Trapped: A Novel (Private Justice)

I've heard quite a few positive recommendations about Irene Hannon's books, so I was looking forward to reading this suspense thriller, which I selected based on positive ratings online. It's #2 in the Private Justice series, but works fine as a standalone book. Laura's reprobate half-sister Darcy has run away, and she needs private investigator James Devlin to help find her. But Darcy is trapped in a situation that becomes all the more frightening as time goes on.

As a thriller, this story is a solid and gripping page-turner, with a style reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark. It features a psychopath villain, and the action is suspenseful throughout. I found myself captivated by a well-told and exciting story, that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

As a Christian book, it was a big disappointment. The only real Christian element is that at times some of the characters ask God for help - but prayer is really just about calling on God when you are stuck. Worse, Irene Hannon focuses far too much on the outward appearance of her characters, who are attracted to each other based purely on looks, without even knowing their personality. Lines like "he is hot" are sprinkled throughout the book, and outward appearances become the basis for encouraging a romantic relationship, often when first meeting a people. This is typical of a secular approach to a relationship, and is what you'd expect in a secular romance book, not a Christian one. Sadly, in the world of Irene Hannon's book, romance is largely based on looks, and little attention is given to character or to the Biblical requirement that a partner be a fellow Christian. The characters are handsome and pretty and have no real flaws, and this creates a completely false idea about how relationships work in the real world, especially for Christians.

Several of Hannon's books have won RITA awards, the most prominent award for romance novels, and which are awarded by the Romance Writers of America. Perhaps that is not surprising given how much emphasis Hannon gives to empty romance in this book. For inspirational fiction, I was extremely disappointed, and would almost be inclined to recommend a secular writer like Mary Higgins Clark above this so-called "Christian" writer, with her false ideas about relationships and romance. If this book is any indication, there is nothing truly Christian about its content aside from the odd prayer. While good as a thriller, these other elements left me greatly disappointed. - GODLY GADFLY

Laura Griffith enjoyed her quiet, simple life as a librarian- that is until her sixteen-year-old sister comes to live with her. Darcy is stubborn, rebellious, and craves independence. Ultimately, Darcy chooses to run away thinking she can craft the life she's always dreamed of away from her sister's rules. When Laura discovers Darcy has disappeared, she fears for her sister's safety as the frigid temperatures continue to dive. To aid in the search, she hires private investigator, Dev Devlin. As Dev and Laura seek clues around town at local homeless shelters, a more ominous scenario begins to take shape- that perhaps Darcy has been kidnapped. And the more they find as time begins running out, the creepier the scenario becomes until finally, not only is Darcy's life in danger, but so is Laura's as she tries to save her sister from an unstable, psychopath living in his own fabricated version of reality.

I was eager to plunge into this next book of Hannon's Private Justice series to delve into Phoenix's next investigation- and of course the undeniable romance that would blossom with the second member of the PI team, Dev Devlin. While I would have liked to see the romance element developed a little more between Dev and Laura, the plot was filled with suspense and an underlying thread of fear that perhaps Darcy wouldn't be found. The storyline was a little dark, but still a good read.

This review contains my own thoughts and opinions. I have not been compensated by the publisher in any way for this review.

The author did not disappoint in this second of the Private Justice series. Living on the edge of society resides a small segment of scoundrels and villains - broken people. We know they're there. This dreadful tale gave us a bird's-eye view of one such person. I found myself cringing with anxiety as the storyline began to unfold. All scenes were cleverly laid out leaving the reader at all times begging for more, yet, at the same time wanting to look away. The only time the pages stopped turning was when it was necessary to come up for a breath of fresh air. Reading this book was like going for a drive strapped down to an ejection seat fitted with a hairpin trigger. it was all too real.

In search of Mrs. Right, a psychopathic killer lures unsuspecting young women (girls) to his home. His favored victims are runaways and there are always plenty to choose from. He preys on the needy and is able to easily gain their confidence. It is hoped he's stopped and stopped soon before he murders again.

