This was amazing! This is my first book book by Thoma and it will not be my last. Courage is very relevant with current events and I think Thoma does a great job of showing the complexity of changing a system. This is the sequel to Serenity, which I haven't read yet (but I will be), and I don't feel like I was missing anything. Very good read!

This book had all the things, action, social work, romance and lots of playful flirting. It was well done, especially in a time of unrest. As a Social worker who has done work with police, this really did describe the interactions and ways that things can change for the good. The dynamics between the two main characters were great and the pace of the book was perfect.

Merged review:

This book had all the things, action, social work, romance and lots of playful flirting. It was well done, especially in a time of unrest. As a Social worker who has done work with police, this really did describe the interactions and ways that things can change for the good. The dynamics between the two main characters were great and the pace of the book was perfect.

I find myself enjoying a lot of cop stories and that book is a good one. I like the way the attraction of both Main Characters was developed. The book is full of drama, empathic, love, and romance.

Officer Tommy was assigned to ride with a social work, Natash Parsons, to attend mental health crises and learn how to engage with does in needed of assistance, at the beginning she was really frustrated with the assignment, but as she get to know Natasha and allowed herself to think different them rules and regulations, she discovery that she's become a better cop and a better person. I like that the author brought the issue of police reform such as the movement black lives matters, drug addiction and mental health, which made a lot of sense in the story.

Now I really need to read about Tommy's sister Harry. Hopefully a sequel in the future!!

I normally don't go for cop romance books, just never been my thing. But I really adored this book. Will for sure be reading more from this author in the future.

Content warnings: manipulation, gun shot, graphic sex

I was initially hesitant about picking up this romance centered around police work, but since I really enjoyed Thoma’s previous novel Serenity (my review), I had to give this a go. And Thoma didn’t disappoint: she did a good job of tackling the topic of police reform.

Natasha Parsons comes from money. But instead of attending galas and standing around looking pretty, she loves her job as a social worker and is passionate about using her skills to deescalate crises. Tommy Finch comes from a family of cops. When she gets paired with Natasha, a civilian who needs her protection, she is less than thrilled.

That is the synopsis you are going to get from me because I still cannot figure out the romance storyline. It’s instalust on day one when they still sort of dislike each other, and all their early moments are thoughts about how the other person is gorgeous and hot. I felt mostly confused and didn’t feel any chemistry. If this weren’t a romance, I would’ve enjoyed it immensely more.

I really liked Natasha though. I love that she believes in herself and believes in her job. And then there is Tommy, who seems cool but that’s it. The Finch family is very lovely, especially compared to Natasha’s, and if there is going to be a sequel starring Harry, Tommy’s sister, and maybe Kayla, Natasha’s best friend, I would love to see more moments with Alice Finch, Harry and Tommy’s mother.

The book opens with one intense scene where Natasha is trying to deescalate the situation and the rest of the story is told in chronological order. I didn’t think that particular choice added anything to the book. Throughout the read, while Thoma’s writing and the overall plot is smooth and enjoyable, there is something odd about the feel of time, like one second they were here and the next they were across the room, and also some of the dialogues. None of these bothered me too much but I did have to pause and reread sometimes.

For me, the story picked up pace some 70% into the book. I liked the cameos of some characters from Serenity, and how Zookeeper is a somewhat important character here, but at 70% or so is when the stakes are higher. Also, the sort-of romance conflict was done well as it was very plausible, nothing too dramatic, and didn’t happen too close to the ending. The overall pacing of Courage, maybe sans the romance, was very good.

All in all, I liked the approach to the topic of police reform, but since it is also a romance, I couldn’t say I particularly enjoyed reading about Natasha and Tommy falling in love.

(2 stars for the romance and an additional star for dealing with police work sensibly.)

I received a digital review copy from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I normally don't go for cop romance books, just never been my thing. But I really adored this book. Will for sure be reading more from this author in the future.

3.5 Stars

“Courage” by Jesse J. Thoma is a cop drama with a twist and also with a dash of romance.

Tommy Finch is a cop from a family of cops. She’s a good, experienced cop and goes by the book with everything she does while trying to live up to the Finch name. Natasha Parsons is a social worker who is assigned to be Tommy’s ride-along partner in a bid to bridge the gap with mental health and substance use calls. Tommy isn’t thrilled part of a program where her policing is being called into question.

The plot and story were fine and relevant. I enjoyed reading the storyline about a social worker who starts going on calls with the police. I found the calls the responded to interesting and varied and it brought light to me at least, about everything cops have to deal with along with traffic and crime. Especially things they aren’t in any way equipped to deal with, like mental illness. I liked that this isn’t common to read in lesfic and thought Thoma did really with this aspect of the book.

My issue with “Courage” is the dash of romance aspect. Tommy and Natasha meet and sparks fly immediately. They flirt and have a token resistance to their relationship as it’s against rules to date your partner. I did like them together, especially all of their bickering and arguing. They obviously had the same goals and objectives while working together but each had very different ways of getting there. They always tried their best to be open minded with one another and eventually learned from one another. However, it felt like Thoma forgot about the romance until the last quarter of the book and by then Tommy and Natasha had already said I love you’s and had sex before they ever went on an official date. I guess you could say that they were dating the whole time as they weren’t shy about their feelings or attraction but I feel like I missed out on the small things that I love about romances. When I read a romance, I want an actual romance, not just the highlights.

While I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone wanting a romance or romance heavy. This is well written and I would recommend it for someone who’s looking for something different and doesn’t mind the romance being in the background.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.