This Christmas could be her last… Unless Covert Operatives shield her Prosecutor and single mom Melinda Steele thought her nightmare ended when her abusive husband died, but now someone wants her dead by Christmas. Navy SEAL turned security operative Noah Cason needs her to get justice in his sister’s disappearance, but first he’ll have to keep her alive. And his mission shifts from difficult … shifts from difficult to almost impossible when Melinda reveals who she suspects is really after her.
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Exciting from beginning to end! We’re quickly thrust into the heart of the story when Melinda finds herself in danger and Noah is nearby to help. The suspense keeps us guessing, throughout. Great characters, and attention grabbing story line and an overall joy to read!
Prosecutor and single Mom Melinda Steele finds herself in danger when she least expects it! She’s not sure if this has to do with a criminal she’s put away or if somehow the husband she presumed dead is back to torment her, but she needs it handled … and fast!
Security operative Noah Cason happens to be in the right place at the right time to whisk Melinda out of danger, but when they discover that her predicament might interfere with the case he came to talk to her about, they set out to figure out who’s trying to get rid of her while at the same time trying to narrow down what truly happened to his sister.
Deadly Christmas Duty is a suspenseful mystery by Virginia Vaughan. As is customary with her writing, the story was authentic. The characters were well-drawn and true-to-life. I cared about characters, felt for them and rooted for the good guys. That is the mark of good writing. Attorney Melinda is used to being just on the prosecutorial side of cases, but recently she unfortunately has also been crime victim, herself. There have been recent attempts on her life, that remind her of the behavior of her abusive husband, who is now dead. Or is he? Retired Navy SEAL and hero Noah is struggling with his own personal issues, and is going to steel himself against the growing feelings that he has for Melinda, as he tries to simultaneously find his missing sister and help Melinda. Will he succeed? I thought that naming a dog “Ranger” was a nice touch. My only quibble with the characters, is that Noah put a little too much pressure on Melinda, and should have let her deal with things at her own pace! But this is just a testimony of what a great job Vaughan does in developing characters, that we readers feel so strongly about them!
Virginia Vaughn is am amazing writer. This book catapulted me right into the story. I was glued to it and couldn’t put it down. The story kept me on the edge of my chair. Thank you for giving me a chance to read this book. Making a list to get more of her books.
“Even on his best days, he couldn’t get free of that tight grip his past had on him. And it seemed like Melinda couldn’t get rid of the grip her past had on her. Together, they made quite a pair.”
Noah Cason’s in town to investigate his sister Nikki’s disappearance and asks for Melinda’s help as a prosecutor & her only friend. What ensues is an explosive action packed suspense with many twists and turns that kept me turning pages! Just when I thought I could breathe again, the author throws in another attack against Melinda. I never did figure out who was behind them, she kept me guessing until the end when it was revealed. And what an ending, my heart was in my throat! As for the romance, both Melinda and Noah had past issues they had to overcome before they could open up their hearts. Melinda had trust issues due to her late husbands abuse and Noah’s parents weren’t very good role models. I especially loved how Melinda’s faith touched Noah the more he got to know her.
“I don’t claim to have all the answers, Noah, but I have faith. I know God’s character, and it good and holy. If He allows us to hit rock bottom, maybe it’s to show us that He is the Rock at the bottom.”
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Deadly Christmas Duty”! Full of action, heart-stopping moments, breathless anticipation and laced with faith in God who never leaves us or forsakes us and will always fight on our side!
“She pushed through the fear, in the knowledge that God was with her. Despite all she’d been through, He’d been with her, fighting for her, giving her strength to survive…”
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
Put together a single mom who is being pursued by a vicious murderer and a former SEAL looking for the murderer of his sister and you have a sure fire recipe for suspense. Virginia Vaughan brings it with this latest novel and you will not be disappointed in this story. Great suspense..
Who is trying to kill the victims best friend?? This is one keep me reading story! It certainly was one that kept me guessing right until the end! If you like to try to figure out the suspect before the end.. you will like this one!
this is a page turning story to the end. someone is after her but how? Noah wants to know what happened to his sister? He needs Milinda to help him but he needs to keep her alive to do that. if you like suspense and some romance you have to read the story. very good you will love the scenes with her little boy and Noah
Deadly Christmas Duty starts out with a bang and ends with a romantic proposal. Virginia Vaughan has woven an exciting plot in with a romance to create an excellent read. There are lots of twist and turns in the book; some that I never saw coming. The characters seem realistic, not like super heroes. The main characters are likable, if a little stuck on a failing which they do overcome. The dialogue flows naturally. My only complaint was the timing of the proposal although I loved the setting for it. I would recommend this to romantic suspense readers. I received an ARC. I chose to write a review and share my opinion.
From the explosive start to the sweet and satisfying end, the story intrigued, allured, and entertained.
I thought I could just get a little sneak peak of the story one evening, and ended up devouring the book at one sitting. The story is just perfectly balanced between suspense, romantic relationship developing, and the characters growth as people and in their faith in God. The action is fierce and deadly, it is up close and personal, while the plot twists kept coming and switching the direction of the story. It is riveting and I absolutely loved it.
The romance has such a sweet, fragile adoration in it. While the feelings they have for each other develop fast, they have to learn to trust again and to dare to take the jump into the unknown – known as love. And with the history both Melinda Steele and Noah Cason have, that is a major task in itself, and the current events are not helping their personal struggles at all.
There is a moment in the story where Noah has the a-ha moment when everything clicks into its place, and where he can see God’s guidance in his life bringing him to this exact place at the exact right time. It is a powerful moment that defines the whole story and was a great learning moment for me as a reader.
A compelling, unputdownable story filled with suspenseful action, delightfully sweet romance, and life lessons we all can take notes from. Add a cute little boy and his dog, the miraculous Christmas season, and you almost forget how many people’s life ends or are changed forever because of the dangerous killer on the loose hunting for his prey with no respect to the human life.
~ Five Spoons
Deadly Christmas Duty
Virginia Vaughan
A missing best friend, a bomb under desk, a missing assistant all leads to prosecutor Melinda Steele needing help to make sense out why someone is targeting her. When Noah Cason, former Navy Seal and brother of the missing best friend, shows up in time to save her from the bomb, Melinda has her protector.
A roller coaster of action and suspense as the villain is determined to get to Melinda. Couldn’t put it down until the end.
This is my first Love Inspired suspense and thanks to Viginia Vaughan it will not be my last. This story of Melinda, her son Ramey. Noah a former Navy Seal and the brother of Nikki, (his missing sister) will tug at your heart strings and keep you glued to the very last page. This book is fast paced, full of action and is just a great book. The only bad thing I can say is it ended too soon.