Cover Image: Never Let Go

Never Let Go

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The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

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First off, I enjoyed entering the world of forensic genealogy. It was an interesting perspective that managed to wrap the entire story into one steady theme: Ignoring your past will not make it go away. While some secrets might be best to stay buried, they never do. I could throw metaphors around all day about the value of honesty, but the main thing that I took away from Never Let Go is that your past is part of who you are. What you have gone through helped to mold you into who you are today. Whether the past was something you want to remember – or something you wish you could forget – it has shaped and molded you. I know these are fictional characters, but the lessons to be learned here are real.

I wish I could erase my past and knock down the walls that I built. - Austin.png

I think we all wish there were things we could change about our pasts. But we can’t. All we can do is move forward. Tear down the walls you’ve built and learn to trust again.

Poor Willow always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. No matter what decision she makes, she ends up in danger. Austin does all he can to protect her, but he’s just a man. Albeit a very good man who is good at protecting people. Willow’s way of following threads was unusual and gave a different spin on the typical mystery. Reading their prayers during times of trial was a blessing.

Both Austin and Willow had lessons to learn, which always adds to the depth of the story. Add in the constant terror of being chased and you have a fast-paced, action-filled romance perfect for keeping you up all night because you cannot wait till morning to find out who done it. I hazarded a guess on that part and was correct.

There were a few times where I shook my head with a “That’s not logical” sigh, but they were minor things that I can’t say without spoilers. Plus, it’s fiction, which means characters can do whatever they feel led to do. Overall, I was very happy with this book and will happily recommend it to anyone and everyone who will listen to me.

Favorite Quote: “Death doesn’t wait for us to reconcile our regrets.”

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

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" Willow, we're branches on tree. We grow in many directions, but we're always connected to our roots, whether we're ware of it or not. "
JT Anderson, Never Let Go

Willow Anderson and her Grandfather JT Anderson own and ran Anderson Consulting, a Forensic Genealogy firm. They help the living find both the living and the dead. Now that her grandfather has passed away she has some decisions to make. Will she continue running the business on her own or hire someone share the load? Or will she close up and decide what direction she wants to take next?
While going through her grandfathers desk she discovered that he only had one open case that he was working on. It was a missing person case. Mrs. Mason wanted to find her daughter whom was kidnapped right from her hospital room hours after her birth 21 years ago. She has looked many times over the years by hiring private detectives and contacting the FBI with no luck. Now time is of the essence as she only has 2 months to live,3 at the time she had contacted JT. She wanted JT to work a miracle for her, to let her be able to tell Jamie that she has never stopped looking for her.
Dana ( JT's assistant now Willow's) encouraged her to take some time and just mourn. But once she watched the videos from JT's interviews with her, she knew she had to try and solve this one. So she gathered the all the info and headed home to her Grandfather's house. She was so tired that she laid down and fell asleep instantly. She woke up in the middle night coughing from thick black smoke. The house was on fire. When rescued she realized that everything she had was gone. Her grandfather, her home, everything was taken. Except her life. And she is grateful.
While Willow was getting treatment in the ER she looked up at one point and Austin McCade was in her room. Austin is ex-FBI, her ex and loved by her Grandfather.
Austin was getting his updates about the fire from a friend at the FBI and notified him where she was. Her status was unknown so he proceeded to the hospital, he needed to see that she was ok. JT had contacted Austin before he died that he needed Austin's help, but JT never said what he needed so he had to wait until Willow was up to talking.
A kidnapping case, that is what JT wanted him to help Willow with. And He knew he would help her. JT knew that he would never want to be a part of another kidnapping case and why. That was a big part of why he left the FBI.
After some bumpy moments together Willow and JT decided that they would work this case together and hoped to solve the final case her Grandfather was working on. Between her grandfather's death, the house fire and an attempt on Willow and Dana's life at the office. (That too!) They have a distinct feeling someone does not want this last case to be solved. Willow and Austin work together to find Jamie Mason and hopefully answer the questions of who killed her grandfather and made attempts to stop her from investigating. That was not going to happen.

I received my ARC and am blessed to have been a part of this ahead of release day. Thank you Mrs. Goddard for allowing me to participate.



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Never Let Go was written by Elizabeth Goddard and is book one in the Uncommon Justice series.
Summary: Willow Anderson, a forensic geneologist, is working the most difficult case of her life. A baby was kidnapped twenty years ago, and now it is her mission to find the missing girl and introduce her to the mother she has never known. A mother that only has months to live.
Not only is the case cold, but at every turn, someone is determined to thwart her efforts.
Will she find the missing girl in time?
My Thoughts: I really like the premise behind this book. It is intriguing, and there is plenty of action and drama throughout the story.
But I just couldn’t get into the love story. The main characters broke up for a good reason, but as they are thrown back together during this case, it seems that every time she looks at him, she wishes she was in his arms.
I really wished for some stronger women in this book too. There was one, but all the rest seemed really gullible to the men in their lives.
And finally, I didn’t buy the bad guys’ reasons for what they did-they just didn’t seem plausible.
It wasn’t that this was a bad book-it’s fine. I guess it just didn’t quite do it for me.
I do want to thank Revell for providing me with a free digital copy of this book for my honest review. Thank you!

