Collateral Damage is a fantastic romantic suspense. Well crafted plot and characters. This plot kept me on the edge of my seat. Fans of romantic suspense will not be disappointed. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

We hear the phrase self-worth regarding one's self-esteem often enough. Baby boomers nearing or entering retirement are very familiar with the concept of net worth. Lynette Eason in Collateral Damage delves into the worth of humankind, the worth of all as being created by God. She also explores the theme of laying one's life down for another, and how the lens one sees others through impacts the willingness to do so. Of course in true Eason style she explores these weighty themes against the backdrop of a superbly told suspense story with plenty of danger, intrigue, and a bit of romance.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Collateral Damage from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Lynette Eason keeps getting better with each new novel and fans of her work will absolutely love the start to this new series.

Brooke Adams thought she left the danger behind after being honorably discharged from the army as a military psychiatrist. She still has nightmares about the explosion that nearly killed her while trying to move on with her life at home. When a stranger from her past shows up in her life, things get complicated and she finds her life in danger once again. Sergeant First Class Asher James may be out of the army, but he is far from danger. When he closes his eyes, the terror he faced comes back full force. After a bad family encounter, he decides it is time to see someone for help. When he sees a picture of Brooke in the paper from their time together overseas and learns she is now counseling close by, he makes an appointment hoping she will be able to understand and help him. He arrives at her office hoping to see her and finds a dead body instead. Brooke walks in moments later and is as shocked to see him as she is the dead body on her floor. It doesn’t take long for either of them to realize Brooke was the real target and now they are both in danger. Asher promises to protect her and get to the bottom of who is after her and what they want.

With each new book, Lynette Eason is developing stories that are fresh, feel real and will leave readers wanting more. I am falling more and more in love with her writing as she releases each new book. Brooke and Asher were a great lead couple in this series; I loved the way their relationship started and the fact that none of the romance in this novel felt forced. Sometimes in a romantic suspense novel, the romance can feel forced and take away from the storyline for me. Here readers get to see it all flow as it naturally should. I have to say there were a few moments I was caught by surprise with a few of the characters and their actions, a job well done. Even though part of the story takes part overseas with the fighting it was never difficult to follow who was where and keep up with the different story lines. This book has a good number of characters and I can’t wait to see how they continue to develop with the next in the series. My only complaint would be the ending fizzled just a little bit when I was hoping the tension would be ticked up an extra notch or two. Still, it was an overall wonderful read and I highly recommend it to fans of Romantic Suspense and especially fans of Lynette Eason’s writing.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This book quickly became a riveting read, and hard to put down, but will also lingering with you. At first, I was asking myself how what seems to be two different stories, what relates them?
When the answers begin to unfold it will make you sick, how much evil and greed there is and any anyone is expendable!
The author gives us a several women with a lot of compassion, and with what they have been through, you marvel at how they are there for their fellow man.
We are also given some good men, and without them the outcome of this story would surely have a different ending.
If you like Christian suspense this one will keep you right to the end, and then some!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell. and was not required to give a positive review.

I really enjoyed this book! I am not very familiar with military procedure, or circumstances, but I can tell when things are made up or fake. This book seemed very well researched to me, and I found the circumstances to be plausible, which added to the realness of the story. It helps so much to draw me into a storyline when I'm not questioning everything the author says/allows as being possibly false or made up.

I like how the physical altercations weren't always won by the main character of the story. Too often the heroes always come out on top, even when they're just regular people. This book seemed more realistic in the way it portrayed confrontation and the relationships between people. I really appreciate that in an author!

the characters were likable, and believable, and relatable. I enjoyed seeing a person who knows about mental health issues struggle with sorting through her own. It's not just a 'get over it' type thing when a person has a struggle. Too often, especially in Christian circles, we are told to 'give it to the Lord and get over it'. It's not that easy.

I did think the love interest parts of the book were at times a bit too much. We don't need to get into the lusty feelings of the characters. Letting their relationship develop without getting into their heads about physical sensations is a much better way to tackle those. (My personal preference.)

I would definitely read another book by this author, and I hope she makes this a series to continue to story of these characters. I would love to know what happens to the captain's daughter, and the main characters. Thanks for the advance copy!

