This book fell short compared to the first two books. For some reason I wasn’t able to fully connect with Alex and McKenzie. I enjoyed the plot and that this story focused more on cyber crime and dived into technology and the digital world. I loved how the characters from book 1 and 2 Jack, Terra, Erin and Nathan played a huge part in this book & helping with the case.

We finally found out the reason behind the vandalism to a memorial that started in book 1. This plot was unrelated to the cases that each book focused on. I loved how this plot was intertwined in all three books and finally was revealed.

Overall this was a great series and I would recommend starting with book one. The descriptions of Montana was on point and made me feel as if I was there in the mountains.

Okay so that was definitely the best of the series! So many plot twists kept me guessing the whole time. The fabulous characters, family drama, and criminal hacking all combine for an epic tale that is hard to put down at night!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mackenzie Hanson is on a date when she sees a face from her secret past—Julian Abel. Julian is then hit by a car and she finds a business card in her pocket … a message from Julian which sends her home to Montana in time to find her brother dead in his home. There she meets her sister, now the CEO of the family IT business, and Alex Knight, who she met three years ago when she was approached then rejected for a role in a secret three-letter agency.

Yes, it’s a fast-paced start with a lot of characters introduced and a lot of complex information shared very quickly. This did make it difficult to follow the plot at first … although perhaps that’s to be expected with a romantic suspense story about cybercrime.

Critical Alliance was an odd mix of too much information and not enough. There were scenes that seemed to speed past and I was left feeling as though valuable information was missing. There were other scenes where things were spelled out that didn’t need to be (e.g. I think most suspense readers know what Interpol is).

Once I got into the cybercrime element of the plot (and had worked out who all the characters were), the plot did start to make sense. The suspense element was fast-paced and compelling, with enough real-world relevance to make it just a little scary.

The faith element was good—not so much as to be preachy, but written so it felt integrated into the characters (sometimes the Christian elements can feel tacked on, and sometimes they’re so subtle as to feel almost invisible). Critical Alliance struck this balance well.

The romance aspect was also well done. The novel takes place over a very short timeframe (days), and I’ve never been a fan of instalust in Christian fiction, so I appreciated the fact Mackenzie and Alex had previously met, even it they hadn’t spent much time together. It made their attraction feel a little more reasonable.

Critical Alliance is the third and final book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series. That explains why I thought it introduced too many characters too quickly – they were probably characters from the previous books in the series, which I would have known if I’d read one or both of Present Danger or Deadly Target.

Overall, Critical Alliance is a solid Christian romantic suspense, but is probably best read as part of the series.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This is the third book in the Rocky Mountain Series and is was the first I have read in the series. The way it was written, you did not feel as if you must read the previous books in order to know what was going on or in fear that is may spoil them.
I won’t go too much into the plot so I do not ruin anything, but just enough to see if its something that you may like. The female lead is a cybersecurity professor, Mackenzie Hanson, with a past she is trying to make up for. She gets a cryptic message which sends her home, a place she felt she couldn’t go back, to save the company her father created. This brings us to our male lead, Alex Knight, who is an agent with Diplomatic Security Services that is home trying to deal with a bad mission. They met when she applied for DSS and they are reunited with a bang. Well, gun shots. They start working together to try to figure out who wants her dead and her father’s dream destroyed.
This is a fast-paced story that doesn’t slow down. You have your mystery and thriller, with a dash of romance. It didn’t take me long to read this one, really wanted to find out who was behind everything. I enjoyed getting to know Mackenzie and Alex, after reading this and getting a glimpse of the characters from the other books, I have to go back and read those!

I was provided a copy of this book by Revell via Netgalley.

The final book in the Rocky Mountain Courage follows Alex Knight as he returns to Montana. While there, investigating destruction to his father's memorial, he is reunited with an old acquaintance Mackenzie Hanson. Mackenzie's special skill set (cyberspace) is pulled into play when her family's company is attacked and her past may be to blame.
Mackenzie was an interesting character and I enjoyed her. i wish there was more from Alex's perspective, he had the buildings of a great character. The series is based on the relationship between 3 friends (Alex, Terra and Erin) who were connected through tragedy (remember that memorial that pulled Alex back to Montana?) and I would have liked to know more about the 3 of them. The other 2 are background characters and I felt they could have played a much bigger role. It would have created a more deep character in Alex.
Some of the story felt a little too predictable and rushed. But it was still a fun read. This is my first series by this author and I will try more.

Critical Alliance is the third and final book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series. All of these books can be read as stand alone stories, but common characters are mentioned in all three so for character development I recommend reading them in order.

This cyber intelligence, clean romantic suspense story had great characters and a steady plot with danger, action, and twists and turns. Mackenzie and Alex are working together to find out who is after her and her family company through out this book. They had met briefly years ago but now Alex is back in the area to find out who is responsible for his deceased fathers vandalized monument. I liked how easily Mackenzie and Alex worked together and treated and respected each other like equals.

I loved reading all of these Rocky Mountain Courage books and highly recommend them! I have been reading books by this author for years and they never disappoint! I can’t wait for her upcoming new Alaska series to be released.

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

Mackenzie Hanson, Cybersecurity Professorin in Michigan, ist mit einem Freund auf einem Jahrmarkt auf einem Fahrgeschäft als sie glaubt einen Bekannten aus der Jugend aus dem Augenwinkel gesehen zu haben. Erinnerungen steigen hoch. Als sie dann den Platz einige Zeit später verlassen wollen, bekommen sie mit, wie er von einem Auto angefahren wird. Kurz darauf entdeckt sie in ihrer Tasche eine Karte von ihm mit einer Warnung vor einer drohenden Attacke und sie macht sich, ungeachtet vergangener Vorkommnisse, auf den Weg zu ihrer Familie nach Montana.

Als Diplomatic Security Services Agent Alex Knight im Wald in Montana unterwegs ist, um den Vandalismus an der Erinnerungsstätte des Flugzeugabsturzes zu untersuchen, bei dem sein Vater vor 15 Jahren starb, trifft er zufällig auf die zurückgekehrte Mackenzie, die er schon mal vor drei Jahren kurz getroffen hat. Aber so schnell wie sie aufgetaucht ist verschwindet sie auch schon wieder, auf dem Weg zu ihrem älteren Bruder Rowan. Doch sie und ihre Schwester Nora finden ihn tot vor, angeblich verstorben an einem Herzinfarkt.

Schnell gerät Mackenzie in Gefahr und Alex wird zum Retter. Doch alle haben Geheimnisse voreinander. Mackenzie zum Beispiel musste wegen Cyber Kriminalität damals die Familie hinter sich lassen. Die Protagonisten sind sympathische Hauptfiguren, aber schwer durchschaubar, was sicher von der Autorin so absichtlich angelegt ist. Beide haben eine nachvollziehbar schwierige Vergangenheit, man fühlt mit.

Als bei knapp der Hälfte des Buches der eigentliche Cyber War beginnt wird es sehr spannend und man folgt gefesselt der Geschichte. Eigentlich kann man von da an nur noch in einem Rutsch durchlesen. Das Buch kommt in einem rasanten showdown zum Höhepunkt. Zum Ende werden die Fälle zufriedenstellend aufgeklärt.

Ich weiß nicht, wie ich auf die Idee gekommen bin, dass man das als standalone lesen könnte, aber davon möchte ich abraten. Die Figuren aus den Ersten Teilen tauchen häufig wieder auf und es macht sicher mehr Spaß, wenn man die Vorgeschichten kennt.

Critical Alliance
by Elizabeth Goddard
Pub Date 05 Jul 2022 |
Revell
Christian | Mystery & Thrillers

I am reviewing a copy of Critical Alliance through Revell and Netgalley :


I am reviewing a copy of Critical Alliance through Revell and Netgalley:


Mackenzie Hanson was able to find a successful career as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university, due to her special set of skills, which has allowed her to put her criminal past behind her. After a long ago partner in crime delivers a cryptic message about her father's tech company being under cyberattack, she heads for Montana to secure exposed assets, close security breaches, and hopefully save lives.


Alex Knight is a diplomatic Security Services special agent, who is back home in Montana to decompress from a mission gone wrong. Even as he is trying to relax, Alex finds himself drawn into another mystery, complete with suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common--a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.


After the situation turns deadly,Alex and Mackenzie will have to work together to find the answers they need--before someone silences Mackenzie for good.




I give Critical Alliance five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

The story begins with a crazy, spinning amusement park ride. Actually, the dizzying speed of the rest of the riveting action story continued! Mackenzie's specialized skills in combating cyberwarfare was amazing, and she knew it would be wise for Special Agent to have her back. Who would be motivated to destroy Mackenzie's family, career and life? The surprising answer made sense. But there is no surprise in how much this Christian romantic suspense book will be enjoyed by so many!

I have loved this series! This is the third book in this series and it is a fast-paced book with nonstop action. This romantic suspense book will keep you reading all night until you get to the end! The story is about a cybersecurity expert discovering a message from her past regarding her father’s company. She returns home to figure what is occurring and stop a cyber-attack. Alex is back home to work through some difficult circumstances. He is drawn into Mackenzie’s situation and together they will have to figure out how to stop what is happening. I highly recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed!
***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.

Some people can overcome the mistakes of their youth, but Mackenzie Hanson can’t seem to escape the condemnation from her family and even the government. Despite the cloud hanging over her, Mackenzie manages to forge a life for herself as a professor of cybersecurity.

But when someone from her past slips her a cryptic message, Mackenzie rushes home to Montana to save her family’s business—and maybe even their lives. Who can she trust, and how imminent is the threat? More importantly, will anyone let her use her unique set of skills to take down the hacker who continues to threaten her?

Alex Knight failed in his last assignment as a Diplomatic Security Services special agent. His supervisor orders him to take a break, and Alex heads home to Montana. What looks like a low-key, relaxing vacation turns into a race to figure out the identity of the mysterious Nebulous 2.0—cybercriminal and possible murderer. Will his skills in protective services save the life of the beautiful Mackenzie Hanson and her sister?

Why I Loved This Book

Goddard’s third book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series highlights the mysterious Alex Knight. Readers can enjoy the book as a standalone novel (but why not read Deadly Target and Present Danger—they’re awesome books, too!). Fans of romantic suspense will love this inspirational novel as they journey to overcome past mistakes and build a future based on a relationship with God.

This was a great read! The plot was interesting, the characters had great development and the ending tied together nicely. It is action-packed with lot of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of the seat. I can't wait to read more from this author. I will be re-reading this book for sure as well as the whole series. I highly recommend this intriguing story,

Critical Alliance was the first book I've read by Elizabeth Goddard but it certainly won't be my last. It was very difficult for me to put this book down because I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. The suspense and action are turned to a level 10 for the whole book and it's a great ride. I didn't guess who the culprit was which is always a plus in a book of this genre and the romance between the two main characters was sweet and well written. Anyone who enjoys Christian Suspense novels will enjoy this book.

Did you know someone could hack into your car and run you off the road, or worse, while you think you're in control of it? I didn't but I guess that is naïve of me. Anything with a computer brain can be hacked, and Elizabeth Goddard drives that point home in Critical Alliance.

Mackenzie Hanson has spent most of her life doing penance for a mistake she made as a teenager. While her computer skills are unparalleled, she got them on the wrong side of the law. Now she teaches college students how to use their skills for good, and she's one of the best cybersecurity experts in the nation. She only had to sacrifice her relationship with her family to get where she is today. When her partner in teenage crime seeks her out to deliver a warning, she flies home to Montana to do what she can to protect her brother and sister. Is she too late, or can she still stop the mastermind behind the thefts at Hanstech?

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight has returned to his Montana home to decompress after an op blows up. He recognizes Mackenzie immediately when he sees her across a parking lot, but noticing that a drone appears to be following her, he wonders if she could be in danger. Following her home, he arrives just in time to help defend her from someone shooting at her. When she asks for his protection, he is conflicted. Helping her could mean stepping outside his job with the DSS, but he can't stand back when she's in danger.

I liked Mackenzie a lot. She's super smart, and knows computers, and security, like no one else. She also feels very responsible for her estrangement from her family, even though the whole thing happened when she was 16. I was sad for her on many fronts: lack of closure with her father, her brother, and the general lack of trust her family had for her and her abilities. Alex was the perfect love interest for her as someone who also knows about security, and especially cybersecurity. I cannot imagine how much research Ms. Goddard had to do to make this story so authentic. I had a few very late nights trying to finish this!

Readers who love romantic suspense will enjoy this story. There is an element of faith threaded through the story, but I didn't think it overwhelmed the suspense. This was a great read!

Have you ever gotten to the big reveal in a mystery and been disappointed that you totally saw it coming? I have got to hand it to Elizabeth Goddard; I totally did not see the whodunnit coming in her final installment of her Rocky Mountain Courage series, Critical Alliance. What I did see, was the simmering love interest between the super intelligent Mackenzie Hanson and DSS Special Agent Alex Knight. And I saw how Jack and Terra from Present Danger and Nathan and Erin from Deadly Target were expertly woven into Critical Alliance to bring the trilogy full circle with friends we already know and love.

Mackenzie messed up big time as a frustrated youth and has suffered consequences far beyond the legal ramifications, as years of estrangement have kept her from her family. Driven by the need to right her wrongs, she has worked passionately to counter the measures that took her down a destructive path. All of a sudden, her youthful misadventures have dragged her back home to Montana on a mission to save her family and their lucrative tech business from a cyber criminal bent on revenge. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Mackenzie finds herself thrown into a situation where she must count on the one guy who won’t stay off her mind. Romance has to take a back seat to quietly and quickly putting her attacker in his place, but it is so difficult when Alex keeps being so incredibly irresistible.

Alex Knight is supposed to be on a mandatory three week vacation, but it is not easy to rest and relax when the terrible events of his most recent assignment plague his waking and sleeping hours alike. Furthermore, someone has defaced the Rocky Mountain Courage memorial again. This time, the damage is done to the his father’s memorial. Catching the vandal will be the diversion he needs. Alex finds himself with a much larger diversion when he finds the girl who got away in his own neck of the Montana wilderness, especially when he finds that she is in need of protection. Solving two separate cases that shouldn’t even be his keeps Alex entirely too busy to be sidetracked for his feelings for Mackenzie. At least it should, but how can he stifle the Mackenzie makes him feel?

I am not going to pretend that I actually sat down and read this book in one sitting. It is back to school time and our household contains one groomsman, one matron of honor, and one incredibly adorable maid of honor for a wedding that is approaching at a rate that sure does feel like warp speed. So what I can honestly tell you is that I did absolutely devour Elizabeth Goddard’s finale to her Rocky Mountain Courage series in one day. I’ll spend the next few days making up for everything I put off for the sake of this delicious binge read, but I have absolutely zero regrets.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I could barely put it down to go about the things I am supposed to do. I loved this book. It had an intriguing storyline that took us deep into cyber crimes and unseen predators.

Mackenzie was an intriguing lead with a history and a strained relationship with her family, She met Alex once about three years before and then didn't see him again until a mysterious message took her home.

Elizabeth Goddard spins a masterful suspense with a side of mystery. Throw in a dash of romance and Christian content and you have a real winner.

The final twist caught me off guard and I pride myself in figuring it all out before I get there. I didn't see it coming but in hindsight there were clues though there were many times I was mislead. It was fantastic!

If you haven't read this author, I highly recommend you pick up this one or another by her. You won't regret it

I received an early copy from the publisher via net galley and this is my honest review.

Mackenzie Hanson and Alex Knight had spent only one day together three years ago, but it left an impression on both of them. Now both are back in Montana, each for different reasons and their paths cross again. Mackenzie's family's business was under threat as was her life. She asked Alex for help. He could not refuse, but it remains to be seen if he can help her.
This well written story deals with cybersecurity, threats, danger and romance. Well plotted and fast moving, the narrative is packed with mystery. The characters are well crafted and believable. Their individual skills add much depth to the story. Highly recommended.

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

Critical Alliance is the conclusion to Goddard's Rocky Mountain Courage series. Unfortunately, I missed that it was part of a series before reading this novel, but it did seem to work as a standalone for the most part. I will definitely be going back to read the previous novels however, partly to fill in any plot holes, but also because I absolutely loved this novel. Every page is packed full with fast paced suspense, heart-stopping intrigue, and sweet romance.

Mackenzie Hansen is a former teenage cybercriminal turned successful professor of cybersecurity, but her old partner in crime has returned with a frightening message saying her family's tech company is endangered. She rushes home, but she's been estranged from her family for years now, and has no idea if they'll accept her, or send her right back to Michigan. Alex Knight, Diplomatic Security Services agent, is home on leave after a mission gone wrong. He's never dreamed he would see Mackenzie again, but his life is upended once again when he spots her in his hometown and learns of the danger she is facing.

I really need to stop trying to read exciting books before bedtime! Critical Alliance kept me up long into the night. I just had to know how it ended! Goddard's plots are well-rounded and realistic, her characters are raw and relatable, and she liberally sprinkles Jesus throughout the pages. Every chapter is a rollercoaster of twists and turns, and I was suspicious of pretty much everyone until the very end. That was a twist I didn't see coming! All in all, I loved this one, and can't wait to read the previous books. I'm sure they're just as fantastic as this one!

If you enjoy faith-filled, exciting romantic suspense, you'll want to add Critical Alliance (and the rest of the Rocky Mountain Courage series) to your TBR asap!

*I received a complimentary copy of Critical Alliance through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

Title: Critical Alliance
Author: Elizabeth Goddard

Ch: 39

Pg: 368

Series: Rocky Mountain Courage book 3

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell



While each book in the Rocky Mountain Courage is a standalone it’s best to read them in order. Because there’s a small plot that starts in Present Danger but isn’t wrapped till Critical Alliance. Each book is a new mystery but what ties each together is the friendships between one of the main characters.


Though I have to say that critical Alliance the final book and the one that focused on cybercrime. I loved Mackenzie and Alex. Mackenzie’s a reformed computer hacker and Alex works for a government agency that handles higher level crimes. So it gave me a bit of Penelope Garcia vibes. This one was the faster paced book of the series and it kept me turning pages. If it hadn’t been for work and sleep, I would have finished it in one night. I look forward to more books by Elizabeth Goddard.

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.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog tour I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The story opens with Mackenzie Janson heading home. She must face a fatal error in judgement she made as a kid, which had her estranged from her family per their request. She has paid dearly for this mistake. How would they receive her?

Special gent Alex Knight, with Diplomatic Security Services, crosses paths with Mackenzie because of her unique skill set as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan University. Mackenzie is there to help her family and their business that is being targeted by a cyber-attack. She knows she can help, but has enough healing taken place for them to trust her. Then things turn deadly and DSS Agent Alex Knight enters the scene. He’s there to identify all the players in this attack and find out who is telling the truth and who to trust.

Alex is drawn to Mackenzie, but can she be trusted given her past? As they face a multitude of challenges, at every corner, things don’t look good. They are between a rock and a hard place. Trusting each other was going to either make or break a possible relationship and cost them their mission. Time was running out they had to be all in, now.

Looking for a dynamic thrill ride with charismatic characters trying to save the day and the possibly the world. Critical Alliance has it all, fast-paced drama, edge of your seat suspense, and a mystery that has you guessing until the very end. This author does a wonderful job of having the reader be suspicious of everyone. The technology side of this book had me a little freaked out by the fact this wasn’t fiction. It is crazy to think these things are possible, but it made for a story I couldn’t put down.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by 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!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/