Obsession (Natchez Trace Park Rangers #2) by Patricia Bradley {Book Review}

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are my own. 

Natchez Trace Ranger and historian Emma Winters hoped never to see Sam Ryker again after she broke off her engagement to him. But when shots are fired at her at a historical landmark just off the Natchez Trace, she's forced to work alongside Sam as the Natchez Trace law enforcement district ranger in the ensuing investigation. To complicate matters, Emma has acquired a delusional secret admirer who is determined to have her as his own. Sam is merely an obstruction, one which must be removed.

Sam knows that he has failed Emma in the past and he doesn't intend to let her down again. Especially since her life is on the line. As the threads of the investigation cross and tangle with their own personal history, Sam and Emma have a chance to discover the truth, not only about the victim but about what went wrong in their relationship.



Patricia Bradley is the author of Standoff, as well as the Memphis Cold Case Novels and Logan Point series. Bradley won an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and a Touched by Love Award; she was a Carol Award finalist; and three of her books were included in anthologies that debuted on the USA Today bestseller list. She is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.





Obsession is the second book in Patricia Bradley's Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. While the previous lead from book one is mentioned very briefly in this story, there is nothing from the first book that is needed to understand this story, and as such can be read as a standalone too. 

Right from the start, the action begins in this story and really doesn't let up throughout the story. There may be moments of calm, of course, but the next big moment is just around the corner and certainly keeps you guessing as to what exactly that will be. In this story, we meet Emma as she's stumbling upon a crime in progress. When shots are fired, Sam is called in as the law enforcement district ranger. Having broken up years before, their history is a rough one but when it seems like Emma has a stalker they must learn to put the past behind them to keep her safe. 

The author did a great job of leaving subtle clues throughout the story that put suspicion in various directions. As such, while the ultimate bad guy is one whom I suspected very early on, there was enough of a question to keep me wondering about others as well. This was in part done by giving us a glimpse into the stalker's point of view, which certainly gave it a unique perspective. 

In addition to the suspense, it also featured a good blend of romance and a message of letting go of guilt that truly made it an all around good story. If you enjoy romantic suspense, this is definitely one to check out.