Code Name: Ember by Sawyer Bennett | Audiobook Review • Ana's Attic Book Blog

Code Name: Ember (Jameson Force Seattle Book 1) by Sawyer Bennett

Narrated by Stephen Dexter and Kelsey Navarro Foster

Romantic Suspense Spin-Off Series, but Stands Alone 100%

I work for Sawyer, and this audiobook was given to me. While I like to think I can write an unbiased review, I can’t guarantee that unconscious bias isn’t here (though I don’t think so), so keep that in mind.

Code Name: Ember by Sawyer Bennett is the first in a new series, Jameson Force Seattle. This is a new branch of Jameson Force Security, so if you read the original series, you will see familiar faces. I did not read the first series, but I never felt like I missed anything. Sawyer is brilliant about making her books stand alone, even halfway through a series, and this was a great introduction to a new team in a new city.

I’ve seen some suspense in Sawyer’s hockey, sex club, and F1 books, but this was my first true romantic suspense from Sawyer and I. AM. HOOKED. Code Name: Ember was fast-paced, action-packed, emotional, sexy, and unputdownable. I can’t wait to get my hands on Code Name: Harbor.

Tessa is an investigative journalist. A reliable source has brought her proof that the wildfires in the Pacific Northwest are being deliberately set by a developer. It’s the story of a lifetime for Tessa until her source is murdered and she becomes the next target. Not sure where else to go, she reaches out to her ex from five years ago, Cole Mercer, an ex-Special Forces soldier, former smokejumper, and now an operative with Jameson Force Security.

Cole and Tessa never fell out of love. They broke up five years ago because Cole couldn’t handle Tessa putting herself in danger in pursuit of a story.

Even though the exact situation he feared is happening, seeing each other again makes them both realize they never got over each other and never truly moved on. They rekindle their romance, but Tessa is in more danger than ever, and she refuses to give up the story. Can Cole handle now what he couldn’t five years before?

“For the first time since she walked back into my life, the tension between us doesn’t feel like unfinished business. It feels like it could be a new beginning. And that unsettles me more than any fire ever has.”

Watching them uncover more information while investigating the case had me riveted. The danger felt real and kept me on the edge of my seat. And I absolutely loved Cole.

Likes:

Fast-moving and unputdownable.
A super interesting storyline.
Action-packed with enough romance to balance it.
Sexy scenes that never overwhelm the story.
I never felt like I missed anything by not reading the original Jameson Force series, though now I want to. If you’re a regular Sawyer reader, you’ll recognize some crossover characters that I only knew because I work for her.
Meeting the new Jameson Force Seattle staff before they each get their own book.

Dislikes:

Sometimes Tessa was just an idiot. Everyone was doing everything to keep her safe, but she still walked right into danger.
No epilogue. I know it’s because we’ll see these characters again in future books, but I still love an epilogue.

The Narration:

Stephen Dexter and Kelsey Navarro Foster were phenomenal. While this isn’t a duet narration, they were both so good at the male and female parts that it didn’t matter. They portrayed all the romance, fear, adrenaline, relief, and love so well that I think this one is probably even better in audiobook form.

The Down & Dirty:

Sawyer’s romantic suspense is top-notch. Code Name: Ember is fast-paced, action-packed, emotional, sexy, and unputdownable. I listened to it in one day because I couldn’t put it down. This book made me realize that romantic suspense may be my favorite genre. The action never stopped, the romance was top-notch, the characters were likable and well developed, and the emotion was woven throughout. Stephen Dexter and Kelsey Navarro Foster brought the story to life in the audiobook, and I highly recommend giving this one a listen. I can’t wait for Code Name: Harbor in September.