DNF for now. Just so complicated with stereotypical characters.

This is my first book by Natalie Walters and definitely won’t be my last! With edge of your seat suspense, non-stop action, intelligent writing, a compelling story, romance, and an inspirational message, this book definitely hit all the right spots and made for an enjoyable read!

This is the first book in the SNAP (Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency) series and takes the reader from Egypt to the United States on the hunt for a missing spy. Brynn is a CIA Analyst who’s been working extensively to discover and prevent terrorist attacks. When one of her Egyptian spies goes missing she’s charged with working with SNAP to help find Remon Riad. Unfortunately the person who’s heading up the mission is Jack Hudson.

Jack and Brynn have a messy past and neither one is anxious to work together again. Jack especially doesn’t trust Brynn and the reasons why are teased out throughout the story. The embers of their past romance still burn under the surface with a lot of feelings still there. As the team gets closer to finding out what happened to Riad and uncovering the terrorist plot, they’re faced with kidnappings, explosions, poisonings, and injuries with Brynn and Jack right in the middle.

It’s a fantastic beginning to a new series and I’m excited to read the next book. It reminded me a lot of a 24 episode without the language and excess violence, where the action is non-stop. The relationships within SNAP are so enjoyable. I really connected with all the characters and look forward to seeing how these relationships continue. The witty dialogue is well done. The writer is well versed in the intelligence world yet makes the technical jargon easily understandable. Along with all the action and trying to prevent a terrorist attack is a sweet second chance romance where trust was broken and needing to be repaired. There’s also an inspirational message which focuses on learning to trust in God and letting go.

I will definitely be reading another book by this author and look forward to continuing on with this series. Highly recommend especially to romantic suspense fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. ( )

Another brilliant story from the talented Natalie Walters! Some suspense authors focus on the action of the plot, but I love how this author can develop characters and incorporate romance so seamlessly, allowing readers to really get to know their personalities and relationships, still while not sacrificing the brilliant twists and turns in her books! The characters have spunk and I love the cultural references, which make them feel real and authentic. Natalie Walters is also great with the details: this novel has fantastic background with the inner workings of law enforcement and even incorporates Arabic phrases. The suspense made the novel hard to put down, and I loved the themes of forgiveness and trust, too. This novel is an awesome start to a new series! I cannot wait for the next one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. ( )

Natalie Walters is now one of my must-read romantic suspense authors! I really liked her first 3 books, but Lights Out, the first book in The Snap Agency, hit it out of the park! With the perfect balance of romance and suspense, this novel grabbed my attention from the first page and never let go. Furiously turning the pages best describes my reading experience. The book has international intrigue with high-stakes consequences. And it combines the workings of the CIA with a government contractor group with state-of-the art tech. Working outside of the government, the SNAP Agency (Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency) can do a lot to help with national security. The two main characters are CIA analyst Brynn Taylor and Jack Hudson. They have history to say the least. The implications of their backstories were crucial to the success of the assignment, and I loved how Walters wove their personal and professional roles together. Besides being a very satisfying romance, the suspense is what really kept me reading. The plot is intriguing and the twists just kept on coming. Let’s just say danger dogged Brynn’s every step. There is a definite faith thread that runs through the book. Brynne’s personal struggles may not be the norm, but her dependence on her own abilities instead of God resonated with me. Lights Out also has an ensemble cast that was integral to the storyline and is sure to show up in future books — can’t wait! I have to give a shout-out to Kekoa, a character who had a small role in Walter’s novel, Silent Shadows. He is larger than life in this book, and I am hoping his role is expanded in book 2.

Fans of romantic suspense will not want to miss Lights Out. I loved it!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

Title: Lights Out (The SNAP Agency #1)
Author: Natalie Walters
Pages: 320
Year: 2021
Publisher: Revell
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Lights Out is Natalie Walters first novel in her newest series that intrigued me from the time I read the synopsis until I finished reading the book. SNAP is the acronym for Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency, a fictional agency that brings together the best and brightest as a team to combat any threats against the U.S. before they occur.
The stakes are high, both personally and professionally, right from the start for Brynn Taylor (CIA Analyst) and Jack Hudson. Jack Hudson works for SNAP and has just been handed leadership over a team that must figure out where the latest threat is coming from and how it will arrive before it becomes a reality! Brynn has experienced a lot of heartache over the last few years, and she has taken that pain and allowed it to fuel her passion for fighting terrorism in the states. But can she get all the pieces of information to fit together like a puzzle before time runs out?
Jack Hudson has been working hard to protect America as well. Now he not only has to race to stop the latest threat from as yet unidentified people, but when Brynn is added to his team, he has to face the past as well. Jack and Brynn trained together to become agents, but something happened in the past that not only changed their professional trajectory but their personal one as well. Can Jack complete the mission before it’s too late while also facing the broken heart he suffered when she is now a part of his team?
Natalie Walters has succeeded again in telling an engaging, high-suspense story that grabs readers from the first page until the very last! I enjoyed the story as it not only focused on the two characters, Brynn and Jack, fighting time and bringing resolution to the mission, but also the way the two were carefully mining their past to see if they could have a future. The other characters in the story brought color to the tale. There is Lyla whose past isn’t quite clear yet, but she knows who to call when she needs something. Then there is Kekoa who is from Hawaii and is a wizard with computers not to mention his cooking skills! Finally, there is Garcia who seems to be in love with Lyla, though she seems oblivious to it. Each of them brings a set of skills that make the team a vital asset to SNAP. I cannot help but wonder who the next central character will be or what the mission might be in the next book, but I look forward to when it will be published!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )