Burden of Proof
by DiAnn Mills
Tyndale House Publishers
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Christian , Romance
Pub Date 09 Oct 2018
I am reviewing a copy of Burden of Proof through Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley:


While still reeling from a negotiation going wrong. FBI Special Agent April Ramos is completely taken aback when a frazzled young woman ends up shoving a crying baby into her arms and disappears.


When the girl's Father abducts Agent Ramos, April puts her hostage negotiation skills to work to learn know about this man Jason Snyder, who claims to being framed for killing his business partner, and was being framed by the county sheriff.


Soon April starts to believe maybe this is more than a tall tale though that perhaps Jason was being framed.


What was happening in the small town of Sweet Briar Texas?


I give Burden of Proof five out five stars!


Happy Reading!

Burden of Proof is a fast-paced suspense novel. FBI negotiator, April Ramos is taken hostage by Jason Snyder, who's been framed for his best friends murder. His infant daughter was kidnapped and thrust into the arms of Special Agent Ramos which is what leads him to force her to go with him and help him prove his innocence.

DiAnn Mills does a great job of keeping the story moving, building realistic characters, adding in unexpected twists, and keeping the expected interesting. I enjoyed this story from beginning to end and am really looking forward to reading the next book in the FBI: Rapid Response Series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Burden of Proof is another fast-paced FBI thriller from author DiAnn Mills with a smart and sensitive heroine and a story line with plenty of twists and turns.
One thing I think Mills does really well is character development. This is especially relevant with a plot line such as the one found in Burden of Proof, as you need to convince the reader that a character kidnapping your central character – and one who happens to be an FBI negotiator – is as trustworthy and honest enough to make said FBI agent take his side and help. Her characters are believable and complex, and her dialogue flows and is believable as well.
While this was an element that I struggled with at first – not as much how readily April Ramos moved to support her kidnapper, Jason Snyder, but the attraction she felt for him – but then I realized that my disbelief was probably somewhat hampered by other storylines I’d read recently that also involved supposedly strong females just dropping their guard and becoming suddenly accepting when put into uncomfortable circumstances. I acknowledged that my recent reading was flavoring my thought process, and as a result I set aside disbelief. Even more, Jason soon convinced me of his innocence as the storyline progressed and the attraction appeared to be mutual. I was further assured that concerns weren’t mine alone when it was acknowledged that the relationship wasn’t necessarily a good idea, as April’s boss warns:
“No relationship lasts when it begins with danger and supercharged emotions.”
April’s relationship with her own Christian beliefs take on a minor storyline of its own. While many of the main characters are comfortable in their own beliefs, April is still searching. Miss Ella, a sweet big hat wearing, church-going older woman has told her “Before this is over, you’re gonna see the power of Jesus”, a thought that is interesting when directed at a person for whom prayer makes her uncomfortable and does serve as a bit of foreshadowing. The author works to make her journey part of the story line, and generally it works.
Above all, the plot moves along at breakneck pace. Jason knows who is behind his framing, but still doesn’t know why, and that person seems to be beyond reach at every turn of the plot. As a reader, I shared their frustration at the untouchability of the villain. As they get closer to solving the crime, more roadblocks and twists come up, and I totally didn’t see the ending coming.

Hostage Negotiation Special Agent April Ramos is reeling from a negotiation gone bad, resulting in a suicide. She stops by a donut shop on her way home to soothe some of the ache. A young lady behind her in line hands April a screaming baby, says she can't take it any longer and flees the shop. April thinks the lady has gone to get her diaper bag, but when the lady doesn't return, April walks outside. Running down the sidewalk straight toward April is Jason Snyder, yelling that the child is his baby. He scoops up the child and demands to know who April is and how she got the baby.

