BookReview: SUNBURST by Susan May Warren

Have you read Sunrise, the first book in the Sky King Ranch series? I suggest you read it but I think that Sunburst can still be read as a stand alone. It’s a five star read for me with all the suspense, action, romance and family dynamics in one amazing book. I enjoyed the Kingston brothers together. I love the faith filled conversations with their father. I wanted their talks to go on and on. It was enlightening.

Noemi was a brave woman. She was too impulsive at times but it brings up more suspense in the story. Ranger and Noemi's romance was sweet even when they were hanging on for dear life.

The African setting was neat. I had to pull up the map to imagine where they were. The Nigerian wedding preparations and actual wedding were a nice touch. It was different and interesting at the the same time.

There’s a mystery that connects the two books and I can’t wait for book three. I highly recommend this series.

Rating: 5 stars
Series: Sky King Ranch #2
Pub Date: June 7, 2022

Thank you Revell for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Excellent mix of genres to provide a story that should satisfy many readers. Romance, faith, elite military, history, and more are all mixed in this sequel which I read as a standalone and enjoyed.

Sunburst is the second book is Susan May Warren's Sky King Ranch series. While the primary story is unique to this book, there is another story that was continued from book one, and will continue on to book three as well. As such, while you might be able to read this one as a standalone, I would say it's definitely one that's better read in order as you might find yourself wondering what you missed. Fans of previous series will enjoy a few brief appearances from other characters as well.

Susan May Warren is a top 3 author for me, and so I am always thrilled to read anything new she writes. She does a wonderful job of creating these epic adventure/suspense love stories that I personally cannot get enough of. Sunburst was no exception. The action begins right from the start and had me unable to put it down. I absolutely loved it. The African culture was really unique, and while some of the pidgin (local dialect) slowed down the pace for me just a smidge, I loved that she tried to keep it true to the local culture. This certainly adds some more authenticity to the story. There was so much going on in this story, and honestly, when you look at it on paper it might look a little over the top, but Susan May Warren certainly has the skills to pull off these big stories and still making them feel believable.

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic read and cannot wait to see what happens next!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you in advance to NetGalley and Revell Books for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

The action, suspense, and romance were enjoyable. The characters Noemi and Ranger are clearly developed and believable. The Nigerian setting and events portrayed were descriptive and I was able to become invested in the characters and events.

The Christian faith if our characters was interwoven into the plot and was encouraging.

Recommend.

Susan May Warren has penned another action-packed suspense with her latest book, Sunburst, the second in her Sky King Ranch series. She continues the non-stop action and adventure started in Dodge Kingston’s story in book 1. This one is Ranger Kingston and Noeme Sutton’s tale, and it’s a doozy! If you want to experience terrorists in the bush of Nigeria, African royalty, and the Alaskan outback all in one story, this one’s for you. As I often do when I read one of Warren’s books, I found myself wondering why anyone would want to hang out with these characters—they get into entirely too much trouble and too many dicey situations! I’m glad I’m just with them vicariously.

“But will we trust God only when things go the way we want?”
“. . . faith is stepping forward without knowing the destination.”

With plenty of action, heart-stopping adventure, a big dash of romance, and inspiration, this story has something for everyone. It does have a bit of a cliffhanger to lead into the next book in the series, which will feature Colt Kingston.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Susan May Warren captivated me immediately. I enjoyed Sunburst every bit as much as I enjoyed Sunrise, book 1 in this series (maybe more!).

With everything from looming danger and a smoldering romance, to faith-filled heartfelt moments, Warren had me holding my breath while simultaneously devouring the pages at warp speed. Warren’s dynamic, relatable characters, expertly delivered plot and creative genius shone brightly in this novel.

I loved the heart-pounding suspense and tug-of-war chemistry between Ranger and Noemi. I was fully immersed in their story as the stakes got higher and the excitement grew. I enjoyed the rugged heroism Ranger displayed and Noemi’s fierce independence. Both were fabulous, multi-layered characters whom I adored as I witnessed their emotional turmoil, internal struggles and shortcomings firsthand. Their romance won me over completely!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Warren is a master at mixing adventure, suspense, faith, heroics and family into her stories. The Kingston family is strong, capable and diverse. I also loved the “appearances” of some of my other favorite characters from Warren’s previous books.

