High-level suspense that's addicting! ~ Not This Time by Vicki Hinze ~Review

About the Book

Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor?
Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara’s husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.

Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn’t fall in love with him, but she can’t resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?

Click here to download the first chapter of Not This Time.

My Review

Do you really know your friends and neighbors?

Not This Time is the third book in the Crossroad Crisis Center series and if you love a suspenseful story that will keep you up late then this is the one for you! The pacing was rapid with barely a moment to breathe that made it hard to put down. It totally drew me in and had me flipping the pages as fast I could read them. Spellbinding suspense kept me thinking of possible scenarios each time I had to lay it aside.

My favorite character is Joe. He’s a Shadow Watcher, part of an elite group that is hunting NINA, a terrorist organization, and their operatives. He’s introduced in book two, Deadly Ties, and I was so happy to see him spotlighted in his own story. Of course, he’s not an attention hog, so we get lots of face time with Beth, Sara, and Jeff who are trying to figure out who is behind the latest attack, and a murder or two, in Seagrove Village. But Joe has a special something. Maybe it’s his Cajun drawl that surfaces, and the pitch of his voice, when he’s talking to Beth. He unconsciously slips into his “real” self around her, trusting her with his secrets.

And boy howdy, there are some big secrets in Seagrove Village! I was shocked to find out the identities of some of the terrorists, and I’m usually pretty good at ferreting out the bad guys. Some of the scenes are so sad but there’s a theme of redemption that is unquestionably one of the best I have ever read. Not This Time, along with Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties, has a place of honor on my bookshelf because I will be reading and re-reading them for years to come!

WaterBrook Multnomah provided a copy of the book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, just my opinion of the book, which I have done. No compensation has been received.

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Unabridged Audiobook Download

Written by Vicki Hinze
Read by Dorothy Dillingham Blue

Release Date: Feb 21, 2012

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Book Review ~ Deadly Ties

I won Deadly Ties in a blog giveaway and thought I'd write a review. Order your copy here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422064

Summary from back of the book:

HER ENEMY WILL STOP AT NOTHING FOR CONTROL
SHE WILL RISK EVERYTHING FOR FREEDOM

A horrific crime shatters Lisa Harper’s idyllic childhood.  Her father is dead and her desperate mother, Annie, quickly marries Dutch Hauk, an abusive monster who soon reveals his hatred for Lisa. To protect her, Annie defies her ruthless husband and forfeits custody to a trusted friend.  Enraged, Dutch vows to keep Annie and Lisa apart–and he does.  Years later, though keenly aware of Dutch’s evil intent, Lisa and her mother seize a change to be a family, safe in a home where love dwells.  But they fail to fathom how far Dutch will go to keep his vow.

Determined to control his women, Dutch proves resourceful.  His associates in crime are feared at the highest levels across the globe–and for Lisa they plan a fate worse than death.  Yet she too has formidable connections, including former Special Operations Officer Mark Taylor.  Burdened by his own traumatic past, Mark has loved Lisa from afar. Now for Lisa and her mother to survive, Mark must risk his life–and even more difficult for him, he must trust God.  All as one question haunts them.  Can Mark and Lisa untangle these deadly ties before it’s too late?

My Review:

Domestic Abuse and Human Trafficking. These are crimes that are happening in our country, in some of our own neighborhoods, and Vicki is to be admired and respected for having the courage to write about them with such realism. She does an excellent job delving into the intricacies of each. Bringing me inside the mind of the abuser, which I found quite chilling, and inside the mind of the abused, which I found to be very admirable, made me feel as if I was taking part in the story. There are some disturbing scenes depicted that I could easily visualize but I didn't feel they were gruesome.

Vicki portrays strong leading characters that struggle with doubt and all life has dealt them. The spiritual element isn't overpowering, but blends perfectly with the situations happening in the book. In the end they realize that God had been preparing them, through their trials and life experiences, "for such a time as this". (I can't remember if that exact phrase is used, but that's certainly what I concluded.)

There's a familiar cast of characters from the first book in the series, Forget Me Not, so don't forget to read that one first. It's not absolutely necessary, but you'll love the book!

Overall, I think if you like to read gripping romantic suspense then this book is for you!