On an icy road in the dead of night what she sees might get her killed. Allison Moore can’t deny what she sees–a lifeless hand sticking out of a tarp in the back of a crashed pickup truck. Seconds later, she’s on the run with a murderer on her heels. Nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted…except police sergeant Jackson Archer. But with someone set on silencing her, can Jackson keep his … Jackson keep his promise of protection?
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Such a page turner, I didn’t want to put it down. It was great getting to know Allison and Jackson’s stories.
Who is Allison and what happened that she witnessed? Who is Jackson? What does he promise her? Where is Allison from and where is she headed? What is happening around her? What happens to her when she is going to Maggie’s house? Who is Maggie to her? Who is the Captain of the local police department? What do we learn about him? I like Devon. Who is he and how does he meet or know the players involved? Tex was a HUGE surprise for me! Read and see what happens in this suspenseful romance story.
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT from Netgalley FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin’ With M. Brennan.
Fantastic suspense novel that keeps you on your toes throughout the entire book! I think this is every woman’s worst nightmare come true when trying to render aid to someone on the side of the road in the dark. Excellent plot!
I haven’t read anything by this author but I love reading LIS (Love Inspired Suspense) books so I couldn’t wait to read this. From the first chapter this story kept me on the edge of my seat with lots of suspense and action with great characters.
Allison was a strong character and determined not to let the killer win as she helps Jackson figure out clues as to what happened that dark fateful night of her car accident. Although they butt heads alot, I still enjoyed getting to know them and seeing their characters and friendship develop.
Great steady pace, clean suspense, easy to read. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
She just wanted to help but now she’s on the run…
I absolutely love trying new Love Inspired Suspense authors, especially when it’s their debut novel. Accidental Target is precisely why I enjoy them so much! What. A. Wild. Ride! From start to finish Theresa Hall wove a tale of riveting suspense, spine-tingling danger, and, one must not forget, romance.
I have Accidental Target in paperback and I think the pages may have smoked a little from how fast I was reading. I couldn’t put it down. Seriously, when a story starts out with proof of the old saying about no good deed going unpunished, well, how could I not be intrigued?
This book may be Theresa Hall’s first Love Inspired Suspense but I certainly hope it won’t be her last. I really do look forward to reading more from this talented author.
(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Thank you in advance to the author, Theresa Hall, along with JustRead Tours for providing a complimentary copy to review. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own.
As someone who used to LOVE and praise the Intrigue line, I have jumped ship and become a “HUGE” fan of the Love Inspired Suspense (LIS) line from Harlequin. The Love Inspired (LI) is a close second.
I have ALWAYS been a romantic-suspense fan, and each LIS I’ve read has NEVER disappointed. Even though this is the author’s debut into this particular genre – this book did not disappoint. That’s not to say all first time authors are bad, but there are some who really dive right in and grab your attention, and some warm up. But, I have yet to read an LIS or LI book I wasn’t happy with either.
Starting from the cover and into the book – this was an intense, exciting, heart-pounding read. While the author has no real input into the cover, the people over at LI and LIS do a great job. This cover really grabbed my attention and set up this “can’t stop reading” book.
From the characters to the plot – this never stopped. Quite literally – this never stopped. Hall’s writing kept me engaged with the heart-racing action, making this an extremely quick read. I was hooked right off, and I honestly couldn’t stop reading due to what was going on in the story. But, I did put it down long enough to catch my breath. I could barely take proper notes for a review, and I was wondering how I was going to do this review without notes. I flew right through the first three chapters because I was reading so fast.
Hall also created characters that the reader may or may not be able to identify with, but they were realistic enough that we could empathize with them. And, in a small way, connect with them. Sgt. Jackson Archer was definitely one such character with the tragedy he’d faced prior to the start of the book. Still, his patience with Allison and his determination to keep her safe made him the absolute hero of this book.
Allison was pretty brave in the face of what was going on. She was, despite being frightened, not afraid to stand up for herself. She was feisty to the point Jackson had thought of putting her in jail for the night (slight, teensy spoiler) – wow! He wasn’t playing around – and with good reason. But, still? Jail? WOW!