When he discovers that April is an FBI agent, Jason takes her hostage, at gunpoint, in order to help him solve both the kidnapping of his child and a murder for which he has been accused. He watched his best friend and business partner be shot to death in his own office, but the local sheriff has doctored the paperwork to make Jason look like the killer. Now the hostage negotiator has become the hostage, and Jason is a falsely accused criminal of the run. Can it get any worse for either of them? Can they prove Jason's innocence, find the real killer, and prove the corrupt sheriff is involved in all of it before the sheriff finds them?

Diann Mills always gives us a good police procedural with her FBI series of stories, but BURDEN OF PROOF is over the top! It has a unique and creative story line that will hook you from the beginning and keep you hanging on to the end ... a plot filled with one strange twist after another. April and Jason are strong main characters, surrounded by a plethora of supporting characters, some are good, some we know are bad and some are questionable at best. Ms. Mills fills the pages of this inspirational novel with a lot of spiritual insight, reflected in the dialogue and in the characters' thoughts. This is a story about trust, hopelessness and life's tragedies. None of us are sheltered from the ugliness of life, but Jason has had more than his fair share. It is also a story about forgiveness, healing and moving on, about relinquishing daily control to God. If you're a fan of this genre, do not miss this one ... there's even a little romance splashed across the pages!

DiAnn Mills once again delivers a fantastic story!

She gave us a tough FBI agent, a handsome and loving father, and evil personified.

To say the least I enjoyed the action and the characters in this story. April Ramos cares for the people she’s trying to help. When she isn’t able to save one it is devastating for her. But she’s also tough and believes in justice, she is a great character.

I ended up loving Jason when it was over, but honestly, there were a few times I wanted to smack him up side the head! But watching his faith in action and at time struggling was refreshing.

The story was very interesting in how the author weaved in some pretty cool technology. She also did a good job of cloaking the murderer. It was only pages before the actual reveal when it hit me.

Definitely recommend this to fans of DiAnn Mills as well as any fans of suspense books. Looking forward to more from this series!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Take some advice…No relationship lasts when it begins with danger and supercharged emotions.” This quote from Burden of Proof sums up the book for me – danger with supercharged emotions. My advice to readers is be prepared for the ride. Just when you think things are resolved, another twist sends the reader’s head spinning. Lots of twists and turns will take you on a thrilling journey while FBI hostage negotiator, April Ramos, seeks the truth after being abducted by fugitive Jason Snyder. The negotiator becomes the hostage, but Jason’s unbelievable story makes April question everything.

I enjoyed this fast-paced novel from start to finish. While the action moves at a rapid speed (I love books that start off right in the middle of all the action), the author still slows things down enough to bring out that small-town feel of the setting and characters. I liked some of the quirkier moments the characters had despite the intensity of their plight. The ending came with a surprise that left me wondering how I hadn’t figured it out. I definitely recommend Burden of Proof if you are a fan of suspense novels.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Burden of Proof by DiAnn Mills is one book I could not put down. The story is high-paced and action-packed, leaving me flipping pages long into the night. The who-done-it is twisted and took me by surprise. No spoilers here!
FBI Agent April Ramos gets thrown into a kidnapping murder investigation and it takes her Sweet Briar, a town with a dark history and oppressing presence. Jason Snyder’s devotion for his baby daughter and the truth make him the ultimate hero.
I absolutely LOVED Burden of Proof and found it to be equal parts romance and suspense. Definitely a five out of five stars.

This novel is packed with mystery, corruption, suspense, healing and romance.

April Ramos is a unique woman. She has a heart of gold. When things don't go as they should she takes it personal. When she is thrown into a not normal circumstance she must rely on all her FBI training.

Jason Snyder finds himself in a very difficult situation, in which he may have made it way worse. Will April help him or be his downfall?

I enjoyed the mystery and crime solving aspects of this novel.

I was excited to get a copy of DiAnn Mills’ latest book because she never fails to capture my undivided attention. I get a little breathless when gripped with suspense or excitement, and this book is filled with so many moments that make your heart skip a beat. Mills is especially skilled when it comes to writing dialogue. Each characters’ speech sounds natural and flows just as well as the non-dialogue text. When Mills switches the point of view, there is no confusion because the character’s voice shines through very clearly and the writing style is concise.

