🎯 🚓 “Crossfire” (Extreme Measures #2) (2022) 🚓 🎯 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Extreme Measures (Book #2)
Paperback: 320 Pages
Publisher: Revell (August 2, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 0800737350
ISBN-13: 978-0800737351
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“FBI special agent Julianna Jameson is a top-notch negotiator who has never lost a hostage. Surely she can manage to take care of her much younger sister, Dottie, who showed up unannounced to live with Julianna while she finished her senior year of high school.
A former sniper with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Clay Fox left the army after a tragic incident that he can't get past. Now he's working as a high school resource officer until he can figure out what to do with the rest of his life.
Their paths cross when Julianna is called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay's sister. Impressed and a bit intimidated by the calm, capable woman with the dark hair and blue eyes, Clay invites her to speak at his school. Dottie's school.
But as the anniversary of a school shooting from Julianna's past approaches, it becomes clear that her perfect record is about to be tested and that Dottie is at risk. If Julianna and Clay can't figure out who's behind the attacks, more innocent people will die--and Dottie is next in line.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
This is the second book in Eason’s Extreme Measures series.
Usually, I tend to read series books in order, and with this one? I didn’t. With Eason’s Danger Never Sleeps series, I didn’t read book #1, but did read books #2-#3 in order.
I didn’t miss anything when I went from book #1 (Life Flight) to book #3 (Critical Threat), but after reading this – it seems to be a bit different than the other two. I’ve since read book #4 (Countdown), and admit that this one, Crossfire, is my favorite of the series. The blurb was what drew me in – and this was “MUST-READ” for me.
Given how connected the books in this series are, I highly suggest reading the books in order, as well as the novella, On the Run in the Targeted collection. On the Run features Daria.
Readers familiar to the first book will have already met:
🚁 Penny
🚓 Julianna
🚓 Grace
🩺 Raina
🚓 Holt
This introduces us to:
📚 Dottie (Julianna’s younger sister; high school senior)
🚓 Clay
🚓 Vince
💻 Daria (FBI IT analyst)
👩🏻 Felicity (lost her husband, single mom)
📚 Reese (Clay’s younger sibling; becomes friends with Dottie)
Given the main plot to a school shooting, this will no doubt be a sensitive topic for some readers. There are other potential other triggers – a plane hijacking with people killed, bullying, stalking, and kidnapping.
There are four (4) POVs: Julianna, Clay, Felicity, and a mystery person.
It’s clear to readers that Felicity’s story has SOME connection, but it isn’t revealed until nearly the end. However, it is clear the mystery person is the story’s “baddie”.
Eason introduces Dottie, aged 18, who’s living with her older sister – Julianna, an FBI special agent and top negotiator. It’s clear that they have the same mother, but different fathers. And, it is clear that Dottie can’t go back to living with their mother, so anytime Julianna is called to a hostage scene, Dottie gets worried.
This time is no different – especially when Julianna is called to a hostage scene at a courthouse. There, she meets Clay – former sniper, now school resource officer (SRO). His sister Reese is in the courtroom and provides information that assists Julianna and her team.
After the situation, Clay is amazed by Julianna. Reese and Dottie meet and become fast friends. It doesn’t hurt that Clay is the SRO at Dottie’s school and the two know each other. He also knows about the issues between her and Mary Ann – both girls are contenders for Valedictorian. He’s fairly certain Mary Ann has been bullying Dottie, and Dottie has yet to confide in Julianna.
Not long after the courthouse drama, Julianna is then called to a bank for another standoff, this time the hostage taker asks for her personally, and uses the name Angel. This time, the person gets away, and Julianna is certain they’ll show up again.
It gets even more chilling when someone breaks into Julianna’s home. Both Julianna and Dottie are left a chilling “note”. It’s clear that someone is targeting Julianna, and she can’t help but think it has something to do with the school shooting almost 15 years ago.
During Reese’s party, Julianna is called to another situation – this time, Dottie tags along as a stowaway. But, that proves to a bad idea and she ends up being kidnapped. Thus, Julianna’s theory that the hostage situation is targeting her is proven. Though the who and why is elusive. She has an idea, but can’t quite reconcile what she knew with what is going on.
Yet, just when Julianna thinks she’s figured it all out, she’s in for another surprise. But, she isn’t alone – Clay is there to help him. They both like each other, but have pasts they need to reconcile, and Julianna has a case to solve before they can get involved. Clay is trying to get over a friendly-fire incident in Afghanistan, and Julianna is trying to get past the memories of the shooting.
Eason builds a multi-faceted story that doesn’t, at first, look like it’s all connected – but, by the end, it all comes together, and works to give readers an exciting read. In between the action and drama, a woman by the name of Felicity, who is trying to do the best she can for her son, while trying to overcome the grief of losing her husband.
This is one of those stories that hits the ground running and keeps running up until the very end. Crossfire is an intense, fast-paced, edge-of-seat read that doesn’t skimp on the action or surprises.
I absolutely loved the multi-POVs and all the connections in the story. This grabbed me right off and held my attention, beginning and finishing it inside of a 24-hour period. For a book of this size, this isn’t an unmanageable feat, but rare for me – unless the story really grabs me.
This definitely helps segue into book #4, especially with the introduction of Vince Covelli, a friend of Clay’s.
While a romantic-suspense story, this tends more to the suspense angle than romance. What romance there is, is more of a slow-burn and friends-to more. It builds realistically and naturally.
For those wondering how Dottie could still be in high school at age 18, depending on when she was born – it is feasible. Some may not question this, but those who do …
In most states, children born near the “cut-off” for the beginning of the school term (usually September/October) tend to start school a year later than those born prior to it. Also, those born between January – May often turn 18 BEFORE graduation. Having been born at the end of April, I would’ve been 18 BEFORE I graduated. My mom was born in July and turned 18 AFTER graduation.
Fans of the author, and those who read Life Flight, might want to check this out. I’ve read the third and fourth book already, and I do recommend checking them out after this one.
While being distributed by a primarily Christian publisher, this book has only scant references to faith. Readers likely won’t notice it that much, nor are they likely to feel they’re being preached to or at.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
DATES READ: 8/15-8/16 (2023)
Previous Book in the Series:
Series: Extreme Measures (Book #1)
Paperback: 336 Pages
Publisher: Revell (January 4, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800737334
ISBN-13: 978-0800737337
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“EMS helicopter pilot Penny Carlton is used to high stress situations, but being forced to land on a mountain in a raging storm with a critical patient--and a serial killer on the loose--tests her skills and her nerve to the limit. She survives with FBI Special Agent Holt Satterfield's help. But she's not out of the woods yet.
In the ensuing days, Penny finds herself under attack. And when news reaches Holt that he may not have gotten his man after all, it will take all he and Penny have to catch a killer--before he catches one of them.”
Connected Book to the Series:
Language: English
ISBN: 0800740289
ISBN-13: 978-0800740283
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Three women. Three men. Three unsuspecting targets.
Get ready for triple the thrills with three heart-stopping stories from your favorite romantic suspense authors!
In On the Run, IT Specialist Daria Nevsky is a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead--and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.
In Deadly Objective, physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper are committed to keeping their relationship professional. But when the vice president's son enters the crosshairs of a killer, some lines will have to be crossed in order to keep him safe.
In Caught in the Crosshairs, there is no love lost between former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman and CIA officer Claudia Gallegos after Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. But to prevent a coup that would put America at risk, they'll have to learn to trust each other--before it's too late.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author of Life Flight, Crossfire, and the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.
You can follow her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynetteeason/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lynetteeason
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