Such an amazing book! I could not stop reading and I didn't except for devotions, sleep, and church! As it started I wasn't sure how the author was going to get a whole story out of a runaway teen but I never should have doubted the amazing Irene Hannon! The plot was so good and perfectly planned out to keep me on the edge of my seat the whole time!
I loved Dev in Vanished so I was really happy to read his story. He was an awesome hero that was funny and kind while at the same time being serious and strong. I loved how he didn't sugar coat things for Laura or try to give her false hope. And Laura was a great heroine too! I loved how she never gave up on her sister even though they didn't get along very well and she had runaway. A lot of people would have just let her go and gone on with their lives and I was impressed with Laura's tenacity. It was also great to have more of Cal, Conner, and Nikki in this book since they are such fun! I love they dynamic of the three guys and Nikki! Their joking and razzing each other cracked me up.
So all in all another awesome book from an extremely talented author!

I received an e-book copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I read a lot. I also really love mystery/suspense books. The downside to that is that it takes a lot for me to give a really great rating for this kind of book. I don't like predictable, and this book was pretty predictable for me. It's kind of funny that the only thing that surprised me was the lack of this author's normal "send the hero out of town/state/country just in time for the heroine to do something stupid and get caught by the bad guy" kind of twist. It looked like everything was being set up for that to happen again, but thankfully she ditched it this time.

Laura is a really nice woman who has been thrown in over her head after taking in her teenage half sister who has been pretty much doing what she wants up until now. She really cares about people and has a heart of gold. Darcy deep down has a good heart, but is pretty much of a brat in the beginning. She's gotten used to doing what she wants, and doesn't appreciate the boundaries Laura is trying to put into place. Dev is....I never could quite make up my mind. I never really trust the guy who dates a new woman every few weeks and suddenly turns into a one woman kind of guy as soon as he meets "the one" who, of course, is the anti-thesis of his "type".

As the wife of a former police officer, I really appreciated Dev staying inside the law (mostly) and the frustration of knowing something was wrong, but legally not being able to do anything about it. That felt very real. The story line had great possibilities, and I really liked Laura and, eventually, Darcy. They brought my rating up to 3 stars.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley.com for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first, and probably only, Irene Hannon book I've read. It's full of suspense and romance.

Pros: The book, for the most part, had me turning the pages. Both Dev and Laura's stories were intriguing. Laura's sister is believable and it's not difficult to relate to and appreciate her story. The antagonist had chills going down my spine; he was almost too real (winky face)! There is just enough humor to help you not be too freaked out (though I ended up skimming the slower parts toward the end). And for the record (and I applaud Hannon for this), Dev and Laura don't kiss until the end. I'm so tired of reading "Christian Romance" novels in which the leading male "can't control himself" and kisses the girl a million times, even occasionally after they just meet and didn't have much time to get to know each other and allow their love story to develop.

Cons: That being said, the romance happened pretty fast. I do believe in "love at first sight", but I appreciate it more when an author allows love to develop between the two main characters instead of them immediately having to struggle with whether or not to hold each other's hand. Also, there was no absolute proof that Dev was a Christian, even though Laura was one.

Overall it was a fairly good story. It was a little annoying that the "Christian" men kept calling women (mainly Laura) "hot", but I loved how devoted they are to each other. I'm just very picky on "romance" books, especially the Christian ones.

When librarian Laura Griffith's sixteen-year-old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned PI James "Dev" Devlin to help. But the deeper he digs, the more he begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And the closer he gets to uncovering the truth, the clearer it becomes that the situation isn't just dangerous--it's deadly.

Chilling and at times terrifying, Trapped is the latest thrilling read from Irene Hannon, the queen of romantic suspense. Hannon outdoes herself with this fast-paced tale of fear, deception, and just the right dose of romance.

Talk about nail biting! I was on the edge of my seat and engaged in the story every chance I got. I was like, no! no! don't do that, don't go there, don't tell him that! I was listening to the audio version and several times I had to explain to my husband why I was groaning...LOL. I agree with other reviews that this was the best book of the three in this series. I felt like I was listening to an episode of Criminal Minds!

The author does a really good job in fleshing out the characters in this book. Laura and Darcy are half sisters who have grown up in different environments and are separated by an age gap. Laura stays strong throughout the book and Darcy does some growing up and changing, some of it forced upon her by her extreme circumstances. The bad guy is a complex mix of good and bad and psychotic and his story is sad. Dev and his team are willing to put their lives on the line for their client and go above and beyond to try to find and save Darcy.

All in all, this is a great book full of nail biting, edge of your seat suspense, a hero who saves the day and a behind the scenes slow romance that you'll be cheering for! :)

When Laura Griffith's sixteen-year old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned PI James Devlin to help. Dev knows time is of the essence with runaways - just forty-eight hours can mean the difference between recovery & ruin.

