My Review - Double Take by Lynette Eason

5 out of 5 Stars

DOUBLE TAKE by Lynette Eason definitely satisfied the Romance/Suspense label. With main characters that were likable and relatable but not without their flaws, DOUBLE TAKE starts off the new Lake City Heroes series with a bang!

Physician’s Assistant Lainie Jackson knows there is no possible way her ex-fiancé is alive. She shot him. There’s no way he could’ve survived. Then who just ran her off the road and tried to kill her . . . again? Knowing there has to be an explanation about who she saw, Lainie tries to move on. However, when other people start seeing her dead ex, she searches for the proof she needs to know he’s truly dead.

Detective James Cross - a childhood friend - crosses Lainie’s path when he is hospitalized with a gunshot wound. He’s quick to learn what’s bothering Lainie and offers to help her find the truth. It doesn’t take long to find out Lainie is in real danger, even if they can’t explain how her dead ex could be perpetrating the threats on her life.

Though Lainie doesn’t want to relive the past, she recognizes she needs help to find answers. Having James – her teenage crush – wanting to protect her is messing with her senses. She tries to keep the lines between them professional, but when James presses her to identify their relationship, the family baggage they both bring to a relationship seems too daunting to overcome. However, like it or not, James has no intention of backing off where Lainie’s life is concerned. It’s obvious someone is out to kill her. He and Lainie just have to figure out how a dead guy could be there prime suspect.

DOUBLE TAKE’s plot dealt with more than just murder, mayhem, and a phantom ex. Domestic abuse and family dysfunction were integral threads throughout the story. Both Lainie and James have deep-seeded family issues to deal with while trying to keep Lainie alive. The chemistry between James and Lainie was immediate. Of course, they already had a history together to build off of, but now they had to define their relationship and be sure it wasn’t just the intensity of the situation they were thrown into that was making their feelings for each other so powerful.

One observation I have notice of late in Christian suspense novels is the thinning of the faith aspect in the stories. I am a big proponent of not breaking character in order for the author to throw in an evangelistic thread that seems out of place. However, the faith aspect in the lives of the characters seem to be lacking. Now, I realize this novel was not labeled Christian/Romance/Suspense, and maybe Christian authors are purposely not labeling their novels as such so they can reach a broader audience, which I thoroughly applaud. Maybe it’s me that has to change my way of thinking when I pick up a book from one of my favorite “Christian” authors, realizing I am going to get a clean story, not necessarily a faith driven story. Just food for thought.

I would like to thank Revell Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of DOUBLE TAKE. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

 

MY REVIEW - The Resolute by MaryLu Tyndall

 

5 out of 5 stars

THE RESOLUTE is a masterpiece in storytelling! Spellbinding action, polarizing characters with magnetic personalities, and an exhilarating adventure that will not allow you to put the book down. MaryLu Tyndall is the queen of pirate romances with a redemptive theme!

Lady Gabrielle Hyde’s life had not turned out as she had hoped. Her childhood dream of marriage and motherhood no longer exists. Instead, she had been charged as a pirate and soon to be hanged. When she is rescued by Captain Caden Hayes, she soon finds out she is not free, but a pawn in his game of revenge. Feeling God has deserted her and her unborn child, Lady Gabrielle has no choice but to go along with the captain’s scheme until she finds a time when she can escape.

Captain Caden Hayes is on a mission; to ruin the man who destroyed his future. With revenge as his single-minded goal, Caden uses Lady Gabrielle to draw out his enemy. Once he is rid of her and his nemesis is destroyed, he’ll find the treasure he seeks and have his just reward.

WOW! Is not strong enough! In fact, there are not enough adjectives to describe THE RESOLUTE. I received an advance copy early one evening. I went ahead and downloaded it, intending on reading only the first few pages to get a feel for the book. I went on to finish the book early the next morning. I don’t know what it is about MaryLu’s writing style, but she absolutely captures you from the very first page. Her imagery is beyond compare. I usually skim books when they go into unnecessary detail, but every word, every description is so thoughtfully executed, they meld together into a seamless visualization that pulls the reader in. Her characters are rich but not flawless. Their layers are slowly revealed as the story progresses. Their finer qualities polished; their insecurities addressed. Ms. Tyndall’s characters grow throughout their journey and the reader gets to go along for the ride.

I can’t get into the specifics of the story; afraid I will reveal too much. But believe me when I say, THE RESOLUTE is a swashbuckling tale with everything you would expect from a story on the high seas and then some! And Ms. Tyndall once again proves, all souls have the ability to be redeemed when they finally seek the true Master of their journey.