I can say with all honesty that Mills’ books are all very unique. Although I’ve read several FBI-mystery-romance books by her, they are all very different from each other, as well as books by other authors in the same genre. You would think that there are only so many meet-cute scenarios that can happen between an FBI agent and a paramour, but Mills will raise you another. In fact, she will keep them coming since this is the first book of a new series.

I’m Filipino, so I’m excited to see a Filipino protagonist whose ethnicity is not central to the plot. Sure, Mills throws in an Adobo reference – you should try this dish if you haven’t yet (it’s not the same as the Hispanic Adobo dish) – but April could be any ethnicity really. But since she’s not just any ethnicity, I’m going to nitpick a little. April is uncomfortable during long prayers, but most Filipinos are (or were at one time in their life) Catholic, so super long prayers – Hail Mary, anyone? – should be no biggie. April’s parents would prefer that she was a university professor rather than an FBI agent. Are you kidding? Filipinos love to brag and most of them love guns as well. And they live in Texas? Game over. They have guns of all shapes and sizes. And they would bring all those guns to the range to show their friends while they proudly talked about their FBI agent daughter.

But overall, I’m really amazed at how Mills’ characters spring to life in every book, this one especially. I think she is very successful with her portrayal of April’s struggle to do the right thing because I was constantly second guessing myself on what was the “right” or best thing to do in that situation too. I feel lucky to not have to make decisions that place my family on one side of the scale and the community on the other. I suppose most normal Joes like myself don’t have to.

I look forward to reading the next book. While you wait for the next installment, I suggest you pick up one of her FBI Task Force novels.

Burden of Proof will keep your knuckles white as you cling to the book and follow this exciting story! It’s no surprise to me that this rollercoaster of a story was written my DiAnn Mills. She is definitely making a name for herself in this genre.

This newest addition by Mills has an abundance of switchbacks, pitfalls and betrayals. Despite the story being predominantly set in a small Texas town, the author constructed a literary obstacle course that would make the Marines proud!

It was highly entertaining to be privy to their thoughts as the characters are bombarded with setback after setback. Mills changes the POV several times to ensure that the reader doesn’t miss a thing. That, my friend, is what good fiction is all about, in my humble opinion.

**Burden of Proof Protagonists - How They Met**

Our two protagonists could not be more different. Jason Snyder is a father frantically searching for his kidnapped baby daughter. The other is April Ramos, an FBI special agent trained in hostage negotiation. Jason is a highly successful builder in the small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. Rachel works out of the Houston FBI office.

When they first meet, Jason kidnaps Rachel at gunpoint in a donut shop because she is holding Jason’s young daughter in her arms. Isn’t that an oddly exciting opening for a story? Yeah, I thought so too!

Jason and Rachel are both flawed characters - which is good - but they’re flawed in entirely different ways - which is even better. Jason’s wife died about a year earlier, shortly after giving birth to their only child. Jason continues to question whether he did everything he could for his wife, who was dying from cancer. Now, he’s accused of killing his best friend, and he’s on the run from a very corrupt sheriff.

Enter Rachel, who is still reeling from an unsuccessful effort in talking a man down from a ledge. After being kidnapped by Jason, she uses her hostage negotiation skills to listen to Jason and put a damper on his hotheadedness. Slowly, she begins to believe his innocence, but with a brutal sheriff on Jason’s trail, she has her hands full with keeping him away from the sheriff and trying to find the real killer.

**Technically Speaking**

Despite this being an advance copy, I don’t recall finding any SPAG issues. Props to the editing team!

Let’s talk about the pacing. Some suspense novels keep a pretty consistent pace from the beginning to the climax. Not this one. This one is stop. And go. And stop. And go. But I don’t mean that in a bad way at all. Think of it as a bunch of mini-climaxes along the road to a big reveal.

