Review: Flight by Laura Griffin

Product Description:

When a woman is found brutally murdered on Austin’s lakeside hike-and-bike trail, investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads turns up on the scene demanding access and answers. She tries to pry information out of the lead detective, Jacob Merritt. But this case is unlike any he’s ever seen, and nothing adds up. With the pressure building, Jacob knows the last thing he needs is a romantic entanglement, but he can’t convince himself to stay away from Bailey.

Bailey has a hunch that the victim wasn’t who she claimed to be and believes this mugging-turned-murder could have been a targeted hit. When she digs deeper, the trail leads her to a high-tech fortress on the outskirts of Austin, where researchers are pushing the boundaries of a cutting-edge technology that could be deadly in the wrong hands.

As a ruthless hit man’s mission becomes clear, Bailey and Jacob join together in a desperate search to locate the next target before the clock ticks down in this lethal game of hide-and-seek.

My thoughts:

It's been a while since I've read anything from Laura Griffin and I'm reminded of why I've loved her books. As always, the story flows so well and the characters come to life. They feel real and I can easily paint a picture in my head which isn't always the case with authors that force the story or aren't descriptive. While this is the 2nd book in the series, you don't need to have read the 1st one to understand and enjoy the read. I look forward to going back and reading any of the author's books I haven't read.

Review: Flight by Laura Griffin

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2021/03/review-flight-by-laura-griffin.html

Review: Far Gone by Laura Griffin

Product Description: 
To save her only brother, Andrea Finch must face down a criminal mastermind, the FBI, and her own demons in this thrilling novel from the author of the bestselling Tracers series.

Police detective Andrea Finch is a rising star in her department until a split-second decision derails her career. Disgraced and disillusioned, she’s on leave from her job when she gets an urgent call from her younger brother. She’d prefer to ignore his latest plea for cash, but this time instinct tells her something is very wrong. Andrea’s search for answers takes her to a dusty Texas border town where danger lurks in plain sight and nothing is quite what it seems.

FBI agent Jon North is working undercover in west Texas investigating an unsolved murder that may be linked to a broader plot. But when the evidence points to Andrea’s brother, Jon finds that persuading the stubborn cop to help will be harder than cracking his toughest case.

Andrea must find a way to do what’s right while protecting her only sibling. As the clock ticks down on a deadly plot, Andrea and Jon race to confront a heartless killer who will stop at nothing to deliver a final, terrifying message.

My Thoughts:
From the very first Laura Griffin book I read she quickly became one of my favorite authors. She always weaves a believable suspense story with just the right amount of romance and Far Gone is no exception. 

What's awesome about this book is that it's a different kind of mystery. This time we know up front who the bad guys is and we get to follow along with Andrea and Joe as they unravel the trouble that Andrea's brother is in and connect all the dots in the bigger picture. 

Another fun part of reading Far Gone is that characters from the Tracers series make cameos in the book just as characters from Laura's other books make cameos in the Tracers books. It's such a treat when I recognize someone from another book that I loved. 

My Recommendation: 
I recommend Far Gone for anyone who loves suspense thrillers with a hint of romance.

Review: Far Gone by Laura Griffin

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2014/03/review-far-gone-by-laura-griffin.html

Review: Exposed by Laura Griffin

Product Description:
With the click of her camera, Maddie Callahan inadvertently added herself to the hit list of a criminal mastermind the FBI’s been investigating for months. Agent Brian Beckmann is determined to protect the sexy photographer, but she may be his only lead.

As a forensic photographer, Maddie is used to seeing violence up close, but she’s never before been a target. When a freelance photo shoot goes awry, she realizes she may have seen, and perhaps photographed, the kidnapping of a key witness in a federal probe. And although her camera was stolen, Maddie has something that could be even more valuable to investigators. With the help of her colleagues at the Tracers crime lab, Maddie uncovers DNA evidence that provides a desperately needed break in the case.

Although Brian is reluctant to involve Maddie, she’s determined to help with the investigation and the two set out to track a vicious criminal known as The Doctor, whose far-reaching violence has led to multiple deaths. But as the task force gets closer to catching the deadly Doctor, Maddie is in more danger than ever.

