Valor on the Move

"Nothing wrong with someone younger or older bringing a different perspective to a person's life. A new energy. Isn't that what it's all about? Finding people who make our lives better? Friends, lovers, whatever. People who wake us the fuck up."

The storyline – the president’s son and his Secret Service agent falling in forbidden love with one another – in itself is already a winner. Factor in the aspect of age difference – barely legal Rafa and nearly-two-decades-older Shane, an intense

"Nothing wrong with someone younger or older bringing a different perspective to a person's life. A new energy. Isn't that what it's all about? Finding people who make our lives better? Friends, lovers, whatever. People who wake us the fuck up."

The storyline – the president’s son and his Secret Service agent falling in forbidden love with one another – in itself is already a winner. Factor in the aspect of age difference – barely legal Rafa and nearly-two-decades-older Shane, an intense action/suspense subplot, lots of unresolved sexual tension, and a tasteful command of moving the story in the right direction from Keira Andrews, and you’ve hit the jackpot with Valor on the Move.

Although to be honest, when I read the blurb and the reviews, I was afraid that while this may check off the hotness factor, the story and the characters will come off as shallow. But boy, was I glad to be proven wrong. I certainly loved the characters and found the story gripping and heart-pounding. The chemistry between Rafa and Shane felt authentic and not a bit uncomfortable. Keira Andrews developed these characters’ relationship by continuously pushing them closer and then pulling them apart. Strangely, it’s a push/pull that’s not at all exasperating. The rifts surely tore my heart but every time they gave in to their heart’s desire was a surefire magical moment.

There were two particular moments though which really made this book solid for me.

The first one was during Rafa’s confrontation with his entire family where he just went full-on beastmode. That was a very powerful moment. I felt the hurt and betrayal. The agony and repression. The pain and heartbreak. All of the ugly emotions that Rafa felt; I felt it. It was a surprising turnaround of events but delivered with great impact and just at the right moment. It did not only mark a shift in the storyline but also allowed me to see the dynamics of Rafa’s character.

The second one was during the aftermath of the heart-racing ordeal which Rafa and Shane went through. I was moved with how Shane described the horror of going through all of it. It allowed me to see his vulnerability – how his training still did not compare to the real deal. My respect for the author just went levels up after that because she made Shane every bit human then. Keira Andrews did not make Shane just this hot Secret Service agent who is full of confidence and good with his job. She broke Shane down and showed the many dimensions of his character.

The book is, for me, well-balanced – sweet, tension-filled, sensual, and heartwarming. All the elements working together to create that perfect fast-paced story that you surely won’t be able to put down until you reach the very end. Highly recommended!

“Remember that with some waves…you can’t catch them. Better to dive through and wait for another one. There’s always another one.”

“The natural instinct when a person hears a gunshot is to drop to the ground. We have to train to stay on our feet and block our protectee. Take the bullet if need be. We’ve trained over and over to stay calm and use deadly force when it’s called for. (...) ...it wasn’t like training, but it still doesn’t feel quite real.”

Rafa and his siblings had always just been Castillo, his father’s name. His parents had worked hard to make them into the whitest, most non-threatening Hispanics Republican money could buy while still courting the Latino vote with great success.

“We’ve discussed this before. My parents left the old world behind to make a new life for us here in America.”