A befitting title

I literally did not want to let go of this book. Willow Anderson is a forensic genealogist looking for answers about a baby who was abducted twenty years ago. The story is very fast paced and keeps you guessing until the end.

I cannot wait for the next installment of this book which will tell Heath’s story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not told to give a positive review.

<img src="https://randomramblingsofawriter.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/6a1212b1-3b97-4767-9c65-6c9dc0a3f2ec.png" alt="6A1212B1-3B97-4767-9C65-6C9DC0A3F2EC.png" width="255" height="394" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8257" />


Never Let Go
by Elizabeth Goddard

Revell

Christian

Pub Date 05 Feb 2019



I am reviewing a copy of Never Let Go through Revell and Netgalley:




Willow Anderson is a Forensic Anthropologist Who is following in her late Grandfathers footsteps in her search answers about a baby abducted from the hospital more than twenty years prior. The case is cold but it heats up when someone realizes that she is getting closer to the answers and makes an attempt on her life trying to stop her from unraveling the truth.




Austin Mccade, a former FBI agent and Willow’s ex flame offers to help protect Willow, the woman he wishes he had never let go away. Working together they will follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he’s spent his life trying to forget, even if it puts Willow’s tender heart at risk.




I give Never Let Go five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Never Let Go kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I had no idea what could possibly happen next. I had a blast trying to play detective right alongside Willow and Austin, while they searched for a clients missing daughter. I found myself holding my breath when they were scared and running from danger. I liked watching them grow and learn more about themselves along the way. It was so interesting learning more about how forensic genealogists work and discover clues to the past. I know I’m not alone in saying that I hope Goddard writes another book with Willow and Austin as secondary characters. They were so unique and fun to get to know. Goddard is a master at suspense, so couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. The mystery and romance make the perfect combination for a hard to put down story. I can’t wait to see what she does next. I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishers and Netgalley and was in no way forced to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow. This book is so good! It was a definite page turner, which is something I want out of every book I read. It was an intense book that kept me guessing right up to the end! Those are my favorite types of books. And I loved the main characters: Austin and Willow. Two great people that have great hearts and just want to help people. I highly recommend this book!

This was my first book by author Elizabeth Goddard. I am a fan of Christian fiction because I know I am going to get a faith based read. This book was fabulous. It was quick and action packed which kept me coming back for more while keeping the plot clean and still incorporating the character's faith. There was a teaser of a back story embedded but the author created an opening that drew me instantly in while discovering the underlying story. I truly cannot wait for the next book in this series and plan to read some other work by this author while I am waiting.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I received an ARC from the publisher but this review is my honest opinion.

This was my first book by Goddard and I loved it! The very first page sucked me in and I flew through the pages because it was so good.

I was amazed at the details in this book and how well everything fit together before I had a chance to figure it out. The concept of a private investigator is not a new one, but the genealogy aspect was very interesting. It was neat to see some behind the scenes of how they found missing people.

Of course, I also loved the romance included. It was about the perfect mix of romance and suspense and action. I really liked both Austin and Willow a lot. I especially liked that theirs wasn't an easy relationship or perfect, because those aren't much fun to read. There was one point of communication that never got talked about, but hopefully, they will get to that in book two. I also liked that this book set up perfectly for future books about the other two brothers.

There were a lot of hold your breath to see what happens moments in this book and I really enjoyed how fast paced much of it was. Parts of it reminded me a little of Dee Henderson books which is a huge compliment since she is my favorite!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.

Goddard introduces us to a new sleuthing profession, the forensic genealogist. The professionals take genealogical research to a whole new level. In this case, the task is to locate a baby abducted from a hospital twenty years ago. It was interesting to read about some innovative ways of trying to locate someone when there are practically no clues.

I liked how Goddard portrayed the main characters. Willow, the forensic genealogist, and Austin, the ex-FBI agent Willow's grandfather had hired to help in the search, have a past. A previous romance between them had ended in hurt on both sides. We see before long that they never stopped having feelings for each other. We wonder if they will get past the hurt to a new relationship. Willow and Austin are Christians and I thought Goddard did an excellent representation of their faith, especially in suspenseful times.

