Crossfire by Lynette Eason

About the Book:

She's never lost a hostage. Surely she can manage to take care of her sister.

FBI special agent Julianna Jameson is a top-notch negotiator, but when her much younger sister, Dottie, needs a place to live while she finishes high school, Julianna's skills will be put to the test.

Former sniper Clay Fox left the army after a tragic incident that he can't get past. Until he can figure out what to do with the rest of his life, he's working as a resource officer at a school. Dottie's school.

When Julianna is called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay's sister, he's impressed--and, if he's honest, a bit intimidated--by the calm, capable woman with the dark hair and blue eyes, and invites her to speak at the school.

But as the anniversary of a school shooting from Julianna's past approaches, it becomes clear that her perfect record is about to be tested and that Dottie is at risk. If Julianna and Clay can't figure out who's behind the attacks, more innocent people will die--and Dottie is next in line.

You can read an excerpt here.

My Review:

This novel is a good combination of suspenseful action and character development. The main characters, Julianna and Clay, both have deadly events in their past that haunt them. We read how they struggle with guilt and responsibility for actions years ago that were ultimately beyond their control.

Eason provides a good balance of character revelation, personal and relationship healing and action. I appreciate learning about negotiators, some of the philosophy and techniques they use. There are good examples of forgiveness and reconciliation woven into the plot, even forgiveness of one's self. There is a good faith message present as well.

This novel is a good romantic suspense. I appreciate Eason establishing the budding romance but not to the extent it interferes with either Julianna's or Clay's work. While this is the second in a series, it reads well on its own with characters from the previous novel having only periodic supportive roles.

You can read my review of the first in the series, Life Flight.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author of Life Flight and Crossfire, as well as the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com. Photo Credit: © Mary Denman

Revell, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)