Book Review: The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey

 

The Deadly Shallows (Coastal Guardians #3). Dani Pettrey. Bethany House (2022). 416 pages. Genre: Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Lines: "Early December.  Holly Ridge, North Carolina.  Crisp night air slapped his cheeks, but he'd long since learned to endure the elements."

Summary (from Goodreads): CGIS Agent Noah Rowley is rocked to the core when several of his valued team members come under fire on his Coast Guard base. He and his remaining team race to the scene and end the attack, but not before innocent lives are lost. Furious and grief-stricken, he vows to do whatever is needed to bring the mastermind behind the attack to justice.

Stunned by the ambush, Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler evacuates in a helicopter carrying the only surviving gunman. The gravely wounded man whispers mysterious information to Brooke that immediately paints a target on her back.

As Brooke and Noah race to uncover answers, emotions between them ignite. Noah struggles to protect Brooke at all costs and to conceal the secret that prevents him from becoming what he longs to be--the right man for her.

Everything is at stake as a horrifying truth emerges. . . .

The attack wasn't the end game. It was only the beginning.

My thoughts:  The Deadly Shallows has an intricately detailed plot along with two well developed romances.  I really like the way Dani Pettrey tells a story.

The books starts with a mass shooting at a graduation ceremony located on the Coast Guard base and attended by flight medic, Brooke Kesler.  Things quickly erupt into chaos.  Not only is Brooke traumatized by witnessing the shootings and being injured, she is needed to help treat other injured people.  The pace is intense and doesn't slow down.  There are some quieter moments between some of the characters, but they are short lived. 

The mystery that needs to be solved is who is behind the shootings and why.  Unfortunately, these are professional criminals and are difficult to find or trace.  Also, since Brooke was assigned to treat the one shooter who survived and he choose to whisper something to her just before going into surgery, she has become a target.  Noah Rowley was also injured in the shooting while trying to take down the shooters, but he doesn't let that slow him down.  Noah and Brooke are forced to spend lots of time together as they are working on staying safe and trying to figure out what happened.  As they spend more time together, they have to examine their feelings toward one another.  As is often the case, it's complicated.

There is a secondary storyline involving another member of Noah's CGIS team, Caleb, and female private investigator, Austin.  When Austin's dog becomes ill and is taken to the vet, the vet discovers the dog has been poisoned with a hard to identify substance.  Caleb takes a sample to the Coast Guard lab and they discover is has come from the sound near Austin's house.  This is also a complicated plot that was interesting to look into.  It involved the process of foam production and the waste chemicals involved in the process.  

The author was able to weave all of this together seamlessly.  The romances were always secondary, but provided a nice break from the action.  The characters from the first two books also make appearances as the team works together.  I'm becoming rather fond of them.  Thankfully there is one more book to go in this series.  I look forward to reading it!

Quotes:  

"With the majority of the surrounding houses dark for the night, the sky shone with sparks of illumination.  It reminded him just how small he was in the majesty of God's creation."

"Eye contact was crucial in Brooke's job.  If the patient couldn't see her intent and her reassuring gaze, they often slipped through her fingers rather than hanging on."

"'Vanilla is a perfectly good flavor.'  Once he found one he liked, why switch?"

Other books in the Coastal Guardians series:

The Killing Tide

The Crushing Depths

Book Review: The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey

The Crushing Depths (Coastal Guardians #2). Dani Pettrey. Bethany House (2020). 320 pages. Genre: Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Line: "Late September.  Thirty-eight miles off North Carolina's Coast. Greg Barnes clinked along the grated metal steps, his boot heels rasping with each shuffle as he headed topside for a much-needed breath of smoke."

Summary:  Coast Guard Investigative Services agent Rissi Dawson has been assigned a new partner.  When he walks in however, she is stunned.  Her new partner is Mason Rogers, the boy who was in the same foster home with her when she was a teenager.  The boy who always comforted and protected her when things went bad.  She hasn't had contact with him since the day he aged out of care.  

Rissi and Mason are assigned to investigate a death that happened on oil rig off the coast.  There are too many coincidences in the case for there not to have been foul play.  To complicate matters, many of the sailors believe in a curse and are convinced that is what is causing bad things to happen.  Will Rissi and Mason be able to uncover the truth before more deaths occur?

My thoughts:  I rarely read books in a series one after another.  But, after reading the first book in the Coastal Guardians series, I couldn't wait to see what happened next.  The Crushing Depths picks up just a few weeks after The Killing Tide ends.

Rissi Dawson is a character we were introduced to in the first book.  We were given glimpses of her past.  I was eager to learn more about where she had come from and what she had endured.  My curiosity was satisfied in this book.  Not only that, but Mason, the boy who always watched out for her and who she had a crush on, has reappeared in her life.  Now they have been paired together in a work environment.  Fortunately, both are professional enough to realize they need to focus on their work.  However, both wonder if the other feels the same.  The romance is realistic and sweet.  

The mystery of what happened on the oil rig is complicated.  The death is deemed an accident.  But, the circumstances are too specific to be a coincidence.  As Rissi and Mason investigate, their lives are put in peril.  There is plenty of action and suspense.  As part of the investigation they need to find out more about the curse that many of the sailors believe in.  It was interesting to learn about this.  There were many layers that needed to be uncovered.

A secondary storyline involves Noah and Brooke, a Coast Guard Medic.  Someone is stalking and threatening her.  She thinks it is an ex-boyfriend.  However, as Noah investigates, the threats keep coming.  Some of them were chilling.

Once again I enjoyed the team working together.  The dynamics between them are a lot of fun.  I also enjoy the unique setting and job that they do.  I don't live near an ocean and know very little about what is involved in the Coast Guard.  This is an interesting way to learn a little about it.  

This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. 

Quotes:

"Instead of an apartment, he'd gone with a cool seventies-style beach cottage on the sound side of Wrightsville Beach.  Tall marshes dotted the waterways on her left.  The sound of seagulls squawking contrasted with the beautiful silence of the white-and-gray egret standing regally at the marsh's edge."

"'That was the first and only time I saw Senior Chief smile.  He went on to explain that there's military bearing and gentlemanly bearing and that the two aren't mutually exclusive.  That talk anchored in my brain.'"

Book Review: The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey

The Killing Tide (Coastal Guardians #1). Dani Pettrey. Bethany House (2019). 347 pages. Genre: Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Line: "Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Fire ripped through Finn's right shoulder, ricocheting down his arm."

Summary (Goodreads): A Corpse That Only Leads to Secrets. 

An Old Flame with Danger Written all over Her.

Things Are about to Get Very Complicated.

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer's boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.

The already volatile situation is complicated even further by the arrival of Gabby Rowley--Finn's boss's sister and an investigative reporter with unrelenting questions about the crime. Now that she's returned, the tug on Finn's heart is strong, but with the risks she's taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can't ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

My thoughts:  Dani Pettrey is an author I have not read before, so it took me several chapters to get into the flow of the story.  But once I did, I couldn't read it fast enough.  

The investigative team involved in the series is the Coast Guard Investigative Service, so much of the action takes place on the water.  The book opens with a heart-wrenching rescue scene that goes bad followed by a chase scene through the streets of downtown.  The difficulty for me came in keeping the characters straight and feeling like I was missing something.  This didn't last long and I wasn't missing anything, the author was just revealing some of the characters' past and it caused to wonder if these characters had been in another book.  They weren't and more of the past story emerged as this story proceeded.  

Each of the members of the team plays a unique role.  I really enjoyed getting to know each of them and cared about them.  This story is primarily Finn and Gabby's, but we get to know the other characters as well.  I especially enjoyed scenes where the team would meet to go over the evidence gathered.  It gave me an NCIS (the tv show) vibe and helped to pull things together.  

