Risking It All (Code of Honor #2)

This is listed as a novella (228 pages), that begins almost like the other books in the series. It's Christmas time and Elijah is heading off to a small town, and this time he's not fighting a foreign enemy, or rescuing anyone...he's falling for the baker, Justin. Soon the explosions start, letting us know we may not be going to have such a Merry Christmas after all. I really almost liked this book. The characters. as in all these books, are smart, strong and more than a bit sassy. The slow burn between Elijah and Justin makes you want to help them along as they navigate the situations that form Justin’s past. The small-town loves Christmas and have planned a lighting ceremony. Here's where some things become a bit unrealistic. For show more example: At the lighting ceremony a shooting occurs, injuring Elijah and the shooter is never caught. The town reschedules it, and everyone shows up. I don't think the town, or the citizens, no matter how holiday crazy they all are...would take that chance so soon after an event like this happened.... some might but not the entire town. I also don't believe the military would send in "Special Forces" to protect them no matter who they might be related to. Elijah and Justin have their own personal secrets that no one is talking about. A shooting occurring in the town would have had the local police all over it, but there was so little interaction by anyone with them. They didn't even show up at the hospital where Justin had rushed Elijah. No one meets them...no one realizes they are even there. Aren't hospitals required by law to report gun-shot wounds? Though I read this one out of order, I have read the other books and have always liked the main characters, especially Elijah and was really glad that he was the "main star" of this one...but there are a lot of inconsistences in the way the shooting was handled. The story is still getting 3 stars because I really like the main characters and I certainly admire this authors ability to come up with these great adventure stories. show less