What do you think?
Rate this book
Evidence: Under Fire #3
Don't Look Back
Sometimes history is better left buried…
Six months after barely escaping a nightmare, Kira Hanson is ready to take the trip of a lifetime—one she hopes will answer questions about her father’s clandestine work recovering art stolen during World War II. But before she boards her flight, she’s waylaid by a friend in need and finally comes face-to-face with the Navy SEAL who saved her six months ago and then ghosted her.
Lieutenant Commander Randall Fallon is thrilled to cross paths with the shy art historian, but within minutes of their reunion he learns she’s in danger once again. Uneasy with the idea of her embarking on a trip to track down art thieves on her own, he just might have to reprise his role as undercover bodyguard and follow her to Europe posing as an art buyer.
Things heat up between Kira and Rand when he tracks her down in Malta, but it soon becomes clear that Rand’s instincts were correct: Kira’s digging into her father’s secrets has unearthed an unexpected enemy.
Six months after barely escaping a nightmare, Kira Hanson is ready to take the trip of a lifetime—one she hopes will answer questions about her father’s clandestine work recovering art stolen during World War II. But before she boards her flight, she’s waylaid by a friend in need and finally comes face-to-face with the Navy SEAL who saved her six months ago and then ghosted her.
Lieutenant Commander Randall Fallon is thrilled to cross paths with the shy art historian, but within minutes of their reunion he learns she’s in danger once again. Uneasy with the idea of her embarking on a trip to track down art thieves on her own, he just might have to reprise his role as undercover bodyguard and follow her to Europe posing as an art buyer.
Things heat up between Kira and Rand when he tracks her down in Malta, but it soon becomes clear that Rand’s instincts were correct: Kira’s digging into her father’s secrets has unearthed an unexpected enemy.
482 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2024
123 people are currently reading
9560 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Grant
49 books1,623 followersCOMING SOON
AVAILABLE NOW:
USA Today bestselling author Rachel Grant also writes thrillers as R.S. Grant. She worked for over a decade as a professional archaeologist and mines her experiences for storylines and settings, which are as diverse as excavating a cemetery underneath an historic art museum in San Francisco, survey and excavation of many prehistoric Native American sites in the Pacific Northwest, researching an historic concrete house in Virginia (inspiration for her debut novel, CONCRETE EVIDENCE), and mapping a seventeenth century Spanish and Dutch fort on the island of Sint Maarten in the Caribbean (which provided inspiration for the island and fort described in CRASH SITE).
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her archaeologist husband and demanding cat.
AVAILABLE NOW:
USA Today bestselling author Rachel Grant also writes thrillers as R.S. Grant. She worked for over a decade as a professional archaeologist and mines her experiences for storylines and settings, which are as diverse as excavating a cemetery underneath an historic art museum in San Francisco, survey and excavation of many prehistoric Native American sites in the Pacific Northwest, researching an historic concrete house in Virginia (inspiration for her debut novel, CONCRETE EVIDENCE), and mapping a seventeenth century Spanish and Dutch fort on the island of Sint Maarten in the Caribbean (which provided inspiration for the island and fort described in CRASH SITE).
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her archaeologist husband and demanding cat.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
August 19, 2024
I love visiting the universe that Rachel Grant has created! From her first book to this one, characters and references pop up and it is like hearing about someone you knew some time ago. I just wish I had a new book to read each month. Kira and Rand were a wonderful couple and the plot woven around them was exceptional. Romance, suspense, mystery, adventure all together in a story that kept me up at night reading.
Kira Hanson barely survives a horrible ordeal and six months later is still feeling unsure about herself and what happened. It wasn't just the nightmare she endured, but that and the death of her father has her questioning the life she and her parents lived. So many secrets. So, Kira decided to get some answers. Just before she is scheduled to take her trip to Malta, a place her father frequently visited looking for looted Nazi artwork, but never discussed, she has to fill in for a friend doing a training session at Little Creek for military personnel on how to handle encounters with native artifacts in the field. Who should she see in the front row of her lecture but the man who saved her life and then dropped out of her life.
Randall Fallon is a SEAL Lieutenant Commander and while he is thrilled to see her again, there are a lot of things they need to discuss starting with why she gave him the brush off when he tried to contact her. But before they can have that conversation, he has to save her life, again.
Rand is convinced that Kira's trip to Malta is a bad idea and offers himself up as her bodyguard with the cover of a hot new thriller author who needs her expertise as an art historian. She is so not on board with this, but Rand is very persuasive, especially when he wants something, and he wants Kira. Rand is right about Kira's trip being a bad idea. From the moment she lands in Malta, Kira is in danger.
Kira Hanson barely survives a horrible ordeal and six months later is still feeling unsure about herself and what happened. It wasn't just the nightmare she endured, but that and the death of her father has her questioning the life she and her parents lived. So many secrets. So, Kira decided to get some answers. Just before she is scheduled to take her trip to Malta, a place her father frequently visited looking for looted Nazi artwork, but never discussed, she has to fill in for a friend doing a training session at Little Creek for military personnel on how to handle encounters with native artifacts in the field. Who should she see in the front row of her lecture but the man who saved her life and then dropped out of her life.
Randall Fallon is a SEAL Lieutenant Commander and while he is thrilled to see her again, there are a lot of things they need to discuss starting with why she gave him the brush off when he tried to contact her. But before they can have that conversation, he has to save her life, again.
Rand is convinced that Kira's trip to Malta is a bad idea and offers himself up as her bodyguard with the cover of a hot new thriller author who needs her expertise as an art historian. She is so not on board with this, but Rand is very persuasive, especially when he wants something, and he wants Kira. Rand is right about Kira's trip being a bad idea. From the moment she lands in Malta, Kira is in danger.
September 2, 2024
A- for narration / A- for content - 4.5 stars rounded up.
Rachel Grant’s romantic suspense novels are among the very best in the genre. Her plots are always superbly constructed and impeccably researched, her characters are engaging and whip-smart, and she always achieves a good balance between the romance and the suspense plot. A new release from her will always catch my eye, and her latest, Don’t Look Back (book three in her Evidence: Under Fire series), is a terrific addition to the series and to the the genre as a whole.
The story opens with a flashback to an event six months earlier, in which art historian Kira Hanson was rescued after being kidnapped by a terrorist group being financed through art theft and artifact trafficking. The person to find her was Navy SEAL Lt. Commander Randall Fallon; the two of them had had some interaction previously and there was a definite spark of attraction between them, but Kira was abducted before Rand could ask her out, and even though he reached out to her later, he’s heard nothing from her since the rescue.
When the story proper begins, Kira is about to give a series of talks to some of the marines, soldiers and sailors stationed at Little Creek Fort in Virginia, on the topic of why it’s not a good idea to remove artifacts from the countries to which they are deployed. This isn’t normally her kind of gig, but her good friend Diana (book two, Trust Me ) has been suddenly taken ill, and asked Kira to stand in at the last minute. Kira is happy to do it, even though it means postponing her long-planned trip to Malta. She’s surprised to see Randall Fallon sitting in the front row for the final session; he asks if they can talk for a few minutes afterward and it’s during that chat that they realise that Kira’s late father must have intercepted Rand’s emails to her and then warned him off. Kira has absolutely no idea why he would have done that, but doesn’t have the time to work it out; she has an early flight in the morning and needs to get home. She’s delayed (again) when the base is locked down due to there being an active shooter inside – and as the sound of gunfire comes near, she can also hear something else… the sound of her own name, called out in a sing-song voice. Rand takes the guy down, but he dies before he can answer any questions.
Kira’s trip to Malta has been prompted by her desire to find out more about her family history. Her father had made many trips to the island for reasons he’d never disclosed, and before he died, Kira found letters that spoke about the return of ‘family legacies’. Further investigation revealed that her father had spent the last four decades searching for the art stolen from his family by the Nazis, and she’s determined to find out more – and perhaps fill in some of the gaps in her knowledge of her own past.
While Kira is enjoying the historical sights of Malta’s capital, Valetta, and making arrangements to meet with the step-cousin who provided the information about her father’s quest, the brass back at Little Creek have identified the shooter as a civilian employee – and found details about Kira’s search for stolen art in Malta on his laptop. Convinced, more than ever, that Kira is in danger, Rand asks for leave to follow her so he can act as bodyguard and see if he can find out if there’s a connection between Kira’s trip to Malta and the attack on Little Creek. He and Kira worked together briefly the previous year when he posed as her client, an author in the market for buying art – they can resurrect that cover. Rand is given permission to go – on the understanding that this isn’t an op, and he’s on his own if something goes wrong.
Kira doesn’t quite know how to feel when Rand shows up. On the one hand, she’s attracted to him and his presence could certainly come in useful; on the other, this is her trip and she isn’t going to be told where she can go and who she can see by anyone, least of all a man she didn’t invite along. But Rand is quick to realise when he’s overstepped and apologises, asking only that Kira keep him in the loop, that she discusses her plans with him so that they can make decisions together.
Once Kira and Rand are together in Malta we’re really off to the races and the discoveries come thick and fast as Kira starts to realise the true extent of her father’s deceptions. I’m not going to spoil anything, but a stunning reveal around the half-way point blows everything Kira thought she knew about herself out of the water, as bits and pieces of youthful memories start to return. Murder, betrayal, art theft, spies, ruthless oligarchs with grudges to settle… all are added to the mix as Rachel Grant draws together her carefully laid plot threads to form a fast-paced, exhilarating story that had me glued to it, desperate to find out what was going to happen next.
The romance between Kira and Fallon is steamy and nicely done – that they have a history (and Rand already being totally smitten) makes it easier to credit their falling for each other in such a short space of time. Rand is another of the author’s swoonworthy heroes; an alpha who isn’t all ‘me, Tarzan, you, Jane’, Rand listens to Kira, never talks down to her or tries to take over (well, the one time he does, he’s quick to realise his mistake and correct it). He’s absolutely, 100% got her back, giving her the kind of belief and support she’s rarely – if ever – received from others, who tend to underestimate her. If you enjoy a hero-in-pursuit, Rand’s your guy! Ms. Grant’s heroines are clever, capable and resourceful, and I’ve always loved that they all, in some way, have careers in archeology or historical research. Not only are those fairly unusual jobs in the genre, but the author’s own background as an archaeologist means that the characters always speak with authority and authenticity about their work. Her insight into the internal politics of Malta is fascinating and her research into the history and geography of the island is excellent, putting the reader in the middle of the breathtaking streets of Valetta in the sweltering summer heat right alongside Kira and Rand.
I do have a couple of niggles about the story. Firstly, while much mention (too much, perhaps) is made of Kira’s social anxiety and shyness, on the page, she’s always confident and self-assured; and finding it hard to believe that someone as hot as Rand could really be interested in her is a bit of a stretch as he’s the one making all the running. Also, while the majority of the story works as a standalone (see note, below), a handful of chapters near the end are devoted to tying up of some of the plotlines from the previous two books, and feature a different set of PoV characters.
