There is so much going on in this ingeniously, plotted, tense story. What starts out as a hostage situation turns into an investigation into a murder and so much more. Private negotiator, Carrington is in the thick of a deadly standoff but when it is over, she has to make sure the victims gets the care they need. Journalist, Levi began covering a story, but like Carrington becomes personally involved, they put their heads together, totally getting that they are not qualified investigators, but circumstances put them in the middle of the confounding aftermath.
I liked the alternating viewpoints of Carrington and Levi. It was interesting to get into their heads. Carrington is battling her own demons and learns to trust God. Levi is a messianic Jew, and that aspect was very well explained. “We are a dangerous pair. Curiosity and compassion. Always in trouble.” And as they share danger, the romance blooms.
The layered twists and turns had me quickly, turning pages in the villain, was a total surprise. The romance was paste just right in the faith element brightly shown. “The future wore a mask, but the One in charge held it in his hand. I knew it. I felt it. I believed it.”
* I received a complementary copy of this book from Tyndall on behalf of the author through PICT tours and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

3.5 rounded up

The title and cover of Lethal Standoff may lead readers to assume the protagonists are in law enforcement, but the heroine is a private hostage negotiator, and the hero is an investigative journalist. Acquainted through previous cases, one situation impacts them profoundly and they are drawn into finding justice for the Kendrix family.

I expected this to be a fast-paced plot, and it was. But I was surprised by the amount of medical injuries/crises, the storyline about severed relationships due to spiritual beliefs, and the depth of the family secrets and betrayals. At times, I wasn't sure who to trust, and that ratcheted up the tension and made the pages fly by.

However, the romantic connection between the hero and heroine didn't feel realistic and was more "tell" than "show." I was worried the immigration plotline would become political, and I'm confident the author's political beliefs are completely opposed to mine, but she managed to keep the topic relatively balanced.

Thank you to Tyndale Fiction for the complimentary copy of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Lethal Standoff is a wonderful fast-paced novel full of suspense and mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat and turning pages.

We celebrate the Jewish holidays in this house. So finding a book that focuses on both Orthodox and Messianic Jews is always fun! Add in it’s a super fun suspense and mystery book and I’m hooked!

One is a hostage negotiator. And one is a journalist covering a story. But they’re tied together. You’ll love this story told from both their first-person views. And then the bad guy who will hopefully throw you for a loop!

I loved the suspense. This author is amazing for suspense and keeping you hooked on the book. I loved it. In fact, I couldn’t put it down. And I was not happy it ended so I had to say goodbye to dear friends.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills - 5 Stars

"God does hear. He cares. The one thing I feel in my bones is His love.”

Talk about a WILD ride! My first DiAnn Mills book and will NOT be my last! This had everything you want in a good romantic suspense. Great balance of romance and suspense in my opinion. Characters you connect with, faith content you love to see and it's quite the page turner. DiAnn's writing is wonderful and I highly recommend you check this book out if you love a good romantic suspense story.

In this one, we follow Carrington and Levi. Carrington is a hostage negotiator and Levi is an investigative reporter. They are both on the scene of 15 hostages being held by the Kendrix brothers in an abandoned house in South Texas. The brothers are armed and dangerous and refusing to let them go. Things start off from here as we have this great story that keeps you connected, invested and needing to know all the twists and turns Carrington and Levi take along the way.

The romance depicted in this book was developed and layered - they really communicated well and didn't rush through things since there was so much going on. We have so much backstories too between the two and I loved learning about them along the way, from Levi's family issues due to his faith and Carrington's guilt and health journey - so much depth with these characters! Levi's faith was also encouraging and seeing him talk to Carrington about it was beautiful - especially how everything wrapped up for her faith journey in the end. I loved the dual POV between Levi and Carrington too, I think it really added to the story.

The pacing was perfection in this book and DiAnn really keeps you engaged! I cannot recommend it enough! I think it's safe to say, I'll be reading all of DiAnn's books I can going forward!