This is the 2nd book in the Guardians of Justice series. I thought it started out slow and wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish the book. However, I stuck with it and am glad I did. We find out pretty quickly who the kidnapper is but what he's planning is unknown and leaves you guessing. There were plenty of twists and turns in the story and the building romance between Dev and Laura was worth finishing the book. Laura was a strong, independent woman in her own right and being with Dev made her that much stronger. I really liked the fact that Dev didn't try to take Laura over and tell her what to do. It was obvious he had her best interests in order and didn't hide his feelings for her while keeping them in check until she was no longer his client. Without giving too much away, the rescue was definitely unexpected and led into the perfect ending. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This is the first, and probably only, Irene Hannon book I've read. It's full of suspense and romance.

Pros: The book, for the most part, had me turning the pages. Both Dev and Laura's stories were intriguing. Laura's sister is believable and it's not difficult to relate to and appreciate her story. The antagonist had chills going down my spine; he was almost too real (winky face)! There is just enough humor to help you not be too freaked out (though I ended up skimming the slower parts toward the end). And for the record (and I applaud Hannon for this), Dev and Laura don't kiss until the end. I'm so tired of reading "Christian Romance" novels in which the leading male "can't control himself" and kisses the girl a million times, even occasionally after they just meet and didn't have much time to get to know each other and allow their love story to develop.

Cons: That being said, the romance happened pretty fast. I do believe in "love at first sight", but I appreciate it more when an author allows love to develop between the two main characters instead of them immediately having to struggle with whether or not to hold each other's hand. Also, there was no absolute proof that Dev was a Christian, even though Laura was one.

Overall it was a fairly good story. It was a little annoying that the "Christian" men kept calling women (mainly Laura) "hot", but I loved how devoted they are to each other. I'm just very picky on "romance" books, especially the Christian ones.

When librarian Laura Griffith's sixteen-year-old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned PI James "Dev" Devlin to help. But the deeper he digs, the more he begins to suspect that something sinister is at work in the girl's disappearance. And the closer he gets to uncovering the truth, the clearer it becomes that the situation isn't just dangerous--it's deadly.

Chilling and at times terrifying, Trapped is the latest thrilling read from Irene Hannon, the queen of romantic suspense. Hannon outdoes herself with this fast-paced tale of fear, deception, and just the right dose of romance.

Talk about nail biting! I was on the edge of my seat and engaged in the story every chance I got. I was like, no! no! don't do that, don't go there, don't tell him that! I was listening to the audio version and several times I had to explain to my husband why I was groaning...LOL. I agree with other reviews that this was the best book of the three in this series. I felt like I was listening to an episode of Criminal Minds!

The author does a really good job in fleshing out the characters in this book. Laura and Darcy are half sisters who have grown up in different environments and are separated by an age gap. Laura stays strong throughout the book and Darcy does some growing up and changing, some of it forced upon her by her extreme circumstances. The bad guy is a complex mix of good and bad and psychotic and his story is sad. Dev and his team are willing to put their lives on the line for their client and go above and beyond to try to find and save Darcy.

All in all, this is a great book full of nail biting, edge of your seat suspense, a hero who saves the day and a behind the scenes slow romance that you'll be cheering for! :)

When Laura Griffith's sixteen-year old sister disappears on a frigid February day, leaving only a brief note behind, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to track down the runaway teen. That includes recruiting ATF agent turned PI James Devlin to help. Dev knows time is of the essence with runaways - just forty-eight hours can mean the difference between recovery & ruin.

This is the 2nd book in the Guardians of Justice series. I thought it started out slow and wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish the book. However, I stuck with it and am glad I did. We find out pretty quickly who the kidnapper is but what he's planning is unknown and leaves you guessing. There were plenty of twists and turns in the story and the building romance between Dev and Laura was worth finishing the book. Laura was a strong, independent woman in her own right and being with Dev made her that much stronger. I really liked the fact that Dev didn't try to take Laura over and tell her what to do. It was obvious he had her best interests in order and didn't hide his feelings for her while keeping them in check until she was no longer his client. Without giving too much away, the rescue was definitely unexpected and led into the perfect ending. I would recommend this book to anyone.

