Over the Line by Kelly Irvin

Over the Line

by Kelly Irvin

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication: June 11th 2019 by Thomas Nelson

Goodreads synopsis:

In this high-stakes romantic suspense novel where tensions mount on both sides of the border, bestselling author Kelly Irvin explores what happens when the past explodes against the present and the only person you can turn to is the one who broke your heart.

When a college student dies at Gabriella’s feet after muttering her brother’s name, vicious gun smugglers believe she knows too much. And they’re determined to make sure she suffers the same fate. With no one else to turn to, Gabriella reunites with her former fiancé, homicide detective Eli Cavazos, to investigate the dead man’s murder and her brother’s disappearance.

In a desperate race against time, Gabriella and Eli are determined to clear her brother and find him before the gun smugglers can kill them both. Bit by bit, they tear away the masks worn by men masquerading as law-abiding citizens. No one can be trusted.

Working as a team forces Gabriella and Eli to face the problems that ended their relationship. She realizes she’s the one who needs to learn to forgive, but Eli must also learn to trust her with his secrets.

This ragtag team must fight a powerful ring of criminals protected by the very institutions that should prosecute them in an all-out battle that may cost them their lives.

***

4.25 Stars

I am not certain what I expected when I dove into this book, probably more thriller than anything due to the cover. What comes inside these pages is a romantic suspense Christian thriller with not one but two romances. Two sister’s find love while in the midst of high-stakes drama. Both are second chance love. One is love reunited. One is newfound. 

On top of this surprising romance thing happening there is the search for Gabby’s missing brother, Jake, an ATF agent who fell for the wrong woman. His actions set forth a domino effect that puts a lot of people he loves in danger and it all happens without intention and unknowingly.

Gabby is met at her door by a stranger who mutters her brother’s name and then dies at her feet. Gabby’s on again, off again police officer boyfriend, Eli is nearby and assists. I don’t want to give too much away because it is the journey that makes this story interesting.

Just know that there are subtle sprinkles of God, Jesus and praying mixed in these pages. I know that might turn off some but it is not obnoxious Jesus freak musings and rather realistic cries out to their Savior who might assist them in their times of need.

I thought this was interesting and kept my attention but I would have liked the story to have more flow. The text felt a bit choppy at times. I know flow is difficult in an action adventure story so it didn’t really bother me too much. I know that is a big sticking point for some.

I read this in a day and a half. Clean, easy read. Some blood but no sex. Mostly kissing and romance. Family is also big in this story too. I am a bit sad that Deacon’s and Natalie’s story was stuck in the middle of Gabby and Eli’s story. I think they deserved their own novel. But that is just my humble opinion.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.