Member Reviews
This was a really enjoyable read! I really enjoyed that it is based in my home state so I was familiar with many of the locations in the book (which can be fun and a little creepy at the same time haha). The story was intriguing, the dialog interesting and the characters believable.
This was the perfect kick off to this series! A page-turner that kept me guessing until the end with all it's twists! I can't wait for book two!!
This book was an edge of your seat kind of book that kept one guessing and engaged until the very end. I absolutely loved the characters and what a fabulous read it was. I cannot wait for the next book in the series
Suspense, Surprises & Interesting Characters
This is my kind of book… full of suspense, surprises, and interesting characters with whom I would want to visit again. I admit, I was leery of a few of the “good” guys, suspecting that they were really deceiving “bad” guys, but I really didn’t know until the reveal who was the actual murderer. I highly recommend reading it if you like clean suspense.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
Very good. I was not familiar with Patricia Bradley, but would definitely read her books again!
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ebook for an honest review.
This is such an interesting mystery, with the setting on the Natchez Trail. I loved learning more about the area it is set in.
Brooke is only a few days away from being sworn in as a park ranger. She's supposed to do a ride-along with her father, who is a park ranger, when he sends her a message that something has came up and he'll see her the following day. She doesn't know that her father is working on a very big case. A case that got him killed, but looks like a suicide. Everyone who knew him also knew he would never commit suicide.
Luke is back in town. Luke, Brooke's teenage crush who broke her heart. Brooke is very close to his grandmother who lives across the street.
It soon becomes apparent that Luke is not working as a bartender. What does he do? Can she trust him?
Attempts are being made on Brooke's life, with one attempt on both her and Luke. Who can she trust, even in law enforcement.
A high action and suspenseful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Another great story by one of my favorite authors.
I was given a free e-copy by the publisher, Revell, and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review, but how could I not? Great story!
I look forward to reading every book that Patricia Bradley writes, and if this first book is an example, this is going to be another great series. The pacing of the book is perfect, and the suspense throughout the story makes it a page-turner. It was hard to know who could be trusted, and that kept my complete attention to the very end. If you love reading book in the Christian suspense genre, don’t miss this one!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Standoff by Patricia Bradley is book 1 in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. This book is a fascinating look into park rangers law enforcement. It is obvious that the author did great research to write this book. The story itself is multi-layered and full of twists and turns. This is the perfect read for those who love great suspense. I adored it and cannot wait to read book 2! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
I'm so excited for a new series by Patricia Bradley. She always captures my interest and keeps me engaged. She did not disappoint with Standoff. While there are a few things I would have liked to have seen her handle differently I enjoyed the story and wondered if I had it figured out before I reached the end.
Brooke Danvers is embarking on a new adventure with a different division in with the Park Rangers, her dad will be her new boss, but when her dad is murdered her start date is delayed and things keep getting in the way. Will she enjoy the new position as much as the old? Will she be any good at the new responsibilities? Who murdered her father and why, everyone loved him?! Bradley definitely takes us on a new adventure as we get to know Brooke and Luke and discover just what happened to her dad and in her community.
Thank you NetGalley and Revell for the opportunity to review this book!
Standoff by Patricia Bradley is the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. I don't know about you, but I used to think Park Rangers had a rather peaceful job enjoying the great outdoors while making sure no one is hunting or fishing illegally. More recently I've realized it can entail a lot more than that. This book deals with some of the more specific dangers such as murder, drugs, etc.
Brooke Danvers wants to follow in her father's footsteps and she has just been promoted to Park Ranger. John Danvers, Brooke's dad, has secretly been investigating a drug ring and on Brooke's first day her father is killed in the line of duty. Brooke fights to be on the case and is certain that her dad did not kill himself as the report states. When Luke Fereday, Brooke's childhood friend, shows up for the funeral, he becomes a strong ally for Brooke and they team up to find out what really happened. Luke seems to know more than he's letting on and maybe he's hiding a secret or two of his own. Does Brooke really know him anymore? Can she count on him to help her discover the truth? Will the ever-growing feeling between them be a distraction?
This book starts off with a bang and it doesn't stop until the last page! I love a good suspense and trying to figure it out as I read is so much fun. Especially when the author gives so many twists and turns. There were a couple surprises that caught me off guard in this book and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
***Thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
So exciting to have the opportunity to read Patricia Bradley's start to her newest series, Natchez Trace Park Rangers. Standoff is by far her best yet and I can not wait to get my hands on the next installment from the series.
Five stars.
This is a new author for me and this book was pretty good. I felt like in the beginning the author had almost too much going on. I felt like it was hard to figure out what was what but as the story progressed it did become easier to figure out who was who and what was happening. I liked that the book was suspense but I also felt like because there where so many players it made it really easy to figure out what and who did it, I really wish the author would have left a little mystery for the reader. That being said I really liked Luke and Brooke. Brooke has a heart of gold and would doing anything for anyone and would help them regardless she was a fighter and super stubborn and independent which made her good at her job. Luke a man of many mysteries he also has a good side to him while trying to do that right thing in the world. I did like out the author kept the book a clean read and she did discuss some very tough subject but did it in away to bring awareness. This book was a good read overall
This is the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series set in Mississippi. Park Ranger (soon to be sworn in as a Law Enforcement Ranger!) Brooke Danvers is shocked when her father (the district ranger) is found dead. Luke Fereday may be an old family friend (and former crush of Brooke's), but she isn't sure she knows who he is now or if he can be counted on. Luke is working undercover on a huge drug bust, and many of the players in both of their lives may be connected.
