At the advice of her therapist, homicide survivor Harper Reynolds has traded her job as a crime scene photographer for a more peaceful life taking photographs of the natural world. But her hopes for a life surrounded by the serenity of the outdoors are dashed when she inadvertently captures a murder being committed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She flees the scene in fear–and loses the camera.Former … camera.
Former Green Beret Heath McKade is a reserve deputy in an understaffed county who has been called in to protect Harper, a childhood friend he is surprised to see back in the area. When Harper learns that the sheriff’s department can’t find any evidence of the murder she witnessed, she is determined to do what she can to see that justice is done. What neither Harper nor Heath could know is how many explosive secrets from the past will be exposed–or how deeply they will fall for each other.
In this suspenseful page-turner, bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard keeps you on the edge of your seat as you discover that uncommon justice lies just on the other side of fear.
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From the first page, Always Look Twice hits the ground running with pulse-pounding, heart-melting romantic suspense with substance! Yes, the danger and action held my attention but I was also captivated by the authenticity and vulnerability of the characters and the raw honesty of their relationship.
Harper’s relatable struggles and inspiring successes make her backstory especially encouraging and challenging in a positive way. Like Harper, Heath is one of the walking wounded, a survivor who needs healing at the emotional and spiritual levels.
Goddard exceeded my high expectations in the attraction department yet never missed a beat in the suspenseful pacing of the story. Throw in the magnificent setting and I didn’t want this story to end! I highly recommend this series and eagerly anticipate the next installment of Uncommon Justice!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Will her past eliminate their future…permanently?
Another exciting book in the Uncommon Justice series from the talented pen of Elizabeth Goddard! Always Look Twice is the second book in the series taking place a few months after the first the book and following in the same tradition of lots of danger and romance.
Always Look Twice starts off with a bang, the kind that means murder, and takes readers on a wild ride of betrayal, murder, and secrets from the distant past. It was an interesting read, Elizabeth Goddard kept me guessing, and I especially loved the wilderness setting of the Grand Tetons.
The Uncommon Justice series follows the three McKade brothers. In this one Heath McKade and Harper Reynolds are both tormented by violence in the past, perceived failure, and regret. Both of them have to decide if the will let it paralyze them or whether they will let love and faith help them heal. And, they have to survive and catch a maniacal killer while doing so.
If you enjoy romantic suspense where the threads of past secrets affect the present this might be the series for you. Always Look Twice continued to build on the mystery surrounding the McKade’s father, and, I for one, cannot wait to find out if they solve it in Elizabeth Goddard’s next book…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
I truly enjoyed reading “Always Look Twice”, and can’t imagine how I didn’t discover this series when book 1 (“Never Let Go”) came out in February! First off, you absolutely CAN read this and follow everything without having read the first book in the series. I did, and didn’t feel like I was missing anything…the author did an AMAZING job of making sure I had all the information I needed in terms of background.
I connected with main character Harper immediately. She comes across as a real person, with unique talents and abilities, as well as unique challenges that stem from her past experiences. Harper is a woman who is aware of her issues, and is actively working to overcome them.
The book is set in Wyoming, an area that the author obviously knows well. Her descriptions of the wilderness made me want to visit and see the natural beauty for myself. Harper is a photographer, so we get to see a lot through her eyes and (and the eye of her camera). The author even includes (through the characters’ experiences) some helpful tips on staying safe in terms of terrain and wildlife.
The romance between Harper and part-time deputy (and full time tourist ranch manager) Heath McKade adds an integral level to the story. When Harper sees something she wasn’t intended to, she is in danger, and it’s up to Heath to protect her and help solve the mystery. What makes the romance unique is that the two were childhood friends, and very close ones. They helped each other through some difficult times when they were too young to be thinking about romance. They’ve been apart ever since, and now have the opportunity to reconnect as adults, with no “former enemy” or “failed relationship” dynamic between them to pull them down into trope territory.