Rachel Grant ‘regulars’ Nicol Zanzarella and Greg Tremblay (narrators of the Evidence and Flashpoint series respectively) are back at the microphones for Don’t Look Back, with Ms. Zanzarella reading Kira’s PoV and Mr. Tremblay Rand’s. They’re both hugely experienced and talented vocal actors and they’re on top form here, delivering well-paced, confident and accomplished performances that nail the emotional content of the story. Anyone who is familiar with my reviews at (the now ‘retired’) AudioGals will already know I’m a massive fan of Greg Tremblay’s; he’s one of the best male romance narrators around. His portrayal of Rand is spot on; he’s sex on a stick but is also the guy you want at your back in a fight – honourable, dedicated and take-no-prisoners. Mr. Tremblay is able to perform female characters very convincingly, and he differentiates clearly between Kira and Freya, who is the other main female role in the story. As Kira, Ms. Zanzarella expertly conveys her determination and the multitude of emotions she’s experiencing as she makes unsettling discoveries about her past, giving her an underlying vulnerability she takes care not to let her enemies see. She, too, differentiates clearly between all the characters and, like Mr. Tremblay, uses a variety of accents when called for; the one thing I can fault her on is that her male voices, while good, tend to be a bit same-y and I sometimes needed to listen out for the dialogue tags in scenes featuring conversations between several men.
With an exciting plot that will have you on the edge of your seat, a sexy romance, and fantastic narration, Don’t Look Back is my favourite book in the Evidence: Under Fire series so far and I’m more than happy to offer a strong recommendation.
Note: The main storyline in Don’t Look Back works as a standalone, although it does feature a number of secondary characters who have appeared in both the Evidence and Flashpoint series as well as some from the previous books in this series. It’s not essential to have read any or all of them; the characters in question have pertinent roles to play in this story, and there’s enough information given to clue in anyone new to the series. I would, however, say that some familiarity with the author’s other books would be advantageous.
Rachel Grant’s romantic suspense novels are among the very best in the genre. Her plots are always superbly constructed and impeccably researched, her characters are engaging and whip-smart, and she always achieves a good balance between the romance and the suspense plot. A new release from her will always catch my eye, and her latest, Don’t Look Back (book three in her Evidence: Under Fire series), is a terrific addition to the series and to the the genre as a whole.
The story opens with a flashback to an event six months earlier, in which art historian Kira Hanson was rescued after being kidnapped by a terrorist group being financed through art theft and artifact trafficking. The person to find her was Navy SEAL Lt. Commander Randall Fallon; the two of them had had some interaction previously and there was a definite spark of attraction between them, but Kira was abducted before Rand could ask her out, and even though he reached out to her later, he’s heard nothing from her since the rescue.
When the story proper begins, Kira is about to give a series of talks to some of the marines, soldiers and sailors stationed at Little Creek Fort in Virginia, on the topic of why it’s not a good idea to remove artifacts from the countries to which they are deployed. This isn’t normally her kind of gig, but her good friend Diana (book two, Trust Me ) has been suddenly taken ill, and asked Kira to stand in at the last minute. Kira is happy to do it, even though it means postponing her long-planned trip to Malta. She’s surprised to see Randall Fallon sitting in the front row for the final session; he asks if they can talk for a few minutes afterward and it’s during that chat that they realise that Kira’s late father must have intercepted Rand’s emails to her and then warned him off. Kira has absolutely no idea why he would have done that, but doesn’t have the time to work it out; she has an early flight in the morning and needs to get home. She’s delayed (again) when the base is locked down due to there being an active shooter inside – and as the sound of gunfire comes near, she can also hear something else… the sound of her own name, called out in a sing-song voice. Rand takes the guy down, but he dies before he can answer any questions.
Kira’s trip to Malta has been prompted by her desire to find out more about her family history. Her father had made many trips to the island for reasons he’d never disclosed, and before he died, Kira found letters that spoke about the return of ‘family legacies’. Further investigation revealed that her father had spent the last four decades searching for the art stolen from his family by the Nazis, and she’s determined to find out more – and perhaps fill in some of the gaps in her knowledge of her own past.
While Kira is enjoying the historical sights of Malta’s capital, Valetta, and making arrangements to meet with the step-cousin who provided the information about her father’s quest, the brass back at Little Creek have identified the shooter as a civilian employee – and found details about Kira’s search for stolen art in Malta on his laptop. Convinced, more than ever, that Kira is in danger, Rand asks for leave to follow her so he can act as bodyguard and see if he can find out if there’s a connection between Kira’s trip to Malta and the attack on Little Creek. He and Kira worked together briefly the previous year when he posed as her client, an author in the market for buying art – they can resurrect that cover. Rand is given permission to go – on the understanding that this isn’t an op, and he’s on his own if something goes wrong.
Kira doesn’t quite know how to feel when Rand shows up. On the one hand, she’s attracted to him and his presence could certainly come in useful; on the other, this is her trip and she isn’t going to be told where she can go and who she can see by anyone, least of all a man she didn’t invite along. But Rand is quick to realise when he’s overstepped and apologises, asking only that Kira keep him in the loop, that she discusses her plans with him so that they can make decisions together.
Once Kira and Rand are together in Malta we’re really off to the races and the discoveries come thick and fast as Kira starts to realise the true extent of her father’s deceptions. I’m not going to spoil anything, but a stunning reveal around the half-way point blows everything Kira thought she knew about herself out of the water, as bits and pieces of youthful memories start to return. Murder, betrayal, art theft, spies, ruthless oligarchs with grudges to settle… all are added to the mix as Rachel Grant draws together her carefully laid plot threads to form a fast-paced, exhilarating story that had me glued to it, desperate to find out what was going to happen next.
The romance between Kira and Fallon is steamy and nicely done – that they have a history (and Rand already being totally smitten) makes it easier to credit their falling for each other in such a short space of time. Rand is another of the author’s swoonworthy heroes; an alpha who isn’t all ‘me, Tarzan, you, Jane’, Rand listens to Kira, never talks down to her or tries to take over (well, the one time he does, he’s quick to realise his mistake and correct it). He’s absolutely, 100% got her back, giving her the kind of belief and support she’s rarely – if ever – received from others, who tend to underestimate her. If you enjoy a hero-in-pursuit, Rand’s your guy! Ms. Grant’s heroines are clever, capable and resourceful, and I’ve always loved that they all, in some way, have careers in archeology or historical research. Not only are those fairly unusual jobs in the genre, but the author’s own background as an archaeologist means that the characters always speak with authority and authenticity about their work. Her insight into the internal politics of Malta is fascinating and her research into the history and geography of the island is excellent, putting the reader in the middle of the breathtaking streets of Valetta in the sweltering summer heat right alongside Kira and Rand.
I do have a couple of niggles about the story. Firstly, while much mention (too much, perhaps) is made of Kira’s social anxiety and shyness, on the page, she’s always confident and self-assured; and finding it hard to believe that someone as hot as Rand could really be interested in her is a bit of a stretch as he’s the one making all the running. Also, while the majority of the story works as a standalone (see note, below), a handful of chapters near the end are devoted to tying up of some of the plotlines from the previous two books, and feature a different set of PoV characters.
Rachel Grant ‘regulars’ Nicol Zanzarella and Greg Tremblay (narrators of the Evidence and Flashpoint series respectively) are back at the microphones for Don’t Look Back, with Ms. Zanzarella reading Kira’s PoV and Mr. Tremblay Rand’s. They’re both hugely experienced and talented vocal actors and they’re on top form here, delivering well-paced, confident and accomplished performances that nail the emotional content of the story. Anyone who is familiar with my reviews at (the now ‘retired’) AudioGals will already know I’m a massive fan of Greg Tremblay’s; he’s one of the best male romance narrators around. His portrayal of Rand is spot on; he’s sex on a stick but is also the guy you want at your back in a fight – honourable, dedicated and take-no-prisoners. Mr. Tremblay is able to perform female characters very convincingly, and he differentiates clearly between Kira and Freya, who is the other main female role in the story. As Kira, Ms. Zanzarella expertly conveys her determination and the multitude of emotions she’s experiencing as she makes unsettling discoveries about her past, giving her an underlying vulnerability she takes care not to let her enemies see. She, too, differentiates clearly between all the characters and, like Mr. Tremblay, uses a variety of accents when called for; the one thing I can fault her on is that her male voices, while good, tend to be a bit same-y and I sometimes needed to listen out for the dialogue tags in scenes featuring conversations between several men.
With an exciting plot that will have you on the edge of your seat, a sexy romance, and fantastic narration, Don’t Look Back is my favourite book in the Evidence: Under Fire series so far and I’m more than happy to offer a strong recommendation.
Note: The main storyline in Don’t Look Back works as a standalone, although it does feature a number of secondary characters who have appeared in both the Evidence and Flashpoint series as well as some from the previous books in this series. It’s not essential to have read any or all of them; the characters in question have pertinent roles to play in this story, and there’s enough information given to clue in anyone new to the series. I would, however, say that some familiarity with the author’s other books would be advantageous.
June 16, 2024
Don’t Look Back is an exciting, non-stop thrill ride that really has it all: Exhilarating adventure, palpable tension, unexpected twists, and red-hot romance.
From the first few chapters, there’s no time wasted as we’re thrown headlong into the action, before being flown halfway around the world to conduct dangerous espionage under the sizzling Maltese sun in the search for stolen art.
Art historian, Kira Hanson, might seem like an unlikely James Bond, coming across initially as the shy, introverted, librarian type, but beneath the unassuming surface lies a true survivor. A woman with untold resilience and perseverance who pushes through her struggles, finds inner strength along the way, and becomes the formidable Valkyrie she was always meant to be. One who will stop at nothing to unravel the tightly woven mystery of her family history, even when some will go to any lengths to stop her.
Standing in their way, however, is self-appointed bodyguard Rand Fallon, who embodies everything you’d expect from a high-ranking Navy SEAL. He’s strong, brave, determined, devastatingly handsome in camo. But there’s a lot more to him that just rugged good looks and rippling muscles.
Beneath that tough exterior lies a sweet, sensitive man with a heart of gold who battles constantly with lingering guilt. You can feel the conflict within as he struggles between duty and devotion, and even though Rand has his fair share of swoon-worthy moments, what really made me fall in love with him was the way he recognised when he was underestimating Kira, quickly made amends, and gave her what she needed to blossom.
A true hero in every sense of the word.
With richly detailed descriptions, and a lot of clearly well-researched history, you truly get a sense of being in Malta with the unstoppable duo—darting between exotic locations, walking the sweltering streets, smelling the fresh Mediterranean sea…even taking down a bad guy or two!
The pacing is perfectly balanced as well, keeping things fresh and engaging, while the gripping suspense often had me on the edge of my seat, quickly flipping the pages, eager for more. And seamlessly interwoven between all that is a blistering romance—the kind that’s hot and heavy, instant and intense, but also filled with lots of tender, emotional moments, too.
Every time I got to the end of one chapter, there was a revelation that lured me straight into the next, which very quickly made this book completely unputdownable! So a word of warning: set aside plenty of time, because once you fall into all the compelling twists and turns, then start to uncover long buried secrets, you’ll be hooked from the first page until the last.
Fans of Rachel Grant will love all the cameos from beloved characters, and crossovers with storylines from previous novels, but new readers should be assured that they can easily and enjoyably read this is a standalone too…before becoming hooked and going back to consume the entire Evidence/Flashpoint series, of course!
With intricate storytelling, heart-pounding suspense, and passionate romance, Don’t Look Back is another impeccably crafted addition to the Evidence: Under Fire series. Can’t wait to jump into the next!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
From the first few chapters, there’s no time wasted as we’re thrown headlong into the action, before being flown halfway around the world to conduct dangerous espionage under the sizzling Maltese sun in the search for stolen art.
Art historian, Kira Hanson, might seem like an unlikely James Bond, coming across initially as the shy, introverted, librarian type, but beneath the unassuming surface lies a true survivor. A woman with untold resilience and perseverance who pushes through her struggles, finds inner strength along the way, and becomes the formidable Valkyrie she was always meant to be. One who will stop at nothing to unravel the tightly woven mystery of her family history, even when some will go to any lengths to stop her.
