Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle- Review

A week or so ago, I had the opportunity to read Angela Carlisle's debut novel, Secondary Target. I never know what to expect with new authors, but I wasn't too many pages into the story before I was hooked.

Here is the back cover copy, so you can get a little taste:

After the brutal murder of her mother and brother twelve years ago, Corina Roberts built a new life in Kentucky. But when strange things begin to happen, she is thrust into a perilous game of life and death. With nowhere else to turn, her best hope of survival depends on her ex-boyfriend, army veteran Bryce Jessup.

Recently returned from service, Bryce has every intention of staying away from Corina, but when threats close in around her, he isn't willing to leave her safety to chance. As their search for answers uncovers lethal secrets her detective father kept hidden, Bryce and Corina must untangle the mystery of the merciless killer intent on terrorizing and eliminating Corina's family before it's too late.

The author kept the intensity of the book dialed high. From car chases to explosions, to shootings, the villain tried time and again to settle his vendetta with Corina and her family.

As the action increases, so does the romance between Corina and Bryce. The one thing about their relationship that drove me crazy was how often Corina thought she had to live her nightmare alone, despite the times Bryce proved he would stick by her side. Now that I type that, I wonder if that's how God feels when I try to handle hardship on my own even though He's never been anything but faithful. Maybe the parallel with reality is what made the romance element of the story so frustrating.

I was able to figure out the villain before the big reveal, but that didn't diminish the urgency to find out just how the story would end. There were unexpected twists and turns and all the things that makes romantic suspense fun to read.

Secondary Target was a solid debut novel, and I really hope there is a book two with Bryce's sister, Allye, as the main character.

What element of romantic suspense do you prefer? The romance or the suspense? Let me know in the comments for a chance to win an eBook copy of Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle.