Crosshairs is the third book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. While characters first introduced in the previous novels might make small appearances, each book focuses on a new set of leads and can certainly be read as a standalone without any confusion. While I had read the previous books in the series, I must admit it had been a little while and my memory of the specifics was fuzzy, and it didn't impact my enjoyment of this story in the slightest.

One thing that Patricia Bradley does really well is throwing suspicion in a wide variety of places to keep the reader guessing. You might think that you have it all figured out (and really, you just might), but there is just enough doubt cast elsewhere to keep you guessing right through to the very end... and I certainly loves those twists and turns that keep me guessing! Being kept on my toes is definitely part of the fun of reading a suspense, and this one did it quite well. Being a complex story, that can often mean a lot of confusion, and while there are a few times that I had to stop and catch up a minute, I do think the author did a good job of bringing it all together in the end. Of course, I am personally always a fan of a good second chance love story so the romance was certainly a plus for me! Overall, this was an enjoyable read that fans of Christian romantic suspense are sure to want to check out.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley gives readers another mystery set in Natchez, Mississippi. Ainsley Beaumont is definitely in someone’s crosshairs. She is sent to her hometown of Natchez to investigate a murder, but finds herself in the middle of several mysteries, not to mention a killer that wants her dead. Lincoln Steele joins her in the investigation, but also to protect her.

I like the complex layers of the story. Someone’s after Ainsley, but is it the murderer from her current investigation, a former inmate she put in prison, or someone who is after some recently discovered diaries her great aunt found? As the story unfolds, Ainsley and Linc’s relationship rekindles. Both have some regrets from the past, and the danger brings them closer together.

I highly recommend this story if you like complex plots, investigative stories, killers on the loose, and suspense!

Overall Rating:
5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)

Suspense Rating:
5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)


I received an ebook review copy of this book through Revell and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

** “Honey, never compare God to your dad. His has frailties and weaknesses. I should know — I raised him. God will always be there for you, and he’ll never give up on you.” **

Patricia Bradley delivers another action-packed suspense thriller filled with twists and turns in “Crosshairs.”

When a National Parks case brings together former couple Ainsley Beaumont and Lincoln Steele, they must work past issues to solve several interconnected cases — including shootings, murders and missing family heirlooms. But can they both overcome past failures, both personally and professionally, to stop the nefarious activity going on?

Filled with plot twists and misdirections, “Crosshairs” keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Bradley does an incredible job of developing characters one can’t help but root for, all while revealing their very relatable flaws.

She also fills the book with several great themes, like what happens when revenge takes over; forgive as the Lord forgave; God is with us wherever we go (“fear not, for I am with you”); and regaining trust when it is lost.

Fans of authors like Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard will love this book.

Even though “Crosshairs” is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading the series’ first two installments: “Standoff” and “Obsession.”

Five stars out of five.

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

I always enjoy reading mysteries and thrillers written by Patricia Bradley. I have just finished reading her third book in the “Natchez Trace Park Rangers” series, Crosshairs.

Ainsley Beaumont and Lincoln Steele come together again after fifteen years to solve several murder and assault cases taking place in and around Natchez. Ms. Bradley’s characters are always so interesting to read about. Some secrets surround the pair’s past and present emotions. The main theme of the story in my estimation is how the two of them will come together again when the secrets are revealed.

Every turn of the page presents a new suspect. Every turn of the page presents a new danger to the primary characters in the novel. There are plenty of those to go around and it keeps the reader involved and interested. Readers who enjoy mysteries or thrillers will love Ms. Bradley’s latest in this series.

“Crosshairs” by Patricia Bradley was an excellent read! This is the 3rd book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. You don’t have to read the first two books in the series, though. This is one of those books that had my attention from the first page and throughout the entire book. It has non-stop suspense and a little romantic tension thrown in. The plot of this book is different than most romantic suspense books. I liked that a lot.

I highly recommend this book if your enjoy good, clean, romantic suspense novels.

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

Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer's next target--nor that she'd have to work alongside an old flame.

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn't bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

My review: Ainsley never thought she'd see her former boyfriend, Lincoln, again. He blew is when he sided with her father and told her she'd never make it as a singer. She has never told anyone but her grandmother and aunt why she gave up singing. Now she is a ranger task with finding killers. Since Lincoln was a former FBI agent he is task with helping Ainsley solve the murder of a teenage girl. His only problem is that he can't touch a gun. Ainsley and Lincoln have baggage they have to deal with before they can start to trust each other again.

I recommend this book to all those who like a good mystery. There were several surprises along the way that I didn't expect.