Standing in their way, however, is self-appointed bodyguard Rand Fallon, who embodies everything you’d expect from a high-ranking Navy SEAL. He’s strong, brave, determined, devastatingly handsome in camo. But there’s a lot more to him that just rugged good looks and rippling muscles.
Beneath that tough exterior lies a sweet, sensitive man with a heart of gold who battles constantly with lingering guilt. You can feel the conflict within as he struggles between duty and devotion, and even though Rand has his fair share of swoon-worthy moments, what really made me fall in love with him was the way he recognised when he was underestimating Kira, quickly made amends, and gave her what she needed to blossom.
A true hero in every sense of the word.
With richly detailed descriptions, and a lot of clearly well-researched history, you truly get a sense of being in Malta with the unstoppable duo—darting between exotic locations, walking the sweltering streets, smelling the fresh Mediterranean sea…even taking down a bad guy or two!
The pacing is perfectly balanced as well, keeping things fresh and engaging, while the gripping suspense often had me on the edge of my seat, quickly flipping the pages, eager for more. And seamlessly interwoven between all that is a blistering romance—the kind that’s hot and heavy, instant and intense, but also filled with lots of tender, emotional moments, too.
Every time I got to the end of one chapter, there was a revelation that lured me straight into the next, which very quickly made this book completely unputdownable! So a word of warning: set aside plenty of time, because once you fall into all the compelling twists and turns, then start to uncover long buried secrets, you’ll be hooked from the first page until the last.
Fans of Rachel Grant will love all the cameos from beloved characters, and crossovers with storylines from previous novels, but new readers should be assured that they can easily and enjoyably read this is a standalone too…before becoming hooked and going back to consume the entire Evidence/Flashpoint series, of course!
With intricate storytelling, heart-pounding suspense, and passionate romance, Don’t Look Back is another impeccably crafted addition to the Evidence: Under Fire series. Can’t wait to jump into the next!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2024
I’d seen pictures the author shared of the wonderful historic island of Malta when she teased the next in this series and immediately knew I’d have to read it. It’s cliché to say but true, this is her best yet. Talk about explosive! It rivals any fourth of July fireworks display you’ve seen. It has absolutely everything you want in a suspense, subtle romantic undercurrents building as world events conspire and threaten American soil. Kira is on a mission to finish her father’s passion project of recovering stolen art. Looking for answers about any of her remaining relatives and family history she plans a vacation to Malta. The answers she’s searching for are not what she expected to find and will be life changing. The tension remained at high voltage as I raced through the pages for answers. Kira’s chance encounter with the man who’d saved her months before has her unsettled. She believed Rand had later ignored her purposely, but Kira soon finds she needs his help again. The plot is strong with eminent danger, the emotional baggage of digging up buried family secrets is laden with guilt and pain. The truth isn’t always the happily ever after you expect. There are appearances from many other beloved characters in the Evidence series, multiple government agencies, oligarchs, Russian spies, subterfuge and endless misdirection compounded by layers of deception. The author’s dedication to research and the authenticity of the setting was spectacular. I always appreciate her ability to highlight the ongoing efforts of returning artifacts to rightful owners.
What a privilege to be part of her review team! Congrats for writing another thrilling instalment. I’m sure devoted fans and new readers alike will love the adventurous story as much as I did. A special thank you to Rachel Grant for the Advance Reader copy of “Don’t Look Back” Evidence Under Fire #3, Janus Publishing, expected publication 07/19/2024. These are my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.
What a privilege to be part of her review team! Congrats for writing another thrilling instalment. I’m sure devoted fans and new readers alike will love the adventurous story as much as I did. A special thank you to Rachel Grant for the Advance Reader copy of “Don’t Look Back” Evidence Under Fire #3, Janus Publishing, expected publication 07/19/2024. These are my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.
August 31, 2024
Another incredible story in the Evidence: Under Fire series! We get thrown into the action right away, and it keeps you glued to the pages needing to know what is going to happen next. We met Rand and Kira in the last book, Trust Me, and I was so excited to get their story next. Rand plays bodyguard to Kira while she hopes to find out more about her father's work. Rand had saved Kira previously, and there's a lot of mixed emotions from their first interactions. Kira does not want him as a bodyguard, and Rand doesn't believe she can take care of herself. I loved it when Rand finally sees Kira for who she is, a Valkyrie, who needs assistance but knows what she's doing, and they become a team. You learn secrets from both Rand and Kira, and their story is not always easy. I loved all the characters we got to see again and meet in this story and can't wait to see who's story we get next! An exciting and action-packed story!
July 22, 2024
I had the very strong sense I should have read the previous books in the series before this one. This was not a cliffhanger, but I felt like I may have missed the significance of some references because this was the first book in the series that I listened to or read. I do feel this can be read as a stand alone, as the couple did resolve the issue at hand and get their HEA.
This was a political, military romance that was heavier on the romance than I expected. Being perfectly honest, I was not feeling Kira's character at all until about the 50+% into the book. I also have to wonder if that was because I started at book 3.
I thought Kira was an incredibly immature, silly woman. She was supposed to be almost 40 years old. Basically, the way the book began with Rand and Kira, I would think Kira would have been much more safety conscious. She seemed to let pride, hurt feelings, and ego take the place of common sense.
Kira had been kidnapped, then rescued, then had someone who specifically wanted to kill her. What does she do but run off to Malta by herself? It seemed to me she would be happy to have Rand there to protect her, or just to watch her back. Especially considering how she had never left the country before.
I can understand why Rand did not tell her some things. Kira seemed to have a tendency to fly off the handle. After she settled down, it became a much easier book to listen to and dig into the plot.
I did have a bit of a problem keeping track of the characters for a while. This book had a lot going on. There was espionage, politics, art theft, art history, military secrets, danger, deceit, action, suspense, mystery, and regular secrets. 2 things I knew with certainty because it was often repeated. Malta was really hot in the summer, and Kira blossomed when she was in her element.
The book was still entertaining, and I enjoyed the descriptions, intrigue, and mystery. I did think the narrators did a good job and their narration enhanced the story for me. I would give this book 3.75 stars mainly because it took me so long to get on board with Kira, and not really dislike her.
I voluntarily listened to and reviewed the Advanced Listener Copy of this book.
This was a political, military romance that was heavier on the romance than I expected. Being perfectly honest, I was not feeling Kira's character at all until about the 50+% into the book. I also have to wonder if that was because I started at book 3.
I thought Kira was an incredibly immature, silly woman. She was supposed to be almost 40 years old. Basically, the way the book began with Rand and Kira, I would think Kira would have been much more safety conscious. She seemed to let pride, hurt feelings, and ego take the place of common sense.
Kira had been kidnapped, then rescued, then had someone who specifically wanted to kill her. What does she do but run off to Malta by herself? It seemed to me she would be happy to have Rand there to protect her, or just to watch her back. Especially considering how she had never left the country before.
I can understand why Rand did not tell her some things. Kira seemed to have a tendency to fly off the handle. After she settled down, it became a much easier book to listen to and dig into the plot.
I did have a bit of a problem keeping track of the characters for a while. This book had a lot going on. There was espionage, politics, art theft, art history, military secrets, danger, deceit, action, suspense, mystery, and regular secrets. 2 things I knew with certainty because it was often repeated. Malta was really hot in the summer, and Kira blossomed when she was in her element.
The book was still entertaining, and I enjoyed the descriptions, intrigue, and mystery. I did think the narrators did a good job and their narration enhanced the story for me. I would give this book 3.75 stars mainly because it took me so long to get on board with Kira, and not really dislike her.
I voluntarily listened to and reviewed the Advanced Listener Copy of this book.
June 8, 2024
Kira and Rand’s story was jam-packed with history, exotic locations, twisted legacies, and a bit of espionage all wrapped up with some seriously heated chemistry between our daring couple! I really wasn’t expecting the twists and turns the story took, but found myself hooked once the things got started. Kira and Rand ran the gamut of feels in their unorthodox courtship/relationship, however, I think it worked out well in showing how far Kira grew over the course of the story. It took about 30% of the story to truly invest in Kira before I was all in. Rand was a solid wall of support Kira didn’t know she wanted, much less needed and I appreciated how he figured out he couldn’t just take over a situation and learned to treat Kira as a true partner. With a supportive cast of previous characters making appearances throughout the story to lend their expertise and assistance, this book turned out to be quite the read!
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 23, 2024
Two characters we met from the last book take front seat in this book for their own action packed adventure to keeping the USA safe and falling in love. Rand and Kira had a less than ideal first get to know you, but their chemistry was still there and now we see them back on a base and then in Malta with chemistry and danger still abounding. Kira is a fascinating character who specializes in art, but who also is healing from the loss of her parents and the victim of a terrorist attack in the last book. Rand is a SEAL who helped save her then and is falling for her while helping her get answers now. Both had some secrets that get shared and their journey to a HEA is not easy, but memorable! We see some other Valkyries and their significant others return and learn of perhaps some other females that sound like amazing characters for future books?!?!? The drone and other technology is fascinating and I loved the intrigue of the Russian oligarch angle. Fantastic author, characters and series!
June 9, 2024
I surely want to go to Malta now but I don’t know when I will be able to do that. I got the memo about not going in summer though.
This story is so Rachel Grant, with its part of deep betrayal and layers of surprises, interrogations and understandings. I liked Kira very much. I did not agree with Rand’s behaviour towards her for the first third of the book, but once again Rachel succeeded in making me accepting a character I was not fan of at the beginning.
This story is so Rachel Grant, with its part of deep betrayal and layers of surprises, interrogations and understandings. I liked Kira very much. I did not agree with Rand’s behaviour towards her for the first third of the book, but once again Rachel succeeded in making me accepting a character I was not fan of at the beginning.
July 19, 2024
I loved this book! Grant really knows how to write a thrilling combination of excitement and romance!
I loved how Rand was romancing Kira the entire time and was so protective of her.
I loved finding out what her backstory was.
I loved the setting of Malta and the reasons why the author chose it.
It was an exciting read and I stayed up late to finish it!!
Thanks to the author for the advance copy.
I loved how Rand was romancing Kira the entire time and was so protective of her.
I loved finding out what her backstory was.
I loved the setting of Malta and the reasons why the author chose it.
It was an exciting read and I stayed up late to finish it!!
Thanks to the author for the advance copy.
March 21, 2025
"My Valkyra. Valkyrie, Siren and Librarian all in one."
This is a four POV book, the two POV´s that frequent are those of Rand and Kira.
I liked Kira as an FMC; she wasn´t your typical "badass" who could fight really well, but wished she would be (totally relatable by the way). I loved how resilient and strong and smart she was and how quickwitted she seemed to think on her feet. Rand felt a bit bland to me. A bit too two dimensional for my liking. He felt like a Ken doll if that makes sense.
I liked seeing glimpses of Chris and Diana throughout this book and I liked how Freya was more incorporated into the story. Otherwise there aren´t that many side characters in here, the story itself is mostly focused on the couple.
This book had a bit more "vacation vibes" thrown in there in comparison to the other two. Set in Malta, I´d argue it makes for a good summer read. The pacing itself was okay-ish, it felt really slow in some passages. The ratio of action to romance scenes in well done in my opinion, the only thing that annoyed me a little bit personally was the lack of character development. I would have loved to see Kira "grow" more. The trope itself I´d argue is insta love, if that´s for you than you might like the book better than I did, for me personally it´s not really my favorite. The book itself was missing a bit of tension and chemistry for me. You can expect a few spicy scenes in here.
