"Concrete Clockwork" by Laura Breck is a rollercoaster of a thriller that earns its five stars with a gripping narrative, well-developed characters, and heart-pounding action. From the very first page, the story grabs hold and doesn't let go, delivering a relentless pace that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The protagonist, Lottie Nightshade, is a compelling and dynamic character. Breck skillfully portrays her as a tough ex-military operative with a sense of duty and a vulnerable side, making her instantly relatable. Lottie's transition from civilian life to a high-stakes mission driven by blackmail is portrayed with authenticity, adding depth to her character.

The plot is intricately woven, combining elements of suspense, action, and a race against time. The stakes are high, and the tension escalates with each passing chapter. The inclusion of Dane Harrington, the philanthropist forced into a moral dilemma, adds another layer of complexity to the story. The ethical dilemmas faced by the characters make them more human and relatable.

Breck's writing is sharp and vivid, creating a cinematic experience for the reader. The scenes are well-described, allowing the reader to visualize the action and feel the intensity of the situations. The pacing is expertly handled, with no lulls in the narrative, ensuring that the reader remains engrossed from start to finish.

The theme of sacrifice and heroism is powerfully portrayed as Lottie confronts the bomber and faces the prospect of sacrificing herself to save others. The emotional depth and the moral quandaries explored in the story elevate "Concrete Clockwork" beyond a typical action thriller, adding substance to the adrenaline-fueled plot.

In conclusion, "Concrete Clockwork" is a masterfully crafted thriller that excels in all the elements of the genre. Laura Breck has created a compelling and unforgettable story with well-drawn characters, a gripping plot, and a satisfying blend of action and emotion. Fans of thrillers and suspense novels will find "Concrete Clockwork" to be a thrilling and rewarding read that leaves them eagerly anticipating Laura Breck's future works.

The story is an odd mix of genres. It does not go the way one would (or at least I did) assume it would go. We first encounter the lead protagonist attending an interview for a fancy job, or so she assumes. She is caught in an inescapable net, and the only thing she can do is follow instructions. There is a timer on an issue, and Lottie has to beat the clock to save lives, including hers and the ones she loves.
The ending and the provided semi-twist made it worth finishing, but this was not a book for me. Although they were all described well, I struggled to connect with the people, even though the writing was pretty efficient. The author did a great job presenting the story, but the story itself did not hold my emotional attention. A lot is happening in the story, and it is a reasonably quick read.
It is the kind of book where I say that I personally did not enjoy, but others will! I would recommend it to the readers of the more romantic thriller genres. The possibilities of relationships are laid down more as a subtext than actually on the page. There is an undercurrent that might be picked up to be the focus in future instalments, which is again something most readers would appreciate. On the whole, I did not want to talk down the book but still bring out why it was not for me. I hope I managed to convey that with this review!
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

First book by this author and Laura Breck pulled through! If someone were to recommend this book, I would say, "You know me so well!" - This book was definitely right up my alley. The suspense build up = page turner. The story flowed well. I couldn't stop wanting to know what happens next. Very enjoyable!

I was definitely drawn into this story from page 1 and enjoyed the cat-and-mouse aspect of the story. Lottie is a strong lead character although not always as observant as I would have liked her to be. I guess you could argue that she lets certain things about Attos and Harrington slip by because of everything else going on, but there are hints that she realizes things aren't quite what they seem but then it's dropped almost right away. I'm also trying to figure out Harrington's feelings toward Lottie - he has no problem using her to meet his own needs, but gets all upset when she even suggests he's ruthless and only cares about himself. I am also left trying to figure out exactly what's going on between Lottie and Stone (are they just growing into really good friends? are they sleeping together? what's their story?). Like I said before I really loved the thriller part of this story between Lottie and Balfour, but found the ending between them a bit anti-climatic. He has killed innocent people, tried to kill her and her family on multiple occasions and the final fight between them felt too quick and easy. The little twist involving him and his sister was something I wondered about previously in the story, but it just didn't seem to make total sense when it was confirmed at the end. With a few little fixes involving the characters this series could be really good. This author is great at writing the tense, thriller aspects of the story. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 whenever it comes out! A solid 3.5 stars.

☕ Book Review ☕

☕ Concrete Clockwork by Laura Breck

☕ Publication Date - 9th March 2021

☕ Ex-military operative Lottie Nightshade is enjoying civilian life helping her widowed sister raise three teenagers. When a last-minute job interview turns out to be blackmail, her peaceful days are over. Lottie is given two choices, and the least deplorable of them is doing wetwork for an eccentric millionaire.
Philanthropist Dane Harrington has no option but to blackmail Lottie Nightshade. Dane was contracted to terminate a bomber who threatened to level a new arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. The stakes are too high to trust the time-critical mission to anyone but a skilled operative, and Dane knows Ms. Nightshade will not do the job willingly.
When the bomber realizes he's been targeted for extermination, the hired killer is already closing in on him. The only way he'll live to trigger the arena's destruction is by stopping Lottie Nightshade.

☕ Concrete Clockwork is a fast-paced suspense novel, full of twists and turns, which kept me turning the pages right to the end.

☕ The characters are well developed, Lottie is a take charge and get the job done kind of woman. Harrison is a bit mysterious and definitely dangerous. I can't wait to see what they get up to in the next book of the series!

This book pulls you in from the first line and the amount of detail and activity keeps you hooked until you reach the last page. Also loved the different POVs as we get a look into the madman’s head.

Follow Lottie Nightshade as she races against time to stop a bomber from killing hundreds of people.

*the kids ages confused me a little but otherwise it was ok.

**I received a free copy in exchange for honest review.

When Lottie Nightshade left the military, after twelve years of service, she thought she was done with killing…but she was wrong. Now she is being blackmailed to work as an assassin, to eliminate those that the law can’t. Should she refuse, certain details about her abusive brother-in-law’s death will be made available to the police. She is not concerned for herself, but when they threaten her sister, she has no choice. A man is threatening to blow up an arena, killing many unless his demands are met. The bombs are already in place so Lottie must find him before he makes good on his threat. A back-and-forth suspense as Lottie matches wits with the bomber. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)