I always appreciate an author and book(s) that take the time to make their characters realistic. This series consistently achieves that goal and makes the read engrossing. As we move farther away from domestic terror incidents like 9/11, these books should provide younger readers the opportunity to experience the confusion, sadness and loss of those terrible times. It also allows others to understand the personal and professional toll for first responders, and to consider a career in that arena. Thank you to the author!

Honor Mackenzie has dedicated her life to honoring the sacrifice of her finacee John who died in the search and rescue efforts of 9/11 as a volunteer. Now Honor has taken up a similar task as a SARs trainer. Since she is the best, she is the one that is most likely to be called upon whenever someone goes missing. Today she is at the scene of a jumbo jet accident that has crash landed on a busy highway with subsequent debris falling miles away. Now searching in the national park, she comes across the tail section of the plane along with the wing and survivors still trapped inside. This is where her heart is, finding and rescuing survivors.

Matt Phillips is the roving news reporter that has been called the the scene of the biggest headline, a plane crash and he's there to make sure that he captures all the details and takes the first pictures to make it to the papers before the morning edition. Dressing like a first responder, he hopes to find a rookie member of the rescue team that will allow him to blend in and capture the story, what he didn't hope to find is a face to face meeting with Honor Mackenzie who loathes reporters of all kinds especially one dressed as a search and rescue team member.

Both Honor and Matt are struggling with learning to let go of their pasts and learn to move forward even though the costs might be greater than they had hoped. Both are dealing with the losses of people that they have loved and lost and now just when their are hopes of them falling in love, both of them gain a sense that the risk of losing someone they love again, keeps them at arms lengths apart. When tragedy strikes one of them, will they find a way to put their past behind them and finally admit they are ready to take a second chance at love?

I received Honor Redeemed, book two in the First Responders Series by author Loree Lough compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Abingdon Press for my honest review. Being a huge fan of Loree's since reading her first book in the series From Ashes to Honor, I knew that I would read this one the moment it came to print. Loree's writing style will hook you right from the beginning and genuinely make you love her characters. Designed to showcase the lives of First Responders, this one spotlights the actions of SARs or Search and Rescue responders and shows just how difficult and rewarding their lives can be as well as that of their canine companions. You will not be disappointed to read this one as a stand alone, but trust me, once you do, you'll have to go back and read her first book in the series as well where the story of Mercy and Austin first came to life. They are now supporting characters in this novel. I highly recommend this one to animal lovers, first responder fans and those looking for a great suspense romance and easily award this my highest rating a 5 out of 5 stars.

Loree Lough as brought us the second installment in, "The First Responders Series", entitled, "Honor Redeemed". Now, before we begin, I would encourage you to begin with book one in the series, "From Ashes To Honor". I have had the great pleasure of reading both of these titles and I can tell you that they are at the top of my favorites list!

If you have read the first book and got to those last pages and thought, "Wait, it can't end like this", don't worry. We get to see, Mercy and Austin, return along with with more amazing characters. Just a hint.. your going to love their story!

Now we are introduced to Honor Mackenzie and Matt Phillips. Once again, I fell in love with these characters. Yes, Loree, takes us through the journey of those lives touched by 9/11. We see the scars left behind and the struggles these characters must overcome.

Book two is just as AWESOME as book one in this series! I love how Loree names her characters to fit the story. We meet, Honor, in this book and she comes across as being tough and hard. We soon understand why. Both, Honor and Matt, come with pasts that seem to hold them back from trusting and letting go. Honor is a huge theme in this story.

Again, Loree, brings these heroes to life right before our eyes. We see them at work and we see how their job isn't just a job, but a part of them. They almost define themselves by the service and sacrifice they give. Honor works with Search and Rescue and Matt is a reporter, with a background as a First Responder. When they meet you would think they were worlds apart, but they have much more in common than they realize.

Once again, Loree, takes us on a journey through the depths of pain and into the days of joy. We see these characters come to life before our eyes. Loree has the gift of allowing us to feel what the characters are experiencing. This story brought me to tears on more than one occasion.

If you haven't picked up a book written by Loree Lough yet, you are missing out, my friend. She is gifted with the pen and you will not soon forget the pages that bring faith alive.

Watch for book three,"A Man of Honor" out in fall of 2012.

This book was a gift from Abingdon Press for it's review.

Book Two in the First Responders Series, Honor Redeemed by Loree Lough, takes up from where Ashes to Honor left off.

Honor lost her fiance to rescue operations after the towers collapsed and hasn't been able to dig herself out of that constant soul-eating grief. Until Matt.

Matt is an investigative reporter, her worst favorite type of person. He has a set of mischievous and delightful ten-year-old twin boys that capture her heart, but Matt doesn't know that. All he knows for sure is Honor seems to be his other half--she knows what is in his mind before he does. She speaks his thoughts and completes his actions. But does she love his sons?

He loves his sons more than anyone or anything other than God. He won't allow them to be hurt by a woman who doesn't love them enough. So he...

But wait--I don't want to tell you too much. You might not get the book if I tell you the end. Let me just say this: I just bought A Man of Honor, the third book in the series, and it is fudging in front of some others on my "to read" pile.

Honor Mackenzie started working in search and rescue after her fiance, who was a firefighter was killed in the days after 9/11.She also worked as a firefighter, but nasty rumors spread and when a reporter got hold of the story her reputation was ruined causing her to quit the fire department.Now her day job is working in the billing dept for the local hospital, and she volunteers for SAR with her two Golden's Rowdy and Rerun. She also trains SAR dogs and their owners. When she meets Matt Phillips she decides to avoid him because he is a reporter, but as she starts to know him, and learn about his twin sons, she can't help but feel something for him. Matt feels drawn to Honor, but also feels guilt because his wife Faith has only been dead for a little over a year. His life revolves around his ten year old twins Warner and Steve, and while he wonders if there could be a relationship between him and Honor, he has also heard the rumors about her past. Will their friendship turn into something more, or will the past stand in their way?

This book pulled me in immediately. At the loss of her fiance Honor decided to become a First Responder, what a wonderful tribute to pay to someone. As I was drawn into her story,her character became very easy to like, but I couldn't help but wonder what it was that was haunting her from her past. I thought Matt made a great male lead character. Some of his friends called him the Defender because of some of the things he had done. As the story unfolded I couldn't help but become invested in the lives of the characters and wanted to know how things would work out for them, and even though the plot moved along at a pretty brisk pace, the ending felt incomplete.While this book is the second in a series it can be read as a stand alone work, I didn't read the first book and didn't have any problems following this story.

Overall if you enjoy stories with compelling, easy to like characters,a slow building romance, a faith based message,and a fast moving plot that certainly gives us a glimpse of the sacrifices First Responders make then your going to enjoy this story. The ending certainly leaves me anxious to read the next book in the series.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.