For Kate Howard, former Army Special Forces Sergeant, life as a one-woman personal protection detail comes with challenges. Wearing civilian camouflage while guarding high-profile clients is a dangerous game of rock, paper, hollow point.After an explosive and deadly end to her client’s reelection fundraiser, which left his young son in critical condition, Kate must accept help from an unwanted … unwanted source: the soldier she loved and left in Afghanistan, bloody, broken, and barely alive.
Special Forces Officer Paxton Banks, Kate’s former captain—now an FBI agent—is assigned to investigate the attempt on her client’s life. After ten years, old emotions and new threats whip Kate’s world into complicated chaos. But when other elected officials are threatened, Kate and Paxton must tamp down their fiery feelings to catch a madman hell-bent on revenge.
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I’m not usually a fan of romantic suspense, but I was hooked and reeled in by this novel’s wonderful character development, a page-turning plot, and—huge kudos on this one!—storytelling that honored how things might actually happen. That is, you won’t have those moments of saying to yourself things like: “an officer of the law couldn’t get away with that” or “that’s not how that firearm works” or “what a lucky break [eye roll].” The author did her homework, and it shows! But none of that takes away from the pacing and excitement. Rather, I was tempted more than once to shove aside all my other to-dos and just read, read, read.
What a marvelous debut novel from Lisa Heartman! I expect to see and read much more from her in the future.
Excellent Story & Narration A Captivating Thrill!
High Heels and Handguns
A Kate Howard Novel, Book One
By: Lisa Heartman
Narrated by: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the story grabbed my attention right from the start and held it captive straight to the end. Lisa Heartman is a gifted author, the storylines she created are interesting and original. Her characters are complex and nicely developed, they are likable and easy to relate to. I love that Kate Howard is her own person, strong and independent, a bit too independent because she comes off as a “one woman band” at times, playing only to her own tune. She is former military, special forces and is working independently in personal security and protection. After an attack on her client, she wants in on the FBI investigation and called in a favor to make it happen. Turns out her former Special Forces Captain, Paxton Banks is the lead on the case and who she will be working with. I loved the chemistry between them and how he could read her and know her next step. While she used more unconventional ways of finding things out he stuck to the rule book. I adored her neighbor Kyle, he was a great addition to the story, his carefree personality lightened things up too. There is never a dull moment in this book, the story is well plotted and the story flows naturally, it is a perfect blend of several genres and contains plenty of drama (relationship and crime), angst, mystery, thrilling suspense, action, heartfelt moments and romance. Lisa Heartman, thank you for this entertaining and enjoyable story, I am looking forward to checking out out more of your work.
I listened to the Audible edition, Stephanie Nemeth-Parker is a terrific narrator and voice artist. She does a nice job portraying the characters, bringing them to life, giving each their own voice and personality. She sets the perfect tone for the story, captures and projects the characters emotions into her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this great listen
Wow!! Love finding new authors!! Great suspenseful story!! Rule breaking, attraction, and action made for a sensual and captivating book!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading High Heels Heels and Handguns Eagerly awaiting the next one.
Lisa Heartman is a new author for me, but I loved High Heels and Handguns and will be watching for more of the series. There were great descriptions, an interesting story, good tension and likable characters. I thought it was a nice balance between action/suspense and rom com.
I listened to the Audible version. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker is as new narrator for me, but she did a fabulous job. I would listen to her again in the future.
3.5 stars
First time I’m reading from this New To Me author. If you enjoy bad ass (on the taller side) heroines, army veterans, suspenseful stories with a dash of Romance, angst, and sexual tension, then this is your jam. We have Kate an army veteran who now works as a body guard, This book had me wanting to punch Kate becuz even though her heart would be in the right place she would go about things the wrong way sometimes, we see her struggle with guilt alot, I liked how even tho she made a mistake in the story she owned up to her shit. Crazy tho how from what I could tell we never get a description of how the heroine look(I just randomly thought it was odd)
√√[[[[Copy provided by “Xpresso Tours” in exchange for a honest review]]]