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

The themes in this Christian romantic suspense are some of my favorites, including trusting God after turning away from Him and letting go of the past in order to forge a better future. Ainsley is an investigative ranger and returns to her hometown of Natchez in order to work on the murder of a pregnant teen. No sooner does she arrive than her elderly aunt is attacked in her own home and the woman’s family diaries are missing. When Ainsley realizes that her life is in danger, she is helped by her former love interest, Lincoln Steele, a man who wants to keep her safe but is not sure of his own abilities. This is a well-written book with plenty of suspense and some simmering romance in the background. The sub-plots are Ainsley’s aunt and her missing diaries and the murdered teen. The main plot is the danger that Ainsley is facing daily from various killers who want her dead and will stop at nothing to make it happen. I enjoyed the various viewpoints presented, especially getting to read what the killer was thinking and doing during several intervals in the book. I liked getting that glimpse into the mind of the villain and trying to guess what his next step would be. I really liked the big surprise twist at the end that I did not see coming at all! The characters are well-developed and realistic and the plot was fast-paced and filled with danger and action. There were also a lot of descriptive details about the setting that made the book memorable. Although this is the third book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed by anyone who likes brilliantly written suspense and propulsive mysteries.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books via Netgalley as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions 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 Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

After reading Patricia Bradley’s previous book in the “Natchez Trace Park Rangers” series, I had put the Natchez Trace on my bucket list. Given the number of murders and other events in the first five of 71 chapters of her most recent faith-based book, I am not so sure:

1. Assault of a 94-year-old woman in her home
2. Theft of a 150-year-old diary
3. Death of a 16-year-old out behind the old Methodist church
4. A tornado that swept through part of the county
5. Illegal marijuana sales

Nope, not sure I want to visit.

Having said that, the crimes and writing did hold this readers attention. When the local sheriff, the Investigative Services Bureau of the National Park Service, and the FBI, are all involved in the mess that defined the Trace that week, things do get interesting. The mix of crimes, law enforcement agencies, and characters, easily make for a 5-star book.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

I felt like I was reading a Nancy Drew and I really liked that vibe in this book! Old diaries with secrets.. old mansions with secrets... old ladies with secrets. I though Ainsley's relationship with her grandmother and great-aunt was precious. They were such nice ladies.

There wasn't a whole lot going on with the park this time around. Aside from the diaries, there were a few other mysteries to be solved. The whole reason Ainsley is in Natchez is to solve a murder, so we have that going, and then there is the mystery of who is trying to kill Ainsley? Or is she even the target? We are clued in to a few things early on, but there is one (well, two in one) big surprise twist at the end!

Speaking of the end, it seemed a bit rushed right at the end. A bit of a whirlwind. Very sad, too. I can't say much more without saying spoilers but I didn't see it coming.

Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.

Sometimes, to fully embrace the future, you must first face your past. “Crosshairs” is the third book in Patricia Bradley’s Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. While you will see some familiar faces, this book focuses on the two main characters and reads well as a standalone. Returning to her hometown to investigate a murder, Ainsley Beaumont finds herself working with handsome Lincoln Steele – the man who broke her heart years ago.
I loved how Bradley layered the plots in this one. The overarching murder sets the scene for Ainsley’s return. Add to that a 150-year-old mystery, some missing journals, a stalker and wait, another stalker!? The suspense builds from chapter one and doesn’t let up. Just when you think you’ve got all the answers, Bradley will throw in another twist.
On a deeper level is Ainsley’s struggle to face the past. Hurt by both Linc and her father years ago, she begins to realize that she needs to forgive and learn to trust again. And maybe in trusting, she and Linc just might find a way back to the love they once shared and a future neither of them thought possible anymore.
Linc is also struggling. Trauma from his time in the FBI has left him unable to carry a gun. He’ll need to learn to trust God to deal with his past so he can seek to protect the woman he never stopped loving.
Set in Natchez Trace Park, Bradley does an amazing job describing the lush surroundings, stately antebellum homes, and the old historic sites. This book will draw you in from the first page. Action packed and stuffed with suspense and romance you won’t want to put it down. I highly recommend this book (as well as the rest of the series) and look forward to the final installment due out in 2022.

Crosshairs is the 3rd book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, but it could easily be a stand alone. This book was a page-turner! It was full of action, suspense, and romance. I loved the plot and felt the characters were very well developed. And I enjoyed the setting in this book. My husband and I drove the Natchez Trace Parkway this summer all because of reading this series. :)

If you love a good Christian romantic suspense, you will want to add this book to your tbr list.

