Stone by Ronie Kendig swept me away in a flow of danger, action, and second-chance romance. Both main characters, Stone and Brighton, hold hurt and regret over their shared past. Their emotions and actions/reactions felt real at their unexpected reunion. Temporarily forced together, Stone and Brighton must survive the drama their proximity rouses as they face their past and present circumstances. Character development makes way for the rekindling of love, but danger still pursues Brighton. The romantic tension paired well with the suspense. In short, Stone kept me flipping the pages as I experienced the story.

In Stone’s introductory note, Ronie Kendig conveys her hope that this novel will shed light on the darkness of human trafficking. Within the story, potential triggers exist for those who have experienced sexual assault. The author condemns the terribleness of sex trafficking without dragging the reader too deeply down into the evil. She treads lightly with Brighton’s trauma, acknowledging the challenges of recovery without delving into an extensive healing process.

Stone by Ronie Kendig kickstarts The Metcalfes series, although characters from her other novels appear or are referenced. Stone stands alone in the sense that Stone and Brighton’s story wraps up; however, an overarching plot leads into the next installment (Willow - coming Spring 2022). Readers who enjoy romantic suspense will likely be interested in this series. I am looking forward to the next story.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )