4.5 Stars
Standoff is the first of the new series, Natchez Trace Park Rangers, by Patricia Bradley. I enjoyed the fast pace of the book that starts it off and continues to the end. The backdrop of the story is very interesting with descriptions of the historical Natchez Trace, old antebellum homes in Natchez, the scenes along the Mississippi River, and small town closeness.
Brooke Danvers is about to move from a position as an interpretive ranger to one as a law enforcement officer with the Park Service on the Trace land. Her father John is to be her boss but he is killed at the beginning of the story, at first ruled as a suicide. Brooke does not believe her father killed himself nor does an old neighbor Luke Fereday. He is in working undercover on a drug case and also checking into John's death. His excuse for being there is to visit his grandmother.
It soon becomes clear that there is a dirty cop with either the police, sheriff's office, or park service. So who to trust? Brooke and Luke do trust each other but no one else. There are lots of characters to keep straight and I had a hard time at first. Many of them had reason to seem suspicious.
Standoff has suspense, mystery with twists and turns, action, danger, and some light romance. There is complicated family dynamics and issues to add depth to the story as well as local and state politics.
I enjoyed this first book in the new series and look forward to Brooke's friend, Emma's story, in the next book.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

The first book by Ms. Bradley is explosive for this series. At the beginning of the book, John Danvers, a park ranger, is killed. His daughter is determined to find who killed her dad. She begins investigating who could have killed him. Luke is working with a drug ring, but is actually undercover trying to determine all of the players and how they are moving drugs up and down the trace. Luke arrives to late for John, but he is determined to discover who killed him. Once Brooke begins investigating, Luke decides that he must protect her and discover what she knows as well. With no one knowing that Luke is undercover, he is tightly keeping this information to his vest to keep others from being suspicious of him. This book is a sit on the edge of your seats kind of book that will keep you guessing throughout. I highly recommend this book and this series! I can not wait for the next book in the series! Ms. Bradley never disappoints readers. Her books are entertaining and are page-turners.
***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.

A fast-paced, sit on the edge of your seat kind of read that will leave readers guessing “who done it” until the end.
This first installment of The Natchez Trace Park Rangers starts off with a bang, and leaves our heroine whirling through an emotional minefield. Freshly graduated Law Enforcement Ranger Brooke Danvers is driven to find her father’s killer and what she stumbles into is something sinister, something that goes all the way to the top of the government.
No one can be trusted and every character is a suspect.
Even undercover National Park Ranger, Luke Fereday – neighbour and friend.
The first couple of chapters are peppered with characters and snippets of backstory while the action speeds by. It took me a few pages to figure out who was who and their connections to each other. I don’t think more backstory would have helped, perhaps a bit slower with the action, but then again, I’m not complaining.
There is plenty of everything in this novel – action, secrets, shocking reveals and no want of reader surprises. The author did a fabulous job of developing motives (and characters) that I had a hard time guessing who the killer was.
The only downside to the story, was that the spiritual thread is very, very subtle. It’s not until the second half of the book we’re introduced to our heroine’s faith side. Her older neighbour Daisy, provides the majority of the spiritual thread for this Christian Fiction novel.
I quite enjoyed the story and look forward to the second book in the series.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved this romantic thriller. The characters were likeable, well conceived and complex. The storyline contained a great mystery that kept me thinking until the end. The romance between the two main characters was sweet. I can't wait to read the next one! I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I've read several other of Patricia Bradley's suspense books and really enjoyed them! I liked this one too and I'm going to give it 3.5 stars because I can't really decide between 3 & 4 stars.

The story takes place in a very interesting location and one that I've never heard of before - Natchez Trace Parkway. When the story opens, there are a lot of characters thrown at you but it didn't take me too long to figure things out. Patricia does a good job keeping you on your toes when it comes to suspects. There are several people you suspect and just when you think you've settled on one, something comes up for another person, leaving you wondering all over again.

There were some really good, honest discussions between Luke and Brooke that I appreciated. Too often characters won't talk and all the misunderstandings mess everything up. I guess that approach happened in their past, but now they seem to talk well. I really liked Brooke's statement "If two people will talk, they can work out anything."

Here's where things fell a little short for me. I didn't really connect to the characters. I felt bad for Brooke, with her loss and the big revelation, but I didn't feel with her if you know what I mean. Luke was a cool character and I wish we could have known him better. Daisy had to be my favorite and we didn't spend much time with her. On top of that, I felt the ending was a little rushed. As I got closer to the end I thought this must be a series where all the books follow the same characters because there is no way to wrap this up. I also was confused by the involvement of one of the "criminals". I didn't see a motive for their involvement unless it was just greed. These things make it hard for me to fully give the book four or even five stars.