Lastly, I loved the dual setting of this story, with a portion of it taking place in the deserts and jungles of Nigeria and another portion taking place in the wildflower laden valley of Alaska at the foot of the snow-capped mountains. Warren brought the wilds of Nigeria alive with her vivid descriptions of the culture, customs and cuisine. Plus, the little sneak peek into book three already has me counting down the days until its release!

Don't miss this novel or series!

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

This book is different in that it has a lot of African culture including a Nigerian wedding in it. It was a great book in its own right and moved the plot of the series forward significantly. I hope the next book comes out soon as I can’t wait to find out what happens.

I loved how Noemi and Ranger met and how Noemi brought color to his life. There was a great scene between them in Nigeria that would have been fun to watch on screen.

There was a mystery or two as well as a shocking twist that I didn’t see coming. There was a lot of action like jumping off cliffs into crocodile infested waters and chases through the wilderness. It was a great read. I highly enjoyed it.

Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Two of The Sky King Ranch Series continues the story of the Kingston Brothers. Ranger's life is about to change. A ray of sunshine enters his life unexpectedly just when a cloud threatens his future. Noemi is in danger and Ranger is prepared to do what is necessary to keep her safe.

A very interesting book that goes into detail of Nigeria and their lifestyles. I enjoyed the descriptions of the foods served and the elaborate wedding ceremony. I would have loved to attend that wedding!

SUNBURST was quite enjoyable. It had everything you look for in a book: mystery, romance, intrigue, cultural differences and family dynamics. I couldn't put it down.

I received this book from Revell to review.

Another fantastic adventure by Susan May Warren that takes readers from Africa to Alaska with all the action you can expect from a novel by Warren!

Ranger Kingston has spent his life on rescue missions with the Navy SEALS. He recently left the life he had known for so long, but when his brother, Colt, is kidnapped with others in Nigeria, he goes in to help save him. During the mission, he escapes with a woman he never thought he would see again and has never forgotten. Noemi Sutton is just as surprised as Ranger when he comes into the terrorist camp to help them escape. The escape doesn’t go as planned and Noemi and Ranger must work together if they are going to make it out of Nigeria alive.

Susan May Warren is a master when it comes to Romantic Suspense. Her books have entertaining plots, engaging characters and settings that pull the reader in deep to the story. Sunburst is no exception to this method; she has crafted in making great stories for readers to enjoy.

Ranger isn’t looking for love, afraid it will take his mind off the mission, any mission he has next, and Noemi is afraid to get close to anyone because she might lose them, or they might get hurt because of her. With their combined baggage setting up the story, it makes it hard to see them making it work. With every step they take, more trouble comes their way and kept me glued to the story. This is the kind of fast paced story that I love reading; hard to put down and characters that I couldn’t help but cheer on at every turn. I loved the way Susan May Warren sets up scenes in so many different settings and doesn’t even make my blink, it all felt so incredibly real. This is the second in the series, but it could be read as a standalone. If you haven’t read the first, you will be missing a little backstory for a few of the characters and storyline, especially towards the end of the book. I do recommend this to fans of romantic suspense and Susan May Warren, you won’t be disappointed, another great read!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

It has been awhile since I read a book by Susan May Warren, and Sunburst was a delightful reintroduction to her books. It is the second book of her Sky King Ranch series, but I had no difficulty entering the series with this book. That said, it really doesn't work as a stand-alone read because it ends very literally with a cliff hanger.

A special aspect of Sunburst is Warren's inclusion of Nigerian culture as a way of honoring her new daughter-in-law, a member of the Delta Tribe in Nigeria. The time they spent together via Zoom must have been a great time of bonding as they worked to assure authenticity. Warren did a wonderful job of engaging all of the reader's senses both in the Nigerian and Alaskan settings.

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

Sunburst, by Susan May Warren, is an absolutely fantastic second installment in her Sky King Ranch series. I could hardly put the book down! Set mainly in Nigeria, I loved the authenticity of the setting. Brimming with culture, constant action, and soul searching truth, this story touched my heart. And, in true Warren form, she leaves you hanging at the end, insuring you will be counting down the days until the third book is released!

