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Pecca Gallegos moved to the tiny town of Walton, Georgia, to protect her son and escape the dangerous lifestyle that once defined her. When a series of strange circumstances evolve into threats, Pecca finds herself confiding in an unlikely ally--her stubborn patient. Army veteran Colton Crawford is desperate to recover from the undiagnosed disorder that is ruining his life, and his instincts are on high alert when threats against his nurse and her son force him to take action. But Colton's involvement only ramps up the danger when he uncovers a family secret revealing that whoever is after Pecca is closer--and more deadly--than they realized. With this suspenseful new story, Natalie Walters welcomes you once more to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name--but no one knows your secret.… (more)
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Colton Crawford has developed a movement disorder that he feels will end all his dreams. Pecca Gallegos moved to
Between their growing attraction, the rehab, the veterans at the Home who are pushing for romance life goes one; but then things change. People are killed, shot at, and no one seems to know why except Pecca. She thinks it’s because her son’s father was in a gang. Colton and others come to her aid as far as protection goes, but some aren’t what they seem.
The plot in this tale was very well done, I didn’t have a clue until near the end and I doubt you will, either. This is book #3 for Walters so I am headed to see what the first two were about! Enjoy!!
You cannot possibly miss the sparks that go off between Colton and Pecca. If you miss it, you're not quite bright. When it
I also love the interaction between Lane and Pecca. Lane is funny. I can myself striking up a friendship with her. She loves Pecca and Maceo and she's already playing matchmaker between Pecca and Colton.
All in all, this was a really pleasant read.
Author: Natalie Walters
Pages: 336
Year: 2020
Publisher: Revell
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
A must read! Why? The author once again writes a suspense filled tale that focuses on one of the characters readers meet in the first books of the Harbored Secrets
Pecca is a nurse who is helping an Army Captain learn to overcome a disability and find meaning in life outside of military life. Pecca doesn’t have a pristine background, but a life she has been able to rebuild with the help of God and the friends she has gained in the small town. Pecca isn’t planning on romance being part of her life but when the “cap” comes in as her patient, well anything is bound to happen!
However, there is a nefarious person who is seeking to take Pecca down and out permanently! “Cap” while struggling to live with a disability, vows to protect Pecca. But he doubts his ability, and he wonders why God has allowed this to happen. There is faith, romance, action, danger and more in this book, and I hope you read not just this story but the other two books in the series titled, Living Lies and Deadly Deceit.
I loved the compassion shown here to our fellow man, and the theme continues right to the end.
There were a lot of surprises that unfold with this story, and most I never saw coming, the story kept my
With darling children, football and birthday parties, we are quickly drawn into the everyday life of the folks in Walton Georgia, but don't get too comfortable, you will soon be ducking bullets, and will be absorbed in this story and not see the ending!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A story of gangs, violence and love are at the forefront of the suspense within. This book seeks to read as a standalone, however, I would have loved to see more of Pecca’s past and siblings, as it felt there were still too many shadows (pun intended) to grasp the story as it unraveled. Regardless, Silent Shadows provoked the senses and brought the excitement all suspense lovers are sure to enjoy.
*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
What did I love so much about this book? It seems realistic. I enjoyed Nurse Pecca, who is a physical therapist, working at a home for injured veterans. She seems like an every-day, down-to-earth person, with an unfortunate background.
Rising out of that past may be one of the strongest parts of the novel, supporting character Maceo, Pecca’s 7 year- old son, who has a leg prosthetic. Of course, Captain Colton Crawford is a swoony, but broken part of this equation. When he develops a relationship with Maceo, Pecca can’t help but like the Captain, even with his disability. But will he ever stop seeing the future as discarded dreams and instead see unexpected opportunities?
There are many secondary threads or characters that strengthen this narrative beautifully. We start with the romance, a possible love triangle, and unknown danger. Now add the secondary storyline of Maceo, plus thickening threads. The danger thread builds nicely. Where is it coming from? Great twists. Another thread is Charlie and Lacy and the coming baby. I love Shirley with her loving, nurturing ways and all the other vets with their love and friendly service competition. One last thread that appealed to me was the realism of the seizures. Not fun. But I could see them in my mind. Good research there. These different story strands tighten the weave of the book until it is a multi-faceted, taut romantic suspense.
All in all, I reckon I just loved this book!
Quotes:
“If you want to win the game, you’ve got to know who you’re playing.”
“He had no idea what he did to deserve this or why he was being punished- only if this was his life sentence, he would’ve chosen the alternative.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Revell.
All opinions are my own, for which I am solely responsible.
