By: Elizabeth Dykes
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Steam: ❤️🔥 ❤️🔥 ❤️🔥 ❤️🔥
Unexpected Heroine is the second installment of the Unexpected trilogy. Not only is the theme of Tomer and Lettie’s story Unexpected (title), but the fact that this story developed into a trilogy is also unexpected. I can’t think of a more perfect example of how an author’s characters and stories can evolve into much more than originally planned.
Like many other linked series, duets, or trilogies, Unexpected Heroine picks up at the end of a MASSIVE cliffhanger from Unexpected Hero. You can read my review of Unexpected Hero here. It will also end on a MASSIVE cliffhanger, although it was one potential plot line I was predicting since Unexpected Hero. While I am waiting with bated breath for Unexpected Redemption, the series of events (no spoilers here) was not surprising for me. The way Jackie chose to write it was a surprise. I’ll leave you to discover that on your own. I wouldn’t want to spoil it!
In Unexpected Heroine, Tomer and Lettie are living and dealing with the aftermath of Redleg Security’s increased conflict with the men who abducted her and the effects of their collective childhood traumas as their relationship develops. Tomer also lives with the guilt associated with the sins of his past.
I’ve always loved Tomer’s character and found Lettie adorable, but in Unexpected Heroine, Lettie’s inner strength begins to shine. It’s scary as hell, but she makes decisions, takes steps, pulls up her big girl panties, and grows into a character that, while never seeming exactly weak in past books, is undoubtedly much stronger than anyone, even Lettie, believes she can be. She figures out how to set boundaries and hard limits and how to stand up to Tomer so he can grow, too.
Written in alternating third person, I appreciate being in the heads of both Tomer and Lettie. It’s fascinating to read how characters perceive the same interactions. In real life, it helps me predict how people may perceive conversations with me. I can’t even count how often I was chuckling because Tomer and Lettie misunderstood each other.
This book is vivid, exciting, heart-wrenching, and undoubtedly triggering for some audiences, so please read the trigger warning (even though there are topic spoilers). I give Unexpected Heroine 5 stars for seriously amazing story-telling and editing. While I usually give Jackie’s Steam rating a 5, I am giving Unexpected Heroine 4 flaming hearts. This is not a novel that is absent of steam; however, the storyline lends itself to a smaller quantity of steamy moments. You will not be disappointed, though.
You should not read Unexpected Heroine without first reading Unexpected Hero. This is a true trilogy. You will not find an HEA… yet. I’m sure Jackie Walker has a fantastic HEA planned for the end of the next installment, Unexpected Redemption.
The Unexpected trilogy is part of the Redleg Security Series. While each of the other books is a romantic stand-alone novel, there is a continuous arch that will reach its conclusion, I believe, after Big Al’s book. You can read them alone, but I recommend reading them in order. The Redleg Series is linked below with every retailer I can find. Happy Reading!
Unexpected Heroine – Discreet Cover Paperback – Amazon
Unexpected Heroine – Amazon
Redleg Security – Series Page – Amazon
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