This story starts off sweetly with Charle making cupcakes to help steady her nerves after not being on the river since "the accident" one year ago. From this point forward this story is action packed and filled with suspense. When Charlee's return to the river goes horribly wrong, Hunter, her best friend and Fish and Wildlife Officer, shows up to sort out what happened.

As soon as this incident is being investigated another accident and another accident occur all happening to Charlee's family. Charlee and Hunter start working together to find out what is really happening. Soon their "best friend" feelings turn romantic and add a nice twist to the story.

The plotting of this story is excellent and the suspense gave me chills. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Charlee Tanner left her job as a FWC officer after the tragic drowning of a teenage boy during a kayak trip she was leading for a side job. When the story starts out it is the one year anniversary of the accident, and she is trying to deal with the residual guilt and fear from the accident. After leaving her job she has taken over running her family’s guide and outfitting business after her mother suffered a stroke. Her unease is only heightened by the knowledge that she has to lead another group out that day.

Knowing the significance of the day, Lt. Hunter Boudreau comes by the Outpost to see Charlee before she leaves. As a longtime friend to her brother and her best friend he is worried about her. Add to that his secret attraction to her and he can’t help himself from following her group out on the river trip. As it turns out, it is a good thing he did because Charlee and her group are ambushed by an unknown person. A teenage girl is shot and Charlee suffers a concussion after getting grazed by a bullet and hitting her head on a tree. They quickly determine the timing of the incident cannot be a coincidence and after the danger spreads to her family, they must find out who has it in for Charlee before it is too late.

While I enjoyed the book overall, I admit that it started to drag about 3/4 of the way through. There was an overabundance of characters and storylines and trying to keep track of everything was bogging me down. There was also a secondary storyline involving Hunter’s promotion to lieutenant that cropped up repeatedly and I actually would have liked to read more about if there hadn’t been so much going on in the main one. I would give this one 3.5 stars but I am looking forward to reading future books in the series as I would like to read more about Charlee’s brothers!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

Beyond Risk is non stop action through the Florida rivers and the rapids. The story of the first anniversary of a kayaking accident, Charlee is the kayak tour guide, and former Florida Wildlife Officer, out on the river with a small tourist group when suddenly gun shots ring out. In the end, Charlee and Brittany, a teenager on the trip with her brother and father, are wounded. Charlee, her brothers, Pete and Josh, along with her best friend Hunter, a FW Lieutenant, are determined to solve the crime. And it leaves them wondering, after the occurrences of this day, was the original accident exactly that? Or was it something else?

This book is quite the ride and a real page turner. I loved the excitement of this thriller. And you couldn't deny the chemistry between the two main characters, Charlee and Hunter. The pages were sizzling with it.

I recommend this book to fans of the Stephanie Plum series, as you'll find the same sass, attitude and lovableness with Charlee, although she is a little more adept at her job than Stephanie.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

In full disclosure, I have an auto-approval from this publisher, Casablanca Sourcebook. In truth, I haven't read a book from them that I really liked. This one started out soooo promising. the plot, the characters and the setting all intrigued me. The writing is fairly good too, with one exception: the story of Charlee's kayaking accident should have been told as a Prologue. Having it told during a current incident was confusing for me. Overall, the story worked, until I got to know Charlee and Hunter. So much angst and both MC's trying to outdo each other for supreme martyr really messed up a pretty good plot.

Charlee was a Florida Wildlife Commission officer. In her spare time she guided kayak groups. A year ago a group got caught in bad weather and a teenage boy drowned. Charlee took it really hard, quit the FWC and basically hid from life. She is taking another group out when someone starts shooting, wounding Charlee and a teen girl. They both survive but the teen is later murdered in the hospital. Charlee feels it is her fault for not protecting the girl. Hunter, a FWC Lt, is sure someone is targeting Charlee and vows to protect her. Someone is after Charlee, but the why and who are the mystery this story turns on.

DNF @35%. Started out promising with a lot of action, but I just can't get into this one. I'm not engaged and I keep having to force myself to pick it up again. The writing and characters feel one dimensional, and contrived. The romance does nothing for me, and their reasons for keeping each other at arm's length seem weak. Not a good sign when you keep looking at the % to see how much longer you have to read.

A copy was kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review.