When Laura Griffith's teenage sister Darcy runs away from home, Laura is determined to track her down and bring her back safely. Laura hires private investigator and former ATF agent James "Dev" Devlin in the hope that with his help, they will be able to find Darcy quickly, before she becomes victim to the winter weather or to unsavory characters. But as time goes on and the trail gets cold, Dev and Laura begin to suspect the worst. Will they be able to find Darcy before it's too late?

Fraught with danger, brimming with suspense, this tale is one that kept me turning the pages. I'm already a big fan of Irene Hannon's novels, and I've looked forward to reading Trapped with a great deal of anticipation, particularly since learning that this latest novel features a librarian as its heroine. Yes, I am slightly biased on that point, being a librarian myself, but there you have it. I'm pleased to report that Trapped did not disappoint. Once again, Hannon has lived up to her reputation as queen of inspirational romantic suspense.

I enjoyed watching the romance blossom between hero and heroine over the course of the book, but the element that made this story stand out in my mind was Hannon's portrayal of the villain. Early on, you know that there's something not quite right about him, but the more you learn about his background and the current situation over the course of the story, the creepier the situation becomes and the more the suspense is heightened. I am impressed with Hannon's ability to craft a complex believable villain who is capable of committing heinous crimes and yet believes that what he's doing is for the best. It makes for a fascinating read.

I read and reviewed Vanished, the first book in this series, not that long ago. As I read this one, I was struck by how similar the two novels are to each other. There were quite a few deja vu moments for me, as I read scenes that felt eerily familiar because of their parallels to similar scenes in the earlier novel. If you have read Vanished, you will enjoy getting reacquainted with a number of familiar characters and meeting some new ones. If you have not read it yet, don't worry. The books complement each other but do not depend upon each other to understand and follow the story. In my opinion, you won't be missing anything should you decide to read them out of order.

For those who enjoy reading inspirational romantic suspense, I highly recommend Trapped, as well as its predecessor Vanished. I'm looking forward to reading the next in this series. From what I've heard, Deceived is due out this summer, and if it's anything like the first two in the Private Justice series, it should be a treat.

Thank you to the publisher, Revell, for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley for review purposes. For some great discussion questions, check out the author's web site.

TRAPPED by Irene Hannon is the second installment in the Private Justice series. And though it didn’t quite make my favorites list (where all of Hannon’s other books are) it was still an enjoyable read full of suspense and angst.

Laura Griffith is beside herself with worry when her sixteen-year-old sister takes off, leaving only a barebones note behind. Though she and Darcy have had their problems, and becoming guardian of her half-sister has more than disrupted Laura’s simple lifestyle, having her gone is never what Laura wanted. So she secures the help of private investigator, James (Dev) Devlin. With her emotions on hyper drive, she finds Dev not only a thorough P.I., who works Darcy’s case with drive and determination, but she also sees him as a caring and attractive man. But personal feelings must be put on hold so they can both stay objective and get to the bottom of Darcy’s vanishing act.

At first look, Laura’s case seems like a typical runaway scenario. But, as Dev’s investigation continues he’s convinced Darcy couldn’t have fallen off the grid so easily without help. It’s that help that concerns Dev most. Knowing the exploitation of runaways is reaching epidemic proportions, he’s fighting the clock to find any evidence that would lead to Darcy’s whereabouts. And, the more time he spends with Laura, the more he realizes his feelings for her have crossed over from client to something more personal. Not wanting to break the rules of his P.I. firm, he tries to keep his feelings in check, but it’s getting harder with each new encounter with Laura.

VANISHED picks up where TRAPPED left off. Or should I say with the partners of Phoenix Inc. the P.I. firm that is the backdrop for the Private Justice series. I love Irene’s books. Her characters are always stellar and her plots creative. I just felt VANISHED dragged a little. There seemed to be some redundancy in a few of the chapters, kind of like the instructions on a shampoo bottle-Lather, rinse, repeat. I don’t mean to sound derogatory, because again, I love Irene Hannon’s writing. There just seemed to be a momentum shift that flat-lined towards the end. But in true Hannon fashion, the final climax’s was page clenching.

Overall, TRAPPED was very good, with just a slight hesitation towards the end. I can’t wait for the release of book three in the series, DECEIVED, slated for the Summer of 2014.

