Active Defense
Danger Never Sleeps #3
By Lynette Eason

Heather Fontaine is haunted by her past - her childhood and the death of an Afghani teen. And now she is being stalked. But she has no idea who or why. But Heather being Heather refuses to ask for or accept help from her friends. Now those who mean the most to her are being threatened and she knows she has to disappear if she wants to keep everyone safe.


When Heather disappears after a party, her friends aren't about to wait around for her reappear. And Travis Walker, who wants more than friendship with her, is going to put his skills as a security expert to good use. But with few clues to go on, keeping Heather safe is going to test them all.

Active Defense is an intense read that gives nothing away so that the reader, like the characters, is kept in the dark as to just who is behind all the unrest in Heather's life. As the layers, in this case, are slowly revealed more questions than answers come to light. Can they find the link that will tie everything together before it is too late? That is a question you will have to answer for yourself, but I will say you won't regret the time spent discovering it.

This is the third book in the Danger Never Sleeps series but if you haven't read the previous books that isn't a problem as each can be read as a standalone book. The book is well-paced, the characters fully developed, and the storyline attention-grabbing. If you like Romantic Suspense this book is one you will want to add to your 2021 to-be-read list. So sit back, curl up in your favorite corner, and escape into the pages of this book.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Active Defense will keep you on your toes! Heather Fontaine is an excellent female protagonist who has served her country in Afghanistan! When someone is stalking Heather, you'll begin to wonder if you are being followed! Nothing makes sense! Travis Walker has his own security company but he isn't having much luck at protecting Heather! Lynette Eason has written another book filled with suspense that will keep you wondering what will happen next! Who are the bad guys? I received a complimentary e-book through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

I don’t know how Lynette continues to pump out these heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat reads but she does it and I am never disappointed.

If you have read the other books in this series you will be happy to finally read Heather’s story and learn what makes her tick. She has quite the past that has left her hurt. Even if you haven’t read the other books you can easily pick this one up and fully enjoy it.

I had a pretty good idea who was behind everything early on but then Lynette threw in another possibility that had me second guessing. I was even thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading it, if that tells you anything.


A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This series has all the elements that make an enjoyable read with the closeness of a group of friends who support each other, especially when one is put in danger. These friends are mostly former military and served in Afghanistan and are now back in the civilian world, working with the FBI, investigations and security, medicine, news reporting and so forth. Heather Fontaine is a surgeon, devoted to saving people. She grew up in foster care after being taken from an abusive father and doesn't like to depend on others. When she notices she has a stalker, she lets her friends know and when her home is broken into, she decides to leave town rather than put her friends in danger. People are unhappy with her after a video is released of her trying to save a young Afghani man who had a bomb strapped on outside the field hospital. He had asked for her helped before it exploded so she was led to try to save him. But he died.
Travis Walker owns his own security agency and is attracted to Heather so when she disappeared from town, he and other friends unite to find her. Once she is found, he watches silently to make sure she is okay but when someone runs her off the road, he rescues her and the danger is just beginning.
This is a multilayered plot of different events, suspects, and mysteries to unravel that kept me reading to the end. I enjoy Ms. Eason's style of writing with the friends tied together by their friendship and faith and how their skills work to help each other out. Suspense and danger push the story along and sometimes danger is closer than you think while other events are not as they seem. Another winner!
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Active Defense had me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole novel. From start to finish, I had no idea who the bad guys were or why anyone would want to kill surgeon Heather Fontaine. Yet the attacks continue and Travis Walker steps in to help keep her secure.

I love the plot twists in this story! So much action and suspense kept me flipping pages. But there were some great relationship moments too. Heather’s rough childhood made her shut out others, giving way to her self-reliant nature. She struggles to ask for help, but changes her tune as her friends intervene to save her life. Travis sticks by her side and she begins to realize that she needs others.

The ending was intense and unexpected. I definitely recommend this to all of the suspense-loving, adrenaline-junkies out there looking for a fast-paced and exciting novel. Check out the latest in the Danger Never Sleeps series. I am so excited that there is a fourth novel coming out next August!

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through Revell and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Five star romantic suspense! This is Lynette Eason's third book in her Danger Never Sleeps series, and it is the best one yet. That is saying quite a lot as all of her books are amazing. Active Defense is full of twists and turns, and is totally unpredictable, my favorite attribute in a suspense or mystery novel. The theme of finding balance between independence and having the willingness to reach out to others as the need arises may resonate with many, but even if not, they will be in for a wild ride and great entertainment.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Active Defense from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed her are my own.

First let me address the fact that this is the 3rd book in the series. I’ve read book one but I wasn’t able to read book 2 (doesn’t time fly?). So with that being said, I think this book stands well on its own and you won’t miss anything if you haven’t read the other two books first. Now on to the book…

The number one thing I loved about this book was the plot twist. I totally didn’t see it coming and I don’t even want to hint as to what it is. It blew me away. Now granted I was already engaged in the tale. Trying to figure out what was going on, who was behind all the trouble Heather was experiencing and why. I loved how protective Travis was of her and that he had moments of vulnerability that gave Heather insight to his heart.

