Small town police officer Emma Ross loves her simple life–but it takes a hard turn into crazy when she’s kidnapped by MI6 and is put under the protection of an over-bearing, albeit sexy, Scotsman. A man who believes she’s lying to protect her father–a father whom she had no idea worked for British Intelligence and is now missing. Liam Macknight’s partner was assassinated and he’s certain … certain Emma’s father had something to do with it. But the stubborn woman isn’t talking, and she’s determined to get herself killed trying to find out the truth. Locking her in a room does no good–he tried that. So he’s forced to work with her, even if he’s not sure he’ll ever be able to trust her.
When he’s assigned to kill her dad to protect the identity of British spies in the Kremlin, he knows what little trust they’ve gained is about to be destroyed forever…
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London Calling by Veronica Forand
Oooohhhh…LOVED this book! I can definitely see it as the beginning of a series and do hope it will be! I was hooked from the start and could not put this book down. I loved the characters, the way they interacted, the story and…just about everything. Sure, there were a few times I wanted to pop McKnight up side of the head to wake him up but at the same time did get why he was acting the way he was. Twists and turns and action and romance and…everything a good romantic suspense should have!
This is a first book by this author for me BUT it won’t be the last. She has created characters I could see, hear, understand, empathize with and care about. I can definitely see some of the rest of the team finding partners in future books…hint hint…future books would be a wonderful thing!
I could tell you what the story is about BUT the blurb pretty much tells what will happen…just not in depth or detail and you DO want to read to find those things out!
What I liked:
* Everything but…more specifically…
* Emma Ross was a powerhouse, strong, dedicated, capable and smart…wished I could be her!
* Liam McKnight is a great leader and though he might seem to have lost his soul…he really has not…I would love to be with him.
* Edward Ross – Emma’s father was intriguing and what a great part he played in this book
* Owen…really want to know more about him!
* The potential for more books in this series and getting to know the players of the MI6 team a whole lot better.
What I didn’t like”
* The bad guys…but we are not supposed to like them are we?
* That the story ended and I have to wait to see if there will be more and if this will be a series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
My review ……
Intense, fast paced and full of action, this book reminded me of the mission impossible movies.
Emma is a small town policewoman, she loves it, she knows everyone and she’s good at her job.
Emma gets a call about her dad, so rushes to the UK. Where she is then held by MI6 !!! Why ??? (Emma doesn’t realise her father was working for the British government, and is now missing)
Liam doesn’t trust Emma, his partner was killed and Liam thinks Emma’s father had a hand in it (and he is convinced she knows more than she is letting on) but he does admire her spirit and loyalty, but it won’t stop him from finding Emma’s father. Even if he has to “pretend” that he REALLY likes Emma. But what happens when Liam actually starts to fall for her ?? And when he’s ordered to kill her father…. That’s not going to help the situation.
I didn’t really get the connection between Emma and Liam, it did feel a little stilted in places (didn’t miss the sex either, the action more than made up for the absence of “action” in the bedroom)
Very well written. I would happily watch this as an action movie. Very descriptive, loved reading the action scenes (even if they were a little unbelievable)
I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes action and just a little romance .
This book supplied the action, suspense and romance that the readers are looking for. The writer shows her talent with the careful and well explained details of the action scene. The suspense and drama scenes provided enough details. The romance between the couple, Liam and Emma is a slow burn. I would like to have seen their romance start earlier in the book. I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
I’ve meant to type up this review for a while now, but I always hate typing up lower than 3-star ratings. I was excited to read London Calling because I was looking for something different to read other than other books I’ve read in the Romantic Suspense genre lately. This was my first book from author Veronica Forand too. The synopsis intrigued me when I read it, so I jumped on the chance to read the book.
Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book like I thought I was going to when I started reading it. The first chapter alone I felt lost because the author immediately started the story out with an explosive scene. I was confused because I thought I was going to be introduced to the characters at first, but I didn’t feel I even got that in the story.
I didn’t connect well with the characters at all in the story too. I usually can connect within the first few chapters or at least within the middle of the book but not in this book. The male character was still shocked with what happened to his partner in the first chapter, and he was forced to protect (and kidnap) the female lead character. There was no real romance, or if there was, I didn’t feel it at all with the characters. I thought they should not have hooked up together because they didn’t mesh well with each other.
Here’s the gist of the story without giving too much away. Liam Macknight’s partner was assassinated while on a mission, and now he’s been told to kidnap Emma Ross due to her father being taken by the Russians that was supposed to be helping him and his partner. He thinks her father turned on them and now he thinks Emma may know something to and he can’t trust her. Although, he has to protect her from the Russians. Emma has no clue what is going on and what her father was into, and she wants to find her father. She’s in for a whirlwind of craziness with Liam and the MI6 though.