I liked the setting of Grayback. Goddard had Willow contemplate the scenery at times and I appreciated being brought into her wonder at the mountains and valleys.

The plot is quite complex. The reason the baby was initially stolen is not revealed until near the end and I am not sure the reason actually worked. How Willow and Austin hunted for the abducted baby, now woman, seemed a mix of skill and luck. And the end, how it all worked out, did seem a little far fetched.

There is plenty of suspense in this novel as someone is determined to prevent Willow from pursuing the search. The characters are pretty well crafted and the setting is well done. The theme of relationship restoration is an added feature..

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This is the way to start a new series. This book was awesome. I loved finding out what a forensic genealogist does. This has a lot of suspense and romance. I did not want to put the book down. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I so enjoyed reading this book. The added genealogy information added to this mystery was brilliant. It kept me very involved in this book. Each page seemed to add a level as to why Austin and Willow shouldn’t find the missing baby girl. With death staringbthem in the face, they still kept going until the disappearance of the baby was solved. The author did an amazing job with revealing who did and why. Didn’t see it coming. I especially liked how the author reminded us throughout the book that God is our rock, He can help us through anything. To rely on Him on everything.

Title: Never Let Go

Author: Elizabeth Goddard

Series: Uncommon Justice Book 1

Chapters: 68

Pages: 362

Genre: Christian Suspense, Christian Romantic Suspense

Rating: 5 stars

Never Let Go is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Goddard and it will not be my last. When I read the blurb on the back I knew it was a book for me. Willow is a Forensic Genealogist which is a term I’ve never heard before but I was intrigued, as someone who majored in Criminal Justice in college and now works as a library assistant in the genealogy and local history department of my library this sounded like I a job I would be interested in. Because after all with genealogy you are trying to solve the mysteries of the near past as well as the far past.
So it makes since that a Forensic Genealogist would help the police and FBI with missing people’s cases. Makes me want to research and see if there are actual Forensic Genealogist in real life in case I ever want a career change.
Reading Never Let Go was bittersweet for me as I to have a late grandfather who fostered my love of genealogy. So it was easy to picture and understand what Willow was going through with her own loss of her grandfather. The ex FBI agent Austin McKade and Willow’s ex was the kind of hero I enjoy reading about in Christian Suspense novels. The kind while being a man of faith have a flaws and issues in their past that they need to deal with. It shows that they are human but God can still use them.
I enjoyed this action packed Christian Suspense novel. That I think anyone who loves suspense will enjoy. I even learned about a possible new forensic career. I look forward to new books in the series as well as other books from Elizabeth.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This was an ok romantic suspense novel, I would actually rate it 2.5. I had never read anything by this author and the storyline did keep my interest throughout.
I wasn't particularly connected to any of the characters, so I think that made my enjoyment of the book stifled a bit. Willow seemed way too wishy-washy and I couldn't understand why Austin liked her so much when she didn't seem very appealing. And the entire mystery was a bit confusing, there were so many characters with similar jobs that I had a difficult time keeping them straight and remembering who was good and who was bad.
What I did love about this book and I wished there was more of--the fascinating job of forensic genealogy. I would have loved to read more about what these researchers do and the different types of cases they solved. The author touches on these, but didn't include enough of them in the story. I could have taken less action and chasing and more forensic details and puzzle solving using that.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I enjoyed the book as it rolled out an old child abduction case and brought Willow back into touch with her ex, Austin. The book is more mystery with a bit of romance thrown in.

Willow and Austin parted ways when Willow told him that she could not be in a relationship with a man that kept secrets. This had Austin walking away, as he did not want his past brought up. I was a little bit confused because if he was embarrassed by his past and thought it would cause Willow to leave him then why not tell the secrets since she was going to walk away?

The investigation was interesting as we watch Willow follow the clues and come closer and closer to the truth. Lots of near misses with death and kidnapping so it was hard to put the book down!

