Oooh, I've liked the Natchez Trace Park Ranger series! They are a slow burn romance series that is full-throttle on the suspense. The crimes woven through these books are belieavable and carry the characters through the wild chases that always ensue as they chase down the killers. Madison Thorn thinks that moving to fraud/cyber will make her life a little less risky, but her shift to Natchez white collar division doesn't let her off the hook that easily. Violence escalates and she is dragged right back into the fray.... right along side the way-to-handsome Clayton Bradshaw

Madison Thorn was an experienced investigator for the National Park Service. Having left the violent crimes unit due to a life-changing incident in Texas, she now investigates white-collar crime. She learned she not only enjoys it, but apparently has a special knack with numbers that proves to be of great benefit. She came to Natchez to investigate a theft and kickback scheme involving employees of both the NPS and the county. Before she could get a good start reviewing the records, she found herself in the middle of a violent crime, which was followed by another. My head is still swimming at how fast crime seemed to escalate after her arrival in town. She had orders to tell anyone who asked about her trip to Natchez that she was there to visit her grandfather. The author held my interest with more twists and turns than a winding mountain trail. Madison worked closely with Clayton Bradshaw to get to the bottom of things. Clayton seemed to spend more time keeping Madison safe than he spent investigating the crimes. The threat of danger to Madison was so serious that she could not attend her own grandfather’s burial service. I don’t think Madison had a clear picture of who she could trust until the end of the story. I received an advance copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

Deception

by Patricia Bradley

Action and tension are abundant in Patricia Bradley’s Deception, the fourth book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers Series. Madison, the protagonist, is a special agent with the Investigative Services Branch. After the bust of a human trafficking ring in Big Bend in which Madison’s partner is killed, she decides to switch gears and work in a white collar crimes division. She is good at both jobs.

In Mississippi she goes to visit her beloved grandfather, a retired judge, and things turn ugly and violent. A woman who could be Madison’s doppelgänger is attacked. Who is she and which one of the two was actually targeted? There is also a missing girl who was being rescued from her pimp. Could she have been the target? Madison is convinced that a suicide being investigated is in fact a homicide. This novel borders on being a police procedural as there are so many agencies involved.

The book has some romance as Madison is helped by Clayton, a former childhood friend, who is now a ranger in charge of a district in the Natchez Trace. Another interesting character is Nadine, the judge’s longtime housekeeper. She is in her eighties. She doesn’t say a lot, but she is a very careful observer and has great hearing.

Deception has lots of twists to the plot, and the characters not only have secrets, but many really do actively deceive. Madison turns to Clayton to try to understand forgiveness. He explains how he has forgiven others who have hurt him: “Because God forgave me for all the ways I’ve hurt others.” “I didn’t [do the forgiving]. God did it in me. But I had to give up my right to be angry and resentful.”

A huge part of the plot involves adoptions and family history, but all of these seemingly disparate threads tie together quite dramatically when the mysteries are resolved. Deception is my first exposure to this author. I definitely plan on reading more by her. It was an exciting book, and I like the way she gently wove Christian beliefs into a suspenseful tale.

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

Rating: 5/5

Category: Suspense, Christian, Romance

Notes: #4 in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers Series. It is enjoyable as a standalone, but I wish I had read the first ones. The first chapter dives into a previous time frame that sets up Madison’s reason for turning to white collar crime investigation and is easily understood. Then as the plot turns to current events, a lot of characters are introduced (or maybe reintroduced?). I pushed through that and because the plot is the focus, it all sorted itself out. I’m glad I persevered for a few chapters.

Publication: August 2, 2022—Revell

Memorable Lines:

“He was this important businessman, and Mom always told me not to bother him. When he was at home it was like tiptoeing on eggshells, but at least he wasn’t home much.”

Sister. She loved the way the word wrapped around her heart. It sounded as though neither of their lives had been rosy, but perhaps this could be a new start for both of them.

He got the impression Madison didn’t trust many men. And after meeting her father, he could understand why. And then there was a the FBI agent who tried to ill her.

Deception by Patricia Bradley is a fast moving novel with layers of intrigue. Ms Bradley is known for her vivid, real characters and the ones in this book are some of my favorites. The plot and theme of this book are so unique, yet readers of this genre will find everything they love about romantic suspense. I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

“Today was not a good day to die. Her Sig P229 ready, National Park Service Ranger Madison Thorn pressed her sticky back against the hangar as another bullet kicked up dirt three feet away. The shooter’s aim was getting better.”

Wow. Talk about an intense read. There were so many mysteries wrapped within another mystery that it really kept the pace going. It was hard to put this book down. I especially loved the connections from the past and finding family. I have a similar story unfolding and let me tell you it is intense and emotional. The story was close to my heart and yet, I’m so glad it doesn’t involve all the danger that unfolds with “Deception.”

