[Review]—"Honor's Refuge" is a Disappointing Page Turner

Hollywood should start producing action-romance films or adapting some of Revell's published books. Do you know why I'm talking about action romances? I recently finished reading Honor's Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman, the third book in the Love & Honor series, which falls into the action-romance category.

Let me summarize the story quickly: EMT Phil Osbourne decides to assist Melissa Braxton, who operates a refuge for domestic abuse. Melissa had watched her father kill her mother 25 years before, and she lost contact with her sister Lola. Phil helps out at the shelter now and again and has gotten to know Melissa well enough to be aware of her background.  

Phil locates Lola, who is now the spouse of a Colombian cartel Teniente, using his contacts in the Special Forces. Despite the risks of becoming associated with the cartel, Phil would go to any length for Melissa and is desperate to reunite her with Lola; even a category five hurricane will not discourage him.  

While reviewers and other readers have given Honor's Refuge a solid five stars, the ranking is overblown. It's the weakest of the entire series, mostly because I couldn't connect with any of the characters. If I don't connect with the protagonist(s), my interest in a story usually dwindles, but, in this case, the narrative at least managed to hold my interest. However, the "incoming hurricane" was a bit of a stretch, in my opinion, and it gave the plot the air of a campy Hollywood B movie from the 1990s.

Honor's Refuge, as I've already mentioned, is the trilogy's weakest book, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad read. Enough is going on in the story to keep a reader turning the pages. Just reduce your expectations; maybe you'll like the book more than I did. ╌★★★✰✰