Jake Silver may not be able to put the memories of his time as a sniper and Navy SEAL behind him, but at least he can put his skills to use as a part of the Jones Inc. rescue team. Saving the life of pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali helped too. Now he can’t get her out of his head, and when he hears she is in the path of a hurricane down in Key West he can’t help but jump on a … a plane to rescue her.Aria has dedicated her life to helping children born with defective hearts. After all, she was one of those children. Now driven to succeed, she lives a lonely, stressful life. One she would have lost on Denali if it hadn’t been for Jake. Jake is exciting and handsome, but he’s also dangerous, and she’s already lost one person she loves. She can’t bear it again.It’s not until she finds herself trapped in the middle of a category 4 hurricane that she can admit she needs Jake desperately. With their very survival in the balance, can they hope for a second chance at life . . . and love?
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Find a place to huddle down while reading The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren because you will be swept away by this epic story! The Heart of a Hero features Jake and Aria — who readers got to know a little through an excellent setup in The Way of the Brave — as they fight against their hearts, their false narratives, and the brute strength of a hurricane! Like…why aren’t you reading this book right now?
The hurricane angle in The Heart of a Hero hooked me right away! This had such a disaster movie vibe — with an incredible faith angle, but more on that in a moment! Between the ragtag crew, the danger from the storm itself, and the danger the storm unleashed (no spoilers!), each new development had my eyes rushing to keep up with the flipping pages. And my little scaredy-cat self is thankful I got to experience these terrifying ordeals from the safety of my cozy nook!
As the title suggests, Jake and Aria struggled with their hero hearts. Jake believed himself to be more villain than hero; Aria believed her life to be a mistake, causing her to fear actually living life. And God’s heart leapt from the pages as Jake and Aria grappled with surrendering their hearts to Him. This story is for anyone who has ever believed they must be worthy of forgiveness through the qualifying lens of a debt that can never be repaid while an internal shame megaphone reminds them of this over and over again. This story is for everyone because it proclaims these freeing truths: we are forgiven, washed clean, and loved.
Four Stars ~ The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren is thrilling, healing, and not to be missed! The Heart of a Hero is the second book in the author’s Global Search and Rescue Series. This could be read as a standalone; however, the backstory and an on-going mystery will be more easily understood if the series is read in order.
Possible triggers ~ Death, traumatic situations, physical attacks.
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
“She would never be even with Jake Silver, for the way he stormed into her world, stripped away all her defenses, and made her see herself as…enough, maybe.”
“That’s the devil’s games, Jake. He’ll anything to make you feel ashamed or guilty. anything to try and tell you that you are unloved.”
Jake Silver rescued Aria from a cold snowy mountain in Alaska and upon returning home they went their separate ways trying to forget their ordeal. However, they could not forget each other. When circumstances have them fighting for their lives during a hurricane, they have to figure out what they are feeling for one another and face it. Thrown together with a small group of others they are struggling to survive, fighting their own personal demons, and stranded on an island awaiting rescue from the mainland.
Susan May Warren writes with heart and truth. She writes characters that deal with real emotions and issues just like us. They are relatable and likable. There is so much to love about this book from non stop action, plot twists, and amazing characters to dealing with issues of self doubt, survivors guilt, redemption, loyalty, and second chances. I can’t praise this book enough. It even has a great surprise ending that I never saw coming.
If you like romantic suspense books, especially if you like Lisa Harris or Elizabeth Goddard, you will love The Heart if a Hero!
Let me start out with, I love Susan May Warren’s books! Her suspense is spot on, and her characters have depth, courage, and incredible strength.
Jake Silver’s memories of Afghanistan haunt him, but it’s the memories of rescuing Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali in Alaska, that keep coming back. He fell hard for the beautiful doctor in that tent on the mountain, so when he sees her again after she so thoroughly pushed him away, he hopes he can make her see him without the baggage they shared.
When Dr. Aria loses an infant on her operating table, her boss forces a “vacation” to the Florida Keys on her. After the medical conference, where she is a speaker, Aria decides to try snorkeling – something Jake highly recommended to her right before she left. Getting sick was not in her plans. Waking up to find the entire hotel vacated because of an impending hurricane, was beyond eerie. Finding that the only two people who remained behind were an elderly woman, in dire need of medical help, and her granddaughter, brings out the protector in Aria. Can she get them to help without being blown into the ocean?