Romantic suspense tends to be hit or miss for me. I often find that the romance angle is overdone and overpowers the suspense, which is my favorite part. Thankfully, “Silent Shadows” provides an adequate amount of tension, and I wanted to know what would happen in each new chapter, although I did easily zero in on one of the villains right away. While this is book three in Natalie Walters’ Harbored Secrets series, I did not have any difficulty reading it as a standalone. The patients at Home for Heroes quickly captured my heart, and I appreciated that Walters chose for Colton to be affected by psychogenic movement disorder (PMD) rather than the typical PTSD in order to highlight another challenge that may impact our veterans. Pecca and Colton’s first meeting certainly packed a punch and had me laughing!
Throughout the story, however, I found Pecca’s character rather aloof, and I did not feel that I could relate to her; she often seems awkward, and her internal dialogue disrupted the narrative for me. Maceo, on the other hand, was one of my favorite characters, with his natural ability to empathize and make others feel at ease in spite of his young age. I also very much enjoyed Uncle Jack, who in my opinion had the best commentary in this story, telling Colton, “You’re a go-getter, son, but even Lazarus had to die before the Lord could do his work” and “We all die different kinds of deaths, Colt, but they all lead to one truth. Do you trust him enough to bring you back to life?” These are deep facts to ponder when our own lives seem to be going off track and we are faced with trials. We can either try to work things out on our own, or we can turn to the One who already knows the end from the beginning and has a perfect plan for our lives. As Pecca and Colton come to realize, God is sovereign and omniscient, and because nothing is a secret to Him, ultimately He alone is able to keep us safe, even from what lurks in the shadows.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Silent Shadows is the third and final book in the Harbored Secrets series and it is a terrific way to say goodbye to the people of Walton, Georgia. Walters uses Pecca's job at the Home for Heroes to remind us that our veterans need love and support as they deal with both physical and emotional issues. Colton's attention to Maceo gives the boy a glimpse of a strong, positive male mentor and the romance between Pecca and Colton simply took my breath away. Best of all, there is a strong faith message woven throughout the story.
This Harbored Secrets series will make you glad that you visited Walton, Georgia, and you may feel sad that this is the last book of the series but you definitely won't regret reading Silent Shadows. It is great Christian romantic suspense!
This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing (Revell), through Interviews & Reviews. I am voluntarily sharing these thoughts.
Nurse Pecca Gallegos hoped to escape the danger of her past, but of course, it cannot be as easy as moving to a new town. Threats push her toward her patient and Army veteran Colton
It is easy to fall in love with Pecca and Colton in Silent Shadows. I enjoyed them individually and together, so I could not help enjoying following them through the twists and turns of this story. They definitely kept me on my figurative toes, and it proved the perfect way to wrap up the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
I am a member of the author’s street team. That does not affect how I rate this book though.
This is the third; and
In addition, during the month of March, Revell’s “Beyond the Book” read-a-long was “Living Lies”.
I was introduced to the author in May 2019 when I did a “takeover” tour with JustRead Publicity tours for “Living Lies”.
The following October, I was sent a complimentary copy of the second book “Deadly Deceit”, and enjoyed reading that one. In fact, I hate to admit this (sorry, Natalie), I found Deadly Deceit to be even better than “Living Lies”. In chapter 29 of this book, there is a reference to the case from “Deadly Deceit” as well.
When the opportunity came to be on the street team for this book – I JUMPED at it. Well, not literally, but figuratively; and, no, not because this is a purple book. It’s because I HAD to know how this series was going to end. And, I wanted to know what was going on. I was already invested in it, and had to see it through to the conclusion.
It is kind of sad when a series ends – be it television or even a book series. Depending on how invested you are in the characters, it is like saying goodbye to them. This was no exception. I definitely feel sad about saying goodbye to my friends in Walton, but I can revisit with them someday down the road.
Most debut books have something lacking, but that is to be expected. It is the writer’s debut book after all, so there are bound to be mistakes or hiccups.
Walters’ debut with “Living Lies” set a gold standard for a debut book. Yet, Walters managed to set (and even go above) that standard with each installment.
The duo in this final outing is Nurse Pecca Gallegos and Colton Crawford, an Army Veteran.
Colton is at the “Home for Heroes” to recover from a “movement disorder.” The “Home for Heroes” was a concept during “Living Lies” – where the building played a plot role. It was previously called the Benedict House. One of the first residents to have been there – Miguel – was not seen in this installment. I also don’t recall him from “Deadly Deceit” either.
Lane’s parents were also absent, so we never knew what happened to them, or rather Lane’s father and his senate bid. (I wonder if the writer has something up her sleeve there).
Major characters returning: Sheriff Huggins, his wife Ms. Byrdie, Deputy Charlie Lynch, and of course Lane (with her son –Noah). Former Deputy Ryan Frost and reporter Vivian DeMarco are mentioned and make a surprise return.