My Thoughts:
My favorite part of reading Laura's books is how realistic they are. The investigating and crime solving always makes me think that Laura has got to be some sort of forensic investigator herself. The plot line of Exposed was something I could see playing out on my favorite TV crime show.

Another aspect I look forward to is how characters from other books in the Tracers series make cameo appearances through The Delphi Center where Maddie works.  In my opinion each book in the series is a stand alone so when I recognize characters from the other books I get a thrill thinking I know something that stand alone readers don't which adds a bit of fun to my read.

My Recommendation: 
I recommend Exposed and truly the whole Tracers series to anyone who loves a good romantic suspense read with believable characters and story lines. 

Review: Exposed by Laura Griffin

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2013/06/review-exposed-by-laura-griffin.html

Review: The Journey by John A. Heldt

Blurb:

Seattle, 2010. When her entrepreneur husband dies in an accident, Michelle Preston Richardson, 48, finds herself childless and directionless. She yearns for the simpler days of her youth, before she followed her high school sweetheart down a road that led to limitless riches but little fulfillment, and jumps at a chance to reconnect with her past at a class reunion. But when Michelle returns to Unionville, Oregon, and joins three classmates on a spur-of-the-moment tour of an abandoned mansion, she gets more than she asked for. She enters a mysterious room and is thrown back to 1979.


Distraught and destitute, Michelle finds a job as a secretary at Unionville High, where she guides her spirited younger self, Shelly Preston, and childhood friends through their tumultuous senior year. Along the way, she meets widowed teacher Robert Land and finds the love and happiness she had always sought. But that happiness is threatened when history intervenes and Michelle must act quickly to save those she loves from deadly fates. Filled with humor and heartbreak, THE JOURNEY gives new meaning to friendship, courage, and commitment as it follows an unfulfilled soul through her second shot at life

My Thoughts:
In June of this year I read book one in the Northwest Passage series, The Mine (read my review), and loved it. I thought the writing in The Mine was a bit choppy at first but none of that was evident in The Journey. From page one the writing flowed smoothly and the story was well paced.

I'm sure that most of us have said "what if" at some point in their lives. I've never regretted becoming a mom at fifteen but occasionally I've wondered what I would be doing today if I didn't get pregnant when I did. In The Journey, Michelle Richardson gets that chance and uses her knowledge of the future to steer her younger self, Shelly, onto a much different path. I don't agree with some of Michelle's choices 100% but I can see why the author chose to let things play out the way they did. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and felt a connection with most of them. The ending was pretty shocking but I loved it!

If you've read The Mine, you'll also notice a small cameo in The Journey by the lead character Joel, which I thought that was awesome.

My Recommendation:
Overall this was a great read and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves romance with just a hint of suspense.

Review: The Journey by John A. Heldt

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/12/review-journey-by-john-heldt.html

Review: Twisted by Laura Griffin

The latest murder in the small Texas town of San Marcos is has thinking that they got the killer locked up tight. But when one of the few female detectives on the force, rookie Allison Doyle starts to question their prime suspect no one wants to hear it. Late one night Allison walks into a convenience store robbery and because she has so much on her mind the robber gets the jump on her and she’s almost taken out. Luckily FBI profiler Mark Wolfe just happens to be inside the store also and jumps to her rescue.

Mark has arrived in town because he suspects that the latest murder is part of a series of murders that he’s been tracking down for years. Together Allison and Mark turn to the Delphi Center’s experts for help convincing the powers that be that they’ve got the wrong man and to pick up the trail of the real killer.

Man I just love reading Laura’s books. They are like reading a CSI episode with but more action and believability when it comes to the investigation. I’m always amazed by Laura’s attention to detail in the crime investigation. If I didn’t know better I would say that she’s probably a forensic investigator herself. The romance part of the book is also realistic. It’s not just a convenient plot line that throws the main characters into a relationship. It comes naturally which makes it all the more believable. There’s also a serious creep factor in this one that kept me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this one for anyone who loves romantic suspense.

Review: Twisted by Laura Griffin

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/04/review-twisted-by-laura-griffin.html