Ideally, a reader should learn something from a book -- even an escapist fiction novel. From True Devotion I learned less about Navy SEAL operations and the power of love and faith over grief and guilt than about my own reading preferences.Lifeguard Kelly Jacobs, widow of a SEAL killed in action three years prior to the story's opening, decides it's high time to begin moving past her grief. Only one hitch: she comes to this decision in the middle of the open ocean in a riptide current beside the teen she swam out to rescue, with darkness and hypothermia descending fast.Enter Lieutenant Joe "Bear" Baker, her late husband's platoon leader and best friend, and Kelly's self-appointed knight in shining armor. Since SEALs protect their own, especially the widows, Joe and his team assist the Coast Guard search and rescue effort. Naturally, he arrives in the nick of time to pluck Kelly and the teen from the ocean. Kelly remains awake just long enough to recognize her rescuer and offer him a groggy "I love you."Those three unexpected yet heartfelt words send Kelly and Joe into an emotional tailspin during the ensuing weeks as they explore their burgeoning feelings against the challenging backdrop of grief, survivor's guilt and backsliding faith. Add to the mix one ardent admirer -- Charles, the wealthy, widowed father of the teen Kelly risked her life to save. More closely bound than initial appearances indicate, the three adults become ensnared in a web of espionage, vendetta and betrayal -- a lethal combination even love finds difficult to conquer.A "suspense" story generally keeps the reader guessing about the villain's plans and motives until the denouement. A "thriller" may leave the detective in the dark for a long time, but the author reveals everything to the reader along the way. While reading True Devotion (which by those definitions falls into the "thriller" category), I realized that I much prefer a suspense plot. I relish trying to figure out whodunnit and why. In this book Henderson gives the reader maybe half a page between dropping a clue and clarifying its meaning, thus ratcheting up the predictability factor and diminishing overall enjoyment.The novel's structure also struck me as problematic. The plot seesawed between the present and the past, revealed through several flashbacks from both Kelly's and Joe's viewpoint. Such pace-killing temporal shifts caused me to wonder whether the author would have been better advised to open the story with the death of Kelly's husband and express the dark emotional issues firsthand.However, if you don't mind the flashbacks or having the mystery elements explained on the fly, then you could do a whole lot worse than read this book. Sometimes love needs a hefty dose of renewed faith to help it vanquish the obstacles looming in its path, the truest reminder True Devotion can offer.(Originally published in Crescent Blues. Reprinted with permission.)
Love this authors writing style. It's clean, classic romance, mystery and suspense tied in a package with chocolate on the side. Kelly has already given her heart to one navySEAL and lost it when he didn't return after a mission three years ago. She turned to her husband's best friend and commander, joe or "bear" during those hard times. When her lifeguard career puts her out to rescue a teen in the ocean and she can't make it back to shore , she makes some pretty big decisions. 1 that she loves joe more than a friend and has come to depend on him in her life and 2. She has been doing all her her devotion to god with lip service and she wants a change. Joe comes and rescues her from the sea. When she says the three words, "I love u," it gets emotions rolling. They decide to start dating. Concerns with the future arise, starting a family, joe's job. Then there is the reappearance of traitor the thief responsible for nick's death. Traitor ends up being Charles, the rescued teen boy, ryan's father. The web is made and when traitor is blackmailed into stealing a nuclear weapon for Taiwan at the risk of his son, he does it. Kelly becomes an unknowing piece in his communication of the SEALs movements. In the end father sacrifices for his son, kelly gets to be a mother and joe proposes. Great read.
What do You think about True Devotion (2005)?
This romantic suspense novel was a fast read. The characters were honorable, interesting, and engaging. I cared what happened to them, even to the 'bad' guy. The heroine is just as strong (in the non-physical sense) as the hero. Though Kelly is rescued by Joe, her own actions go a long way to making that rescue possible. (As in, the smart heroine doesn't do something extremely stupid and then stand helpless and in danger just so the hero can rescue her.)The obstacles to the romance were realistic ones based on Kelly and Joe's past history with each other (rather than the artificial "if they'd just talk about it" misunderstanding variety).Both Kelly and Joe are Christians and their faith is integral to their lives, but the book never gets preachy. It explores their struggles with their faith, specifically why God allowed Kelly's husband (who is also Joe's best friend) to die and Joe live.The details about SEALs, their missions, and what their wives go through when they're on mission were very interesting and immersed me into their world.There was some kissing, but no sex. I don't recall any cussing. It's a good, clean fun novel.
—Debbie
I’ve decided to read some of my own books that I have just sitting around waiting for me to read them. True Devotion is book one in the Uncommon Heroes stories. Dee Henderson has always been a favorite author of mine and True Devotion is another fine example of her great writing. Kelly is a widow. Her loving husband was a Navy SEAL and she was told he got killed in a practice exercise, but she knew better. Joe was her husbands best friend in the SEALs. So he now is her great protector and they are best friends. The book starts off making your sit on the edge of your seat. A rescue right off has to happen. The whole book is full of action and adventure with lots of very good romance involved. The characters are so life like it seems like you are reading an actual account and Dee describes the places and setting so well you can believe you are there. Really a fantastic book that you will love to read. Highly recommended.
—Trinity Rose
This book is a good mix of Romance and Military Suspense. The first chapter is captivating and you will not want to drop the book afterwards. You will get a true feeling of the sacrificial life of men in active military service who are struggling to serve both country and family.The pace of the plot is fast at the beginning, a little slow at the middle and fast again at the ending. The conclusion is very soothing. If you enjoy romance and wants to pry into the real life of men in active military service, you will enjoy this book.
—Gerald
