A great balance of suspense and romance, Patricia Bradley's "Standoff" will keep you reading. The story follows NPS ranger Brooke Danvers and she works to solve a murder that keeps bringing danger closer and closer to home. The cast of characters is large enough to create no clear villains in the inner circle. This was my first Bradley novel and I'd definitely pick up another one.

Standoff is Book #1 in Patricia Bradley's new Natchez Trace Park Rangers series and what a start it is!

Suspense readers will love the nail-biting "who is the hidden bad guy" feeling that runs through the book, and romance readers will like the relationship that develops between Brooke Danvers and Luke Fereday.

I haven't met a Bradley book I didn't like, and this one further cements her with my top favorite suspense authors. A strong faith element comes through, as both main characters depend on prayer as well as on their abilities to defend themselves and others.

I absolutely recommend Standoff, and can hardly wait for Book #2, Obsession to come out!

Great start to a brand new series!

I loved the main characters Luke and Brooke and how their past friendship made it easier for them to work together to figure out the deaths in their town. Lots of steady action and suspense from beginning to end which kept my interest and had me reading this book in one day because I didn’t want to stop. Can’t wait to read more in this Park Ranger series. Highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

Standoff by Patricia Bradley was a little hard to get into for me. There was a lot of characters and it was hard to keep everyone and all the motives and even the scenery straight. The plot was very intriguing and the suspense that was created by the author haunted you.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own.

Bradley continues to grow in her craft and I like each new book better than the last. I definitely enjoyed this first installment of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. All of the suspense of an award-winning mystery with just the right amount of romance to keep the story moving. Bradley does a delightful job of placing you in the scene and describing the delightful sights in and around Natchez.

Brooke is changing to the investigative division of the rangers, when her father is murdered in the very park she’s hoping to protect. Ruled a suicide, Brooke knows her father would never kill himself. The farther she digs, the more she suspects, but she isn’t sure who she can trust.
Luke (Brooke’s high school boyfriend) is living next door and keeps conveniently showing up close to suspicious happenings. Brooke is cautious, despite her attraction to Luke. He hurt her when he left, and she doesn’t know who he has become since then. She soon finds out Luke is working undercover to bring down a local drug ring, and her dad’s death could be a piece in his puzzle. Working together, they find that there must be a bad cop on the payroll, but who could it be?

With all of the possibilities, you’ll never see this one coming. While it takes a bit of time to absorb all of the different characters, I think the effort is worth it. Hopefully they will set the following books up in this series nicely.
I was given an early copy of this manuscript through NetGalley for my honest review. I enjoyed it enough that I purchased it, as well. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is going to be a great series! Book 1 started off great. Twist and turns you just might now expect!

I loved Brooke! She had a strength of character that made it enjoyable to read her story.

The thing that was most impressive was how the author set it up where there could be at least 3 characters behind the murder of Brooke's father. I was never quite sure until the end.

Disclaimer: I did receive this book from the publisher through netgalley.com all opinions are my own.

Standoff is the first book in a new series called Natchez Trace Park Rangers by Patricia Bradley. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down. The setting was a great mix of historic small town and eery wilderness. The pages are filled with mystery and suspense with a bit of romance. With the villain being someone who is supposed to defend the law, it becomes a real mess trying to figure out who can be trusted. This brought about many plot twists as the story develops. The romance did not overwhelm the story and is sprinkled throughout. Overall, it was a fast read and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Things literally start off with a bang. Once Brooke gets involved the action does not stop. It took a few chapters for the author to introduce the main and minor characters and their situations the author even lets you get inside the head of the one wreaking havoc on the oldest town on the Mississippi River. I felt a little lost in the beginning because each chapter introduced someone new. After I met everyone I went back and reread the first few chapters. Things became clearer. Once I connected the dots and realized the part these characters played in the overall scheme of things, I found it quite intriguing.

This author does a great job of weaving an incredible web filled with mystery, intrigue, and suspense, with a splash of clean romance. Loved the twists and turns too! This is the first book in the Natchez Track Park Rangers series. I found it interesting to learn all that park rangers are involved in. I also enjoyed Luke and Brooke as they worked together to solve the case as each does their best to push down their feelings, they have had for each other since high school. I enjoyed the wide cast of characters and their situations that help build to a climatic ending to this story I could not put down.

This makes for a fun summer read and one that would work well for your next book club pick. This is the first book I’ve read by this author it won’t be the last. I’m interested to see where this series heads next.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

I enjoy a good mystery and this one did not disappoint. Having been on part of the Natchez Trace National Parkway, I could easily envision many of the scenes in the book.
Luke has been sent in to become a part of a drug ring, but finds himself instead investigating the murder of a friend. He finds solving the murder even more a priority when his friend John's daughter gets drawn in while investigating the murder and finds herself a target as well. Luke finds it all he can do to keep her safe and find out what exactly is going on.

