RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'Leap of Faith' by Jackie Keswick
Title: Leap of Faith
Series: FireWorks Security Book 1
Author: Jackie Keswick
Published: April 5, 2017
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Erotic Romance
Length: 125 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Mystery, Suspense, Thriller: Crime, Friends to Lovers; Angst: Medium; Novella
About Leap of Faith
Close friends and partners at FireWorks Security, Joel Weston and Kieran Ross know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They have each other’s backs, make a formidable team, and carefully ignore their volatile chemistry.
When Kieran struggles with the aftermath of an assignment gone wrong, Joel is there to help. When Joel is caught in an explosion, Kieran jumps into a burning marina to rescue the man who means so much to him. But they never discuss what’s closest to their hearts, not prepared to risk their friendship for the mere possibility of something more.
Faced with bombs, assassins, and old ghosts, Joel and Kieran must find out why they’re targets, who is coming after them, and—most of all—how each would feel if he lost the other. Should they continue as best friends, or is it time to take a leap of faith?
5 HEART READ
REVIEW:
Holy smokes! Jackie Keswick delivers an explosive read, in more ways than one, with the first book in her FireWorks Security series, Leap of Faith.
I was on pins and needles tapping my screen faster than my Kindle could keep up wondering what revelation would unfold next.
Joel and Kieran have been partners at Joel’s father’s security firm, FireWorks Security, for the past four years. Always having each other’s backs in kidnapping, extortion and hostage situations. So when a mission goes awry leaving Kieran shaken, as his team lead and friend, Joel is there. On an outing to bring Kieran some ease everything changes when Kieran and Joel are thrust into events bigger than themselves that will require more than just instinct to survive.
Here in enter main characters and supporting cast (who get their moments just at the right time and place) that befit crime drama. Persona’s so well developed by Keswick that you know whose speaking just by the way they speak.
Of course Joel and Kieran....who deserve to be discovered.
Joseph Weston – The owner of FireWorks who’s a hard ass take no prisoner’s boss man but protects his people like no other.
Dale – The caring, bemused, smart alec uncle.
Dr. Marius – Experienced, hard-nosed, charming ex-Army surgeon with just the right experience and resources.
Even FireWorks team players Cass, Hartnett and Rigby each have their own charm.
Plus gritty cop wit and sarcasm that keep this action packed thriller moving and the reader on the edge of their seat.
“Jesus.” “No way. He doesn’t carry a silenced Smith & Wesson.”
“There’s a knack to pissing someone off so completely they keep trying to kill you. You clearly have that one down.”
“I’m gonna kill him. Slowly. With a tire iron and piano wire.”
Add to this scenes with picturesque writing and analogies so smooth you can’t help but savor every moment.
I found myself immediately charmed by Keswick’s talent. The ease with which she gradually displays how well Kieran and Joel know each other. A love of all things sweet, hating straws, how one may sleep wrapped around two pillows, knowing another’s demons will cause nightmares so staying awake to comfort them in their sleep.
Yet for the intimacy of this there is no overt, over the top desire or attraction displayed or confessed, which I found refreshing. Just a hint to the reader that they might desire the other, solely based on years of love and trust. After all partners who experience trauma together can become as close as a married couple regardless of attraction.
It’s this thrilling build-up that when they do finally hook-up is agonizingly discreet and mouthwatering all at the same time.
So much like them it is perfect in its representation. Tantalizing seeds of what passion is to occur or has already taken place and it’s enough to get your heart racing without full on eroticism.
Even as the mission heated up and the op got intense, and I was breathless with anticipation, in the next heartbeat I was given a reprieve of humor or passion from this great ensemble cast. The fact that the intrigue builds into something bigger in Leap of Faith and paves the way for the next book, and perhaps another relationship, in this series has my pulse racing for what’s to come!
An advanced reader copy of Leap of Faith was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Dreamspinner Press, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
Meet the Author
Jackie Keswick was born behind the Iron Curtain with itchy feet, a bent for rocks and a recurring dream of stepping off a bus in the middle of nowhere to go home. She's worked in a hospital and as the only girl with 52 men on an oil rig, spent a winter in Moscow and a summer in Iceland and finally settled in the country of her dreams with her dream team: a husband, a cat, a tandem, a hammer and a laptop.
Jackie loves unexpected reunions and second chances, and men who don't follow the rules when those rules are stupid. She blogs about English history and food, has a thing for green eyes, and is a great believer in making up soundtracks for everything, including her characters and the cat. And she still hasn't found the place where the bus stops. For questions and comments, not restricted to green eyes, bus stops or recipes for traditional English food, you can find Jackie Keswick in all the usual places:
For more from Jackie visit her website.