The mystery itself is also very well written. What Harper initially witnesses provides very few clues. Regardless, she is determined to solve the case. As she and Heath keep pushing to figure out what actually happened, the danger to Harper escalates. What started out as a single, fairly straightforward crime quickly expands to include other acts of violence. Long-hidden secrets from the past are also linked to current events, providing a nice, unifying element to the story.
When all is revealed in the end, everything makes perfect sense. The reader was provided with enough clues along the way to feel a part of solving the mystery, but not enough to make the answer obvious. To avoid spoilers, I won’t say more, beyond the fact that the ending is satisfying in multiple ways.
Five of five slices of American cheese!
This is the second book in the Uncommon Justice series by Elizabeth Goddard, a key note that I didn’t realize when I selected the book to read.
The story is about a crime photographer who is taking a road trip with her sister to take in the beauty of nature. A traumatic event has caused her to flee her job and seek peace elsewhere. Side note here, this is where perhaps reading the first book would have come in handy.
The first part of the book had me captivated and looking forward to the rest of the book, plus the cover art pulled me in. The middle of the book, I found there to be almost too much drama occurring to Harper Reynolds to be believable. Or perhaps, there just wasn’t enough time and spacing between each event. So by the time we reach the end of the story, it ties up what we started off reading at the start of the book.
This book had so much potential and it was almost there.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Elizabeth Goddard has cost me sleep again with Always Look Twice, Book Two of her Uncommon Justice series. Just when I thought I could put the book down and go to sleep, Goddard threw in another twist that kept me reading. And when my power went out, I found a flashlight and kept reading.
The heroine, Harper Reynolds, is recovering from PTSD caused by all the violence she’s seen in her career as a crime scene photographer. Even though she was fragile emotionally, she was brave enough to face down a bear and save the hero in the first chapter! And when she captures the murder of a woman with her camera, she is determined to see justice done for the victim.
Heath McKade was a great hero. Strong, silent type, he risked his life more than once to protect Harper. What I like best was that he always believed her when others thought she’d made up the murder.
This is a fast-paced romantic suspense that hits all the bells. You won’t regret investing time to read it. I received a copy of this book with no promise to review it, but it was so good, I wanted everyone to know abou it.
“She would embrace being a survivor because she could make a difference for the victims.”
It’s funny how sometimes the very thing that we are trying to avoid brings us full circle and we end up coming back to what we tried to leave behind. So begins Elizabeth Goddard’s “Always Look Twice”, which is book two in the Uncommon Justice series but can be read as a standalone. As a suspense fan, I am grateful for authors like Goddard who write within the Christian genre because the darkness of malefaction is equalized and eventually overcome by the light of the Gospel. There is no need to worry about coming across graphic language or details, which goes to show that real life can be depicted in a clean manner while still conveying trauma.
After an auspicious opening chapter, “Always Look Twice” consistently delivers spine-tingling moments mixed with romantic overtures. The two main characters, Harper and Heath, are broken individuals with their own traumatic pasts, and the events of this book thrust them together toward an explosive climax. This is a novel of dichotomies, with enough ongoing tension to keep the reader engaged but not overwhelmed. Old and new, the past and the present collide in a growing entanglement. I appreciated the complex psychology of the characters and the multifaceted aspects of their personalities. They are believable, and the romance unfolds tenderly alongside the healing that Harper and Heath experience. In one noteworthy scene, I figured out the identity of the perpetrator. However, I did not deduce the culprit’s motivations or how the story would end, so I feel that the author succeeded in the plot execution. The thread of redemption echoes quietly, the faith element undergirding the narrative but not overwhelming it. It patiently waits for the characters to embrace it, just as our Savior patiently waits for each of us to come to Him, either for the first time or after a misstep.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Always Look Twice is book two from Elizabeth Goddard’s Uncommon Justice series. I enjoyed the first book, Never Let Go, and this one does not disappoint. Even though they are part of a series, they can be read as a stand-alone. But I do recommend reading them both. I loved Heath and Harper teaming up in this one. They are involved in quite the adventure. I could not have predicted what was going to happen next.