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: BEYOND RISK by Connie Mann https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-b0o
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars

This was a whitewater-rapids ride, with danger and suspense around every turn. I loved it. Charlee and Hunter were both believable and relatable, their backstories woven seamlessly into the story so that you became invested in them early on. I’m used to more graphic sex, but I did not miss it in the least, as the romance and physicality of it flowed well with the rest of the story. I could not put it down until I knew for sure who the bad guy was. Some situations may have been a little improbable, but they were sure fun to read. I’m looking forward to book two!

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle https://amzn.to/2CJkpTi

Charlee is a hoot but also a very capable person. She is still reeling from losing some passengers on her wildlife trip and has now landlocked herself. Her family love her but she a bit of a crush on Hunter. But there is a small wrinkle in her infatuation - he got the job that her brother had been aiming for and now she is split in 2 directions.

But has history seems to be determined to repeat itself, Charlee and Hunter need to team up and determine who has decided that Charlee's time on Earth is up! Charlee doesn't need a man to complete her, nut a certain Cajon hottie surely makes life fun again! I am a sucker for a man with a drawl and Hunter ticks all the boxes!

Superb mix of small-town murder mystery, family drama and hot romance. I really hope there are more in the series to come. I'm especially holding out for a certain brother and Charlee's best friend!

Beyond Risk is an exciting and suspenseful start to a new series by Connie Mann. Having enjoyed the Safe Harbor series and being a Florida resident, I was looking forward to this new series and was not disappointed. This series is centered around Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and how crazy life in the wild can get. Charlotte "Charlee" Tanner is a former officer and now runs her family's kayaking and canoe business near Ocala. She worked a side job as water guide while she worked for FWCC but quit after a tragic circumstance led to the death of a young teenage boy and a near drowning of his sister. She was able to save Nora. As the story starts out, it is the one year anniversary of JJ's death and she is leading a group of kayaking on the river. She has never recovered from the incident and is especially anxious about this trip and with good cause. She spent the night before baking cupcakes for her friend's cafe to keep her mind off of being nervous. Another teenage brother and sister are on this trip. Things are going along fine on the trip until Brittany drops her phone overboard and jumps in after it. Only, she doesn't come back up to the surface. Another young man on the trip and Charlee jump in to look for her. She is finally able to find her and get her to shore but then someone starts shooting at them. Both Brittany and Charlee are hit but Charlee's is a graze on her head and Brittany is doing well until she dies unexpectedly...or is murdered. One after another of the Tanner family is targeted, with a water related attempted murder. Best friend and maybe something more, newly promoted Lt. Hunter Boudreau sticks to Charlee like glue as the whole FWC crew and Marion County Sheriff Department work to solve the case. Charlee's brother Josh is a FWC officer and brother Pete is a sheriff deputy. It will takes all hands on deck to figure this mystery out but not before lives are in danger from an unknown assailant. All clues seem to led back to the incident a year ago but who, why and how? This is a mystery that is hard to figure out and there are many possible suspects. People are not who they appear to be. Ms. Mann does a great job when the setting descriptions and character development. I could visualize the tannic acid colored waterways, cypress trees and knees and Spanish moss dripping off the oaks.
This is looking to be another great series by Connie Mann.
I received a complimentary ARC from the author through NetGalley. All thoughts and opnions are mine only.

Beyond Risk is a fast pace mystery mixed with love story. Author Connie Mann bring readers into her world where Charlee has a big family who loves her and tries to help her though the one year anniversary of a teens death who on her watch. Her best friend Hunter who has stuck by her side helping he deal with the sorrow and death.
Romance, Mystery, bombs, and alligators will keep readers needing the truth behind who killed girl and who is trying to kill her family.
This is a great start to a new series by Connie Mann.
The will admit that I thought this was the second in a series with the missing information that will be filled in later on in the book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advance Copy of Connie Mann Beyond Risk

What happens when you have an exhausted former Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officer taking out a kayak tour on a one year anniversary to a tour gone wrong, where the death of a teenager still plays havoc with her? You get an enthralling suspense, that will keep you turning the pages, that’s what!