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This is an amazingly well-written story filled with suspense and changing situations that keep you guessing until the very end. The death of Willow's grandfather, followed by a house fire, puts Willow on the trail of searching for a young woman who was stolen at birth from the hospital. Austin, Willow's ex-boyfriend joins in the search. But everyone involved in this case is in danger of being eliminated. One by one the clues fall into place, but not without life-threatening events at every turn.
I received a copy of this book through Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

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Reviewed for Hope By The Book magazine. Unable to share full review. Please visit Hope By The Book website for full review.

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Danger! Forensic genealogist Willow Anderson is a wonderful female protagonist who is trying to find a baby who was abducted 20 years ago! Willow wants to help the mother who has two months to live find her daughter but who is trying to kill Willow? Was her grandfather's bike accident really murder? Willow's ex-boyfriend and former FBI agent Austin McKade still loves Willow but can he help her with this cold case without revealing his past? This fast-paced book takes place in just a few days time! Never Let Go is a unique story using modern technology to trace people! You will be guessing who the bad guys and good guys are until the end. The fact that much of the book takes place in the beautiful Grand Teton area is icing on the cake! Never Let Go was a great book that I recommend to others who enjoy suspense. I received an advance copy of Never Let Go from the author, Elizabeth Goddard and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

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In her first foray from the shorter, category fiction, Elizabeth Goddard gives readers a book with enough twists and turns to rival the Wyoming mountain roads.

From the prologue to the almost immediate danger Willow finds herself in, I was caught up in this story. What really happened to Willow’s grandfather? Between Austin and Willow? To the baby? So many unanswered questions!

Admittedly, there was more introspection—especially on Austin’s part—than I usually like in my romantic suspense leads. Seriously, there came a pint where I was like, “Suck it up and tell her already.” However, it does give readers insight into the dynamic between Austin and Willow.

I have always appreciated the fact that Goddard pays attention for some lesser featured law enforcement. Never Let Go is no exception with a forensic genealogist and a former member of a child abduction response team. Lots of suspects, intense action, and well-developed secondary characters (fingers crossed that Charlie gets some cameos in the upcoming books in the series!) point to success for this series.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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This is the first book by Elizabeth Goddard I’ve read and what a great one! I’m glad to know it’s a series, so there will be more. This first book gets your attention from the beginning with a story of a baby being kidnapped from its mother’s room in the hospital. It then jumps to the present with the main character of Willow, dealing with personal tragedy and the reappearance of her ex, Austin. He also happens to help her in the case that involves the kidnapping from the beginning. This book has a little of everything and keeps attention throughout to figure out the mystery. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

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Readers are in for a treat with the newest book from Elizabeth Goddard. It is a fast paced action packed story that will have you on the edge of your seat. I love a good book that has intrigue, well developed characters and a bit of romance mixed in and this book delivers it all. From the beginning you easily connect with Willow. She is a smart person who helps her grandfather run Anderson Consulting. I was fascinated by the work she does as a Forensic Genealogist. Tragedy strikes and Willow loses everything in her life including a very special person. Willow is determined to finish a job that was started before tragedy happened.

Austin is a man that is straight forward and has regrets about the way he and Willow parted ways sometime ago. They have teamed up now to finish a case that has been on the books for awhile. The case itself has its own mystery that will place them in danger. A mother who's baby girl was abducted years ago is desperate to find her daughter before she dies. Willow and Austin have no idea where their investigation will take them, but be prepared for a bumpy ride as suddenly their lives are in danger. Why does someone want to stop Willow and Austin from finding out what happened to the baby? Is it possible that the baby survived and now is in danger themselves?

I loved the intrigue in the book and how the readers are left guessing to the very end in this intense thriller. Elizabeth Goddard writes a story that takes you to the edge of danger with twist, romance and a mystery many years in the making. The tension throughout the book is written perfectly with questions of who can be trusted and why is this young woman who was abducted so important to many people.? The ending is exceptional and will show how secrets and deception can cause tragedy . I highly recommend this book to everyone looking for a book filled with twists, and writing at its best.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

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The author gives us a story that begins with a terror only a new mother could even imagine, and the story goes from there with one danger to another, a person so evil that I can’t even imagine.
Now I figured out early whom the culprit was, but I loved the story that was being offered and it kept my attention right to the end. Seemed like there was action behind every corner, and then we didn’t know whom to be trusted, and I wanted to be sure I was correct.
In the end, we hope the evil will not prevail and real family can be reunited, but the cost is high and some may not survive.
I see that there are more books to come in this series, and I am sure going to be looking for them!