Intense and riveting, you won’t want to put this book down until the final page. Clayton and Madison’s story is not only romantic, but filled with overcoming hurts and failures from their past. If you love romantic suspense with the focus on crime and family, I think you’ll love how Bradley writes. I know this story will stay in my heart for years to come. It was a fantastic read.

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley by the publisher. All opinions are my own and have been given honestly.

Deception, the 4th and final book in Patricia Bradley’s Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, marks the end of a great reading run. I enjoyed the previous 3 books, but this novel outdid them with its twisting, turning plot. I won’t spoil it for you, but hold on to your seat. You will not guess what is coming for the characters. This romantic suspense features main characters Madison Thorn and Clayton Bradshaw, both law enforcement agents with the National Park Service. I really liked the glimpse the series gave the reader into the workings of law enforcement at our national parks and historic sites. I didn’t realize all the that it could entail. Madison investigates white color crime, and that is what brings her to Natchez. There is interagency cooperation, but subsequent events become very personal and Madison and Clayton join forces to find out whodunit. There are several plot threads that seem disconnected, but a savvy suspense reader knows that most things intersect, or in this case become incredibly tangled. The mysteries, yes there are more than one, keep the characters and the reader on their toes. I liked these main characters and cheered them on as they sped from one crime scene to another. I also cheered as they moved their relationship forward. Both are Christians, as are others in the book, but on differing faith journeys. I found the support from other believers to be a great addition to the narrative. Themes such as identity, guilt, and loss are explored. The varying reactions of different characters in similar situations was interesting. The question arises why do some become bitter or turn from God, while others embrace Him?

Since Deception is the final book in the series, now is a good opportunity for some serious binge-reading. I recommend the entire series for fans of romantic suspense.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

A brilliant ending to a brilliant series! I’ve enjoyed every minute of this Natchez Trace series, and this was an absolutely worthy ending. The story concept was intriguing, and the characters were engaging - even if they were a little annoying at times! I read this almost in one sitting, I was so engaged! Highly recommended!!

Wow this is without a doubt an amazing book by Patricia Bradley. The story will stick with you long after you are finished. An amazing book. Definitely want to pick up this book as your next read.

Deception is the conclusion to this series and was my favorite. The title says it all. Madison, a Park Ranger comes back home to help solve a murder and discovers deception every where she goes. Her first day back in town she runs into Clayton a childhood friend who is also a park ranger. Together they try to figure out who shot a woman that looks identical Madison, who shot Madison's grandfather, and why is someone gunning for Madison. Full of suspense, twists and turns, mystery, a little romance and inspirational.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get better, it did! Lots of drama, suspense and twists and turns in this book. I enjoyed reading every chapter from beginning to end!

ISB ranger Madison wasn’t my favorite character because she was constantly running away from her feelings and avoiding talking or confronting people which really annoyed me. But she acknowledged she did that because of growing up with a bi-polar mother and tried to do better. Clayton and Madison worked well together to find out why her grandfather was attacked and in doing so, opened up to a bunch of skeletons in the closet. Who was a friend? Who wasn’t?

Letting go of grief, addictions, anger, forgiveness, and having faith in God were all themes in this book. The author did a great job of weaving in the suspense and having relatable characters with different problems all throughout the story. I really enjoyed it! Although it’s book 4 in the Park Rangers series, they can be read as stand alone novels.

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

Whenever Patricia Bradley comes out with a new book you can always expect it to be taken on a wild ride and Deception is no exception. Deception is the fourth and final installment of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. Deception tells tells the story of Madison and Clayton. Deception throws more than one mystery to the reader and the entire book keeps the reader on it’s toes. Madison returns to her grandfather’s town to work a case as a ranger with the Investigative Services Branch of the FBI. In short order, after getting into town Madison gets a speeding ticket from Park Ranger and childhood friend Clayton, finds out that she has an identical twin she knew nothing about, and loses her grandfather. The main mystery in the book is finding out who was trying to kill her newly found twin sister and what other skeletons are in the closet as the dead body count continues to spike as Madison and Clayton are on the case and the other sub-mysteries that are popping up. I enjoyed being completely surprised by the mysteries that were in the book and being kept on the edge of my seat. I loved the twin aspect of the story and how Madison and Clayton evolve as characters in the book. If you are looking for an edge of your seat mystery, then I highly recommend Deception by Patricia Bradley! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

Title: Deception
Author: Patricia Bradley

Ch: 76 Plus Epilogue

Series: Natchez Trace Park Rangers book 4

Genre: Christian Suspense

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell



Deception by Patricia Bradley is the fourth and final book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series: I enjoyed this one, but it wasn’t my favorite of the series. While the case was interesting it was Madison’s personal journey and story that kept me turning pages to find out what happened.





