ETHAN / OWEN (SEAL Protectors 1 & 2) by Katie Knight-reviews

ETHAN
(SEAL Protectors 1)
by Katie Knight
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 30, 2023

A Navy SEAL never, ever quits.
Navy SEAL Ethan Lee is facing his toughest mission yet when he’s hit with divorce papers. For too long the Navy came first and now he’s lost Helen, his only light during many dark missions. But Ethan has never backed down from anything and he’s not about to start now—especially when he finds out she’s pregnant.
Helen can’t take being second best any longer. She loves her husband, but her heart is broken and she’s not sure if it can ever be put back together. Then Ethan returns home, and her heart starts to flutter once more… but she’s not falling for it—her decision is final.
But keeping her distance from Ethan is hard when she’s forced to seek out his protective arms. After witnessing her boss receive a huge drug shipment, he’s now desperate to silence her and there’s no safer place than under Ethan’s watchful, smouldering gaze.

Facing danger together, will Helen realize that love can be just as unyielding as a Navy SEAL?

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REVIEW: ETHAN is the first instalment in Katie Knight’s contemporary, adult SEAL Protectors erotic, romantic suspense series. This is US Navy SEAL Ethan Lee, and museum education director Helen Lee’s story line.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Ethan and Helen) ETHAN follows the break down of a marriage in the wake of Ethan’s long absences from home. Served with divorce papers while on assignment, Ethan is granted some time off in an effort to save his struggling marriage, a marriage he believed was better than ever but Ethan’s return is met with more anxiety and conflict when he discovers his wife is pregnant, and she is the target of a man desperate enough to take revenge at all costs. On the run together, Ethan and Helen continue to battle about the future, a future in which Ethan has no desire to change the direction of his life. What ensues is the ongoing, embattled marriage between our story line couple, and the potential fall-out as Ethan and Helen’s issues of trust and a lack of communication threaten the life of our story line heroine.

The world building sets the tone for the series as the issues of the drugs and the people involved continues to be a part of the ongoing conflict. With each secret revealed, Helen, and journalist Sophie find themselves facing more complications, and threats by the people involved.

The relationship between Helen and Ethan is one of a crumbling marriage. Helen wants Ethan to settle down, and with the news of their surprise pregnancy, she needs her husband more than ever but Ethan is first married to his job: a Navy SEAL forever, a part of who he is not just what he does. Ethan refuses to step back even though his marriage is threatened, and in doing so, finds himself, looking towards the future alone. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Ethan’s friend and fellow SEAL Owen McCormick, journalist Sophie Carter, as well as Helen’s boss’ former sister in law Julie Hart; security guard Mason, and museum curator Benjamin Wilson.

ETHAN is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, the break down of a marriage, forgiveness and love. The premise is compelling and heart breaking; the romance is subtle; the characters are desperate, determined and broken. ETHAN ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-the overarching conflict has yet to be resolved.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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OWEN
(SEAL Protectors 2)
by Katie Knight
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 29, 2023

A journalist and a smouldering Navy SEAL team up as fake-married to take down a drug lord…

Sophie Carter is on the trail of a news story about a deadly new street drug. It’s an assignment that could make her career…but it’s a big risk.

When her investigation lands her in the cross hairs of a ruthless drug smuggler, she’s forced to hide out at a couple’s retreat—without her imaginary second half. Until Owen McCormick shows up, and announces he’s her husband. Now she’s got a smoking hot fake husband lending a helping hand, in more ways than one…

Owen and Sophie have never got on, but thanks to her investigaiton, they’re getting closer to proving who’s behind this deadly drug smuggling ring. But Sophie is gorgeous, whip-smart, and oh so tempting… pretending to her husband is driving him crazy. Owen’s been a player all his adult life. But Sophie’s making him realize the only way he can win this game may be to keep her in his heart forever.

Assuming they both live long enough to tell each other how they really feel

•••••••

REVIEW:OWEN is the second instalment in Katie Knight’s contemporary, adult SEAL Protectors erotic romantic suspense series focusing on three former US Navy SEALs. This is SEAL turned security Owen McCormick, and journalist Sophie Carter’s story line. OWEN can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise throughout. Owen and Sophie were first introduced in book one ETHAN.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Owen and Sophie) OWEN focuses on the search for the truth. Sophie Carter is a journalist who is researching a story about a the influx of drugs in their town. When her best friend Helen (Ethan) discovers her boss is importing drugs, Sophie begins an investigation that is about to place a target on her back. Desperate to protect her friend, Helen asks her Navy SEAL husband to suggest someone to help. Enter former US Navy SEAL Owen McCormick, and the man with whom Sophie will fall in love. Under cover and in hiding as a married couple at a local retreat, Sophie continues her investigation, an investigation wherein someone will die, and their lives will be threatened on more than one occasion. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Sophie and Owen, and the potential fall-out a new player in the drug game takes control,taking aim at our story line couple.

The world building continues to focus on the search for the truth. Sophie Carter is willing to do just about anything for the story including placing herself, and everyone else in the direct line of fire. Her best friend Helen is still in hiding, now the threats have been directed at our story line heroine.

The relationship between Sophie and Owen is an enemies to friends to lovers. Sophie doesn’t want protection or help, and Owen’s presence is a threat to her acquiring a story. At every opportunity, Sophie places herself in danger, and in doing so, more than one person is about to lose their life. As Owen struggles to convince Sophie her life is in danger, our heroine, often TSTL, ignores Owen’s warnings. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

We are introduced to couple’s resort counsellor Luna, drug lieutenant Razor, and fixer Quinn, as well as the return of Helen, Ethan and Julia. Julia and Sean’s story line is next.

OWEN is another story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the characters are determined; the romance is seductive.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy