Sunburst

Author: Susan May Warren
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Sky King Ranch #2
Release Date: June 7, 2022

When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt from terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others. And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he'll need Noemi's help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.

Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding--which would bind Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, the trouble they're fleeing has found them--again. It's clear anyone around Noemi is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her potential new husband.

She'll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

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Reviewer: Marie Edwards

This is the exciting second book in Susan May Warren’s Sky King Ranch series. Unlike some series, neither this book nor the first one – Sunrise – will be a standalone read in any way. The third book, Sundown, will be released in November, and these books HAVE to be read to understand the entire story.    

The cover is stunning, but what happens between the pages is dark territory – kidnappings, murders, terrorists, and even some torture. There is a mention of abortion as well.  
 
The prologue begins four years before the events, with Ranger and Noemi meeting in Key West. Due to his military career and knowing who she was, he walked away. This is told in repeated flashbacks.  
 
In chapter one, the reader learns that Noemi, along with Blessing, has been taken by Boko Harem three weeks earlier. There is a wounded doctor as well as Colt.  
 
Ranger Kingston, his brother Dodge, Hamilton Jones, and Jake Silver are there to rescue Colt. Nothing goes as planned, leaving Noemi, Blessing, and an injured Ranger behind.  
 
While back in Alaska (midway through chapter 3), readers learn the identity of the mysterious woman found in the middle of an Alaskan blizzard. She is definitely aware of what has happened to her and what is going on around her – she doesn’t want to say anything, though. And, who can blame her? 
 
It is worth noting that no one on Sky King Ranch or those who interact with her sees anything wrong, and she isn’t in therapy over her ordeal. They seem to take it in stride and continue as if she isn’t there or isn’t aware despite her cooking, cleaning, and taking care of herself and Colt. 
 
It is around the 71% mark that the action returns to Alaska. The plot as to why Noemi was targeted is bounced back and forth between theories which could confuse the reader and muddle the story a bit.  
 
This, like the first book, ends on a cliffhanger.  
 
The pace alternated between fast (action) and slow (family, day-to-day, romance). At times it felt like there was too much going on. Sometimes I couldn’t put it down and had to keep reading. There were times it was a tedious read.  
 
The flashbacks felt disjointed as they would come mid-chapter, mid-scene with no transitions. For some readers – that could be a bit confusing. It would’ve been nice to see Key West – 4 years ago, then Present Day – Nigeria before the flashback scenes.  
 
That’s not to say I didn’t like the book. I did. I was actually more interested in Tae’s story than Ranger and Noemi’s story, which kept this from being a 3-star read. Like the first book, the picturesque Alaskan landscape is captured in stunning detail.  
 
Overall, this high-octane, edge-of-seat adventure takes readers to the last few pages and beyond.  
 
Distributed by Revell, a primarily Christian/faith-themed publisher, this has elements of the Christian faith as part of the characters’ own traits and beliefs. These elements are NOT part of the main stories, though.  
 
Fans of the author and those who’ve read the Global Search and Rescue series won’t want to miss this. As of note, while Global SAR has some characters from the Montana Marshalls series, none have appeared so far in this series as of this book.  
 
I still have those books in my TBR stack and am looking forward to the final book of this series.

Thank you to Revell for providing a complimentary review copy through Interviews & Reviews. A positive review was not required nor requested; all words are my own.  

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Reviewer: Joy Hannabass

I was excited to read Sunburst by Susan May Warren after reading the first book in the series, Sunrise. And indeed, I was on a journey I wouldn't forget for a while. From Florida to Nigeria to the Nigerian Wedding to the Sky King Ranch in Alaska, my heart was thumping right along with the characters. 

Their meeting in Florida and dating for a couple months only caused problems for Noemi Sutton and NAVY SEAL Ranger Kingston. Well, for Ranger anyway. Ranger just couldn't. His life and work could never involve a woman. It was a mistake, so it ended. But as Ranger is in Nigeria to rescue his brother, there she is. Again.

This story was so back and forth between characters, between dreams, it was sometimes hard to keep up. I had to backtrack a few times to see where the story had led off to. The excitement was there as the fast-paced plot moved on, and with the twists and turns, there was no way to know what was next. I enjoyed the details about Nigeria and especially the beautiful wedding. I didn't understand why all the questions were about whether they were married. If this was her tradition, why not? And as the story moves to Alaska, I loved the conversations between Ranger and his brothers about whether or not they were legally married. It was a lot of humor in that talk. I also love Alaska, the beautiful details of the area, and the work the Kingston family was doing. This family is amazing. They are easy people to get to know and love.