I also really, really loved one of the secondary characters and a couple of scenes with him made me tear up. All in all, this was a great way to start my 2021 reading year.

5 stars from me.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

Dr. Heather Fontaine left Afghanistan after a close call with a suicide bomber. Travis Walker, former military and detective, now owns a security company. He is interested in Heather, but has offered her friendship while she recovers from her time overseas. Heather admits that she feels threatened by someone who appears to be stalking her and Travis steps in to protect her. Leaving town to protect her friends, she is kidnapped and rescued by a young man that she befriended. Partially raised in the foster care system, Heather learned to depend on herself…not to bother others. She finally agrees to accept help from Travis and his friends to find the person who is after her and why. Does it have something to do with her time in Afghanistan? Has her father, who is in prison, paid someone to kill her? Travis and his family become her lifeline to sanity, but can he keep her safe? A totally riveting mystery and suspense until the final surprise ending. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Former Army doctor Heather Fontaine is still having nightmares about the boy that she tried to save in Afghanistan. Growing up in foster homes, Heather learned to rely only on herself. When Heather accidentally reveals to her friends that she has a stalker, Travis and her other friends are concerned that she won't want their help. Heather flees town when she realizes someone is in her home. When security firm owner Travis Walker learns where Heather has gone to lay low, he goes there to keep watch over her. This is the start of a very suspenseful story. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Heather is always in danger and Travis is working to help her. This book kept me speculating until the end of the book on who was behind the danger to Heather. I also enjoyed watching the relationship between Heather and Travis evolve from friendship to the start of a romance. Lynnette Eason has recently become one of my favorite authors with her Christian romantic suspense books. I highly recommend this book and this series.

I enjoyed this novel of suspense, the third in a series by Eason but one that reads well on its own. The strong aspect of this novel is the character study of Heather. She is a woman who served well as a surgeon in a dangerous overseas military assignment. She is quite independent, thinking she can take care of herself. Now back home, danger comes her way. She brushes off the help her friends offer her. She has to face her own limitations and decide to receive help from others. This is a spiritual decision for her as well.

There is plenty of action and suspense in this novel. There are a couple of aspects of the plot that troubled me, however. One of my pet peeves is a heroine getting into a suspenseful situation because of stupid action. In this novel, it happens on the part of Travis. He vows to protect her but then, near the end of the novel, leaves her alone. It was no surprise to me that danger and suspense immediately followed. I prefer suspense because of a smart villain and not because the villain takes advantage of irresponsibility on the part of the hero.

The second troubling aspect of the plot was its complexity. The villain managed to arranged a large number of events to occur in two countries. Near the end of the book when Travis and Heather review all of what the villain arranged to have happen, Heather says, “Unbelievable.” (4446/4905) If the heroine thought all the action was a bit too much to be believable, should I think any differently?

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the novel because I liked the character study and the lessons Heather learned through her suspenseful experiences. I recommend the novel to readers who appreciate insightful character development and are able to overlook an overly complex plot and a villain with more ability than is perhaps believable.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Amazing energy from Heather’s story. I felt worried about her stalker, scared as danger was imminent and love for the friendship among these heroes. Her story is intricately woven with suspense, love and faith. Her friends gave their stories of service in the previous books and we’ve met Heather before, however this wasn’t just her story. Eason has a way of combining mystery and suspense with faith and romance. I managed to zip through this in a day, easy reading and kept my interest. My review was provided voluntarily after reading an early copy.

A striking story from Lynette Eason!  Active Defense has nonstop action and compelling characters that will keep readers intrigued.  Suspense is not my usual genre, but I did enjoy this story and I was completely captivated by the last quarter of the book.  

Eason’s knowledge of the human character and her ability to intertwine people and events is what I liked most.  Every word, every character, every event was purposeful and kept the reader absorbed in the story.  I appreciated the inclusion of Heather’s and Ryker’s experiences with childhood abuse, and how they were able to become like siblings to each other.  Eason’s exploration of that trauma and its effects was very well done.  Though this is the first book I’ve read in this series, I was engaged with the continuing stories of past characters, whose books I am excited to go back and read.  

Active Defense is perfect for fans of Susan May Warren or Colleen Coble.  It is a great blend of suspense, romance, and faith, and has definitely inspired me to explore the suspense genre further!   3.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you want to sleep, then you probably should not start this book at bedtime because you will be up all night!!! This book is absolutely perfect!! Loved every page of it!! Must read for Christian suspense fans!

Book three in the Danger Never Sleeps lives up to the series intensity and drama. The chemistry between Heather and Travis in Active Defense is on point. Can they battle their inner demons to do what needs to be done to resolve the danger chasing them? In addition, the “minor” characters lend depth and understanding to this book as well as the series as a whole. I am enjoying this series and this 3rd installment did not disappoint!
I received a digital copy of this book to review, but the opinions here are my own.