This is just the start of the adventure! Jake, in Minnesota, hears about the hurricane, knows Aria is in the Keys, and flies into Miami just as the airports close. He shows up at the hospital, with a pregnant woman he found while searching every hotel in Key West. They keep collecting people – some fairly innocuous, but others who come with danger attached. Jake believes his soul is tainted by what he had to do as a sniper in the war, but all Aria sees in his heart is a hero. He throws himself into danger so often that I wondered which time was going to end him.
Readers who love romantic suspense, will enjoy The Heart of a Hero. There is also a side story with Hamilton Jones, his missing wife, Signe, and his daughter, Aggie. Their full story is told in The Price of Valor, book 3 of the Global Search & Rescue series. There is so much action in this book. It would make a fantastic movie!! I can absolutely recommend this. I used the audio version, which I thought was very well done. I had trouble turning it off to do other things!
Readers should pack a well-stocked emergency bag while joining the Global SAR team. All will run into danger to help whomever and however possible. Reluctantly and gradually, each is forced to battle false internal storylines about themselves that hold the keys to freedom if they choose. This is another stunning winner from Susan May Warren.
This story is about Jake, an ex-Navy SEAL and Aria, a pediatric surgeon who met in The Way of the Brave, the previous book in this series. Jake and Aria have returned to Minnesota and resumed their lives, he as part of a search and rescue team and she as a pediatric surgeon. When Aria is forced to attend a conference in Florida, she accidentally sends a strange text to Jake, causing him to hop a plane to Miami in search of Aria in the Florida Keys. When Jake locates Aria, they face an incredibly dangerous situation, along with several other people.
This novel contains non-stop action and high octane situations where both Jake and Aria will need the use of their specialized skills to survive. As a reader, I found myself on the edge of my seat, white knuckling my tablet as the suspense built. Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone book. The Heart of a Hero ends well for Jake and Aria, while leading into the next book about Ham and Signe.
Susan May Warren is a master storyteller and I can’t wait to dive into her other novels. 5 stars!
Susan May Warren is a master at crafting courageous, engaging, and strong heroes and placing them in precarious settings and circumstances. Of course, she also adds amazing, realistically-flawed, and engaging heroines to go with them. And since The Heart of a Hero is part of the Global Search and Rescue series, the hero Jake Silver has lots of chances to rescue the heroine, Aria Sinclair. The characters are amazing, the action is nonstop and dramatic, and the story is typical Susan May Warren fare.
Aria and Jake were introduced in the first book of the series, The Way of the Brave, and I enjoyed getting to know them better and watching their relationship change and develop. There was also some backstory of Hamilton Jones’s situation which is continuing in book 3 of the series.
The only problem I had with this book is that there seemed to be perilous situation overload.
“I thought we weren’t talking about that.” “If we limited our conversation to only the things that happen when we’re trying not to die, we’re going to run out of things to say.”
I’d hate to hang out with these characters, since every time they turned around something else was thrown at them. At times, it seemed to be a little unrealistic and over the top. That said, I still enjoyed the story, and I’m looking forward to book 3 in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Revell Publishing through LibraryThing. All opinions are my own.
Author Susan May Warren continues her contemporary romantic suspense “Global Search and Rescue Series” with Book Two, “The Heart of a Hero”. Jake Silver, former Navy SEAL and skilled sniper, is haunted by his military past. In more ways than one, facing danger and death takes a toll on a man–in body and in spirit. After his military service comes to a close, Jake makes good use of his very special skills by working for Hamilton Jones’s top-rung rescue team. One of the missions involved saving Dr. Ana Sinclair and others during a mountain climb gone very wrong. Jake has never forgotten Ana and their “almost” romantic involvement. Seeing her again, he is still interested, but is she? When Ana is once more in the middle of a perilous situation, Jake hurries to help her, but should she risk her heart when he comes to save her life? If they survive the looming threat of a catastrophic hurricane, can the feelings between them also survive?
Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via Library Thing
They are on a collision course for danger…
As much as I’ve enjoyed Susan May Warren’s books in the past I think this may be the first time I’ve read one essentially in a single sitting. Yes, it’s true, I finished The Heart Of A Hero in the wee hours of the morning
I was a bit surprised by The Heart Of Hero, and, because of that, I think actually like it better than book one in the Global Search And Rescue series. I’ve gotten pretty used to Susan May Warren delving deep into the emotions of her characters, and thus her readers, but there was some serious gritty romantic suspense, with some almost Ronie Kendig vibes, going on in this book. Not that the story didn’t tug on the heart-strings, because it did. Aria and Jake both feel like they have to atone for the past, that they are less important than the loved ones they’ve lost, and that they are not really worthy of forgiveness or love. I think that most readers have felt at least one of those negative emotions/thoughts at one time or another. And like the characters we have to work through those emotions and the accompanying denial.
Susan May Warren’s second book in her Global Search And Rescue series has a touch of everything in it and readers are treated to a roller-coaster ride of romance, loss, poignant moments, tragedy, humor, adventure, family fun, and spine-tingling action. You’ll probably laugh a little and cry a little while reading The Heart Of A Hero…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
This book certainly had action and romance, but I didn’t love it. I felt a little bad for the main characters because they’d just (within two weeks) had almost died on Denali and then almost died again in a hurricane. It seemed more contrived than usual. And I’m pretty tolerant of contrived plots as a regular romance novel reader.
“Thats what love does.”
Wow! I think this series is my favorite by far. Jake is so … intense, loveable, hot, heroic. I would definitely want him to rescue me if I was in danger (and single!). Aria is a hero in her own right but she wouldn’t let herself see it. Then you have the background story of Ham. This book never stopped and was so hard to put down, even to sleep! Susie is an amazing storyteller and brings her characters to life. I can’t wait for book three!
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second installment of Warren’s Global Search and Rescue series, and she did not disappoint. I was on pins and needles waiting to dive into Aria and Jake’s story back in book one. Aria just can’t keep herself out of trouble, and Jake just can’t help but rescue her. I highly recommend starting with The Way of the Brave before you tackle this book. I think you will appreciate it all the more!
Jake is the heartthrob hero you want in every good romance book. I was so happy to hear that this book followed his story because he is an easy character to love, and I was hooked from the first book. A former SEAL, Jake just can’t help but be the hero in all situations, but is he doing it because it’s who he is or because he feels he has to make up for his past?
Aria is a smart, gorgeous, and daring heroine that doesn’t need a man, but you’re so glad she starts falling for the one you’re rooting for! She’s all logic and practicality, but seems to keep finding herself in precarious situations. Will she follow her or the one her twin sister gave her?
If you thought it was all mush, think again! From natural disasters, close calls, shipwrecks, abductions, and a CIA hit list, this book is so fast paced it will be over before you’re ready! We also meet Ham’s daughter and begin to find out more about his past with Signe. The end is a real cliffhanger that will leave you itching for The Price of Valor, which comes out in early October.
Warren did a great job of diving into Aria’s pain and internal struggle to fall in love with Jake, as well as Jake’s burdens from continually making mistakes. While this is definitely a Christian fiction book, Susan weaves the inspirational components in so seamlessly that they never detract from the story. It all comes full circle in a beautiful tale of second chances, grace, and ultimately faith. This book contains some of Warren’s best writing. I definitely recommend it!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, but enjoyed it so much that I purchased it from Baker Book House. All opinions are my own.
Warren has another great suspense added to her great array of mystery/suspense novels. She never fails to come through on keeping one turning the pages because of the depth of her novels. This one brings you through a category 4 hurricane and all the vivid details and all that takes place afterwards. A female doctor and an ex Navy Seal are the main characters. Jake Silver and Aria Sinclair meet in the first book “The Way of The Brave.” This is the continuation of their story. Dr Sinclair goes to Key West, Florida for a medical convention and also for a much needed rest. She gets sick after eating and falls asleep and does not realize that a storm is approaching and the island has been evacuated and she and just a few others are left behind. Thus begins the harrowing tale of riding out the hurricane in a deserted hospital along with three others that she helped get to the hospital. When Jake realizes she is there he takes a flight there and while the last of the evacuees are leaving he is allowed to go in and then……..Hold on to your seats for a nail biting ride during this giant storm. Warren always brings in God and his love towards mankind and this book is no exception. I highly recommend this book to all who love Christian romance/ suspense……..I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heart Of A Hero is a page turner of epic proportions and this story is quite possibly one of the most exciting reads of 2020 for me. Between the situation Aria and Jake find themselves in, in Florida, to the fireworks between them, this book was impossible for me to put down. I HAD to know how it was going to end and it had multiple surprises in store along the way. I really enjoyed this book, although there were a couple plot points I could have done without. I know why they were written that way but they weren’t my favorite, I am really looking forward to the final book in this set and I really hope I am right about a particular theory I have from Heart Of A Hero. Time will tell.