Charlee is a strong character, and yet she is lost due to the guilt she feels. She has lost her enjoyment of being on the rivers, and yet feels an obligation to her father. When it becomes clear that someone else is remembering the anniversary too, things take a twist. There are so many suspects, it is hard to narrow it down. Each of them has a part to play, and each have their reasons, but only one is the killer. With Hunter by her side, Charlee is prepared to face the danger head-on. They are best friends, but both of them want more.

This was such an intriguing tale, from the start to the end. Charlee knows what she wants, or needs, to do, and isn’t prepared to take no for an answer. However, she also won’t do anything stupid either, which made a refreshing change. This book has a strong character base, with both main and supporting characters fully-fleshed out and playing their parts. The story was interesting enough for me to sit back and enjoy the flow, not worrying about whodunnit.

A gripping tale, with other stories and characters just waiting to have their say. I would definitely recommend this book.

First off, I love the fact that Connie Mann had the setting of her new series Floria Wildlife Warriors be in Florida. I was raised in Central Florida but now reside in the part of Florida, where people consider it more Alabama than Florida. (Believe me, I live in Florida because I happen to live about 45 minutes away from one of the most beautiful beaches to visit in Florida and I have to deal with lovebugs twice a year. Those darn lovebugs are a nuisance to cars.) I also love the name that she gave the series, which is the Florida Wildlife Warriors. Two of the four reasons why I decided to read Beyond Risk. One other reason was due to the synopsis of the book, and the last reason was that I had never read anything by Connie Mann, yet.

The lead female character Charlotte (aka Charlee) Tanner is a former Fish & Wildlife Officer who is still troubled by a traumatic event that happened on her watch a year ago. Now it's present day, and she's working with her family at their river rafting business in Florida. Unfortunately, it's the first anniversary of the traumatic event, and Charlee is about to face another event that is going to change her life and another family's life.

One of the biggest things I noticed, when reading the story is how Charlee has very supportive and protective family members and a best friend that has her back throughout this book. Poor Charlee is having to deal with everything again that she is still recovering from a year ago and I felt terrible for her. She got through it though because she's one stubborn, strong female character in the story. Her best friend Hunter knows she won't stay behind on figuring out why someone is getting always hurt on her watch. He's determined though to watch over her and be there for her. He was more worried about Charlee's well-being through the story and was a gentleman. I could tell though they both cared for each other. :)

Overall, I give the first book in Connie Mann's Florida Wildlife Warriors series 3.5 stars and recommend it to fans of Connie Mann and Romantic Suspense readers.

Why not a higher rating? The main reason behind the 3.5-star rating was due to how the book started. I was overwhelmed with all the characters being introduced at the beginning of the book, and there were so many things happening I couldn't keep up with it all. It was a lot to take in when reading the first book in the series. Don't get me wrong though; I did enjoy getting caught up in the suspense of the story and the setting of the book/series. There was more suspense/mystery than romance in the book, but I was determined to find out who was behind it all. I wanted Charlee to have some closure and her to finally release that Hunter loved her.

Will I pick up the second book in the series and read it? Yes because I want to find out what happens next in the series and who will be the spotlight in the next book.

I look forward to keeping up with this series and checking out Connie Mann's other books too.

BEYOND RISK is a delightful mixture of small-town romance, high-octane suspense, and breath-taking outdoor settings in the rivers and waterways of Florida. But what truly sets it apart is its focus on family and friendships. I loved the heroine's family, the Tanners. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she has some hunky sexy brothers who are wildlife officers. And it was so much fun seeing a heroine who could out shoot, out think, and out smart just about anyone--and could also bake a pretty mean cupcake. Charlee (Charlotte) is a real pistol and you'll find yourself rooting for her all the way when it seems like her whole world is collapsing around her. She proves how capable she is, over and over, and that she doesn't "need" a man to protect her. But gorgeous Hunter Boudreau, with his sexy cajun drawl, is still going to do everything he can to try to take care of the woman he's falling in love with. Mr. Yummy, as Charlee's best friend calls him, is the perfect match for fiesty Charlee. Sparks fly between these two and they learn to work together to figure out who is trying to kill Charlee and everyone she loves. I truly enjoyed the story. And unlike Charlee, who is determined to save herself, I'd let Hunter save me any time!

This was just .... okay. I didn't really connect with any of the characters (there were so many of them). Wasn't the worst book I've read but definitely not one I would recommend and not a series I would continue reading.