I am giving Always Look Twice four and a half stars. I look forward to the third installment from the series, Don’t Keep Silent.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Another riveting romance suspense novel by author Elizabeth Goddard that I couldn’t put down! Amazing characters, steady suspenseful plot which kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
I liked reading about Harper’s love for taking pictures (especially in chapter 1 as she’s taking pictures in the wild) and how it has helped her cope with life’s struggles and experiences. I also liked Health’s strong character and his willingness to help and protect others.
Action packed, clean romance story with elements of faith and letting go of the past. HIGHLY recommend this book and this series! I LOVED it!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
Wow! What a ride this story was! Harper Reynolds has a lot of baggage accumulated throughout her life. Starting from when she was a child and witnessed her father’s murder, she has survived many horrible situations, but that has left her emotionally scarred. She goes from crime scene to nature photography in an attempt to heal her mind and soul. The unexpected happens when she witnesses a murder while taking nature photos and is able to capture the event on her camera.
Heath McKade was Harper’s best childhood friend. When he is assigned to protect her from the murderer, it brings up many feelings that the two of them had as adolescents. Heath feels inadequate to protect her since he feels like he has failed to protect loved ones throughout his life. The two of them encounter many terrible circumstances as they try to find out who the murderer is and where he will strike next. Will they listen to their minds that tell them they are both inadequate in life situations, or will they listen to their hearts in which they feel love beginning to blossom?
I received a copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are my own. I definitely recommend this book for those who love inspirational romantic suspense.
As I read this book I realized more and more that I should have read the first book first. Not because this book can’t be read as a standalone. But because I wanted to know more about this world and the McKades.
But I did certainly enjoy Heath and Harper’s story. I have to say that I very much did not expect the twist that the plot took. At the beginning it appeared to be going one way, and I will add that it also seemed like just about every suspense book that I had ever read. But then about 50 pages in BAM! It got verrry interesting. Also the villain? I have mixed feelings. He is extremely unique, and I both hate him and like him. Also I guessed wrong who it was and I am very disappointed in myself because come on I had a 50% chance.
Also the excerpt for the next book? O.o
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Reviewed by Nicki
Always Look Twice is a fantastic addition to the Uncommon Justice series by Elizabeth Goddard.
This book is an action-packed ride from beginning to end. It definitely got the adrenaline pumping. While taking pictures, Harper witnesses a murder. Through various page-turning events, it is obvious that someone is after her. An old friend, Heath McKade, vows to protect Harper. Readers have the privilege of watching their friendship be rekindled while pondering the question of whether it will turn into more than a friendship or not.
Although this one can be read as a standalone, I would do yourself a favor and read Never Let Go first since you will get updates on the main characters from the first book in Always Look Twice.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I’m just going to lay it out there — I’m not a Romantic Suspense fan. Typically, this genre is not my cup of tea. It’s not because I don’t like romance or suspense, it’s because it’s always been a hit or miss genre for me. I find that some authors write romantic suspense amazingly, and some do not. Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard is a novel I both appreciated and enjoyed, but also struggled with.
What I appreciated and enjoyed:
I love Heath and Harper, the hero and heroine of this novel. I found them to be unique and relatable. On the one hand, they are strong, capable, intelligent characters who I knew could solve the murder mystery and every other conflict thrown at them. But I really appreciate their flaws and weaknesses. It is their flaws and weaknesses that made both Heath and Harper relatable to me.
