HERO’S HEART (Linear Tactical:Oak Creek 4) by Janie Crouch-review

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Sandy

HERO’S HEART (Linear Tactical: Oak Creek) 4 by Janie Crouch-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 2, 2025

He was out of the game.
He should’ve stayed that way.

When a former FBI colleague asks Callum Webb to rescue the kidnapped daughter of an American bigwig in eastern Europe, Callum’s just got one word for him…

No.

Okay, actually two words: hell, no.

Callum is out of the international law enforcement game and has been for a long time. He’s happy in his role as gruff sheriff of the tiny town of Oak Creek, Wyoming. Even if the job doesn’t keep his nightmares at bay.

Plus, rescuing a spoiled heiress is not high on Callum’s bucket list.

When he ends up being the only viable option, Callum knows he’s not going to let a young woman die so he prepares for one last daring mission.

But nothing is what it seems, and this mission will change Callum’s life forever in more ways than one.

•••••

REVIEW: HERO’S HEART is the fourth instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL : OAK CREEK erotic, romantic suspense series- a second-generation spin off from the author’s LINEAR TACTICAL series. This is twenty-three year old Sloane Miller, and forty-three year old, former FBI agent turned Oak Creek Sheriff Callum Webb’s story line. HERO’S HEART 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.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Calum and Sloane) HERO’S HEART focuses on the rescue and protection of twenty-three year old Sloane Miller. Sloane Miller is the neglected and unwanted daughter of wealthy businessman William Getty, and as such has been tasked as the personal assistant to her twenty-two year old half-sister Marissa as she embarks on a summer vacation in Paris but within hours, Marissa and Sloane are abducted, and held for ransom. Owing a former military buddy a favor, Callum Webb reluctantly agrees to set up a rescue, only to discover his target is Marissa, and Sloane is to be left behind. Refusing to leave Sloane with the kidnappers, Callum becomes a one-man guardian and protector of our story line heroine, the young woman with whom Callum will fall in love. Upon there return, Callum and the Linear Tactical team will learn there is more to the story than meets the eye, and our heroine is a pawn in a much bigger game.

The world building follows several paths including the building relationship between Sloane and Callum: the ongoing attempts to kidnap our story line heroine; and the betrayals that set everything into motion.

The relationship between Sloane and Callum begins as a protection and rescue but Callum begins to suspect something else is going on. Days together in Europe, find our couple on the run as each safe-house is compromised and threatens their lives. Falling for Sloane is easy but Callum has loved and lost, and their return to America is only the beginning of another heart breaking betrayal. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of energetic, colorful and often questionable secondary and supporting characters including the return of Theo and Eva (Hero Unbound), and Dr. Annie Mackay, as well as the introduction of Bear Bollinger (Finn’s Son-EAGLE), and Joy Davis. Joy and Bear’s story line is next.

HERO’S HEART is a story of secrets, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, dysfunctional family dynamics, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing, dramatic and heart breaking; the romance is passionate; the characters are determined, dynamic and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Hero Unbound
Hero’s Flight
Hero’s Prize

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the coveted RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.

Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband’s job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she’s not listening to the voices in her head (and even when she is), she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.

HERO’S PRIZE (Linear Tactical:Oak Creek 3) by Janie Crouch-review

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Sandy

HERO’S PRIZE (Linear Tactical: Oak Creek 3) by Janie Crouch-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 27, 2024

When a deadly accident leaves extreme sport superstar Colton Harrison questioning what his future holds, he decides to take a timeout in his hometown of Oak Creek.

He knows the mountains and wildness of Wyoming will help him heal.

But he has no idea how he’s known sweet Ella O’Conner all his life but is somehow only really seeing her for the first time now.

People in his world may say she doesn’t measure up, but this woman—and all her sexy curves—is downright beautiful to Colton.

Ella is who he wants. Who he needs. Who he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

Although convincing her of that will be tricky. All she’s ever wanted was a quiet existence, and life in the public eye can be brutal—no matter how much Colton vows to protect her.

Especially when a stalker is willing to do anything to keep Colton for themself.

