Book Review: Counterfeit Hope by Crystal Caudill

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What is this book about?

When Secret Service operative Andrew Darlington is brought in to support a US Marshal case involving counterfeiters in rural Indiana, he thinks it’s simply the next rung on his climb to the top of his career. But liars can only climb so high–and Andrew is keeping a dangerous secret he doesn’t ever want to get out. When he clashes with the criminal family that took over the town of Landkreis and killed the Marshal he was sent to assist, his past life is in danger of being exposed.

Widow “Lightning Lu” Thorne has only one goal: escape the clutches of the Thorne family with her son. Her decision to be an informant and testify against the Thornes looked like the perfect answer. Until the Marshal ended up dead. Now the tether keeping her tied to her felonious family is tightening, and a forced marriage to someone else in the Thornes’ clutches threatens to kill any hope of escape.

Andrew and Lu find themselves on the same team–unwillingly. They each believe the other to be the enemy to their future plans. And even if they could learn to work together, the secrets they hold could shatter all hopes and dreams. Despite the encouragement of the local preacher, they’re not even sure God can be trusted–much less other humans. Can either of them escape their past–and the family that is willing to kill their own when they smell betrayal?

My review:

With danger lurking around every corner, I couldn’t even take a moment to breathe while waiting to see if Lu and her son would make it out of the Thorne family clutches alive. The suspense was deliciously drawn out especially in the last half of the story. But wait, not only was there suspense, but a romance pushing its way into the story. It was also drawn out in a very sweet way making me want to savor every page. But wait, there’s more! An inspirational redemptive thread, no make that thick yarn, was woven in here as well.

The author is sensitive to how the reader receives Lu and her troubled life so there is a sweet mild trigger warning at the beginning of the book. I think Lu’s journey into Christ’s redemption was more powerful because of trials. She was strong and loyal. I loved her wit as well as how she managed to twist Andrew into knots particularly when she wasn’t trying.

Andrew is a hard character in the first book of this series so I really enjoyed seeing Lu and Oscar bring out his softer side.

A few characters from the first book make their way into this book and I welcomed them like old friends.

What I enjoyed most about this book:

Page turning suspense, sweet romance, thick inspirational thread – a triple win!

What I didn’t like about this book:

Nothing

Would I recommend this book to others? You bet. Great characters (good and bad), sweet romance, suspense that keeps the reader captive, and a good redemptive arc. This is the second book in this series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first one so you can enjoy Andrew’s growth more.

Note: I received this book complimentary as a member of the author’s launch team. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are honest and my own.

Where can I learn more about this author and their books?

Crystal Caudill, author website

-Loraine Nunley

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