The colors in this photo are actually darker than the physical cover I have, but it still looks intriguing. Though I confess to liking mine better. I'm not sure what happened to this photo, but the shading is off slightly.
Description:
Hunted by the enemy:
When she's attacked by animal traffickers in the zoo she's been brought on to rehabilitate, Elise Tanner begins to doubt the wisdom of returning home after decades away. Especially because her self-appointed protector is US Marshal Jonah Rivers. Jonah isn't just the brother of her dead husband. He's the man who's consumed her dreams for far too long. Jonah needs to come to terms with Elise's long-held secrets—including the fact that he's now uncle to a teenager. But Jonah and Elise have more pressing matters: conquering the dangerous forces around the zoo before they fall victim to them…
About the Author:
A British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London, Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College where she met her husband. He's from California, but nobody's perfect. It wasn't until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her).
Since then she's taken the Apprentice and Journeyman writing courses with the Christian Writers Guild, and discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two children--a sparkly Little Princess and a Mini Daddy--and there's only one bunny rabbit now (sad face).
My review: 5 stars
I’m going to start by admitting that I’m a huge fan of Ms. Phillips’, so this review may be slightly biased. I’ve adored all of her books to date and am eagerly anticipating anything she might publish next! This book was definitely no different for me and quickly became a favorite. There is no doubt in my mind that Lisa knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats! I didn’t want to put it down and was constantly bemoaning the fact that I had to go to work and couldn’t just read it in one sitting. I spent more than a few hours wondering what would happen next and trying to guess where the story might go, since I wasn’t able to actually find out.
I love Lisa’s writing style! It’s very unique and the stories come to brilliant life within the pages. Her books are very realistic in that I can easily imagine myself there, in the situation right beside the characters. I love the details she includes, as well as the ones she leaves to my overactive imagination. She doesn’t overcomplicate something that could be said in just a few words and is rather straight to the point, unless she intentionally wants to keep the reader guessing, then I’m never sure what’s happening or where the story is heading. I enjoy the mystery of that, wondering what might go wrong next.
For me, the characters always jump off the page, and these are no exception. I adored Elise, Jonah, Nathan, and the whole team (which we met in Manhunt). Elise Tanner has had to be strong her whole life, so there is an underlying strength in everything she does and how she reacts to a situation. She’s made her share of mistakes, but is back hoping to right them, while also doing the job she loves. I loved her faith in God that led her to rely on Him through everything that’s going on, even when doubt begins to creep in and fear would be the expected reaction.
Jonah Rivers is a great hero and I enjoyed getting to know him. While there’s a part of me that wants to say he’s somewhat stereotypical, he’s really not, when I stop and think about it. First off, yes, he’s a U.S. Marshall and yes, he was in the military, but that’s where the comparison to other books end. Though he’s strong, he’s had his strength tested and has learned his limits. He’s a little reckless, but it’s been tempered with time and experience. There’s also an underlying vulnerability when it comes to Elise. He’s loved her for years, but walked away because he felt it was for the best.
I loved seeing Jonah and Elisa get to know each other again and learn what real love looks like. Both have grown and changed over their time apart, so it was the little things, the important details, the changes in character, that they had to rediscover. I actually enjoyed the fact that their relationship isn’t the driving force of the story, though it is a romance. It allowed the time frame to be more realistic, and let’s be honest: If someone is trying to kill you, and you’re being shot at often, how focused are you going to be on romantic entanglements? I usually find these books a bit unrealistic in that aspect, but not so much in this one.
Aside from the suspense, I think my favorite part of this book was the spiritual side of the story. It never came across as overbearing or preachy and Lisa touches on several points that I needed to hear right now. I appreciated the honest questions the characters ask and the answers given in return. There are rarely perfect answers and the author doesn’t try to give them, but is rather very authentic in the ones she does share. I love a book that shifts my focus and requires I stop and think, consider something from a different angle and this one does that. I can honestly say that I have no complaints about any part of this book. I loved every page of the ride and am excitedly anticipating whatever is next for this author!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed suspense that keeps you guessing, with than ending that made me sigh.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it! :)
As always, links are below if you're interested in looking into the book further, or perhaps purchasing a copy. I hope you have a lovely day!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book
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