I’ll say this about the story. There is a lot of action, and poor Emma is put through the wringer. I felt sorry for the woman throughout the whole story. I wish I could’ve loved this story and I wish I could’ve loved the characters more. It thinks if the characters would’ve been more lovable toward each other, then I would’ve enjoyed it more.
As I said, there was no real romance in the story. I would consider this more of a spy-filled, action-packed tale. I’m hoping this is part of a series because the author did have other characters in the series that were introduced.
I may not have enjoyed the story, but other readers may enjoy the storyline though.
Story Rating: 2.5 stars
Standalone or part of series: I believe this book may be part of a series, but not too sure at this time.
Do I recommend this book? If you enjoy action-packed books. There’s not much of a romance element in this book though.
Will I read other books from the author? I’ll definitely check out other books written by Veronica Forand.
Tropes/Elements: Action-Packed; Thriller; Spies
This book starts with a bang and never lets up in intensity until the end. With lots of action and not much romance, London Calling was one of those books that kept my heart rate up and had me wondering what new torture the author was going to put her characters through.
Emma was my kind of heroine. She’s got some mad skills with a gun and can definitely hold her own with Macknight and his crew of spies. She’s also got a gentleness about her that makes her likable and I loved her fierce love of her father, the only family she has. McKnight was definitely broken in so many ways. He’s loyal almost to a fault and is really a very black and white kind of person – which is typically what works for him since he’s always in a position that he needs to keep himself and his team alive and having “grey area” tends to get people killed. I did have a hard time connecting these two romantically though. There seemed to be a lack of chemistry between the characters, something I would have liked to have seen more of. They did have some great banter and worked well together, it was just that little spark that seemed to be missing between them that I missed.
I really enjoyed all the action and loved how this book was plotted out. The story has a bit of a dark edge to it and that is really noticeable in Mcknight’s character. I think I would have liked a bit more building to the relationship between Liam and Emma – her bringing some light to his dark – to satisfy my romance loving heart.
Overall, this book was flawless from a technical perspective but fell just a little bit flat for me on the romance side. I’ve read several other books by this author and, while this one isn’t my most favorite, I will definitely be looking to see what she puts out next!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book I received from the Publisher via NetGalley.
Oh goodness, this book! So many twists and turns, so many betrayals (and possible betrayals), so many ups and downs–even though Emma and Macknight (I don’t remember anyone calling him Liam, ever–though to be honest, my head is still spinning a bit after finishing this one, so I might have forgotten) do fall in love pretty quickly, it’s hard to blame them with everything else that is going on all around them. Either way, they don’t act on it quickly, which gives me hope for their HEA–providing they both survive long enough to enjoy one.
Their profession doesn’t exactly promote longevity, after all…
Regardless–Spies! Secrets! Double-agents! Danger! Romance!–this one has it all, and I’m hopeful with how everything (finally!) turns out here. As long as you’re okay with spending pretty much the whole time you’re reading it with an elevated bpm, give London Calling a read 🙂
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Having read one other book by this author and liking her writing when I seen this it called to me. The plot of this one is the sort I eat up especially when really good. Emma and Liam take you on this adventure with you wanting to buckle up for the ride. The chemistry and stubbornness is just part of the deliciousness of this one. The questions that come along with your going along to get the answers fast. The most fabulous thing of this that is sometimes becoming rare is that is full of the story without alot of erotica when it comes to the interaction between the two characters. Romance is wonderful it is why I read many I do but sex is between and no two alike so getting not a blow by blow of it refreshing in this action romance. She knows how to keep us dangling but also race our blood but give us a excellent run.
Should you choose to accept this literary mission, London Calling awaits you, my fellow romance book loving friends. This author brings out the big guns here in terms of non-stop MI-6 British intelligence vs Russian agents action, as they square off trying to get their hands on a man who knows too much.
Unfortunately, for Emma Ross, a small town American SWAT police officer, that man is her dearly beloved, but frequently absent father. Yeah, the story line may be centered around him, but she stole the show, at least in my opinion. I absolutely loved her character. Strong, sassy, smart, resilient, and a warrior type heroine that doesn’t back down from a fight are just a few ways to describe her. She’s sucked into this vortex of murder and mayhem on foreign soil with only one goal in mind, rescuing her father. Unfortunately, since she is her father’s only weakness, she becomes a target herself. Good thing she can take a punch just as well as she can give one, folks. Put a gun in her hand and she’s even more of a lethal weapon.
