Cover Image: Lights Out

Lights Out

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This first book in the SNAP collection promises to be a series readers are sure to enjoy. Plenty of intrigue, high-stakes, and team dynamics that really bring the story to life on the page. Fans of Ronie Kendig and Lynette Eason are sure to love Natalie Walter’s new series!

Was this review helpful?

I rarely read stories that involve spies, the CIA, and terrorism, but that’s what made reading Lights Out so fascinating. The tension in this romantic Christian fiction story builds at just the right speed. It is action-packed and had my heart pumping.

Jack and Brynn are unique and believable characters. Jack was easier for me to connect with. I suppose Brynn felt a little more closed off (in the beginning) because she’d always relied on herself instead of allowing others in. I enjoyed learning about their past and how it was affecting them working together in the present.

I can’t begin to explain the range of emotions I went through while reading this first book in the SNAP Agency series. (SNAP = Strategic Neutralization and Protection.) There are so many elements that kept me turning pages—romance, suspense, threats to National security, kidnapping, murder, spies…

Although stories focusing on international spies and terrorism isn’t something I strive to read, I just adore a second-chance romance story. And this one was fulfilling. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. My review was not influenced.

Was this review helpful?

We had to wait over a year and a half for this new novel from Natalie Walters but in this case it was definitely worth the wait!
Things were a little detail heavy at the very beginning but it was all necessary information so bear with it! And once the story gets set up and rolling you totally get sucked into it!
My favorite part of this book was definitely the S.N.A.P. team! I absolutely love well done team dynamics and these guys definitely had that! The banter and camaraderie between all of them was fantastic!
Jack was a great hero and I admired his calm amidst the storms and his selfless desire to protect others.
Brynn was a little harder to like at the start but she definitely grew on me and I enjoyed seeing her character growth throughout the story!
I liked the fact that Jack and Brynn had a history that gave them a stronger basis for their relationship even if it meant they had some things from the past to work through. The two of them were great together and I was rooting for them the whole time!
This wasn’t your typical find the one bad guy and stop him suspense but rather it there were several puzzle pieces and the team was in a race to fit them together before time ran out! There were several close calls throughout and I was completely invested in every twist and turn!
This book was a wonderfully enjoyable suspense and I definitely recommend it! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Was this review helpful?

"Lights Out" by Natalie Walters is a great political thriller. I usually don't enjoy political thrillers, but I really enjoyed this one. Natalie Walters writes in a way that catches your attention from the first page. This book had a lot of twists and turns along the way. I really liked the romantic tension between Brynn and Jack. I look forward to the next book in this series.

I highly recommend this book and all books by Natalie Walters. This is a good, clean, political thriller.

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

Was this review helpful?

This is an excellent thriller that deals with the threat of both domestic and foreign terrorism. I read this book in one day. This book is very suspenseful and is action-packed. Even thought the emphasis is on the mystery, it also introduces a lot of interesting characters on the SNAP team. I also like that there was a second chance for romance between Jack and Brynn. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I recommend this Christian thriller. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. It was action packed, full of suspense. There were so many twists and turns many of which I did not see coming. Honestly, it felt like watching an episode of NCIS or other similar show. The characters were also fantastic. I loved the relationship and the growth of the main characters. Though, I do have to say Kekoa was probably my favourite character and I look forward to his story coming next.

Was this review helpful?

After discovering Living Lies, the debut novel by Natalie Walters, I knew I found another romantic suspense author to add to my list of favorites. Her Harbored Secrets series was wonderful and so engaging to read, but readers will be blown away by the phenomenal start to her new series.

Lights Out, the first book in her new SNAP series, is by far my favorite book written by Natalie Walters with its interesting premise, relatable characters, and realistic romantic thread weaved into the storyline. The deep friendships between the members of the team make them feel like a family that you wish you could be a part of.