Overall it was okayish, not really great but also not really bad.
trigger warnings: kidnapping, domestic abuse (mentioned), loss of loved ones, attempted murder
This is a four POV book, the two POV´s that frequent are those of Rand and Kira.
I liked Kira as an FMC; she wasn´t your typical "badass" who could fight really well, but wished she would be (totally relatable by the way). I loved how resilient and strong and smart she was and how quickwitted she seemed to think on her feet. Rand felt a bit bland to me. A bit too two dimensional for my liking. He felt like a Ken doll if that makes sense.
I liked seeing glimpses of Chris and Diana throughout this book and I liked how Freya was more incorporated into the story. Otherwise there aren´t that many side characters in here, the story itself is mostly focused on the couple.
This book had a bit more "vacation vibes" thrown in there in comparison to the other two. Set in Malta, I´d argue it makes for a good summer read. The pacing itself was okay-ish, it felt really slow in some passages. The ratio of action to romance scenes in well done in my opinion, the only thing that annoyed me a little bit personally was the lack of character development. I would have loved to see Kira "grow" more. The trope itself I´d argue is insta love, if that´s for you than you might like the book better than I did, for me personally it´s not really my favorite. The book itself was missing a bit of tension and chemistry for me. You can expect a few spicy scenes in here.
Overall it was okayish, not really great but also not really bad.
trigger warnings: kidnapping, domestic abuse (mentioned), loss of loved ones, attempted murder
April 8, 2025
This one started kinda slow and had me kicking myself for paying full-price for this book (full disclosure: I rarely pay full price for any book - I have a hard time justifying it when I have over 200 books on my Kindle). But if I’m gonna pay full price for a book, Rachel Grant is one of the few authors I’m willing to do it for.
And thankfully she didn’t let me down. Once the action started it didn’t stop - there was even a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Sadly, I think I’ve read all of Rachel Grants books now, so now I’m stuck waiting not-so-patiently for her next release…
And thankfully she didn’t let me down. Once the action started it didn’t stop - there was even a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Sadly, I think I’ve read all of Rachel Grants books now, so now I’m stuck waiting not-so-patiently for her next release…
July 19, 2024
Once again Rachel Grant has written a book which has kept me up late into the night too keen to see what happens next to even think about sleep.
Whilst the book can be read as a stand alone I would urge anyone new to this author to delve back to the start of the series with Before the Storm and the subsequent books in order. A whole world is created and whilst each of the stories has a HEA for me it really added to my enjoyment.
We first met Kira in Trust Me where she crossed paths with Rand when he rescued her after she is kidnapped. Since then her father has died leaving letters which set her on a quest to learn about her past which is deeply shrouded in mystery. Some involved in her past really do not want it uncovered yet others see her as a pawn in there future aspirations.
Rand has never forgotten Kira since her rescue and once it is clear to him that she is in danger again he follows her to Malta where together they work to uncover her father's secrets, uncovering a web of lies and espionage that they could never have imagined.
Rachel Grant really does her homework on her subject and once immersed in the book it is easy to visualise the scenes.
I highly recommend this book which along with her other books a firmly on my to keep and re read shelf.
I received this book free as an ARC however the views expressed are entirely my own and I would 100% purchase this book. The next one is Definite pre order for me.
Whilst the book can be read as a stand alone I would urge anyone new to this author to delve back to the start of the series with Before the Storm and the subsequent books in order. A whole world is created and whilst each of the stories has a HEA for me it really added to my enjoyment.
We first met Kira in Trust Me where she crossed paths with Rand when he rescued her after she is kidnapped. Since then her father has died leaving letters which set her on a quest to learn about her past which is deeply shrouded in mystery. Some involved in her past really do not want it uncovered yet others see her as a pawn in there future aspirations.
Rand has never forgotten Kira since her rescue and once it is clear to him that she is in danger again he follows her to Malta where together they work to uncover her father's secrets, uncovering a web of lies and espionage that they could never have imagined.
Rachel Grant really does her homework on her subject and once immersed in the book it is easy to visualise the scenes.
I highly recommend this book which along with her other books a firmly on my to keep and re read shelf.
I received this book free as an ARC however the views expressed are entirely my own and I would 100% purchase this book. The next one is Definite pre order for me.
July 30, 2024
So, I enjoyed this but I didn’t think it was her best. I really liked the concept of the story and I thought the change of setting was quite refreshing. There was a lot of ideas in it that I really liked. The romance itself was a nice idea and I did think they had good chemistry. I found a lot of the drama between them a bit bland, though, or a bit overblown. The stuff about his ex wasn’t that interesting to me but the story got a bit wrapped up in it in a way I felt detracted from the book as a whole and I thought that her backstory involving her ex didn’t really fit the rest of the story.
Aside from this I just thought the plot became a bit convoluted and, at times, a bit repetitive. It just went back and forth a lot and the ending was very underwhelming. The biggest issue I had with this book, though, was that I found it very slow. I’m used to Rachel Grant’s books being really exciting and fast-paced and this just didn’t match that. There was just no urgency to any of it. The telling felt very muddied at points, too, and overall it just felt very slow and plodding.
To be honest, I considered DNFing a few times but I did want to know the outcome. I liked the romance and aspects of the plot really appealed to me, but the book as a whole left me feeling a bit cold.
Content Notes: Second chance, forced proximity.
Warnings:
Other: .
Aside from this I just thought the plot became a bit convoluted and, at times, a bit repetitive. It just went back and forth a lot and the ending was very underwhelming. The biggest issue I had with this book, though, was that I found it very slow. I’m used to Rachel Grant’s books being really exciting and fast-paced and this just didn’t match that. There was just no urgency to any of it. The telling felt very muddied at points, too, and overall it just felt very slow and plodding.
To be honest, I considered DNFing a few times but I did want to know the outcome. I liked the romance and aspects of the plot really appealed to me, but the book as a whole left me feeling a bit cold.
Content Notes: Second chance, forced proximity.
Warnings:
Other: .
October 14, 2024
Ms Grant is one of my favorite authors, and is an automatic read for me. Rachel NEVER disappoints. This was a very well done intelligent romantic thriller with terrific characters in a lovely location, that was action packed, with intrigue, spicy romance, and hard to put down. Just when you think all will be well, another twist in the plot will have you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommend!
June 24, 2024
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
With both parents now dead, learning the truth wouldn’t hurt anyone except herself.
Don't Look Back is third in the Evidence: Under Fire series, and while you'd miss out on arriving fully in the know about interpersonal relationships of characters, I didn't have a problem starting the series with this installment. There's enough nudging in of recaps to get new readers in the know and the beginning gives a flashback to a big moment between our leads, Kira is rescued by Rand; readers of the series will feel like they're just picking up where the last book left off. If you've been a reader of Suzanne Brockmann or binged through the tv shows The Night Agent, The Old Man, and Bodyguard (British), then you're definitely going to want to pick this up.
She was flattered he wanted to date her, but she had no doubt he would crush her heart even more than her first love had.
Kira's father has died and she's found some papers of his that leads to many questions as to why he took so many trips to the island of Malta. With how sheltered her parents kept her, she always wondered if her mother defected from East Germany and her father smuggled her into the United States. After getting kidnapped by a billionaire terrorist and almost dying (#2 Trust Me), Kira decides it's time to get her first stamp on her passport and find answers on Malta. Helping out one of her friends, she's set-up to teach three classes on a military base about respecting and protecting artifacts to soldiers, when she comes face-to-face with Lieutenant Commander Randall Fallon, the Navy SEAL who asked her out before she was kidnapped, ended up rescuing her, and then ghosted her.
“Kira, I’m pretty sure I’ll follow you anywhere.”
Rand is pretty sure Kira's father kept him away from her by deleting his emails and sending a fake email from “Kira's boyfriend” to get him to back-off. When he see's Dr. Kira Hanson will be on base, he's not going to let this second chance go. As she's shooting him down a second time, they hear actual gun shots and suddenly Kira's life is in his hands again. Since these two previously met in the prior book, Rand's attraction is already built-in and while there is an issue from a previous relationship in Kira's past that has her scared to give Rand a chance, she's also already attracted to him, I missed seeing some of their building attraction. While these two spend the vast majority of the story together, Rand ends up following Kira to Malta, reprising an undercover role, and they have some steamy open-door scenes, the romance still felt like only around 30% of this story, this was heavy on the suspense.
She paused, pulling him to a stop. She turned and rose on her toes and kissed him. Brief and soft. “I really like you, Randall Fallon.”
If you're into the suspense side, though, you're going to love this. When Kira goes to Malta to search out secrets, she gets way more than she bargained for. Even though her dad went to Malta multiple times, he told Kira he was trying to recover art stolen by Nazis, she discovers her father was involved in spy games. At around the midway point of the story, a big reveal happens and Kira is spun into a world of conniving Russian oligarchs, family secrets, and trying to stop an attack on United States soil. As this is an ARC, I don't want to spoil too much of the suspense plot threads, but just know, some you won't see coming and some tie back into book two. It's all suspenseful and at times the cast of characters really blows-up but it's tightly plot contained enough that, you won't need sleep, you'll need answers.
Her past was a mess, but he offered her a future. She wasn’t alone anymore.
The research additives, Malta setting descriptions will fascinate you, military jargon and actions give a good enough realism feel, and, because I'm a history nerd, I enjoyed one of my favorite named summits, Seasick Summit, getting a shout-out. Rand did his part as the strong, capable, little hot piece that uplifts and believes in the heroine. I thought the multiple mentions of Kira's social anxiety and feeling shy felt a bit overdone, as her character never showed anything but self-assured and her not believing Rand really wants her felt a little forced as he was always the one to ask her out and pursue. Together, they worked appealingly. The story takes place only a little over a week, and while I could have stood for more romance focus/development, the suspense was suspense-ing, this was packed full of plot threads weaving in, out, and together, delivering a heck of a ride.
With both parents now dead, learning the truth wouldn’t hurt anyone except herself.
Don't Look Back is third in the Evidence: Under Fire series, and while you'd miss out on arriving fully in the know about interpersonal relationships of characters, I didn't have a problem starting the series with this installment. There's enough nudging in of recaps to get new readers in the know and the beginning gives a flashback to a big moment between our leads, Kira is rescued by Rand; readers of the series will feel like they're just picking up where the last book left off. If you've been a reader of Suzanne Brockmann or binged through the tv shows The Night Agent, The Old Man, and Bodyguard (British), then you're definitely going to want to pick this up.
She was flattered he wanted to date her, but she had no doubt he would crush her heart even more than her first love had.
Kira's father has died and she's found some papers of his that leads to many questions as to why he took so many trips to the island of Malta. With how sheltered her parents kept her, she always wondered if her mother defected from East Germany and her father smuggled her into the United States. After getting kidnapped by a billionaire terrorist and almost dying (#2 Trust Me), Kira decides it's time to get her first stamp on her passport and find answers on Malta. Helping out one of her friends, she's set-up to teach three classes on a military base about respecting and protecting artifacts to soldiers, when she comes face-to-face with Lieutenant Commander Randall Fallon, the Navy SEAL who asked her out before she was kidnapped, ended up rescuing her, and then ghosted her.
“Kira, I’m pretty sure I’ll follow you anywhere.”
