“Never Let Go” by Elizabeth Goddard was a good read. This book caught my attention from the first page.
This book centers around Willow and Austin. Willow’s grandfather is murdered so Willow takes over his job of finding people. One of Willow’s grandfather’s clients has asked him to find her daughter who was kidnapped at birth. Willow decides to continue this journey.

Austin is a former FBI agent and Willow’s ex-boyfriend. Willow’s grandfather had asked him to help find this client’s daughter. So the whole story is Willow and Austin trying to find the daughter. There are some twists and turns along that way. The ending was completely different than what I thought was going to happen.

This was the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Goddard, and I look forward to reading more by her.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

'Protection poured off him as if he wore armor and held up a shield to defend her.'

When Willow Anderson's forensic genealogist grandfather, whom she works with, dies in an accident, she decides to continue the case he was working on at the time of his death. Twenty one years ago, a baby girl was stolen from the hospital and her mother has been looking for her all this time. The mother is now dying of leukemia and desperately wants to find her daughter before time runs out.

Austin McKade, who had a not so nice break up with Willow several years earlier, was called in by her grandfather to work the case and she was not informed about that. When an attempt is made on Willow's life, Austin decides to step back in and help with the case. Austin will just have to face the mistakes of his past if he's to try to keep Willow alive and help her solve this case.

Goddard starts off strong here and the action keeps up at a steady pace throughout, with added layers thrown in to keep readers guessing. And guess they do. I was completely surprised at the ending. This one is fast paced and well done. The tension continues to mount during the reading and it's hard to put the book down. Recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions stated here are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review

I did like the mystery of the missing child and the twists and turns leading to finding the kidnapper. But, I was not too fond of Willow and Austin. Too much thinking and not enough dealing with reality. There were no bad words or sex which means I can recommend this book to my customers who do not like a lot of sex in their books.

Willow is trying to decided if she want to keep her grandfathers business going, using genealogy to find answers , then someone is after her , Austin is an ex FBI and her ex boyfriend can they help each other. this is a revitting story I could not put down. if you like suspense with some romance you will love the book, this is a well written story, I could not put the book down. I was given a copy of the book by net galley but this is an honest reveiw. if you have read any book by the author you will love this one

As a forensic genealogist, Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather's footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from the hospital more than twenty years ago. The case may be cold, but things are about to heat up when someone makes an attempt on her life to keep her from discovering the truth.

Ex-FBI agent--and Willow's ex-flame--Austin McKade readily offers his help to protect the woman he never should have let get away. Together they'll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he's spent much of his life trying to forget. And even if it puts Willow's tender heart at risk.

The book started out sort of slow and worked its way into being action packed. The beginning of the book introduced you to the characters and their backgrounds. As well as the case Willow's grandfather was just hired for. Austin had some issues in his past to get over and Willow couldn't accept that he wouldn't share them with her. As they work out their differences, the case heats up. Some one tries to kill Willow not once but several times. The closer they get the more their lives are in danger. I'd say the last third of the book was action packed.

This book is well worth the read and I look forward the Heath's story next.

I was given this book NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

My only complaint with this book was that it felt short! I finished it quicker than I would have liked to. I dont know that I have ever read any of this authors books before but I am definitely hooked now! It was easy to follow along with the multiple characters and just when I thought I knew who the bad guy was, well.. I was wrong!!!! Anxiously waiting for her next book!!

Romantic suspense is a genre that I read widely in, so when I read that Elizabeth Goddard was moving into a full-length romantic suspense novel from her shorter Love Inspired Suspense novels, I was intrigued. The novel, Never Let Go, does start out a little slow. Goddard spends a little too much time explaining Willow's and Austin's backstory right up front, even though she hints at a mystery to Austin's backstory. The backstory for Austin wasn't that big of a deal for me. I have seen it before. The idea of a stolen baby and trying to find it again was a neat mystery element, but it didn't seem to be the main point of the story's progression until about fifty percent into the novel. Then I started to read a random person's point of view belonging to Charlie, a girl, lost in the woods, hiding from her killer. Austin and Willow didn't appear to be any different than any other hero and heroines from previous romantic suspense novels. Overall, Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard is a mediocre romantic suspense novel that really didn't have me grasping for attention and clinging to the pages. I wished for more in depth of a tragic backstory for the hero. Fans of romantic suspense might enjoy the novel, but it fell short for me.

I received a complimentary copy of Never Let Go by Elizabeth Goddard from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Never Let Go is the first book in a new inspirational suspense series by new-to-me author Elizabeth Goddard. While the synopsis for Never Let Go was intriguing and the prologue had me hooked, I sadly lost interest in this story as it progressed. Introspection heavy, the characters spend a lot of time thinking and then rethinking things, making it hard for me to stay focused on the story. While I am sure some readers will love this book with its mix of tension, second-chance love story, and complex mystery, it wasn’t a book that held my attention.

When Willow Anderson’s beloved grandfather dies, she is determined to follow in his footsteps and close his final forensic genealogist case. But the cold case of a baby abducted 20 years ago is set to test Willow, especially when she learns that her grandfather had already enlisted the help of Willow’s ex-fiancé, the man who broke her heart when he walked away. As Willow and Austin work together to solve the mystery of the missing baby, they must also face the pain of their past, all while trying to stay alive when a threat emerges as they draw closer to the truth.