There were three other characters I really had some doubts about. One was right off, and the other I had a “suspicion”. I was actually right about them. The other? I should’ve known better – but, that’s what this is all about – keeping you reading and guessing, second-guessing even.
While two federal agencies were mentioned – FBI and DEA, only one DEA agent makes it to the end, there are no FBI agents in this.
The only problem/not-a-problem with this – it is a standalone read. So, we might not be re-visiting the characters again. It’s good because of the immediate outcome, but again – seeing them down the road wouldn’t be too bad.
This played out like one of those suspense movies. I could close my eyes and either picture the action or feel like I was right there. And, I do believe fans of this genre will really enjoy this book, if not downright love it.
When it comes to liking and disliking things in a book, let’s face it – no one likes the sad, tragic stuff. It is character building, and sadly, it is real life. Also, when the two leads don’t get along right off – it is stressful. But, Hall makes up for that with a romance that isn’t too romantic or conventional, but shows that we do heal and can move forward. It also shows that we’re needed when and where we’re needed at a particular time.
There were two “cases” in this one – the one that led to Jackson’s tragedy, and the current one. Both get resolved at the end with the standard HEA (happily-ever-after). The first case “end” was something I honestly didn’t see coming, but it made sense.
As this is part of the Love Inspired line, the book will have Christian/faith themes like the first one – bible quotes, faith in God, references to faith. The tone is light and not a central theme of the story.
I’m definitely looking forward to the author’s next story in this line.
Accidental Target is the debut novel by Theresa Lynn Hall. Allison Moore is looking forward to her vacation, especially the chance to meet her new niece. But when she’s run off the icy road, her plans derail just as quickly.
Police Sergeant Jackson Archer has seen his share of tragedy so when he responds to a traffic accident, he wants to get away as soon as possible. At first, he’s not sure the victim, Allison Moore, is actually innocent. Until someone tries to kill her. With danger on her tail, Jackson takes it upon himself to get her to safety.
Accidental Target is a fast moving story full of danger and questions. Who is after Allison? How do they keep finding her? Who can they trust? Each time Jackson thinks he has her in a safe place, more trouble appears. The author did a good job of twisting the plot so that it kept me second guessing who I thought the suspects were.
Allison was a great character. Strong in the face of such constant danger. I found Jackson trickier to relate to. His past made him gruffer than I prefer in a hero. His friend and co-worker agrees. Allison, however, wasn’t afraid to stand up to his moods.
If you’re looking for a light, quick read with plenty of danger and a little romance, pick up a copy of Accidental Target. It’s a good story.
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I received this book free from JustRead Publicity Tours and the author in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
When Allison stops to help an accident victim on her way to visit her sister, the last thing she expects is to become a target.
Author Theresa Hall weaves a tale of intrigue with some twists and turns I did not see coming. While it did not detract from the overall story, I was anticipating one twist that never came to fruition.
Both Allison and Jackson have heartaches from their past that shape who they are now. And while Allison’s concern for others is made clear, so is Jackson’s gruff protective shell. Put the two of them together, and they balance each other out well.
This story never fell flat or into a slump for me, and there is a good balance of romance with the suspense.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Accidental Target
By Theresa Hall
It was just supposed to be a weekend get-together with her sister’s family – a chance to meet her newest niece. Now she’ll be lucky to live to see another day. Allison Moore has a life she is satisfied with – a good job and a place to call her own. But when she is involved with an icy road accident rendering assistance could cost her her life.
Sergeant Jackson Archer is first on the scene of a car going off the road into a fence. The victim claims that she is the victim of attempted murder. When evidence seems to maybe collaborate her story Jackson needs to dig deeper into her story. Soon everywhere Allison goes someone seems intent on killing her.
If Jackson can’t keep her safe her good samaritan story won’t have a happy ending. Worse spending time with Allison is bringing up memories of his own loss – the vehicular death of his family five years ago.
As the killer continually tracks them down – suspicion takes root that there maybe someone on the inside betraying them. With no one to trust, Jackson may have to turn to the one person he blames for his loss – God. There is one thing he knows with certainty he can’t do it alone much longer.
