Category Archives: Love and Honor Series

Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman – Likable relatable characters, suspense, intrigue

Posted in Bravery, Good vs Evil, Hallee Bridgeman, Honor’s Refuge, Intrigue, Love and Honor Series, Relationships, Revell Publishing, Romance, Suspense by

Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman is the third book in the Love and Honor series.  It’s the second book I’ve read by this author.  I wanted to read it because the author makes the characters come to life.

Honor’s Refuge continues the story of Phil Osbourne, who was introduced in the first book of the series Honor Bound.  In that book, Phil had lost his leg due to an injury he sustained on a mission with the special forces team.  Phil’s been home for two years and developed a friendship Melissa Braxton who runs a shelter for women who suffer from physical abuse.  Truth be told, Phil and Melissa have fallen in love.  But Phil doesn’t feel like a man who is whole, or that he can’t be the man Melissa deserves. 

Phil and some of his former teammates researched and found Melissa’s long-lost sister Lola.  They were separated when they were very young following their mother’s death.  Phil would do anything, including putting himself at risk, to reunite this family. 

I appreciate how Hallee Bridgeman develops the characters in her book.  The main characters are very likeable, as well as Phil and Melissa’s friends, family, and co-workers.  There is a depth to the characters that makes them seem real.  Honor’s Refuge is suspenseful.  Mysteries are unveiled as the characters work through their weaknesses, understand their feelings and try to strengthen their faith. 

Faith is part of the character’s lives.  I appreciated that Phil and Melissa prayed and talked about the Lord.  I would like to have seen the Gospel more accurately presented.  Melissa’s sister Lola is comforted by the community that has taken her in, she is curious about their faith.  It was explained to her that “It’s less about religion and more about community.”  Repentance of sin and belief in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin was not explained. 

Phil was one of my favorite characters.  He used his experience and training to help protect Melissa, Lola, and her children.  His personal mission was to protect them threats from very evil people entrenched in drug trafficking. 

I had some problems with the ending of the book.  Phil’s background and training was special forces, and since he was dealing with men who were downright evil.  I’m not sure it was realistic that he would respond to the bad guys by subduing them and using zip ties and sheets to restrain them.  I didn’t understand why Phil struggled with remorse over the violence he employed to protect innocent women and children from a drug lord and his minions who intended to harm them.

I liked Honor’s Refuge because of the characters.  It’s an interesting story with suspense, intrigue, bravery, good vs. evil, and developing relationships.  I did struggle some with the ending.  Even so, I recommend Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman.  I would give this book a 3.5-star rating. 

I thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 

Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman – Good Storyteller and Likable Characters

Posted in Action, Christian Fiction, Hallee Bridgeman, Honor Bound, Love and Honor Series, Military, NetGalley, Revell Publishing, Romance, Uncategorized by

Honor Bound was the first book I’ve read by author Hallee Bridgeman.  I enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading more novels from the author.

Dr. Cynthia Myers left the Washington D.C political scene following a humiliating episode with her former fiancé.  She went far away to the jungles in Africa to work as a medical missionary providing obstetric services to women in a small village.  She loves doing her job and has found fulfillment helping local families.  The life she’s settled into is about to be disrupted when a warlord’s battle come to town.  The warlord’s son is gravely injured, and Cynthia has been charged with trying to save his life.  Captain Rick Norton and his Army Special Forces team are in pursuit of the warlord, and his army who have wrecked-havoc in the villages. 

I really enjoyed this book, Hallee is good storyteller.  She is skilled at making the reader feel like they are right there with the characters in the midst of the jungle.  I liked the characters, especially Rick Norton and his team.  I came to respect Cynthia over time, but initially bristled at this character’s attitudes and views.  Hallee did a good job bringing the military battles and escape plans to life.  As a Christian, I appreciated that faith was an important part of the character’s lives.  The book has clean language, and sexual immorality was not part of the story. 

My favorite character was Rick Norton.  He was a man of strength, was confident in his skills, training and leadership.  He wanted to be true to and pursue that which God had called him to.  I also came to like Cynthia’s father.  He unapologetically made the best decisions he could and gave wise advice to his daughter.

I struggled with Cynthia and her “holier than thou” passivist naïve views.  Like when she was angry when Rick and his team had to dispatch the warlord’s army.  She believed that it would be better if she had died instead of men who were doing evil things and harming many people in their path.  The character’s moral compass was skewed.  She didn’t distinguish between good and evil.  Overtime she grew and had better balanced views…mostly. 

Something I took issue with some of the Scripture references being misused or misstated.  The biggest one was in a conversation between Cynthia and Rick when she referenced Matthew 5, where Jesus Christ submitted and went with the soldiers who were arresting Him.  “Christ defied them without violence.  He went with the soldiers peaceably from the garden of prayer and ultimately laid down his life.  Should we Christians not be Christlike in all things?”  My issue with this misuse of Scripture was that Jesus Christ’s purpose in not resisting the soldiers was not to show a passivist response to evil.  This was done in fulfillment of God’s plan for the Son of God to willingly die a substitutionary death on the cross, to pay the sin debt of everyone who will repent of their sins and believe in Him. 

A second misstatement of Scripture, “God’s Word promises us that He will take all things and make them good.  Even the horrible things.”  Wrongly stated.  Better to stick with Scripture rather than misstate it.  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

I liked Honor Bound, the first book in the Love and Honor series.  It was easy to get into the story, and there were many likable characters.  Hallee Bridgeman is a good story teller.  I would add a caution to not get your theology from Christian fiction and be aware when Scripture is misstated or misused. 

I look forward to reading more books from Hallee Bridgeman including the next two novels in the Love and Honor series. 

I would like to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.