Emma is not happy at the idea of having to work with Sam again after having broken up with him years earlier - but when she is shot at one dark night as she prepares to leave work, it's a relief to have him turn up as part of the team trying to solve the mystery. Sam knows that there can be nothing between them now, but as he is forced to spend time with Emma to keep her safe from a stalker who seems obsessed with her, it becomes impossible to deny the attraction between them. Will they work out in time who Emma's stalker is? And can they really develop a future together at last?

I must preface this review by saying that I don't like getting into the head of 'bad guys' like Emma's stalker - I find it a horrible idea that anyone could think and feel the way they are (presumably quite reasonably) portrayed as doing. I realise that it can be a good way of telling a story, but it's not one I particularly like. This reduces the rating I give but may not bother others at all. Other than that, this is a well-written, clean and engrossing suspense story, with limited or no graphic violence. The mystery is well done, with potential suspects all over the place - I guessed fairly early who the bad guy probably was but wasn't quite sure until nearly the end. All in all, a good read but not my favourite.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Obsession is a faith-based novel focusing on the lives of two US Forest Rangers serving the National Park Service near Mount Locus MS along the Natchez Trace (or Parkway). Emma Winters was assigned to the “interpretive” side of the National Park Service - focusing on visitor and historical experiences. Sam Ryker was a part of the “law enforcement” service of the National Park Service. The story has its roots in the disappearance of Emma’s twin brother ten years earlier, an event which has affected Emma’s emotional and relational life ever since.

Though its roots go back ten years, the story opens with Emma returning to the Mount Locus visitor center late one night to retrieve a file she needed to complete a report. There she discovers intruders that begin taking pot shots at her. She calls 911, who sends Sam Ryker to check out the scene.

The plot traces the discovery of who and why was involved in taking those shots and discovering the history of Emma’s brother. In the course of the book, the author explores the cost of keeping guilt and shame hidden and of not offering forgiveness for wrongs done in the distant past.

Though this writer is not familiar with the area, the description makes it a part of a bucket list to visit for both its scenery and its history. The book is intense and involved as it explores the region and the backgrounds of the story’s characters. I give the book 5-stars.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

"Obsession" is a Christian romantic suspense. This is the second book in a series, but it works as a standalone novel. Emma accidentally uncovered new evidence in an old case where her missing twin brother was accused of murder. She and Sam worked together to discover the true murderer since it may be connected to the person who kept shooting at them and leaving Emma creepy messages. Since we know more than the main characters, the reader has a better chance of guessing whodunit before Emma and Sam, but I must admit that I wasn't absolutely certain until nearly the end.

The suspense came from the physical danger as well as uncertainty about their childhood friends, who were suspects. The main characters were complex, likable, and reacted in realistic ways to events. They asked good questions as they investigated. Emma was generally sensible and resourceful, even though she didn't like needing help. Emma tended to cut and run whenever there was tension in a relationship, but she did still care for Sam, so they needed to work through this and some past issues. Both Emma and Sam needed to forgive people in their lives. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to suspense and mystery fans.

Wow I cannot believe how amazing this book is! It hooked me from the first page and wouldn't let go.
I loved these characters, how well the story flowed, and how well it all ended.
I highly recommend this book.

Obsession is another great suspenseful read in the Natchez Trace Park Ranger series, set in Natchez, Mississippi. I was pulled into the story in the beginning scene and entertained to the end. Emma Winters is a ranger at a historical visitors center right off the Trace where she is working a archeological project involving slave cabins and graves. She returned to the site one night having forgotten a file and surprised someone running a backhoe when no one should be there using it. Warning shots were fired at her. Someone was digging a grave size hole near the cabins and graves. Newly returned Law enforcement district ranger Sam Ryker is called in to investigate along with the County Sheriff Nate Rawlings and his department. Ten years ago, Emma and Sam were engaged before tragedy broke them up. Her twin brother Ryan disappeared the same night he was accused of killing a girl he dated. Sam, Emma, and Nate work to unravel the present day mystery and see if/how it might tie in with the old mystery. On top of all that's going on, someone begins stalking Emma. Sam is working to keep her safe but things ramp up as they get shot at again. It is a complicated mystery involving small town politics and old friends. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on and who I thought might be the stalker and who was the shooter--were they the same? Who was digging at the site?
Sam and Emma are both carrying around emotional baggage, not only from their history but family issues as well. The story deals with the importance of forgiveness and moving forward. There is a faith thread woven through the story showing how it can change people for the good. This is an action packed mystery with suspense, danger, a psychological element, and love. I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who love romantic suspense with a spiritual touch.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Emma Winters and her family are grieving the disappearance of her twin brother. Sam Ryker is grieving the disappearance of his best friend, Ryan, and the loss of the love of his life, Ryan's twin sister, Emma.
Emma works for the Natchez Trace Rangers and is a embarking on a historical landmark project at the Trace when she suddenly has to dodge bullets heading her direction. As frustrated as Sam is with Emma over her decision to run 10 years ago his heart nearly stops when he hears she's been shot at. Of all the Rangers who have to be on duty Sam Ryker is not the one Emma is hoping to see. But when he arrives she finds herself in his arms, clinging to him for dear life. Sam deems himself Emma's body guard. Emma decides it's easier to go with the flow than buck Sam at every turn.
This story takes so many twists and turns every character is a suspect. Bradley does a great job of keeping the reader engaged and guessing. She kept me enthralled right to the end where I felt like the story needed a little more punch. All in all it was a great story and worth the read. I'm enjoying this series and looking forward to the next book.
Thank you NetGalley and Revell for the opportunity to review this great author's book.