Rand is pretty sure Kira's father kept him away from her by deleting his emails and sending a fake email from “Kira's boyfriend” to get him to back-off. When he see's Dr. Kira Hanson will be on base, he's not going to let this second chance go. As she's shooting him down a second time, they hear actual gun shots and suddenly Kira's life is in his hands again. Since these two previously met in the prior book, Rand's attraction is already built-in and while there is an issue from a previous relationship in Kira's past that has her scared to give Rand a chance, she's also already attracted to him, I missed seeing some of their building attraction. While these two spend the vast majority of the story together, Rand ends up following Kira to Malta, reprising an undercover role, and they have some steamy open-door scenes, the romance still felt like only around 30% of this story, this was heavy on the suspense.
She paused, pulling him to a stop. She turned and rose on her toes and kissed him. Brief and soft. “I really like you, Randall Fallon.”
If you're into the suspense side, though, you're going to love this. When Kira goes to Malta to search out secrets, she gets way more than she bargained for. Even though her dad went to Malta multiple times, he told Kira he was trying to recover art stolen by Nazis, she discovers her father was involved in spy games. At around the midway point of the story, a big reveal happens and Kira is spun into a world of conniving Russian oligarchs, family secrets, and trying to stop an attack on United States soil. As this is an ARC, I don't want to spoil too much of the suspense plot threads, but just know, some you won't see coming and some tie back into book two. It's all suspenseful and at times the cast of characters really blows-up but it's tightly plot contained enough that, you won't need sleep, you'll need answers.
Her past was a mess, but he offered her a future. She wasn’t alone anymore.
The research additives, Malta setting descriptions will fascinate you, military jargon and actions give a good enough realism feel, and, because I'm a history nerd, I enjoyed one of my favorite named summits, Seasick Summit, getting a shout-out. Rand did his part as the strong, capable, little hot piece that uplifts and believes in the heroine. I thought the multiple mentions of Kira's social anxiety and feeling shy felt a bit overdone, as her character never showed anything but self-assured and her not believing Rand really wants her felt a little forced as he was always the one to ask her out and pursue. Together, they worked appealingly. The story takes place only a little over a week, and while I could have stood for more romance focus/development, the suspense was suspense-ing, this was packed full of plot threads weaving in, out, and together, delivering a heck of a ride.
September 14, 2024
DON’T LOOK BACK by RACHEL GRANT 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Don’t Look Back is the third (#3) book in Rachel Grant’s ‘Evidence: Under Fire’ series (INTO THE STORM being book one (#1) and TRUST ME being book two (#2).
Six months after Kira Hanson was rescued by Navy SEAL LIEUTENANT Randall Fallon from a kidnapping, she meets him again in what she believes to be a serendipitous encounter. She’s teaching a class at a naval base in Virginia when she sees him in the front row. When an unexpected incident occurs on the base, Kira is forced to rely on Rand once again to keep her safe. Reluctant to start a relationship with the SEAL - she’s travelling to Malta the following day hoping to find out more about her late fathers work- she ignores his interest.
Navy SEAL LIEUTENANT Randall Fallon is concerned that the woman he’s long been attracted to is travelling to Malta alone on a personal mission that he fears may threaten her safety. There’s a clear connection between Kira and the incident on base and she may be ignorantly walking into a situation beyond her control.
Following this intriguing woman to Malta, determined to protect her, Rand sweet talks his way into accompanying her. When skeletons come out of the closet, and past secrets reveal themselves, the pair begin to realise that there is far more at risk than they first thought. With unknown enemies out to harm Kira and lies to uncover, they have to work together to piece the clues together. What secrets were Kira’s parents hiding and what do they have to do with her?
————————————
I cannot speak highly enough about this book. In fact I would go so far as to say that it is my favourite read of 2024 so far.
The comprehensive descriptions and intricate details provide such vivid mental images that you feel as though you are there with Kira & Rand. It is clear through out the book that the author has done immense research on Malta, and her attention to detail in every aspect of this story is noticeable and appreciated. Not a page of this meaty book is unnecessary. It’s the perfect length and there is nothing in it that feels like ‘filler’.
The book has a complex but captivating plot that grips you by the throat and refuses to let go. There is fast paced action and several plot twists, all of which are nicely wrapped in a bow by the end. Just when you are catching your breath from one event the next threat rolls in.
You can’t help but get invested in Kira’s trials and her character is so well written you have to sympathise with her as secrets are revealed. When she has an interaction with a certain character towards the end of the book I felt her discomfort and fear viscerally. Rands character is written sympathetically and his thoughts and attraction to Kira feel believable.
Whilst this book could easily be enjoyed as a stand alone, it does contain characters from previous books in the series and characters from ‘BEFORE THE STORM’ - One Hot Night are also referenced. Personally I’d recommend reading the entire series. This is one of those books that whist you desperately want to find out how everything pans out you equally don’t ever want the book to end. Dive in and enjoy! ☺️
Don’t Look Back is the third (#3) book in Rachel Grant’s ‘Evidence: Under Fire’ series (INTO THE STORM being book one (#1) and TRUST ME being book two (#2).
Six months after Kira Hanson was rescued by Navy SEAL LIEUTENANT Randall Fallon from a kidnapping, she meets him again in what she believes to be a serendipitous encounter. She’s teaching a class at a naval base in Virginia when she sees him in the front row. When an unexpected incident occurs on the base, Kira is forced to rely on Rand once again to keep her safe. Reluctant to start a relationship with the SEAL - she’s travelling to Malta the following day hoping to find out more about her late fathers work- she ignores his interest.
Navy SEAL LIEUTENANT Randall Fallon is concerned that the woman he’s long been attracted to is travelling to Malta alone on a personal mission that he fears may threaten her safety. There’s a clear connection between Kira and the incident on base and she may be ignorantly walking into a situation beyond her control.
Following this intriguing woman to Malta, determined to protect her, Rand sweet talks his way into accompanying her. When skeletons come out of the closet, and past secrets reveal themselves, the pair begin to realise that there is far more at risk than they first thought. With unknown enemies out to harm Kira and lies to uncover, they have to work together to piece the clues together. What secrets were Kira’s parents hiding and what do they have to do with her?
————————————
I cannot speak highly enough about this book. In fact I would go so far as to say that it is my favourite read of 2024 so far.
The comprehensive descriptions and intricate details provide such vivid mental images that you feel as though you are there with Kira & Rand. It is clear through out the book that the author has done immense research on Malta, and her attention to detail in every aspect of this story is noticeable and appreciated. Not a page of this meaty book is unnecessary. It’s the perfect length and there is nothing in it that feels like ‘filler’.
The book has a complex but captivating plot that grips you by the throat and refuses to let go. There is fast paced action and several plot twists, all of which are nicely wrapped in a bow by the end. Just when you are catching your breath from one event the next threat rolls in.
You can’t help but get invested in Kira’s trials and her character is so well written you have to sympathise with her as secrets are revealed. When she has an interaction with a certain character towards the end of the book I felt her discomfort and fear viscerally. Rands character is written sympathetically and his thoughts and attraction to Kira feel believable.
Whilst this book could easily be enjoyed as a stand alone, it does contain characters from previous books in the series and characters from ‘BEFORE THE STORM’ - One Hot Night are also referenced. Personally I’d recommend reading the entire series. This is one of those books that whist you desperately want to find out how everything pans out you equally don’t ever want the book to end. Dive in and enjoy! ☺️
October 2, 2024
Don’t Look Back is Dr Kira Hanson and Navy SEAL Lt. Commander Randall Fallon’s story as they delve into the former’s mysterious past.
Synopsis:
Navy SEAL Lt. Commander Randall Fallon found Dr Kira Hanson, battered and bruised, as she attempted to corner terrorists in the guise of artifact traffickers selling art to fund their terrorist activities. He vowed then to never let her be in any such danger but her past and her search for a missing connection with her father says otherwise.
Review:
Ooof...it was obvious that this will be Randall and Kira’s book but the way it starts…
Don’t Look Back is off to a smashing start with a prologue, right after the events of Trust Me, the previous book in the series, with Kira receiving the care she needs, while the story begins six months later.
Kira is quite content with her life, but something in her past and what her father may have been trying to hide from her continues to niggle at her. And that is how she finds her way to Malta, a place her father frequently visited, as she tries to dig through her father’s enigmatic past.
Randall and Kira, the way they meet each other after six months, it was as sweet as it was funny.
Rand and Kira bond over their shared love for reading, especially one book in particular, and I was jumping with joy for the entire character arc of Randall Fallon. In fact, no two perfect main characters were written!
And what an apt title. Kira was looking into her past, getting into unknowingly dangerous situations because of that…
I think there were quite a few hints that were dropped throughout the book, but I could never have guessed the bombshell about Kira’s family that was dropped before we are even halfway through.
And just as we are about to reach the middle of the book, Grant drops the sweetest of surprises, which totally caught me off guard. A secret within a secret that’s not really a secret. Oh my god! This was the best book ever!
Can I be any more secretive? But I have to be. It is best if you read Don’t Look Back and be a part of this exciting journey where truth bombs are being dropped left, right and centre. I often felt sad for Kira, to have found love but having lost so much in her past.
Also, I never could have imagined the gentlest of the Valkyries having such a sad but powerful story. Kudos to you, Rachel Grant, for this compelling narrative.
There are quite a few moments where Kira is in danger and she helps herself as much as Rand saves her. Sigh! One of the best, and badass, and cutest couple ever!
It was such a great pleasure to have read this one. And it ends with a beautiful epilogue.
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
The Editor Reads
Synopsis:
Navy SEAL Lt. Commander Randall Fallon found Dr Kira Hanson, battered and bruised, as she attempted to corner terrorists in the guise of artifact traffickers selling art to fund their terrorist activities. He vowed then to never let her be in any such danger but her past and her search for a missing connection with her father says otherwise.
Review:
Ooof...it was obvious that this will be Randall and Kira’s book but the way it starts…
Don’t Look Back is off to a smashing start with a prologue, right after the events of Trust Me, the previous book in the series, with Kira receiving the care she needs, while the story begins six months later.
Kira is quite content with her life, but something in her past and what her father may have been trying to hide from her continues to niggle at her. And that is how she finds her way to Malta, a place her father frequently visited, as she tries to dig through her father’s enigmatic past.
Randall and Kira, the way they meet each other after six months, it was as sweet as it was funny.
Flattery without feeling was unconvincing at best. Creepy at worst.
Rand and Kira bond over their shared love for reading, especially one book in particular, and I was jumping with joy for the entire character arc of Randall Fallon. In fact, no two perfect main characters were written!
And what an apt title. Kira was looking into her past, getting into unknowingly dangerous situations because of that…
I think there were quite a few hints that were dropped throughout the book, but I could never have guessed the bombshell about Kira’s family that was dropped before we are even halfway through.
And just as we are about to reach the middle of the book, Grant drops the sweetest of surprises, which totally caught me off guard. A secret within a secret that’s not really a secret. Oh my god! This was the best book ever!
Can I be any more secretive? But I have to be. It is best if you read Don’t Look Back and be a part of this exciting journey where truth bombs are being dropped left, right and centre. I often felt sad for Kira, to have found love but having lost so much in her past.
Also, I never could have imagined the gentlest of the Valkyries having such a sad but powerful story. Kudos to you, Rachel Grant, for this compelling narrative.
There are quite a few moments where Kira is in danger and she helps herself as much as Rand saves her. Sigh! One of the best, and badass, and cutest couple ever!
It was such a great pleasure to have read this one. And it ends with a beautiful epilogue.
Thank you to the author for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
The Editor Reads
July 27, 2024
Oh, that Malta Heat!
