I'm giving it four stars because I didn't care for the main characters BUT the plot was very good. A hostage negotiator and a journalist are working together to figure out why the kidnapper killed himself instead of surrendering to the authorities. This story has lots of plot twists and turns, plenty of action, faith, a touch of romance, and definitely a "whodunit."

“The bottom line is truth and love go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. Because Jesus is both truth and love.”

Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills follows the investigation of Carrington Reed and Levi Ehrlich as they try to discover the truth behind a past murder. Two brothers demand answers to their father’s death, and they’re holding undocumented immigrants hostage until they receive said answers. When they begin digging, Levi and Carrington soon discover that the case is far more complicated than it first appears. With lives on the line—at times including their own—the two will not stop until they can provide justice. Until the novel’s every lethal standoff reaches a conclusion.

I can always count on DiAnn Mills to provide an exciting crime with twists and turns that would probably perplex even Sherlock Holmes. Each page leads to more questions, more dangers, and more attraction flaring between Carrington and Levi. Their relationship blossoms slowly. They focus on solving the case while simultaneously learning more about each other on a personal level. Prior to the case with the Kendrix brothers, Carrington and Levi had a professional relationship and nothing more. DiAnn Mills beautifully explores how to cross that line. How to become vulnerable with some of the hardest elements in the characters’ pasts. How God can work every situation for His purposes.

In Lethal Standoff, DiAnn Mills explores how stress, mistrust, fear, greed, and anger can taint people’s views. Each character wears his or her own rose-colored glasses, shaded by individual experiences. Fianceés, husbands, wives, reporters, hostage negotiators. Mills exemplifies how we, as humans, have our prejudices, whether we realize it or not. And these, in turn, influence our actions, interactions, and our relationships. Carrington and Levi both struggle to open up because of past hurts, but Lethal Standoff exemplifies how important it is to lean on others. God never designed us to be hermits, to carry our burdens alone. There is a certain strength in being vulnerable, in trusting in someone else’s strength.

My biggest complaint about Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills was the “big reveal.” I struggled with it. Maybe it was just me. I can’t go deep into my qualms without spoilers. Because I saw no signs of the antagonist’s identity besides maybe one, even when I thought back on everything after I finished the novel. The person did a 180-degree turn from one chapter to the next, and I was very confused. Once the character explained their reasoning, it made sense. But…I wanted so much more. I needed more.

DiAnn Mills is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, and Lethal Standoff is another one I’m excited to add to my bookshelf. I cannot wait to see what Mills may write next.

Wow. In Lethal Standoff, DiAnn Mills takes readers on a suspenseful and danger riddled ride through a complex plot. The characters in this story are so varied and richly developed. Not only does the larger plot keep the reader guessing and engaged, but the personal growth of the main characters, Carrington and Levi, is a challenge and encouragement toward personal introspection as well. Carrington has dedicated her life and carrier to negotiating dangerous situations and also helping those people then work through the resulting trauma. Levi, a well known reporter, has dedicated his life work to writing about the truth and ensuring justice in his efforts to help people. Combine their compassion and courage, and these two run into a whole passel of trouble in their quest to help others. This book has strong faith elements which encourage the reader to pursue faith. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to any reader who enjoys a suspense story, Christian fiction, or just a good literary escape.

I requested a copy of this book for review. The thoughts expressed here are only my own.

I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson and all opinions expressed are mine.

I am a Diann Mills fan! This was the best 'cat and mouse' thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat. The book follows hostage negotiator Carrington who is called to a scene of a hostage negotiation where the Kendrix brothers have taken 15 hostages. At first it looks like any negotiation however nothing is ever what it seems like. Working hand in hand with Levi the investigative reporter they slowly uncover the truth. Well written, fast paced and thrilling! It's the perfect read to cuddle with.