Standoff by Patricia Bradley – Mixed – interesting setting, likeable characters, but too many characters and dragged a bit.

I love mysteries so I was excited to read Patricia Bradley’s newest book Standoff, the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series.

Standoff is about the rather brutal and ugly business of moving illegal drugs through Natchez Trace National Parkway a corridor that runs from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN.

Brooke Danvers was looking forward to riding along with her dad District Law Enforcement Ranger, John Danvers. She has followed in her father’s footsteps and will soon be sworn in as a LE Ranger despite her parent’s concerns. When John gets a call, plans change and Brooke will have to wait another day. Only that won’t be happening when John is found dead at Emerald Mound later that night. His death is ruled a suicide, but Brooke does not believe it and will stop at nothing to find out who brutally murdered her dad. Old ex-friend and neighbor Luke Fereday is back in Natchez working as an undercover park ranger trying to infiltrate the drug ring. Not only is he working to stop the flow of illegal drugs, but he too wants to find John’s murderer.

Standoff has a whole of stuff going on. There are a lot of characters introduced early on in the story, law enforcement, drug dealers, potential bad guys, family, friends. and neighbors. It was kind of hard to keep all the characters straight. It would have been helpful to have a key at the front of the book with a list of characters and a brief description. The first part of the book seemed to dragged, but about midway through the story picked up moved at a faster clip. The number of characters could have been trimmed down some.

There were a number of things that seemed off or not quite believable. It seemed odd that Brooke’s mother would leave town so quickly after the death of her husband. It didn’t seem plausible that Luke could pass off being in town to visit his grandmother because his behavior and weird hours would raise suspicion. He just happened to show up wherever Brooke was at way too many times. The scene where Brooke makes a discovery seemed contrived.

I liked the main characters, Brooke and Luke. My favorite character was Luke’s grandmother Daisy. The action scenes, especially toward the end were well written and easy to visualize. I like the setting of the Natchez Trace law enforcement. I think the series has some good potential. I will read future books in this series. I appreciated that the book was clean, not filled with vulgar language or sexual immorality.

I would like to thank Revell Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Standoff by Patricia Bradley. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

I felt like this was a wonderful start to a new series and I am really looking forward to reading the second book in this series. It was interesting to read about the Natchez Trace National Parkway. I loved the characters and all the twists and turns. I love how Luke and Brooke rekindle an old friendship. I did not want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I had mixed feelings reading this book. I found it a little hard to get into at the beginning because of the short scenes and switching POV characters so quickly yet in the last half of the book, the suspense and action hooked me. I also have a bit of a pet peeve of books, movies, etc. having the main character in a relationship with one person but then falling in love with another which this book has. I also thought that the author had too many people that could possibly be involved with the bad guys and included things to throw suspicion on someone but then it wasn’t explained later. In a way it felt like the author purposefully included things to throw off the reader without any explanation. At the end I was disappointed that the author never explained how the one person had gotten involved with the antagonists even though he had been an integral character to the rest of the book. There were a couple of things that I liked about the book but all the things that annoyed me overshadowed them.

Patricia Bradley is a spectacular suspense author.

I've enjoyed one other of Bradley's books that I know of, I may have read more and no longer remember, though I don't believe so.

"Standoff" definitely has a standoff in the guessing game of who is the bad guy.

This was not the darkest suspense, which I enjoyed, it was somewhat lighter, as a matter of fact, and I liked it. And there was also more sadness than other suspense that broke my heart.

I loved how Luke and Brooke were old friends that hadn't really dated before even though they were close, I just wish we could have seen them with John.

The undercover side of the story was intriguing … Very much so, and it was interesting to find out more about park rangers since I don't know much about them.

There is content that--mentions of rape--which makes the book better for 16/18 up.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing (Revell), through Interviews & Reviews.

Title: Standoff

Author: Patricia Bradley

Ch:78

Pg: 392

Series: Natchez Trace Park Rangers book 1

Genre:Christian romantic suspense

Rating:4 stars

Publisher: Revell

Standoff the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series is the first book I’ve read by Patricia Bradley. I enjoyed the first book in this series.

Brooke Danvers a park ranger turned Law Enforcement is determined to find out who murdered her father. Luke Fereday a former Army Ranger and National Park Ranger is determined to keep her safe. These two have a past together as well as Trust issues. That may affect their ability to do their current jobs.

Standoff started off a little slow but by chapter 12 it picked up and was an enjoyable read from that point onward. The secondary characters were enjoyable and I look forward to Emma’s story in the second book in the series. The Ancestry DNA secondary storyline was interesting as well as Brookes interest in her family genealogy to me as a genealogy nerd myself.

I look forward to the next book in this series as well as Patricia’s back list books. I recommend this book to fans of romantic suspense.




I received a copy of this book from the publisher a 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.

“Standoff” by Patricia Bradley is the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Ranger series. I had the priviledge of reading this book for Revell in return for my honest review. Since I have read quite a few of Ms. Bradley’s novels, I was pleased to do it.