Malta. Fascinating Mediterranean archipelago famous for its history, culture, scenic views, and heat. But author Rachel Grant just turned up the Malta heat with her book "Don't Look Back." This is the third book in the Evidence: Under Fire series and is more than a worthy addition to these romantic suspense stories.
Kira Hansen, archaeologist, and friend to the cultural heroes of the historic Monuments Men and Women Foundation, wants nothing more than to spend some time in Malta, seeking answers about her father's enigmatic past. She's just got to do one thing before she goes: teach a special class to Naval personnel on the importance of preserving cultural heritage. She's just backing up her departure time by a few hours while doing a friend a favor. Simple. Until the craziest set of circumstances occurs and she finds herself in an unimaginable situation, fighting for her life.
Kira is not to be deterred from her personal mission, however, and finally finds herself on the Isle of Malta, thrown into the middle of intrigue. She's also picked up an unwanted sidekick, Lt. Commander Randall Fallon. A Navy Seal, and the man who has twice saved her life.
Kira is strong, fiercely determined, and unafraid of the hornet's nest she's kicked. She also carries a mountain of baggage from her unusual early life and the recent death of her father. Rand is tough, brave, smart, and absolutely smitten with Kira. His feelings are not reciprocated.
Rachel Grant is the veritable queen of romantic suspense. Nobody writes 'em better than she does. From the magnetic pull of the sexual tension to the sparks of friction created by denial, this story heats up with that lovely slow burn that ignites with near-spontaneous combustion when it can no longer be denied. The characters, many of whom were also in the previous books of the series, are the literal embodiment of heroes; men and women who devote their lives to their beliefs and passions. Just the kind of people you want to read about in stories such as these. Yet they are still diverse and genuine, drawing the reader into their world.
While "Don't Look Back" is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. But trust me, you'll want to go back and read the other adventures after reading any of the Evidence: Under Fire novels. I highly recommend this fantastic read to fans of romantic suspense, military heroes, general romance, or those who simply enjoy a good action story with strong heroes and great characters. If you're a fan of audiobooks, you'll find the narration superb. This one's a no-brainer: don't miss this story!
Malta. Fascinating Mediterranean archipelago famous for its history, culture, scenic views, and heat. But author Rachel Grant just turned up the Malta heat with her book "Don't Look Back." This is the third book in the Evidence: Under Fire series and is more than a worthy addition to these romantic suspense stories.
Kira Hansen, archaeologist, and friend to the cultural heroes of the historic Monuments Men and Women Foundation, wants nothing more than to spend some time in Malta, seeking answers about her father's enigmatic past. She's just got to do one thing before she goes: teach a special class to Naval personnel on the importance of preserving cultural heritage. She's just backing up her departure time by a few hours while doing a friend a favor. Simple. Until the craziest set of circumstances occurs and she finds herself in an unimaginable situation, fighting for her life.
Kira is not to be deterred from her personal mission, however, and finally finds herself on the Isle of Malta, thrown into the middle of intrigue. She's also picked up an unwanted sidekick, Lt. Commander Randall Fallon. A Navy Seal, and the man who has twice saved her life.
Kira is strong, fiercely determined, and unafraid of the hornet's nest she's kicked. She also carries a mountain of baggage from her unusual early life and the recent death of her father. Rand is tough, brave, smart, and absolutely smitten with Kira. His feelings are not reciprocated.
Rachel Grant is the veritable queen of romantic suspense. Nobody writes 'em better than she does. From the magnetic pull of the sexual tension to the sparks of friction created by denial, this story heats up with that lovely slow burn that ignites with near-spontaneous combustion when it can no longer be denied. The characters, many of whom were also in the previous books of the series, are the literal embodiment of heroes; men and women who devote their lives to their beliefs and passions. Just the kind of people you want to read about in stories such as these. Yet they are still diverse and genuine, drawing the reader into their world.
While "Don't Look Back" is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. But trust me, you'll want to go back and read the other adventures after reading any of the Evidence: Under Fire novels. I highly recommend this fantastic read to fans of romantic suspense, military heroes, general romance, or those who simply enjoy a good action story with strong heroes and great characters. If you're a fan of audiobooks, you'll find the narration superb. This one's a no-brainer: don't miss this story!
July 19, 2024
Absolutely EPIC romantic suspense!
Don’t Look Back is the third book in The Evidence Under Fire series. This fast paced story grabs you from the beginning, escalating into twists and turns that make it hard to put down! I’m hoping there’s another book in the series as each book in this series has surpassed the previous in adventure, suspense, complex plot twists and turns, strong independent women heroines and dashing heros- not to forget the settings-this one is in Malta!
The scenery, historical, archaeological significance and controversies of the area are so beautifully described it seems as if you are there. I found myself looking up photos of many of the sites!
While each book is independent of each other and can be read as a standalone , there are connections between them and I recommend reading them in series order- they’re great books!
In Don’t Look Back, Art historian Kira embarks with her first passport to Malta to meet an unknown cousin and search for the answers to many questions about her parents after her father’s unexpected death, The documents she found and mysteries surrounding her mother haunt her. Were the documents she found showing her dad had traveled to Malta many times over the years because he was secretly trying to recover family art stolen during WWII or something else? Navy SEAL Rand, is attracted to and feels responsible for Kira, and takes personal leave to follow her to Malta and keep her safe from the danger he’s sure she is in.
Navy SEAL Rand is a true hero to Kira, having rescued her before, and is not afraid to let her know how he feels about her. Kira, is shy but courageous and strongly independent, as she navigates this emotional journey and trauma life has thrown at her in the last 6 months. They’re both smart, the dialogue great and their chemistry steamy!
I felt as if I had actually met Rand and Kira and was part of the adventure as their characters are so well developed and locations well described. New characters and a few familiar characters from other books make an appearance in this book also! I love how the Ms. Grant has woven characters from her books together.
I highly recommend this book and the series. You can’t go wrong reading any of Rachel Grants’ books. I’ve read as many as I can since I discovered her books a few months ago and have loved everyone. It’s easy to see why she has won so many awards and I expect she will be getting one for this book also!
I was fortunate to receive an ARC from the author and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
Don’t Look Back is the third book in The Evidence Under Fire series. This fast paced story grabs you from the beginning, escalating into twists and turns that make it hard to put down! I’m hoping there’s another book in the series as each book in this series has surpassed the previous in adventure, suspense, complex plot twists and turns, strong independent women heroines and dashing heros- not to forget the settings-this one is in Malta!
The scenery, historical, archaeological significance and controversies of the area are so beautifully described it seems as if you are there. I found myself looking up photos of many of the sites!
While each book is independent of each other and can be read as a standalone , there are connections between them and I recommend reading them in series order- they’re great books!
In Don’t Look Back, Art historian Kira embarks with her first passport to Malta to meet an unknown cousin and search for the answers to many questions about her parents after her father’s unexpected death, The documents she found and mysteries surrounding her mother haunt her. Were the documents she found showing her dad had traveled to Malta many times over the years because he was secretly trying to recover family art stolen during WWII or something else? Navy SEAL Rand, is attracted to and feels responsible for Kira, and takes personal leave to follow her to Malta and keep her safe from the danger he’s sure she is in.
Navy SEAL Rand is a true hero to Kira, having rescued her before, and is not afraid to let her know how he feels about her. Kira, is shy but courageous and strongly independent, as she navigates this emotional journey and trauma life has thrown at her in the last 6 months. They’re both smart, the dialogue great and their chemistry steamy!
I felt as if I had actually met Rand and Kira and was part of the adventure as their characters are so well developed and locations well described. New characters and a few familiar characters from other books make an appearance in this book also! I love how the Ms. Grant has woven characters from her books together.
I highly recommend this book and the series. You can’t go wrong reading any of Rachel Grants’ books. I’ve read as many as I can since I discovered her books a few months ago and have loved everyone. It’s easy to see why she has won so many awards and I expect she will be getting one for this book also!
I was fortunate to receive an ARC from the author and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
July 23, 2024
I've been a fan of Ms. Grant's for several years. I eagerly await each new novel. Even in light of that, Don't Look Back blew me away! Totally went beyond what I expected.
The characters were well-developed, complex, believable and had me rooting for them from the very first page. The storyline had enough twists and turns to keep me up reading far into the early morning hours and made me not want to put the book down. (Unfortunately, I did have to go to work or I would have read the entire thing in one fell swoop.) As the title of the book indicates, the female protagonist, Kira, has a complicated past that she is seeking answers to and that gets her into trouble. As if the poor woman hasn't already gone through enough. (If you don't know what I am referring to, go back and read the other Evidence Under Fire books.) Luckily, Rand decides that Kira has already put up with enough danger so he appoints himself her guardian angel. Which is good since this is ROMANTIC suspense, not just suspense. At first, I couldn't decide if the original threat in the book was a result of Kira's quest or not. Then I thought maybe I missed something so I went back and re-read the first few chapters again. I decided this was a case of, "All the better to keep you guessing early, my dear fellow readers." And this form of plot twist keeps up until almost the very last page. Once our romantic duo gets to Malta, pay particular attention to the names and relationships of all the minor characters. I think I was reading too quickly (and too late at night) for me to keep everyone straight. That advice will help as the plot twists become more complex and intriguing. I guess since I didn't do that, now I may have to go back and re-read the whole series so I can really soak in all the details. (Oh the hardships! Lol)
In conclusion, if you like romantic suspense with exotic locales that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with a guaranteed HEA for the featured couple, you've got to read this book! (A little side note, I taught English for 19 years and detest books with poor grammar, spelling or other errors. There was NOTHING that tripped me up in Rachel Grant's book. I also taught Social Studies so all the exotic locales and the fascinating history attached to each place is right up my alley. Even if it isn't your cup of tea, that won't bog you down as you devour this wonderful installment in the Evidence Under Fire series.) Enjoy, I know I did!
The characters were well-developed, complex, believable and had me rooting for them from the very first page. The storyline had enough twists and turns to keep me up reading far into the early morning hours and made me not want to put the book down. (Unfortunately, I did have to go to work or I would have read the entire thing in one fell swoop.) As the title of the book indicates, the female protagonist, Kira, has a complicated past that she is seeking answers to and that gets her into trouble. As if the poor woman hasn't already gone through enough. (If you don't know what I am referring to, go back and read the other Evidence Under Fire books.) Luckily, Rand decides that Kira has already put up with enough danger so he appoints himself her guardian angel. Which is good since this is ROMANTIC suspense, not just suspense. At first, I couldn't decide if the original threat in the book was a result of Kira's quest or not. Then I thought maybe I missed something so I went back and re-read the first few chapters again. I decided this was a case of, "All the better to keep you guessing early, my dear fellow readers." And this form of plot twist keeps up until almost the very last page. Once our romantic duo gets to Malta, pay particular attention to the names and relationships of all the minor characters. I think I was reading too quickly (and too late at night) for me to keep everyone straight. That advice will help as the plot twists become more complex and intriguing. I guess since I didn't do that, now I may have to go back and re-read the whole series so I can really soak in all the details. (Oh the hardships! Lol)
In conclusion, if you like romantic suspense with exotic locales that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with a guaranteed HEA for the featured couple, you've got to read this book! (A little side note, I taught English for 19 years and detest books with poor grammar, spelling or other errors. There was NOTHING that tripped me up in Rachel Grant's book. I also taught Social Studies so all the exotic locales and the fascinating history attached to each place is right up my alley. Even if it isn't your cup of tea, that won't bog you down as you devour this wonderful installment in the Evidence Under Fire series.) Enjoy, I know I did!