Secrets, betrayal, and a hostage negotiator who doesn't know how to quit mix for an edge of your seat suspense. Add in an investigative reporter who always gets his answer and they won't stop until they have all their answers. Just when everything seems to line up with answers, another wrench gets thrown in to turn it all upside down once again. The only way to get the final answers is by sifting through all the clues to reach the adrenaline soaked ending. This is a thrill ride that leaves the reader eagerly flipping pages to get to the next plot twist.
The characters are so wonderfully written, they feel like people from down the street. The depth of emotions and hard situations they face put real amotions into the story. I loved how they each face hard family dynamics in both relationships and health, and show how God can be trusted to get through to the other side of every obstacle. It was so refreshing to read about a Messianic Jew and a few of the issues they deal with and some of their beliefs and traditions. I also loved how a hostage negotiator was portrayed, with a calm that doesn't always sit at the front of her life. And how her compassion and caring bled through to the surrounding days and situations the people affected by the hostage time faced. The detail to set the settings in this story just added a depth that made the story that much easier to dive into. The pages easily flipped by as I lost myself in this book.
The twists and adrenaline laced races through this book are amazing! I really couldn't guess the final outcome which made this story so hard to put down. It was a fast paced dive into a family history that people were killing to protect, and Carrington and Levi could always be next on the list! I raced through this book and can't wait for the next story from DiAnn Mills. I loved the thrill, suspense, and emotions form this story. I already have a spot on my TBR pile for her next thriller. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was an amazing page turner about human trafficking and who was really at the center of it all in this community. You really won't guess who it is. It isn't who you think! Carrington and Levi encounter plenty of trouble trying to figure it out! Awesome book!

I don’t normally read “inspirationals”. My relationship with the almighty is personal and I don’t feel the need to testify. That being said, I really enjoyed this romantic suspense. The mystery kept me captivated. I enjoyed watching Carrington and Levi’s journey. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this.

“From the looks of you two, the other side is winning…” That line was a total crack up. While this hostage negotiation story wasn’t big in the comedy department, I will say that the author DiAnn Mills put Carrington and Levi through the wringer.

I worried that the author backed herself into a corner since the story was about a hostage scenario and suspected it would only need a few scenes or that i wouldn’t connect with the story if there were too many days in the life of a negotiator. But this book didn’t disappoint. There is so much that goes on during the aftermath.

The author did a great job at tugging emotions that I even felt sorry for Williams Kindrix, the man who abducted a slew of people, old and young. Like I said before, having the hero and heroin go through so much really took the story to another level. Carrington and Levi came to life with every effort they took to piece together Will’s motives and help his family.

And woah. I was not even in the right ballpark when it came to who the real enemy was. Man makes plans but God’s will is perfect, and the author incorporated a great move to tie the story together all involved with the last intense moment. That might sound vague, but I wont spoil the ending.

Thank you DiAnn Mills for great story and an awesome, inspiring message.

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

The book is so gripping. I loved Carrington’s character. Carrington Reed is a hostage negotiator. The book has it all; action, suspense, mystery, secrets and a hint of romance. The hostage situations felt so real and painful. They kept me on the edge. I deeply felt for the mother and daughter. Loved how she negotiated with both parties not just one of them. The hostage situation connected with the Kendrix brothers was so complex. They want justice for their father. I loved how well she managed the situation. I loved the bond between Levi, an investigative reporter and Carrington. Characters back stories were so touching. Plot twists were jaw dropping. This is a very gripping and unputdownable book. This will keep you on edge.

Thanks to the Publisher, Author, Book Tour Organisers and Netgalley

Lethal Standoff, by Diann Mills is a Christian romantic suspense story that is filled with action, suspense and mystery. This fast paced story grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it to the very end. The writing is so clear it is easy to imagine what is happening and sense the fear and tension. I enjoyed this story and the wonderful caring characters. I enjoyed the honesty and truth Levi was convicted to put into his journalism. It is easy to see the hurt he has with the isolation from his family and old friends due to his religious beliefs. I admire the strength Carrington has to work such a stressful job while dealing with health issues. I was surprised by the Kendrex family dynamics and who really was behind the human traffiking and father’s death.

This is a wonderful story of healing and moving forward.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

DiAnn Mills, the author of Lethal Standoff, captivates readers from the very start. The story features Carrington Reed a successful hostage negotiator who works hard to resolve crises peacefully. She's brave, calm, and self-assured, yet she carries long-standing fears from her past and concerns about her health that linger in her mind.

A charming investigative reporter, Levi Ehrlich has admired Carrington's dedication and expertise in the past. Their paths cross again during a chaotic kidnapping incident where 15 hostages are trapped in an abandoned house by two brothers from Texas. The stakes are high, and the outlook seems grim.

This story had me hooked on my Kindle. The tension and mysteries keep the pages turning, revealing that the hostage crisis is just the tip of the iceberg. The Texas community holds deeper secrets that intertwine various lives in very unexpected ways. Readers will find themselves piecing together clues that lead to a shocking conclusion that no one saw coming, especially me.

