Gripping and difficult to predict what's coming next is the main theme here. It's an interesting suspense thriller that combines with romance.

gripping, addictive and completely unpredictable. I devoured this book in just one sitting. This is unique and pulled me in quickly. Well-written and able to transport the reader.

Sadly, suspense romance just isn't for me. I couldn't immerse myself in the story which made reading very difficult. Did not finish.

This is a fast-paced romantic suspense thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. Book starts off with a plane crash, and Joelle has to rely on the survivors. But can she trust all of them? Really enjoyed it.

*thank you to Netgalley, Headline Eternal and Melinda Di Lorenzo for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


2 stars.

This wasn't what I was expecting. It started off quite well and definitely grabbed my attention. I knew going into it that this book has also been classed as a Romance but I didn't realise that it would have such a strong storyline. Unfortunately for me personally, I found it was too much and I wasn't interested in it. It felt like it over took the Mystery-Thriller aspect.

Though saying that, this was well written and if you are wanting a Romance-Thriller novel then I reckon you would be pleased with this one.

This book had me stumped. Sitting smug and thinking I had it all thought out, the author put me in my place. Finally we have a thriller that will keep you your toes.

This was my first book by Melinda Di Lorenzo and I definitely will be looking out for her books in future, it was outstanding.

Joelle recently had a bereavement and therefore has been throwing herself into work. When an opportunity to comes up to be a prison medical escort she sees the job as a way to escape her grief for a short while. However, the prisoner Beck Samson, is not what she expected and once on board the plane she has a gut feeling that something is very very wrong. She realises she should have trusted her gut when the plane suddenly nose dives and crashes into the forest but worse than that, the men who she thought were on the right side of the law and who have survived the plane crash are trying to kill Beck and her. Joelle now has to decide who to trust and if she wants to stay alive, she has little choice but to trust Beck, a convicted murder, but who may be the only one who can keep her alive.

Wow this was brilliant! I have seen one reviewer compare this story to a mix up of Con Air and Romancing The Stone (I loved both films) and I wholeheartedly agree. At only 12% into the book, I was hooked and by then I have to admit I already had a little bit of a crush on Beck. I also really liked Joelle’s character, she was tough and strong but also vulnerable at times and I loved the chemistry between Beck and her.

All in all, a really excellent story and I would honestly recommend this to any readers who love a thriller, the action came thick and fast, and you won’t want to put this down.

Thank you to Netgalley, Melinda Di Lorenzo and Headline Eternal Publishing for my advanced reading copy. Out now.

When your life is in danger; who do you trust to survive?
Joelle Diedrich doesn’t like the new last minute assignment, escorting a prisoner… She doesn’t know who she is escorting or why she was picked, but from the first moment she arrives at the airport, something doesn’t feel right. So, when the plane crashes, who should she trust, the prisoner or the ones that have the guns?
I’ll admit that this is a read to disconnect and let the story to carry you; with adrenaline flowing in your veins and high chemistry between the two main characters, it’s not difficult to get abducted with the book.
Even if this is not a very long book, it has a detailed story of the two main characters; how they both arrive at the situation they are living in and how they should trust each other if they want to survive. As you can imagine it will not be an easy adventure, with a few surprises and twists between the pages it’s quite easy to not want to arrive at the end of the story.
If you are looking for a read to disconnect and fall in love, “The Hostage” is the one you are looking for, believe me! Ready for it?

The Hostage wouldn't be everyone's choice of novel before a long haul flight, but then I've never been conventional!

Having said that, the plane crash itself is not really the focus of the novel, it's more of an opening to the rest of the story.

Joelle is grieving her Mother's death when she is assigned as a medical escort for a prisoner transfer flight. Used to working in prisons as a nurse, passenger transport isn't something she's experienced before.

Beck, the convicted murdered who is being transported is not what Joelle expected, but then she wasn't given a whole lot of information about the last minute assignment so shouldn't be surprised by that!

When the plane that they are travelling on crashes, Joelle at first believes that she is the only survivor, but she quickly realises that Beck is also alive. Should she trust him in, and allow him to help them both to safety? Or should she risk going it alone and not making it?

It's a tough call, but one that's made easier when they are shot at, and realise that they are not the only survivors, and that someone is after Beck certainly, and maybe Joelle too. As they flee the crash site, Joelle can't help but wonder not for the first time what the hell she has gotten herself into.

Nothing is as it seems in this fast pace thriller. I hadn't been sure what to expect from this, but it was a great read and left me wanting more.

A gripping romantic suspense, The Hostage is my first read by author Melinda Di Lorenzo. I enjoyed the premise, the plot twists and mystery. Beck and Joelle were interesting characters and the story kept me engaged throughout

This book started similar to the old Con Air movie. It was fast paced and provided a lot of action and suspense, but it seemed to drag on in some parts and not all of it made sense to me. I felt like I was missing something. The romance between Beck and Joelle was a nice added bonus. Wasn't a bad read though overall. I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Hostage.

Joelle needs a change and finds herself as a medical escort to a prisoner. They have an instant bond and are enjoying the flight when it crashes in the mountains. Then the race for survival begins. But is Beck all he seems, or is something else going on?

I don’t quite know what to say about this book. It was okay. Found it easy enough to read and get through, but it didn’t keep me gripped. I like thrillers and disasters, but the romance was just totally unbelievable as they had only known each other for hours! This is a 2.5 stars rounded up.

Action Fuelled Drama…
Much romantic suspense in this action fuelled drama where surviving the plane crash is the simplest part. With a credible cast where no one is as they seem, a plot where nothing is as it seems and with a swiftly moving narrative this is a pacy, energetic read.

