Sunburst continues Susan May Warren’s Sky King Ranch Series. Although it is not directly a part of the story, the dedication to the author’s daughter in-law is sweet and sets the tone for the book. The adventures range from the jungles of Africa to the frozen tundra of Alaska, and there is never a dull moment in this story. The author follows her traditional pattern of having characters that have emotional struggles resulting from their pasts. The plot moves the story along and somewhere along the way, the characters are able to find a way to overcome or at least begin to confront their challenges. Learning to rely on God more than one’s self is a theme throughout the book. The African culture and heritage described in the story is endearing and informative. The reader can tell the author has a great deal of respect for the culture she is describing. Although there are a few brief moments that focus on the description of the African ways, the author grafts the moments together with action that quickly takes the characters to their next destination. The story includes plenty of romance and danger. It involves precarious situations and difficult injuries. Ultimately, readers will find themselves caught up in wondering what might happen next–and then just like that, the story is over. You will have to read book three of the series in order to find out what really does happen next.
Review of an Advance Reader Copy provided by the Publisher
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Multiple scenes and references to characters being beaten, shot, bleeding and in some instances dying; a character threatens someone with a machete; a man grabs a person in an attempted abduction; characters suffer from various injuries including knife wounds; a character is bludgeoned with multiple objects; character recalls seeing corpses of many people.
Sex/Nudity: Character thinks someone would rape another character; a non-married couple shares a bed and kiss, but there is no implication of sex; a mention is made of a married man Biblically knowing his wife and taking her to bed.
Mature Subject Matter:
Permanent disability, bio-terrorism, death of a parent.
Drug/Alcohol Use:
Characters consume alcohol.
