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 park ranger Luke Fereday, lately it’s being used to move 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 things are more complicated than they first appear, and Brooke 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?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley introduces you to a new series set in the sultry South that will have you wiping your brow and looking over your shoulder.

Necee’s take:~

“You may never get that answer.” she said softly. “But, it’s okay to ask God why.”

Lies, deception, murder, and a multi-layered mystery kept me guessing in this new story from Patricia Bradley.

Standoff was an engaging read with characters and mysteries that surprised me. There was a little confusion with POVs in the beginning and a few areas of the book, but that may be due to reading an advance reader copy. I felt it impacted my sense of the story initially. Brooke’s heart for her dad and wanting to find his murderer made for a good crime-solving read and the twists and turns kept me intrigued. I enjoyed the love triangle between Brooke, her old flame, and her new boyfriend. It added an extra layer of interest throughout the book. Also, I loved how much the characters grew through the story. There was a lot of deception that might have made for another great title for the book, too. Brooke is hit on many levels with deception and struggles with handling the truth, both personally and professionally. I was intrigued by how the author takes us through her struggles, deciphering truth from lies.

The gripping spiritual component dealing with identity and relationship struggles was excellent. Who to trust when you don’t know who to trust…reminding us that God is always with us.

“God knew all about you before you were born.”

Gentle reminders of who we are in Christ were beautifully said. The author gave some good words of wisdom as well.

“You can either let this define you, or it can simply be a bump in the road.”

This was a good start to the series. I look forward to where the author takes her Natchez Trace Park Rangers stories. If you like strong female and male characters that work in criminal justice, you will enjoy this book. Illegal activities and controversial issues are dealt with in the story, but overall I thought the author handled it well. Some may disagree, but I found it added to the story and the topic is rarely addressed in Christian Fiction.

I received and ARC through NetGalley by the publisher. I have given my honest opinion in this review.

Patricia Bradley is the author of Justice Delayed, Justice Buried, and Justice Betrayed, as well as the Logan Point series. Bradley is a 2018 Carol Award finalist. She has won an Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award in Suspense, was a finalist for the Genesis Award, won a Daphne du Maurier Award, and won a Touched by Love Award. She is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

Relz Reviewz Extras
All Things Bradley @ Relz Reviewz
Visit Pat’s website and blog
Buy from Amazon: Standoff or Koorong
Connect with Pat: Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest

a Rafflecopter giveaway