“I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell, through Interviews & Reviews.”
The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren is the second book in her Global Search and Rescue series. Ex-Navy SEAL, Jake Silver, acts instinctively and sorts out the consequences later. Working for Jones Inc. Jake helped rescue Dr. Aria Sinclair on Denali. Now he he’s in Florida rescuing her from a Category 4 hurricane. With their lives hanging in the balance will they be able to overcome their fears and self-doubts? This book references book one quite a bit. There are some things you have no clue what they are talking about if you haven’t read the preceding book. But if you can overlook that then you’ll enjoy this story. Jake and Aria’s self-doubts seemed to rule theirs until they finally figured out that God is in control! The adventure was non-stop. Jake truly was a hero. I thought the side story should have been developed more. Hopefully it will continue in the next book! It was a great read.
I received this book from the publisher for my honest review.
The Heart of a Hero, Global Search and Rescue book 2, by Susan May Warren features former Navy SEAL Jake Silver and Dr. Aria Sinclair, a lady he had rescued before and for whom he would do whatever necessary to rescue and protect. When Jake learns that Aria is in the path of a category 4 hurricane, he knows he must do whatever possible to save her.
Jake arrives in the lower Florida Keys just as the storm is moving onshore. It is only by chance and his need to rescue a young and very pregnant woman that he discovers at the resort where Aria should have been, that he finds Aria. Aria and the women she has sought to rescue were also at the local, and deserted, hospital. Aria is working to save Mimi, the elderly owner of the resort where Aria had been staying. Her COPD and the stress of the storm were not helping as her breathing became more difficult by the minute. Mimi needed oxygen and Aria would see to it that she got what she needed.
As the group of 5 spent a scary night in the empty hospital as the water was rising, filling the first floor, and the winds howled, Jake and Aria opened up to one another, telling things only said in the dark. Through the next few days, they work together for survival and to defeat outside forces seeking to defeat them.
This is a story of survival. Both Aria and Jake are survivors and work diligently to save those in their care. This is an exciting story and I did find it hard to put down. I did enjoy it and do recommend it for those that are interested in a thriller filled with religion.
“The Way of the Brave” by Susan May Warren is a wonderful, suspenseful, action-packed Christian romance. The main focus of the book is the story of Aria and Jake, who we first met in the previous book as side characters. (Note: Although I read and enjoyed the first book, I think this one works just fine as a stand-alone. Enough information is provided to fill the reader in on how Jake and Aria met, and what happened to them.)
The romance is excellent. Both Aria and Jake are well-developed characters with defined personalities and unique flaws. The reader can get to know them separately, and enjoy following along as they spend time together, grow closer, encounter obstacles, and respond to them. Both stay true-to-character, never doing anything that doesn’t make sense based on what we know about them.
There is plenty of dialog between the main characters, and it’s easy to see how and why the two come to care for each other. The dire circumstances they face together serve as another uniting factor.
The storyline beyond the romance is fabulous as well! Even though we begin the story at a nice family picnic, danger and adventure are never far away for these characters. Aria quickly finds herself alone and trapped in the middle of a major hurricane, and Jake is off to the rescue. Brace yourself for plenty of action as one dangerous situation follows another.
Having lived in Florida for a few years, I can say the author definitely did her research. Everything about the effects of the hurricane making landfall is accurate, as are the depictions of certain people who refuse to evacuate no matter what. I appreciated this attention to detail, and commend the author for getting everything just right.
The faith-based part of the story is more subtle here than it was in book 1, but it’s definitely present, primarily through the character of Mimi, who always has just the right spiritual insight to share with the others.