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?


Brooke is excited to finally become a Park Ranger. Days before her swearing in her father is murdered. His death is ruled a suicide. But she knows he would never take his own life. Luke and Brooke are friends from childhood. Luke left and never contacted Brooke and hurt her terribly. She doesn't know he is there under cover to investigate drug running in the park. In the end they have to work together to discover who killed Brooke's father.

Another good book by Patricia Bradley. I recommend to everyone who likes a good mystery. Everyone is a suspect clear to the end of the book.

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

May 5... NG
STANDOFF..Patricia.Bradley
Brandon was an accountant by day and a hacker at night. He was addicted, he admitted to himself for two years, his dad warned him. He was an ex junkie
now dead,, the last site he got into was that why? His dad, Kyle , knew
something was wrong, he wouldn’t of used heroin. He still had the flash
drive from his son, what all was on it, now Kyle wanting justice.
A lot going on in Natchez, drugs, drug runners, a marijuana medical bill they are wanting passed.
Brooke was a Natchez Trace Park Ranger, Jeramy came by wanting to take her for dinner, he was a senator, and why interested in her she questions.
Also the ride along with her father was cancelled, and she wonders why.
Now he is dead, and they are saying suicide, he was a veteran Park Ranger. Luke goes in undercover and works with Brooke, to find the answers of what happened that night, with her father. A little romance, Luke doesn’t feel he is worthy of someone like Brooke. Then she also has the senator Jeramy, who likes her down to earth life, The beginning was set as we got to know the characters and the roll they were playing in wanting justice for a son and a father, The plot was good, interesting and how the pieces come together.
Given ARC by Net Galley and Baker for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Brooke Danvers father’s death was ruled a suicide. As an almost newly minted Park ranger investigative officer she's out to prove otherwise. Little does she know she'll find more than she bargained for! Luke Fereday is sent undercover to nail drug runners up the Natchez Trace in Mississippi when he finds John Danvers murdered. Too late to stop it, he'll work with Brooke to find the culprit and stop the drug ring.

This is the first suspense I've read from Patricia Bradley but it won't be my last! One of the things I enjoy most in stories like this is the police procedural and Bradley included plenty of that. Trying to figure out who was behind everything was next to impossible; I had a few suspicions but was still shocked at the end. Armchair sleuthing at its best! Also, both Brooke & Luke have a past history and watching the romance develop between them was fun. There are many twists and turns to keep me on my toes, lots of layers to unravel, and the story drew me in from the beginning. What I also loved, the tension was keep at a high level to keep me turning pages to find out what happens next. This is romantic suspense at its best that will keep me coming back for more! I can't wait for the next story in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series.

*This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing (Revell), through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to leave a favorable review. *

Patricia Bradley has wrapped together the best from several different genres. Standoff provides us a look at dirty Southern politics, a brief glimpse at a romantic suspense, and a walk through the workings of the U.S. National Park Investigative Services which Brooke Danvers has been training for and ready to be sworn in as a Law Enforcement Officer. Before that can occur two men are found dead - the son of the chief ranger and a Mississippi State Senator. Though barely ready to serve, Brooke is drawn into the midst of the investigations surrounding these deaths and puts her life on the line in finding the needed answers.

The first 30% (literally) of the book presented an overly complex mystery that was difficult to follow. After reading the first third of the story, the writing settled down and became the intense thriller the reader expected to find. The story is rooted along the Natchez Trace running between Natchez MS and Nashville TN. Originally used by the indigenous Indians, then by the traders moving slaves from the south to the north, it is now used by the illegal Mexican drug cartels moving their illegal goods further north. This provides the backdrop for Standoff.

Once started, the book was a good read that kept me up for several nights. Running over 400 pages, the reader will need to be patient as he or she tracks the settings and people found throughout the story. This reader was also glad to hear that there will be more in the series.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series by Patricia Bradley.

Basic premise: A veteran park ranger is killed after coming upon a drug buy. His daughter wants answers and begins looking into his death. Luke Fereday came upon the body of his friend but he is undercover and can’t reveal what he knows. A photographer also had a view of the scene and has photos that incriminate the guilty party. Then he also ends up dead.

I almost didn’t think these two would ever get together. Brooke lives next door to Luke’s grandmother. Luke was asked by Brooke’s father to go undercover and now that he’s dead, Luke has to be really careful who he trusts… for his grandmother’s sake and Brooke’s as well.

Brooke had to fight to get herself in with the Natchez Rangers and now that she has reached her goal, she is determined to find her father’s killer even more. It was real hard to figure out who the bad guy was since there were so many viable suspects around.

