Book Review: Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason

Vow of Justice (Blue Justice #4).  Lynette Eason.  Fleming H. Revell Co. (2019). 336 pages.  Genre:  Romantic Suspense.

First Line:  "FBI Special Agent Allison Radcliffe fingered the key in her apron pocket, debating whether she could break into Vladislav Nevsky's office without getting caught."

Summary:  FBI Special Agent Lincoln St. John and his partner Allison Radcliffe are working to uncover evidence against a major player in the Russian Mafia.  Allison is undercover as personal cook for Nevsky.  While employed in his home she has grown close to his 17-year-old daughter, Daria.  Allison has finally found the right opportunity to enter Nevsky's office and download files from his computer while looking for any other evidence she can find.  She is caught, but Daria covers for her and Nevsky buys her story.  Linc insists that it is time for Allison to get out of there.  

While in Nevsky's office, Allison was able to take pictures of some documents showing that Nevsky was involved in selling military equipment.  The agents are on a catamaran outside the military base doing surveillance.  As they are waiting for something to happen, they spot a drone flying towards them.  They realize too late what is happening and the drone hits the catamaran causing an explosion.  Linc and Allie are separated in the explosion.  When Linc wakes up in a hospital, he is told Allie didn't make it.  When he finds out she is really alive, Linc and Allie begin working together to discover what happened and to take down Nevsky and his network once and for all.

My thoughts:  This is the fourth and final book in the Blue Justice series and it was a page turner!  I have really enjoyed the St. John family and getting to know them individually through the books.  If you are not familiar with this series, the St. John family consists of Tabitha St. John, Chief of Police, her husband Marcus, who is a lawyer and their six grown children who are all involved in law enforcement in some way.  They are a close knit family who make time to get together regularly, often for Sunday dinner. 

This story stars Lincoln St. John (Linc) and his partner Allie.  Linc and Allie have grown to care for one another, but think it is unwise to get involved romantically because they are partners.  Allie is most hesitant because of some things she went through in her past.  As the story progresses, so does their relationship, but that aspect always stays in the background and doesn't overshadow the main story.  

Allie's past plays a large part in this story and by the end all is revealed.  There are lots of secrets to be uncovered as well as plenty of twists, turns and surprises.  Allie's past is dark, but the author never allowed it to get too heavy.  At a pivotal point in the story, Allie has the opportunity to take revenge, but she remembers something Linc said to her, "Justice and revenge are two very different things".  It is in that moment that she is able to stop herself and realizes that revenge does not belong to her.  

This book was fast-paced and kept me engaged throughout.