Trapped is an exciting thriller with a bit of faith and a bit of romance wrapped in. The book is believable and seems to parallel events found in the national news two or three times a year.

Darcy Griffith had disappeared. A runaway that did not want to be found and a police department that did not want to be bothered. It would fall on her half-sister, Laura, to find her before it was too late. Laura turned to Phoenix, Inc., a private detective agency composed of three former law enforcement officers, and to James "Dev" Devlin specifically.

The two weeks that passed from the day she walked out the door to the night she was found nearly fried to death seemed like an eternity. But in the midst of the fright, Laura and Darcy would discover the power of love and prayer, a lesson that all must learn.

When Laura first walked into "Dev"s office, neither the detective nor the client were looking for love. But in the days ahead, they learned to trust and lean on each other. God had to work in both of them, bringing healing from past failures and tragedy. But God would work out the kinks and quirks in their relationship so they could move forward.

Whether the reader is looking for a thriller, the role that faith can play in the desperate lives of individuals, or the growth of a relationship over time, Trapped delivers. I am ready to find the first book in the Private Justice series, Vanished: A Novel (Private Justice), or the next book in the series, Deceived, planned for the summer of 2014.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

This book is the second in the Private Justice series, this time focusing on James Devlin (Dev), former ATF agent. In the first book of this series, Vanished (Private Justice Book #1): A Novel, Dev teased his partner for falling for a client. Now, it's Dev's turn to be mercilessly teased because he becomes attracted to his newest client. Laura's 16 year old half-sister, Darcy, has run away and Laura ends up hiring Dev to find her. Like some of Ms. Hannon's other books, the reader knows who the villain is from the beginning. It's the journey to see that the villain is caught and justice is served that makes the story worthwhile. This story was a little more creepy and violent than I've previously read from this author. Darcy's abductor had some serious issues and there is punching and stabbing involved (although it's not described in detail). I enjoyed the romance between Laura and Dev. Since they couldn't date in any official capacity due to a conflict of interest, they really got to know each other instead. I liked Laura's strong character (yes, she's a librarian but she knows how to fence!) and her strong faith. Dev is drawn to these traits about her and finally wants to love again, after a bad experience during his ATF years. The bantering/humor between Dev and his co-workers, especially the office manager, Nikki, was fun and lightened the story occasionally. Spiritually, both Darcy and Dev finally turn to God when they need help. Overall, another excellent read by Irene Hannon. I can't wait to read Connor's story.

Sharing my thoughts~Besides strong main characters, this book also has multidimensional secondary characters, and I especially enjoyed the camaraderie between the three PI's and Nikki, the office manager. I also feel like I got to know Darcy as well as Dev and Laura. After Darcy's free-spirited mother died, and then her elderly father, Darcy moved in with Laura, who didn't know anything about raising a teen. Stifled by Laura's old-fashioned rules and feeling responsible for her father's death, Darcy runs away, headed towards Chicago, but a storm grounds her in St. Louis. Little clips showing Darcy's transformation from obnoxious to grateful as the story unfolded helped me better understood her motivation.

"Even if Laura's intentions were good, rules were for kids. If she had stayed, they'd keep clashing, just as she and her dad had. And look how that had ended."

At one point in the book (not giving away any spoilers here!), I felt Laura acted irrationally for the danger she was in, but since she was worried about her sister, I decided to cut her some slack. If I'd been faced with a similar predicament, I probably would have rushed into the same situation. How many times have I made spur-of-the-moment decisions and then regretted them later?

What a fast-paced, chilling thriller made even more frightening because it's something that happens in real life! We inherently trust people because they look "safe" or because of their occupation. Scary! I picked up Trapped one evening while my husband was gone, and at times, my palms were sweating and my heart pounded with fear, but did that stop me from reading? Noooo. I just had to keep reading because with every page I flipped, the situation was too intense to put the book down. While the plot moved along at extreme speed, I felt the romance was a bit on the lean side, only really heating up at the end of the book, but I guess that's to be expected with the amount of action in this one. The faith thread was a gentle strand, weaved subtly through the book.

Trapped is the second book in the Private Justice series, but can be read as a stand alone. I just don't recommend reading it alone. I'm still turning on lights and checking doors. :)

Disclosure: Sending a big thanks to NetGalley and Revell for providing me with an advance review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I received no monetary compensation.

Trapped is the second title in Irene Hannon's Private Justice series. The first, Vanished, focused on Cal who was a police officer turned private investigator. It's now the turn of his colleague, Dev, who takes the lead on a missing person case. As always, receptionist and Girl Friday, Nikki, can't resist the teasing when the relationship between investigator and client becomes more than business.

This novel reminded me of both Silence of the Lambs and Sleeping with the Enemy, although it has a Christian emphasis. There is no Hannibal Lector, thankfully, but the villain reminded me of Julia Roberts' creepy husband played by Patrick Bergin. I realized fairly early on that the bad guy wasn't exactly sane, but I struggled to understand what might have caused his madness. The truth was a twist I definitely never saw coming. When a desperate man concluded he had nothing to lose, I wondered if everyone would make it out alive. There's always a happy ending, but the question was how happy would it be.

After having now read Vanished and Trapped, I recognize that both of Hannan's villains have two faces. They come across as good people, often going the extra mile to help people in the course of carrying out their jobs. Away from the public eye, however, they are extremely twisted. Right now, I'm going to presume the bad guy in the next book, Deceived, is of a similar type. I'll have to wait until summer 2014 to see if I'm correct.

Thank you to Revell for my free copy of Trapped, which I received in exchange for posting an honest review during a blog tour.

When Laura Griffith's sixteen-year-old sister Darcy runs away, Laura turns to former ATF agent and now private investigator James "Dev" Devlin for help in finding her. The more they discover about Darcy's last known whereabouts, who she was with, and the circumstances surrounding her departure, the more suspicious they become that she has fallen prey to someone intent on doing harm. Their efforts are hindered by a winter storm that has all but shut down the city, along with the distraction of growing romantic feelings for each other.

The reader learns early on what has happened to Darcy and who is responsible but that only adds to the suspense as the rest of the book centers on Laura and Dev trying to find her before it is too late.

This was a good story focusing on the theme of teenage runaways and their vulnerability to predatory individuals. The Christian and romance themes readers expect from this genre are there as well but fit in naturally with the characters and don't distract from the storyline. Anyone who wants a good novel that effectively builds suspense without graphic detail and language will enjoy this book.

This is the second book in the Private Justice series but enough information is given about events and characters from the first one so a first-time reader won't be lost.

I received a copy of this book for review from Revell Books as part of their blog tour program but the opinion of it is my own and was not solicited, nor was a positive review required.

Trapped...trapped in a horrific nightmare! And the worst part of it is, it happens and could happen right in our neighborhood, and we would never know, or our colleague could be involved and yet be the nicest co-worker. I think that is what grabbed my imagination, my heart. This book is not for the faint-hearted, and yet I think teenagers need to realize that they are not invincible. And yet, was I any different? Surely I would have denied the fact that I could be at risk.
There are only a few suspense writers who claim a spot on my personal bookshelves, and few that can claim to keeping me awake at night, long after I have finished reading the novel.
Once again, Irene has used her unique talent and delved to the heart of the matter in a realistic and graphic method. Without giving away anything of the story let me tell you that I could not get comfortable while I read, nor could I leave the characters in their various predicaments until the end. The images and story line has been burnt into my conscience and will color my perceptions of life in general from here on in. As I was reading it, I was well aware that this is only fiction, and yet it felt so real, that at times I held my breath and agonized with the characters.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Librarian Laura teams with classy private eye Dev to find and then rescue her runaway niece Darcy. Trapped is pure suspense: almost from the start, I knew who did what, and what needed to happen. And given the steady pace and known number of pages, I even knew about when it would happen. But I was left guessing about HOW it would happen.

The writing serves the plot well, but there's nothing particularly elegant or beautiful to recommend it. The characters are fairly well developed. I don't feel that I learned anything that will enrich my life outside the world of the story.

The story is Christian fiction in that it's mostly G-rated, and mentions some Christian themes, but there is neither preachiness nor deep theological lessons. The characters have some Christian veneer on their lives, but in general are not driven by deep spiritual values.

My 3-star rating reflects the fact that I've recently read some really great literature--Pulitzer Prize winning stuff. Trapped is a good, solid, enjoyable story. But it's not great, life-altering, breathtaking literature.