If you're looking for a good bedtime read... well, this probably isn't going to be it. With nonstop excitement and suspense, this one had me on the edge of my seat staying up all night to see what was going to happen next... just as I have come to expect from Lynette Eason!

Active Defense is the third book in the Danger Never Sleeps series, and I'll just say again... the series lives up to its name! While I would highly recommend reading the series in order (it's fantastic), I believe this could be read as a standalone just fine as well. If you've read the previous books you'll see some familiar characters, but enough background is given to not feel lost too.

This story focuses on Heather. Having returned home from Afghanistan, it seems trouble has followed her in the form of a stalker. When things escalate, she leaves town but finds the trouble didn't stay behind. Despite her unwillingness to ask for help, Travis tracks her down to offer it anyway. I enjoyed their romance and seeing how Travis helped to break Heather out of her own issues... but the suspense definitely took center stage in this story. Just when you thought it was safe to take a breath, something else would happen. I truly couldn't put it down and found myself finishing in less than a day.

Initially, I found Heather's character to be a bit frustrating with her inability to seek help... but I also saw a lot of myself in her as well. While I wouldn't be one to run off without protection in a situation such as this... I am one who avoids asking for help in other areas of my life, as I think many of us do. As such, I think many of us can in some ways can find her a more relatable character in that way.

Overall, this was a fantastic read and one that fans of romantic suspense are sure to enjoy!

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

Dr. Heather Fontaine has returned from service in a hospital unit in Kabul, Afghanistan where a young boy tried to blow up the hospital unit. Now Heather is being stalked and it is beginning to freak her out. Her group of friends which includes both women and men in the service and protection industry are concerned about it, but Heather, having grown up in foster homes, tries to be in control and doesn't want to ask for their help. But as things get progressively worse, Heather has no other alternative but to accept their help.

Filled with twists, turns, and a totally surprise culprit, I enjoyed every single page of this novel. I especially like the relationship that develops between Heather, Travis and abused teen Ryker. Heather sympathy was so spot on as she totally understood where Ryker was coming from. The relationships between the group of friends as they protected one another and worked on the solution to the incidents was so powerful. I have enjoyed every single book in this series and look forward to the final book that will be released in August 2021 just not soon enough for me to find out what happens next to this group of friends.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Love that this series has a tie to soldiers serving in Afghanistan. In Active Defense, Heather Fontaine was a field surgeon and returns to South Carolina to work in a civilian hospital. Prior to leaving Afghanistan, she tried to save a suicide bomber which elicits strong emotions when a video is released. Now someone is trying to kill her. Who and why?

There are a lot of twists in the action and I never would have guessed the villain. Adored secondary character Ryder and the special connection he has to Heather.

Look forward to continuing this series.

Best book of the series so far!! I usually like the first book the best, but so far this is my favorite of the series. It kept me on the edge of my seat and constantly guessing at the ending. I did not see the curve ball coming. Such a fun book.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

While Active Defense by Lynette Eason is part of a series, it can also be read as a stand alone. I think the reading would be richer for having read the first two books, so you can understand the connections between the friends, but it is not necessary. I thought I had read the first two, but when I went back to see, I realized I had not. Lynette Eason is known for her thrilling suspense novels, and this one exceeded my expectations.

Heather is a surgeon who is stationed in Afghanistan, but quickly ends up back at home after a harrowing event. Once she is home she notices a stalker is following her, but never actually approaches. As she arrives at a party for one of her friends, she notices her stalker and starts after him. However, Travis arrives on the scene and the stalker gets away. During the party Heather downplays the stalker and tells her friends she will reach out if she needs their help.

After the party and Heather has gone home, her friends decide to take matters into their own hands and help Heather without her noticing. They decide Travis will follow her to make sure she stays safe. The only problem is they do not realize that once Heather gets home things are amiss in her house and she runs away. When Travis gets to her house that night he doesn't realize that she is gone.

This story is action packed, from the first chapter to the last. It will take the reader through a lot of twists and turns, with some surprises thrown in. Things are not always as they seem and it was impossible to figure out who the bad guy was. The characters are real and relatable with struggles like anyone else. For Heather it was trust issues from things that she dealt with in her past. This helped her to connect to another with similar circumstances which led to an incredible (and surprising!) scene that really touched my heart. Quite unexpected in a suspense novel, but incredibly well done.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense novels, that literally keep you on the edge of your seat. This book was hard to put down and an easy read. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out.

Thank you to Revell and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review, but was happy to do so. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! Active Defense is a thrill ride with twists and turns like a roller-coaster. I loved the close group of friends and their loyalty and camaraderie. The main characters are likable, and it's easy to understand their actions due to their backgrounds. I enjoyed the slow change in Heather. It felt very realistic, not an overnight thing. The mystery and suspense was off the charts.! The romance is sweet and clean.
One of my favorite lines in the book is, "You know, just because you have a bad start in life doesn't mean you have to have a bad finish."
I highly recommend this book to clean romantic suspense readers and to action/adventure readers. I have enjoyed all of Lynette Eason's books that I've had the chance to read.
I received a copy through NetGalley. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this excellent book.