Standoff by Patricia Bradley

I liked this latest romantic suspense from Bradley. It has nearly everything that makes a novel entertaining and engaging. I liked the main characters. Brooke is a great heroine. She has a strong foundation to her character, wanting to be law enforcement in the national parks system. She faces some big issues in this novel and handles them well. I liked Luke as a good hero. He has some issues from his past influencing his present life, especially in reestablishing a relationship with Brooke. It's a good thing his grandmother is in the picture to give him some wise advice.

I like the setting of the Parkway. I would have liked a little more information about it, such as when and why it became a national park. I would have liked more description too since it is a part of the country I've not seen.

The plot was good and all the parts worked together in the end. I did find it a little unbelievable that Luke moved around so freely with Brooke when he was working undercover. I liked the tension between Brooke and Luke and another potential suitor. The plot moves along well and there is a good dose of suspense, but only at the end.

Readers who like the Anna Pigeon novels from Nevada Barr will like this one. The styles are similar but Bradley definitely includes the Christian faith of the characters. I will be watching for the next in this series featuring Natchez Trace Park Rangers.

You can read an excerpt here.

You can watch the book trailer here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Patricia Bradley is the author of several novels. She won an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du Maurier Award, a Touched by Love Award, and was a Carol Award finalist. She is the cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She lives in Mississippi. You can find out more at www.ptbradley.com.

Revell, 400 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.)