Natalie's Nighthawk by Amanda Zook - Book review

Published: 15 June 2021
Series: Nighthawk Search and Rescue #1
Pages: 228
Warnings: Language, depression, mental health

Having dedicated his life to search and rescue, he now faces the most important mission of his life – if he fails, he loses everything.

Unaware their world was about to shatter, Graham came to her rescue, in so doing sharing a day neither would forget. But he disappeared from her life, taking with him a piece of her heart.

Twelve years later, she is on his doorstep needing his help in finding two of her students who have gone missing. Mission over and children found safe, neither of them is willing to let another twelve years pass without exploring the spark that reignites between them. Life has dealt her some stinging blows, leaving her unsure whether the remaining pieces of her heart are too fragile to risk again. For the man who looks at her as if she’s the brightest star in his galaxy, she may be willing to open herself up and allow her heart to fly. Will he be the one who finds the missing pieces and rescues her splintered heart?

He has dedicated his life to building a reputation in the search and rescue community, never once forgetting the green-eyed artist who’d captured his heart in one day. Wanting to use his skills to train others to assist in times of crisis, and always remembering the talented artist who stole his heart and the inspiring story she told him, Nighthawk Search and Rescue is born.

When Natalie Ghannon walked back into his life, she brought with her the light his heart had been missing. He’s seen far too much darkness in his career; her shining spirit is the spark of brilliant illumination he needs to lead him home to the light. A shadow darker than any they’ve ever experienced before looms over them, threatening to extinguish her light, permanently. Graham needs every skill he’s ever learned to find her, but will it be enough? Will he be able to save his heart’s guiding star? Or is he destined to stay in the darkness forever?

Available free with Kindle Unlimited membership!
Click the link below to get a free 1-month trial of Kindle Unlimited:
Amazon AU | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commission from any qualifying purchases made from Amazon through links on this website.

I found Natalie’s Nighthawk to be an easy, enjoyable read. It won’t have you hanging off the edge of your seat in suspense, but if you’re looking for a story with a great romance, this book will suit you well. And if you fancy a bit of music in the background while you’re reading, there’s even a Spotify playlist to set the mood.

Graham is a real life hero. He conducts search & rescue missions all around the world (‘SAR’ to those in the biz). Natalie is school teacher with 2 missing students. She goes to Graham for help finding the kids, and from that point on, the two are inseparable.

Graham and Natalie knew each other for a brief moment as teenagers, but each has never forgotten the other. They have both even carried the other into parts of their ongoing lives, without the other being aware. They quickly recognize this about each other though when they reunite.

Both characters have darkness in their past, having struggled through traumatic events. And they have both battled with times in their lives where they dealt with severe depression, but they have both mostly moved past it to a happier time.

The romance between these two builds really nicely. I appreciated that while the attraction was strong between them right from the start, they didn’t move from nothing to everything straight away, as often is the case.

And I really liked the supporting cast in Natalie’s Nighthawk. They are likeable, recognizable characters, with well rounded personalities of their own. There are plenty of opportunities for future installments in a series here. And if you’re like me, you’ll have picked who you hope comes next well before the end of the book!

While depression barely gets a mention specifically, it is referred to indirectly on a fairly regular basis. But there is one point in the story where it comes to the forefront for a time, with fairly uncomfortable results. And violence also plays its part in this story too, but somewhat indirectly. There are descriptions of violent acts that have happened in the past, as well as some moments that happen in the current timeline that are violent in nature, although not described with any graphic detail. I will give this novel only 2 hatchets for violence, but it bears mentioning that this is part of the story. Should you choose to though, you would be able to skip either of these two sections if the focus gets too direct for your liking, without losing overall track of the story.

There is an element of drama running behind the story, too. I can’t say it was any great surprise, as I mostly saw what was coming well in advance, but I still felt drawn in to the action when the time came.

This is a lovely romance between two engaging characters. I look forward to the next book in the series! Thank you to Amanda Zook for sharing a copy of this e-book with me.

Even as a young child I would conjure stories using my imagination. A voracious romance reader since middle school, it was only natural I start writing my own, giving voice to the people who live in my head.

I grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania (Chocolate town, USA) and yes I have chocolate flowing in my veins. After college, my husband and I settled on the Jersey Shore for 20 years where we started our family with twin daughters. Currently, we live in Southwest Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan (no salt, no sharks, but I miss the dolphins).

I would love to hear from you. Get in touch if you’ve got any comments, questions, or just want to say hello.