Book Review: CROSSHAIRS

I just spent the last few days reading a gripping suspense called CROSSHAIRS, by our beloved Suspense Sister, Patricia Bradley. As a reader, it was cool in that I was aware of more going on than the main characters, but the plot was so full of twists and turns, I truly didn't see the end of it coming. 

There's a difference between suspense and mystery genres. You probably already know that, but in case you don't, the mystery genre has secrets - hidden things that must be discovered. The suspense genre has something of a ticking clock. An anticipation of something about to happen. Oftentimes, the "clock" is more like a target on one of the main characters - a mortal threat of which they are unaware. 

And in really juicy stories, there are elements of both suspense and mystery. CROSSHAIRS is definitely one of those. The book is a little different in that there are several mysteries that converge to create a chair-gripping story. I was delighted to see all of the different mysteries tied up in neat little bows. 

Oh, did I mention the romance. True confessions - I love clean romance. Especially when they seem real with elements of doubt, vulnerability, and insecurity. I gotta tell you, the main characters in this story have an undeniable chemistry that is palpable. 

I highly recommend this book for those who love the twists and turns of a juicy mystery and the intensity of a strong suspense. You're going to be delighted from the first page to the last! 

Here's a little more about CROSSHAIRS by Patricia Bradley: 

Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer's next target - nor that she'd have to work alongside an old flame.

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn't bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley continues her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series with a story about how good must prevail when evil just won't quit.

**Just another little note here. I know this is Book 3 of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, but it is a completely stand-alone story. You'd probably get a kick out of reading them in order, but I didn't miss a thing by reading this one before I read the others. Which I will DEFINITELY be doing!

I was delighted to find CROSSHAIRS as an audiobook. Do you like listening to stories? I love it because I can do something more productive as I indulge - like crochet or cooking or cleaning. Leave a comment about your experience with audio books. I'm giving away a free kindle copy of one of my own books.  

Where the bears and dollies might lead....

Do you ever look back through the years to your childhood and remember little things that hinted at what you would become in the future?  Or, see those small signs in your children? What fun it is, to look back at the way those gifts, talents and interests develop in one’s children.

This morning I’m thinking about our daughter Emily, who at three would line up her bears and dollies on the sofa, and then tell them long, complex stories. By four she figured out that a live audience was better, so she would make “tickets” and have her brothers, dad and I on that sofa, and her stories got longer and longer.  I recall needing to repeatedly grab one boy or the other and rope them back into staying put through her performances.  J

Turns out (no big surprise) that Emily grew to love reading, and has loved writing since, well, she learned to write.  When she was old enough, I started taking her with me to regional and national writing conferences, which were such fun!  Those shared mother-daughter experiences of travel, taking workshops and all of the long, late night discussions with other authors have been such a special part of my life, and of hers, too, I hope.  What are some of the memorable experiences you recall with your mom, or with your kids?

Emily (now Emily Vasquez) ended up with a Masters in English and Special Ed, and has finished three full manuscripts. I pray she keeps at it, finds success in the future with her writing career, and that she finds as much joy in writing as I have over the years.  

And in the meantime, she has become an independent content/developmental editor. So you just never know where stories told to the bears and dollies will lead!

I would LOVE to hear about how you might have followed your own, early interests to something you enjoy as an adult....or how you've seen your children's interests develop as they've grown.   

Anyone leaving a comment will be in a drawing for an e-copy of MURDER AT GRANITE FALLS.

Blessings, Roxanne Rustand

Interview with author Lyn Cote, and a drawing for a free book!

Roxanne Rustand here, happy to share an interview with award-winning Christian author Lyn Cote!  For those who leave a comment or a question for Lyn, there will be a drawing for a free e-book!

Tell us about yourself.  What led you to become a writer? I was born to be a writer. I discovered this in 5th grade!

What is your writing schedule like? I'm beginning to slow down from 5 or 6 a.m. to breakfast to lunch to 2 p.m. After 45 books, I have decided to write less and live more!

What is the hardest thing about writing?   Has that changed, over the years? The hardest thing about writing is that so many people don't understand writers. They think coming up with the idea for a book is the hard part. That's easy. I have thousands of ideas. The hard part is putting it down on the page so that when a reader picks it up, she/he gets exactly what's in my mind--sights, sounds, feelings.

Tell us about this book. This is one of my most dear books. It is set in the place I love, the Northwoods, and is about real people facing danger and the demands of loving.

What inspired you to write it? 

Watching snowmobiles zoom past me on a frozen lake.

Give us some insight into your main character.

My main character is Wendy who never knew her father and whose mother didn't recover from this loss till Wendy was an adult. Wendy has to be "mother" to a younger sister and raise herself in the bargain and it makes her a strong and compassionate nurse.

What are you working on at the moment, that we can look forward to? 

I am polishing up a cozy romance (mix of the two genres) also set in the Northwoods. Again it's a heroine who has overcome personal tragedy and yet can love. It's had elements of coming of age too. (And her hero is dreamy)

8. Anything else you'd like to share?  Anything humorous about your writing life? 

The only thing I can think is that I like to include bits of humor in my writing. Laughter is so important to us all. 

Also, Winter's Secret is FREE on all online retailers. Here's the link https://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/book-table

About Lyn Cote:

USA Today best-selling author of over 40 romances, Lyn Cote writes award-winning contemporary and historical romance. Her brand is "Strong Women, Brave Stories.” Her books feature a strong heroine, usually a multi-cultural cast of characters and authentic history or contemporary life. She lives with her real life hero in a lakeside cottage in the Northwoods with two fun cats. Visit her website/blog at http://www.LynCote.com and sign up for her newsletter. Also look for her on Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest and Twitter

Website https://www.BooksbyLynCote.com/SWBS
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/LynCoteAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynCoteWriter
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyncote/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/101121.Lyn_Cote
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Lyn-Cote/e/B001ITROW4/