Critical Alliance

Is a criminal ever bad enough that committing a crime to stop the criminal would be justified? If that sounds like a crazy question, maybe it is. Mackenzie had gotten drawn into cybercrime as a teenager, but had gotten her life together and put the past behind her. When she suddenly runs into her former partner in crime, she fears that her past is catching up with her. She must figure out what is going down and decide how far she is willing to go to stop the person who drew her and her partner into criminal activity. Now the stakes are much higher because the mastermind has suddenly started cyberattacks on her family’s business and gotten physically violent. Upon returning home to Montana to try to find answers to the warning she has received, she encounters Alex, a Diplomatic Security Services agent who she had met in Washington, DC, three years earlier when she went to interview for a job. If they can work together, they just might get some positive results, or they just might jeopardize their futures. What will it be? Are they willing to risk it all for a good cause? The suspense and tension rise rapidly through the story. Potential romance is an undercurrent. Come along for a fast-paced, action-packed story, and watch your back.

FUNTASTIC!

Elizabeth Goddard THRILLS in this ACTION PACKED read! My adrenaline was up as I devoured page after page. I was completely CAPTIVATED.

Critical Alliance had me on the EDGE of my seat. With gasp out loud twists, you won’t want to put this one down.

An OUTSTANDING series I couldn’t get enough of. I’m so sad it’s over! I adored these characters. A MUST READ SERIES.

Critical Alliance is the third book in Elizabeth Goddard's Rocky Mountain Courage series. I have read both the first book, Present Danger (you can read my review here) and the second book Deadly Target (you can read my review here). While they are all part of a series, they can be read separately.

This book is the story of Mackenzie Hanson, a professor of cyber security, and Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight. Through poor judgment in her youth, Mackenzie became estranged from her family for many years. She is back in Montana now to try to help what is left of her family to find out who is trying to sabotage the family tech business. Alex is back in Montana to get some well-needed rest and relaxation after his latest mission that failed. But instead of rest, he is pulled into the mystery that Mackenzie and her family are facing.

Ms. Goddard has a gift for creating well-developed, realistic characters that with their first appearance on the page pull you in and invite you into their fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat story. All the characters in Critical Alliance do just that.

I thoroughly loved this book and the entire series. I would highly suggest it to anyone who loves a good clean, fast-paced, suspense novel that leaves you wanting more.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank the author and Revell Books, for my copy of Critical Alliance. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review. The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

I knew that Elizabeth Goddard would deliver a pretty good story in the conclusion to her exciting Rocky Mountain Courage series – with the Montana wilderness backdrop you know it couldn't be anything but dramatic but even I had some surprises coming my way in Critical Alliance.

I honestly didn't read the back cover blurb before starting Critical Alliance for the simple reason that I had already read and seriously enjoyed the first two Rocky Mountain Courage novels. I wanted to finish out the series, though I certainly didn't want to say goodbye to the fictional town and people of Grayback, Montana.

Elizbeth Goddard really did conclude the series in grand style that was as riveting as it was entertaining. The high-tech angle was truly chilling as you realize just how not fictional it really is. Seriously makes you wonder who is really out there watching...I know as I read I kept having that old 80s song about somebody's watching me running through my head...

Critical Alliance really kept me guessing as I tried to figure out who the cyberattacker really was. Did I guess correctly? Well, let's just say that Elizabeth Goddard did her job very well so, mostly no... If you haven't started the Rocky Mountain Courage series yet you can now binge-read the entire thing...so, what are you waiting for?

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Another fast-paced entertaining suspense story from this author. Loaded with computer tech and cyber criminal activity, which we all know is already rampant in our world, It nails the danger right away and keeps it going the whole time. There are the classic times I wanted to yell at Mackenzie and Alex to look out, or turn around, and don’t go in there. It keeps you on your toes! I love books that keep me guessing and page turning. This story does just that. Highly recommend!

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 and the focus was on action and intrigue. The characters were not well developed. 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.

Every book keeps getting better and better. Elizabeth Goddard has the gift of grabbing your mind and taking it for a wild ride. No boring plots or unlikeable characters grace the pages of her stories. The third installment of the Rocky Mountain Courage series, "Critical Alliance", takes readers into the world of cybercrime as former criminal hacker, MacKenzie Hanson must team up with Special Agent Alex Knight, to stop her nemesis from destroying her family.

As each chapter ramps up the suspense, you will not want to put the book down until you reach the end. You will not go wrong with any of Goddard's books; however, this one is by far the best so far. Every one gets better and better. I can't wait to see what Goddard has planned for her next adventure. As a reader, most of the time, I believe the book I'm currently reading is the best one I've ever read, but this has to be my favorite book I've read this year so far. I liked the characters; the plot was original and not easily figured out; the writing was inspired. All-in-all, the perfect book to read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, as part of Elizabeth Goddard’s Critical Alliance Launch Team. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Having read the first two books in the Rocky Mountain Courage series by award-winning author, Elizabeth Goddard, I was excited to read Critical Alliance. I was not disappointed as it is certainly an adrenalin-producing story from beginning to end. The characters are colorful and riveting, as well as realistic and either likable, relatable, or despicable. Mackenzie, a cybersecurity specialist returns to an unwelcoming home situation to help save the family company. As she begins to work with security agent Alex, the mystery deepens. Who can be trusted? Why was a family member dead? Will any of them remain alive? I like how the author revealed things layer by layer, keeping me wondering how scenarios were ever going to work out. Readers who love exciting, heart-stopping mysteries will not want to miss Critical Alliance. It will keep you eagerly reading until the very last page.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! Just when I thought I knew what would happen something would surprise me. It will grab your attention and not let go until the end. Must read!

I highly recommend this book. Another excellent book by this author. This is book 3 and the final book in the series.
The book caught my attention from the first few pages. There was a good mix of mystery, suspense, and romance. I was guessing who the bad person was till the very end. The book was full of lots of twists and turns, that kept me interested the whole time.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My opinion is my own and is honest.