There is so much to love about this suspense novel. Multiple storylines come together to reveal a complex plot that has a devastating impact. A team of highly trained professionals, from detectives and medical examiners and investigative journalists, to military men and women and psychiatrist, work together to uncover the threads of this international case. With two main characters that have a great chemistry as well as a heartbreaking connection via shared trauma, this romantic suspense novel is the perfect start to a new series.

Military psychiatrist Brooke Adams left the army after giving her all—and nearly her life—in Afghanistan. Now she is back on American soil and working again as a psychiatrist, she just no longer works with service men or women and struggles with her own traumatic memories and nightmares of the explosion she survived. So when she is assigned a session with former Army Special Ops Sergeant First Class Asher James, she is not sure how she is going to face the memories or the man who helped save her life. When Asher intercepts an attempt on Brooke’s life, the two team up to stay alive and discover how the current attacks fit in with their pasts.

There is a lot going on in this book. The story actually starts when Brooke and Asher are still serving in Afghanistan. The traumatic details of the bombs, explosions, death and loss really set the scene, both for the continuing action and also the characters’ shared trauma. Something that came across so well in this book was the depth of emotion, grief, loss and fear that the characters face. The nightmares, flashbacks and the fallout from these were all conveyed so strongly. It made it very easy to connect with Brooke and Asher and to understand why they would find in each other a shared understanding.

I really enjoyed the suspense and threads of mystery in Collateral Damage. Seemingly random events all come together to form a complex plot and there is never a dull moment (even the kissing scenes are exciting).

Collateral Damage is the first book in Lynette Eason’s new series Danger Never Sleeps and introduces readers to a cast of wonderful and scarred characters who I hope will grace the pages of subsequent books. With touches of family, friendship, and faith, Collateral Damage is a thrilling book with a big heart.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

“Collateral Damage” was another great read by Lynette Eason. This is the first book in her new series, “Danger Never Sleeps”. To me, this book was a little different than the other books that she wrote. But she definitely delivered with this one.

This book centers around Brooke Adams, a former military psychiatrist and Asher James, a former Army Sargeant. Asher decides that he needs help dealing with his “military demons”, so he goes to see Brooke. However, when he gets there, there is a dead body in Brooke’s office. This pulls Brooke and Asher together in non-stop action. Then they figure out that Brooke is really the target. This book has a few twists and turns along the way.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good, clean, romantic suspense novels. Lynette Eason is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve loved every one of her books.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Lynette Eason’s books never fail to keep you up until you’ve read the last page and this one is no different! If you’re a fan of military fiction (although this could be real in today’s world), you’ll love reading this plot-twisting, at times gut-wrenching book. I did have to concentrate on all the characters’ names as I got a little confused near the beginning. There are a lot of interacting characters, all with issues of their own from PTSD to pervasive fear and then there’s a greed factor thrown in. The main characters, Brooke and Asher endure harrowing, life-threatening situations which kept me on the edge of my seat! And trying to predict the bad guys from the good guys – good luck!

I received a copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley.com for an ARC for an honest review.
This is a very fast-paced book that just may keep you up all night so you can read it all. The characters are well developed and the action is non-stop. I like Lynette Eason's style of writing. She has a way of engaging the reader and drawing them into the story. If you've had any connection with someone who's been in the military during this time and if you've talked with that person at all, you will be able to easily relate to the issues that face the characters in this book. Not only is PTSD a problem, but throw in a dying man's last request and bad guys wanting to stop that wish from being fulfilled, and you've got yourself quite an adventure. After reading a book like this, I usually read a "cozy" mystery to calm my heart down. This book will not disappoint.

