This was a not my favorite Julie Garwood book. I could not relate to the heroine, Isabel, at all. Is she quirky or does she need medication? The hero, Michael, was also a problem for me. I'm used to alpha heroes that don't want to acknowledge, let alone talk, about their feelings but Michael was extreme and just annoying. I didn't feel any connection between them. Additionally, the plot felt a bit scattered and was slow until three quarters of the way through the book. All in all, an okay read but far from the best of the series.

I am a big fan of Julie Garwood's historical romance novels, but unfortunately Grace Under Fire was simply not my cup of tea. Isabel, the heroine of the story, was too "perfect" and one dimensional and frankly, immature. I could not get past how everyone acted around her or her ridiculous behavior when she was literally injured. This story was simply not for me.

Grace Under Fire by Julie Garwood is the 14th book in her wonderful Buchanan-Renard series. We meet our heroine, Grace Isabel McKenna, having just graduated from college and now on her way to Boston to attend the Buchanan Anniversary Celebration at their Nathan’s Bay home. Isabel is days away from her 21st Birthday, when she will inherit land in Scotland left to her from a distant uncle; with her sister planning to travel with her.

Happy to see many of the Buchanan family, whom she is close to, as her sister Kate is married to Dylan Buchanan. After Isabel checks into the local hotel, she decides to take a walk, and out of the blue and man falls in front of her bleeding profusely, and as she tries to help him, she notices another man running toward her aiming a gun; Grace grabs the injured man’s gun and shoots the villain dead.

Michael Buchanan, our hero, is the one who will come to help Isabel, since he is an attorney. She of course isn’t happy to see him, as they have never gotten along over the years. Michael has appointed himself Isabel’s guardian, as he plans to watch over her, despite the constant bickering between them.
Before she went to Nathan’s Bay, on her last night of graduation, she was with friends drinking, and a video of her singing a song she wrote herself became viral. Isabel is approached by a famous popular singer, who wants to her to sing her song at his upcoming concert. Isabel always loved music, even though her deceased mother was against it, but now she wants to pursue her dream; she becomes an overnight sensation, though she prefers just writing the songs.

Isabel has received constant calls regarding selling her inheritance, and in a short time her life is in danger, as threats against her materialize. Isabel secretly left after the anniversary celebration to go early to Scotland, and the family learns there is a kill order on her life. Michael immediately appoints himself as her protector, and flies Scotland in hopes to find her, before the attempt against her.

What follows is an exciting and suspenseful story, as Isabel and Michael find themselves in the middle of dangerous situations. I loved Isabel and Michael together, even their bickering was fun; as their romance escalated and their chemistry was off the wall sizzling. Isabel was a great heroine, always liked by everyone, and Michael was tough, smart and the perfect alpha. I loved seeing many of the Buchanan family, such as Kate/Dylan, Theo/Michelle, Alec/Regan, Nick/Laurent and Noah/Sydney.

Grace Under Fire was another fantastic addition to this series, and so very well written by Julie Garwood. I have missed some previous books, and one day I will find time to back and read them. I suggest you read this book, as I loved it.

Julie Garwood is the author that made me fall in love with romance. I devoured her entire library in high school but haven't gone back for more until now. This contemporary thriller romance was classic Garwood with an actual MacKenna falling in love with an actual Buchanan. I loved it so much, it didn't even matter what the plot was (but the plot was fun too).

Grace Isabel MacKenna had just finished college, celebrated with friends and then traveled to Boston. The plan was to visit the Buchanan’s to celebrate her brother in law’s parents anniversary and then on to Scotland. Fiercely independent but a touch naïve she decides to take a walk near her hotel in Boston. Lost in thought, and then just lost, she stumbled into a dangerous situation and ends up killing a man in self defense. After that it’s a whirlwind of police interviews, viral videos, and family get togethers. Throughout all of it, former Navy Seal and lawyer Michael Buchanan, is there to protect her, whether she likes it or not.
Julie Garwood is the master at writing books in a series that can also be read as stand alone novels. I’ve read a few in this series, all out of order and had no problem keeping up. The characters are well rounded and endearing and there is just enough tension between the love interests to keep you invested but not too much that it detracts from the story. Full of humor, mystery, action and romance combined with excellent writing, makes this one a great read. I highly recommend it!