If readers have a chance to read the prequel novella, Initium, it gives background information of how the SNAP team was formed and other details briefly mentioned in Lights Out. You do not have to read the prequel novella prior to reading Lights Out, but it gives readers an enjoyable backstory and allows them to form an immediate relationship with the characters of the SNAP team.

There are many handsome, charming, fun heroes introduced in this series who readers will love to learn more about. Lights Out focuses on Jack Hudson, one of the members of the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency, and CIA analyst Brynn Taylor, who he once shared a romantic past with. So many twists and turns in this novel kept me guessing to the very end. The author incorporates beautiful messages of God’s grace and the hope that God offers us. I cannot wait to see what Natalie Walters has in store for the rest of the series!

Lights Out is highly recommended for fans of romantic suspense, and readers who enjoy novels by authors such as Lynn H. Blackburn, Dani Pettrey, Irene Hannon, and Rachel Dylan.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Was this review helpful?

This is a read that you won't be able to put down, you will be holding your breath, afraid to breath or something might happen. Yes, this book is full of action, and you never know what will happen next, and yet, someone has to figure this out, before time runs out!

Brynn Taylor is CIA, but has been sent down to SNAP, run by her old boyfriend, will he be her boss, but she needs to correct a problem, and find her missing Egyptian!

If you like suspense at its finest, this read will not disappoint, there seems to be something happening around every corner!

Now I can't wait for the next book in this series!

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

Was this review helpful?

I believe I have mentioned this before in a review, and I’ll say it again: “America is the best” novels are some of my favorites. From the moment my mother introduced me to Brad Thor and Vince Flynn, I was hooked. Natalie Walters grabbed my attention with the back cover of Lights Out, and she did not let me down. I’m always willing to try new authors, because it leads me to discovering writers like James R. Hannibal…and Natalie Walters. Lights Out is among my top-ten books I have read in 2021. To put that in perspective, I had finished 116 books already by the time I touched Lights Out.

Eight years ago, Jack and Brynn trained together to be part of the CIA’s Directorate of Operations. They went their separate ways, but their paths collide with the disappearance of Remon Riad. Brynn’s boss assigns her to work with the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) to locate him, preferably before the Egyptian spy could attack the United States. After what happened when they trained together, Jack does not trust Brynn…but Americans’ safety could be at risk. He pushes past his misgivings because he has no choice.

Where do I begin? I loved the entire SNAP team. Lyla, Garcia, and Kekoa—the lighthearted dynamic between the characters provided the perfect levels of humor amid the stresses of the situation. While each character differed, they all meshed flawlessly, demonstrating how differences can make a unit stronger rather than weaker. They kept each other positive, grounded, and accountable. The group may split up to cover different responsibilities, but they still communicate. I need a Kekoa in my life, please! He reminded me of a character from CBS’s Hawaii Five-O reboot. When you meet him, you’ll understand!

The novel also touches on a very significant national security issue that seems to be underestimated: homegrown violent extremism. Though it sounds terrible, many of us fall victim to racial profiling and prejudice. Lights Out stresses that anyone can be a terrorist. Anything on the internet lives in perpetuity, and so many platforms follow algorithms. If you watch a video or spend a lengthy amount of time reviewing certain content, you’ll probably be shown more of it. With no contact with a terrorist group, someone can self-radicalize. Align himself (or herself) with the group’s beliefs…and potentially affect countless lives.

Lights Out by Natalie Walters features a believable, heart-racing, and high-stakes plot. “We must stop this, or America goes down!” type of pressure. I found myself chewing on my fingernails, brows crinkled, whenever I lost myself in the book’s pages. With a good book, someone almost has to yell at me to get my attention, because I will be so engrossed. That has happened infrequently in 2021, but Lights Out demanded my full concentration. Not because it was overly complicated or hard to understand but because I became invested in the story. I also appreciate that the suspense part of the novel’s “romantic suspense” genre wasn’t secondary. The novel is very well balanced—comedy, intrigue, romance, and excitement, all wrapped into one.