July 31, 2024
This was an absolutely phenomenal story! I loved getting Kira's and Rand's story. We met both of them in the last book in the series, which is also where they meet, but this one can be read as a complete standalone and it is not needed to have read the previous book though I would recommend it as it was also a phenomenal read. This story is very well done with lots of twisting parts that keeps the reader fully engaged and wondering what is going to happen next and how is everything connected. We start off with Kira filling in and teaching a day of classes on Little Creek base, where Rand is stationed, and their having a reunion meeting when an active shooter is on base. Kira seemed to be the focus/target but no one knows why so she leaves and moves forward with her trip to Malta to investigate and try and learn more about her father who has passed away some months ago. Something just isn't sitting right with Rand and with so many questions about why the gunman was after Kira, he is granted leave to follow her to Malta and works with FMV, Friday Morning Valkyries, to provide bodyguard/security. It definitely takes Rand doing some smooth talking and clearing the air on some things for Kira to accept his presence as it was a personal trip. Things start not adding up and there are a lot of questions as Kira talks to people that knew her father in Malta. I loved watching Kira and Rand grow closer and watching them work through some of their miscommunication issues and things that pop up as Rand is trying to protect her. There were some great twists thrown in as well that I didn't really see coming and have questions about who's telling what lies and for what motive/benefit. This story flows really well and had me highly engaged and invested from start to finish. The action and mystery are very well done throughout the story as well as the growing relationship between Kira and Rand. This is one that pulled me in and I wasn't ready to leave. I can't wait for another book set in this series. I love how the history and art/artifacts are all woven into the storyline.
The narrators did a fantastic job with bringing the characters and the story to life. It really adds that extra dynamic as they were great with the accents and pronunciations of names and things that pop up with this international story as well as portraying the action and emotions for what was happening in their voices very well. Once I started, I didn't want to put it down.
The narrators did a fantastic job with bringing the characters and the story to life. It really adds that extra dynamic as they were great with the accents and pronunciations of names and things that pop up with this international story as well as portraying the action and emotions for what was happening in their voices very well. Once I started, I didn't want to put it down.
June 18, 2024
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review and found I couldn’t put it down. Rachel Grant's "Don't Look Back" is a thrilling addition to her series, seamlessly blending romance with suspense and intrigue.
Although Kira and Rand were briefly introduced in ‘Trust Me,’ their story in ‘Don’t Look Back’ stands solidly on its own. Grant provides brief recaps that make the book accessible to newcomers, but having read the previous instalment only enhances the experience.
Six months after surviving a harrowing kidnapping ordeal, Kira is determined to embark on a trip to Malta, seeking adventure and answers about her family. However, a last-minute decision to assist a friend thrusts her back into danger, revealing that threats still loom.
Randall Fallon, now a Lieutenant Commander, was Kira’s steadfast saviour during her kidnapping. Despite her plans, he remains fiercely protective and joins her in Malta, reigniting their undeniable chemistry.
Beyond the romance, Rachel Grant skillfully intertwines suspense, action, family secrets, historical intrigue, and political machinations into a rich tapestry. Her adept weaving of twist upon twist throughout the plot culminates in a surprising reveal in the final few pages.
Grant’s descriptive prose brings Malta to life with its heat and beauty, paralleling the intensity of the relationship between Kira and Rand. Their romance is palpable and steamy, adding another layer to the already gripping narrative.
Overall, "Don't Look Back" is a testament to Rachel Grant's storytelling prowess. She expertly combines romance with multifaceted intrigue, creating a compelling narrative that leaves readers eagerly anticipating more. If you enjoy a blend of heart-pounding suspense and passionate romance, do yourself a favor and jump on the thrilling Rachel Grant rollercoaster. I, for one, can’t wait for the next installment.
Although Kira and Rand were briefly introduced in ‘Trust Me,’ their story in ‘Don’t Look Back’ stands solidly on its own. Grant provides brief recaps that make the book accessible to newcomers, but having read the previous instalment only enhances the experience.
Six months after surviving a harrowing kidnapping ordeal, Kira is determined to embark on a trip to Malta, seeking adventure and answers about her family. However, a last-minute decision to assist a friend thrusts her back into danger, revealing that threats still loom.
Randall Fallon, now a Lieutenant Commander, was Kira’s steadfast saviour during her kidnapping. Despite her plans, he remains fiercely protective and joins her in Malta, reigniting their undeniable chemistry.
Beyond the romance, Rachel Grant skillfully intertwines suspense, action, family secrets, historical intrigue, and political machinations into a rich tapestry. Her adept weaving of twist upon twist throughout the plot culminates in a surprising reveal in the final few pages.
Grant’s descriptive prose brings Malta to life with its heat and beauty, paralleling the intensity of the relationship between Kira and Rand. Their romance is palpable and steamy, adding another layer to the already gripping narrative.
Overall, "Don't Look Back" is a testament to Rachel Grant's storytelling prowess. She expertly combines romance with multifaceted intrigue, creating a compelling narrative that leaves readers eagerly anticipating more. If you enjoy a blend of heart-pounding suspense and passionate romance, do yourself a favor and jump on the thrilling Rachel Grant rollercoaster. I, for one, can’t wait for the next installment.
July 17, 2024
Thank you to the author for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I just love Rachel Grant.
Don’t Look Back feels like a delightful throwback to her earlier work, especially the Evidence series, with its mix of spies, art thieves, and Russian oligarchs, all wrapped up in a plot full of twists and action.
Six months after surviving a harrowing kidnapping and grappling with the loss of her father, Kira, a reserved art historian, decides to embark on a journey to Malta. Her goal is to uncover the truth about her family and fulfill her father's lifelong quest to recover stolen art. Before leaving, she helps her friend Diana (from Trust Me) by teaching a class at the naval base. But a troubling incident there makes Kira wonder if the danger to her life isn't over.
Lieutenant Commander Rand – who saved Kira's life 6 months earlier – is delighted to run into Kira again at the base but he also senses trouble and decides to follow her to Malta as an undercover bodyguard. Almost as soon as they reach the island, Kira's world spirals into chaos. Being close to Rand again sparks old feelings *and* uncovering her family's secrets puts her in danger once more.
Don’t Look Back is a fantastic blend of thriller, suspense, and romance. It kept me on the edge of my seat with its twists and turns, without comprising on the romance (which was my major issue with the previous book in the series). And as always, Rachel Grant's meticulous research is evident throughout the book, almost making Malta a character of its own with its rich historical details and vibrant setting.
I just love Rachel Grant.
Don’t Look Back feels like a delightful throwback to her earlier work, especially the Evidence series, with its mix of spies, art thieves, and Russian oligarchs, all wrapped up in a plot full of twists and action.
Six months after surviving a harrowing kidnapping and grappling with the loss of her father, Kira, a reserved art historian, decides to embark on a journey to Malta. Her goal is to uncover the truth about her family and fulfill her father's lifelong quest to recover stolen art. Before leaving, she helps her friend Diana (from Trust Me) by teaching a class at the naval base. But a troubling incident there makes Kira wonder if the danger to her life isn't over.
Lieutenant Commander Rand – who saved Kira's life 6 months earlier – is delighted to run into Kira again at the base but he also senses trouble and decides to follow her to Malta as an undercover bodyguard. Almost as soon as they reach the island, Kira's world spirals into chaos. Being close to Rand again sparks old feelings *and* uncovering her family's secrets puts her in danger once more.
Don’t Look Back is a fantastic blend of thriller, suspense, and romance. It kept me on the edge of my seat with its twists and turns, without comprising on the romance (which was my major issue with the previous book in the series). And as always, Rachel Grant's meticulous research is evident throughout the book, almost making Malta a character of its own with its rich historical details and vibrant setting.
July 18, 2024
What a great story, once started I had to finish, exciting, romantic and thrilling. A wonderfully complex plot with plenty of twists set in beautiful Malta. I love the detail and history that are always part of Rachel Grant’s books interwoven within the plot.
Kira believes her late father was heavily involved in recovering stolen art works and is on a mission to complete his work and also find out more about her family history which she realises she knows so little about, Kira is certain Malta holds the answers she wants. When danger threatens just before she is due to depart for Malta, Lt Commander Randall Fallon once more steps in to save her as he did 6 months ago. Misunderstandings mar their relationship with Kira believing he ghosted her, Rand believes she pushed him away. Shy, socially awkward Kira is wary of her feelings for the gorgeous Seal and is absolutely determined nothing is going to stop her from going to Malta. Rand hasn’t been able to get the art historian out of his head and concerned there is a threat hanging over her head and that she will be on her own in Malta pulls strings to follow her as an undercover bodyguard.
Rand is desperate for a chance with Kira and is determined to win her over, turns out there are plenty of layers to both the sexy Seal and introverted Historian and it was sheer joy seeing them revealed. It also turns out that Malta has both mystery and intrigue as someone tries to stop Kira finding out secrets they want to remain buried.
Well paced, gripping and utterly absorbing I loved this book from start to finish, it had it all mystery, rich history, suspense, action, romance, two superb main characters and lots of cameo’s from well loved characters we’ve met before although this totally works as a stand-alone.
I highly recommend you read this and of course everything else in the Evidence and Flashpoint series!
Kira believes her late father was heavily involved in recovering stolen art works and is on a mission to complete his work and also find out more about her family history which she realises she knows so little about, Kira is certain Malta holds the answers she wants. When danger threatens just before she is due to depart for Malta, Lt Commander Randall Fallon once more steps in to save her as he did 6 months ago. Misunderstandings mar their relationship with Kira believing he ghosted her, Rand believes she pushed him away. Shy, socially awkward Kira is wary of her feelings for the gorgeous Seal and is absolutely determined nothing is going to stop her from going to Malta. Rand hasn’t been able to get the art historian out of his head and concerned there is a threat hanging over her head and that she will be on her own in Malta pulls strings to follow her as an undercover bodyguard.
Rand is desperate for a chance with Kira and is determined to win her over, turns out there are plenty of layers to both the sexy Seal and introverted Historian and it was sheer joy seeing them revealed. It also turns out that Malta has both mystery and intrigue as someone tries to stop Kira finding out secrets they want to remain buried.
Well paced, gripping and utterly absorbing I loved this book from start to finish, it had it all mystery, rich history, suspense, action, romance, two superb main characters and lots of cameo’s from well loved characters we’ve met before although this totally works as a stand-alone.
I highly recommend you read this and of course everything else in the Evidence and Flashpoint series!
July 19, 2024
Don't Look Back is Rachel Grant's latest book in her Evidence Under Fire series. This time we get the story of Kira and Rand who appeared previously in Trust Me. In just those couple of chapters their chemistry was explosive and intriguing and it only builds during this book!
Don't Look Back doesn't shy away from action and suspense and the story throws readers into the action right away. Kira Hansen is ready to claim some of her independence back and goes on her first international trip to Malta where she hopes to find answers about her fathers job. Before leaving she runs into Rand who is still crushing as hard as ever. Rand isn't about to let Kira go to Malta and run into danger if he has anything to say about it.
One thing I always rave about Rachel Grant is how well she is able to set the scenes for readers and how the destination of the book almost becomes an additional character. I never knew I needed to visit Malta until I read this book! I also love how she adds historical information as well.