This is definitely a series I want to continue to follow.

If you are looking for a good romantic suspense book, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Standoff is the first book in a new series by Patricia Bradley, and it just may be, in my opinion, one of her best books so far.

Standoff just jumps off at the beginning and it doesn’t slow down. It is chockful of action and non-stop suspense. The two main characters Luke Fereday and Brooke Danvers have a lot going on with each other and everything else going on in the book. I really didn’t have any idea who was the lone gunman so to speak, and I was still surprised as to who it was, even though it was hinted at throughout.

I really liked Luke’s character and normally I don’t necessarily feel any closeness to the lead male characters in Ms. Bradley’s previous novels. He was well fleshed out as a character and I really liked him. I got the sense that he really cared about what he did, and of course, he cares about Brooke, and even though he didn’t think he was good enough for her, he owned up to it. Brooke and Luke had great chemistry together and I could see them in another novel solving another crime together, they worked well together.

I love Patricia Bradleys writing, and normally i sail through her books like a woman on a mission, but this book was filled with a lot of stops and starts for me. I think the issue was that it had too many ppints of view, so it was hard to get into the flow of it when it kept changing. Nevertheless it was still an excellent romantic suspense book and im excited for her new series!

The start of the new series, Natchez Trace Park Rangers proved to be a fast-paced suspenseful drama. Clues throughout this novel make no sense as rumors of drug trafficking and cartel involvement come to light in Natchez. I admired Brooke's tenacity in trying to solve her father's murder. I liked Luke's commitment to his job and his determination. I loved Luke's grandmother, Daisy. I'm glad the answers to situations were not so obvious as to keep readers guessing. With so many minor characters, it did get confusing at times. I'm looking forward to the next book. Recommended!

Patricia Bradley has quickly become one of my favorite authors because I know I can count on a suspenseful, clean read with true-to-life characters and realistic story lines. Her newest novel, Standoff, the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, is no exception. Bradley, once again, delivers a fast-paced plot with believable characters and plenty of suspense.

Set in the Natchez Trace National Park area, the book finds Brooke Danvers is about to take her oath as a park ranger law enforcement, following in her dad’s footsteps. Brooke was supposed to ride along with her father on patrol, but he cancels at the last minute. Instead, she rides along with another ranger, and they discover her father dead in the park. His death is ruled a suicide, but Brooke is not convinced. As she begins to investigate on her own, she finds herself mixed up with Luke Fereday, her elderly neighbor’s grandson, who seems to always be on the scene at suspicious times.

As the plot begins to unravel, there’s plenty of suspense, suspicion, trust and mistrust to go around. Be prepared for edge-of-the-seat suspense that will likely keep you from putting the book down until it’s finished. And while it’s a satisfying end, you’ll be sad because you have to wait for a while for the next book!



Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. However, the opinions expressed are my own.

this is a clean suspense romance book Brooke is looking into the death of her father, Luke is undercover looking for drug dealers then someone is after Brooke can he keep them both safe? i was given a copy by ner galley but this is an honest review. if you like suspense you will want to read the book

Patricia Bradley is one of those authors that is a bit hit-or-miss for me, but I greatly enjoyed her Memphis Cold Case series, so I decided to give her newest release a shot. And I'm glad I did! Standoff is one wild ride from chapter one.

Brooke Danvers is a very convincing lead character, and I enjoyed following her story. I did find it hard to relate to her at times--whether this was because her character wasn't fleshed out well enough or because we're so dissimilar, I'm not sure. I did find myself empathizing with her, especially as she dealt with the grief over losing her dad. Luke Fereday, Brooke's counterpart, was a great character, and for some reason I found myself liking him as a main character more than I did Brooke. The details of his job were fascinating and I could feel his struggle as he tried to balance his job and his life\relationships.

As I said, from chapter one, the story doesn't stop! With dramatic suspense and a plethora of action scenes, I couldn't put this one down until I finished it. Bradley is a veteran writer, and that shows in Standoff. I love her laid-back, yet still engaging writing style. I enjoyed Brooke and Luke's romance, although at times I wanted to slap both characters upside their heads. Honestly, the ex-boyfriend-wh0-never-stopped-loving-her trope can bug me most times, but I didn't mind it much in Standoff. It just worked.

Overall, Standoff is in engaging and suspenseful read that you won't be able to put down! If you love romantic suspense, this one definitely needs to be on your to-read list!


FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Standoff is another great book by Patricia Bradley. She has become one of my favorite authors and I have read and enjoyed all of her books. This book is one of the best.The story starts off fast and suspenseful from the first page. I love a book that builds the plot, holds your attention and you look forward to taking a break from life and escaping back in the book.
It follow the story of Brooke who has trained to be a park ranger like her father. But before she is swore in, her father is killed. Although they ruled it suicide, she sets out with her Luke, a former boyfriend to prove it was murder.
Good storyline and the romance adds to it. I also love the setting along Natchez Trace and the history of it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Net Galley but the opinions are mine.

Standoff is an entertaining and well written inspirational romantic suspense. An edge of your seat plot and well crafted characters. I love this author’s writing and look forward to reading more of her books in the future. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

4.5 stars for this romantic suspense thriller by Patricia Bradley. Ms. Bradley has been on my "want to read" list of authors for a while, and winning a copy of this book got me to move her up on my tbr. While this is my first book by this author, it definitely won't be the last!

This book follows Brooke Danvers, who has long awaited the day when she can follow in her father's footsteps and be a law enforcement park ranger. A few days before her swearing in, a completely chaotic series of events follows Brooke as she struggles to make sense of it all. While there was definitely a romance thread, it took a backseat to the suspense, which is how I like my romantic suspense novels to be. The characters also had history, which made the romance feel more natural. The faith thread in this one was minimal, but still present. There are a lot of twists and turns, both in the suspense and in Brooke's interpersonal relationships. While I had my suspicions, I wasn't sure who the bad guy was, or the major plot twist till the end. This is one that will keep you guessing and turning pages!

The only reason for not giving this a full 5 stars is that the characters (and therefore the author) seemed to take a pretty firm stance on the legalization of marijuana. While this is a big topic that can go either way, and it made for an important part of the story-line, I felt like the Christian characters took the wrong stance on this one. There will be some who disagree with me, but it felt a bit like a political platform. It was a minor concern of mine, but I thought it worth stating in case that is a major issue for a reader. Other than this small nuance, this is a stellar suspense novel. I would strongly recommend to fans of romantic suspense.

Special thanks to the author and Baker Publishing group for an advanced copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Standoff by Patricia Bradley brings a wide range of suspenseful, fast-paced, and unexpected situations to the reader, creating a great adventure of heartache, mystery, love, faith, and family.  From the first page, Standoff is suspenseful and mysterious. There is a murder and illegal activities going on. Standoff focuses in on Brooke Danvers, a strong independent woman working as a park ranger in the small town of Natchez, Mississippi, with plans on soon being sworn in as a law enforcing ranger. Brooke has a loving family and a wonderful life, but when questionable situations keep popping up in the small town of Natchez, Brooke is stumped. What is going on? Is there an undercurrent of illegal activities around the sleepy town of Natchez?  What can she do to figure out what is going on?

Brooke's family is personally devastated by a severe blow, the death of Brooke's beloved father. Although officials ruled her father's death a suicide, Brooke adamantly refuses to believe the official report and starts to investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding her father's death. Who could have murdered him? What could possibly have happened? What else is going on behind the scenes of this town? In her investigations Brooke runs into an old friend of hers, Luke Fereday, who has suddenly reappeared in town.  Although friends, Luke and Brooke had parted on tense terms, leaving Brooke heartbroken and lonely. Now when Luke comes back into her life, Brooke doesn't trust him and is suspicious of his motives for getting close to her.

Luke Fereday is an undercover agent sent to infiltrate the drug rings in the Nashville to Natchez area. His work is complicated, making his life and past appear more dark than it is in reality. He struggles to keep focused on his mission in the center of the drug ring after he discovers that his friend, John Danvers, is dead. As Brooke investigates her father's death, Luke soon discovers that Brooke is in danger. Whoever had killed her father is afraid that Brooke will figure out his or her identity. Luke struggles to protect Brooke while still helping her seek her father's killer, but is also pulled into the dangers and duties of his undercover work.  Will they figure out who is trying to kill them?  Can they protect each other? Can they find justice for John Danvers' killer?

This book was excellent! I have not had the opportunity to read much of Ms. Bradley's writings, but I found that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Standoff was full of action, suspense, mystery, completely unexpected plot twists, as well as the simple joys of family, faith, love, and community. I really related to the main character, Brooke and appreciated how Ms. Bradley portrayed her with strengths, flaws, hurts, joys, and all. I also really enjoyed the other protagonist, Luke Fereday with his strength, courage, adaptability, protectiveness, loyalty, and fierceness.  Not only did Standoff portray excellent characters, but the plot and themes were also extremely engaging and intense.  I would highly recommend this book and I hope that you have the chance to read it!

Disclaimer: Revell graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.