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.

This whole series has been good, but this one really kept me guessing! I thought that the story was clever, with two young woman who look alike being targeted. It kept me on my toes!

I became a fan of Patricia Bradley’s books at my first read. It does help that she is a fellow southerner so she sometimes writes about places with which I am familiar. I have not actually traveled the Natchez Trace but once drove under it near its north end at Nashville. Nevertheless I have always been intrigued with its history.

The fourth and final installment of Bradley’s Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, Deception may be the most exciting one yet. Forced to work with her childhood nemesis park ranger Clayton Bradshaw, Madison Thorn finds herself in the middle of a violent crime spree with her grandfather as one of its victims. It also looks like Madison herself might just be in the killer’s line of sight. As is often the case, not everything is as it seems and the danger escalates as Madison and Clayton follow a rabbit trail or two in pursuit of their villain. Plenty of action and suspense fill the pages. The plot moves along at a brisk but steady pace with several twists and surprises in store for readers. A touch of romance and a strong message of faith wrap up the story to make a most pleasing package.

I highly recommend Deception but would encourage readers to begin with book one of this series for their own satisfaction.

What a great action-packed book! It was full of mystery and suspense and had me guessing until the very end! I also loved Madison’s journey of trusting God even though she’s had obstacles in her life. Highly recommend!

This was a very interesting story. There was a ton going on and sometimes I did have trouble keeping things straight which did make it confusing. There were a lot of characters floating around and I wondered how and if they all tied together. There were times it seemed like a bit much but the overall story was interesting and I wanted to keep reading to see how things would end up.

A copy of this book was given to me through the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Deception, the fourth book in Patricia Bradley’s Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, is a romantically suspenseful, fast-paced tale featuring a ranger who works with the Investigative Services Branch (Madison Thorn) and park ranger, Clayton Bradshaw. The book starts off with a bang and continues to feature plenty of action to keep readers turning the pages. The ending contains several twists, which will keep readers guessing until the very end. The spiritual theme of the book is forgiveness, which is handled well and woven organically into the story. Additionally, the book deals with the topics of addiction and adoption. While this is the fourth book in the series, it could be read stand-alone.

*Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I love the Natchez Trace Park Ranger Series by Patricia Bradley and was excited to be able to read this one.
Ranger Madison Thorne is now working in the fraud and cyber division after a case went bad, very bad in the violent crimes division she was previously in. This is a fast paced story of how the past can return.
Madison is in Natchez to work on a white-collar crime. Sounds pretty dull and safe, right? Anything but.
She is staying with her grandfather who is a judge. She returns to his house one evening to find him dead. They are trying to rule it a suicide, and Madison knows without a doubt that is just not possible. Her grandfather was about to tell her something very serious when she was called out. Did it have to do with his death?
She meets her cousins childhood friend when he pulls her over for speeding. He is now NPS Agent Clayton Bradshaw. The two of them end of working on the case together. And, who is the gunshot victim in the hospital who looks identically to Madison? Unfortunately, Madison's mother is deceased and she and her father don't have a very good relationship.
Read this book if you also like fast paced suspense with a bit of romance.
I was given an advanced ecopy of this by the publisher, Revell through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Deception by Patricia Bradley
Publisher: Revell
Genre: Christian, Mystery
Published: August 2, 2022

Deception is the 4th book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series by Patricia Bradley. This is the first book in the series that I've read and I found it easy to read as a standalone mystery. This is also the first book I've read by the author and I really enjoyed it!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It had a great story and fascinating characters! I loved watching the mystery unfold and I found the (clean) romance refreshing. I also loved the message of forgiveness and second chances woven throughout the story.

I look forward to reading other books by the author and recommend this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The fourth installment of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, Deception by Patricia Bradley does not disappoint!

Madison Thorn, Investigative Services Branch Ranger, is headed home to Natchez, Mississippi to work on a white=collar crime investigation. Upon returning to Natchez, Madison is reintroduced to a former childhood bully who is now an incredibly handsome park ranger - Clayton Bradshaw.

Clayton sees a woman in a restaurant who looks identically like Madison, and shortly after seeing this mystery woman, she is shot in the back. At the same time, Madison's grandfather is shot and Madison finds herself also in danger. Madison and Clayton must work together to solve the mystery of what is happening in Natchez.

I love reading Patricia Bradley books, and I have looked this take on mysteries that focus on park rangers! This story had all the elements of a good story, characters you can root for, family secrets, trust issues and questionable motives from many of the characters.

I read this story in one full sitting because I couldn't wait to get to the end. While I did solve one of mysteries as I was reading, there were several other mysteries that I did not unravel myself as I was reading! I love a story that can keep me guessing as much as this one did!




Thank you to Net Galley and Revell for a copy of this book! This review is my own, honest opinion!