Review: Deadly Pursuit

Deadly Pursuit (Guardians of Justice - Book 2) by Irene Hannon


Publication Date: September 2011
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Genre: Christian Fiction/ Romantic Suspense
Pages: Paperback, 341pp
ISBN-13: 9780800734572
ISBN: 0800734572

(Received for an honest review from Revell)


Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Irene Hannon on the WEB: website, twitter


Excerpt from Deadly Pursuit 



Synopsis:


A stalker with deadly intent... A woman who protects children... An ex-Navy SEAL turned police detective.


Social worker Alison Taylor has a passion for protecting children. But now it seems she needs protecting. When her tormentor's attentions take a violent turn, she calls in reinforcements - her police detective brother, Cole, and his new partner, ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Morgan. As her relentless stalker turns up the heat and the danger intensifies, Mitch takes a personal interest in the case. Because protecting Alison has become more than a job: his future depends on keeping her safe.


Filled with nail-biting suspense and heart-melting romance, Deadly Pursuit is Irene Hannon's storytelling at its very best.


Thoughts:


Irene Hannon once again thrills fans with her latest installment in the Guardian's of Justice series. Deadly Pursuit is a suspense novel that will have readers spellbound and on the edge of their seats. Hannon takes on a stalker in her latest book and shows readers just how dangerous obsession can be. With more twists and turns than a maze, a fast-paced plot, and multi-dimensional characters, this is one romantic suspense novel you won't want to miss!


Alison Taylor has spent her life protecting children as a social worker and children's advocate. But when she begins to receive threatening phone calls and a series of strange gifts, she knows this is serious. Enlisting the help of her brother, a police detective seems like the right thing to do. When her brother Cole and his new partner ex-Navy SEAL, Mitch Morgan take up the case, the stalker heats up and starts to spiral into more dangerous behavior. Mitch is determined to protect Alison, and to explore the attraction they seem to share. But questions remain... Is Alison ready to move on from a tragic past? And when did Bingo become such a dangerous game?


Irene Hannon is a novelist with a knack for well written plots and Deadly Pursuit is no exception to the rule. It is taut and riveting and will have readers biting their nails even from the first chapter. Readers met Alison Taylor and her brothers Jake and Cole in the first book in the series, Fatal Judgment. In Deadly Pursuit the focus shifts to Alison as the main character. Fans of Hannon's writing know that she can ramp up a plot at a moments notice and this book certainly goes on the offensive at just the right time. I know a book is a really suspense driven when I find myself holding my breath as I get close to the end of a particularly good chapter and Hannon's book always do that to me. She is a master of suspense!


Her characters are always very complex and multi-dimensional. Readers will enjoy pealing back the layers on her characters and finding out what is truly at the center of who they are. Alison is one of those women who are career and goal driven. It's obvious that she really cares about what she's doing and the kids that she comes into contact with. She knows the system isn't perfect but she tries to make a difference in every life she touches. Very admirable, but when you look a little further into her you see her motivations even more clearly. A tragic accident has taken away her ability to have children of her own and that makes her work all the more satisfying. Mitch is also a great character, an ex-Navy SEAL, he's seen the worst of what life can through at you on a daily basis. He is a man of steel, but he still has a heart of gold. Readers will find the contrast of hard and soft within him endearing and full of possibility. I think Hannon has created a perfect pair for this suspenseful book. Though romance may not be the main focus, it certainly adds to the overall draw of the book.


One of the things that I always appreciate about Hannon is her worldview. She doesn't have to include racy sex scenes or vulgar language or even blood and gore to pull of a well-crafted, suspenseful book. I don't necessarily think she started out to write Christian Romantic Suspense. I think she wanted to write clean, family-friendly books that sort of just fell into that category. She doesn't push an agenda or make the reader feel like they are lacking because they may not be affiliated with a church or religious group. Her writing isn't preachy or fabricated. It flows easily and any references to beliefs or ideas seem natural and unforced. I like the fact that she appeals to readers on a human level, not a religious one. 

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. 

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

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico series and Fatal Judgment. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. She lives in Missouri.