Nightshade

Nightshade is a fast paced military thriller. I liked how the author showed that PTSD can negatively touch many areas of a soldier's life. Spiritual, emotional, mental, physical. Even relationships between friends and family. There were many complexities in this story that required solid plotting, and that was very well done. I didn't see any inconsistencies. The author did a great job with the setting as well. I felt like I was traveling around the world with Syd and with the Nightshade team. The author was not afraid to hurt the characters... a lot. Of course, that just made this reader care more. Nicely done!

I didn’t read Nightshade by Ronie Kendig in a single sitting, but I could have. This highly entertaining story held my attention from start to finish. The plot packs in danger, romance, and suspense in exotic locations. Max’s personality and personal drama added to the intensity of the story. I absolutely loved his second-chance romance with his almost ex-wife, Sydney. Their relationship was spot on and I loved how things played out between them.

Nightshade by Ronie Kendig kickstarts the Discarded Heroes series. There are some overarching situations that must continue through the series, but the main relationships and situations had satisfying closure. I’ve already ordered book two, Digitalis, and I can’t wait to read more about show more this amazing group of men and their romances. show less

This is the first book in the "Discarded Heroes Series" and what a great way to begin a series! It is all about being a part of a black-ops group of men known as Nightshade. These men handle rescues that no one else will take and that no one will even know who these men are.

In this story Max Jacobs, a former Navy SEAL man joins the team while he is trying to come to grips with his war-related PTSD and trying to not fall completely apart while his wife Sydney files for a divorce. Max must learn to get his anger under control and save his marriage. When the team goes into the jungle to rescue a missionary family from the rebels you will feel as if you are there. You will experience the sorrow that happens, the suspense as they flee and show more hide in the jungle and cheer on the team that watches out for each other. But in the process of trying to keep their identities unknown, Max's wife Sydney, becomes part of the problem, as she does her job as a reporter and tries to discover who these guys are. It was one of those stories that was hard to put down and at times I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I look forward to reading the next story in this series. It has a good blend of suspense, action, love and learning how to let go and let God have control. show less

NIGHTSHADE by Ronie Kendig is an awesome Military Thriller. It is the first in the Discarded Hero's series set in today's world around the world. It is an elite Black Ops team that goes to hot spots around the world no one else will touch to rescue and neutralize. These six men have been wounded and discarded by the military, but one high ranking official puts them together as a team that makes up "NIGHTSHADE". It is well written with detail and depth. The characters are awesome and pull you into the story and keeps you there on the each of your sit. It has faith, action, violence, death, compassion and a team to reckon with. This is a gut wrenching action paced story. In this first story, the hero, Max, is finding it hard to adjust in show more the civilian world. He has lost the love of his life, his wife who is wanting a divorce, due to his anger issues. Then Nightshade invites him into their world, which is just starting the new team, makes him the team leader. We are introduced to the rest of the team in this first story. The heroine, Sydney, is Max's soon to be ex, is also trying to be a news reporter, stumbles onto information about Nightshade, which creates problems for her, she ends up in the area where Nightshade is a work. I would highly recommend this book especially if you enjoy action packed, fast paced, military Special Forces.This is a must read. It is a keeper. This book was received for review from Net Galley and details can be found at My Book Addiction and More and Barbour Publishing. show less

A touching tale of redemption just about sums this story up. We have Max, the ex Navy SEAL who has returned from duty scarred. Trying to be a "real man" he hides his hurts from his wife, Sydney, and they continue to eat him up inside until one night he snaps. It tears their marriage apart, and even though they love each other deeply, it seems that they will never be able to find their way back to each other.

Max was just the right mix of macho tough guy and a scarred and injured warrior. I enjoyed his character from the get go and his fragile relationship with Sydney was portrayed in a way that I could see the thin threads that just barely held them to each other. Both strong people, fighting for what they think is best.

Max's special ops show more team is full of personality. It was a wonderful group of characters that allowed the author to pull things into the story in ways that just seemed natural. Each and every person introduced plays a very special and important role in Max and Sydney's journey. It is a dark and very dangerous one, but one they must face if they ever hope to save their marriage.

The rating on this book could be split into two sections for me. The story of Max and Sydney gets 4-5 stars all the way. However, there is a parallel story line of Jon and Kimber that we follow as well (don't want to say too much more and give anything away). I found their story to be a bit over done and syrupy, predictable and a little preachy, and would only give it 1 or 2 stars. While their role was very important in the overall plot, I just didn't enjoy them much at all.

Overall a good book, one that doesn't show military as all glamorous, but how it can leave the mind as well as the body scarred, making it difficult to return to a "normal" life.

3/5 show less

There is nothing better than military fiction to keep me on the edge of my seat. I love the action, adventure, and danger. "Nightshade" is one read that definitely delivers! This is one page-turning, "keep you on the edge of your seat" book.

The storyline is quite realistic as are the characters. Max is a former Navy SEAL that comes home to live a quiet civilian life, only to find out that he can't adjust. He is strong, well trained, but has problems with anger and haunting dreams. He's a character that I absolutely adored. His wife, Sydney, on the other hand, was too influenced by others, and I found that frustrating.

"Nightshade" is book one of the "Discarded Heroes" series. For me, this series holds great promise. I can't wait to read show more book 2! show less

As my friends Renee and Rel both said, Digitalis, the next book in the Discarded Heroes series cannot come soon enough and I fully and whole heartedly agree. Nightshade is intense and real. Mixing up a team of veteran special ops from various divisions with a endangered marriage, a PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) SEAL in denial and anger, a wife reporter bent on discovering the black ops team with a group of missionaries in danger of Muslim terrorists and my goodness do not expect any slee ...more As my friends Renee and Rel both said, Digitalis, the next book in the Discarded Heroes series cannot come soon enough and I fully and whole heartedly agree. Nightshade is intense and real. Mixing up a team of veteran special ops from show more various divisions with a endangered marriage, a PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) SEAL in denial and anger, a wife reporter bent on discovering the black ops team with a group of missionaries in danger of Muslim terrorists and my goodness do not expect any sleep while reading this book. The pages have to go fast and as a reader you'll negotiate that it is worth a few less hours of sleep to find out what happens next.

There were so many different elements to this book that make it enjoyable that I do not even know how to begin to touch on them. Ronie Kendig is an awesome new author and I hope and pray that there will be much more to come from her in the days to come. Nightshade is entertaining and suspenseful. The romance is realistic and heart changing. This is a great book for someone from any spectrum. There is entertainment for all here. Highly recommended! More please. *wink* show less