These two characters keep getting smacked down by so many obstacles, like being run off the road and a broken bone, they have to stop and regroup. Oh, and let’s not forget the snake and the trips to the ER! But each time they get back up, dust themselves off, and they’re back at it. As I was reading, my eyes kept wanting to skip ahead a few paragraphs, while my mind struggled to keep them in place so I wouldn’t miss anything. In my reading experience, that’s another sign of great storytelling!

Lastly, we have the character arcs. They’re unexpected, yet wonderful! Even though this story takes place over just a handful of days, both protagonists are profoundly changed by the end of the story.

Speaking of the end of the story, I fully admit that I never saw that reveal coming!

This is not the first DiAnn Mills novel I’ve read, and I seriously doubt it’ll be the last.

I highly recommend this particular Mills book to anyone who enjoys a story that’ll get your blood pumping and even tug at your heart a little bit!

(I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.)

Burden of Proof starts off strong when a baby girl is thrust into the arms of FBI agent April Ramos, where she is then subsequently accused of kidnapping. The action occasionally slows down, but the story's overall pace is quick and filled with a slew of misguided people who have placed their loyalty on the wrong side of the law.

Jason, the baby's father and a widower, is in a heap of trouble from the beginning, but he never loses his status as a good guy, in my opinion. He and April have a rocky beginning, but that doesn't stop the romantic tug on their hearts from happening. Of course, protecting Jason's infant daughter and other innocent people in the cross hairs of the bad guy brings the two even closer, both with the goal of making sure justice is served.

The author expertly weaves in many high-tense scenes throughout, with the bad guy staying one step ahead of the FBI and wreaking havoc and ruining lives along the way. Stopping the corruption in Sweet Briar, Texas, is no easy task, and everything quickly becomes dangerous and maybe even deadly as Jason and April work with other FBI agents to clear Jason's good name, dig deep for the truth, and protect the innocent. As both Jason and April race against the clock to right the wrongs, they tentatively navigate their budding relationship, and April looks deep into her heart for that dormant connection to God that she didn't know she even needed. The Christian references are timely throughout but not overbearing. The inspirational aspect allows the reader to see Jason's and his parents' strong faith positively influence April as she faces danger head on and as she faces the possibility of getting even closer to Jason and his parents, who have opened their arms and their home as her safe haven and home away from home. That part of the story is quite touching and sweet, providing a good balance between the danger/tension and the positive connections between characters.

The bad guy is truly despicable, using his authority to bully and badger people into doing his bidding. This antagonist keeps everyone on their toes, and I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game as the bad guy arrogantly flaunts his authority and leaves a trail of lies and destruction a mile wide and twice as long.

The author does provide some humor to relieve the tension. Miss Ella is a fantastic secondary character, and when April, while wearing Miss Ella's shoes and clothes to throw the bad guys off their scent, has a run in with an angry bull, well let's just say April ends up acquiring a pungent scent of her own (for which Jason takes the blame). I laughed out loud at this scene, glad for the respite from all the serious action.

As usual, DiAnn Mills provides a story that is both a suspenseful thriller and a tender love story that begins when a sweet baby unwittingly brings a grieving single father and an emotionally distraught FBI agent together, effecting both emotional and spiritual healing for them both.

So after reading what felt like quite a bit of deeper, inspirational reading, I have a few fiction light reads to review this week and it's looking like fun. Along with that will be a book by Larry Crabb, which I don't expect to be light reading at all. But anyway, it's fun to just read for fun without trying to mine the truths out of it.

Which is exactly what this book was. I have learned to like Diann Mills and her FBI investigator stories. This one was a bit of a different twist than her normal. A female FBI agent is kidnapped by the innocent party, partly because she was handed his daughter by the child's kidnapper and partly because he realized she was an FBI agent and would be able to help him. So the story was worked from a little different direction than normal.

