A Broken Man (Appalachian Star 3) by Deanndra Hall-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 11, 2023

Can they recover from crashing and burning?

GHOST:

Resurrection

It’s been a tough road, but I’m tougher. There’s nothing that can break me; I’m already broken. After serving time for ending the dirtbag who killed my daughter, I’m ready to get my life back. Signing on as a MEDEVAC pilot with the team of Iron Oak Farms is exactly what I need. And the last thing I need is something or someone serious or permanent. Before my life went to crap, I used to be a highly regarded nurse. It’s time to start taking care of myself—and others.

IZZY:

Resurrection

After my husband died during duty, I never thought I’d breathe again. As a military pilot, I know I have courage and strength, but sometimes, it’s all too much. Meeting Ghost changes everything. He makes me feel alive and desirable again. However, I refuse to be someone’s pastime. He’s just looking for fun. Leaving him is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But when our enemies find me and my life is on the line, my only hope is in Ghost.

•••••

REVIEW:A BROKEN MAN is the third instalment in Deanndra Hall’s contemporary, adult Appalachian STAR romantic suspense series set in the Special Forces: Operation Alpha series featuring characters first introduced in the books and series by Susan Stoker. This is forty-nine year old MEDEVAC pilot, nurse and former inmate Marvelle ‘Ghost’ Connors, and helicopter pilot/instructor Isolde ‘Izzy’ Bruce’s story line. A BROKEN MAN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

SOME BACKGROUND: Appalachian STAR is a search and rescue operation set in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, an operation that hires former inmates from the US prison system.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ghost and Izzy) A BROKEN MAN follows the building relationship and fall-out between forty-nine year old MEDEVAC pilot, nurse and former inmate Marvelle ‘Ghost’ Connors, and helicopter pilot/instructor Isolde ‘Izzy’ Bruce. Izzy Bruce is Ghost Connors’ helicopter instructor, and Ghost believes Izzy has chosen him for her latest series of booty calls. Upon graduation, Ghost discovers Izzy has been invited to participate in the celebration with Appalachian STAR, something with which Ghost is not too thrilled. Ghost will quickly discover Izzy has applied to, and is now working with another search and rescue, a team that will work closely with Appalachian STAR. Struggling with the demons from his past, Ghost pushes Izzy out of his life, a push that continues to spiral when Izzy goes missing in the wake of a jail break, and several domestic terrorism attacks. What ensues is the building but reluctant relationship between Izzy and Ghost, and the potential fall-out as words said in anger threaten any chance of Ghost finding his own happily ever after.

The world building continues to focus on the search and rescues involving the team at Appalachian STAR. From missing hikers and children, to aiding the local and state first responders, the men and women of Appalachian STAR are tasked with finding those unable to help themselves.

A BROKEN MAN reveals some of the back story for each of our story line couple, back stories of which neither one is completely aware. As Izzy struggle with what happened and why, Ghost is unable to let go of the loss, he blames on himself. As the relationship between Ghost and Izzy struggles in the wake of our hero’s inability to accept Izzy for who she is, Izzy battles between head and heart knowing she may have fallen in love with a man who is unable to love her in return. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and aggressive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of colorful and sometimes embattled secondary and supporting characters including several from a number of Deanndra Hall’s Bluegrass Bravery instalments, and books by Susan Stoker. We are reintroduced to Patrick aka Patch and Penny, Miles ‘ Bear’ McMillan; Porter aka Hollywood and Penny, Priest, Reboot, Paddy and Bulldog, As Bulldog continues to struggle, the team must come to terms with losing one of their own.

A BROKEN MAN is a fast paced story of love and loss, misunderstanding and second chances, forgiveness, acceptance, family and love. The premise is detailed, imaginative and realistic ; the characters are animated, determined and broken ; the romance struggles in the face of misconceptions, judgemental attitude, and prior love and loss.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
A Desperate Man
A Bitter Man

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Deanndra Hall is a working author living in the far western end of the beautiful Bluegrass State with her husband of over 35 years and small menagerie of weird little dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s editing. When she’s doing neither of those two things, she’s having dinner with friends, spending time with family, kayaking, eating chocolate, drinking beer or moonshine, or looking for something that she put in the wrong place and can’t seem to find (which is pretty much everything she owns).

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