There is a moment in the story where Emily, Harper’s sister, tells Harper, “When we were still living in Jackson Hole … we’d see Grand Teton all the time especially if we had to drive into town. That mountain is so big, and as a kid anyway, it made me think of God. And I used to think if I was that mountain, nothing could move me or scare me. Nothing could hurt me. Now I think I’m finally getting it. God is like that mountain for us and we can hold on to Him.” I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!! What a great perspective change for me. I often pray to God that He grant me His strength as if He’s the ultimate charger. If I plug into God in prayer, He will fill me up for the day with all the strength I need and I’ll be able to handle everything that comes my way. But this implies that I leave the mountain after I’m done charging. Emily’s revelation implies that I stay connected to God by bringing Him with me throughout my day. This tiny little story in the middle of the book is my most favorite thing about this novel. I LOVE when an author shows me a Jesus Truth is a whole new way.
I really loved the first 1/4 and the last 1/4 of this novel. The beginning and end of this book are intense, and in these pages, I could not put the book down. I was completely engaged.
What I struggled with:
My number one issue with the Romantic Suspense genre is that often authors do way more telling than showing in their narratives. When I pick up a Romantic Suspense novel, I want to become Sherlock Holmes. I want twists and turns and shocking moments I didn’t see coming. I want clues! I want foreshadow. And, I want to be stumped a little. With Always Look Twice, I had things figured out rather quickly. With so much telling, not showing, I felt the suspense lost its edge and it became simple for me to know where things were going next. I didn’t get to be Sherlock Holmes while reading this book.
The middle 50% of this book became slow, and I lost some interest in the novel.
Even with my two struggles, there is a lot that I found appealing about Always Look Twice, and I fully recommend it, just to fans of the Romantic Suspense genre. In fact, fans of this genre are giving rave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. If you are a Romantic Suspense fan, then this is the book for you.
I received an eBook copy of this book from the publishers, Revell, via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Another page turning suspense! From the first page you are sucked into the danger and intrigue. So many good twists and turns is why I keep coming back to this author. We are back in the family with Heath this time. The chemistry is well done between him and Harper and their pasts that split them apart fit perfectly into the storyline. I thought I had figured it out and then bam – the author throws another curve ball into the mix. Many wonderful secondary characters who make up the small town atmosphere. I loved this second in the series and I cannot wait for the next one!
3.5 stars
“She had answers to questions she hadn’t even asked, and those answers left her gutted. Broken again.”
Harper Reynolds has lived her entire life wondering what would have happened if she had forced herself to look into the face of her father’s murderer. Regrettably, she’ll never know. As an adult, her recompense is peering through the lens of a camera, becoming a crime scene photographer, until the graphic nature of her work prompts her to take a break.
Harper and her sister Emily decide to travel through national parks, giving Harper a golden opportunity to utilize her eye for detail in a different sort of way. . . . until; upon return to the Teton National Forest in Wyoming, the home of her childhood, her camera makes her an eyewitness to a cold-blooded murder and the ensuing investigation leads her back to a cherished childhood friend, Heath McKade.
The pace is frantic, the story line a bit wrinkled in places, the attraction between Harper and Heath struggles to take root, but in the end, fans of romantic suspense will likely concur that “Always Look Twice” is a fascinating read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
With a harrowing opening and continuous action, this newest romantic suspense novel from Elizabeth Goddard does not disappoint. After reading Never Let Go, book one in Goddard’s Uncommon Justice series, I thoroughly enjoyed Willow and Austin’s story. So upon picking up this action-packed page-turner where we find the story of Austin’s brother Heath and his childhood friend Harper, I was again entertained and thrilled.
Goddard does an excellent job of holding a reader’s interest with a twisting, turning plot and a subtle romance brewing between the two main characters. This novel was exciting, captivating and introduced a likable cast of characters. The handful of things that kept me from a full five star rating were simply personal grievances. Goddard’s way of writing can be abrupt and short at times, using short sentences pieced together. As a result, the beginning of the book didn’t seem to flow as smoothly as the middle and ending (perhaps by then I was simply more used to her style!). There was a lot of repetitive information in the beginning surrounding Harper’s story and I felt myself rushing through that. Lastly, there was a part in the copy I read where a woman named Netta was mentioned as the mother of the woman who had been killed, coming in from out of town to speak with police about her daughter’s death. A few pages later, when Heath calls in to dispatch, the dispatcher, also named Netta, came on the line to answer his call (author noted her familiar voice). That was confusing to me and neither woman had been mentioned prior to this, or ever mentioned again.