The author provides a glimpse into the mind of our perpetrator in some alternating chapters, a technique I always enjoy. The possible "culprits" have different motives, and the conclusion is satisfying. I didn't totally understand or comprehend Brooke's grieving process, but know that everyone is different. Luke is an interesting and compelling character, and was patient as Brooke sorted things out.
With possibly political intrigue, mild romance, the beautiful but unpredictable setting of the Trace, DNA questions (I found this answer a little obvious and frankly it also felt extraneous and unnecessary), and much more - you'll want to read this book to find out how it all fits together. I am eager to read the next offering in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Romance, suspense, and mystery make this a wonderful novel. This is one of my favorite authors of suspense so I knew this was going to be a good book. It's the first in a new series and I can't wait to read more!
Brooke can't wait to start training with her dad to be a park ranger. She'll get a gun and enforce the laws on the Natchez Trail. But then her dad says he has to postpone and she needs to go with someone else that night. Next thing anyone knows he's dead and her life will never be the same.
Next door neighbor Luke is back. He's the one that got away, the one that broke her heart. She's not over him but she also doesn't trust him. There is just something off about him and she knows he's not being fully truthful.
But he believes that her father was murdered and didn't just commit suicide like others think.
Next, though her world gets rocked even more from a DNA test her sister had her take. They're not full sisters. They have different dads. When she confronts her mom she finds out why she always felt she and her mom had a strained relationship. But now her dad isn't her dad and her biological dad is a drug lord. Can life get any worse?
Try adding in a new boyfriend, the man she loves, and more murders popping up left and right.
I highly recommend you read this book!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Standoff
by Patricia Bradley
Revell
Christian
Pub Date 05 May 2020
I am reviewing a copy of Stand-off through Revell and Netgalley:
Lately it seems the Natchez Trace National Parkway stretches 444 miles Nashville to Natchez, the oldest town on the Mississippi River is being used for moving drugs unfortunately leaving park ranger Luke Fereday with a serious problem on his hands. The road that was once perfect for a Sunday drive is now being used to move drugs. Luke Fereday is sent to Natchez to infiltrate the organization at the center of the drug ring. But when Luke arrives to late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, park ranger John Danvers things become even more personal.
Brooke, who is John’s daughter 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 now has his hands full keeping Brooke safe. But he can’t keep himself safe from falling hard for the daughter of the friend he was not able to keep safe.
I give Stand-off Five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Park Ranger Luke Fereday was sent to Natchez to infiltrate an organization running drugs up and down Natchez Trace, Luke arrives too late to a stakeout and discovers the body of his friend, Park Ranger John Danvers. John's daughter Brooke, a newly trained Park Ranger following in her father's footsteps, is determined to investigate her father's murder that was ruled a suicide, 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 for the daughter of the man he failed to save?
I requested this ARC from NetGalley and Revell only a couple of days before the publication date, and then my Book Club decided to use it for our June book selection, so I am a little late with the review as I did not want to read it too early. It is evident that the author did her research on Park Rangers and the Natchez Trace by the descriptions of the area and the jobs of the Rangers.
Let me start off by telling you what I don't like about this book. The first thing is that I have to eat, work and do other things and I just did NOT want to put this book down. The seond thing is that I need sleep! I finished this book at 3:00 am and then I couldn't even sleep for two hours after that because I couldn't stop thinking about it!
Now, let me tell you what I liked. The suspense was awesome! It built throughout the book, and the ending totally caught me by surprise. Brooke was a strong and determined woman. Luke was an undercover agent, and I hated that he couldn't tell others - they just thought he was a bartender with little ambition.
I have enjoyed all of Patricia Bradley's books that I have read, but this is my favorite and I can't wait for more books in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.
Having a son work in the national park service made this book particularly interesting to me.. This book addresses what lengths some people go to so that they can save their loved ones. The author managed to keep the bad guy a secret from me to the end. She did throw out some red herrings to make you stay alert and try to watch for future clues. The characters are well developed and the action moved at a good pace. I look forward to the next book in this series.
3.5 stars
While I really enjoyed the solid mystery and the relationship between the two characters, it simply didn't catch me and sweep me off my feet. It could easily be a problem with my mood. However, it's a solid story and I really in particular enjoyed the adult relationship the two leads have: instead of pouting and weeping like kids, they have real conversations about issues. They meet problems head-on.
The one gripe I have is the semi-pedantic reiteration of the supposed position that "legalized drugs will make marijuana less profitable to gangs" which is not proven by the numbers in states with legal drugs and was rather laughable in a gang which was transporting heroin. I live in a state that legalized two years ago and the only result is the consumption of an extra few tons of weed. There was also a very alarming suggestion of someone wanting to take it legally for seizures, which is not a suggested use (is actually dangerous) and the studies about seizures are done with an extract, not with "medical marijuana" which is not standardized and is warned against by the American Epilepsy Association. There was no end note to specify where the author sourced her data on this opinion.
Drug issue considered, I'd recommend this book to those over 18 because of the drug aspect.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. My review is based on a final copy from my library.