•••••

REVIEW: HERO’S PRIZE is the third instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL; OAK CREEK romantic suspense series, a second-generation spin off from the author’s LINEAR TACTICAL series. This is thirty-two year old, extreme sports star Colton Harrison, and bakery owner Ella O’Conner’s story line. HERO’S PRIZE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Colton and Ella) HERO’S PRIZE follows the friends to to lovers relationship between our story line couple. Colton Harrison has returned to his home town of Oak Creek, to film his latest extreme sport adventure. A friend’s wedding brings Colton up close and personal with Ella O’Conner where he will discover that Ella has crushed after our story line hero for as long as she could remember but one night together ends when Ella ghosts Colton the next morning, ghosting that left Colton wondering what happened or why but Colton’s adventure doesn’t go according to plan, and weeks will pass before our couple come face to face, again. Colton has a stalker; someone who is amping up the apparent ‘threats’ but our heroine is about to pay the price for Colton’s star power and popularity.

The world building focuses on Colton’s career; a possible career ending injury; the back and forth relationship between Colton and Ella, and the threats against our story line couple.

The relationship between Colton and Ella is a friends to lovers. Everyone in Oak Creek is aware of Ella’s attraction to our story line hero but Colton himself. Having followed Colton’s career, the town of Oak Creek will have to come together to protect one of their own. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar and charismatic secondary and supporting characters from both the Linear Tactical and the second generation Oak Creek series. We are introduced to videographer Rick, and Colton’s assistant Tony.

HERO’S PRIZE is a story of betrayal, obsession and jealousy; family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is fated and heart breaking; the characters are strong-willed, struggling and determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Hero Unbound
Hero’s Flight

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Hero’s Flight (Linear Tactical:Oak Creek 2)by Janie Crouch-review

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Sandy

Hero’s Flight (Linear Tactical:Oak Creek 2)by Janie Crouch-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 17, 2023

Air Force Combat Controller Derek Bollinger knows what it is to feel that every breath might be his last. Enduring hell in an enemy prison for five weeks taught him that.

The only thing that got him through it was the thought of his family, his hometown of Oak Creek, Wyoming, and especially of Becky Mackay.

He survived, but with blood on his hands. His own. His friends’ who died beside him. His enemies’.

And then…Becky’s.

A night that should’ve been perfect for them both turned into a nightmare Derek can never wake up from, leaving him with only one option: staying the hell away.

But Becky has almost lost the man she loves too many times—first to that prison camp, then to his own demons.

She’s not going to lose him again.

Yes, that night between them changed everything. Changed her. But change isn’t always a bad thing. And it’s time for them to stand together to face his PTSD and their future.

Especially when an unexpected danger comes after them both. Together will be the only way to survive.

••••••••••

REVIEW:HERO’S FLIGHT is the second instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary adult LINEAR TACTICAL: OAK CREEK romantic suspense series-a second generation spin off set in the author’s LINEAR TACTICAL world. This is Air Force Combat Controller Derek Bollinger (son of Finn and Charlotte ), and veterinarian Dr. Becky Mackay’s (daughter of Zac and Anne) story line. HERO’S FLIGHT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line and series is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Derek and Becky) HERO’S FLIGHT focuses on the rebuilding relationship between our story line couple. Years earlier Derek Bollinger suffered abuse at the hands of his captors in Afghanistan but upon his return, Derek struggled with issues of PTSD and guilt but as he continued to battle with his demons, he pushed his childhood best friend and the woman he loved, Becky Mackay, out of his life, leaving a trail of heart break and pain in his wake. Fast forward to present day, following eighteen months without communication, Derek will return to Oak Creek wherein he will come face to face with the woman he has never stopped loving but all is not well between our story line couple, and matters go from bad to worse when a series of questionable accidents befall our story line heroine. As Derek battles between head and heart with his need for the woman he almost destroyed, someone else is taking aim at Becky Mackay.

The world building focuses on Derek’s struggled with PTSD, and Becky’s need to forgive the man she will always love. As a pilot for a local search and rescue operation, Derek knows firsts hand the dangers of flight but never suspected he and Becky may be the next victims of a devious mind.