4.5 STARS

Of all the things Grace Isabel MacKenna intended to do in Boston, defending her life and that of a wounded man was not one of them. Grace had plans to attend the Buchanan’s anniversary party of her large extended family-by-marriage and then head to Scotland for an inheritance from a mean old uncle. After her walk around Boston nearly turns fatal, Grace has to spend time with the police and much to her dismay, is being shepherded by one Michael Buchanan, former navy seal and now lawyer. Michael is the one family member Grace’s dislikes mainly because of his poor treatment of her some years before the recent incident.

The thing about Grace, who is a very talented but shy musician, is that she lives a lot of times in her head writing lyrics and melodies tending to miss out on the world in front of her. After a pub performance goes viral, she is talked into performing with the most popular singer around which is way out of Grace’s comfort zone but catapults her into instant fame. She is also a horrible driver who traumatizes anyone who rides with Grace, said person vowing never again. After the big family celebrations at their retreat outside of Boston, Grace heads to Scotland to begin her next set of adventures.

Grace and Michael spend much of their time arguing when they are not fighting their mutual attractions and once, they give in, things do not get a lot better on that front. Grace takes off for Scotland with Michael high-tailing it after her because it seems she is still very much in danger. Once together, Grace and Michael work their way towards the Highlands property trying to find out information from the locals who is threatening her and why.

This is a new to me series which I really enjoyed and worked fine as a standalone although this book is number 14 so naturally several characters have their own backstories. This story is a fine mix of romantic suspense and humor along with an interesting continuing story line. I am sure fans of the newest Buchanan/Renard/MacKenna series will be well pleased with this addition

Finally, what I’ve been waiting for for five long years! A new Julie Garwood book! *Insert swooning here*
Julie Garwood writes humorous romantic suspense like no other author. I absolutely love her style and her voice, and this book has numerous nail-bitingly suspenseful parts and gut-bustingly hilarious bits.
This novel is quite lengthy, and as a result, we don’t get just the suspense and romance plotlines, but we also get a lot of backstory into the heroine, Isabel, and her love of music. I really loved this plotline, and it provided a nice beginning to the story, which eventually grew more and more suspenseful as the book progressed. That said, while we get a bit of insight into Michael’s past, I would have liked for that to have been fleshed out more. I don’t quite remember the details of the previous books, so maybe we should remember more about him from those–but this is a standalone, so I would expect a bit more digging into his history in this book.
Isabel and Michael have amazing chemistry. They seem to despise each other at first, and their witty banter is top-notch humour. Michael is swoon-worthy, and his tendency to jump to conclusion adds quite a bit of well-placed humour to the story, but these little scenes also have him (unintentionally) demonstrating how he truly feels about Isabel.
Garwood sure weaves a good yarn, and even the humorous parts have a purpose. There’s a running gag earlier on in the book that actually plays a critical part in the climax of the novel. Brilliant!
While I loved the book and the plot, some of the technology-related stuff did make me grimace. A 23-year-old would not be putting the sole copy of their songs on a flash drive. As a 30-year-old, I barely use flash drives, and everything these days is on the cloud. A 23-year old either wouldn’t back it up at all, or she would have it sync with iCloud or OneDrive or Dropbox or something similar.
This book revisits many of the couples from previous books. While I don’t quite remember the details of their suspenseful love stories, I was so delighted that the family reunion gave us a chance to see these couples in their happily ever afters. This alone was worth waiting five years for!
I recommend this book if you love a lighter romantic suspense novel that has a lot of substance and humour!

This romance with hints of suspense and lots of humor stars Michael Buchanan and Grace Isabel MacKenna.

Isabel has recently graduated from college and has as her first new task a trip to Scotland to claim an inheritance from a distant relative. Before that, though, she has been invited to attend an anniversary part for her sister's in-laws - the famous Buchanans.

However, an absent-minded walk through Boston leads her to a dangerous situation wherein a man who is shot collapses in her arms and she uses his gun to put a bullet between the eyes of his attacker. The family sends Michael to straighten things out for Isabel.