I enjoyed Rand and Kira's relationship. It was sweet to read about how much Rand wanted a chance with Kira and how protective he was of her. There was good tension between the two. Kira also had good character development throughout the story. Through everything that happened, I felt protective of her and it was easy to root for her. I also think Grant did amazing with weaving the background characters in. I always love hearing about familiar friends from previous books. One character I've never really loved has been Freya. I was worried because she is featured a bit more in this book, but I got some valuable insight into her this book and found myself accepting her a bit better.
If you like books with intriguing family backstory, stolen art, vibrant destinations and romance with a navy seal then you need to read this asap!
Don't Look Back doesn't shy away from action and suspense and the story throws readers into the action right away. Kira Hansen is ready to claim some of her independence back and goes on her first international trip to Malta where she hopes to find answers about her fathers job. Before leaving she runs into Rand who is still crushing as hard as ever. Rand isn't about to let Kira go to Malta and run into danger if he has anything to say about it.
One thing I always rave about Rachel Grant is how well she is able to set the scenes for readers and how the destination of the book almost becomes an additional character. I never knew I needed to visit Malta until I read this book! I also love how she adds historical information as well.
I enjoyed Rand and Kira's relationship. It was sweet to read about how much Rand wanted a chance with Kira and how protective he was of her. There was good tension between the two. Kira also had good character development throughout the story. Through everything that happened, I felt protective of her and it was easy to root for her. I also think Grant did amazing with weaving the background characters in. I always love hearing about familiar friends from previous books. One character I've never really loved has been Freya. I was worried because she is featured a bit more in this book, but I got some valuable insight into her this book and found myself accepting her a bit better.
If you like books with intriguing family backstory, stolen art, vibrant destinations and romance with a navy seal then you need to read this asap!
November 5, 2024
Lieutenant Commander Randall Fallon was attracted to Dr. Kira Hanson from the moment he rescued her from her abductors. But events, timing and her father were against him. Then a chance meeting and an active shooter bring them together again. Unfortunately, she’s about to leave for Malta on trip to discover what her late father had been doing there on his many visits. He had never allowed her to have a passport and kept all family details secret, but she was free to discover her past. Her search puts her in danger, but Commander Fallon has been watching over her.
I love all the Star Wars and other movie references being used. But I would have claimed the billions then donated it all in a trust fund toward finding stolen art, etc.. Otherwise it’s all going into someone’s pocket to use for terrorism, extortion or else something bad.
Footnote: 1) What in the world does ‘decolonizing the profession mean? Sounds like someone’s trying to be politically correct and follow the liberal bandwagon. Yes, the whites took over the Native Americans lands and ‘enslaved’ the blacks and it was wrong, but it’s still part of history and to deny it or change it denies their pain and suffering. Also, not all whites were involved, either then, nor now. Children should not be blamed for their ancestors actions. Archeologists are supposed to discover history, not change or destroy it. Yes, study from different POVs, but don’t change the facts to suit your ideology. I have a 100% Native American daughter-in-law and love her. Because of her and her parents, I have seen and talked to many N.A.’s about history and conditions through their POV. And it made me appreciate their side of things. But the action and events still happened. To deny it belittles their pain.
Fave scenes: the rock & the chair, the wine bottle fight, the printer room and using the spider drone.
I love all the Star Wars and other movie references being used. But I would have claimed the billions then donated it all in a trust fund toward finding stolen art, etc.. Otherwise it’s all going into someone’s pocket to use for terrorism, extortion or else something bad.
Footnote: 1) What in the world does ‘decolonizing the profession mean? Sounds like someone’s trying to be politically correct and follow the liberal bandwagon. Yes, the whites took over the Native Americans lands and ‘enslaved’ the blacks and it was wrong, but it’s still part of history and to deny it or change it denies their pain and suffering. Also, not all whites were involved, either then, nor now. Children should not be blamed for their ancestors actions. Archeologists are supposed to discover history, not change or destroy it. Yes, study from different POVs, but don’t change the facts to suit your ideology. I have a 100% Native American daughter-in-law and love her. Because of her and her parents, I have seen and talked to many N.A.’s about history and conditions through their POV. And it made me appreciate their side of things. But the action and events still happened. To deny it belittles their pain.
Fave scenes: the rock & the chair, the wine bottle fight, the printer room and using the spider drone.
June 12, 2024
Uncovering secrets and lies with love and faith
Whew. Buckle up for this thrilling edge of your seat romantic suspense tale. It is a rollercoaster ride of excitement with so many twists and turns it was hard to put down making it a stay up too late, it’s worth being tired the next day kind of book. It had the perfect balance of history, culture, and archeology, with suspense, danger, secrets and humor, love, and spice. Kira is an art historian with social anxiety. Rand is a SEAL lieutenant commander. They met six months ago and both felt instant chemistry and attraction. By the next day Kira was kidnapped and beaten and Rand pushed away. The day they reconnect, Kira is again targeted and Rand is determined to keep her safe this time. Kira is equally determined to travel to Malta to uncover the secrets of her recently deceased father. As Kira goes on her first overseas trip and begins to unravel the lies, secrets and mysteries that are her life, Rand is right there with her, making mistakes, protecting her and holding her hand. To get to their HEA and to thwart the very bad guys, it will take all their courage, resources, and brain power while learning to trust and rely on each other. The book has a little bit of everything just like you would expect from this genre - sweet moments, strong friendships, spicy times, real life issues, imperfect characters, dangerous moments, mystery, uber protective men, secrets, plot twists, painful pasts, evil actors, and love. The story included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and a captivating storyline. I love when romantic suspense keeps me guessing the identities and the motives of the bad guys. I am loving this series.
Whew. Buckle up for this thrilling edge of your seat romantic suspense tale. It is a rollercoaster ride of excitement with so many twists and turns it was hard to put down making it a stay up too late, it’s worth being tired the next day kind of book. It had the perfect balance of history, culture, and archeology, with suspense, danger, secrets and humor, love, and spice. Kira is an art historian with social anxiety. Rand is a SEAL lieutenant commander. They met six months ago and both felt instant chemistry and attraction. By the next day Kira was kidnapped and beaten and Rand pushed away. The day they reconnect, Kira is again targeted and Rand is determined to keep her safe this time. Kira is equally determined to travel to Malta to uncover the secrets of her recently deceased father. As Kira goes on her first overseas trip and begins to unravel the lies, secrets and mysteries that are her life, Rand is right there with her, making mistakes, protecting her and holding her hand. To get to their HEA and to thwart the very bad guys, it will take all their courage, resources, and brain power while learning to trust and rely on each other. The book has a little bit of everything just like you would expect from this genre - sweet moments, strong friendships, spicy times, real life issues, imperfect characters, dangerous moments, mystery, uber protective men, secrets, plot twists, painful pasts, evil actors, and love. The story included engaging dialogue, three dimensional characters who grow, and a captivating storyline. I love when romantic suspense keeps me guessing the identities and the motives of the bad guys. I am loving this series.
June 23, 2024
I just finished an advanced reader’s copy of Rachel Grant’s latest thriller, Don’t Look Back … I know, how lucky am I to get to read one of her books early, right?
It was riveting!
The book opens by bringing us back into the Evidence: Under Fire series, just enough to remind us where we left off. Don’t worry if this is your first foray into the series, the book works fine as a stand-alone novel, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to go back and start the series from the beginning.
As with all of her books, Rachel Grant introduces us to her characters in a way that makes them compelling and relatable. The action quickly follows. The plot is layered and cohesive. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out there are twists and turns that reveal the puzzle just might be bigger than you thought and you are so glad there’s more, and again still more.
The details that Grant, an archaeologist, puts into her settings is a highlight in all her books. Don’t Look Back, set in Malta, does not disappoint in this department. Grant brings the setting to life with glimpses into the culture and treasures of the island.
The tightly woven plot lines, compelling characters and vivid setting combine to make Don’t Look Back a must-read in a series filled with must-read books for fans of thrillers.
Now, I can’t wait to go back to Before the Storm, the prequel to the Evidence: Under Fire series and start all over, rediscovering the characters and ferreting out the plot-point nuggets that tie these books together so well. If I read quickly enough, I’ll be ready to re-read Don’t Look Back just when I get my pre-ordered copy.
It was riveting!
The book opens by bringing us back into the Evidence: Under Fire series, just enough to remind us where we left off. Don’t worry if this is your first foray into the series, the book works fine as a stand-alone novel, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to go back and start the series from the beginning.
As with all of her books, Rachel Grant introduces us to her characters in a way that makes them compelling and relatable. The action quickly follows. The plot is layered and cohesive. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out there are twists and turns that reveal the puzzle just might be bigger than you thought and you are so glad there’s more, and again still more.
The details that Grant, an archaeologist, puts into her settings is a highlight in all her books. Don’t Look Back, set in Malta, does not disappoint in this department. Grant brings the setting to life with glimpses into the culture and treasures of the island.
The tightly woven plot lines, compelling characters and vivid setting combine to make Don’t Look Back a must-read in a series filled with must-read books for fans of thrillers.
Now, I can’t wait to go back to Before the Storm, the prequel to the Evidence: Under Fire series and start all over, rediscovering the characters and ferreting out the plot-point nuggets that tie these books together so well. If I read quickly enough, I’ll be ready to re-read Don’t Look Back just when I get my pre-ordered copy.
July 24, 2024
Definitely a meaty, solid read from Rachel Grant once again, as we delve back into the shadowy world of spies, covert military operations and hidden connections in an increasingly-fractured narrative of art-mirroring-life.
Grant keeps her stories enthrallingly intense, complex and politically relevant but it's for this very reason that I have a love-hate relationship with the very contemporary, geopolitical plot that she weaves. On the one hand, it's something so entirely relatable as her characters speak, think and act in the way contemporary audiences might...yet, don't we all want some form of escapism from the dreary and depressing events on the news that flash across our screens daily?
'Don't Look Back' like many of Grant's books, takes a tortuous wind through family relationships, art dealing, covert activities and their broader political implications - which sometimes served as background noise for me. Framed very much as an ideological war especially in the context of the West vs. Russia, Grant certainly treads a fine line--there's definitely some bit of caution here as well--though I'd have to admit I found the burgeoning relationship between Randall Fallon and Kira Hanson more interesting than the machinations of her family.
And as much as I was enjoying the progression of how far they'd come within a week in Malta, I'd also hoped that the story would culminate in something more than a climax that seemed to have happened off-stage and with much less of a (literal) bang than I wanted. Still, there're clearly more hooks and an unfinished greater arc that Grant seems to be leaving for her next book(s)...but it's definitely a long wait from now onwards.
Grant keeps her stories enthrallingly intense, complex and politically relevant but it's for this very reason that I have a love-hate relationship with the very contemporary, geopolitical plot that she weaves. On the one hand, it's something so entirely relatable as her characters speak, think and act in the way contemporary audiences might...yet, don't we all want some form of escapism from the dreary and depressing events on the news that flash across our screens daily?
'Don't Look Back' like many of Grant's books, takes a tortuous wind through family relationships, art dealing, covert activities and their broader political implications - which sometimes served as background noise for me. Framed very much as an ideological war especially in the context of the West vs. Russia, Grant certainly treads a fine line--there's definitely some bit of caution here as well--though I'd have to admit I found the burgeoning relationship between Randall Fallon and Kira Hanson more interesting than the machinations of her family.
And as much as I was enjoying the progression of how far they'd come within a week in Malta, I'd also hoped that the story would culminate in something more than a climax that seemed to have happened off-stage and with much less of a (literal) bang than I wanted. Still, there're clearly more hooks and an unfinished greater arc that Grant seems to be leaving for her next book(s)...but it's definitely a long wait from now onwards.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews