moments for Chloe and Blake. There were certainly some situations for it that seemed to go mostly unnoticed. I also could’ve done with a little more romance, but that’s just my personal preference. This story is still an excellent read, and I’m excited to read Brady’s story next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3.5 stars
“You have 24 hours to kill the judge. Make it look like an accident, if you fail, she dies.”
Deputy Marshall Blake MacCallum has hours, kidnappers have his daughter. When a fifteen car pile-up precipitates the discovery of young women trapped within the bowels of a human trafficking ring, Blake’s daughter surfaces briefly, only to mysteriously fade back into the night. Frantic with worry, Blake confides in a team of high level law enforcement, including some of his best friends, members of the St. John family. It was Chloe St. John and her K-9 German shepherd partner, Hank, who discovered the girls.
Chloe St. John and her family have a vested interest in finding Rachel MacCallum, their cousin Penny has been missing for over six months and the cases just intersected; the young woman Chloe escorted to the emergency room following the accident wore the same shirt that Penny was wearing on the night she disappeared. Blake MacCallum, her childhood crush, is another conundrum ; still as handsome as ever, but caught in an impossible situation. How fast can they race against time to undercut a highly motivated group of criminals?
Rapid scene changes, multiple suspects, and highly charged emotions fill this second novel in Lynette Eason’s “Blue Justice” series. Thankfully we have the confidence that “even when (we) walk through darkest valley, (we) will fear no evil, for You are with (us), your rod and your staff, they comfort (us).”
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. I was not obligated to write a positive review.
I really enjoyed this book’s storyline. I really liked the Christian theme in this story. I really enjoyed the action in this story. I really liked Chloe’s character. I really liked Blake’s character. I really liked Rachel. I loved Hank. I really liked the ending.
This is a fantastic story told from a Christian point of view. Not one word of profanity but that doesn’t take away anything for a fast moving and exciting plot. The story highlights human trafficking which has become far to common. The plot also features a Dutch Shepherd– a canine cop in more than just a token mention. Add in a little romance and you can’t ask for more.
Called To Protect by Lynette Eason is a marvellous Christian suspense. It is the second book in the Blue Justice series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The series follows the St John family, all of whom work in the emergency services. This book has Chloe and her K9 partner Hank as the focus. The reader witnesses the strong bond between the pair as they work together to fight crime.
Relationships between the siblings and their parents are strong, loving and with mutual respect. Their love and care reaches beyond the family unit to reach the lost and the hurting. The parents are the perfect example of a marriage working with God at the centre.
Life intrudes. Our pasts shape us but they do not have to define us. We may become angry and withdraw from God but He will never withdraw from us. Anger is draining. “I don’t want to be angry anymore… Please help me.” When we give our negative emotions to God, He can help us to deal with them in His strength.
There is the theme of forgiveness. We may not be able to do this in our strength. We may need to lean on God.
The novel deals with the horrendous subject of human trafficking. It is modern day slavery and there are some hard to read scenes. At times the girls feel abandoned and isolated. Even God seems absent. “Where was God in all this?” God walks alongside us in the valley as well as on the mountaintop.
The law enforcement agencies work as a partnership. This reminds the reader that we can do life in partnership with God.
I am loving Lynette Eason’s novels. They are suspense out of the top drawer and absolutely fabulous.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
loved this whole series!
Good Christian romance thriller.
I love every book I have read by Lynette Eason.
This whole series is a must read.
Lynette Eason is a fantastic writer.
This is a very intricate mystery with unique characters. The story revolves around the sex trafficing trade in our country which is a painful subject to even consider. The story kept me engaged throughout, and I loved the suspense that the author created. It really was a great read. I liked the strong and courageous female characters as well as the wonderful police dog.
Enjoyed from start to finish
A good thriller, who-done-it — not my first choice of books, but fun to read now and then. A family of first-responders, centering on Chloe, a handler for a K-9 dog, that are investigating the increasingly common problem of human trafficing. It is 2nd in a series, but stands alone just fine!
The personal connection of these characters to human trafficking and the resulting emotional adds power to the message of awareness and need.
Chloe is strong, smart, and powerful, especially with her K-9 partner Hank by her side. Eason admirably treats this partnership with the meticulous respect it deserves. Blake is one of the good guys… well-versed in the gifting of sacrificial love whether the recipient is family, friend, or stranger.
This fast-paced plot is captivating and moving on a deeper level than the average story. Called to Protect is sure to impact readers with the power of knowledge, compassion, and empathy. I highly recommend this book, it is frankly a must-read title for fans of romantic suspense.
I borrowed an ebook of this title through a paid subscription service. The opinions expressed are my own.
Lynette Eason knows her game when it comes to writing suspense. Even though her novels are titled Romantic Suspense, they are heavier on the suspense than romance, which is how I like my romantic suspense. In her newest series Blue Justice, the second book Called to Protect is a fast pace hunt for teenage girls, and Eason has me flipping through the pages hunting for the resolution.
Eason knows her research or at least how to find information with actual police officers to make her story ring true. I have no problem believing what she states happens in the story to the actual officers. I really enjoy how she dives into the setting and the internal dialogue of the characters too. They ring true for what she creates the characters to be.
The plot is my favorite part of a novel. It is where all the action occurs or should occur. With Called to Protect, Eason touches on the horror of human trafficking for teenagers. She doesn’t get graphic with her details and none of the girls are hurt sexually, but she does mention things about the human trafficking industry that made my stomach cringe. I can’t imagine the horror. While reading this book, I prayed for my niece and all the little girls I work with at Awana at church. I pray God keeps an eye on them their whole life and this never happens to them. The story does move rapidly, and I had a suspicion who the bad guy was before Eason showed it. I was right.
It was nice to see familiar characters in the St. John family reappear in this addition. This time it was nice to be more familiar with Chloe. I got to understand Chloe’s role in her family and her role in her job. Family dynamics are a difficult place to be, but Eason creates a family that is close-knit. Something I’m sure everyone strives for. Some more than others. Most families aren’t that tight-knit. I enjoy seeing Chloe and watching her realize her feelings for Blake. I hope they appear again in the next book.
Overall, Called to Protect by Lynette Eason is a fast-pace peek into the world of human trafficking. With the return of familiar characters and a suspense racing my heart, I couldn’t wait to see how the story ended. Fans of Eason’s previous writings, DiAnn Mills, or Steven James might enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of Called to Protect by Lynette Eason, but the opinions stated are all my own.