Also by this author: Collateral Damage, Acceptable Risk, Active Defense, Active Defense, Life Flight, Crossfire, Critical Threat, Countdown
Series: Lake City Heroes #1
Published by Revell on January 9, 2024
Genres: Fiction, Christian, Romance, Suspense
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Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he's rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.
Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it's not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.
Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.
USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason will leave you breathless with this fast-paced first book in a brand-new series.
I never thought I’d thank anyone for interrupting my sleep schedule, but if I could hug Lynette Eason, I would. If I could send her a “thank you” note, it would have been in the mail yesterday. Double Take by Lynette Eason is spectacular, the pinnacle of the romantic suspense genre. It exemplifies a perfect balance between plot, romance, and thrill. Usually, I have no issues putting down a book to sleep. Even over a break from work, I go to bed early and wake up before the sun. I snuggled up under some blankets and settled in with my dog and Double Take…and I did not go to sleep. I couldn’t. Lynette Eason had me holding my breath until the final page.
Eason presents two beautiful, thought-out characters with James Cross and Lainie Jackson. Both battle PTSD. Both have complicated relationships with their families. But from the beginning, they support each other through every challenge, every briar patch, and every danger. Lainie had a childhood crush on James, as she has been friends with his sister for years. Only in adulthood does James come to see her as something more. I enjoyed their blossoming relationship and how Eason incorporated growth for both characters. The growth isn’t just with each other but as individuals and with their respective families. It was beautiful to witness. Though I know James and Lainie won’t be main characters during the rest of the series, I hope I can see the growth continue! I don’t want to leave them.
Let me take a moment to talk about the electrifying suspense in Double Take by Lynette Eason. Eason does an excellent job keeping readers on their toes and biting off fingernails. The prologue is all it takes to see that this novel is…well, un-put-down-able. Gunshots. Bombs. Attempted murder. And the apparent resurrection of a major threat once thought thoroughly dead. You name it, Double Take probably has it. Eason could teach a Master Class in writing the romantic suspense genre.
And don’t get me started on the book’s twists. Eason drops hints like breadcrumbs. I saw them, but I did not follow them because I needed to know what happened next. When I hit the “big reveal” moment, I suddenly saw all the foreshadowing I’d missed…and I went back and ate all the breadcrumbs as though I had fasted for three days.
My only (minor) complaints: I find it highly unlikely James Cross would make detective after only three months on the job, but Lake City is probably small. So I guess it’s possible. And secondly, James apologizes too much, especially about Lainie’s circumstances. Life is hard for her; I understand that. But “I’m sorry” loses its meaning after a while and becomes a space–and silence–filler.
Overall, though: Double Take by Lynette Eason is marvelous. I can’t wait to see what else Eason has in store.