Intrigue, twists and turns, romance, and a breathtaking setting. What more could you want in a book? Sunburst is absolute perfection!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Sunburst by Susan May Warren is full of adventure and romance. This is the second book in the series and all three brothers play a role but the star in Sunburst is Ranger and Noemi. Ranger is my favorite brother so far. Ranger is a seal and the most honorable of the three.

I was nervous that this one would be too violent but it wasn’t. It did keep you on your toes as Ranger and Noemi try to escape people out to capture them. This story will take you through the jungles and into the city and back home to Sky Ranch in Alaska.

I felt Noemi was perfect for Ranger who is a Seal. Her dad was a Seal and trained her well to take care of herself. She wasn’t stupid about it.

Although each brother gets their happy ending in the books there is a common story link to all three that makes you want to read them in order.

Sunburst will also have more meaning if you read the author’s note about her daughter in law and how she added to the storyline.

Violence – 3 Colt is beaten, There is an opening scene where several of them are in captivity,
Sexual content – although no physical scenes there is a lot of sensualness to this story.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

"Sunburst" is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second book in a series, but you can understand this book without reading the previous ones. Noemi didn't feel valued by her parents so she believed God didn't care about what happened to her and she should leave others before they leave her. Ranger's serious, focused, and committed to helping others even at a sacrifice to himself. Ranger repeatedly risked his life to help Noemi and said that he'd always come for her, but she kept wondering if Ranger just viewed her as a duty since he hadn't actually said, "I love you." Noemi and Ranger supported each other through the tough things they faced despite feeling that the other just viewed them as a friend. She helped Ranger dream of a different future than he'd planned on but could no longer have.

Since they're on the run from terrorists, the suspense stayed high throughout the story. The characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about what happened to them. Noemi learned that God did care about her and both learned to trust God's love even when life wasn't turning out the way they would have liked. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.

Former SEAL Ranger Kingston is involved in a mission to rescue a group in Nigeria from Boko Haram. In fulfilling this mission, he meets Noemi Sutton for the second time and realizes that they may be destined to be together. With his brothers Dodge and Colt, Ranger runs toward danger and this book is chock full of action from page one all the way to the end. Set mostly in Nigeria but also in Alaska, the descriptions themselves make the book worth reading. The characters were take-charge and rough and ready kind of people. I especially loved Noemi’s family in Nigeria, particularly her Aunt Precious and Uncle Efe who loved her so much and wanted to take care of her. The celebration that they organized for her was sheer perfection to read and an education about customs in Nigeria. Ranger’s family in Alaska is a daring one, with a sky rescue service and the willingness to go wherever they were needed. So much was happening in this book at all times that I almost got whiplash from reading it! This was a fun, entertaining and edge-of-your-seat read that I had difficulty putting down. Each time I returned to it, I was so happy to see that the characters were all still alive because it was that realistic. I loved every minute that I spent engrossed in this book and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series. Fans of romantic suspense, with the emphasis on thrilling suspense, will devour this book and clamor for more from this talented author.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Sunburst is an action-packed adventure that will have you up into the night trying to finish. It is the second novel in the Sky King Ranch series and I would recommend reading the first just so you are familiar with the characters and there is a story line that is going to connect all three books in the series.

Noemi Sutton has found herself taken as hostage in Nigeria while there as an aid worker. Ranger Kingston has been brought in to get the group to safety. Little does he know that the woman he once met and fell in love with (and never forgot) is in the group and the adventure they are in for. After their daring escape they somehow find themselves going through a Nigerian wedding before finally making it back to Ranger's family ranch in Alaska. Danger has followed them and is still after them while there.

Both Noemi and Ranger are in love with the other but they both have issues with committing to the other due to fears that they will let the other person down. There are some flashback scenes that show how they met and how they ultimately separated. I enjoyed that as well as the Nigerian customs that were included.

It does end on a sort of cliffhanger with some things still left to be tied up in the next installment which is about Ranger's brother Colt. I thoroughly enjoyed Sunburst and can't wait for the third and final book in the series to release.

Sunburst is book two in what’s shaping up to be a brilliant series from one of my go-to authors. The stories stand alone, but put together form a broader story arc that certainly ramps up in Sunburst.