Everything was aligned for me to love this story - a new mystery with a twist of history and genealogy, a love story where two characters reunite and face the problems that threatened their romance previously, and a series of high-tension twists. While the mystery of the abducted baby was certainly intriguing and kept me guessing right to the very end (my guesses were all way off base), it was the writing style that ultimately disconnected me from this book. The characters flick backwards and fowards, deeply pondering their problems instead of acting on them. So much time is spent thinking about whether Austin should finally, finally tell Willow the things he kept from her in the past, or thinking about whether Willow should chase this case, or thinking about her feelings, her reactions, his faults, that I wasn’t all that interested when they finally got around to taking action on those thoughts. I do hope that other readers enjoy the detail-heavy descriptions, but I found that it prevented me from enjoying this book.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Lately, I have been on a bit of a mystery buzz, and in the past, I had gone off ECF type books as they just seemed to be the same story over and over again. I had never read any of this author's before, but it had captured my attention as featured the case of a baby who was abducted via hospital when it was a few hours old over twenty years ago. Katelyn Mason had just given birth only to have her baby stolen from her; she spent many years searching but eventually ended up as a cold case with the FBI. Given only a few months left to live now twenty-one years later, she wants to try again and went to the experts JT Anderson. He was about to take the case when he was killed in a biking accident. Now his granddaughter Willow has accepted the case, only to have her home burn down. It seems that someone out there doesn't want the baby to be found and is sabotaging it at every stop. What's worst though is that they are even willing to go to extremes and kill for the truth to remain hidden. Enter Austin who was a friend of JT's and a past romantic interest of Willow's. With his expertise and FBI knowledge in CARD which is the search and recuse for missing children, the pair set out to follow the clues which lead to Austin's hometown. Never Let Go was an action-packed book which features something for everyone from the genealogy research side which strongly appealed to me as it's something I am currently trying to do for my Dad and then the romantic suspense side of the original kidnappings and the abductions and dangerous situations that Austin and Willow are put into throughout the book.

"Never Let Go" is a romantic suspense novel. Unfortunately, the story just didn't work for me. Austin deals with emotional trauma in his past by ignoring it. Willow can't help but dig up a person's past. This is given as the reason their relationship didn't work, so it should be great once Austin starts sharing about his past. Except her lack of trust is still a major issue. It's things like her asking (or agreeing) that he should leave, then feeling devastated that he's abandoning her (which he's never done). Or he's been doing sweet things for her and buys a necklace that she was admiring, and she's hurt and jealous that he must be buying that necklace for some unknown girlfriend. He even asks her, "Please, just trust me for once in your life!" And she does...once. Then she's back to assuming the worst about him.

The mystery/suspense also didn't work for me. They followed up on a old clue and showed people an age-progressed picture of their suspect. People immediately know who she is. So why did the FBI agents not find her since they had a more accurate photo 21 years ago? And you know that the whole small town would have been talking about this young, single, local woman who, without getting pregnant, suddenly had a baby. And the one person who knew the identity of the Bad Guy had been killed by the start of our story, so I still don't understand why he was drawing attention (and a much more severe prison term) to himself by going around trying to kill the investigators. His tracks were already covered. And the girl still being alive was what was bringing about his ultimate aim. So why try to kill her and others to prevent her discovery? It just didn't make any sense.

And, finally, at about 60% of the way in, the story could have neatly wrapped up. So the author had Austin's brother basically reason, "Everything my brother has told me fits the facts as I know them, but I won't ask him why he thinks he's working for the girl's birth mother. I'll just assume he's been hired by the killer (who is now trying to kill them?) and do my best to prevent them from finding the girl!" Talk about forced. Willow's main job in the story seemed to be doing things without thinking about the consequences, getting attacked by bad guys, and trying to stay alive long enough for Austin to save her. This just wasn't my type of book. There was no bad language or sex.

Elizabeth Goddard's latest contemporary suspense novel Never Let Go is a thrilling mystery about the kidnapping of a newborn baby from the mother's hospital room 21 years earlier. The case quickly expands into a murder mystery and a hint of romance as forensic genealogist Willow Andersen takes the case with help from her former boyfriend ex-FBI agent Austin McKade. Soon both Willow and Austin find themselves in danger and receive threats to their lives as they search for answers to what happened to the kidnapped baby and some recent deaths that seem related to the case.

It was a thrilling fast-paced story, and author Elizabeth Goddard included many incredible twists and turns to the plot that I did not see coming. This novel was amazing, and I could not put it down. It was that good! It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was shocked to find out who was the culprit. At the end, all the clues dropped throughout the story came together for a satisfying ending. I can't wait to read the next book in the series in which Austin McKade's brother Heath gets his own story. Fans of contemporary suspense will love this latest novel by Elizabeth Goddard.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Revell Publishing and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

NEVER LET. GO. by Elizabeth Goddard
Her grandfather has died and going thru his papers, and he still had one case he was working on. A missing child twenty one years ago, the mother never gave up hope, and wanted to see her in the last few months she had. Yes, her grandfather raised her, and trained her, but she felt she lacked the skills he had, it would be better to sell, He had called Austin in to help with the case.
It’s an FBI.cold case and thought he could get information. Also, grandfather still felt like Austin and her should be together. Arson was listed as the cause the house she shared with him was quickly destroyed. Someone is desparate to destroy everything and everybody so the case will once again be a cold case. They work together, danger at every turn to keep readers interested to the last page. Very well done as all of her books are. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and Revell.

This latest thriller from Ms. Goddard is a new suspense must-read! Willow Anderson is a forensic genealogist who works with her grandfather. At the beginning of this book, her grandfather has recently died and she begins looking into his active cases. There is only one case he is working on- an infant kidnapping from twenty years ago. After Willow’s life is threatened, she is determined to solve the case. Before he died, Willow’s grandfather had contacted her ex, Austin, for his assistance on the case. Austin is a former FBI agent, but now works independently providing protection. Austin and Willow will race the clock to find the missing girl before all of them are killed. This is a thrilling ride through various scenarios. Ms. Goddard leaves you guessing throughout the book as to who is behind the kidnapping. I highly recommend this book!!! You will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.