I enjoyed the easy way that Lincoln Steele and Ainsley Beaumont worked together to investigate the death of a teenager in the Natchez Trace National Park. Linc had stayed in Natchez while Ainsley went off to chase her dreams. Now working as an investigator for the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service, Ainsley has been sent to Natchez to help investigate a murder. Hoping to avoid Linc, her old boyfriend she left behind fifteen years earlier, she quickly discovered that was not going to happen. As a former FBI agent, now working as an interpretive ranger for the NPS, he was asked by the district ranger to help with the investigation. The story is fast-paced and action-packed. It seems everywhere they go, someone is shooting at them or at someone in close proximity. The question is whether the shooter is trying to stop Ainsley from investigating the murder or whether there is another motive in play. Bradley keeps the reader in suspense until almost the end before revealing who did what and why they did it. Although certain things are clear to the reader throughout the story, several things are unclear from the beginning. I especially liked that Linc was firm in his faith, and that Ainsley made a significant turn back to hers as the story unfolded. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own. #Crosshairs #NatchezTraceParkRangers

I had been anxiously awaiting a new Patricia Bradley mystery/romantic suspense novel. She did not disappoint with Crosshairs. The story begins with the assault of Ainsley Beaumont's great aunt and Ainsley's investigation, as an Investigative Services Branch ranger, into the murder of a teen aged girl. Along the way Ainsley comes under attack multiple times, and new lines of investigation come into play. Crosshairs is a highly engaging book that brings hours of reading enjoyment. Now begins the wait for Bradley's next release.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

4 stars

Ms. Bradley has created a wonderful story that is engaging and full of suspense.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Patricia Bradley has another home run with this intriguing, captivating story! Until the last page was turned, I couldn’t put it down.

At age 92, Cora Chamberlain is writing a book about the murder of Zachary Elliott. In her search to clear her great-grandfather’s name of murder, she has researched old family journals that detail what happened to Zachary Elliott.

Someone else, however, wants the journals to sell for a hefty price-tag. On a stormy night he waits outside Miss Cora’s house, waiting for the lights to go out. He then will enter the house through the basement and up through a secret passageway that will take him right into her library. What a shock for both when Miss Cora, hearing a noise goes down to the library.

Ainsley Beaumont is back in town, staying with her grandmother, Rose, who is Cora’s sister, and lives across the street from Cora. Ainsley, an Investigative Services Branch ranger, and Cora’s niece has been called to head up the investigation of the murder of a teenage girl in the local state park. Ainsley is back in town, staying with her grandmother, Rose, who is Cora’s sister, and lives across the street from Cora. While investigating the murder in the park, Ainsley also gets involved in the quest for the missing journals.

This is a compelling, intriguing story with surprises, romance, healing of relationships, as well as shocking revelations. Until the last page is turned, it is nearly impossible to put down.

You destroyed my trust, and once trust is lost, it’s hard to get back.

What a wonderful story that begins with murder and ends with lost love - or so it seems. Ainsley Beaumont is a Special Agent with the Park Rangers. Her specialty is investigation and she has come to find out who killed a beautiful young lady named Hannah. The mystery and intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat, trying to figure out who the perpetrator is.

Just to make it more interesting, the author throws in some long standing family secrets that yield all kinds of interesting tidbits, but would they lead to yet another murder? Betrayal leads to revenge, but can redemption bring hope and renewed trust?

Book #3 in the Natchez Park Rangers series will not be easily set aside. This reader appreciates the opportunity to access an ARC through Revell, Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. These impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

The third in the Natchez Trace Park Ranger series proves to be a quite the adventure for Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont as she strives to solve the murder of a teenage girl. Several twists in this story will give readers one variety of suspects when someone begins trying to kill Ainsley. The side story of Linc, ex-FBI sniper and his struggles are heart-breaking. Loved the aspect of the diaries and history they provided. Wish more of the diaries were revealed. Recommended!

Okay, I was so excited to get an ARC for this one! I love, love, LOVED this first two books in the series and so my expectations were sky high! Needless to say, I was not disappointed.

And although this didn’t turn out to be my favourite of the series - Obsession retained that honour - it was still every bit as good as the other two, and I was very impressed!

It was definitely fast-paced! And The twists and turns absolutely kept me guessing what on earth was going on all the way to the end! Patricia can sure write a plot that can fool you good!! And you all know I don’t say that lightly!! It takes a lot to fool me!! And this one did! In spades!! I thought it was thoroughly predictable… until suddenly, it wasn’t! So well played Patricia, well played!!!

And on a little side note, I’ve loved how all the MCs in this series have had history together!

Highly recommend this book and the whole series to anyone who likes romantic suspense! They’re definitely high on my list of great examples of the genre!

Thanks so much to @revellbooks and @netgalley for the ARC! I was only required to provide an honest review in return, and as you can see, I was thrilled to do so!

And oh, tomorrow is release day BTW, so get around it!!!!

Now this is the third book in this great series, and yes, it can stand alone!

This is Ainsley Beaumont's story, she is going home again, and she barely opens her car door when the action starts, and your mind will be trying to figure this out, but beware, you will be changing your mind and then going back!

Ainsley is reunited with her old flame Linc, can they both let go of past hurts, and unite to find out whom they are looking for, but you will be holding your breath, there is so much action, you can't let your guard down.

Even when some of the answers unfold, this book keeps giving!

This is Christian suspense at it's finest!

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

Exciting, page turning romantic suspense. It will keep you guessing with many surprises along the way. Great characters. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.