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for a copy of the book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lethal Standoff is an intense, action filled suspense that kept me turning those pages until the very end. Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed had been called to a situation where 15 illegal immigrants had been taken hostage by two local brothers. The incident did not end well and something about the entire scenario bothered Carrington. Working closely with investigative reporter Levi Ehrlich, they attempt to discover what could actually be behind the puzzling case. The more answers they find, the more they find their own lives threatened.

Exactly the type of suspense I most enjoy, Lethal Standoff has it all. Plenty of suspense, danger, mystery, and action combine with a touch of potential romance to make the perfect read. Characters are well defined and relatable. Their faith is tested and they persevere when odds are against them. A strong sense of right and wrong prevails.

I have always enjoyed books by this author and Lethal Standoff is no exception. Highly recommend!

Lethal Standoff may be the best thriller I’ve read this year. The twists and turns made me dizzy with anticipation. What might I find around the next corner?

The main characters were perfectly written for me, interesting on many levels. I was fully invested in their lives, both in their investigation and their growing attraction to one another.

I haven’t read a book with a Messianic Jew and didn’t realize the struggles they face in Jewish culture. The combination of tradition and love for Jesus in the service was an eye opening, beautiful experience, and Levi is one of my recently read favorites.

Carrington is a fully developed character with many layers. She is empathetic, smart, determined, and yet also a bit broken. I loved seeing her layers peeled back as her relationship with Levi, and with God grew throughout the story.

This book is one I will read again, even though the suspect pool was large and I now know who the culprit was, it’s just that good. I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy courtesy of Tyndale house through NetGalley and Interviews and Reviews. This is my honest opinion of the book.

This is a 10-star book! I am over-the-moon happy and satisfied with it! Carrington is a skilled crisis negotiator dealing with private health and other issues. She allows an investigative news representative, Levi, to assist in a hostile hostage situation. Levi is struggling with his own issues with his family and job. I have never read of a negotiator who does such caring follow-up with the family involved, and it was quite amazing. I even learned from her in talking to someone who mentioned suicide, besides asking if they had thought about self-harm, how they would do it, and inquiring, '" Is there anyone or anything that would keep you on this planet?... Because they would suffer the way you're suffering right now."' Both Carrington and Levi demonstrate compassion, curiosity and courage, usually ending in a bunch of trouble! They showed how they overcame uncertainty, fear and challenges. I enjoyed learning about their faith journeys and the joy of Levi's Messianic Jewish worship services. Sign me up if there is a follow up book, but I always make it a point to read anything by this excellent author!
I appreciate being able to read an advanced copy of this book from the publishers. The views expressed are my own.

Carrington Reed is a highly sought after hostage negotiator. Levi Ehrlich is an investigative reporter who has covered several of the cases that Carrington has worked on. Carrington and Levi work together on this case to solve a murder. Carrington had to first learn to trust Levi because she had dealt with reporters before and didn't trust them. How Levi was treated by his family when he became a Messianic Jew was an eye opener.

I enjoyed reading this book. As with all MS Mills books, I had trouble putting this book down.

I was given this book by Tyndale Publishing via Net/Galley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

"Lethal Standoff" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. The characters were likable, complex, realistic people, if a little crazy. (Hey, you know that place we went where we both got badly injured in an unexpected attack and our law friends told us not to do that again? Yeah? Want to go back again? Count me in!) Carrington's a skilled negotiator who genuinely cares about everyone involved in the situations she's called out on. Levi's an investigative reporter who wants to present the facts to the reader, not give news a political spin. After the hostage negotiation ends, their role should have been done. But some aspects of what happened just didn't add up, plus they cared about the devastated families. They followed up with those involved to try to figure out why things happened as they did...only to uncover a bucket-load of secrets. Carrington and Levi worked well together and made an effective team.

The suspense was from physical danger to several characters, including Levi and Carrington. Levi was a Messianic Jew while Carrington struggled to believe in a good God with all the suffering she saw around her. There were no sex scenes. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, suspenseful novel.