From the moment this story begins, it is action packed. By chapter 8, there were bullets flying, literally. And, like Walters’ previous novels, I couldn’t put this one down.
As usual, Walters doesn’t disappoint, and I truly felt she gave this one 1000%. That’s not to say the others were less. Not in anyway. This was just SO good for being the last installment.
There were also more humorous moments throughout this. Where “Living Lies” was serious, “Deadly Deceit” more so; this had a bit more levity. That’s really evidenced with one line on page 286 “whose driver offered a choice hand signal”. I’ll admit, that despite the seriousness of the situation – that line make me laugh out loud.
The characters were wonderfully written! Since Walters already established Lane, Charlie, the Sheriff, and Byrdie – more concentration went to Pecca and Colton, along with the other supporting characters. There was a guy I didn’t trust (or like) from the beginning. I’m wondering if I am alone with this one. But, from the first page he’s introduced – I didn’t like him.
Since both Pecca and Colton were from Texas, and I was born in Texas, I truly enjoyed that nod to my home state. I appreciated the Whataburger reference even more!! And, I’m sadly mourning the fact I haven’t had one in 14½ years.
The plot? Where I thought I almost KNEW where it was going … I was wrong! It was definitely interesting and didn’t lack. The surprise with Pecca’s sister? Pardon the caps … DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!! I was definitely impressed. It had my heart racing a few times. I was relieved that I was wrong in certain areas.
This is an “edge of the seat”, “doesn’t stop” read. The ending? That was definitely a wild ride. The way this was written, I was going through chapter after chapter. It sucked me right in and didn’t let go. I really didn’t want to let go of this one either, and was a bit sad when I reached the end of it.
A perfect balance of romance and suspense. And, although this is a Christian suspense novel, there were modest elements of faith thrown in. It isn’t overwhelming or preachy. There are no hot sex scenes, and no foul language for those looking for cleaner reads. I really did miss those either. The story and the characters are what drew me in.
There were times the Spanish was distracting as I don’t speak or understand it, but it was so minimal that I didn’t mind either taking notes to see what was being said, or guessing.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kekoa and Claudia back again in another series. And, for those who don’t know – Natalie Walters has signed another contract with Revell for another series, and dropped a few hints. Check out her Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter (links at the bottom).
Natalie, thank you for allowing me the pleasure and honor of being on your street team!!
Author: Natalie Walters
Pages: 336
Year: 2020
Publisher: Revell
My rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Colton Crawford has been transferred to a home for rehabilitation for those in all branches of military service. His condition didn’t improve in the hospital,
Pecca Gallegos is a nurse, who I thought acted more in the occupation of physical therapist. She helped with Colton’s exercises and treatment plan. Her past choices have led to a pregnancy at a young age and the father of her son being a criminal. She has moved to Walton, Georgia in an attempt to keep her son out of the clutches of his father, as well as to keep herself away from the lifestyle of her past. She has changed, but her ex-boyfriend is due to be paroled and her life and that of her son are now in danger. Her heart has softened toward Colton. She wonders if he can keep her and Maceo safe and exactly who is out to do her harm.
I wanted more action and suspense in this story and less romance. I loved the crew of veterans and their interactions with Colton and each other. There was teasing of each other, but still a mutual respect, and the effort they put forth to help Colton romance Pecca was just so heartwarming! Maceo was an absolute treasure! The story flowed at a reasonable pace, and if you’re like me, you want to finish a series once started, so you’ll want to get a copy of this one to wrap things up. I liked the novel but didn’t love it.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
I received this book from LibraryThing for my honest review.
After reading Living Lies and Deadly Deceit, I was really looking forward to this last book in the series, and I was not disappointed. It was exciting and romantic and had plot twists that I didn’t see coming. I appreciate the message that is delivered with Colton’s story line; that life may not be what you had envisioned, but that God has a purpose for your life and he has you right where he needs you to be. I liked the awkwardness of Pecca towards Colton; that even though she was a competent professional and beautiful, she was nervous and awkward with him. And I thought the relationship between Colton and Maceo, Pecca’s son, was sweet and endearing. Overall, I thought Silent Shadows was a great read, and my only regret is that it is the last book of the series and I’m going to have to say goodbye to the characters in Walton, Georgia that I’ve become so fond of.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I've read this author before but don't think I read the other 2 books in this series.
I liked the main characters and the idea that just because life doesn't turn out like you planned, doesn't mean that God doesn't still have a plan for
However, the plot overall is still the same formula that this publisher uses time and again. Man and woman meet and fall in love but one (or both) feel there's some reason they can't be a couple until (usually the woman) ends up in a life threatening situation that makes the other confess how he/she wants to spend the rest of his/her life with her/him. Honestly, it gets a bit old and I wish they'd come up with a different plot outline to use.