Overall, this was a great read and one I recommend to readers who enjoy romantic suspense and thrillers or mysteries. Goddard keeps her readers guessing and while the ending was somewhat predictable, it wrapped up with a bang! Readers will enjoy Heath and Harper’s story and will be looking forward to Liam’s story, just as I am now!
Romantic suspense novels must have non-stop action with death knocking on the heroine and the heroes door with a budding romance between the two. With Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard, her story does definitely that. From the first chapter, I was thrown into a hair raising situation with Harper and wanted to know how the man behind the shotgun was too. Throughout the entire novel, Goddard did a fabulous job at tightening the noose around Harper’s neck. Even so far as to have the police suspect her for a moment. As for the romance, it grew from childhood friendship into something deeper, which is completely predictable for this genre. There wasn’t much spiritual elements to the characters. It was a hit or miss moments. Not really that important to the characters or the plot. A little disappointing. I wanted them to have a deeper faith and transform by the end of the novel. As for character’s transformation, there really wasn’t any. When you meet Harper and Heath at the beginning of the novel, they stay the same by the end of the book. Overall, Elizabeth Goddard crafted a high tension, flowering romance , but the characters really didn’t have that deep change moment from their dark moment. Fans of Irene Hannon, DiAnn Mills, and Colleen Coble might enjoy adding this novel to their forever shelves.
I received a complimentary copy of Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard, but the opinions stated are all my own.
This book grabbed me in the first chapter with its introduction into this plot! Any time there is a murder in the first few pages of a book, you can bet I am sticking around to see where it’s headed. I felt like there was enough action sprinkled throughout this story to keep me guessing at what was coming next. I really loved that there were paragraphs here and there that were from the villains perspective, I felt like it allowed me to get a sense of what was motivating him and also prompted some guessing as to who was behind it all. Heath and Harper were both likable characters, but goodness that girl went through cameras like they were disposable! I enjoyed the relationship between Harper and her sister because I felt like it added another set of characters to focus on that was not strictly based around romance like Harper’s relationship with Heath. The villain popping up unexpectedly and the fact that he was watching them with a scope long distance really created a feeling of insecurity for the characters. You just never felt like they were safe. Several surprises and twists and turns kept me guessing until close to the conclusion of this book!
The romance in this story was tender, and the suspense was the right amount for me without getting over the top gruesome during the crimes committed. It kept me hooked as I tried to figure out who was the bad dude. Wonderful woven, I give a 5 star.
This book kept me turning the pages to see what happened. Life would get in the way of me being busy and I was finding ways back to the book, so I could see what happened to the characters. I loved Harper and Heath’s characters in the book and getting to know them. I didn’t want it to end even though I was wanting to know how it ended. Thank you Elizabeth Goddard for another great read!!!!
Fast paced romantic suspense from author Elizabeth Goddard, Always Look Twice will keep you reading into the early morning hours. It did me!
Very well written, Goddard keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end.
Harper Reynolds plans a return to a more peaceful life photographing nature, but when her high-powered camera lens captures the murder of a young women high on a mountain side, her skills as a crime scene photographer come into play. Attempting to assist the small local sheriff’s office that something happened on the mountain, with her being the only witness becomes an explosive task, especially when she becomes the number one suspect!
Heath McKade, a reserve deputy, has been tasked by the sheriff to watch Harper, both to protect and to make sure she doesn’t leave town. Only problem is McKade finds it increasingly difficult to maintain an unbiased position; he and Harper go back many years, to their childhoods when they were the best of friends.
Having fallen while observing the murder on the mountainside, Harper and McKade race to retrieve the camera and find a killer before he finds Harper.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.