Thank you #netgalley and #sourcebookscasablanca for the eARC.

2.5 Wine Glass #Review of Beyond Risk by Connie Mann
Kimberly's Thoughts:

Beyond Risk starts off the Florida Wildlife Warriors series dropping the reader into relationship drama and murder mystery. There are a lot of characters to keep track off and I have to say, I didn't quite get a handle on who was who until the second half of the story. Our heroine Charlee is a former Fish and Wildlife Officer who is starting to take over her parents' business of selling outback supplies and offering guided kayak rides down the rapids. Last year a teenage boy was killed on one of her guided trips and now on the anniversary, another teenager is almost drowned and shot. Last years accident is starting to look like murder and the murderer is back.

Along with Charlee, we have her two big brothers Pete (cop) and Josh (Fish & Wildlife Officer), her younger sister Natalie, an ex-boyfriend who doesn't want to be one, an employee who has a big crush on her, another younger male who has a crush on her (or at least her cupcakes), the two different families of the teenage victims, a father and mother (recovering from a stroke), and last but not least, our hero Hunter. There are some other minor characters but you can tell by that cast list what I was talking about a lot of who to keep track of.

The story does start off right the bat but I checked twice to make sure this wasn't second in the series or if I had missed some prologue story. Charlee and Hunter's friendship starts and develops before this book starts, so when we come in, the ground work is already laid and feelings have already developed, they now have full blown crushes and want to get together. This was disappointing as that is why I read romance, to witness and enjoy the building blocks of romance. The case work of putting the pieces together, racing to rescue everyone of Charlee's family members (dad isn't targeted I guess, but everyone else has danger moments), and searching for a possible murderer; it all started to feel a bit repetitive.

The chemistry between the leads felt pretty dry, Charlee doesn't know if she can trust her instincts towards Hunter. This started to feel very forced as Hunter constantly is great to her and she is always thinking how his actions put her agency first (there is an ending scene to cause some friction between them to angst this up). Hunter has the ever present storyline of not feeling good enough for Charlee, even though he only really pushes her away twice and then actively is trying to be with her. This was fairly clean overall, their sex scene goes by pretty quick and is cloaked in water rafting metaphors, think something about riding the rapids. They came off as probably would work in real life couple but not particularly romantic, inspiring, or fun to read about.

The murder mystery simply had too many characters along with their backstories to explain motivations, it was confusing and not all that believable in certain parts. There were obvious red herring characters but as they faded into the background or were left abandoned, I couldn't help but think what was the point of them as they only clogged up the story. Charlee supposedly has this great relationship with her siblings but they never really interact in many scenes, leaving an empty hole in feeling their relationship. I did enjoy the one or two scenes she had with her mother, these were heartfelt and added to the emotional feel of the story and brought depth to both characters.

Characters felt a bit like they were standing still as the story weaved around them, instead of feeling like they were a part of and guided the story. The building of the romance and relationship between Charlee and Hunter seemed to happened before the reader is brought in and some secondary characters clogged the story instead of added to it. This was pretty fast paced and if reading about two characters who like each other while stop and go driving around trying to figure out a possible murder mystery, with some crocodiles, a snake, and the hero calling the heroine cher (many, many times) making appearances, there is plenty of that here for you.


REVIEW TO BE POSTED 02.04.19

This is my first read by this author but it certainly won't be the last.

Although billed as a friends to lovers romance, it is so much more! Anyone that enjoys a bit of mystery and a dose of thriller as a side order to their romance will thoroughly enjoy 'Beyond Risk'!

It is my first 5* read of 2019.
Thank you Connie Mann

Received this book for free in exchange for an honest review, Beyond Risk was for me a major let down. I am not going to sit here and type all the things that i disliked and liked even though there wasn't much. I personally had very high hope with this story but it didn't work out for me. The story has a lot of characters in it, and the main couple have already a strong connection. The murder mystery aspect, was very confusing and i was confused to actually get it. Each to there own. My thoughts are that and you may pick this up loving it and i hope you do.

*3.5 stars - rounded up to 4 for rating purposes*

A very fast read that I got through quickly which was testament to its enjoyment factor! This appears to be the first in a series and I will definitely be looking out for the next book.

