Crossfire

Title: Crossfire

Series: Extreme Measures #2

Author: Lynette Eason

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Suspense, Romance,

Publisher: Revell

Source: Net Galley/Revell

My review:

While Crossfire is the second book in the Extreme Measures series, it can easily be a stand-alone novel.

I am not sure where to start with my review. There is SO much going on in this novel. I don't know of any other author who can pack so much in one story and make it all come together so seamlessly! Lynette Eason is truly a queen of suspense!

Crossfire is fast-paced.

Exposive.

Difficult to put down.

Julianna is a hostage negotiator who is good at her job. It shows in how often she is called out. This gave me a small glimpse into what a hostage negotiator does. I would not want such a high-stress, intense job, but I am thankful for those in this role.

Clay is a school resource officer, who meets Julianna when he comes to the courthouse, where his sister is a hostage. They meet under intense circumstances and continue to find themselves in other charged situations as the story unfolds. They build a solid friendship.

I enjoyed the character development, the flawed characters, the fast-paced story, the beautiful friendships that formed, and the twists the story took. It was also interesting to see the point of view of the antagonist.

The only thing I did not like was the "I have a secret I am not going to reveal, but it is going to keep me from pursuing a relationship." I am tired of that troupe; it is overused. We all have trust issues, so I get it, but I am just over it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this physiological thriller, with its themes of revenge, hope, and redemption.  I recommend it to anyone who loves a good suspense novel.

Thank you to Net Galley and Revell for the opportunity to read Crossfire. I was not required to provide a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

★★★★/5

Synopsis (Goodreads):

FBI special agent Julianna James is a top-notch negotiator who has never lost a hostage. Surely, she can manage to take care of her much younger sister, Dottie, who showed up unannounced to live with Julianna while she finished her senior year of high school.

A former sniper with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Clay Snyder left the army after a tragic incident that he can't get past. Now he's working as a high school resource officer until he can figure out what to do with the rest of his life.

Their paths cross when Julianna is called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay's sister. Impressed and a bit intimidated by the calm, capable woman with the dark hair and blue eyes, Clay invites her to speak at his school. Dottie's school.

But as the anniversary of a school shooting from Julianna's past approaches, it becomes clear that her perfect record is about to be tested and that Dottie is at risk. If Julianna and Clay can't figure out who's behind the attacks, more innocent people will die--and Julianna just might be one of them.

This intense story of revenge and redemption from bestselling author and master of suspense Lynette Eason will have you up all night as you race toward the explosive finish.