Isabel and Michael met at her sister's wedding where she took a distinct dislike to him since he comprehensively ignored her. In his defense, it should be noted that he was attracted to her, but their five-year age difference seemed more important when she was just going to begin college than it seems to him now.

Now, he is looking at her and looking after her. Their personalities are complete opposites. She's a dreamy optimist; he is a man with a plan and very realistic. But since it appears that someone wants her dead, he is determined to be her protector even if he has to deal with her dangerous driving.

The story travels from Boston to Scotland to Southern California and travels from the Isabel's dislike of Michael to her deciding that he is the love of her life. Michael's journey is similar though his has him deciding that some of his future plans need to change.

This was a fun story with lots of great characters. It is the fourteenth book in the series. I haven't read any of the others. The story stands alone well, but I am interested in some of the other characters' stories and will be looking to catch up on the series.

This book is perfectly fine for what it is - a story about a damsel in distress and a hot dude who is determined to save her. This heroine is a bit too perfect - she almost starts a riot after the inciting incident in the plot because the bystanders want to protect her from the police to the point of absurdity and she alternately charms and enraptures *everyone* she meets. The hero is a standard issue romantic lead, with not much to differentiate him from all the others. The story was interesting, the writing was fine (though sometimes the heroine came off as a complete idiot and I'm not sure if that was to give her an actual negative trait or just because the writing wasn't really clear and up to par) and the book did what it was supposed to do - it gave me an opportunity to escape into a different world and become interested in the characters that populate it.

Well, talk about a heart-racing adrenaline-filled kind of read. Grace Under Fire by Julie Garwood will have the reader running as fast as Grace McKenna and Michael Buchanan are when it comes to trying to solve the mystery within. Garwood has an innate ability to keep you invested and anxious for what’s to come at the end of every chapter. I love this long-running series and being able to visit past characters and get peaks into stories to come. It’s a fantastic read, especially for summer. Grab those beach bags and fill them full of Garwood books.
~Tanja

It’s been awhile since Julie Garwood had a new Buchanan book out but I’m so glad it’s here. The story centered around Michael and Isabel but all the family was involved. Good book.

Headed to the beach? Grab this book—it’s perfect to read while you are relaxing on the beach and sipping a cool beverage. This books combines mystery, intrigue, and romance. I recommend this book.

I wanted to love Grace Under Fire. I wanted to love it so much that I put it down when it frustrated me and picked it back up later hoping my opinion would shift. Alas, I found the writing to be distracting. I truly enjoyed the plot and to be honest, that's what kept me going. I wanted to know what happened to Grace Isabel MacKenna and her family's land. I desperately wanted to find out about her and Michael Buchanan, but what drove me absolutely crazy was the way the author continued to switch back and forth between the two main characters thoughts. It made it hard to follow. At times, Garwood would switch mid paragraph and I would find myself re-reading to understand why the gender of the MC had switched. Thus, I found myself often disrupted from the plot due to the writing style. That being said, if you can look beyond the writing flow, the plot was intriguing. Although, I did find Isabel and Michael to be self-absorbed and self-loathing far too often. Both would pine for one another and do nothing to assist their want and yet felt semi-proud of themselves for how they treated one another. Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me! A huge thank you to @berkleyromance for giving me the opportunity to review this ARC along with @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse.

#berkleyromance #penguinrandomhousepartner #penguinrandomhouse #berkleyig #graceunderfire #juliegarwood #romcombooks #mysteryromcom #thrillerromcom #bookreview #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #readmorebooks #readmorewomen #womenauthors #slowburnread #mysterybooks

DNF @ 20%.

I could not deal with the 2 MCs, she’s all of 22, a virgin (because OF COURSE she is), he’s a 28 y.o. former Navy Seal turned lawyer, she’s flighty and forever making up songs in her head, gets lost in a city (Boston) new to her and ends up shooting a man dead (he deserved it…I guess??) and then doesn’t tell anyone for hours that she has a FUCKING BULLET WOUND (she was literally planning on going back to the hotel and having the concierge help her get some medical help) and then when the MMC lets her drive as a way to distract her, she drives so recklessly because, you guessed it, she was composing another song in her head. I can’t with this child. She isn’t ready for a HEA, she’s barely qualified to have a drivers license.

Also, the MMC comes from a family of cops and FBI agents and I just cannot with that right now.