The romance between Carrington and Levi feels authentic and heartwarming. Both characters experience personal growth as they confront their challenges. Additionally, themes of faith and belief in God enrich the characters' development. Lethal Standoff is non-stop excitement, leaving you guessing about what will happen next. Having already read another book by Mills, I've quickly come to consider her an author I can’t wait to read more from. She expertly delivers a rollercoaster of romantic suspense with unexpected twists and gripping tension throughout the novel.

“Pain can be a beautiful thing if we allow it to work miracles in our lives.”

Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills is another wildly successful faith-based romance, suspense, thriller rollercoaster ride that will have you devouring every chapter and looking for more. Mills never misses a beat!

Carrington Reed is an in-demand hostage negotiator in Houston and is called in to help with a truly unique and harrowing standoff near Victoria, Texas. Levi Ehrlich is an investigative reporter who is called into action to report on the situation. But this isn’t the first time Carrington and Levi have crossed paths in their professional careers.

With several plotlines weaved together, Mills delivers a remarkably realistic mosaic that captures the intricacies of any hostage situation, several backstories, a vile truth, and a relationship that finally sparks into something more than casual nods and hellos. Carrington and Levi may already know each other at the start of this story, but this particularly dangerous scene will bring them a lot closer.

Lethal Standoff is rife with several themes, including family, faith, and fear. Mills drops several types of familial relationships that contribute to the overall fabric of the story. Families, good, bad, and dysfunctional, can have strong ties, terrible secrets, or unforgiving attitudes. With faith and family as prominent threads throughout, Lethal Standoff is compelling and entertaining. Fear goes without saying here because by the very title, something scary is definitely happening, but Mills presents several other types of fear that are quite relatable. Read the story to find out more!

While this faith-based fiction does NOT have strong language or steamy scenes, it does have other situations that might alarm some readers. Health scares, familial breaks and/or betrayal, greed, and human trafficking are all too real and prevalent in today’s society, but DiAnn Mills handles all this with aplomb and excellent writing, of course!

If you’re ready for a captivating story that will cap off your summer, Lethal Standoff is definitely a good choice. In fact, ALL of DiAnn Mills’s books are rock-solid winners, in my humble fangirl opinion. 😊

This book for me personally was hard. As someone who struggles with severe eye issues I almost put it down, because the main character also went through something similar. However, aside from that storyline I did enjoy the book as a whole. I really liked the mystery and it had me guessing til the end. Some parts were a little hard to follow, but it did wrap up nicely in the end.

I really liked learning and delving deeper into what a hostage negotiator does. It's actually one of my favorite fields to learn about in the criminal job field. I think the author did a great job with the character and her career.

“I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and #netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.”

I love that Diann Mills comes up with a brand new fresh concept each time! This one is a hostage negotiation scenario! And it is not to be missed. Page turning action and fresh different characters to the usual romantic suspense ones. I genuinely believe that Diann Mills just gets better each book.

The characters in Lethal Standoff are well-developed and compelling. Levi Ehrlich, a Messianic Jew, adds a unique twist to the story. I found his faith journey fascinating, especially the sacrifices he made along the way. His deep convictions and the challenges he faces truly enriched the narrative.

Carrington Reed is equally captivating as a hostage negotiator grappling with her faith and a life-altering medical prognosis. Her profession demands close ties with those she helps, and this connection drives her determination even amidst personal turmoil.

In the aftermath of a deadly hostage situation, both Carrington and Levi are united by their quest for truth. Their shared sense of justice and unyielding integrity propel them forward, despite the dangers lurking at every turn.

The action is gripping, with intense moments and clever misdirection that keeps you guessing the true villain’s identity. As the story unfolds, it delves deep into themes of evil, greed, and the redemptive power of God’s love, justice, and integrity.

One aspect of the book's description left me questioning a particular plot point. While I won’t spoil anything, I found myself wondering about the reasoning behind it. That said, Lethal Standoff is a great read, full of suspense and meaningful faith elements.

It's a romance, it's a crime thriller, it's a study in faith as well as a look at some dark sides of society. All of that centers around a heroine that I loved following. The romance was enjoyable, sweet, and well-developed. It was definitely one of the highlights of my reading experience. This is a Christian romance, so while the thriller aspects are adult, the romance aspects are not overly adult. There is also no course language within this novel, despite a general abundance of it in the genre overall. The thrills weren't the most intense I've read, but they were very well-handled and overall, invigorating. DiAnn Mills knows how to craft an enjoyable heroine and thrilling, suspenseful stories. There are some difficult aspects to this story that may not be for all readers.