Of course, the "kidnapper" was the good guy and he was a widower and so everything all worked out in the end of course, in that regard!!

But, the story didn't quite end up the way I expected as in who all was guilty and who wasn't. There was a surprising twist at the end that made me really sad, but I also think exposed a sad part of reality. Mental illness is real and if people are not provided with appropriate counseling and helped to say on their medication, it can have deadly results.

One other thing I did like about this book was the emphasis on faith in God. Jason, the main male character and FBI kidnapper, along with his parents have a solid faith in God and trust Him to be there for them. April, the heroine and FBI agent, watches this play out and sees God at work in her own life and recognizes that she needs more than a cursory knowledge of Him. While I know these are just fiction stories, I think we all need the reminders to keep close to God. And we also need the reminder that people are watching us and they see how our words and walk align.

I received this book through Net Galley from Tyndale and was not required to write a positive review.

How desperate must a man be to take an FBI agent hostage? Can Jason convince April that he is innocent of murder after he has kidnapped her?

I was hooked from the moment the baby is thrust into April’s arms. What is going on and who is telling the truth? I had to keep reading to see if I could figure it out. Is Jason really being framed and if so, why? While we find out fairly early on who the main bad guy is, it appears there are others working with him, but who? I found myself questioning each person April came in contact with. While there were some characters that were obviously the good guys, I was fooled by a couple others, I was sure they were guilty, but it turned out they were on April’s side.

This is one action filled suspense story with a lot happening in a short amount of time. There were times I wondered how April or Jason were able to keep functioning, they had to be running on fumes. Thankfully they had a few people who they could fully trust helping them out.

The romance bothered me a bit, I felt like the pace of the story was halted in order to fit the romance in. While I liked the characters of April and Jason, and could see how they were attracted to one another, the actual romantic moments felt forced and took my away from the main story.

If you enjoy an action filled suspense that keeps you guessing this one if for you.

This was a pretty good book. April is FBI, specifically a negotiator who is having a bad day. I love that she was getting irritated with the woman and the baby in the grocery store line. It shows how different perspectives can be. She had a horrid day and the woman was upset about a crying baby. Jason is determined to not be framed for crimes he didn't commit.

I really didn't like the way he got April to come with him at all and was glad for his dad's reaction. I completely adored Jason's family. Watching their reactions showed real love. The bad guy was really bad and I was hoping they would take him down in a big way.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a 3/5 for me.



Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via netgalley). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

"It all started when the negotiator became the hostage."

This was such an exciting and intense story that set a thrilling tone from the opening line and delivered until the final sentence.

Told from multiple perspectives, each added layers to the growing suspense and built anticipation for the final and unpredictable showdown. The majority of the story follows April, an FBI hostage negotiator, who becomes a hostage herself when Jason decides that he has nothing else to lose in his quest to prove himself innocent of murder. Jason's point of view provides key insights into how his anger, frustration, and grief led him towards committing a desperate act, while April is able to use her skills to keep the situation from escalating even more and also detail the intricate process of the criminal investigation. This approach continued to add depth and emotional understanding to so much of their individual decision-making throughout the narrative. The author's balance between the good and bad forces at play where crime is involved created the perfect blend in the shades of gray that dwell within these two power dynamics.

The race is on to compile the evidence that will not only prove one man innocent, but also make the case of guilt in another's. There is an extensive and heinous list of crimes that April and Jason set out to seek the truth on, and as the detective work picks up pace, so too does the mutual attraction felt between them. Despite the nature of their meeting, which could certainly complicate first impressions, the romantic feelings that develop between them never seemed rushed or unrealistic. It is ultimately through their shared connection to faith that inspires them to support each other through their own personal tribulations in an effort to build a relationship together in the future.

"If you're lucky and come out of this without destroying your career..."