Ms. Bradley has a way of making the characters in her novels true and believable. I especially enjoy the short chapters, which give the reader the idea that they are dealing with either a new character or situation. It is also a good way for readers to be able to pick up the novel for a few minutes and make headway in the story line. Sometimes I am interrupted too many times in a novel and have to go back to the beginning of the chapter…not so with Ms. Bradley’s novels.

“Standoff” is the story of Brooke Danvers an interpretive park ranger and daughter of a law enforcement park ranger. She is determined to follow in her father’s footsteps in law enforcement and has just completed her training. Now it is a matter of doing ride-alongs with experienced rangers and being sworn in. On this particular night she does a ride along and comes face-to-face with death, her father’s.

Luke Fereday is in the investigative devision of the rangers. He is working undercover to determine who is the kingpin of the drug trafficking using the Natchez Trace to transport the drugs being sold north. He also has a history with Brooke from teenage years. Now the two of them are working together to solve Brook’s father’s murder and locate the head of the cartel supplying the drugs.

I found this novel to be very entertaining and mysterious. There are many characters who crop up as suspects. I had my suspicions early on, but was thrown off the track again and again. I think that the reader will be pulled in to the story very quickly and will be drawn to read more of Ms. Bradley’s novels.

This was a perfect romantic suspense novel. The characters were easy to relate to, the plot was full of twists and turns to keep you guessing, and I loved how faith was beautifully woven into the story.
I loved these characters. They felt so real and though they each has their own issues, and their own way of dealing with them, they complimented each other perfectly. They were able to help each other along on their journey to healing.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Romantic Suspense.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. A possitive review was not required*

Standoff

(Natchez Trace Park Ranger, Book 1)
By
Patricia Bradley
If you love a book with suspense, intrigue and romance, this is a page turner for you. I just love a book that catches my eye from the cover to the very first page. I spent most of the book wondering what's going to happen next and "WHO" did it!
Patricia Bradley made the characters likable. The main character is Brooke, a Natchez park ranger, whom is investigating the death of her father. There was also Luke a childhood friend, whom just came back to town after being gone for 14 years. There's also Jeremy, he's goal is to move up in politics. Both men have a secret they are trying to keep from Brooke.
Get the book and find out what the secrets are and see all the twist and turns for yourself!

I'm giving this book a 5 out of 5

I received this complimentary copy from Revell and netgalley. I was under no obligation to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Standoff is set in Natchez, Mississippi. Brooke Danvers was on the verge of being sworn in as a law enforcement ranger and was getting ready to ride along with her father who was the district park ranger. Plans changed, tragedy struck and Brooke's life spiraled into a trajectory she never foresaw. In the midst of all the turmoil, Brooke's first real love interest Luke Fereday returned to Natchez and Brooke's life after a fourteen year absence. Was it coincidence?

Brooke and Luke are well developed, interesting and realistic characters. The author skillfully depicts their relationship as they become part of each others lives after their lengthy separation. The secondary characters are a varied group and not always who they seem to be. The narrative is packed with mystery, plot twists and danger. Secrets are revealed and eventually questions are answered. Standoff is a well written, exciting and engrossing book. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Revell. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

CLOSE TO HOME!

Patricia Bradley’s newest release STANDOFF (Natchez Trace Park Rangers Book #1) hits close to home! The setting of the Natchez Trace Parkway is near and dear to me as part of the Parkway runs about two miles from my home. Also, I’m very familiar with the city of Natchez and other surrounding areas as I spent a Summer serving as a Youth Minister in Natchez. (Students make the BEST Tour Guides!). As I read this book, I had no problem visualizing exactly where the events took place.

This book centers around a problem all to common to most places - narcotics and the cartels that control them, Brooke Danvers is starting her first tour as newly minted Park Ranger. She is the the daughter of well respected Ranger John Danvers. John has been investigating a drug ring for quite some time and has had the aid of a joint task force of law enforcement officers and an undercover Ranger. When Ranger John Danvers is killed on Brooke’s first day at work, she finds herself fighting to work on the case. Her best friend from childhood happens to be home checking on his grandmother. Luke Fereday proves to be much more of a friend than Brooke could ever have imagined she needed. The action is non-stop in this this novel! Readers quickly realize they have no idea who can be trusted in this game of cat-and-mouse.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Revell and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

This book kept you guessing until pretty much the end of it. While there were several suspects, the author kept throwing elements of doubt in at every step. This is something I really enjoyed about this book as I like to work to figure out the villian rather than have it handed to me on a silver platter.

The same is true for the side mystery. I can't give details here as it would be classified a spoiler. Never the less, it added a layer of complexity to the storyline and the characters.

Definitely worth reading and I've added it to the list for my library system and another one I belong to. If you enjoy Irene Hannon or Lynette Eason, you'd definitely enjoy Patricia Bradley. I do recommending reading this book.