So many twists and turns and crazy connections in an international intrigue story – I couldn’t put this one down!
The newest release from suspense author Lynette Eason will have readers guessing how a military base in Afghanistan is intimately connected with an out of the way clinic in South Carolina. The action keeps going and the frustration of constantly being put in danger is palpable. This read is not for the faint of heart.
Shocking secrets. Shocking details.
It’s one of those – whaaaaattt??????!!! Kind of reads.
Military and FBI details seem authentic and immerse the reader into the story world well. Characters are well developed, and readers will find themselves drawn to the full cast – and dare I say it, even to the “villain” himself (until the reader discovers who he really is).
Oh yes, talk about goals, motivation and conflict – this story is chalk full of them, and each one so strong for the characters that it’s no wonder there is so much action and drama going on.
It’s one of those stories that wraps things up at the end, but leaves the reader sad for all the events that led up to the grand finale. It’s a horrible topic to think about and yet, I wonder how close to the truth it really is. It makes my heart sad to think of the cruelty humanity inflicts on the innocent and on the children – especially children.
So, reader be warned – if you don’t like reading about bad things happening to children, you might want to rethink this choice to read.
BUT
If you love suspense, trying to figure out connections, and stories with lots of action while giving you a sense of being right there in the middle of it, this is a great read to start off 2020 with.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Collateral Damage
by Lynette Eason
Book 1 in Danger Never Sleeps series
Release date: January 7, 2020
Rating: 4.5/5

Wow. That was so good. Lynette Eason always has thrilling stories but this one was extra special. Action, mystery, romance and medicine - what else could a girl need? (I’m not biased as a medical student at all lol.)

Having almost finished serving her time in the military as a psychiatrist, Captain Brooke Adams is injured overseas and sent home. She loves her job being able to help people but has never felt that she really helped any of the service men and women she saw in Afghanistan. She is determined to try to forget what happened and move on by not seeing any veterans in her new practice. That all changes when retiree Sergeant First Class Asher James walks back into her life just as bullets are flying. Unsure of why she’s being pursued, she and Asher must figure out what the bad guys are after and how to keep each other safe along the way. Will the sparks flying between these two souls help them deal with their PTSD and bring them closer together?

The military details are very authentic sounding and well explained for a non-military person like myself. It was a bit confusing in the first chapter with all the military lingo, but after re-reading it a second time, it made more sense. I guess I needed a warmup. ;)

I also love the way that Eason incorporates her faith into these stories. She has a way of weaving it all into the story without any cringe.

Her characters are flawed and need time to grow and develop. Mental health is such a huge topic in this day and age, especially with veterans. The story could be taken from the headlines - I love that she writes about what’s current and relevant for today.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves Christian military action, romance, mystery, and suspense.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Oh my goodness! This is a hard book to put down. Action packed and tense with suspense. And a wee bit of romance. It starts off in Kabul, Afghanistan where things fall apart for several Army soldiers and send them home to South Carolina. Brooke Adams, an Army psychiatrist is injured in a bomb in a restaurant while trying to help a patient. After leaving a hospital in Germany, she further rehabs in a burn unit in Atlanta and ends up in Greenville, South Carolina where her friend and former Army surgeon Heather lives. Asher James is a former Army Special Ops officer who carried Brooke out of the restaurant in Kabul. Asher and Brooke are brought together when he seeks her help with nightmares and blips of consciousness that take him back to Afghanistan. Instead, the morning of his appointment, he finds the body of the receptionist in Brooke's office where she practices with another psychiatrist friend. It soon becomes apparent that someone is after Brooks and Asher wants to help protect her. Why would someone want to harm Brooke? This turns into a widespread complicated plot that appears to have ties in Afghanistan and maybe the South Carolina/North Carolina area and involves some people that is a shocking revelation to those involved. This is an edge of the seat, page turner that is typical of Lynette Eason! And the first in a new series! So excited about that!
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Loved this book. Action packed and and great characters. I loved how it showed the emotions and the affected of war. Made you think with an awesome ending

I absolutely love Lynette Eason's books and this one did not disappoint. The theme was the only thing I was a little disturbed with. But I like that she brings topics like this to light. I did think the characters jumped around a bunch since it was set in two different countries and a lot of people were involved, but if you just paid close attention, everyone played an integral role in the story. I do wish it had a little more romance between Asher and Brooke, but I still thought their relationship was developed and an important part. If you are looking for a fast paced, suspenseful book, definitely pick this one up.