This book has so much going for it. It literally jam packed full of action. It doesn't let up from the very first moment until the very last. It is a thrilling, rollercoaster of a ride. Really well written. Don't miss it.

“The Hostage,” by Melinda DiLorenzo, is an action-packed, don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-something kind of novel, which makes it impossible to put down once you’ve started reading. The anticipation is taut, the surprises are many, and the twists come to skew what one might think one has figured out. It is an exciting, romantic, suspenseful read with a very satisfying ending.

Joelle Diedrich, fresh from the loss of her mother and still grieving, believed her life to now be merely “gray.” She had been on leave from her prison nursing position, looking for something “different.” Joelle received a last-minute phone call to substitute for a no-show medical escort on a Prisoner Transport Unit detail, and she decided to accept. After meeting the team, she walked across the tarmac toward the very small plane to be told she could not board until seating arrangements had been decided. An SUV pulled up, its window slid down, she met a very handsome man whom she assumed was another member of the team, and they chatted, flirting. After Joelle entered the plane and was being told where she must sit, she turned to see him board. The man, Beck Samson, cuffed and shackled, was sandwiched in between two security guards. Her mood immediately soured, feeling deceived by the man and their immediate connection on the tarmac.

After their plane crashed, however, and it appeared that Joelle and Beck were the only survivors, she must rely on him—the last man on earth she ever thought she could trust, with her life.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Melinda DiLorenzo, and Headline Eternal for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nurse Joelle Diedrich needs a change; her mother died recently, & her own life seems to be going nowhere. When an opportunity to step in as a medical escort to a prisoner transfer, Joelle volunteers. From the start, things seem slightly off, & the others in the group are distinctly unfriendly, except for Beck, the prisoner. When the small plane crashes in a remote region, there are seemingly few survivors, & Joelle sets off with Beck to try & get back to civilization. It soon becomes apparent that there is a mutual attraction between Joelle & Beck, but can she trust him with her life?

I don't usually read a lot of romantic fiction, & I must have missed it on the synopsis, but actually it turned out to be an entertaining read. It definitely gave me Romancing the Stone kind of vibes; gutsy leading lady, easy on the eye leading man, & several bad guys chasing them. It was easy to guess most of what was going to happen, although the author put in one or two surprises towards the end. 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 on sites which don't allow half star ratings).

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Headline, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Very twisty and fast paced but, I did get a little bogged down with the story at times as it felt to just go on and on. Towards the end I just wanted to finish it. Quite a let down at the finish. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The nurse and the prisoner

This is a fast-paced romantic suspense thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Joelle Diedrich is a prison nurse who is having a difficult time recovering from the loss of someone close to her. She ends up taking a last minute job as an escort in a Prisoner Transfer Unit flying a convicted murderer to another facility across the Canadian Rockies. She starts questioning procedures from the beginning of the trip and then the plane crashes, leaving few survivors and many questions.

I liked the main characters in this story, and even though the storyline was a bit convoluted, it was still a fun read - heavy on romance, lighter on suspense.

I received this book from Headline Publishing Group through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

The Hostage by Melinda Di Lorenzo

Riveting Read – Could Not put it down!

What I liked:
* Joelle Diedrich: RN, prison nurse, substitute medical escort for prisoner transfer, intelligent, giving, caring, capable, grieving, willing to do what it takes…someone I would like to have as a friend
* Beck Samson: prisoner, convicted of murder, being transported, keeping secrets, has a plan, intelligent, protective, intriguing, perfect with and for Joelle
* The writing, pace, and plot
* The way I was swept into the story and felt I was there with Joelle and Beck as they ran for their lives
* The twists, turns, and surprises
* Not knowing who to trust
* That there were surprises even though I read the end out of sequence
* The mountainous terrain
* Beck’s survival background and how he learned what he knew
* Watching the relationship develop between Beck and Joelle
* Wondering how it would all play out
* Thinking about what I would be willing to or not willing to do if I found myself in the shoes of Beck or Joelle
* Reading a new-to-me author that I enjoyed
* All of it except…

What I didn’t like:
* Exactly what I and who I was meant not to like
* Thinking about all that the main characters endured…

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitiely

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Eternal for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Beck has served two years in prison for murder and is now being transferred. As he approaches the plane, Beck sees a red-headed young woman – Joelle is a nurse and has agreed to step in as a last-minute medical escort for the prisoner transfer flight. Both Beck and Joelle start to get an uneasy feeling from the other transfer personnel, and then suddenly the lights go out and the plane begins to descend …

After being knocked unconscious, Joelle awakens to the realisation that no one on the plane was who they seemed to be – and if she is to survive, she is going to have to put her ‘trust’ in a convicted murderer!

I did enjoyed this book, particularly the relationship between Beck and Joelle and their amusing dialogue! It reminded me of a mix between Con Air and Romancing The Stone. I started to feel the need to skim read at just over the halfway point as it began to feel like a lot of the same, but I resisted – and i’m glad that i did, otherwise i might have missed out on the killer tree branch and the friendly fire that ensured a happy ending. I think the issue i had was that i went into reading this one blind and thought it was a thriller, when it’s more of a thrilling romance story! It’s also one of the rare occasions ///that I think it would have been better as a movie – one of the made for tv movies – and that’s no criticism. I love them!! #GuiltyPleasure

My thanks to the author and Headline for an advance copy via Netgalley to review. Due to be released 15th March 2022!!

Three thrillingly romantic stars

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