“The pain in this life could overwhelm. She needed hope. Something to hang on to.”
Elizabeth Goddard has entered into the romantic suspense field with her latest novel, “Never Let Go,” a tale that keeps the reader guessing to the very end.
Still reeling from the hit-and-run death of her beloved grandfather and business partner, JT, forensic genealogist Willow Anderson decides to take on his final case — a woman searching for her baby daughter who was kidnapped 21 years ago. Willow is dismayed to learn JT had requested help from her former flame, Austin McKade, but when more and more disasters hit Willow, she realizes she needs to accept help from Austin, a former FBI agent who now works as a private investigator.
As the case takes them from Seattle and desperate mom Katelyn’s Texas home to Austin’s hometown in Wyoming, he and Willow work to put together the clues to find Katelyn’s daughter. And while in Wyoming, Austin must face the demons from his own past, including an alcoholic and abusive father, while rebuilding a relationship with his estranged brother Heath.
“Never Let Go” is filled with many different puzzle pieces. Willow and Austin must work quickly to determine which pieces fit together while constantly fighting off death threats and overcoming their own self doubts. And as they struggle to determine who stole the baby and why, will they also be able to overcome past issues in their relationship to build a romance once again?
The author does a great job of building strong and likable characters who are also deeply relatable, with very human fears and weaknesses. Told mainly in alternating perspectives of Willow and Austin, “Never Let Go” is a great, fast-paced romantic suspense that’s also filled with so many amazing concepts: protecting those we love; you’re not alone because God is always with you; we must use our time and gifts that God gives us; we must be deliberate with our time and with others; overcoming regret and blame; the pain and destruction of hiding secrets; we’re always connected to our roots; and God is our rock and will never leave us nor forsake us.
I truly enjoyed “Never Let Go,” which was my first novel by Goddard. Fans of authors like Lynette Eason, Lisa Harris, Patricia Bradley, Sandra Orchard and Terri Blackstock will truly enjoy this novel.
I’m looking forward to the series’ next installment, which tells Heath’s story and is due in Fall 2019.
Five stars out of five.
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“Never Let Go” (Uncommon Justice series, #1) by Elizabeth Goddard