Hold on to your hats and make sure your seatbelt is fastened. Lights Out by Natalie Walters is a wild—but enjoyable—ride into a national security nightmare. We will never know the threats from which the intelligence community protects us on a daily basis. Lights Out provides a fictional glimpse. A delectable and tempting taste that I want to consume again and again. Bravo, Natalie Walters! Bravo.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! The SNAP Agency series is off to a fantastic heart-pounding start with Lights Out! This story grabbed me and never let go. I love the main characters Brynn Taylor and Jack Hudson and the fun camaraderie of Jack's team. Brynn and Jack haven't seen each other in 8 years and are forced to work together to stop a major terrorist plot. They have quite a bit of history to overcome amidst non-stop action. Lights Out would make a fantastic movie! Amidst life and death situations, what is truly important comes more into focus. Brynn remembers her Dad's advice to anchor her trust in God, and Jack's advice to 'Choose fear or choose faith, but only one choice will bring peace.'
I cannot wait to read the rest of this wonderful series by Natalie Walters. I HIGHLY recommend this story for lovers of excellent romantic suspense!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy of Lights Out. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Another excellent romantic suspense novel from Natalie Walters! This is the first in the new SNAP Agency series (though there is a prequel novella that I haven't read yet), and it sets up the new series nicely. This book follows CIA analyst Brynn Taylor, who has been over a program that she designed to help prevent terrorism before it starts, when one of her diplomats disappears. Enter former flame and team lead at SNAP, Jack Hudson. While they endeavor to put the past behind them to uncover the mystery of what happened to Riad, past feelings continually crop up, especially when Jack saves Brynn's life a time or two. This one had the right balance of romance and suspense. The romance moved at a reasonable pace and because there was history, it was absolutely believable. The mystery and suspense elements had so many twists and turns, I had no idea where it was headed until it got there. There was great character development in this cast of likable characters, lots of good pop culture references (make sure you're up on your "Princess Bride" before reading), a subtle but solid faith thread and a phenomenal story line, making this an utterly fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it! I would definitely recommend to fans of romantic suspense novels. Special thanks to Revell and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of the book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Character development is great in this story but I found the plot to be a little bit confusing. There are a lot of threads that weave together and the author does a nice job of tying it together in the end.

Was this review helpful?

Light Out is a very well written romantic suspense. Great plot and character dynamics. A real edge of your seat page turner. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Suspense fans will not be disappointed.

Was this review helpful?

4 out of 5 stars for Lights out by Natalie Walters. While the book was very enjoyable, fast paced and suspenseful, I personally was not a fan of the subject overall. Cyber crimes and cyber attacks just do not pique my interest as much as I wish they did because this is very relevant to the day in which we live in today.

Overall I loved the characters and appreciated the fact that Brynn and Jack already had an established relationship. This made their connection much more real and relatable. I feel the book touched on a few too many subjects; international terrorism, domestic terrorism, trafficking, international affairs, and a few others that made it a little hard to keep track.

Also, I like when you can try and guess which character may be involved and the author I felt brought the bad guy out of nowhere. I wish there had been a little more focus and history on him throughout the story.

Overall a solid and enjoyable read. I am looking forward to the other books in this series as I loved the main characters.

Was this review helpful?

"Lights Out" is a Christian romantic suspense/mystery. I felt slightly exasperated with the romance. The whole thing started with Jack saying that he didn't trust Brynn because she betrayed him, but it turned out that all she did was choose her dream job over a budding relationship with him. Years later, they're still attracted even though he still struggled with her going into danger and wanting to spend so much time on the job. I'm not saying that it's a bad relationship, but Jack seems to love her "despite" these stress points rather than learning how to make the relationship work.

