Victim #8 - (A Luke Steele Novel) by Traci Hunter Abramson (Hardcover)

This was a fast-paced political thriller with a dash of romance that kept me flying over the pages. The author not only develops an engaging, unpredictable plot, but also takes us through the journey of two main characters that are in the process of healing from a tragic loss. This book is the sequel to Hometown Vendetta. You don’t need to read it first, but I so recommend it to get to know the characters from the start. It’s so good too! Haunted by a mission gone wrong, military aide Luke Steele can’t shake the weight of his failure. When an American journalist is murdered in Istanbul, Luke is forced to confront his fears and return to the field—this time partnered with determined FBI agent Amberlyn Reiner. What begins as an investigation into a serial killer of 8 victims soon unravels into something far more dangerous: a conspiracy that threatens the U.S. president and millions of innocent lives. As Luke and Amberlyn go undercover to find the truth, their fake relationship begins to blur into something real, but Luke is hesitant to further the relationship. In a race against time, Luke must learn to trust himself—and Amberlyn—before the past he can’t forget costs them both everything. This book has everything I love in a book: a fast-pacing intriguing plot, broken relatable characters with a journey to healing and redemption, the sweetest romance, and a faith inspired hopeful message that lights and shines against an otherwise dark and uncertain world. I just fell completely for Luke. He was vulnerable, but tried to mask it. Carrying the loss of his beloved friend and mentor, he focuses on serving his country as best as he can. But he doesn’t feel worthy of much, even less for Amberlyn’s attention. He’s hesitant to open up to love. Doesn’t seem reasonable for a man whose life is constantly in peril after all. Amberlyn is also a great character. Focused, yet painfully grieving the loss of her best friend. Empathic, understanding and patient with Luke’s walls, until she starts to melt them with her love and perseverance. They are both a great team working together, and the forced proximity helps Luke come out of his heart protection mode. The storyline was intriguing to say the least, lots of action and constant deadly danger. A huge political scheme to bring down the US president and possibly start a nuclear international war. With unexpected twists, I was on the edge of my seat while Luke and Amberlyn navigated their investigation in Istambul with such high stakes. The villains POV made it even more chilly. An exciting story that left me breathless! I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.