Stats
for my copy:
Trade paperback, Revell, 2019.
How
acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program
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?
