Hero Unbound by Janie Crouch

Posted August 1, 2023 in review Tags: 4 stars, crazy ex, on the run

Hero Unbound by Janie Crouch
Pages: 385

Series: Linear Tactical: Oak Creek #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Setting: Oak Creek, WY
Source: ARC
Also by this author: Special Forces Savior, Man of Action, Infiltration, Survival Instinct, Daddy Defender, Armed Response, In the Lawman's Protection, Cyclone, Eagle, Shamrock, Angel, Ghost, Calculated Risk, Security Risk, Shadow, Constant Risk, Risk Everything, Echo, Phoenix, Baby, Storm, Redwood, Scout, Code Name: Aries, Code Name: Virgo , Code Name: Libra, Texas Bodyguard: Luke

Goodreads

Eva Dempsey is out of options.

She's made it to Oak Creek, Wyoming with two traumatized dogs, twenty dollars, and a fear of damned near everything. Things that didn't make it with her? Her self-esteem, confidence, or any way of supporting herself. Theo Lindstrom knows how to survive. He proved it as a child when he had to keep himself and sister alive in the wilderness. Now he runs Linear Tactical, the company his adoptive father helped create, and teaches survival skills to others. So he recognizes the desperation in the eyes of the petite beauty who's pulled into town, and knows there's more to her story than she's letting on. He normally keeps to himself-for very good reasons-but he can't this time. Something about Eva draws him in a way he can't resist, even knowing she's got secrets. The deadly kind.

When the danger she's running from shows up, Theo's not going to let her fight it alone.
This is his town.
This is his woman.
And he'll protect both to his last breath.

Hero Unbound is a 2nd generation story, but it is okay if you haven’t read the previous books. Eva is on the run from an abusive ex and runs to Oak Creek and the home of Linear Tactical. Its just her and her dogs and a lot of baggage (the emotional kind). Theo is running Linear Tactical now and has established himself in Oak Creek. While he had a wonderful life after being adopted, he has his own baggage from his early life.

There is great chemistry between Theo and Eva and it really just works. Eva had a great childhood, but her adult life has been difficult. Theo was the opposite, but their baggage doesn’t define them. This isn’t a light read by any means. Eva’s ex is a piece of work and with so much trauma, the book hits on some tough topics. But, readers of the original LT series will enjoy the cameos by previous main characters as they all support Eva.

Overall, Hero Unbound was an emotional read with wonderfully complex characters. While it isn’t an easy read, the trauma is handled with care and not used to unnecessarily create tension/drama. My only issue with the book was that I didn’t fully connect with the characters. I’m not even sure why, but for whatever reason, I just wasn’t 100% invested in their story.