Carrington Reed steps into this story as a confident, most of the time, hostage negotiator when she’s faced with an unusual standoff near Victoria, Texas. Two brothers have taken fifteen people hostage in an old cabin belonging to their family, and the demands for release are based on finding who killed their father.

What ensues in this well-written thriller is complicated and dangerous, but Carrington is more than up to the task.

At the scene is Levi Ehrlich, an investigative reporter who’s been assigned to cover the story, and is known to Carrington from past cases. He becomes an ally in resolving the situation, as well as the romantic interest in the story.

The romance thread in the story was presented in a way that can be called sweet, and I do appreciate that there was no graphic sex scenes. Those really don’t further a love story as much as the other intimate moments of truthful sharing, as well as mutual respect. Those are two very important elements that build a solid relationship between these two characters, and I always believe they build a solid relationship in real life.

For me, the balance between “testimony” and thriller was a little off. I’ve enjoyed a number of DiAnn’s books in the past and found the balance just right, but this one leaned too heavily on the religious side of the story for me. However, I did enjoy the interesting fact that Levi was a Messianic Jew, and the information in the book about people who’ve moved from Judaism to accepting Jesus as a savior is quite fascinating.

The family dynamics of people involved with the situation: the brothers, the wives and fiancés of the brothers, as well as extended family brought a lot of drama and intrigue to the story. Secrets abounded and were slowly revealed as the story unfolded. Things weren’t always as they seemed on the surface, and Carrington, with Levi’s help, digs to find the truth before the deadline and hostages start dying.

Some of the interactions between family members surprised me, primarily because of the setting. For instance, at one point when a mother and daughter are in the hospital waiting room waiting to hear if her fiancé will survive having been shot, the mother starts a loud and demeaning conversation. That conversation was so out of place in a hospital waiting room, and couldn’t there have been another way to show that mother had a possible motive for killing the rancher?

I also wondered why Carrington didn’t step in to diffuse that tense situation between mother and daughter since they were all by the ICU, waiting for, hopefully, some good news. It would seem like that would be true to her character as a person who strives to diffuse any moment that could turn more volatile. Plus, she seemed to find the outburst as inappropriate as I did.

This is not necessarily a book for readers coming to discover a new hard-boiled romantic suspense to add to their TBR pile, although they may definitely want to give it a try, but readers who are avid fans of Christian Romantic Suspense will find this a most enjoyable thriller. The two main characters are well-drawn and pull the reader deeply into their story of romance and their search for greater truth in their faith.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Lethal Standoff does not disappoint! As always, DiAnn Mills has come up with a plot full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat and main characters you get completely invested in. Levi and Carrington have interesting, unique backstories and an established relationship of mutual respect. Their chemistry is palpable.
I was drawn to Levi's struggle to reconcile with his family following his conversion to Messianic Judaism. The peek into that faith tradition was compelling and sincere without being preachy. Carrington's wariness gave the reader that balance of analysis and appreciation.
The way Carrington faced her health concerns tugged at my heartstrings. She's a strong yet vulnerable character.
As always, the action and suspense are nail-biting. Another great read from DiAnn Mills!

The plot in this novel does not center around your typical FBI agent. Carrington has a private negotiating service and her character development revolves around the stress she experiences as a hostage negotiator. She is a very capable woman and she also struggles with admitting she needs help. Her potential romantic counterpart is a Messianic Jew who has issues with his Jewish family. Other issues in this novel include suicide, why God allows tragedy, the plight of illegal immigrants, and the long process of healing after experiencing trauma.

While there is a bit of suspense near the end, Mills focuses more on relationships and the after affects of trauma rather than on action events. This is a novel for readers who like character interaction and growth more than continuous action. It is an encouraging novel about people helping others, even risking one's life to do so. The novel is written in alternating first person. While the character is clearly identified at the beginning of each section, I do find this technique a bit confusing reading later pages. There is a strong faith message included as both Carrington and Levi face belief struggles.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This novel had so much packed into it, and I really enjoyed Carrington's character and career. It was a different kind of thriller read. A hostage negotiator, Carrington gets a call that will change everything in her career. Two brothers have taken fifteen hostages and are demanding in order for them to be released, they want their father's murder solved and the clock is ticking. Putting everything on the line, Carrington allows a reporter behind the lines with her while she works with the brothers to keep things calm while directing others to start digging into the death of their father. Things quickly escalate as they often do with someone who is erratic and Carrington and Levi find themselves in the middle of gun fire. They are running out of time and patience is wearing thin. The closer it gets to the time limit they were given, the more Carrington knows this goes way beyond just hostages and their fathers death. Many more are entangled in this web of crimes and their father had a long list of enemies. The two are now invested in this case and as they put their lives on the line to get to the bottom of everything, someone is bound to try and keep things secret. Will they be able to solve all this entails and will Levi keep his word to Carrington of what will and will not be released to the media about all that has happened and is going on? I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Lethal Standoff is DiAnn Mills at her best. This novel is told from the POVs of both the leading characters. Carrington Reed is a hostage negotiator, Levi Ehrlich, an investigative reporter.

Carrington is called to a scene where fifteen hostages, undocumented migrants, are being held by the Kendrix brothers in an abandoned house in south Texas. Levi is there covering the story. The brothers want the truth regarding who murdered their father. Carrington and Levi work together to investigate. They find truth, lies and complex family dynamics. Is this really about the Kendrix brothers' father, or is this about something else?

Carrington and Levi are well developed characters. Readers will enjoy their journey to find the truth and to them finding each other. The romance is sweet. This is an excellent well plotted romantic suspense novel that will keep you wanting to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, for an ARC. The review is my own.

While I always enjoy a romantic suspense by DiAnn Mills, I have to say that her latest novel, Lethal Standoff, hit it out of the park! The uniqueness of the two protagonists — Carrington is a hostage negotiator who goes above and beyond with those affected by the cases she works and Levi is a journalist who puts truth first in his stories — gave the book an interesting perspective. The POV switches back and forth between the first person accounts by Carrington and Levi giving the reader insight into both characters’ personalities and past experiences. Both come from backgrounds in which trust is hard to give another person. They are also on different faith journeys which made their relationship very true to life. The plot revolves around a very difficult hostage situation and its aftermath. There are lots of questions that demand answers, and the main characters work together to uncover the truth and bring closure to the victims. And what a twisting investigation it becomes. I honestly had no idea who the bad guy(s) were — the suprises continue until the end! They face lots of obstacles and find themselves in very dangerous situations. They, and this reader, were kept on our toes!

Lethal Standoff is a perfect choice for fans of romantic suspense. Twists and turns galore, endearing characters, and definite romantic sparks. You are going to love it!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Another great suspense novel from author DiAnn Mills. This is the 4th book I've read from her and she doesn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the setting and the MC who is a hostage negotiator. The author's book always have an overarching Christian theme. Great story and a sweet romance.

From the blurb - Hostage negotiator Carrington Reed is called to the scene when reports come in that fifteen hostages are being held by the Kendrix brothers in an abandoned house in south Texas. Working closely with Levi Ehrlich, a handsome investigative reporter who has covered some of Carrington’s negotiations in the past, she finds herself being undeniably drawn to him.

I am not a fan of first-person books, but persevered through. I found the beginning interesting, but have to say that I lost interest once the hostage situation was resolved. This has never been the case with this author's books previously. It could just be because the ARC was so badly edited; I had difficulty with who was the narrator and who was doing the dialog, when each person's sentences were on the same line. I may request it from the library and try again.
I did find the information about the Messianic church very interesting. I had just assumed that when a Jewish person converted that he or she would then attend a Christian church. I did know about shunning.
Learning who the villain was came as quite a surprise.
I received a complimentary copy from Net Galley of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lethal Standoff is a gripping story from the unusual perspective of a hostage negotiator. Told in wonderful detail from the mind of spiritual and renowned author DiAnn Mills, this story will make the reader creep toward the edge of a seat before reaching its compelling conclusion.