Liam Macknight, the hero, is the leader of a pack of MI-6 agents told to handle this situation. Despite being a trained assassin, who always keeps a laser like focus on the mission, he finds himself conflicted when betrayal leads to bloodshed and loyalty lines get blurred. Ate up with a devastating loss, he’s slow to come around to what’s really going on. Once he does though, it’s still quite a bumpy road. Somehow the conflict between this main couple only added to their chemistry and relationship connection. This despite the fact this book doesn’t have any overly graphic smexy scenes. Passionate kisses give the promise of what they wish they could have together. I think second base is as far as intimate encounters progress. This actually seemed more realistic considering the perilous circumstances they were in and the fact they barely knew or trusted one another. It would have seemed Liam was taking advantage of Emma if it had been otherwise.
The writing flowed like a movie script, and I stayed fully engaged until the very end. There were several twists and turns that had me anxious to see how it would all work out. Normally, I’m tuned out when the plot isn’t mostly about the romantic relationship. Somehow this scenario just seemed to fit.
P.S. The only thing that really bothered me was the set up of Lucy, Liam’s friend and co-worker. Her role on the team was basically a prostitute.
Title: London Calling, Author: Veronica Forand, Pages: 400, stand-alone, Russian/British spy backdrop, perilous situations, some graphic violence, resilient/tough as nails/sassy/warrior type police heroine, MI-6 Assassin British agent hero, only one second base steamy scene, romance safe, mostly passionate kisses, innocent people die, heroine is kidnapped/beaten.
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)
Emma’s life is in turmoil. Her father, Edward Ross, has disappeared. Next she’s placed in protective custody by MI6. Emma can’t believe what she’s being told. Her father turned assets for the British government. Now her life is in jeopardy. The Russians want to use her to make her father reveal classified information. Macknight is the team leader assigned to protect her. He feels responsible for the death of one of his team. He needs to know if Ross was to blame. Did he betray them? Emma is a brave woman with a fierce determination to find her father. She hates being isolated and kept under guard. She’s a Police Officer who’s used to facing danger. I was impressed how aware she was of her surroundings. Her interaction with Macknight had its ups and downs. There was attraction and at times distrust. I wished that they would learn to rely on each other. The story kept me reading. I was pulled in by the non-stop action. I couldn’t believe the double dealing and the traitorous actions. I thought the setting added to the suspense as did the dialogue. As the story progressed I felt that I understood the characters and their motives. Nevertheless I was shocked by what happened. I’m looking forward to reading more of Veronica Forand’s stories.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
Wow. I just finished really this book and have to just take a few minutes to come down from the intensity of this one! I will say that if I could give it 10 STARS on Amazon, I would.
The main characters, the supporting cast of people, the action, the dangers, the emotions was off the charts good. Do you want to know about the world building? I’d say yes that the author did an awesome job of building and operating a clandestine world.
Emma Ross just THINKS she has a simple life. There is so much underground information that she has no clue about. And yes, it will bite her in the butt for a while. But you can’t keep this gal down for long. I like how MacKnight at one point talked about her. That the one plan that they went with was all her and that it was “insane” but brilliant.
MacKnight was quite the complex man who trusted very few people. And with some very good reasons. This book started out by showing a pretty violent act that cuts to the hearts of the team. MacKnight first and foremost as team leader had to go on but it was shown the difficulties that he had about everything.
If you think that bureaucrats will figure in this story. Yes, you’ve got that right. If you think that there will only be one betrayal or one villain. No, think again.
If I had to put my opinion in a few words I would say it was a “High Octane Adventure.” I like a good romance in my suspense books and this one had it too. There will be a good H.E.A. but it will be a hard fought for one.
I will be looking for more books by this author.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this story but I wasn’t disappointed. I was hooked from the beginning till the end. It was fantastic. It had plenty to keep you wanting more the whole way through. There was action, friendship, love and so much more. The storyline was very enjoyable. I hope there will be another one I can read.
This story is top notch. From the very first line you are hooked. It is an intense spy, thriller, espionage combination that will rock your world. There is intense nail biting action at every flip of the page. The tension between Emma and McKnight adds even greater depth and layers to the events playing out. You will be caught by surprise by who the bad guys are and also the good ones. The author employs a very vivid descriptive method to bring the action in the story to life. The twists and turns happen without losing any threads in the plot or character development. A simply impressive and thrilling ride!
Liam MacKnight is an operativeand team leader for MI6, the British intelligence agency. A job in Russia goes badly wrong and he must go back and clean up.
Emma Ross is an American cop, and has just been accepted into S. W. A. T. Being kidnapped and flown across the Atlantic because of something her father has done could ruin that forever.
This is a very exciting, all action story that makes James Bond movies seem tame. All our characters are chameleons, taking on various roles, each incredibly dangerous. Just how many of our team can survive?.
The relationships between team members and their “guest” are complicated.
I hope this is a series because there are at least two more characters that need more story.
I loved it.