Regular readers of the series, I do not think you will be disappointed. You get the a gorgeous, virginal heroine (who has never even had an orgasm) with chiseled manly hero who will never stop to ask directions. They are both remarkable (Isabel has just graduated college and she's a really good listener who is also an amazing singer/songwriter but a terrible driver (so quirky!); Michael is an ex-Navy-SEAL lawyer who graduated college at 20 and is about to join a law enforcement group that is hard to get into). New to romance readers will find this book exactly meets expectations. Garwood has found a formula and sticks to it including throwing a whole bunch of stuff at the heroine that only the hero can rescue her from. Like, a lot of stuff including a man who has just been shot lurching toward Isabel and she, reacting quickly, grabs his gun and shoots the man chasing him directly between the eyes.
I have been waiting to read Isabel and Michael's book otherwise I might have given up on the series but there is also something comforting in knowing exactly what you're going to get when reading a Garwood book. I just wish her characters would start using condoms. Or even acknowledge that birth control is very integral to romance in the 21st century.

Three and a half stars
This book come out July 19, 2022
Follows Wired
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

1. I was the most excited to get this early copy than I have been about very many books.
2. Julie Garwood is one of the authors who got me fully invested in romance. I have read her books for years and years and going back into her work always feels a little like coming home.

This story was so good. I love series with connecting characters and large family stories and this Buchanan-Renard series is just about the best example of that ever. Not only are Michael and Isabel so perfect together (grumpy/sunshine for the win!), seeing them fully immersed on Nathan's Bay with all of the Buchanan siblings just made my heart happy.

It was filled with tension. It was steamy and suspenseful. It was just so good.

Read to 40% and then started skipping.

I’m a huge fan of romantic suspense, so I was beside myself when I was pitched a new to me author. Even more so when I saw such high reviews.

Isabel and Michael have potential. She’s sweet and naive. He’s crunchy and protective. Instead of the push and pull I expected, it was long inner monologues detailing what she was wearing or the hole in a windbreaker or the mani/pedi she got. The family seems loving, but sort of controlling. No one asks or listening to what Isabel says she wants.

I could not settle into this writing and I think that was the biggest struggle. It was mostly told from Isabel’s POV, but then there would be a paragraph or page in Michael’s. Everything felt really disjointed.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Grace Under Fire follows the continue saga of the Buchanan Family. I have waited for Michael’s story for what feels like forever. Grace Under Fire is a both romance story and a suspense story, but not just romantic suspense. If I am honest there was not as much romance and relationship between the characters.

Isabel McKenna has graduated college and is unsure of what is next for her. Music has always been important in her life but a promise to her mom has had her putting it on the back burner the last few years. Isabel’s mother felt that her love for music wouldn't really provide for her future.
The one thing Isabel does know is that on her birthday she is to be in Scotland to inherited an estate in Scotland from an Uncle. The Uncle not a kind man to Isabel’s mother or supportive of her sisters. Before she embarks on this trip she is going to visit her sister’s in-laws for a family celebration. But Isabel hopes to avoid one family member, Michael Buchanan.

Trouble and chaos seem to follow Isabel. There is so much uncertain in her life. Also, wherever she steps chaos follows. Once in Boston there is a murder, she is part of, a rock star and her attraction to Michael, not mention some questionable driving skills.

Michael is a character that is if he was real everyone would love to hate him. He is a good guy but everything he touches he is good at it. He is very goal oriented and knows what he wants for his future. His past does not define him but makes him stronger. Michael is a Lawyer, a former Navy Seal and now has been accepted to the FBI Academy. The one thing Michael is not good at is communicating with Isabel.

These two together doesn’t make sense but it does. They are complete opposites. In away I don’t feel we got enough of their attraction and their chemistry. There was so much on the page at times it was so crowded with the suspense aspect of the story that I felt the relationship was an afterthought. They seemed to lack passion and communication. It also bugged me that there was never a conversation about birth control or condoms.
Typically, Julie Garwood writes these dynamic Heroines. I felt like Isabel has more to her than we were given. The potential was there for a dynamic heroine, but we only got bits and pieces of it. I felt like if there has been more interaction between the 2 main characters, we would have gotten it.
At times I felt like the author threw spaghetti at the wall with this book to see what would fit. It created a diluted story with too much to keep track of. We had rockstars, ex’s, college friends, the big family, the murder, the businessman and the stalker. It was overwhelming in the story and took away some of the things that the author does well.
Overall it was a good read. I think it is more Suspense Fiction with romantic elements than a romance. I just really wish we had more Michael and Isabel.

