Redemption by Traci Hunter Abramson

Redemption
by Traci Hunter Abramson

ISBN-13: 9781524417529
Paperback: 314 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: September 20th 2021

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Gage Stewart has spent five years trying to overcome his past. Once an abused and troubled teenager, he has worked tirelessly to move beyond the fateful day he was manipulated into holding a group of teenagers hostage. Now, with a new identity and a college degree in criminal psychology, he accepts an unlikely job teaching others what to do during mass shootings.

At the hotel where his class is held, Gage is immediately drawn to Skyler Prescott, the daughter of the wealthy hotel owner. Gage and Skyler quickly discover a shared desire for normalcy, and their easy friendship soon develops into something more. A night out ends in horror when a gunman opens fire in the crowded venue, and it seems like the real killer wanted to make Gage the scapegoat for the shooting. Little do they know that the attack was little more than a publicity stunt to draw out the real target: presidential candidate Senator James Whitmore. Gage must now work with the very men who ended his own life of crime before it began—the Saint Squad.


My Review:
Redemption is a romantic suspense novel. This is the 11th book in a series, and it referred back to events in a previous book (I assume "Lockdown"). It can be read as a standalone, though.

The first part of the novel mainly developed the friendship, which grew into romance. Gage and Skyler felt comfortable with each other and had shared interests. Each withheld some information about themselves that would potentially change the relationship. When this information came out, Skyler just avoided Gage rather than asking why the people who clearly knew his past didn't seem concerned by it. Plus he'd already risked his life to save people during a shooting, so I'd have thought she'd question rather than completely reject him. Poor guy. Gage just wanted to create a new, useful life and was very likable. But Skyler just kept holding Gage to unclear-to-him standards, like asking her to spend time with him didn't count as a date. Maybe realistic, but I didn't like her as much because of it.

I also thought the father acted out of character at the end, and his reason didn't even justify his actions. Anyway, the romance quickly wrapped up after Gage told her what she'd already heard before. Maybe Gage looked more appealing after her father's unreasonable actions.

The shootings were suspenseful and provided Gage a chance to prove himself a hero. Gage and Skyler went to church with the Saint Squad a few times. There was no sex or bad language. I liked most of the story, but the ending (after the suspense was wrapped up) just didn't work for me.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.