Finn is likeable hero who is flawed, but takes his job seriously.  He cares about his team members and doesn't like to leave anyone behind.  Gabby is head-strong and driven and often took unnecessary risks just to get a story.  She seemed selfish at times, but just when I was thinking I didn't like her too much, she would check herself and realize she had been acting selfishly and correct it.  Being a reporter, her involvement in the investigation seemed a little unrealistic, but the author did a good job of providing an explanation.  

Figuring out if and how the two storylines intersected kept me guessing.  There were plenty of suspects, many of whom the team hoped weren't involved.  There were so many twists and surprises, it was hard to put the book down.  

I enjoyed this one so much that I immediately started on the second book in the series.  It picks up just a few weeks after this one.  If you are looking for edge-of-your-seat suspense with some great characters and some romance, give this series a try.

Quotes:

"Did she always put the story above all else? And did that include everyone? Did she put the story before God and His will for her life? She always assumed the pursuit of truth was what He wanted for her life, but she'd never actually prayed and asked Him to reveal His will.  She preferred to assume the insatiable drive in her - the urge to discover the truth - was created in her from the start."

"The moonlight shone through the upper windowpane, a cool breeze sweeping through the lower screen.  The air was growing heavy - the sign of another storm rolling in."

"The scent of corn bread and fresh chili swirled in the air, mixing with the burnt coffee smell that Gabby insisted was the worst way to describe the wonderful smell of roasting coffee beans emanating from the gold roasting machine."

Book Review: Hostile Intent by Lynette Eason

Hostile Intent (Danger Never Sleeps #4). Lynette Eason. Fleming H. Revell Company (2021). 320 pages. Genre: Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Lines: "Beginning of April. New Mexico. Today, the watching ended and the killing started."

Summary:  FBI Special Agent Caden Denning has seen many crime scenes during his career, but this is one of the most difficult.  An entire family has been murdered. As he and his partner are searching the house for clues, he comes across a photo of Ava Jackson as a child.  Ava and his sister, Sarah, have been best friends since they were children.  But why is there a picture of Ava in this home?

Ava Jackson left the military when her mother got ill.  She had lost her father a few months earlier and is not willing to let her mother suffer alone.  She spends several hours each day at the nursing facility where her mother lives.  Caden Denning often visits her there.  When he shows her the picture he found at the crime scene, she is stunned.  She remembers the picture, but didn't know the family that was murdered.  As Caden and Ava begin looking for a connection between the murdered family and Ava's, they discover there were a lot of things Ava didn't know about her dad.  Will they be able to discover the killer before another family is murdered?

My thoughts:  This was a thrilling finale to the Danger Never Sleeps series.  Each of the books in the series has been a page turner filled with interesting characters.  However, I think this one was my favorite.

I really liked Ava as a character.  She is smart and talented, but not overly sure of herself.  Her dad was a travel writer and was often gone for weeks at a time.  So when he was home, Ava liked to spend as much time as possible with him.  They often worked on jigsaw puzzles together, not because Ava wanted to, but because this was a favorite pass time of her father.  Because of this, Ava became very good at solving puzzles of all kinds.  She eventually became very skilled at computers. Her father also taught her how to defend herself.  That, combined with her military training, makes her quite capable of defending herself.

Ava and Caden become closer as they work together to catch the killer.  As is always the case in Eason's books, the romance never takes over the story, but is just a background thread.  There were lots of secrets to uncover, but their combined skills and areas of expertise made all the difference.  There were lot of surprises, complications and injuries along the way.  I enjoyed being immersed in the world of puzzles, hacking and figuring out how a criminal thinks. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this hard-to-put-down book.  There are some heavier topics covered - serial killer, suicide, torture - however the descriptions are never graphic, but are dealt with realistically while keeping the overall tone light.  This could be read as a stand alone without missing too much, but I would highly recommend the entire series.

Book Review: Sundown by Susan May Warren

Sundown (Sky King Ranch #3). Susan May Warren. Fleming H. Revell (2022). 368 pages. Genre: Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Line: "Colt Kingston was in worse shape than he thought."

Summary:  Taylor Price has been helping out at Sky King Ranch while she recovers from the events that led to a plane crash.  In fact, she helped nurse Delta Force operator, Colt Kingston back to health after he was beaten to within an inch of his life by terrorists.  Now that Colt is on the mend, Taylor is ready to talk about what led the plane to crash.  The problem is her story is hard to believe.  It involves the Russian Mafia, a kidnapping, her attempts to crash the plane and her survival of the crash. But, when they locate the downed plane, everything Taylor has said proves to be true.  And if it is true, Taylor's life and the lives of many other people are in danger.  As Taylor goes into hiding, Colt, with the help of his brothers and their connections, set out on a mission to eliminate the threat.  

My thoughts:  In this final book in the Sky King Ranch trilogy, Susan May Warren has given her readers another hard-to-put-down story.  

Colt Kingston, ex-Delta Force operator, has been living out of a duffle bag for ten years.  After an altercation with one of his brothers, he has not wanted to return to the ranch in Alaska.  But, after being severely injured by terrorists in Nigeria, he has no where else to go.  Of the three Kingston brothers, Colt is the one who seems the most fearless.  He is always first to enter the fray and often takes chances that others wouldn't.  Some think this is because Colt doesn't value his life and is being reckless.  Colt doesn't see it that way or does he?  He definitely has some things to work through and he does just that in this story.  

Taylor Price is a a doctor of infectious diseases and a medical scientist who is trying to create a treatment for a deadly virus.  That is why she was kidnapped.  Someone wanted to stop her work so that they could use the deadly virus as a weapon.  Taylor is brave and smart, but she doesn't know who she can trust.  She suspects there is no one she can trust. Taylor also has some things to work through, but first she has to save the world. 

Every time I read a book by Susan May Warren, I find myself being so thankful for the men and women who daily protect our country from threats.  She gives me a deeper understanding of the costs of serving in this way.  But she also highlights the reality that each of us is created with gifts and talents by God for a specific purpose.  In this story, Colt is seen by some as being reckless.  But he has saved so many lives by his actions.  God has given him the ability to take risks that others won't.  We need people like that.  On the other hand, Taylor is not someone who regularly takes physical risks, but she daily examines terrifying diseases and works hard to figure out how to stop them.  She is not afraid to step into the middle of a situation that has left someone injured.  We also need people like that. 

In the middle of all of that, there is romance blossoming between Colt and Taylor.  At times, it felt like the romance was bogging the story down.  But, that was a minor thing.  

Overall, this was a great conclusion to the Sky King Ranch trilogy.  There were several loose ends tied up.  I will be sad to say good-bye to these characters, but if I know Susan May Warren, some of these characters will make appearances in future books.  I look forward to seeing what is next.

Quotes:

"Tae sat on the deck of her tiny cabin that overlooked the lake on Kingston property, the mountains tracing their outline against the magnificent blue sky.  The sun shone through wispy clouds, and the scent of wildflowers layered the air."

"'You don't have to control every moment, plan every step.  Maybe you just say yes to the doors God opens.'"

"'The role of a soldier isn't to ask why, or even determine the course of the fight.  Our job is to just say yes.'"

"'People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."' George Orwell

Book Review: Active Defense by Lynette Eason

 

Active Defense (Danger Never Sleeps #3). Lynette Eason. Revell (2021). 288 pages. Genre:  Suspense, Christian Fiction. 

First Line: "September. Kabul, Afghanistan. Dr. Heather Fontaine strapped her feet into the sandboard and pushed off."

Summary:  Former field surgeon Heather Fontaine is trying to reorient herself to civilian life. She is glad to be home, but she is haunted by nightmares.  She can't forgot the young boy with the bomb strapped to his chest that she was unable to save.  One evening, she returns home after a party to find someone has been in her home. She had noticed someone following her recently, but thought it was her imagination.  Now she is not so sure. The intruder left a message on her refrigerator that causes her to believe her friends are in danger.  Rather than ask for help, she decides to leave town and hide out for a while hopping the stalker will give up on her. Unfortunately, the stalker is more tenacious that she suspected.

Travis Walker suspected there was something more going on with Heather when she left the party, so he followed her home.  He got there too late.  She had already left.  Travis owns a security agency, so he enlists the help of his friends to help him find Heather.  But, things only get more complicated once he locates her.  Will the two of them be able to figure out who is after Heather and why?

My thoughts:  Lynette Eason is an automatic read for me.  I have read everything she has written and her writing keeps getting better.  

Heather Fontaine had a difficult home life while growing up.  Her dad was abusive.  But, it was because of these difficulties that she became interested in becoming a doctor.  At an early age, she had to fend for herself.  She was in the foster care system and went through many homes.  She learned that the only person she could depend on was herself.  She is still trying to learn how to let people help her. She finds it hard to imagine that others could care enough about her to want to help her. Her friends mean a lot to her, so when she realizes they may be in danger, she flees.  Throughout the course of the story she works on allowing others to help her.  It is not easy.  Heather is a kind, caring, strong woman, but she is also vulnerable.  

Travis Walker grew up with a loving family that he is still close with.  In fact, he has recently built a home on the large ranch property owned by his parents.  Travis is brave, kind and caring and he is discovering that he cares about Heather.  As Heather comments in the story, he is good at picking up strays.  He is direct without being pushy  and people feel at ease around him.  The romance story line develops naturally without interrupting or taking away from the main story line.

The pacing in this one was just right.  There were times of edge-of-your-seat suspense, but they were nicely balanced out with some more calm times.  During one of the more calm times, Heather and Travis took shelter in a cabin they discovered in the woods.  It was here that they met Ryker, an eighteen-year-old boy who is hiding from something.  I loved how Ryker became part of the story.  He was a great character that I would love to see in future novels. There was also time spent at Travis' family's ranch riding and tending to horses.  That was a nice addition.

The way this one wrapped up took me completely by surprise!  There were lots of pieces to the puzzle, but when they finally came together it was pretty tense. 

I highly recommend this series and I would start at the beginning with Collateral Damage.  I think this was the best one yet. 

Content note:  There is discussion of violence done to children.  It is not graphic, but it plays a large part in the story.  

Quotes:

"The only person who blamed Heather was Heather. She said a short prayer for wisdom instead of wasting time questioning why all this was happening."

"In the beginning, the gravel road was more narrow, winding, and treacherous than he'd expected.  If he slipped, he'd go over the side of the mountain, so his fastest speed was turtle for the first mile."

"He loved all of it - the horses, the cows in the back pasture, the rolling hills that would be green come springtime, and the mountains surrounding the property."

Book Review: Sunburst by Susan May Warren

Sunburst (Sky King Ranch #2). Susan May Warren. Fleming H. Revell (2022). 353 pages. Genre: Romantic Suspense. 

First Line of Prologue: "Four years ago... Ranger wasn't here to get into trouble, but wow, she was pretty."

Summary:  Ranger Kingston, former Navy SEAL, is part of a mission to rescue his brother and others from a terrorist in Nigeria.  Among the hostages rescued is Noemi Sutton, a woman Ranger met years ago and never thought he would see again.  

Noemi Sutton is working for an organization attempting to unite refugee orphans with their families.  They were captured after discovering a village where everyone had died of smallpox.  But, why were they taken?  As they attempt to find a safe place to hide, it seems they can't escape the terrorists.  When they finally find refuge at the home of Noemi's uncle, who happens to be a king, things get really complicated. 

My thoughts:  When I read a novel by Susan May Warren, I expect a story filled with danger, adventure and a little romance.  This story did have all of that, however I think the romance played a bigger role.  

There was plenty of danger, suspense and adventure though.  Escaping from terrorists, not making it to the rescue helicopter in time, getting lost in the jungle and discovering that Noemi's uncle is a king all made for a very adventurous story.  The highlight was a Nigerian wedding.  The author includes a note to the reader at the beginning of the book explaining that her daughter-in-law is Nigerian and that she had always dreamed of having a traditional Nigerian wedding.  Because of the pandemic, she and the author's son were not able to have that type of wedding.  Warren worked with her daughter-in-law to create the wedding she had always wanted in this book.  

Even without the usual amount of heart-pumping danger and suspense, this was still a page turner.  The terrorists are still following them even after they think they are safe.  Figuring out how they have been able to follow them is tricky, especially when they don't know why Noemi has been targeted.  On top of that, Ranger and Noemi are working through their feelings for one another. 

I really liked Ranger.  He is a man of duty and won't let anything get in the way of that.  However, that has caused him to put his job as a SEAL ahead of everything else in his life including his family and a possible relationship with Noemi.  He is struggling with a physical problem that has caused him to have to leave the Navy.  This has caused him to question who he is, since that was his identity.  

Noemi is more of a free spirit and doesn't think she needs anyone.  Her father was Master Chief Sutton, a trainer in the SEAL program.  When Noemi was growing up he trained her in how to protect herself.  She thinks she can take care of herself.  

Most of the story takes place in Nigeria, but there is some of the story that takes place at Sky King Ranch in Alaska.  Both are such beautiful locations and we do get a glimpse of each one.  

Sunburst was a great addition to the Sky King Ranch series.  If you haven't already read the first book in the series, Sunrise, I would encourage you to start there.  This is a great series and I am looking forward to the next story.

Quotes:

"Noemi had been in plenty of open markets around the world, and they all possessed the same sort of local energy - men shouting prices, bickering, the exhaust of trucks and the bustle of workers unloading potatoes, rice, tomatoes.  The odor of fresh fish mixed with the robust scent of grilling meat, the cluck of penned hens, the thump of music from a nearby cafe, and of course the push and shove of the crowd."

"Her aunties had spent four hours on her makeup - including false eyelashes - and then arranging an elaborate headwrap that looked like a golden fluff of whipped cream.  They'd even giver her false nails, painted coral.  And then came the dress.  Deep, emerald-green skirt that hugged her hips before flaring out in ruffles to the floor, with gold stars embroidered into the hem."

"'You've always spent your life looking forward, the destination in mind.  But faith is stepping forward without knowing the destination. Your job, as a warrior of the Lord, is to listen.  To walk in faith.'"

Book Review: Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

Nine Coaches Waiting. Mary Stewart. Hodder & Stoughton (2011) (First Published 1958). 455 pages. Genre:  Romantic Suspense, Gothic.

First Line: "I was thankful that nobody was there to meet me at the airport."

Summary: Linda Martin has taken a job as governess for orphaned, young, Phillipe, Comte de Valmy.  She has been living in England, but was raised in France.  Madame de Valmy has made it clear that she wants an English girl as governess who will be able to teach Philippe English.  Because of this, Linda hides the fact that she speaks French fluently.  Philippe takes an immediate liking to Miss Martin and the rest of the family is relieved to have someone looking after him.  It is important that he is well looked after since, upon the death of his parents, he became heir to the de Valmy estate.  As Linda gets to know the family, she feels that something isn't quite right.  When Philippe narrowly misses death in two different accidents, Linda begins to wonder whether he is safe.  As rumors circulate, Linda doesn't know who to believe.  What she knows for certain is she must keep Phillipe safe.

My thoughts:  Linda Martin is a very likeable heroine.  She is young, but wise for her years.  She spent seven years in an orphanage and learned how to take care of herself.  She doesn't expect things to be handed to her and is very willing to accept her place in life as a servant.  She has a soft spot for Phillipe as he has also been orphaned recently.  

After the death of his parents, Phillipe has been living with his Uncle Leon de Valmy and Aunt Heloise at Chateau Valmy.  The chateau belonged to Phillipe's father, Etienne.  However, Leon and Heloise have been managing it while Etienne and his family lived in Paris.  Leon's son, Raoul, has been attempting to manage Leon's property, Bellevigne. Unfortunately, Leon has let many things go and Raoul has his hands full trying to keep the place up.  After an automobile accident, Leon was confined to a wheelchair.  He is an intimidating man.  Linda is afraid of him.  On the surface he seems to like Linda, but she doesn't trust him.  Heloise is kind, but can be cold.  She is unwell and needs pills to help her feel normal.  Linda is never quite sure what to think of her. 

There are two potential suitors in Linda's life.  However, she never has any doubt which one she prefers.  There are some very fun, Cinderella-like scenes in the story.  The de Valmy family traditionally holds a dance and decided to go ahead with it even though the death of Etienne and his wife is very recent.  Madame and Monsieur de Valmy invite Linda to attend.  She has nothing suitable to wear, but has saved some money and is able to go to the little town and buy some fabric.  Fortunately, she has sewing skills and makes a beautiful dress.  

As the story progresses the suspense really picks up.  Linda is warned that Phillipe's life is in danger.  She is not sure whether to believe it or not, but decides that she doesn't want to take any chances with Phillipe's life.  The two of them escape in the middle of the night and flee through the woods.  They find some shelter for the night, only to be nearly discovered.  They are hungry, tired, dirty and don't know who to trust. 

Mary Stewart is such a great writer.  I was enthralled through the entire story.  Her descriptions of the French countryside made me feel like I was there.  The night scenes are especially memorable.  I also enjoyed all the literary references.  Each chapter begins with a quote from literature, as well as other references throughout the story.  

I am so glad I finally got around to reading this author and I look forward to discovering other great books by her. 

Quotes:

"And at the edge of the pavement there were the flowers; tubs of tulips and freesias and the scarlet globes of ranunculus; box after box of polyanthus, vivid-eyed; daffodils, sharply yellow; the deep drowned-purple of pansies; irises with crown and fall of white and ivory and blue and deeper blue ... oh, beautiful!"

"I found Buchan, too, and Conan Doyle, and a host of forgotten or never-known books that, gratefully, I devoured - forcing myself to ignore that irrational feeling drilled into me in the seven years at the Home that Reading was a Waste of Time."

"'He's as finicky as a five-times-table, and about as lively."

"An owl called below me, down in the woods; called again.  Its muted melancholy found too ready an echo in me.  I felt tired and depressed."

 

Book Review: Edgewater Road by Shelley Shepard Gray

Edgewater Road (The Rumors in Ross County #1). Shelley Shepard Gray. Blackstone Publishing (2022). 284 pages. Genre:  Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Lines of Prologue: "'That's her, boss, ' Bo said under the cover of a large black umbrella. 'That there is Jennifer Smiley.'"

Summary:  John Lincoln Bennett lived next door to Ginny Smiley his whole life.  He often heard about her only granddaughter, Jennifer, although he had never met her.  When Ginny died, she left her house to Jennifer. Ginny always looked out for Lincoln and because of that he felt a responsibility to make sure Jennifer had whatever she needed. 

Jennifer Smiley has fond memories of her grandmother and feels honored that she left the house to her.  She looks forward to making the house her own and starting a new life.  She soon discovers that included with the house is group of men who live next door and seem to feel obligated to look out for her.  She is intrigued to learn that they work for her neighbor, Lincoln Bennett.  

Lincoln finds himself immediately attracted to Jennifer.  But they are from different worlds.  Jennifer is sweet and innocent and always immaculately dressed.  Lincoln has been to prison and now helps ex-cons get on their feet.  Will Jennifer be able to overlook his past and get to know this man who has a heart for others? 

My thoughts:  Shelley Shepard Gray is an author I have enjoyed reading.  In the past she has written Amish fiction, romantic suspense and historical fiction.  Edgewater Road was hard to classify.  Before reading it I thought it would fit under the romantic suspense genre.  But after reading it, I think I would classify it more as romance with some suspense.  As it turns out, the book was a little rough around the edges.  Even so, I did find lots to like about it.

I liked Jennifer Smiley from the beginning.  She is embarking on a new adventure - that of owning and caring for a home.  Moving to her grandmother's house involves her leaving the area she had been living in.  This takes courage. I appreciated the way the author revealed her vulnerability, but also showed her choosing to do uncomfortable things because they were right.  Her initial distrust of Lincoln and his friends was realistic.  But, as she was tempted to write them off because of their history, she also reminded herself of the way they had treated her.  They had helped her without being asked and each one of them had been polite and kind. 

It took me a bit longer to warm up to Lincoln Bennett.  He seemed to be a bit cold which didn't line up with his attraction to Jennifer.  But, as the story went on, he was shown to be a man who had a heart to help others.  He was definitely a flawed person, but he was trying to live a better life. 

Jennifer had a lot to learn about her grandmother.  As she began going through her belongings, she found letters and other papers that alarmed her.  Lincoln had known Ginny well, but was not sure how much he should reveal to Jennifer.  He thought maybe it was best to just keep her in the dark and let her remember her grandmother as she knew her.  Jennifer struggled to decide whether to learn the truth or remain innocent. 

And there is some suspense, but it doesn't happen until after the midway point in the book.  It was caused by a bad decision Jennifer made.  By this point in the book we knew the characters pretty well, which made it more suspenseful.

I always appreciate the thread of hope and faith that run through Shelley Shepard Gray's books and both of those were present here.  Although the faith element wasn't strong.  Other themes I appreciated were second chances, not judging a person by their past, reconciliation, friendship and kindness.  

As I mentioned earlier, the book seemed a bit rough around the edges.  Going in I was expecting a suspense book. However, because the suspense part didn't happen until late in the book, I struggled to see where the book was going for the first half.  There were also some inconsistencies that bothered me.  For instance, at one point Jennifer was making a meal for Lincoln and then Lincoln left before eating it.  This wasn't shown to be done on purpose, but rather seemed like bad editing.  It was interesting to read the Acknowledgements at the end of the book where the author stated:

"Some books seem to write themselves, but this wasn't one of them.  For Edgewater Road, I needed as much help and support as I could get."

She also thanks several people for helping her "fine-tune the beginning of this book multiple times". 

The second half of the book seemed to smooth out and come together.  I ended up liking the characters and appreciated the growth in them as well as the direction the story was going.  Overall, having enjoyed the author in the past and liking the story well enough, I look forward to reading the next book in the series and hope that some of the rough edges get smoothed out.

Quotes:

"Caroline was her mother. Had he expected her to want to move heaven and earth to be by her daughter's side? Yes.  Yes, he had.  Then again, life wasn't full of people wanting to step up all the time."

Book Review: Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason

Acceptable Risk (Danger Never Sleeps #2). Lynette Eason. Revell (2020). 320 pages.  Genre:  Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Lines: "The pain compelled her - No...propelled her.  It had to end.  Living this way wasn't living."

Summary:  Sarah Denning is an investigative journalist with the Army stationed in Afghanistan.  Her unit is taken hostage and kept in a rough jail.  Sarah smuggled a satellite phone in the folds of her burqa and is able to send an SOS.  Sarah's father, a US Army General, sends Gavin Black and his team to perform the rescue operation.

Sarah's difficulties are only beginning.  Shot in the rescue process, she has many weeks of recovery ahead of her.  When she is finally able to be discharged, she discovers that a false psychiatric evaluation will prevent her from returning to her job.  While she is working to get the evaluation overturned, she learns of her brother's suicide.  Finding it hard to believe that he would do such a thing, she enlists Gavin to help her discover the truth.  As they begin investigating, their lives are in danger.  But Sarah can't find peace until they uncover the truth.

My thoughts:  Lynette Eason is a must read author for me.  She has a knack for creating characters that are strong and smart, while also being flawed.  Her stories are always action packed and this one is no exception.

The focus of this series is a group of friends who work together in the Middle East.  Some are in the military, others are not.  Each book focuses on one of the female characters.  In the first book, Collateral Damage, Sarah Denning was mentioned, but we didn't really get to know her.  

Sarah has become well known in the area for a story she wrote about an orphanage that was bombed in Kabul.  The incident affected several members of the military.  Many were discharged with medical issues and received treatment for PTSD.  Sarah is brave and willing to take risks to find the truth.  She also has a lot of baggage.  She has a difficult relationship with her father and tends to do things just to spite him.  I loved the way she slowly, realistically comes to realize that she has been acting out of anger and begins to accept the ways her father has been imperfect.  

Gavin Black has also left the military and started his own security business.  Formerly an Army Ranger, he also was stationed in Afghanistan.  He and Sarah dated briefly during that time.  When Sarah's father contacts him about the rescue mission, he doesn't hesitate.  He and his team are well trained not only in security, but also rescue missions.  He was hurt by Sarah previously, but is able to put that aside for the greater purpose.  Gavin also grows in the course of the story.  He confronts some things in his personal life that he had been ignoring.  

One of the major themes in the book is reconciliation.  I loved the way this was worked out in several character's lives.  

The story begins on a suspenseful note with Sarah being held hostage and rescued.  From there it only becomes more complicated.  There were so many twists and turns it was hard to put the book down.  I had a hint of where things were going, but no idea how it was going to play out.  

There are some heavier topics in this book - bombing, terrorists, suicide, PTSD, drug use and addiction.  The author never lets the atmosphere become too heavy, but balances the difficult things with hopeful things.  

While this is part of a series, it could be read on its own without missing too much.  However, I would recommend you start with the first book in the series, Collateral Damage.  It won't be long until I pick up the next book in the series. 

Quote:

"Sometimes you need someone to step in and save you from yourself."

Book Review: Dead Fall by Nancy Mehl

Dead Fall (Quantico Files #2). Nancy Mehl. Bethany House (2021). 336 pages. Genre: Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Line: "John Davis turned up the collar of his jacket as he swiftly walked away from the shrill voices bleeding through from the hotel banquet hall behind him."

Summary:  The FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit is called in to investigate one of the strangest cases they have ever dealt with.  The case involves the death of one of the cofounders of the BAU.  What makes it so strange is that his body was found in a locked room with no signs of forced entry.  As the unit begins its investigation, they find it difficult to create a profile of the killer.  Before long, another murder is committed.  Now that they know they are dealing with a serial killer it should be easier to create a profile.  Except they keep running into roadblocks. When they realize members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit are being targeted, the pressure is on to stop the killer before one of their own becomes a victim.

My thoughts:  This is a thrilling, fast-paced story that kept me guessing until the end.  As in the first book in the Quantico Files series, Alex (Alexandra) Donovon is our main character.  She is joined by Logan Hart and the famous Kaely Quinn from another series.  The suspect they are trying to profile is diabolical and crafty and has devised an intricate plan to achieve his goal.  

When reading a book like this I often think about those men and woman who do these jobs every day.  I imagine it would be difficult to have to face such evil on a daily basis.  So, I really appreciated the author showing us that side of things in one of the characters.  

"Those in law enforcement pay a heavy price when they constantly look into the dark minds of evil."

"As a Christian, he knew where true evil came from, but that knowledge didn't banish the images that burned in his mind.  The ones that showed up in his nightmares." 

Several of the characters deal with the effects of their jobs and that feels realistic. I enjoyed the friendship that blossomed between Alex and Kaely.  As the two of them work together, they realize they have a lot in common.  Kaely's difficult past offers her special insight into Alex's struggles and Alex appreciates the encouragement and support.

As this series takes place at Quantico, it was interesting to learn more about the training base there, including the dormitories and Hogan's Alley.  

While you could read this as a stand-alone, you would miss out on a lot of character development.  I recommend starting with the first book in the Kaely Quinn, Profiler series, Mind Games. I am looking forward to the third book in this page-turning series. 

Book Review: Power Play by Rachel Dylan

Power Play (Capital Intrigue #3). Rachel Dylan. Bethany House (2021). 320 pages.  Genre:  Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Lines: "It's going to be a long night.  Vivian Steele checked her glossy pink lipstick one final time before exiting the ladies' room and entering into the shark tank - otherwise known as a diplomatic dinner in the Washington, DC, area."

Summary:  Viv works in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the State Department.  This work keeps her mostly behind a desk looking over policy.  Occasionally, she will be called on to assist in an operation by observing to make sure all the legal bases are covered.  Her boss has insisted she attend the annual summer dinner event attended by diplomats from around the world. She feels like she doesn't belong.  However, there are a few people she knows, so she begins to make the rounds.  Shortly after beginning a conversation, a shriek sounds behind her.  As she looks for the source of the shriek, she see a man hovered over Egyptian Ambassador Zidan.  Unfortunately, he is dead.  As the emergency personnel are attempting to remove him from the scene, the emcee encourages everyone to return to their seats.  

After dessert Viv makes her way to speak to Penelope King, US ambassador to Belgium.  Viv notices that she looks unwell.  Within minutes she collapses.  What is going on?  Are the incidents related?  Is someone trying to take out the ambassadors one by one?  These are all questions that need to be answered.  Viv is assigned to a team that will be investigating.  She is paired with Jacob Cruz, a man she doesn't know, but ran into at the dinner.  He is a supervisory special agent of diplomatic security.  And he doesn't like lawyers.  The two of them get off to a rocky start. However, they are both professional enough to put their opinions aside and work together to figure out who is targeting the ambassadors.

My thoughts:  This is the third book in the Capital Intrigue series.  I have enjoyed this look into a way of life I know very little about.

Viv is a policy lawyer, which means she hasn't spent any time in front of a judge.  She is not used to defending criminals, but she is very skilled in the law.  She mostly looks over documents to make sure they are legally sound.  Except for that one operation she was asked to join that had her at the scene of a prisoner exchange between the US and Egypt.  Her role was to observe and make sure that everything was done by the book.  What she didn't realize at the time was that there could be eyes on her that weren't friendly.  There was an aspect of the story that was frustrating me that involved Viv and her ignorance about possible danger.  But, as I kept reading I realized the author did a great job of using this situation to help the reader understand that Viv was not trained as a field agent and wasn't used to looking for danger.  At one point Jacob has to set her straight:

"They wouldn't think twice about killing someone as an act of revenge.  Their whole purpose is to inflict pain.  These aren't political dissidents.  This isn't diplomacy, like you're used to dealing with.  They're straight-up bad guys.  Understand?"

When Viv is having a hard time understanding, he says:

"That's because you see the light in people, not the darkness.  I specialize in seeing the darkness and fighting it."

That felt very realistic and caused me to realize that there are people out there who "specialize in the darkness and fighting it".  I am very thankful for those people.

The characters of Viv and Jacob are deep characters.  They are multi-layered and complex.  Of course, all of this depth happens rather quickly, but the author only had 300 pages to work with.  

The faith aspect was realistic also.  The characters called on their faith in times of trouble, when they were afraid, or as a means to encourage someone.

This was a fast-paced, enjoyable read.  Unfortunately, this is the final book in this series.  But, I will keep my eyes open to see what Rachel Dylan does next.

Book Review: Backlash by Rachel Dylan

Backlash (Capital Intrigue #2). Rachel Dylan. Bethany House (2020). 320 pages. Genre:  Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Line: "The incessant knocking on her condo door made Layla Karam grumble as she threw off the covers."

Summary:  Layla Karam loves her job as a CIA Analyst.  Her strength lies in being able to scour data and find connections.  However, her bosses at the CIA have been pushing hard to get her in the field.  She recently took part in a DEA operation in Honduras involving the brutal and dangerous Mejia cartel.  The operation was successful, but now members of the team, including Layla, are being targeted.  

Complicating matters further, an internal investigation against Layla is opened.  Her boss has no reason to suspect her of anything and is not being told what the inquiry is about.  To top it off, Layla is assigned a security detail involving her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Hunter McCoy.  As difficult as it is, Layla has to put her trust in this man.  Under constant threat from the brutal cartel, the two of them must work together to discover how the cartel knows who was involved in the operation.

My thoughts:  It has been several months since I read the first book in this series, so I had forgotten some of the information about the characters.  Once I got up to speed, this was a real page turner. 

Layla is truly in a situation where she doesn't know who to trust.  As a reader, I felt the same way.  She was putting her trust in people I didn't think she should.  Layla is a very capable woman.  She was hired as a CIA Middle East specialist.  Her father was Lebanese, she has a degree in Arab studies and is fluent in Arabic.  However, all of these things make her highly sought after to work in the field.  She has agreed to be involved in cases on a temporary basis, but would prefer to be back at a desk analyzing complex information. 

Hunter was in law enforcement, but is now working as a private investigator.  The history that he shares with Layla is complicated.  The story she tells is that Hunter cheated on her and that ended their relationship.  The truth is much more complicated.  While Hunter is very capable as a security detail, Layla has been well-trained by the CIA.  He finds it intimidating when Layla ends up being the one to save him from a bullet.  This felt realistic and I appreciated the way the two of them put aside their feelings to accomplish their goal.  

There are several mysteries going on in this story.  The first involves the cartel targeting the team that worked in Honduras.  This mystery is complex as the pool of suspects is large and most of them are trained agents.  There were several twists and turns that I didn't expect and left me feeling even more on edge.  Next is the investigation opened against Layla.  Are they related? The third involves a secondary character, Izzy.  She was previously in law enforcement and was attacked by her sergeant.  When he is found dead, Izzy becomes a suspect.  The combination of these mysteries really kept the pages turning. 

I enjoy reading books where the author has experience in a particular field and uses those experiences to write fiction.  This is one of those books.  Rachel Dylan is of Lebanese decent and has a degree in Middle Eastern studies.  She also works as a lawyer in the corporate world.  This brought authenticity to the story.  

I enjoyed Backlash and am looking forward to reading more from Rachel Dylan.

Book Review: Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill

Network of Deceit (Amara Alvarez #2). Tom Threadgill.  Revell (2021). 384 pages.  Genre:  Mystery, Suspense. 

First Line:  "How long could a human being scream?"

Summary:  Amara Alvarez has been promoted to Homicide after solving a high profile case involving kidnapped children.  Her first assignment is to look into a death that happened at a local water park.  A teenage boy was found dead floating on an inner tube down the lazy river.  It was a hot day, he had some alcohol in his blood.  Probably died of heat exhaustion.  The toxicology report won't be back for several weeks, so unless she can find something that hints of foul play, this case is not worth investigating.  However, the Medical Examiner points out that the boy's toes and feet were not wrinkled.  If he had been in the water for more than five minutes, they should have been.  But, if he was dead before he got in the water, his nervous system would have ceased functioning and the reaction would not have occurred.  Looks like Amara has her first case in the Homicide division.

My thoughts:  Collision of Lies, the first book in the Amara Alvarez series, made my favorite books of 2020 list.  Network of Deceit will be on my 2021 list.  

Amara Alvarez is such a likeable character.  She has been promoted to the Homicide division, which is something she has wanted for some time.  As the newest detective in the division, she has mostly been doing paperwork at the card table that acts as her desk.  She is tenacious.  When she receives the water park case, she really doesn't have much to go on and is not sure where to begin.  So, she just starts somewhere and looks into every nook and cranny.  And when she is done, she looks again.  When she finally turns something up, the fun is just beginning.  One of the things I love about this series is the way the author allows us to follow along on the investigation. This is very much a police procedural and we get to think the thoughts Amara thinks as she investigates.  Added to the stress of her first case is a health issue for someone close to her.  

She is now in the same department as Starsky.  He has been a great friend and cares deeply for Amara. He also provides some comic relief.  He is tall and thin and always hungry.  The banter between them made me laugh.  I enjoyed their growing relationship.

The mystery was fascinating and had to do with online gaming, Bitcoin and Zcash.  I knew very little about these things going in and now feel like I know enough to at least have a general understanding if the topic came up in conversation.  The criminals were crafty and once you involve the online world, it is very easy to be deceptive.  It was a complicated situation and Amara had to learn as she went.  But, in the end, she unraveled the mystery.

The story takes place in San Antonio and I appreciated some of the sites and surroundings of the area that were included.  

This was a page turner and hard to put down once I started.  I enjoyed the strong character development, thorough research and fascinating mystery.  Now comes the wait for book three!

Book Review: Night Fall by Nancy Mehl

Night Fall (Quantico Files #1). Nancy Mehl. Bethany House (2021). 336 pages. Genre: Suspense.

First Lines of Prologue: "His mother sat in the chair next to his bed, reading from The Book. He was almost twelve now, and she'd been reading it to him ever since  he was a little kid.  Adam hated it.  It scared him."

Summary:  FBI Behavioral Analysts, Alex Donovan and Logan Hart are called in to work a case in Kansas City.  There is a serial killer on the loose, who is leaving his victims in train cars along with what appears to be quotes from a book with a chapter and verse.  As soon as Agent Donovan sees the quotes, she recognizes them.  She lived with an aunt for several years who believed in The Book.  Her aunt constantly quoted The Book to her.  Alex left her aunt's house planning never to return there or think about The Book again.  But now, the FBI needs her expertise to help them catch this serial killer before he carries out a plan outlined in the book to eliminate one third of the population.

My thoughts:  Nancy Mehl does suspense well.  I have read several books she has written.  However, this one was a bit out of my comfort zone.  In fact, I probably would not have finished it if I was not familiar with the author.  This one was very creepy dealing with a dark and very evil serial killer. 

The author does a great job of building suspense and creating characters that are interesting and full of depth.  Agent Alex Donovan had a very difficult upbringing and the reader is made aware of this bit by bit.  She has overcome her share of difficulties and has made it to the position of Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI.  She works as a Behavioral Analyst.  Her difficult upbringing has given her the ability to see things that other agents don't.  

Logan Hart has heard about Agent Donovan's abilities and is looking forward to working with her. His character was a bit more shallow.   We know that he is well-liked and is often called "The Preacher" because of his spiritual beliefs. 

The followers of The Book were a fairly small group so I found it a bit unlikely that of all the people assigned to this case, Alex would have been raised by someone who was a part of that group.  Once I put that aside, it did make for a good story.  It was a race against time as the agents tried to solve the killer's puzzle and stop him before he carried out his plan.  

Nancy Mehl's books are sometimes considered "romantic suspense", but what I appreciate about her books is that the romance is way in the back seat.  In fact, in this story, it doesn't move beyond the "I think I might like to spend more time with this person" stage.  The focus is definitely on the mystery.

Something else I appreciated was the author's honest portrayal of mental illness.  Alex endured some very difficult things while she was growing up and these caused PTSD.  As she has to revisit things from that difficult time in order to solve this case, she has a hard time keeping her anxiety in check.  Also, instead of just referring to her aunt as crazy or weird, the author points out that she was mentally ill and had deep pain in her life.  

This is the first book in a new series and while it was a bit creepy for my taste, the author didn't dive deep into that evil or stay stuck there.  I will most likely give the second book in the series a try when it comes out. 

Book Review: Collateral Damage by Lynette Eason

Collateral Damage (Danger Never Sleeps #1). Lynette Eason. Fleming H. Revell (2020). 320 pages. Genre: Romantic Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Line:  "Sergeant First Class Asher James stared at Captain Phillip Newell, sure that he'd heard wrong."

Summary:  Asher James left the army after a horrible mission that went wrong.  He and his team were sent to bring in a fellow unit member, Isaiah Michaels, who is suspected of being a traitor.  While en route, a bomb went off killing half of his team.  A second bomb exploded in the bistro they were headed to, killing Isaiah.  Since that day Asher has suffered from PTSD.  

After several months in the United States, Asher is still having nightmares.  He decides he needs to talk to someone who might be able to help him get past this.  He has heard that Military Psychiatrist Brooke Adams has also returned to the US after being honorably discharged.  She was in the bistro at the time of the bomb and was with Isaiah Michaels when he died. 

Brooke was injured in the bombing and is only just getting back to work.  She makes room in her schedule for Asher on her first day back. However, when Asher arrives early to his appointment he finds her office ransacked and her assistant murdered.  Fortunately, Brooke hadn't arrived yet.  It becomes clear that she was the intended target.   Brooke and Asher begin working together to figure out who is trying to kill her and why. 

My thoughts:  Lynette Eason is a go-to author for me.  She can always be counted on to create likeable characters with interesting jobs, plenty of suspense and just the right amount of romance.  Collateral Damage was no exception.

Brooke's job as a Military Psychiatrist can be difficult.  Military personnel are generally pretty tough and so just getting them to see a psychiatrist often takes an order from a superior.  While that might get them into her office, that doesn't mean they will talk.  Brooke is disappointed when this happens, but mostly that is because she is concerned for her client.  Her big heart for others is what stood out to me about her.  

Asher is one of those tough military personnel who don't like to open up to others about their problems. But he finally decides to get some help for his nightmares and Brooke is just the one to help.  While his appointment with Brooke never happens, they do get a chance to talk.  Asher is relieved to learn that Brooke really does understand what he his going through.  This gave me a deeper understanding of what many of our veterans deal with and reminded me how grateful I am for the men and women who serve our country in the military. 

There were several supporting characters that I hope we get to know better in future books.  Sarah and Kristin, who were both investigative reporters and Sarah's brother, Cade would be welcome characters in future books. 

The crimes in this book are rather dark, but the author does a great job of giving the reader enough information to know what is going on without spending lots of time on the gritty details.  In the end, the criminals were caught. 

The pacing in this book was good.  It starts out suspenseful and then slows down for a bit before picking back up again.  This kept me turning the pages. 

As Brooke and Asher spend time together, they begin to develop feelings for one another.  The romance was never the focus of the story, but just developed naturally without the author having to say much about.  As far as I'm concerned, it was just right. 

Collateral Damage is a great start to a new series.  If you enjoy romantic suspense, give this one a try.

Book Review: Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day

Under a Dark Sky. Lori Rader-Day. William Morrow (2018). 405 pages. Genre: Mystery, Suspense. 

First Line: "June. The first sign that things would not go as planned was the tableau that awaited me at the bottom of the open staircase: a pair of boxer briefs hanging from the newel post, as out of place as if they'd  been dropped from the sky."

Summary:  It has been nine months since Eden Wallace's husband died.  While going through paperwork, she discovered that he had made reservations at the Straits Point International Dark Sky Park in Michigan for their anniversary.  This was a surprise to her.  It was also out of character for her husband to make plans so far in advance.  She had hardly left the house since he died.  Maybe it would be a good idea to keep the reservation. 

When she arrives at the park, things are not quite as she expected.  It turns out she must share the guest house with others. She decides to stay just one night and head home the following day.  However, during that one night, someone is murdered.  Now she must stay because she is a suspect.  

My thoughts:  This is the first book I have read by Lori Rader-Day and I don't think it will be the last one.  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!  

I liked Eden right away.  Even though she has been a loner since her husband died, she was very human and relatable. She is sensitive to the feelings of others and can put herself in their shoes. Since the death of her husband, she has been afraid to be in the dark.  She is dealing with intense grief, but also guilt.  She is so ashamed that her husband was driving drunk and caused an accident. I could feel what she was feeling. 

The mystery was very good.  The scenario Eden finds herself in is interesting and even without the murder contains lots of secrets and questions.  Since there were lots of secrets, there were plenty of twists, turns and complications.  The climax is quite suspenseful. There is a secondary mystery going on as well involving Eden's marriage.  Why did her husband make these reservations?  I appreciated that everything was brought to a conclusion.  I also appreciated that the final chapter takes place many months later giving the reader a upbeat conclusion to a tense novel. 

The novel deals with some heavy subjects, but it never felt too dark or heavy.  This was a fast-paced, compelling read that will keep you reading way past your bedtime.

Book Review: Don't Keep Silent by Elizabeth Goddard

Don't Keep Silent (Uncommon Justice #3). Elizabeth Goddard.  Fleming H. Revell Co. (2020). 368 pages.  Genre:  Suspense.

First Line: "Dread warred with hope as Rae Burke shivered in the cold outside on the porch."

Summary:  Rae Burke's sister-in-law is missing.  Her brother has asked for her help in locating his wife.  Rae is an investigative reporter who has used her skills to find people and information.  Her brother is hoping those same skills will help her find Zoey.  Rae and Zoey were roommates in college and during that time Zoey went missing for several days.  That was five years ago.  Could the two be related?

Liam McKade has returned to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to help his brother at his ranch.  Previously, Liam was was an undercover agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Several months ago he took a bullet in order to save a woman's life.  That woman was Rae Burke.  As far as he's concerned, Rae used him to get what she wanted.  He is still kicking himself for being taken in so easily, not to mention risking his life for her.  So, when she approaches him asking for his help, he wants nothing to do with her.  But, frankly, he is surprised that she would even approach him.  So, he listens to what she has to say.  Liam realizes that Rae is putting herself in a dangerous situation as she looks for her sister-in-law and he knows he can help her and protect her in the process.  But, the clock is ticking, will they be able to find Zoey before it's too late?

My thoughts:  From the beginning I felt like I was missing something in this book.  It is the third book in the Uncommon Justice series, and it has been a while since I read the second book.  But, the books don't include the same characters each time, rather the focus is on a woman who becomes involved with one of the McKade men.  I kept thinking that part of this story had been told in another book.  I don't think it had, there were just some things that happened between Rae and Liam in their past and it wasn't all revealed at once.  Unfortunately, that caused the characters to feel a bit shallow.  

However, the mystery was a good one.  The whole idea of Zoey having disappeared previously in her life and wondering how and if they were connected was interesting.  Rae was truly the best person to investigate this because of the connection she had to Zoey in the past and what she knew about her.  She did work with the police, but because the clues or information she had weren't real solid, they often couldn't follow up on the leads she gave them.  This is where it was helpful to have Liam involved.  There were plenty of suspicious characters involved.  Several who were good at hiding the truth.  Then there were some who were telling the truth, but seemed suspicious.  