Lethal Standoff is a thrilling, heart stopping, slow burn mystery. Full of twists & turns, this book kept me fully engaged with endearing characters, a lovely he falls first romance, witty dialogue, & a complex whodunit. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, this is a must read.

Carrington Reed is a talented hostage negotiator who frequently finds herself convincing troubled people to surrender. She often finds handsome investigative reporter Levi Erlich there at the scene. When she’s called to a hostage situation where 15 undocumented people are being held captive at a Texas ranch, she has to draw upon all her capabilities. Once the intense situation ends, Carrington & Liam find themselves involved in a complex investigation to find out what’s really going on at the ranch & who’s responsible for the rancher’s death.

This was such a fast paced read! I loved Liam especially, he’s a recent convert to Messianic Judaism & is enduring the consequences of his choice. I loved his attitude when confronting trials & his unwillingness to give up on Carrington. Carrington is suffering from a potentially life threatening hereditary condition & is going through the diagnosis process all while investigating the mystery. The author really brings her struggles to light in a poignant, relatable way. Despite the intensity of the mystery & storyline, the author brings a touch of lightness with delightful, witty dialogue that had me smiling. She also weaves a lovely faith message throughout the story.

The ending had me completely surprised. I did not see the villain coming. It’s definitely a thrill ride that was hard to put down with a sweet romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommend! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher & Partners in Crime Tours. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

This is the first DiAnn Mills novel that I’ve read and all I can say is wow!

This is not an easy read and though this is a clean suspense, it is actually quite involved and deals with some heavier subject matter. There is an intense hostage situation as well as other topics including immigrants, abuse, and other subjects that are tougher to tackle. I feel like the author really took care when handling these situations and appreciate that while she didn’t shy away from them, she also wasn’t explicit in her depictions and handled it all with the upmost respect.

I was seriously giving everyone with a side eye from the word go, thinking each person could be the suspect, and the deeper I dove into the narrative the more twisted it became. Levi and Carrington, a journalist and negotiator respectively, complement one another so well. It hurt my heart what Levi had to go through with his family and sadly that is a sting that I know all too well. It is in these moments when prayer and your tribe are truly all you have to get you through and that was the one thing I really enjoyed about this novel. Carrington and Levi truly cared, and you could feel that.

As far as the story overall, there were parts that did drag a bit, but I truly felt like I was part of the investigation. The characters are complex, and I appreciated the faith aspect and learning more about Messianic Judaism. Though it wasn’t a shock who was behind everything when it was all revealed the why was shocking and sickening. Overall, it all ended on a happy note and for that I was grateful.

Lethal Standoff is an intense novel where things are not always what they seem, with twists and turns that shows a fight for justice, acceptance, and the power of love and community. It has complex characters, serious subject matter, and a plot that sadly is believable. If you’re a fan of suspense you will not be disappointed.

From the opening pages I found myself invested and glued to the story. Carrington is an interesting and compassionate individual. Then we have the curious and determined Levi whom I found endearing and irresistible, I just had to know how his story turned out!

From the point they begin working together I was glued to the pages in this story! Not only that, but turns out that they were not only present for another day at work, but what they both soon realize is something far bigger than either could ever imagine! This case is explosive, and far deeper and has more twists than any other they’ve ever faced. This story is filled with surprise turns and hidden motive and that just added to the amazing bond developing between the two main characters.

This one kept me guessing and had me reading it in large bites, unable to resist knowing what happened next!

DiAnn Mills’s Lethal Standoff is a gripping read that seamlessly blends suspense with powerful social commentary. From the very first page, the story ensnares the reader in its intricate plot, making it difficult to put down. Mills’s talent for weaving current and significant societal issues into her narratives is evident once again. In this novel, she tackles the harrowing realities of human trafficking of undocumented immigrants, the conflict surrounding religious conversion, and the extensive impact of domestic violence.

True to her signature style, Mills manages to address these serious themes with a deft touch, ensuring the story remains engaging and thought-provoking without becoming overly heavy or preachy. The characters are richly developed, their personal struggles and growth adding depth to the narrative. Mills’s skillful portrayal of these individuals makes them resonate as real, relatable people.

If you’re a fan of mysteries that offer more than just thrills—delving into meaningful issues while providing an engrossing storyline—Lethal Standoff comes highly recommended.