Samuel Creed is devastated when his oldest brother, Sawyer, is killed in the September 11 attacks, leaving behind a wife and a daughter. Sam enlists in the military, determined to get revenge, and ensure that no one suffers from another attack. Years later, he returns home, having fought several combat tours in Afghanistan. While he reunites with his family, he feels like he hasn’t accomplished what he set out to do and finds a job working for a counter-terrorism agency in Washington, D.C., where he can be close to his family.
Tessa Holt is an independent, quirky girl, with little love for literature. A breakup with her boyfriend is overshadowed by the death of her uncle, a New York firefighter, who loses his life in the September 11 attacks. With a little nudging from a new friend, Tessa discovers that books are a safe refuge from the pain she’s feeling.
When these two meet, a love story begins.
I would like to begin by thanking Shaun for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book very much. I am fond of doing a cover analysis of the books I read. This cover perfectly captures an important aspect of the story. It depicts Rose with her usual mint chocolate chip ice cream cone. You will see how much that is a part of the story as you read…so go grab a copy of Keeping Creed.
When you first begin reading, you quickly find that the author enjoys throwing humor in the mix of emotions he evokes. Be sure to read the copyright statement, you will not regret it.I got a good laugh from that alone. It is clear that he enjoys reminding readers that despite how much joy or remorse the book may elicit, it is merely a fiction tale.
As with the other novels, Shaun has multiple characters that each play their own part. Tessa was my favorite character in this novel, simply because I could relate to her. She and I are very similar in our way of thinking. She works at a library and despite her in-depth knowledge of romance, has yet to find that one perfect match. She knows how a romantic encounter should take place…well according to the books she has read. She will learn that although it may not begin exactly as planned, it ends nicely.
Rose was another favorite of mine. Whenever tensions are high in the book, she seems to come in and use humor to relieve them. She brings the reader back down to baseline. It is adorable watching her grow up. I wish that I was given ice cream whenever I couldn’t sleep. If that were the case, I would be eating it way too often.This little girl is a joy from the first introduction. Seeing the way her and Sam (her uncle) interact just melts my heart. There is so much love between them. It a pleasure watching their relationship develop and change as she grows up.
Sam is a headstrong, family oriented character. He wants to avenge his brother’s death, but struggles with finding anything that brings him feelings of retribution. After his deployment, he remains unsatisfied and searches for something more. He joins SITE, an anti-terrorist branch. His life begins to finally fall into place, but when something threatens the lives of those he holds closest, he recognizes what must be done.
Keeping Creed is a prime example of an emotional roller coaster. The beginning gives great backstory of each main character, providing the reader an idea of who they are and how they have come to where they are presently. As we move along, it is clear what character is being discussed. There are subheadings with the character’s name (Sam or Tessa). I have run into some authors who fail to do this and it is difficult to determine who’s point of view I am reading from. The books leads the reader up a hill with a huge emotional peak. I actually cried, but to be fair he warned me ahead of time. I was prepared with tissues. Many of you will most likely have the same reaction. The tension is broken, as expected…with Rose. The remaining parts of the book are filled with laughter, sexual encounters, worry, and surprise. This books is not intended for younger audiences due to the detailed intimate scenes, which is stated in the beginning of the novel. Although we see romance, it is not a typical love story, but so much more. A huge twist awaits the reader near the end.
Keeping Creed kept my attention and not only pulled me in, but would not release its grip on me. With a great plot and well developed characters, I hated to let it go. When I had to put the book down to sleep, I found myself dreaming about me being Tessa and going through the story in her place. This book has a little bit for everyone. It is packed with action, romance, sadness, and do not forget about the humor woven between these. Head over to Amazon and pick up your copy of Keeping Creed today. I look forward to reading the sequel in the future.