COUNTER ATTACK by Patricia Bradley
SERIES: Pearl River #1
GENRE: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
PUBLISHER: Revell
RELEASE DATE: May 16, 2023
PAGES: 378
Big city Chattanooga meets small town Tennessee as Alexis Stone’s past and present dreams collide – along with a killer game of chess, the dark web, drug dealers, and a race to stay alive – in this first book of talented author Patricia Bradley’s new romantic suspense series!
Counter Attack opens with a chilling snippet that takes us into the dark web, a murderous game, and a killer’s quest for revenge. I’m hooked! Meeting Alexis in the next few pages kept my interest piqued as we join her undercover as bait meant to draw out the Queen’s Gambit Killer before he kills again. Tying all the victims together is their similarity to Alexis in appearance, a white chess piece in their hand, and a chess move on a note left on their bodies. As she leaves the bar, she bumps into her first love – a police chief in the tiny Tennessee town she couldn’t wait to leave. Hello, romantic subplot! I’m here for it! Something else I’m here for? The high-stakes suspense which shoots (ahem) onto the scene before we’ve reached page 25 and doesn’t leave us (or Alexis & Nathan) too much time to relax until the very end. There are a lot of elements in play when it comes to the suspense, and while I had a couple of things figured out pretty early on, I did NOT expect some of the twists the author expertly wove into this aspect of the story. Twists which kept me from fully committing to what I thought I had figured out, and which ultimately did prove I didn’t have it all right.
The spiritual theme of this book definitely doesn’t overpower the story, but it’s meaningful nonetheless. It’s not long after we meet Alexis on the pages of Counter Attack that we can tell she has big goals – namely, she wants to be the first female to head up the Chattanooga Police Department. But what does she do when her plans for her life seem to be running counter to God’s plans for her life? I so loved the quiet-but-steady wisdom and prayers of her grandmother not only as Alexis struggled with the two directions her heart was pulling her to choose but also in pointing out the consequences of continuing to put career over all else. The wisdom Gram shared clearly came from her love for her granddaughter but also from experiences over a life well lived.
Bottom Line: Buckle up, because Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley takes you on an intense ride! It grabbed my attention early and held it until the end. A serial killer, a health crisis, unexpected changes, and workplace conflict are just a few of the things on Alexis Stone’s plate in this kick-off to a great new small-town Southern romantic suspense series. Not to mention a second chance at a first love who has his own plate full with his job as police chief and trying to catch some drug dealers who have infiltrated his town. Nathan and Alexis make a good team, and I loved tagging along as they investigated their cases together – and as they shared some sweet kisses, too. I’m curious to see who else is featured in future books in the series, and I can’t wait to read them!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4 stars / loved it!
KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion
Patricia Bradley is the author of Standoff, Obsession, Crosshairs, and Deception, as well as the Memphis Cold Case novels and Logan Point series. Bradley is the winner of an Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, a Selah Award, and a Daphne du Maurier Award; she was a Carol Award finalist; and three of her books were included in anthologies that debuted on the USA Today bestseller list. Cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., Bradley is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime. She makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.
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Revell is offering a print copy of Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley to TWO of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley?
Thos should be a great novel.
Patricia Bradley SAYS she doesn’t write so much romance, focusing mainly on the mystery, but I put hers up against any romantic suspense out there! This book is next on my TBR pile. Honestly? I’ve never read a book of hers that I didn’t love!
exactly!!!
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
thanks for such a great story!
Sounds like an exciting book. Thanks for reviewing it.
Looks like a fun summer read, esp at the beach. Thank you
for sure 🙂
Looks awesome!
yes!!
Thank you sharing this review. This book sounds interesting. 🙂
it is! 🙂
She always rights a good suspense.
absolutely!
Sounds like a great read.
it was!! very intriguing suspense thread 🙂
Captivating and enthralling.
I would like to read Counter Attack by Patricia Bradley because it sounds like a thrilling story.
it is!!
I always enjoy Patricia’s books. She has never failed to engage my interest from the first page.
i agree & this one will definitely do that too!
This author’s suspense novels are always hard to put down, and I love the reunion/second chance romance part.
definitely!
This book sounds so good, I would love to read this book.
yay!
A great author, so I know it’ll be a good story! Would love to win a print copy!
yes!
Patricia Bradley’s novels are epic page-turners!
absolutely – and this one is one of the epic-est 🙂
Great author. On my wish list.
I love this type of fiction.
the storyline
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
I love her books and recommend her books to everyone including my public library.
that’s awesome!
Since I live in TN I always enjoy stories in my neck of the woods. Also, second chance romances are one of my favorite troupes.
i was born in TN and spent lots of fun visits with my grandparents there too so I’m always drawn to books set there as well 🙂
I like Suspense Books
I love this author. Sounds really great.
Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Every book I’ve read by Patricia Bradley has been great. The storyline of this book sounds really interesting. Patricia’s blog is a lot of fun. She even takes the time to respond to her readers comments. Carrie your review is excellent as always!
thank you, Erika! I love following her blog too 🙂
Patricia’s a really good writer.
definitely!
Suspense is one of my favorite genres!
I love any book written by this author!
looks like a fun one
I can’t pass up a good book! Keep writing! Keep surprising us!
After reading the book excerpt of Counter Attack I would like to read this book- I like suspense books and this is one to read for me-thanks
yay!
Love Patricia’s books (and one set in Tennessee is even better) 🙂
exactly 😀
Counter Attack sounds like another great book by Patricia Bradley!
it is!!
I would love to read this as I love suspense books and this one sounds like a good read.
most definitely 🙂
I want to read Counter Attack because of the book cover, excerpt and the author. This book sounds like a great read and can’t wait to read it in print.
it is!
I love romance, can’t wait to read this. The cover caught my eye, as well.
yes!