The relationship between Becky and Derek is a best friends to lovers, second chances relationship. Derek’s battle with his PTSD is threatening his relationship with the woman he loves but more so his own ability to forgive himself for what happened and why. The $ex scenes are intimate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large and familiar cast of dynamic secondary and supporting characters including many of the original Linear Tactical couples including Finn and Charlotte Bollinger (EAGLE), and Zac and Anne Mackay (CYCLONE), Riley, Dorian, as well as a number of the now adult children Colton, and Lincoln Bollinger.

HERO’S FLIGHT is a story of betrayal and vengeance, madness and murder, second chances, forgiveness and love. The premise is emotional and dramatic; the romance struggles in the face of self destruction and doubt; the characters are broken but determined and healing.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one HERO UNBOUND

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

HERO UNBOUND (Linear Tactical:Oak Creek 1) by Janie Crouch-review

Posted on August 1, 2023 by Sandy

HERO UNBOUND (Linear Tactical: Oak Creek 1) by Janie Crouch-review tour

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Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3qAu23b

ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date August 1, 2023

Eva Dempsey is out of options.

She’s made it to Oak Creek, Wyoming with two traumatized dogs, twenty dollars, and a fear of damned near everything.

Things that didn’t make it with her? Her self-esteem, confidence, or any way of supporting herself.

Theo Lindstrom knows how to survive. He proved it as a child when he had to keep himself and sister alive in the wilderness. Now he runs Linear Tactical, the company his adoptive father helped create, and teaches survival skills to others.

So he recognizes the desperation in the eyes of the petite beauty who’s pulled into town, and knows there’s more to her story than she’s letting on.

He normally keeps to himself—for very good reasons—but he can’t this time. Something about Eva draws him in a way he can’t resist, even knowing she’s got secrets. The deadly kind.

When the danger she’s running from shows up, Theo’s not going to let her fight it alone.

This is his town.
This is his woman.

And he’ll protect both to his last breath.

••••••

REVIEW: HERO UNBOUND is the first instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL: OAK CREEK romantic suspense series-a second generation spin off from the author’s LINEAR TACTICAL series. This is vet tech Eve Dempsey (daughter of Noah and Marilyn: STORM #10), and Theo Lindstrom (son of Dorian and Grace : GHOST #5). HERO UNBOUND can be read as a stand alone, you do not have to have read the original series to understand or enjoy.

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

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Eve and Theo) HERO UNBOUND follows in the wake of the arrival of our story line heroine to Oak Creek, Wyoming. Eve is on the run: broke, broken, with little money and only her two dogs to keep her safe but Eve is desperate and comes full circle working as a vet tech at Linear Tactical’s training farm but all is not well in Eve Dempsey’s life, and the demons from her past have followed her to Oak Creek, Wyoming. Theo Lindstrom is hoping to get up close and personal with our story line heroine but Theo suspects Eve may be lying, and her secrets are about to threaten the people she has grown to love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Eve and Theo, and the potential fall-out as the past returns, claiming Eve as his own.

The world building focuses on Eve’s struggles to prove she is worthy of trust and love but at every move something goes wrong, and her already low self-esteem is about to get lower when she is suspected of lying and making things worse. Working with the animals at Linear Tactical places Eve in the direct line of fire as her past threatens to destroy everything she has worked so hard to achieve.

The relationship between Eve and Theo begins as a prior friendship but Theo suspects something is wrong. Eve has missing memories, and black holes where she is unable to remember, and as such she is beginning to suspect that everything she had been told, to be true. As Eve and Theo’s relationship turns into something more, Eve continues to mistrust her own instincts, and falters at every step of the way. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

The familiar secondary and supporting characters include several characters introduced in the original LINEAR TACTICAL series. We are introduced to Eve’s brother Sam Dempsey, Derek Bollinger, and Becky McKay.

HERO UNBOUND is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, mental illness and abuse, obsession and love. The premise is edgy, dramatic, captivating and heart breaking; the romance is subtle and tender; the characters are desperate, broken, spirited and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy