25 May 2020

Standoff (Natchez Trace Park Rangers, Book One)


Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2019.


First line: What had he gotten himself into?

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts:  I like finding books where the characters are in a profession I don't know much about, and this book definitely scratched that itch. As the story begins, Brooke is an interpretive park ranger, on the verge of being commissioned a law enforcement park ranger. I had no idea there was more than one kind of park ranger! I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series and reading more about park rangers.

Brooke's father is a law enforcement ranger, or was – in the first chapter he dies under mysterious circumstances. Ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, Brooke is convinced he was murdered and is determined to find his killer. She's surprised to learn that her childhood sweetheart, Luke, is in town, and had apparently been close to her father. When Luke left town after high school he broke Brooke's heart, and she's had no contact with him since then.

As the book started out, I got a little confused with all the characters being introduced, especially since one has not been identified and we, the reader, don't know who he is. But I quickly became swept up in Brooke's life as she deals with her father's death, her fledgling relationship with Jeremy, a local politician, and her feelings for Luke. Not to mention secrets coming to light that throw her for a loop. She and Luke's characters are well written, and my heart hurt for Brooke as her life kept getting turned upside down again and again. The action feels pretty non-stop, yet there is still characterization in between the action.

This is my first time reading Patricia Bradley, and her writing flows. Despite all the action and characterization there is still a lot of dialogue, natural and realistic, with no info dumping. Revell is a Christian publisher, but most of their romantic suspense titles will still appeal to non-religious readers – there's no beating you over the head with scripture or religious references here, while still being a clean read. (Unless you have issues with drug references – an undercover drug investigation plays pretty heavily in the narrative.)

Solid suspense, light romance, and a mystery that I did not figure out on my own. Revell has another winner.


Goodreads synopsis: The Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River. It's the perfect road for a relaxed pleasure drive. Unfortunately for Luke Fereday, it's also perfect for moving drugs. 

Sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers. John's daughter Brooke is determined to investigate her father's murder but soon finds herself the target of a killer who will do anything to silence her. 

Luke will have his hands full keeping her safe. But who's going to keep him safe when he realizes he's falling – hard – for the daughter of the man he failed to save?

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