One final note: there is a small side-plot involving Ham from book 1 heading off to research something that started in the earlier volume. Just enough information is included about this to set up the next volume in the series, and I have to say I can’t wait to see how everything is resolved!
All if all, five out of five slices of yummy pepper-jack!
The Heart of a Hero by Susan May Warren is book 2 in the Global Search and Rescue series. Book 1 was a literal cliffhanger in Alaska. In this book, danger is around every corner in a hurricane in Florida. This book picks up right where the first book left off, and I really think it reads much better if you’ve read the first book already. I love all of these characters. Ms Warren created such deep, emotionally broken characters. The realities of war and PTSD really come through in her books along with the hope we have in Jesus, no matter what we’ve faced in the past. I highly recommend this book, and the series as a while. I can’t wait for book 3! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
I was intrigued by Jake and Aria’s story when it was first introduced in The Way of the Brave. As you could expect from a Susan May Warren book, it was full of drama, action, romance, and a bit of danger to keep you on the edge of your seat and reading until late into the night. (I know I can’t be the only one!) Jake is impulsive and can’t help but rush in to rescue others, and my heart just went out to him. I loved his and Aria’s story as they dealt with storms, wrestled with survivor’s guilt, and had to decide if love was worth the risk.
There was quite a bit of Ham’s story continued here as well, and I’m eagerly waiting to find out what happens with him next! He has been featured in a few previous books, and my curiosity has been piqued since Wait for Me (Montana Rescue series). I love it when characters cross over! On that note, I think there just *might* be a set-up for a future series with the Silver sisters. Fingers crossed!
I just love Susan May Warren’s writing. I think I’ve said this in other reviews as well, but she’s just so GOOD at making characters believable and relatable–I really feel what the characters are experiencing, instead of just being told in a rather clinical manner what they think. She also does the faith elements well without coming off as preachy. A must-read author, for sure!
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Jake Silver can’t help himself. He responds to every rescue situation he runs across. His past as a sniper and Navy SEAL status keeps him on high alert, especially when it comes to Dr. Aria Sinclair, a pediatric heart surgeon. He rescues her from a deadly situation on Denali, and falls for her, despite her resistance.
Once he returns home, his memory of Aria is of her running away from him. But, is that the real picture, or is there an underlying memory painting his skewed view of her departure?
Aria refuses to give in to the handsome Jake Silver. She avoids him and reasons she has a responsibility and a debt to pay. Enjoying life doesn’t fit into her equation. She buries herself in her work. After losing her sister, she’s dedicated herself to helping children born with defective hearts and takes each case personally.
In an attempt to unwind from her stressful position, she agrees to go to the Florida Keys to speak at a Cardiology and Pulmonology for Primary Care Conference. Little did she know that a storm was brewing, a category four hurricane, and headed her way.
Aria finds herself in another life-threatening situation. Will Jake find her in time to save her again? Will she admit to her attraction to him or run away?
This book kept me turning the page. I love trying to figure out what the outcome will be, and this novel kept me analyzing each character.
I give this novel four stars. It’s a great story, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
I was given a complimentary copy of The Heart of a Hero, in return for my honest review. All comments and thoughts are my own.
Susan May Warren writes a gripping tale, and the characters are so well crafted that a reader would be tempted to forget that they are reading a work of fiction. The first book in the series, The Way of the Brave, was a little difficult for me to read with all the naming of climbing equipment that overwhelmed me. However, in the sequel, The Heart of a Hero, I found the themes of redemption, forgiveness, searching, and facing danger head on to be quite enthralling!
While many could read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it without question, it did help to be familiar with characters who once again appear in the sequel. The plot is rich with tension and riveting scenes where the possibility of death is palpable and I loved being, in my mind, in Key West, Florida! There are some technical terms for catamaran sailing but for me that didn’t distract from the story.
With this book focusing on Jake and Aria, we get more insight into those whom we met in the first book. We see more of their past and how it impacted them, then proceed to read how these two move forward in their relationship. There are points in the story that are heart moving and other parts that bring a high-tension to a scene that kept me turning pages.
I hope that audiences will consider reading the first book of the series as named above and then read the sequel. There is a third installment, The Price of Valor, coming out in the fall of 2020.