I’m sorry but I had to DNF this book after reading the first third. Garwood’s FBI/Buchanan books can be read as standalones but she still provides background to get new readers up to speed. However, at this point, I think the author has to do too much catching up. It pulled me out of the current story to focus on everyone else’s. I also didn’t trust the romantic story. On one page, we learn that Isabel has never experience real chemistry or desire and that it’s affected her self-esteem, then the next page, she’s flirting with the hero by saying she’d be the best he ever had. Everything felt overly complicated in a poor attempt to build tension. I had to abandon this book before we even got to Scotland, which was the main reason I wanted to read it. This one was not for me, and I may not return to this series.

4 Stars

One Liner: An entertaining read

Of all the things Grace Isabel McKenna can do, she didn’t expect to kill a man by shooting him between the eyes. Her short visit to Boston for the Buchanan anniversary party turns into a police investigation. The unexpected developments delay her Scotland trip to claim her inheritance and bring the infuriating Michael Buchanan back into her life.
Michael is a navy SEAL and a lawyer- Isabel’s lawyer until the case is solved. Neither of them is happy about the arrangement, but Michael knows he will do anything to keep Isabel safe. The attraction between grows just as the case gets complicated. Isabel’s trip to Scotland puts her life at risk. Michael follows her, but can they unearth the criminal intent on getting rid of Isabel? What about their feelings for each other? The duo has a lot to deal with.
The story comes from the third person POV.

My Views
This is the 14th book in the series and can be read as a standalone. However, knowing a little backstory will make it more enjoyable. Slow Burn has Kate and Dylan’s story, where Isabel is first introduced. Isabel is Kate’s younger sister. Reading Murder List (Regan & Alec’s story) might be a good idea.
Reading the book made me realize an important point. The book will get two different ratings based on whether I consider it a standalone or a part of a popular series. But since I read around 65-70% of the books in the series, I chose to rate it based on the series template.
Here’s why:
• Alpha hero
• A charming heroine (will come to this later)
• Hot and flawless bodies
• A family full of FBI agents, judges, business owners, etc.
• Steamy romance (2ish level)
• Recurring characters (quite a few)
These can make a book a hit or flop, depending on the reader and how they perceive the elements. It worked great for me because I expect these elements (except the second one) from this series.
The beginning is a bit choppy and messy, probably coz mine is an ARC with an uncorrected proof. I remember how the other books began, and I'm hoping this will be polished to that level.
The pacing is also a bit slow, which could be because of the plotline. It has many things going on and off. There’s also some info about the Buchanan couples for new readers.
The suspense takes its own sweet time to unravel, which is how it is in the other books. I could pretty much guess when things would go for the last punch.
Michael and Isabel have good chemistry, and their banter was fun to read. However, I felt there could have been a deeper connection between them. There was enough material for it.
Michael is headstrong or dumbass, as Isabel calls him. He’s got flaws but makes a decent impression. Maybe not as much as Dylan or Alec (or Nick or Noah)… you get the point.
Now Isabel… she’s 23 and has just graduated, so maybe I can forgive her for being a bit stupid. From what I remember, Isabel seems to be the weakest (or not strong enough) female lead in the series. It could be because she was under Kate and Dylan’s care, but she’s not what I’d call a Garwood heroine.
However, the book has comic relief, thanks to Isabel’s driving skills. She’d ace it in Indian traffic (you know if you know). Her driving plays a vital role in the story, and I love how it is incorporated into the plot.
The mystery is also a bit weak in this one. It kind of pales out (but the comic relief might just save it if you have a twisted sense of humor). Still, the mystery could have been better.
I love revisiting some of the previous characters from the series (it can be confusing if you don’t know them). They made the book so much better.


To sum up, Grace Under Fire is an entertaining and enjoyable read. Just go with the flow in this one and then read the previous ones in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.