Mini Book Review: Take My Hand by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell, A Romantic Suspense Novel
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
Book Synopsis:
Don't find us. We'll find you.
Trauma therapist Kaley Colbert needs a vacation from her job, and a ski trip with her church singles' group seems like the perfect way to unplug. But while in the mountains, she learns that her last client was murdered hours after their meeting, and she wonders if the notes she's receiving from a possible stalker hold a more sinister warning.
On the trip, ex-boyfriend and entrepreneur Reef Mitchell wants to give their relationship another chance, but Kaley questions if his past and priorities could ever mesh with her life. When her client's underworld connections catch up with her, she has no choice but trust Reef to help her stay alive, solve her client's mystery, and bring the killers to justice.
MY REVIEW: ★★/5
Want to better understand my rating scale? Check here for details.
Travel from Tampa, Florida’s coast to the snow laden hills of Beech Mountain, North Carolina in this brand new romantic suspense novel from Kristen Hogrefe Parnell, book 1 in her Crossroads Suspense series. When Kaley goes missing, can Reef find her in time?!
HIGHLIGHTS:
Second Chance At Love · Two Exciting Locations · Faith-Based Suspense · The Underground Mafia · Pirates and Boat Parades · Explosion, Murder and Abduction
My Thoughts:
This is the first novel I’ve read by author Kristen Hogrefe Parnell. The first two thirds of the book was a struggle for me to get through, but the plot sounded interesting so I wanted to see it through, plus I was really enjoying the setting. Parnell begins her story in the warm coastal weather of Tampa, FL then immerses readers in the snowy hills of Beech Mountain, NC. Being personally familiar with both locations, I felt the excitement of the group getting to ski for the first time and entertained some of my own FL girl nostalgia of visiting the resort area on Beech Mtn.
I did not find the main character, Kaley, to be reliable or relatable as a 30-something career professional. I found myself questioning her decisions and reasoning a handful of times. Likewise, a handful of the secondary characters fell flat to me and read more as teenagers versus single professionals. When I wanted to give up on the story, Reef, however, captured my attention and he ultimately won me over, spurring me to continue. I really enjoyed his perseverance and heroism near the end of the story.
I love a good second chance at love story and this novel fell into that trope, but in my opinion, it lacked chemistry. I was hoping for more flirting and maybe a great kissing scene at the end. The tension was there, which I enjoyed, but the reason for the tension was surface level and didn’t have a mature foundation.
The suspense portion of Take My Hand didn’t grab my attention in the beginning. I did, however, really enjoy the exciting climax near the end as it took place during an annual event in the Tampa area, the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion, a boat parade. This proved to be the perfect place to stage some thrilling scenes that grabbed my interest and spiked the level of intensity and suspense in this story.
This novel is listed as faith-based and a good portion of the plot centers around a church group’s ski trip, however, the elements of faith in this story felt shallow at best. I would have loved to see a deeper, more personal relationship with God grow in the characters or see them seek His guidance and wisdom in their situations.
SUMMARY:
Definite points to Take My Hand for Reef’s strong, heroic character, the Eastern U.S. settings and the thrilling excitement at the end of the novel! If you’re a reader who enjoys mild suspense, a light mystery and hint of romance, you may love this story. This novel may also appeal to YA readers who are looking for clean fiction.
Content or Trigger Warnings: None
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author Image Courtesy of https://www.goodreads.com/
Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective for women and young adults. Her own suspense story involved waiting on God into her thirties to meet her husband, and she desires to keep embracing God’s plan for her life when it’s not what she expects. Kristen’s books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. An educator at heart, she also teaches English online and enjoys being a podcast guest. Kristen lives in Florida with her husband and baby boy. Visit her online at kristenhogrefeparnell.com.
