Christmas Crime Cover-Up (Desert Justice, 5)

While this is part of a series and characters in this novel have appeared in previous ones, it reads well on its own. The plot provides a good deal of suspense as someone is out to kill Nora. There is a good deal of relationship tension as Nora returns to the area of her family from whom she has been alienated for years. It is good to see forgiveness and relationship restoration as part of the plot. There is also the possibility of romance with suitable tension and obstacles along the way. I did think the romance, in the end, went way too fast. The setting continues to be the desert of Death Valley. I liked the idea of capturing wild burros and placing them in a rescue location. That was an interesting side to the main plot. The characters are done well. The identity of the villain was not a surprise as we are set up for it. There is a twist at the end we were also set up for but it just did not seen reasonable to me. This is a readable and entertaining mystery with some elements of faith and a quick romance. I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Another exciting story in this Death Valley setting, this one occurring at Christmastime. Nora Duke returns to her home area to rescue wild donkeys. Only this trip turns into a nightmare as she faces threats and attacks in addition to dealing with her estranged family. This compelling thriller makes a great addition to the series and can stand alone, but it’s great to read the books in order. Some previous characters are involved, of course, but the main one is Seth Castillo, who assists Nora and longs for more of a relationship. The characters are endearing and the tale captivating, and it keeps you guessing who is behind the plot. I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

I have read a lot of Dana’s books and I really enjoy them. She develops interesting characters and plot lines. This one was no exceptions but I will say I didn’t get into as much as I have other books until the end. Wow, I never saw that end coming. It was a great twist and surprise. I knew something was up with this person but what it was was something I didn’t have a clue of. As always not only are the main characters great but the surrounding characters lend a warmth to the story that will make you smile. A copy of this book was given to me by Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

I thought the mystery was well plotted out. It was clever and I did not expect it to go where it went. However, I thought the romance went too fast and it needed more time to develop.