Elizabeth Goddard is the author of numerous titles for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, as well as several titles for Barbour Books, including the 2011 Carol Award-winning The Camera Never Lies. Never Let Go is the first in her upcoming Uncommon Justice series, published by Revell.

Both the description and the cover immediately grabbed me when I first saw this book. Forensic genealogy and a cold case? I’m in. Our main characters, Willow Anderson and Austin McKade, both have emotion-packed backgrounds, and when they find themselves thrown together once again, they are forced to face their pasts. While I personally struggled to relate to the characters and understand their decisions, they are nonetheless soundly developed characters.

Frankly, I enjoyed the secondary cast of characters more than the MCs. Heath McKade, Charlie Clemmons, and even John Houser were are incredibly complex characters that I greatly enjoyed reading about.


Goddard certainly knows how to develop a plot that keeps you on your toes! With numerous twists and turns, and loads of action and suspense, Never Let Go will keep you reading late into the night to reach the final outcome. Just when I thought things were starting to resolve, they only got worse. I lost count of the number of plot twists. Goddard’s writing style is very laid back and casual, and while I can’t say I enjoyed it overmuch, I think others would. I was also confused somewhat as to the villain's motive. I feel like that was revealed too quickly at the end, and therefore wasn't thoroughly fleshed out. My other main complaint would be the romance and the amount of romantic tension. Unfortunately, I found myself more annoyed with it instead of rooting for the characters, but that’s just based on my personal preference for romance.


Overall, if you are looking for a book with loads of action, suspense, and romance, this is definitely one to check out! I am looking forward to reading Heath’s story in Always Look Twice come October!

Interesting storyline work some twists and turns, light romance and engaging characters. I enjoyed it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.

Willow Anderson’s past collides with her present as she takes on one of her late grandfather’s unsolved cases. Now someone is out to harm her, and she needs to rely on her ex-boyfriend Austin McKade to keep her alive while they team up to solve a cold case of an abducted baby.

This novel definitely gives any suspense fan a thrilling ride. Plenty of action gives way to an intricate mystery to solve. But for romance fans, much of the story focuses on Willow and Austin’s relationship, especially Austin’s struggles to overcome his past. I liked Austin’s character development, as readers could see him come to terms with his broken family as he is forced to visit his hometown. I do wish there was a bit more focus on Willow’s job. She’s a forensic genealogist, and I could have used more details into her intriguing profession. It seemed that she was more of a detective rather than using skills as a genealogist to solve the crime. Overall this is a great romantic suspense novel with a nice balance between suspense and romance to keep me hooked to the end.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

First off, I enjoyed entering the world of forensic genealogy. It was an interesting perspective that managed to wrap the entire story into one steady theme: Ignoring your past will not make it go away. While some secrets might be best to stay buried, they never do. I could throw metaphors around all day about the value of honesty, but the main thing that I took away from Never Let Go is that your past is part of who you are. What you have gone through helped to mold you into who you are today. Whether the past was something you want to remember – or something you wish you could forget – it has shaped and molded you. I know these are fictional characters, but the lessons to be learned here are real.

I wish I could erase my past and knock down the walls that I built. - Austin.png

I think we all wish there were things we could change about our pasts. But we can’t. All we can do is move forward. Tear down the walls you’ve built and learn to trust again.

Poor Willow always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. No matter what decision she makes, she ends up in danger. Austin does all he can to protect her, but he’s just a man. Albeit a very good man who is good at protecting people. Willow’s way of following threads was unusual and gave a different spin on the typical mystery. Reading their prayers during times of trial was a blessing.

Both Austin and Willow had lessons to learn, which always adds to the depth of the story. Add in the constant terror of being chased and you have a fast-paced, action-filled romance perfect for keeping you up all night because you cannot wait till morning to find out who done it. I hazarded a guess on that part and was correct.

There were a few times where I shook my head with a “That’s not logical” sigh, but they were minor things that I can’t say without spoilers. Plus, it’s fiction, which means characters can do whatever they feel led to do. Overall, I was very happy with this book and will happily recommend it to anyone and everyone who will listen to me.

Favorite Quote: “Death doesn’t wait for us to reconcile our regrets.”

