Critical Alliance is Elizabeth Goddard’s third book in the, Rocky Mountain Courage series. I’ve read the first two books, Present Danger and Deadly Target, enjoyed them and was excited to read her newest novel.
The story centers on two main characters,
Mackenzie Hanson and Alex Knight.
Mackenzie has been doing well in her cybersecurity career at a
university in Michigan. Yet it seems
like she can’t get away from her youthful criminal past when she receives a warning
about cybersecurity issues with her family’s business. Though she’s been estranged for many years,
Mackenzie feels compelled to go home and try to help with the hope of redeeming
her past mistakes. Mackenzie’s path will
once again cross with Alex Knight a Special Agent with the Diplomatic Security
Services. Alex has come home to Montana
to get some rest following an assignment that went wrong. But cases seem to find him even when he’s on
vacation.
There were some elements that I liked about
this book. Cybersecurity is an interesting
theme for a mystery novel. I liked Alex
and his friends in Montana that were carried over from the earlier novels. The backdrop in Montana was a beautiful setting,
the descriptions were well written so the reader could imagine what the settings
were like.
Where I struggled with this book was the main
character, Mackenzie. I found her to be
arrogant with delusions of grandeur to the point of irritating. I couldn’t see why Alex was attracted to Mackenzie,
much less why he would risk her career for her or go along with her schemes. The characters were shallow, not well developed, and the focus was
on action and intrigue. I enjoy reading
Christian fiction, especially when faith is included in the characters' lives. But this book didn’t include much regarding faith.
Not sure if I recommend Critical
Alliance because the characters were not well developed. It’s shallow and relies on action and
intrigue over a richer and deeper story.
The book focused on lots of details about cyber security instead of characters. I will read more books by Elizabeth Goddard
because I’ve enjoyed her earlier novels.
I would like to thank Baker Publishing
Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Critical
Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard. I was under no obligation to give a favorable
review.