Oh how I hate to give a book anything less than 5 stars! This is the first book I've read by this author and on the positive side, her writing skills are awesome. Dialogue, plot, characters, grammar, etc., were spot on.
However...I debated about whether to leave a bad review because I know how important reviews are, but I'm addressing this to fellow Christian readers. This book was billed as a Christian suspense novel. Not just a 'clean' book, meaning no cursing or sex. When I pick up a book that is billed as Christian, I expect strong Christian themes, like prayer, relying on God, lessons learned, etc. This book doesn't.
I don't usually read contemporary books, I'm old school, lol. But when I saw this was about two agents, and it was a Christian book, I pictured them praying, relying on God for help, using their Christian faith in their duties, etc. I was thoroughly disappointed. The 'heroine' is a cold-hearted woman who needs no one. She wants to do everything on her own and I don't think she prayed for help at any point. One thought section, she acknowledged that she believed in God, but he was kind of on a shelf. She didn't need him, she could handle things. SPOILER - early in the book, I think the first chapter, she gets hit in the head and has a bad concussion. She has the concussion throughout the book! Yet she never rests or takes care of herself in any way - and she never prays for help. Then, right away, she's kidnapped. Warning to sensitive readers, the bad guys in this book are HORRENDOUS! They are vicious, they kill their own people, man, woman, young person, animal, doesn't matter. No loyalty among the baddies. The bad guys are always one step ahead of the cops. No time to rest at all (and remember, she has a bad concussion, headache, nauseous, etc). Well, when she's kidnapped, what does she do for comfort? She recites the Declaration of Independence. I thought she would maybe pray the 23rd Psalm or something, but no, she doesn't reach out to God at all. I find this kind of 'female empowerment' tiring. The women in the book are all knowing, strong, fearless - while the men are portrayed as weak, old, weird, and somewhat innocent. The leader of the baddies is also a woman! Turns me off. As I said, I'm old school. I like a man who's a hero and a woman who is at least partly feminine.
Also, the book made me feel depressed. More than once I thought to just stop reading, but I kept on, hoping for a sweet ending. (It does have one, but VERY short). The lack of connection between the H&h and God left me very disappointed, and the unrelenting violence made me feel jittery. I finished the book yesterday and started another, a sweet, calm historical romance, but I still feel that jittery feeling from this book and I don't like that, at all. I don't think I'll read any more from this writer.
On a good note, the Josh character was wonderful - and Neema, his dog, was precious! They kept me reading it. I got to where I dreaded being in Dakota's head. More than once, I wanted Josh to go on and find himself a woman who would appreciate him. Dakota clearly did not.
Therefore, if you're a Christian reader, be careful of this one. Many disturbing elements. JMHO.
