A Man of Honor [Paperback]

Author: Loree Lough
Published By: Ablingdon Press
Age Recommended: 14
Rating: 5
Blog For: GMTA

Review:

"A Man of Honor" by Loree Lough was the third book in the series (The First Responders Series) and a very good inspiring read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I found this novel to be not only beautiful but also powerful. Be ready for many twist and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat and I did find myself laughing at a lot as the story progressed.

How this author got these two people together was simply a work of art. Dusty Parker was not only a pastor, a search and rescue team member, but also in charge of eleven troubled teen boys that he cared for deeply..then there was a gang leader(Gonzo) who also wanted Dusty's boys in his gang. Grace Sinclair was a teacher...and one of her students(Melissa) had disappeared and ended up dead and this is where these two (Dusty & Grace) meet up and you will get the answer to the question...Was this 'love at first sight?' Will there be test in this relationship? Now, this is where I say you must pick up this excellent "Man of Honor" to see how this author gets this story out because the end will be a real test that only if you read "A Man of Honor" will you find out if...'Grace could do it!'

The characters were really all very very good..making this story so believable and powerful...Dusty, Melissa, Grace, Mitch, Gavin, Derek, Lucille, Matt, Honor,Montel, Cody, Trevor, Molly Logan, Kylie, Uncle Mike, Joe, Frank Benedict,Jesse Vaugh, Dom, Destor, Jack, Billy, Axel, Nick, Tony, Nestor, Miller, Shipley,Isaacs, Gonzo, Randi Fletcher, Ethan, Austin, Keith,and Agent Spencer Pastor Nolt, Mercy, Amanda, Dr. Applegate, Anita, Conner, Adam Miller, Blake, Flynn, Mr. Miller, Dr.Peterson, Marianai, Brigid and Tucker.

"A Man of Honor" showed much love, faith, humor, death and even tears. If you are in for a excellent read I would recommend this one for you.

A Man of Honor was a love story - a love story between people and their God, between parents and children, between a man and a woman, between friends. It was a story about living life through the tenets of faith. Dusty was a reformed bad boy, now a pastor and running a school for at-risk boys. Grace was a teacher who restructures her life for those she loves. Their worlds collide after the disappearance and death of one of Grace's students and that simple meeting blossoms into a deep love.

Dusty was a strong character and it was easy to identify and sympathize with him. His work as a pastor, his school and its issues, his part-time search and rescue duties are all handled with depth and emotion. Grace was a bit more of a cipher. She was a teacher, but she was almost never in the school. She seemed to have almost no friends. She was generous to a fault, overly generous. I have no idea how she found time to teach with everything else she seemed to be doing. Her reactions to bad news were always so giving, it was hard to see her as much more than "perfect". As such, this was much more Dusty's book than Grace's.

The pacing of the story was excellent. There were no long passages that had to be slogged through or places where a scene that needed time to build was instead rushed through. The drama of their everyday lives, whether major issues with family and gangs or simple days with the usual attendant minor struggles, played out in a well-written narrative. This was definitely a drama and the lives, needs, and ethos of first responders was very evident in this book as Grace was pulled deeper into Dusty's world.

As the third book in a series, A Man of Honor stood very well on its own. There was never a sense that something was missing or that there were situations I should have understood but did not as a result of not reading the earlier two books.

A Man of Honor was a poignant, sweet book with characters who mostly worked. It was well-written and deals with serious issues in a manner that makes them feel surmountable. The writing was excellent and kept up interest throughout. Unfortunately, while the ending feels natural within the context of the story, it was not one that worked for me. I would have rated this book at a 4.5 were it not for the ending.

RATING: 4

REVIEWED BY: Monique Neaves

RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER FOR AN HONEST REVIEW BY MY BOOK ADDICTION AND MORE

I don't know how I missed the first two books in this series but I'm glad I read this one! This is a stand-alone novel; what ties these books together is the theme of First Responders. Loree Lough has written a story that is simultaneously heart-warming and heart-pounding. Dusty and Grace immediately endeared themselves to me; both were determined to overcome the scars of their pasts and make an impact on the lives of those around them. I was swept up in this story and thought I knew exactly where it was headed -- until Lough added a final twist that made my jaw drop. This is a beautiful story that portrays God's grace and forgiveness as well as what it means to live one's life for others as A Man of Honor. Keep a tissue handy and don't miss this book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press and Pump Up Your Book Promotions as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."