Review: Fatal Judgment

Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice - Book1) by Irene Hannon

Publication Date: January 2011
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Genre: Christian Fiction/ Romantic Suspense
ISBN-13: 9780800734565
ISBN: 0800734564

(Received for review from Revell)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Christianbook.com, IndieBound

If you live in Morehead, KY or the surrounding area:
Purchase from our local independent bookseller: CoffeeTree Books
Borrow from our local library: The Rowan Country Public Library

Irene Hannon on the Web: Website, Twitter

Excerpt from Fatal Judgment

Synopsis (Book Blurb):

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the coldhearted workaholic have warmed in the five years since she drove her husband - and Jake's best friend - to despair... and possibly suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life - and his heart are in danger.

Full of suspense and romance, Fatal Judgment is a thrilling story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Thoughts:

If you loved Irene Hannon's "Heroes of Quantico" series you'll really love her new series, "Guardians of Justice". Hannon once again brings readers adventure, suspense and tender romance. Her storytelling blends true to life crime drama, with Chrisitan influences and heartwarming romance. Readers will be up late into the night with this one. It's a real page-turner from the very first sentence.

Jake Marshal has just returned from Iraq, to his home town of St. Louis, when he is given his new assignment: protecting Judge Liz Michaels. The judge's sister was recently killed and authorities believe it may have been a case of mistaken identity. They believe Liz was the target and someone is out to get her. Jake isn't too happy about this assignment since Liz was the wife if his best friend and Jake believes she treated him badly and drove him to take his own life. He will have to come to terms with how he feels about Liz if he wants to do the best job he can at saving her life. When he starts to get to know Liz better he realizes he may have been completely wrong about her. When her life is on the line he may lose more than just his heart!

Irene Hannon's latest book, Fatal Judgment is full of suspense and thrills. From the very first page of the book readers will be drawn into the plot. This book is very true to life as we see public officials being targeted every day, as in the case of the attack on Arizona Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords earlier this month. Hannon really brings to the forefront situations and circumstances that are happening in today's society with great clarity and purpose. With over thirty-five novels to her credit, Hannon's romantic suspense storytelling is at it's best with this book.

The characters are extremely well developed throughout the book. Jake Taylor's character is the kind of man that women want to find. He's a strong man, patriotic and loyal to his country and to his job as a law enforcement officer. He is loving and caring with his family and his friends and open to finding someone special. He is taken aback when he is forced to protect a woman he feels caused the death of his best friend. But, he still does his job, because that's the kind of man he is. Liz's character is a remarkable women, albeit misunderstood. Being a judge is not an easy, especially in today's political climate. Her strength and resolve are the only thing that has gotten her through her sisters death and the fact that someone wants her dead. When Jake begins to realize he may have been wrong about her the romance starts to bloom.

This book definitely has Christian influences but does not come across as 'hounding' the reader or putting undue emphasis on matters of faith. Hannon uses just the right amount of grace to get her point across without being too demanding. In my opinion Christian Fiction is all about giving the reader something to ponder, showing them something they could have themselves. It isn't about pushing a religious agenda or forcing someone to believe something. I think Hannon pulls it off with style in this one.

I would recommend this book to readers of Christian fiction and Romantic Suspense. It has just right blend of adventure and love.

Fatal Judgment is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!





RITA-award-winner (and four-time finalist) Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of more than thirty-five novels, including Against All Odds, An Eye for an Eye, and In Harm's Way. A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time from her home in Missouri.