Theresa Hall’s Accidental Target will keep you engaged as Allison’s weekend away turns into a fight to survive. Allison and Jackson both have a lot that they are carrying around and this brush with losing their lives makes both reconsider just how they have been living. Allison is living with a crushed dream and a betrayal of the heart. Jackson is living with a reminder of his lost future and what could have been. Both have a time of growth and a meeting of hearts – which occurs quickly over a few days, this is, after all, a standalone book. Now as to whether they have a happy ending you will have to read the book. This was an enjoyable read that satisfied a weekend reading need. I would recommend this for those who what clean-reading suspense that is not filled with graphic descriptions. I also look forward to future offerings from the author. At just over 200 pages I found this to be a good weekend length to enjoy – I will admit I stayed up late as I wanted to know how it all turned out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own honest opinions.
When I pick up a suspense novel I expect to be kept in suspense from beginning to end. I want to be on the edge of my seat, feverishly turning from page to page to see if my sleuthing skills has figured out the mystery before the characters do. In Accidental Suspense, I got my tension from the very beginning. All Allison was trying to do was be a Good Samaritan and help someone who had just been in a horrible accident. What this decision does is put a target on her life that won’t be removed until she is dead.
My attention was instantly captured, and I eagerly turned the pages to see where the manhunt would lead Allison and police sergeant Jackson Archer, the officer who vows to protect Allison at all cost. In many suspense novels there is predictability that is unavoidable, but Accidental Suspense was so predictable that it made the story lose its luster for me. I pressed on, hoping for a twist that would give me that jolt that I so craved, but it never happened.
I wonder if my lackluster reaction comes from the fact that I didn’t completely connect with either Allison or Jackson, and honestly I’m not sure why. Though I did feel bad for the situations that each character fount themselves in, I didn’t have that emotional connection that vests me into a book. Maybe I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to read this novel. Sometimes that happens, but I think in this instance there is a lack of development. Sure, you read backstory, but there is something lacking.
Though the book fizzled out for me, I did give it a chance, and did enjoy the ending. Every situation is resolved, and there is that happy ending that I craved, but I had wished there was more depth and more action in the final climax. The whole end felt rushed to me.
All in all it’s a sweet book, it was just a little too predictable for my taste. It started off strong and with so much promise, but ended in disappointment. It is a quick read, and has a wonderful premise with decent writing, I just didn’t fall in love like I hoped I would.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
I loved this book. It was a fast read full of mystery and suspense plus a little love and romance of course. Allison tries to be a good Samaritan and check on the vehicle that drove her off the road. Little does she know it’s a murderer and she’s about to become his next target. Jackson has had his share of loss and he’s staunchly against having a new love. But when he’s the first to the scene and vows to protect Allison things start to heat up.
It becomes apparent early on that someone on the inside of the police force is giving locations to the person out to get Allison. Jackson doesn’t know who to trust so he goes rogue. Add in a kidnapper who’s not a killer and says he’s going to keep Allison safe and her world is upside down as well. She’s never thought about how much independence she has until it’s gone.
This was such a fun book. It read really fast and though it was mostly predictable there were a few little twists and turns thrown in for good measure. You’ll love this one! Make sure to grab your copy and settle in for a few hours as you’re not going to want to stop reading once you start. I did feel bad for Allison being so close to meeting her new niece and then not being able to because of everything going on.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
The story starts immediately with a nightmarish type of action and the intensity and danger continue throughout the book.
I liked the premise of the tale – on the personal level with the characters – the healing of the deep personal wounds both protagonists suffer with, finding the peace of heart and mind after tragic events, the resolution for forgiveness, and renewing your faith in God. Allison Moore and Jackson Archer struggle with their issues and personality faults while trying to stay alive and avoiding the attraction budding in between them, all the mayhem delivering a lot of drama, danger, and imperilment.
An overall great, entertaining story that was a quick, enjoyable, adrenaline rush read. There were a couple of points when a bit of polish could have made a difference, yet no major issues that would be putting me off from reading future books by this author.
~ Four Spoons
The premise of the story is really interesting. Allison is traveling to her sister’s house when she gets into a car accident. When she goes to check on the person in the other vehicle, he tries to kill her. She also sees what she thinks is a dead body near the crash. An action-packed, suspenseful story of Allison, with the help of Sergeant Jackson Archer, evading the people who have targeted her.
