Natchez Trace Park Rangers Standoff, Book 1, (Paperback)

Patricia Bradley delivers another fast-paced, intriguing romantic thriller with “Standoff,” the first novel in her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. Brooke Danvers is set to follow in her father's footsteps as a law enforcement park ranger when a series of murders rocks her world. And when her one-time high school crush returns to town, things get even more complicated, especially when his story seems to be more than he's revealing. When Luke Fereday returns to town as an undercover agent hoping to bust a powerful drug cartel, he finds he must fight his feelings for Brooke to keep her safe. But as their cases become intertwined, they must learn to trust each other while sorting through their feelings. Bradley fills her novel with many great characters, often relatable and flawed. Both Brooke and Luke must overcome past issues while also questioning their past and current decisions. They must both learn they are worth it and deserving of happiness and success. There are several fascinating “bad guys,” and even a sweet dog named Toby. And the author does a great job of leaving the reader wondering, until the very end, which of the characters is the “whodunnit.” “Standoff” is not only a story full of danger, murders, deadly destruction and drug cartels, it's filled with romance filled with questioning, longing and insecurities. It also deals with several other great themes, like lineage doesn't define you; finding hope; dealing with lies and their impact; it's OK to ask God “why”; and God's grace will see you through. Five stars out of five. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.

In just a few days, Brooke's father has died, she has been shot at and run off the road. She surprised a burglar who then beat her up, and she has been in an explosion. Luke, literally the boy next door, has come back into her life acting like everything should be the same between them. This is despite the fact he has been gone for over a decade. What is going on? How could her father be accused of suicide, why is someone trying to kill her, and will she figure it out before it is too late? From the first page, this story hits the ground running with lots of action and characters. There are undercover agents, a sting operation, and the most dangerous person of them all is someone she knows well, but she hasn't quite figured out who. The author kept me guessing the identity of the guilty party, up until the end, I did not solve it. This clean story, written from a Christian point of view, will keep you on your toes while you enjoy well developed characters and an entertaining story. I recommend this 5-star book to those who enjoy mysteries and thrillers with a touch of romance. Revell Reads has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of, Standoff, for the purpose of review.