Let me set the record straight - 'Trapped' is without question the best Irene Hannon has written yet! Usually the genre in which Hannon has earned the distinguishing term of "Queen of Suspense" is "comfortable," many of the villains are cookie-cutter alike and often the girl is snatched by the baddie which turns around and forces a revelation of love. This book three out comfortable by familiarizing reader's intimately with the villain; here he's not just a figure in the shadows who only appears after being drawn out in the climax, he's actually an integral part of the book whom we are asked to get to know as well, if not better than the good guys determined to trip him up. The villain starts out more charmingly intriguing than awful and in those establishing facts, the backstory of his life elects a kind of warped sympathy from the reader even as we despise how he is abusing something from his past and transfers it onto innocent victims - people who had no part in his rotten childhood. He infuses that disturbing upbringing onto helpless victims and enacts a sick "justice" onto them by convincing himself that in doing so, he's saving them from a worse fate.

There is a wise balance to a lack of character building, which Hannon takes care to never overemphasize the romance - instead of being "in love" by the time the mystery draws to a close, there is no lack of commitment until a many month later epilogue, which is far more believable than to think a genuine, long-lasting romance had time to bond and form during a time when intents and thoughts lay on the safety of someone. Laura and Dev's primary emotions towards each other are either interest to explore a serious relationship or physical, both of which are handled with ease and smarts. Also, this reads as a genuine reaction compared to books that tried to have us believe love blossomed over a two-week period and in only a handful of conversations, many of which revolved around strategy instead of social conversation. Impressed seems in understatement when summing up thoughts on Trapped. This reader cannot wait to read the followup - if it's anywhere near as good as this, the second Phoenix, INC. novel, then these books are right on track to finish well.

Sincere thanks to the publisher (and Fiction Addict) for this complimentary review copy.

© Copyright 2011-2013 On the Bookshelf, Dreaming Under the Same Moon / Scribbles, Scripts and Such

Irene Hannon never disappoints! Here we are with book 2 in the, Private Justice Series. Yay! Let me start by saying sometimes you don't have to read the first book to really get into the second, and without a doubt you would enjoy reading, "Trapped", as a stand alone, I would suggest that you start with, "Vanished"(check out my review).

I have seen a few reviews that said, "Trapped", was kind of predictable. To that I would like to say, yes, it is, but in many ways that is what makes this book amazing. Aren't things in life predictable? Of course, boy and girl meet, they fall in love. Girl runs away and gets herself into a world of fear. Predictable. But, it's the story weaved in between these predictable moments that grabs us. Irene Hannon ROCKS at pulling us in and keeping us turning pages.

The cover is awesome. A storm. An empty bench. Lights up ahead. A girl walking. But then you have the shadow that is casting a huge image.

These novels are based here in my home state of Missouri. As I read the story I know these cities well and can picture myself in the area. Irene is gifted at painting a scene for us and allowing us to feel as though we are right there in the midst of the action.

We are back at Phoenix Inc. where they have three private investigators that I would want on my side if I were in trouble. In this novel we get a closer view of "Dev". James Devlin. My heart be still. We too have Nicki, the sassy secretary return. Cal and Connor are here too. The first book was based on Cal. This one takes us to Dev. I have a strong feeling book three is going to spotlight Connor.

These guys are not only co-workers, but they are great friends. I think the connection they have with each other brings us an even greater story. We see the bond they share and how they are willing to go the extra mile for one another.

Dev's first appointment of the day is with Laura Griffith, the aunt of Darcy. Laura is terrified as she comes home and Darcy is gone. Everyone's greatest nightmare begins. Laura is trying to find Darcy. Darcy comes with baggage. Don't we all? She and her aunt are not meshing well and Darcy isn't too keen on rules. She thinks life will be easier in New York, but her plan never unfolds as she dreamed. This is where the story begins.

I started reading this story at night and it was a few hours later that I closed the last page. Once I started I couldn't put it down. This was an unputdownable for sure. Predictable? Yes, but a reality no one wants to find themselves in and that's what kept me turning pages. This young girl will touch your heart. Her aunt is one who isn't giving up. Within these pages is a story woven of love, trust and hope. I truly love the characters in this series. We see them face their weakness and question themselves. We see them as they find their gifts and learn to soar fearless.

This novel is filled with suspense, romance and faith. You will never be disappointed with an Irene Hannon novel. I fell in love with Hannon's work when I read her series, "Guardians of Justice". Take your pick at any of her series and you will find yourself turning pages way up into the night.

This novel was a gift from Revell for sharing my review with you.