Who is trying to kill Allison and why? Can Jackson protect her? Why is the FBI involved? Is there a mole in the police department, as Jackson suspects? These questions and more are answered in Accidental Target.
Allison Moore is a great protagonist. Thrust into a situation where she is being hunted by some very dangerous people, Allison shows an incredible amount of bravery and determination. She continually worries about other people even though her life is at risk. I love her selfless and nurturing spirit and how Jackson expresses his admiration of her throughout the story.
Sergeant Jackson Archer is blunt and brutally honest. He has a rough and gruff exterior, which he uses to keep people at bay and to hide his pain. Suffering from the loss of his wife and child, Jackson hasn’t healed from the loss. He is a man of integrity with strong values and honorable intentions, but his personal demons threaten to destroy him and hinder any chance of a romantic relationship.
Allison sees past the walls Jackson erected, but, since both struggles with self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness, their romance is slow-building. The extreme and dangerous circumstances force them to examine their feelings for each other. Plus, they make a really good team!
In addition to the well-developed characters, there is a suspenseful mystery and tons of action that kept me immersed in the story. Allison and Jackson get into some harrowing situations, and neither knows who to trust. With attempted murders, crooked cops, FBI investigations, kidnappings, and more, there is never a dull moment for this couple.
Accidental Target is a well-paced and action-packed story with strong Christian undertones. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Love Inspired Suspense for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
No good deed goes unpunished. Or so it seems for Allison Moore, who stops to help a truck that runs itself off the road, and ends up with a murderous gang on her heels.
Action packed adventure, with one thing after another sending Allison and Jackson scrambling to stay one step ahead. Police Sergeant Jackson Archer is determined to do whatever he can to help keep Allison safe, he’s been struggling since the death of his wife, this case may what he needs to help him find his way again. I loved the suspense, and how it kept me guessing how they would find their way out.
Allison lives her faith, and does her best to stay strong throughout this whole ordeal. I liked that she kept a level head, and was there for Jackson when he needed her.
A high stakes, fast-paced adventure. It was pretty much nonstop action, with great main characters of depth, and I liked Jackson’s arc over the course of the book. Engaging, entertaining, and suspenseful!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Allison Moore was on her way to visit her sister Maddie’s family and their newborn baby girl in Stonewater. The roads were icing up so Allison was driving as carefully as she could. As she started around a curve a truck was coming at her in her lane. She managed to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid a collision. The truck flew past her and turned over against an embankment. Allison turned around to see if anyone in the truck needed assistance. When Allison looked inside the truck she saw a scary looking man but she offered to help anyway. Next thing she knew the man started yelling and shooting at her. She raced back to her car and immediately started backing away. The gunshots kept coming. A bullet hit a tire but she kept going until she couldn’t anymore and her car slid and smashed into a fence. Allison had called 911 when she first saw the truck flip over. First on the scene of Allison’s accident was Sergeant Jackson Archer. Jackson stayed with Allison until the ambulance arrived. He told her that he would see her at the hospital to answer some questions. That’s how Allison and Jackson met. Beginning that night Allison faced numerous attempts on her life. She trusted Jackson to keep her safe.
Jackson Archer is a troubled man. He hasn’t recovered from the death of his wife and daughter five years ago. When he met Allison he couldn’t believe that she was able to melt some of the ice around his heart. Keeping her safe was his top priority but keeping his heart safe from Allison wasn’t working. The attempts on her life were very scary but he was determined to keep her safe. Turns out a major cartel leader was after her. Somehow the cartel thugs kept finding Allison. This was a tough job under these circumstances. Jackson suspected that there was a mole somewhere so the only one he could trust was his friend Detective Devon Sparks. Then he lost contact with Devon. He was alone but determined.
Accidental Target by Theresa Hall is her debut novel in Harlequin’s Love Inspired Line. I found this to be an excellent read. The author has great characters, sets a fast pace and keeps the action going. Allison and Jackson are characters with troubled pasts but manage to realize that the future holds happiness for them. I look forward to more stories by Theresa Hall.