“Silent Night Standoff” by Susan Sleeman

When armed robbers strike her bank, hostage negotiator Skyler Brennan’s life is on the line. Rescue comes from the last person she thought she could count on—the ex-boyfriend who chose his job over their relationship. FBI agent Logan Hunter knows how much is resting on this case. The promotion of his dreams…and the safety of the woman he’s never been able to forget. But when an unexpected twist in the case pulls Logan in two separate directions, he’ll have to make an impossible choice. Will he manage to have it all by Christmas—a career and love—or will he lose them both?   

Silent Night Standoff (First Responders)‘>  rings all the right bells as a holiday romance.  With strings of lights and charity events woven throughout the story, love is the bedrock of the plot on many levels.  Forgiveness is just as important to the romantic element of the story as the action that flies in the face of the danger that each person faces.    Silent Night Standoff isn’t a fluffy romance.  It’s a hardcore crime story with two people sharing great future potential.  Their feelings collide every time danger approaches, which it does with amazing frequency.  Between car bombs, road rage, hostage situations, and explosions, the action is high on every page, making it the perfect book for both die-hard romantics and crime fanatics alike.

One of my favorite aspects of this story was the character of Skyler.  She’s not your typical heroine –  while she’s brave and smart, she isn’t described as drop-dead gorgeous, as so many leading ladies are, and yet her inner beauty shines through.  Skyler seems like the girl next door – a bit quirky with ingrained habits and pig-tailed cuteness.  She has strong bonds with her coworkers and has worked hard to overcome personal difficulties.  She’s admirable and obviously makes a good friend – which makes her extremely likeable in my book.

Susan Sleeman’s books are new to me, but I’m looking forward to reading many more.  I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.