I like reading
mysteries and suspense stories and have enjoyed Lynn H. Blackburn’s
novels. That’s why I was excited to read
her newest book, Malicious Intent, the second book in the Defend
and Protect series.
Malicious
Intent focuses on Gil Dixon
and Dr. Ivy Collins, characters introduced in the first book of the series, Unknown
Threat. Gil and Ivy go way back,
but they had a falling out and haven’t seen each other since then. Secret Service Agents Gil and Zane are
following up on counterfeit bills deposited by Hedera, Inc., Ivy’s
business. When they arrive at her home
and knock on the door, they find something is amiss as the door opens by itself. It had been 15 years since Gil had last seen
Ivy, and now she was standing before him.
But something is terribly wrong with Ivy. She looks beat up and is holding a gun.
Other characters
from the first book, Luke, Zac, Tessa, Faith, and Sabrina, are also included in
this story. One of the things I liked
about this book was the friendships and commitment these people had for one
another. The storyline and investigation
were interesting as they tried to determine who was trying to harm Ivy and why.
The romance part of
the story was a little rushed, especially considering how Gil and Ivy’s relationship
had ended 15 years earlier. But Gil was
ready to put the past behind him. I did
like Ivy and her drive and passion to help people. I found annoying Gil’s repeated use of a
nickname he had for Ivy, who is now a grown woman, not a young girl. There’s a little bit of faith worked into the
story. I would have liked to have seen more
of that. The characters were likable,
but I wish they had been developed more fully.
I appreciate that the novel was clean, without profanity or sexual
immorality.
Overall, I liked Malicious
Intent because of the mystery and suspense. My favorite part was the friendships and commitment
between all the characters. I recommend
this book, especially if you like suspense and law enforcement.
Thank you to Revell
Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read complimentary
copy Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn. I was under no obligation to give a favorable
review.