Obsession was written by Patricia Bradley and is book two in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. It is not necessary to read book one in order to read this book.

Summary: When historian Emma Winters returns to work late one night to retrieve a file, she ends up dodging bullets.

It seems someone is stalking her too.

Will she be able to work with her ex-fiance Sam Ryker to find who is responsible before things become deadly?

My Thoughts: This book was just OK for me. There was plenty of action, and the author did a good job trying to misdirect the reader so they couldn’t figure out who did what.

I just found it super hard to buy the fact that every eligible male seemed to have a thing for Emma. She is described as a normal person (not extremely beautiful or anything), and yet every guy wants to date her. I understand the author wrote it that way to cover-up who the stalker was, but it was just a little too much.

Overall though, it’s not a bad book. It’s an easy read, has interesting characters, and a good mystery. It just wasn’t my favorite.

I would like to thank Revell for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

Obsession is the perfect example of a great romantic suspense novel. I loved that in the beginning there was more than one mystery to solve. I was blown away by the way the story came together.
Sam and Emma’s relationship wasn’t all sweetness and light. They had real issues to overcome as they worked together. There was chemistry, but their history was a barrier they had to breach in order to trust one another again.
This is one of the few books where I wasn’t confident I knew the culprit before the end of the book. Hints were thrown out in a way that hinted at one person then another. Twists and turns in the story had me reading late into the night.
I highly recommend this book as my first great suspense of 2021!
I was given a copy of this book courtesy of Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

** “I’ve accepted that I can’t change history — just like you can’t unscramble eggs.” **

Patricia Bradley delivers another heart-thumping romantic thriller with “Obsession,” the second installment in her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series.

Interpretive Ranger Emma Winters is less than thrilled that her ex-fiance Samuel Ryker is back in town as the district law enforcement ranger — that is until she is shot at near the historic slave quarters and cemetery site where she is working.

When the shooting brings them together to solve that occurence, they also dig into her brother Ryan’s mysterious disappearance 10 years ago, trying to determine if today’s incident has anything to do with him going missing and the murder he was accused of.

Bradley does an incredible job of weaving together a plot featuring a decade-old incident and crimes happening now, as well as developing characters with doubts, fears and relatable flaws. As they must wade through their redeveloping feelings toward each other, both Emma and Sam must overcome past insecurities and traumas.

“Obsession” also reveals several great themes, like reminding us to take our burdens to God, because He’s big enough to carry them; the past is over and done with, so let it go; holding on to hatred will only destroy you; finding the do-the-right-thing moments, and following through on them; and the power addiction can hold over us.

A huge theme of the book is forgiveness, and the necessity of not only forgiving others, but forgiving one’s self.

Even though this is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone, although I’d recommend reading “Standoff” also. Fans of authors like Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon and Terri Blackstock will love “Obsession,” which is due out Feb. 2.

Five stars out of five.

Revell provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Patricia Bradley has delivered another winning romantic suspense. I loved the fast paced plot and the character dynamics. I could almost picture the Natchez Trace setting. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

There are some people you never intend to lay eyes on again. Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters’ knew whose name was at the top of her list. That would be her ex-fiancé Sam Ryker. To say their break up ended badly would be the understatement of a lifetime! Emma gets shot at at one night while working at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace. To her utter shock, Sam Ryker has appeared and in a Natchez Trace District Ranger Uniform! On one hand, no one has ever made her feel safer, but that was before everything went so awry. This is the premise that author Patricia Bradley uses to start her latest novel.

The majority of Bradley’s novel is centered around a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace. And, several scenes take place at night. I’m a Mississippi Girl and I’m going to tell you some facts I know: 1)There are few places in the entire World that are darker than many of the historical landmarks off the Natchez Trace at night! It is just because of the natural topography; 2) There are few places that can give you the creeps any quicker!; 3) A lot of them are well hidden from the Natchez Trace itself; 4) Parts of the Natchez Trace are not as well traveled as others. I kept thinking about these things as I read Bradley’s novel and it added an extra level of suspense for me!

Bradley amps up the level of obsession in this novel as she deftly pens the mystery of who is stalking Emma, shows multiple agencies working together to solve a murder and a cold case and adds a dose of romance as too very broken people attempt to determine what went wrong all those years ago and is it worth saving.

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

Great suspense read! The author does a wonderful job stringing the reader along to suspect several suspects.
Emma’s historical dig turns in a nightmare when first, she is shot at, and second, she, along with local law enforcement, including her old fiancé, find evidence that a body was stolen from the dig site, and it is her twin brother missing for ten years.
It is hard to understand how some people’s minds work. How someone can become so in love with a person who doesn’t know about or return an interest. And how it can turn them into a killer when they are “disappointed”.

Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she's forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.

Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn't intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.

Who is taking shots at Emma and then Sam? All Emma knows is that she doesn't want Sam around. He reminds her of their former engagement and the disappearance of her twin brother. As they continue to search for clues, surprises keep coming their way. Is Emma being stalked?

This is a good mystery that will keep you reading. I look forward to more books from Patricia Bradley.

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

How many more people would die before this person was caught?

The author has once again captured the reader with a mystery that requires intense concentration in order to even try to figure out who the perpetrator is. Emma and her twin brother Ryan had just celebrated their 21st birthday when he went missing. Years later there is still no body, no murderer and no closure!

Emma’s job on the interpretive side of the National Park Service has her surveying old slave quarters and a cemetery. When illegal digging occurs, shots are fired and attempted murders happen, law enforcement steps in. Who is the project backer that doesn’t want anything disturbed? Why is she suddenly the target of a stalker?

Sam Ryker works on the law enforcement side of the National Park Service. Cold cases are not usually within their jurisdiction, but when evidence is found regarding the missing person from years earlier, the case is reopened. Original reports are missing requiring further investigation. Suddenly there is more information that has been overlooked all these years. Will answers finally be found?

This ARC of Natchez Trace Park Rangers, #2 was received through Revell, Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. The rating, impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

This book was so good! I couldn’t get enough of it! I read most of it in one sitting! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and storyline. It kept me guessing the whole time! I would highly recommend it!

OBSESSION.Patricia.Bradley
Natchez Trace Ranger and a historian Emma Winters to finish up her report before midnight, and get the gate key she had a short hike to get them. Now locking up when rifle shots were aimed close to her.then a car sped away. Even after ten years as her ex fiancé, district law enforcement Sam Ryker wanted to be sure Emma was okay
The next morning 9 daises lay on the doorstep, with a message to “enjoy each day.” Was someone against the historic slave quarters being restored and bodies found and counted, A stalker who is obsessed and is sure she loves him also, thus the name of the book.
A look once again of her brother who disappeared ten years ago, Emma is sure he is not guilty. A good mystery with a touch of romance, and a good series. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion from Net Galley and Revell.

I’m the biggest fan of romantic suspense, so I’m always willing to dive in to a new title. Obsession, sadly was a big miss for me. I had major issues with the heroine of this story and could not find a way to see her as relatable or root for her. She was rude, immature, and I found it impossible to believe that she had three grown men vying for her attention. I think the author was trying to show her as independent, however she came across as arrogant, blunt, and completely self centered. I felt as if the plot drug out for way too long without any real progress and I didn’t really understand why the majority of the book centered around a park ranger digging in a pit that had just had a disturbance. The villain was completely obvious from the very first encounter which left no twist or surprise for the rest of this story centered around digging and sifting dirt. The romance angle was completely not believable based on the characters interaction for most of the book. I did enjoy the chapters written from the villain’s point of view and there were times I was even rooting for him to succeed. This book definitely wasn’t my taste as far as suspense reads goes.

This book will grab you and not let go until the final page is turned, and you will have your heart in your throat while reading, and holding your breath for answers.

A missing brother, a murder, shots being fired, and then stalking, and maybe throw in a little sweet romance.

I have read many books by this author including the first book in this series, and yes, this can stand along! This story quickly became a page turner, looking for answers and guessing whom the culprit is, and I guessed wrong a log.

I loved how much forgiveness for past happenings played here, and how the realization of wanting to be forgiven is the catalyst to forgiving.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

Patricia Bradley does a good job with the suspense in this clean mystery/suspense novel. Set on the Natchez Trace, this book follows National Park Service Ranger Emma Winters. Emma discovers a recently dug hole near an old slave cemetery she is set to do a project on. Things rapidly become interesting when shots are fired at her immediately following her discovery. Things become even more interesting when Sam Ryker, her ex-fiancé, teams up with her to solve the mystery.

I enjoyed reading this book. The suspense was good and the author kept me guessing until the end. The action was paced nicely and I especially enjoyed the setting. The romance was sweet and clean. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean mystery/suspense/romance novel.

Wow! Where do I start? I thought Standoff was good, but Patricia Bradley has totally outdone herself with this one!!!

She weaves a complex web in this story. The characters are so dynamic, and I always love a second chance romance, so that the fact that lead characters used to be engaged was always going to win me over. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next & there were so many good candidates for who Emma’s stalker could be, that it was impossible to work out who it was!

This is next level suspense writing. The thing that stood out for me was, that often with a stalker suspense storyline, things get a little over the top! But with this one you could believe everything that happened could really happen! It’s one of the most realistic suspense novels I’ve ever read and the relationship dynamic is one of the most realistic I’ve read too! Real is definitely the word for this book. And it’s fabulous! Definitely one of Patricia’s best!! It’s out on February 2, so keep an eye out for it or pre-order!


Thanks @revellbooks and @netgalley for the ARC. I was only require to give an honest review in return.