This visit to the Alaskan ranch, we meet Ranger Kingston, former Navy Seal, struggling with a medical condition that ended his career. Ranger also believes the issue will steal his future. When Ranger is called in to help rescue his brother Colt from terrorists in Nigeria, he goes immediately. What he didn’t expect was to run into the woman who stole his heart years ago.

Noemi Sutton was trying to rescue girls captured by Boko Harem but got in over her head. Her only escape? A fake marriage to Ranger, that her uncle, a Nigerian King, insists on making official.

I mean, come on, right? What’s not to love? This story has all the elements of a stunning book. High stakes, wounded hero, fully competent heroine, globe trotting antics and swoony attraction. I loved dealing deeper into Kingston life, another visit to small town Alaska and a glimmer of what’ll be going in in book three, Sundown.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

This type of writing is why I keep reading.

Wow! This was such a page turner. I was really hooked into this story right from the beginning. The action was well paced, the characters were likable and had great chemistry with each other and the danger elements kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Ranger was a really great hero. More on the quiet side, but protective, responsible, and he had a timely and surprising sense of humor that really added the perfect break in tension! The faith thread was relatable and something that I think a lot of readers will identify with and I thought it was well done. I think Noemie feeling forgotten by God, or that he allows bad things to happen to her is such a common thought and I really think that will resonate with readers. Overall this was just a great book and I really enjoyed reading it.

When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt, who has been kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he knows and could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others.

And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he'll need Noemi's help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.
Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding--binding Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, she's discovered the real reason she was kidnapped, and anyone around her is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her so-called new husband.
She'll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

My review: This is the second book in the Sky King Ranch series. It's not necessary to read the first book in the series to read this book. It would be helpful as it will fill in some of the pieces in this book. Ranger is one of triplets. An incident that happened years ago sent him to enlist in the Navy and become a SEAL. He is a committed bachelor and has previously hurt Noemi. He discovers his brother Colt and Noemi are being held captive by a terrorist group in Nigeria. With the help of Colts employer and associates they are able to rescue Colt and Noemi. The only problem is that they were separated and weren't able to get out of the country. Noemi has an uncle in Nigeria and they go to him for help. Ranger and Noemi have to get beyond old hurts in order to trust each other and stay alive.

This a book well worth taking the time to read. It kept me up way past my bedtime. I'm anxious to read the next installment in this series.

I was given this book by Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

"But faith is stepping forward without knowing the destination. Your job, as a warrior of the Lord, is to listen. To walk in faith."

This Kingston family.... man, they are so easy to fall in love with. Ranger, the youngest of the Kingston triplet, is a hero through and through. His black-and-white, duty driven, buttoned-up way of life collides with Noemi's wildly colorful, passion driven ways in this fast-paced, paramilitary romantic suspense. The book magically weaves together a dangerous rescue operation with second chance romance. I loved learning about Nigeria and their wedding customs and how life is celebrated there. But the book is more than heart-pounding action and heart-stopping romance; there is a tangible faith thread of acknowledging and appreciating God's goodness and presence as well as placing our dreams, hopes, and fears into the hands of the Almighty One.

If you're looking for a spell-binding adventure, this book is it! And I really enjoyed getting to know Colt and Tae and am so looking forward to their story and seeing how Russian mercenaries, a plague in Nigeria, and a scientist in hiding all come together for the overarching theme of the series.

I received the book from the publisher via Interviews & Reviews and JustRead Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Sunburst by Susan May Warren moves from the wilds of Alaska to the grit and heat of Nigeria. Picking up from where Sunrise ended, Ranger discovers his brother, Colt, has been taken captive in Nigeria and goes after him. But he finds himself in trouble – Noemi Sutton, a love from his past, has also been captured. He and Noemi wind up stranded, and in order to get out of the country, they have to pose as husband and wife.

This is now my new favorite Susan May Warren novel! I love the scenery of Nigeria, and the book is filled with so much culture and visual images that it made me feel like I’ve been there. But Warren’s storytelling is always all about the characters. Range and Noemi’s chemistry is tangible, and the drama of their plight to get out of the country had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next installment of the Kingston brothers.

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