Armed with value and skill sets quite different from law enforcement, hostage negotiator Carrington Reed is called to the scene of a standoff between an armed man and Border Patrol, with the lives of a group of undocumented immigrants hanging in the balance. When reporter Levi Ehrlich arrives on the scene, whom Carrington had developed a friendship with over the years, she allows him to remain next to her during the negotiation process.

After Levi inserts himself in the standoff to help save a life, the two of them start down a path seeking the truth of why the negotiation ended badly, with a woman and her two children remaining to pick up the pieces. As the duo seeks the truth, they find themselves embattled in a number of dangerous situations, and they have the injuries to prove it.

Before going further, I feel compelled to say that even before reading this book, I was a DiAnn Mills fan. I’ve read a number of her books, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each one.

Told completely in the first person narrative, alternating between the perspectives of Carrington and Levi, Mills provides the reader with the thoughts and emotions of the two main characters as they traverse a number of obstacles in search of the truth. What seems to set this story apart from the other books I’ve read (of hers) is that the two main characters are not law enforcement. Actually, I don’t even think they qualify as first responders. I don’t mean that as a bad thing—just different.

Mills digs pretty deep into the effects an event like this can have on the families of both the perpetrators and the victims. This is where DiAnn Mills really shines, in my opinion. I think this also adds to the realism of all her stories. Her mantra is, “Expect An Adventure,” and she really delivers.

All her stories involve some concept of faith and religion, but I think this particular story goes further in that regard than the others I’ve read. Also, since Levi is a Messianic Jew, I learned a number of things that I never knew about that faith. Further, the Jewish sayings that appear in the story really tickled me. I think my favorite was, “Rejoice not at thine enemy’s fall— but don’t rush to pick him up either.”

The main characters develop a deep relationship with one another throughout the telling of this story. In fact, I’d call their character arcs quite beautiful, particularly Carrington’s. Although both of them are broken in some way, Carrington is the most broken; she blames herself for the deaths of two people that occurred years earlier, and she inwardly wears that blame like a ball and chain.

I must confess, as I was reading the story, I was a bit surprised with the pacing. It seemed slower than what I’ve come to expect from Mills. However, an event occurs in the latter part of the story that catapults the story forward and begins the race to the climax. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite that sudden and unexpected. (You won’t see it coming!)

I’d have a hard time deciding which storyline I liked the most, the search for truth after the main event or the developing relationship between Carrington and Levi. Thankfully, I absolutely don’t have to decide. I loved them both!

My biggest gripe about this story—just like the other books I’ve read by DiAnn Mills—is that the story had to come to an end.

If you have a love of stories, I implore you to read this one.

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

Every time I read a DiAnn Mills book, I am completely blown away. It's been a little while since I've read one and this book hit the spot. I loved Carrington and Levi's first person voices that allowed me to really get into their hearts and minds and, of course, I absolutely loved the intense psychological suspense that's the backbone of the story. Carrington's profession as a private hostage negotiator was a fascinating one to learn about, and Levi's struggle with his family after converting to Messianic Judaism was heart-breaking. Carrington and Levi's straight-forward relationship that went from work to friendship to more was quite delightful. Their shared commitment to justice and truth was incredible and their faith journey, individually and together, was remarkable. Plenty of plot twists will have you gripping the edge of your favorite reading chair. The author does address a volatile topic of border crossing but does it with sensitivity and a focus on humanity.

If you enjoy romantic suspense, this book is a must read with its intricate plot, complex characters, and compelling faith thread. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via JustRead Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

It took me a little while to get into this book. I know it's a rough copy but some of the formatting was driving me bonkers and made it hard to focus on the story. It was especially difficult when they were texting back and forth, trying to decipher which person was saying what. Other than that I enjoyed the book and the mystery even though I figured out who the bad guy was a few chapters before the end. I'm curious now about Messianic Jews and will be doing some research on them so I appreciated learning something new!