Undercover Assignment by Dana Mentink is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line: Sam Kavanaugh rarely took the time to hike the boundaries of his remote Cliffside Lodge in southwest New Mexico, but worry compelled him into the sizzling summer night.
But first the photo and verse. I snapped the photo Wednesday morning as I came out of my house to go to water aerobics. The red sky was a perfect backdrop for the rising sun. There’s a spot on the road about a mile from my house that I thought would be a great place to get an even better photo. Would you believe that in the two minutes it took me to get there, the red sky was gone! I was so glad I’d stopped long enough to get this shot. And I thought the scripture verse was perfect for it!
By the way, I did not meet my deadline in spite of working ten to twelve hours a day for the past ten days. But my editor is so gracious, and I have an extension. Not sure how long, but hopefully I’ll be able to quickly pull the rest of the edit together. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me during this…I’m not quite sure what to call it (I’ll know it when I see it.), but I hope I never have to go through it again.
Now for Undercover Assignment by Dana Mentink. Here’s the cover and back copy: From USA
This K-9 will stop at nothing to keep a child safe
When a little boy is threatened, Officer Daniella Vargas and K-9 partner, Zara, are assigned to pose as his nanny to uncover the culprit’s identity. Suspecting one of the guests in his inn, widower Sam Kavanaugh’s only option is to begrudgingly trust Daniella and Zara to help. But can they solve the case and its mysterious connection to Sam’s late wife before it’s too late?
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
My take:
This is the 4th book in the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series, and I truly enjoyed Dana Mentink’s book. I love reading about K-9 dogs and their handlers and this is a good one. There is a serial killer going after blonde-haired women and Daniella Vargas is not happy to be pulled off the case when a murderer is threatening a three-year-old child, and her boss assigns Daniella to be his nanny.
She tries everything she can think of to get out of the assignment. 1, she wants to catch the serial killer, and 2, she knows nothing about three-year-olds. And then there’s his dad, widower Sam Kavanaugh who is grieving his wife. He’s determined no one is going to take the place of Oliver’s mother, either in Oliver’s life or Sam’s. Trouble is, he is very attracted to Daniella, and Oliver quickly becomes attached to her.
Then there is the mystery–unexplained accidents keep happening, one ending in someone being murdered. There were plenty of suspects and I suspect almost all of the guests at one time or another. Mentink did a great job of keeping me on my toes, guessing.
Oh, and I almost forgot how much I liked Daniella–she’d had a hard life. While sometimes rough around the edges, but Mentink did a great job of providing just the right amount of sass. This is a story I believe romantic suspense readers will love.
Leave a comment with the first line of the book your reading or just say “Hi.” And I’ll enter you in an April drawing for a book from my library. The winner of March’s drawing is…Vera Day! Vera, please contact me at pat at ptbradley dot com with your address, and I’ll send you a list of books to choose from!
Undercover Assignment by Dana Mentink is this week's Reader Friday. Check out my review on the blog and leave a comment and I'll enter you in an April drawing for a book from my library! Click To Tweet
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Comments 34
I’ve read and reviewed this book. I haven’t met a Dana Mentink book yet that I haven’t loved. She does such a great job with mystery and suspense.
Author
I haven’t met one I didn’t like, either, Gail!
Hi
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😉
Undercover Assignment sounds good! Woohoo, I won! I’ll email you shortly, thank you!
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Hi Vera…your selections are on the way! Thanks for always reading and commenting!
One of the features of God’s lighting is that it is always changing. You snagged a great photo at the right time. The verse you chose is a great match, too.
Congratulations, Vera!
I’ve read “Undercover Assignment”, and loved it. But then, I love all of Dana’s books. I always look forward to her stories.
In other news, I completed Carrie Parks “Fallout” yesterday. Remarkable! Thanks, Pat, for introducing both book and author to me. I’ve put the rest of her books on my TBR list.
“He had to get off this mountain. Because, if Jonas read the skies correctly, a doozy of a storm was headed his direction.” Is the first line from “Jonas” by Susan May Warren. I started this yesterday, and Susan’s books are also must reads for me.
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Susan May Warren is a fabulous writer, Tim. And a great teacher. She mentored me early on and I owe a lot of my success as a writer to her. And this book sounds great! And you’re so right about God’s lighting always changing. 🙂
I’m in the middle of Handmade Mayhem by Gina Holder. I think I’ve figured out “whodunit” and why, but I’ll have to keep reading for sure! I’m really enjoying this collection!
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I really enjoy Gina’s books…will have to find this one, L!
What a beautiful picture! You are about to convince me that I need to start getting up earlier. Ha! Wonderful verse for that shot.
First line of Family Gatherings at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard:
As he tilted his chaise lounge back to stretch out in the afternoon sunshine, Lester Lehman felt like a new man.
Author
Getting up early is worth it, Edward! And your first line is intriguing!
I have enjoyed Dana’s cozy series but need to read her suspense. I am reading One More Time for Joy by Amy Lillard. The first lines: They were wrong. No two ways about it. The doctors were wrong. They had to be.
Happy and blessed Easter to all!
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Gloria, Amy grew up in the town I live in and I love her books!
I love to read about K-9’s and their Handlers.
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Judy, Dana is a great writer–she has other books that feature dogs…a cozy series, I think.
I’m glad you stopped right away for the photo, too! It was definitely a smile breaker for me this morning! The Scripture seems perfect for the many choices and frustrations of this week.
Good review, Pat! Undercover cover assignment sounds like a great book and series. I have not read this author and now I’m quite eager to do so.
“Avis gripped the ladder as her husband climbed, a thick swarth of black bunting draped over his shoulder. ‘Be careful, please, Russ.” This is the first line of The Blackout Book Club, by Amy Lynn Green, a new author to me.
Bless you…prayers continue
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That book sounds great, Barbara…I think I’ve seen it recommended by several readers! I’m glad you enjoyed the photo and verse…
Book sounds great!
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It is, Shelia!
cute cover
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A dog and a three-year-old–always a sure winner, BN!
This was a really good book!
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I so agree, Patricia!
Sounds like a good book.
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It is, Megan!
I just read In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer. First sentence is “Every legacy started from a single act of courage.”
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I love Karen’s books, Joan!
Wow, that’s a great picture! Congratulations to Vera for winning. The book sounds really good. I’m reading Yosemite Firestorm by Tanya Stowe . Olivia Chatham pulled her ranger Jeep into the parking lot of the hiking trail near Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows and groaned. I hope you and your readers have a blessed Easter.
Author
I’m glad you liked my photo, Erika! Yosemite Firestorm sound like an interesting book!
This comes from Targeted in the Desert by Dana Mentink: Felicia Tennison’s hands shook as she idled the car on the side of the road. What was she doing? Everyone from her best friend, Nora, to her very-ex-boyfriend Sheriff Jude Duke would say she was making a dangerous choice. It wasn’t too late.
Have a wonderful Easter and a great weekend!
Author
Oh, my, that’s a great opening sentence, Diana!
Beautiful photo and scripture!
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Thank you, Caryl!