"Collateral Damage" is a Christian romantic suspense. Both Brooke and Asher were dealing with PTSD as well as unsupportive families. The suspense came from repeated, violent attempts to get something from Brooke. They needed to figure out what was going on, why she was a target, and who was behind the attacks. The main characters were kind people who reacted realistically to events. Brooke and Asher supported each other, built each other up, and made a good team. There were other characters involved in solving the mystery and saving innocents from being killed. I look forward to their stories. The Christians believed in the innate worth of human life because God created each person. This motivated their actions in the story. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting story.

3.5 Stars

Collateral Damage was an action-packed and exciting start to Lynette Eason's new Danger Never Sleeps series. It starts off with a bang and the lightning-fast pace doesn't let up until the end.

There's a big cast of characters, so it took me just a little while to get everyone straight and to figure out how all the different storylines connected. But once I did, I became even more invested and couldn't read it fast enough. There were quite a few shocking reveals I didn't see coming which made things even more intense. Dealing with a serious topic, it was disturbing, and quite chilling at times, but a very compelling read, nonetheless. I'm excited for the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

When I pick up a book by Lynette Eason, I know I am in for something great... and Collateral Damage was absolutely no exception. In fact, if she wasn't already in my top 5 must read authors, this one most certainly would have cemented her place! I absolutely could not put it down!

Collateral Damage quite literally starts with a bang, and the action and suspense doesn't let up from there. We are taken from the action packed war zone in Afghanistan to the continuing and perhaps unexpected danger here in the states. In this globe-spanning suspense, the author takes on some pretty intense and difficult topics. Among them, PTSD which as a military spouse is a topic I am quite familiar with and one that I feel was handled very well within this story--- affecting both of our romantic leads Brooke and Asher in very realistic ways. I won't share one of the other hard topics brought up in this story so as not to give any spoilers, but I will say I was astounded at the depth of this book.

There was a wide cast of characters introduced within this story, and I must admit it took me a bit in the beginning to keep it straight and to determine how all of these stories were connected to one another. As the story began to unravel and the connections were made clear, it was much easier to keep up... so don't give up on it too soon! It all works together quite beautifully... revealing just enough to keep us guessing. And boy was I guessing! While I did eventually figure out the primary bad guy before the big reveal, it wasn't much before that... though once I did, I recalled the quite subtle clues that we were given throughout... a reminder of just how fantastic Lynette Eason is at crafting these romantic suspense stories!

In addition to the suspense and romance, I also loved the beautiful message of faith throughout. The reminder that we were ALL created with a purpose is such a great reminder and a perfect fit within this story.

Overall, this was a fantastic read and may just be my favorite by Lynette Eason so far! I cannot wait to read more from this series!

** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

This was a great read with well thought out characters. The characters had depth, the romance was not instantaneous and heavy and the suspense was just right. Well done!

I thought this book was really good. The storyline was great! The characters were well developed, can't wait to see what happens in the second book. I did think the characters were a little slow in figuring out why they were being targeted when the answer was right in front of them. Former Army psychiatrist Brooke Adams is sent home after a bombing in Afghanistan where a soldier was killed. A soldier who spoke his last words to her "I'm not a traitor". On the home front, former special ops Asher James goes to see Brooke to get help from his nightmares. He interrupts an attempted murder on Brooke and together the two of them work to find out who is trying to kill her and why. Back in Afghanistan Brooke's friend, Sarah, an Army journalist is working on the story of a life time that ultimately ties into the case that Brooke and Asher are working on along with Sarah's brother an FBI agent. Definite page turner, full of suspense.

Collateral Damage by Lynette Eason was a really great read. Brooke is a former military psychologist on a base in Afghanistan whom after a bomb nearly kills her, returns home to work a private practice. Asher is an army special ops man who saves Brooke from the bombing and after another team loss decides to leave the service and decided to go to Brooke for help with his nightmares. While going to his very first appointment with Brooke, Asher walks in on a murder and protects Brooke from the assailant. Brooke and Asher then go on a wild and crazy journey to try and figure out who is after Brooke and why. Collateral Damage is a pretty great story that I finished in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I also really enjoyed all the characters and the different POV’s throughout the story. The only problem I had was how so many things magically happened within a few hours drive of each other even though there were so many characters that to have everyone come from the same area was just a little too out there, but I see how it worked to keep the story moving forward.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.