Obsession

This one definitely opens up with a bang! I read the first book in Patricia Bradley's Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, "Standoff" last year and I LOVED IT! I didn't think you could hardly top it, but she sure did! Miss Emma Winters is a Natchez Park historian and interpretive ranger, and law enforcement ranger Brooke Danvers from "Standoff" is her best friend. Brooke is now officially dating Luke, and also encouraging Emma to not give up, and to try dating again herself. But Emma wants nothing to do with another guy, and finds it hard to trust any of them since Sam Ryker, her former fiance, broke her heart ten years ago and left town. Emma is currently working on mapping and unearthing what appears to be an old plantation, when she gets a major clue to a cold case her missing brother was once involved in. It's no time before she starts getting deadly serious threats from an mysterious and vindictive enemy who obviously doesn't want the secrets of the past brought to the light of day. But when Sam comes back to his hometown and finds that Emma is suddenly being stalked, he will not rest till the creep is caught and she is safe and sound. Together they continue the dig, and also work on her brother's case when she's not on duty at the park. However, they soon find much more than their investigation is in grave danger. So are they. The banter between Emma and Sam is a riot, and they make an excellent team together. The only thing I didn't like was that Emma meets Gordy and her neighbor Taylor coming out of Taylor's apartment at 6 a.m., and it makes them look pretty flaky, but Gordy quickly explains that they just got back from the casino, (which I take issue with- gambling of any form isn't a smart or Christian thing to do) where they've been out all night apparently. Mrs. Bradley has such wonderful taste in writing, and both her books are clean, edgy, tantalizingly suspenseful and mysterious. She kept me double guessing my suspects with every twist, turn and new implication. I found myself using every spare minute to read a couple more chapters, it was SO GOOD!! Fingers crossed for the next book in the series. There's a teaser chapter in the back of this book, and I can't wait to read it. A character from the first book is in it, and it is quite intriguing to me already. I received this book free from Revell as part of their blogger program in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. The opinions and thoughts above are my very own.

This is book 2 in the series but can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone. The story line follows Emma, an interpretive ranger, and Sam, a law enforcement ranger, who have a shadowed past together. Their work in different parts of the National Park Service is really fascinating. The plot is fast-paced with twists and turns that will have you guessing at the identity of the villain. The villain also has a voice in the story, which adds an extra dimension to the story. Emma has issues with commitment but did love Sam before a murder and disappearance of her twin brother tore them apart. Sam has issues with anger and forgiveness but still loves Emma. As new evidence crops up regarding Emma's brother and the ten-year-old unsolved murder case, Emma is also targeted by a stalker. The past and the present converge in an adrenaline-filled chase as Sam does his best to protect Emma and figure out what happened ten years ago. If you enjoy high-intensity suspense with a bit of romance, you will enjoy this book. I received the book from Revell/Baker Publishing Group via NetGalley and Interview & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

Obsession by Patricia Bradley is the second book in her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. After ten years of wondering where brother her is, Ranger Emma Winters may be getting close to some answers. As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, she also has an obsessed stalker after her. Emma’s ex-fiancé, Ranger Samuel Ryker is determined that nothing will happen to her as he helps her find the answers she so desperately needs. This was a page-turning thrill ride. I liked the little excerpts from the stalker that was thrown in here and there. It made the tension rise. Emma was a very strong character. She never crumbled when everything around her was falling apart. In some stories when the heroine finds out that the hero has been keeping a secret, they get all defensive and it takes many chapters to resolve everything. But Emma was able to see the reasons and act like a real person; not some melodramatic drama queen. I can’t wait for the next book! I received this book from the publisher for my honest review.