All in all, this is another great story by Susan May Warren. But, even though I really liked the book, they were places where, although fast-paced, the story fell short, and I felt disconnected. I just don't think this is Warren's best work. And thus, the four stars, and I hate giving that, but I have to be honest with myself. I still encourage you to read this book! And especially if you enjoy suspense and the fast pace, so fast your head will be spinning. There is so much involved in Sunburst that it is difficult to even touch on a little bit of it. You need to read this story and this series to get the full effect. The real deal. I strongly recommend you run out and get your copy today. 

I received a review copy from Revell through Interviews  & Reviews for my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Connie Porter Saunders

Susan May Warren's new book treats readers to quite an adventure. As they're transported to a terrorist camp in Nigeria and then back to Sky King Ranch in beautiful Alaska. Ranger Kingston is on a rescue mission, but his heart may need rescuing after he and Noemi Sutton find each other again. A pretend marriage becomes necessary for survival, but the special physical chemistry and deep emotional bond between Ranger and Noemi make it very real in appearance. Can their already tender hearts endure another goodbye?

Warren has a unique talent for creating characters to cheer for, romance that leaves us yearning for more, and adventures that keep us on the edge of our seats! She also ministers to readers spiritually with the relevant faith messages that she weaves into all of her stories. I thoroughly enjoyed Sunburst and am excited to read book 3 of the Sky King Ranch series.

I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Mindy Houng

"But faith is stepping forward without knowing the destination. Your job, as a warrior of the Lord, is to listen. To walk in faith."
 
This Kingston family.... man, they are so easy to fall in love with. The youngest of the Kingston triplet, Ranger is a hero through and through. His black-and-white, duty-driven, buttoned-up way of life collides with Noemi's wildly colorful, passion-driven ways in this fast-paced, paramilitary romantic suspense. 

The book magically weaves together a dangerous rescue operation with a second chance romance. I loved learning about Nigeria and its wedding customs and how life is celebrated there. But the book is more than heart-pounding action and heart-stopping romance. There is a tangible faith thread of acknowledging and appreciating God's goodness and presence as well as placing our dreams, hopes, and fears into the hands of the Almighty One.
 
If you're looking for a spell-binding adventure, this book is it! And I really enjoyed getting to know Colt and Tae and am so looking forward to their story and seeing how Russian mercenaries, a plague in Nigeria, and a scientist in hiding all come together for the overarching theme of the series.
 
I received a review copy of this book courtesy of Revell via Interviews & Reviews. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"Well, hello, hello. Ranger Kingston, right here in the shadow of a kuka tree, deep in the heart of Nigeria. . . . . It was just like God to send her the man she hoped to never see again."

"Noemi Sutton. The Master Chief's only daughter. A woman who nearly cost him everything."

Yep. They had a history. And it was beautiful and short and fall in love-at-first-sight and then gone . . . . .like GONE. Done. Over. A mistake, he had called it. Except that when Noemi's life is on on the line, having been captured by Nigerian terrorists, who comes to her rescue (not intentionally you understand, but definitely providentially); Ranger Kingston.

"You don't sort of get married, son." (Do Nigerian weddings even count?)

So much story here. SO MUCH STORY. . . . told with an underlying passion and enough creative energy for two books, possibly even three, which for a seasoned author, was remarkably refreshing. True confession? I might have read the ending more than once.

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Reviewer: Monica Huyser

Lots of action and romance are a big part of Sunburst by Susan May Warren, the second book in the Sky King Ranch series.

Sunburst starts out with both romance and action. This book flips back and forth between the beginnings of a relationship cut short between former Navy SEAL Ranger Kingston and Noemi Sutton. They met and spent two weeks dating and getting to know each other in Florida. Now Ranger is in Nigeria trying to save his brother Colt and Noemi. From there, the book is constant action--with a back and forth relationship between Noemi and Ranger.

I enjoyed Sunburst as a whole. It is full of action that kept me turning pages. There are also detailed descriptions of the area, the culture, and the foods in Nigeria that I enjoyed. I also liked the romantic wedding that took place in Nigeria. At the same time, I did get a bit frustrated with the characters as they kept going back and forth with communication struggles and fears that kept holding them back. I did like the ending, though--and of course, I look forward to the next book as there are some cliffhangers as Sunburst ends. 

As a Christian, I really liked Ranger's dad's talk with him near the end. I also liked how God worked in both Noemi and Ranger's lives to help them heal in their struggles. I am now anxiously awaiting Sundown as Warren not only leaves us with cliffhangers but also gives us a preview of that book at the end of this one.

I received a review copy of this book from Revell Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions within this review are my own.

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