April's path from law enforcement official, to hostage, to fugitive, and back was quite interesting and not something I come across often. Her ability to connect with individuals in their worst moments as a hostage negotiator puts her in a unique position to help others and the juxtaposition of her sense of duty to Sheriff Willis' corrupt and abusive power highlights the fact that there are also good and bad players even within those thought to protect us. There is so much to overcome at all levels though Jason's vigilante justice certainly begins to put the wheels of change in motion.

The colorful cast of secondary characters really cemented the small town feel of Sweet Briar, especially Miss Ella, who added heart, soul, and humor to the spiritual qualities of the story.

This well written plot was fascinating to read and really set some high expectations for the rest of the series, which I'm thoroughly looking forward to continuing!

DiAnn Mills has been a top suspense writer for years, but this may be her best work yet.

April Ramos has been a negotiator with the FBI for years and it is work she is proud to do, but it also takes a toll on her. When she isn’t able to talk a man out of committing suicide, she feels maybe she isn’t doing what she is meant to do. With no time to process what she is been through, a woman shoves a crying baby into her arms and runs off. A man claiming to be the child’s father takes April and the baby at gunpoint making her put her skills to use once again. Jason, the baby’s father, tells April a story of how he is being framed for murder and his child was kidnapped. The more April learns about what is happening in this little town, the more she believes everything Jason is telling her and discovers just how deep the sinister connections run. April has to determine if helping Jason is worth risking her career and possibly her life.

I have been reading DiAnn Mills for years and there is something different about her most recent work, Buden of Proof. Her writing has changed, the way she delivers the story and the tension throughout is all so much better than ever. April instantly connected with me and her desire to help others made her a protagonist for everyone to connect with. The way that Mills was able to weave the complex story together and make each character and their actions relevant to the overall story was excellent writing and something that will set her apart from the many story tellers out there. It was not only the character connections that I enjoyed but also the extra tension throughout the story, especially the end. In her previous books, I found the ending very predictable but not here. This story surprised me up until the very last pages. Readers will enjoy not only the page turning action but also the heart of the story. April is struggling with her faith and even with everything Jason has gone through he tries to stay strong and help April come closer to God. I don’t know what has changed for Mills to make her writing so much better but I hope she keeps it up. I recommend this book for anyone looking an amazing read with a heart to the story and characters to connect with.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Once you turn the first page this book is going to pull you in and keep you right to the end, there is non-stop action, and we don’t know who will survive to the end.
Blew my mind how this all turned out and I never saw it coming, the book is full of surprises, and not all good ones.
A don’t miss mystery with some clean romance, and hope for the future.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Burden of Proof by DiAnn Mills begins high in the air as FBI agent April Ramos is talking someone off the ledge of a skyscraper. As she rests from a long day, she is taken hostage by Jason Snyder who is on the run with his infant daughter from the police who believe he shot and killed someone. Pleading with April to investigate and assuring her of his innocence, the plot grows deeper and more complex with each page.

Burden of Proof by Diann Mills is a page turner from the first page.
April is a hostage negotiator. The opening scene is her at a negotiation. April is a likeable character. You can relate to how she takes her job personally. She has to deal with the fact her parents don’t approve of her career choice. The action really starts when a baby is shoved into her hands. Almost immediately afterwards Jason tries to take the baby saying it is his. Jason then takes April hostage. He tells her a wild tale about his local police being corrupt.

This is a good mystery with lots of twists and turns. You will be exhausted from all the action.

Some of the secondary characters were my favorite. Ms Ella was a spunky older lady and prayer warrior.
Jason’s dad, Ted was another interesting character. He had guts and wanted to help out.

I couldn’t understand why Jason was not reading the material from Billie. That would have been the first thing I did.
The suspense continued until the end with you wondering who was involved with Willis.
I enjoyed this book but enjoyed High Treason more.
Sexual content - kissing only
violence - several deaths, abuse,

Mills writes a tightly-written story with characters you believe in and care about. Romantic suspense at its best -- with a plot taken from today's headlines.