Much of the action took place in Jackson Hole, Wyoming during the height of skiing season.  The author brought the wilderness areas and ski slopes to life.  

Rae was being targeted and harassed, but she had no idea who would even know what she was investigating, so that made it really suspenseful.  There were a few treacherous situations on the ski slopes and snowy mountains.  

As Rae and Liam worked together, they attempted to work through their past.  In the process they found that they truly cared for one another.  

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but given that the characters felt a bit shallow, it was my least favorite of the three in the series.

Book Review: The Price of Valor by Susan May Warren

The Price of Valor (Global Search and Rescue #3). Susan May Warren.  Fleming H. Revell Co. (2020). 386 pages. Genre: Suspense, Christian Fiction.

First Line: "As long as Hamilton Jones had breath in his body, nothing, not even tooth decay, would hurt his little girl."

Summary:  Hamilton Jones, Ham for short, is still getting used to the idea that he is a father.  His ten-year-old daughter, Aggie, came into his life just a few months ago.  His wife, Signe, who he thought died ten years ago, sent word to Ham letting him know that Aggie was his daughter and would he please take care of her.  After a yacht they were on near Italy exploded, Signe was able to get Aggie safely to shore and then disappeared.  Ham was shocked.  Not only was his wife alive, he had a daughter.  He is determined to find Signe and bring her home.

Senator White has invited Ham and his search and rescue team to a fundraiser in Washington D.C. White knows about Signe and Ham has high hopes that the real reason for asking them to the fundraiser is that he has information about her.  When Signe disappeared ten years ago, she had been captured by a terrorist.  She convinced the man that she was on his side.  While there, she discovered that he had stolen the NOC list.  The list of nonofficial covers of CIA operatives around the world.  She is afraid that her name is on that list.  So she stole it and planned a way to escape.  Now she is on the run.  She can't open the list because it is encrypted.  She needs to get it into the hands of someone who can open it and keep it safe.  

Senator White sends Ham and his team to Italy to find Signe and get the NOC list.  Unfortunately, the very first day they are in Italy, Mount Etna, a volcano about 40 kilometers from the town, erupts.  The town becomes engulfed in lava and noxious gas.  The team is separated and as night falls they are trying to find one another.  Will they all survive?  Will the team be able to get back together and find Signe before the terrorists find her?

My thoughts:  Susan May Warren knows how to put her characters right in the middle of a natural disaster and keep the reader right on the edge of her seat.  This story definitely does that!

This time the natural disaster is the aftermath of a volcanic eruption.  Warren has a way with words that makes the reader feel as if she is right next to the hero.  These characters, both men and women, are heroes.  They are trained in various areas of helping others in trouble.  They are brave and willing to sacrifice their lives to help others.  If the other is someone they care about, they will go to extreme lengths to help.  Now, even though these characters often take risks and do dangerous things, they don't do them needlessly or without thought.  That is one of the things I really appreciate about these characters.  They don't needlessly takes risks, but regularly do things I can never imagine doing.  Such as climbing mountains or the sides of buildings.  Diving under water to escape gunshots or get out of a building filling with water.  Jumping from one high place to another.  Or simply knocking a bad guy senseless.  The adventure and bravery is what keeps me coming back to these stories.

The main focus this time is on Ham and Signe.  They have a lot to overcome.  First of all, Ham needs to convince Signe to stop running away from him.  He also needs to find out where she has been for the past ten years and why she never told him he was a father.  Some very difficult things are revealed which will take time to work through.  I love Ham's character.  He is loyal to a fault, honorable and brave.  He is a great leader and encouragement to his team and others. He and Signe have known one another since they were young.  Signe has a lot of shame and doesn't feel worthy of love.  She needs to feel safe and take time to heal. 

Warren has written several series telling the stories of most of the other characters that show up here.    It is fun to catch up with what is going on in their lives.  The secondary story line this time is between Orion and Jenny who were the focus of The Way of the Brave, the first book in this series.  

While I enjoyed this story, it didn't quite have the same "wow" factor that the other two books in the series do.  I think there was just so much that had to be sorted out that not as much time was spent in the aftermath of the volcano.  Overall, this was an enjoyable read that took me far away from my daily life.

Quotes:

"It looked like it had been a former apartment building, with an antique, gated elevator next to a stairway that circled up four stories.  The stairs ended at a terrace with rattan tables and chairs, gardenias in pots, and a view of the snow-covered Mount Etna in the background.  The volcano rose maybe forty kilometers away.  A tuft of smoke gusted from the mountain as if it might be breathing hard in the autumn wind."

"'I was hoping for chocolate.'  'Weren't we all.  But they're still good.  It is Italy.  Everything here is good.  It's just a matter of letting go of your expectations, letting your taste buds take you where they will.  You might be surprised.'"

"'I don't know if you believe in God, Orion, but you are never helpless when you are in God's hands.  God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.  Which means we do not despair.  We do not let the enemy take control of our hope.  Hope is the weapon of the Lord, and right now we are going to wield it, in Jesus' name.'"

Book Review: Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill

Collision of Lies.  Tom Threadgill.  Fleming H. Revell (2020). 400 pages.  Genre: Suspense.

First Lines:  "Thirty seconds.  If they were still arguing, she'd call the cops then.  Let the professionals deal with them."

Summary:  Amara Alvarez, a detective with the San Antonio Police Department, has been given information that may relate to a case that has been closed for three years.  The case involved the collision of a school bus and a freight train.  This new information seems to indicate that one of the children that was on the bus is still alive.  This is contrary to the investigation that was originally conducted, as that indicated that all passengers were killed.  So, she tries to dismiss the information and get on with her life.  But, she keeps thinking about it.  As she begins to look into the investigation of the accident, she comes up with more questions than answers.  If one child is still alive, are they all still alive?  Why were they taken?  How were they taken?  Who would do such a thing?  

My thoughts:  I was a little hesitant to read this book just because of the premise.  An accident involving the death of several children was not something I wanted to dwell on.  However, after reading other reviews I decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did.

This story is really more of a police procedural, which is something I like.  Yes, there was an accident that involved the deaths of several children, but we are not given graphic details of the accident or the aftermath.  Amara does wonder how a parent could go on after such a thing.  One of the mothers is involved in the story and we do see the grief she is suffering, but these things are not dwelled on.  

I really liked Amara.  She is hardworking and determined.  Currently, she is a detective in the Property Crimes Unit, but would like to be in Homicide.  She is compassionate, but is also a realist.  Her pet iguana, is not something I would like to have, but it works for her.  

There are several supporting characters that I would like to get to know better.  Amara's mother hosts a family dinner on Saturday nights.  She makes delicious,  Mexican food that Amara's co-workers would like to sample.  There is Wylie, her co-worker and a father-figure to her.  There might be an interest between her mother and Wylie.  Another co-worker, Starsky, is an entertaining character.  He works in Homicide, but is willing to help Amara occasionally.  We are still not sure why he is called Starsky.  He is always hungry, but eats horribly.  The Medical Examiner talks in riddles and when anyone uses a saying, he likes to explain where it came from.

"'Cut to the chase," the ME said.  'Comes from the days of silent films.  Some directors and screenwriters would include too much dialogue, and the studio executives insisted they cut to the chase scene.  Didn't want audiences to get bored.'"

This added a little levity to the situation, but I imagine in real life it would get old fast.  

What I liked most about this story was the pace.  It unfolded slowly, piece by piece.  The pace was such that it was hard to put the book down because you wanted to see what happened next.  There were a few edge of your seat situations, but mostly it was a steady peeling back of the layers to reveal the truth.

I enjoyed this one and would like to read more from this author.