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

" Willow, we're branches on tree. We grow in many directions, but we're always connected to our roots, whether we're ware of it or not. "
JT Anderson, Never Let Go

Willow Anderson and her Grandfather JT Anderson own and ran Anderson Consulting, a Forensic Genealogy firm. They help the living find both the living and the dead. Now that her grandfather has passed away she has some decisions to make. Will she continue running the business on her own or hire someone share the load? Or will she close up and decide what direction she wants to take next?
While going through her grandfathers desk she discovered that he only had one open case that he was working on. It was a missing person case. Mrs. Mason wanted to find her daughter whom was kidnapped right from her hospital room hours after her birth 21 years ago. She has looked many times over the years by hiring private detectives and contacting the FBI with no luck. Now time is of the essence as she only has 2 months to live,3 at the time she had contacted JT. She wanted JT to work a miracle for her, to let her be able to tell Jamie that she has never stopped looking for her.
Dana ( JT's assistant now Willow's) encouraged her to take some time and just mourn. But once she watched the videos from JT's interviews with her, she knew she had to try and solve this one. So she gathered the all the info and headed home to her Grandfather's house. She was so tired that she laid down and fell asleep instantly. She woke up in the middle night coughing from thick black smoke. The house was on fire. When rescued she realized that everything she had was gone. Her grandfather, her home, everything was taken. Except her life. And she is grateful.
While Willow was getting treatment in the ER she looked up at one point and Austin McCade was in her room. Austin is ex-FBI, her ex and loved by her Grandfather.
Austin was getting his updates about the fire from a friend at the FBI and notified him where she was. Her status was unknown so he proceeded to the hospital, he needed to see that she was ok. JT had contacted Austin before he died that he needed Austin's help, but JT never said what he needed so he had to wait until Willow was up to talking.
A kidnapping case, that is what JT wanted him to help Willow with. And He knew he would help her. JT knew that he would never want to be a part of another kidnapping case and why. That was a big part of why he left the FBI.
After some bumpy moments together Willow and JT decided that they would work this case together and hoped to solve the final case her Grandfather was working on. Between her grandfather's death, the house fire and an attempt on Willow and Dana's life at the office. (That too!) They have a distinct feeling someone does not want this last case to be solved. Willow and Austin work together to find Jamie Mason and hopefully answer the questions of who killed her grandfather and made attempts to stop her from investigating. That was not going to happen.

I received my ARC and am blessed to have been a part of this ahead of release day. Thank you Mrs. Goddard for allowing me to participate.



Reply
Forward

Never Let Go was written by Elizabeth Goddard and is book one in the Uncommon Justice series.
Summary: Willow Anderson, a forensic geneologist, is working the most difficult case of her life. A baby was kidnapped twenty years ago, and now it is her mission to find the missing girl and introduce her to the mother she has never known. A mother that only has months to live.
Not only is the case cold, but at every turn, someone is determined to thwart her efforts.
Will she find the missing girl in time?
My Thoughts: I really like the premise behind this book. It is intriguing, and there is plenty of action and drama throughout the story.
But I just couldn’t get into the love story. The main characters broke up for a good reason, but as they are thrown back together during this case, it seems that every time she looks at him, she wishes she was in his arms.
I really wished for some stronger women in this book too. There was one, but all the rest seemed really gullible to the men in their lives.
And finally, I didn’t buy the bad guys’ reasons for what they did-they just didn’t seem plausible.
It wasn’t that this was a bad book-it’s fine. I guess it just didn’t quite do it for me.
I do want to thank Revell for providing me with a free digital copy of this book for my honest review. Thank you!

This is an amazingly well-written story filled with suspense and changing situations that keep you guessing until the very end. The death of Willow's grandfather, followed by a house fire, puts Willow on the trail of searching for a young woman who was stolen at birth from the hospital. Austin, Willow's ex-boyfriend joins in the search. But everyone involved in this case is in danger of being eliminated. One by one the clues fall into place, but not without life-threatening events at every turn.
I received a copy of this book through Net Galley. All opinions are my own.