Anyway, the characters reacted realistically to events and came across as real people with genuine struggles. The suspense came from an unknown terrorist threat that they slowly uncovered (will it be in time?) and the danger that it put them in. Brynn was able to protect herself in unarmed combat. But I appreciated that, after Jack repeatedly tackled Brynn (and it really was to save her life), she finally got injured from it. I've long thought that having a large, brawny man knock a woman down would result in some injury.

Brynn didn't quite trust that God was both good and in control. She learned to "anchor" herself in God to find peace when life was out of her control. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting novel.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve waited a few days after reading Lights Out by Natalie Walters to write this review. First off, I do agree with another reviewer that this is Walter’s best book to date. The suspense was intriguing from the first intro chapter to the end. The characters were unique and the SNAP team is a fun group with plenty of camaraderie. However, the romance side plot did not mesh well with the mystery. Brynn is so completely focused on her job and it seems unlikely that she would fall head over heels again that quickly for her former boyfriend. By the end of the novel, the whole plot seems extremely far fetched and hard to follow. Overall, I would give 3.5 stars wince it was an interesting read, but somewhat disjointed at times.

Was this review helpful?

The first book in this series will have readers wanting more. The SNAP team is a tightly knitted organization featuring characters with knowledge and determination to protect America. This fast paced story provides readers an up close view of what it takes to seek and prevent cyber attacks. The characters are interesting and unique in their own way. Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

This book was absolutely fantastic! I was totally hooked by this plot and the SNAP team is everything! I absolutely loved the SNAP team dynamic. The humor and camaraderie made these characters feel genuine and real. The team felt relatable and provided a great balance of humor and lightness to the seriousness of what was happening in this book. There was plenty of action and danger as the team began to uncover all the pieces of this plot.
Straight up, Brynn was hard for me to like. She was focused, driven, and placed her work and calling before herself and anyone else. However, she had so much character growth in this book. It was the “learn the hard” way kind of growth, which I always find to be more relatable. She had some pivotal moments that did win me over in the end. I always like it when a character changes my mind! Jack was fabulous and I adored him!
The plot kept me guessing until the conclusion and what a conclusion! Stressed out for real as the book was in its final pages! It’s a nail biter and was so well done! I cannot wait for the next book in this series! I just want more of this team!!!

Was this review helpful?

'Choose fear or choose faith, but only one choice will bring peace.'

When I read Natalie Walters' first book, I was hooked on her writing. She has released three books prior to this one and they've all been really good. This time, Walters totally ups her game. Big time.

Fighting terrorism on an international level, Brynn Taylor, a CIA analyst, and Jack Hudson, from the SNAP agency, must race against time to prevent what will play out as a total catastrophe. Then there is the issue of trust, or non-trust, they have with each other. Can they set that aside and work together for the common good?

Pulse-pounding excitement and action-packed, this one is a definite for the keeper shelf. And the secondary characters are great! Well done!

My thanks to Revell Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.

Was this review helpful?

Egypt. Terrorism. Romance. All of these elements work nicely together in Natalie Walters’ newest release, Lights Out. The story and plot center on the SNAP agency as they deal with life and working to stop the terrorism from other countries. Brynn, the heroine, is thrown into this agency as a temporary employee as she works through the current issue. The characters are crafted with enough personality and knowledge that I can’t wait to see what Walters does with the sideline characters that appear in this novel. Of course, what romantic suspense novel does not do well without a little romance? Walters throw this into the plot to keep the readers interested. Jack, the hero, and Brynn have a little past that filters onto the current story and does have them wondering what if. The plot was a little unpredictable, but being a terrorist plot story, it is really not that original. Most stories with terrorism feature the same elements and usually have the same vein to an ending. While I believe this story is a lot stronger than her previous series, I do wish the terrorism plot was written with a unique twist. Overall, if readers are a fan of DiAnn Mills, Colleen Coble, or Patricia Bradley, then this is definitely a novel for you to read.

I received a complimentary copy of Lights Out by Natalie Walters from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own

Was this review helpful?