Charlee is an ex-law enforcement officer who, on the year anniversary of a tragic event that Charlee was at the heart of, is shocked to the core when the unthinkable happens again. Further incidents that centre on Charlee's family get her eager to find out if someone is out to get her and although she has taken on a new job her instincts for catching criminals do not appear to have left her behind.

I'm always an absolute sucker for a touch of romance and so was delighted that alongside the mystery of this story there was also a potential love interest for Charlee in the shape of her best friend Lieutenant Hunter Boudreau.

Overall I found this an easy read and I had not guessed who the "baddie" was which always pleases me. There were any number of suspects and quite a few red herrings along the way which did ramp up my intrigue!

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely riveting. The story was a tad slow at the very beginning, but as soon as it took off I couldn’t put it down. Well written and filled with thrilling twists, this is a romantic suspense you don’t want to miss out on.

I loved the characters, and their playful banter with one another. It really made them feel real.

The plot of the story was fantastic and kept me intrigued until the very last page.

This is the first book by Connie Mann I have read, but it definitely won’t be the last.

This is fast paced and entertaining thriller with some romance. I liked the style of writing and I like the cast of characters.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Netgalley for this ARC

Beyond Risk starts off the Florida Wildlife Warriors series dropping the reader into relationship drama and murder mystery. There are a lot of characters to keep track off and I have to say, I didn't quite get a handle on who was who until the second half of the story. Our heroine Charlee is a former Fish and Wildlife Officer who is starting to take over her parents' business of selling outback supplies and offering guided kayak rides down the rapids. Last year a teenage boy was killed on one of her guided trips and now on the anniversary, another teenager is almost drowned and shot. Last years accident is starting to look like murder and the murderer is back.

Along with Charlee, we have her two big brothers Pete (cop) and Josh (Fish & Wildlife Officer), her younger sister Natalie, an ex-boyfriend who doesn't want to be one, an employee who has a big crush on her, another younger male who has a crush on her (or at least her cupcakes), the two different families of the teenage victims, a father and mother (recovering from a stroke), and last but not least, our hero Hunter. There are some other minor characters but you can tell by that cast list what I was talking about a lot of who to keep track of.

The story does start off right the bat but I checked twice to make sure this wasn't second in the series or if I had missed some prologue story. Charlee and Hunter's friendship starts and develops before this book starts, so when we come in, the ground work is already laid and feelings have already developed, they now have full blown crushes and want to get together. This was disappointing as that is why I read romance, to witness and enjoy the building blocks of romance. The case work of putting the pieces together, racing to rescue everyone of Charlee's family members (dad isn't targeted I guess, but everyone else has danger moments), and searching for a possible murderer; it all started to feel a bit repetitive.

The chemistry between the leads felt pretty dry, Charlee doesn't know if she can trust her instincts towards Hunter. This started to feel very forced as Hunter constantly is great to her and she is always thinking how his actions put her agency first (there is an ending scene to cause some friction between them to angst this up). Hunter has the ever present storyline of not feeling good enough for Charlee, even though he only really pushes her away twice and then actively is trying to be with her. This was fairly clean overall, their sex scene goes by pretty quick and is cloaked in water rafting metaphors, think something about riding the rapids. They came off as probably would work in real life couple but not particularly romantic, inspiring, or fun to read about.

The murder mystery simply had too many characters along with their backstories to explain motivations, it was confusing and not all that believable in certain parts. There were obvious red herring characters but as they faded into the background or were left abandoned, I couldn't help but think what was the point of them as they only clogged up the story. Charlee supposedly has this great relationship with her siblings but they never really interact in many scenes, leaving an empty hole in feeling their relationship. I did enjoy the one or two scenes she had with her mother, these were heartfelt and added to the emotional feel of the story and brought depth to both characters.

Characters felt a bit like they were standing still as the story weaved around them, instead of feeling like they were a part of and guided the story. The building of the romance and relationship between Charlee and Hunter seemed to happened before the reader is brought in and some secondary characters clogged the story instead of added to it. This was pretty fast paced and if reading about two characters who like each other while stop and go driving around trying to figure out a possible murder mystery, with some crocodiles, a snake, and the hero calling the heroine cher (many, many times) making appearances, there is plenty of that here for you.