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

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After her grandfather's sudden death, Willow is determined to solve his last case. Willow soon realizes her life is in danger in working on this cold case. Austin, her former love, plans to stay beside Willow to keep her safe. Their search for the young woman, who was kidnapped as a baby, brings them all additional danger. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. There are plenty of twists in this Christian mystery. Even though the characters were believable, I didn't feel connected to the characters. Often, I felt like I was watching the story unfold from a distance. Overall, I like this book because it was a good mystery.

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This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really enjoyed it! It had a lot of great action and a huge twist that completely took me off guard. I love it when that happens. There were some odd circumstances that didn’t make sense until the very end. I found the mystery and suspense riveting and I couldn’t put the book down.

I also enjoyed learning more about forensic genealogy. It’s becoming increasingly popular and it was interesting to see how someone would go about trying to find someone who had been abducted as a baby 21 years ago.
Thank you to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

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Never Let Go begins the exciting new series by Elizabeth Goddard, Uncommon Justice. I found this suspense filled tale to be quite the page turner. I never knew what was going to happen next with Willow and Austin. It is action packed with unpredictable scenes.
I am giving Never Let Go a well deserved five plus stars. I can not wait to get my hands on the second installment from the Uncommon Justice series. I highly recommend this one.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

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It may be a two decade old cold case but things are just heating up for the team.

After her grandfather is killed in a hit and run and evidence starts to surface that it wasn’t an accident, Willow Anderson starts looking into his last case and trying to find a connection. The case is that of an abducted baby from a hospital over twenty years ago. The mother is dying and wants more than anything to what happened to her only child. Willow finds out her grandfather enlisted the help of her former flame, Austin McKade. Together Austin and Willow will have to deal with their feelings and all they left unsaid to try and solve a case someone is determined to keep them from solving. The clues lead them across the country from Texas to Wyoming, forcing Austin to face his past and the family he has drifted away from. It’s not only their lives they are risking by looking into this case, but also their hearts.

This storyline is one that will pull readers in and keep them until the very last page. I was very pleased with how well this story played out. I was hooked from the very first page with the kidnapping of a baby from the hospital until the very end. Willow and Austin are a good couple to play off each other. They had good chemistry and the way Goddard used trust issues to show tension between the two really helped propel the story forward. I wasn’t sure at a few parts how things were going to play out, the back and forth viewpoints coupled with new ones added about midway through almost through me for a loop but I was able to quickly catch on and keep track of who’s head we were supposed to be in. Maybe if the chapters had been headed with who’s view point we were in the transition might have been a little smoother, but that’s just me. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Austin and Heath, his brother, which leads me to guess Heath’s story will be coming up next. There was a very good mix of romance and suspense to keep the pages turning but also keep me engaged with the characters and why I really needed to care about them. I recommend this book to fans of romantic suspense novels and looking for a great start to a new series.

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

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Never Let Go by Elisabeth Goddard is a romantic suspense that leans more toward the personal drama than action.
The opening scene will capture your attention. Her grandfather was hired to find a woman‘ daughter that was kidnapped from the hospital 20 years ago. After he dies she is trying to decide whether to take on the case or not.

Austin is former military and FBI agent. He is now working as a private investigator. He goes to see her and give his condolences and learns that she is in trouble. He agrees to help her and to keep her safe. Austin was not dealing with his past and was keeping it from her which is why they broke up.
During the investigation they have to go to his home town and he is dealing with his issues. I thought that part took too much attention from the real mystery of the stolen baby and the murder of Charlie’s mother.

Heath, Austin’s brother is introduced in this novel and he will be the main character in the next book. I will give it a try and hope there is more action and less personal drama in that one.

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Being interested in family genealogy myself, the description of this book is what first caught my attention. The main character is a genealogist investigator who is searching for a woman who was kidnapped as a baby from her mothers hospital room at birth. Upon finding out that her grandfathers death was no accident, and after a serious death attempt, the main female character Willow, starts looking into what happened and the case that her grandfather was last investigating. From here events start happening, causing Willow to realize that somebody wants to stop her from finding the lost person.
While this book was not as fast paced as I like, it still held my attention and kept my guessing about how was the real kidnapper until the very end.

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Absolutely fantastic book. Loved the fast moving plot and the writing. I highly recommend this book. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

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Elizabeth Goddard sets a high standard for her new Christian suspense series “Uncommon Justice” with her first book in this series. There’s heart-pounding suspense on nearly every page. Willow Anderson is following in her grandfather’s footsteps as a forensic genealogist. After his untimely death, she takes over the investigation of the last case he was working on: The 21 year cold case of the abduction of a new born baby girl from her mother’s hospital room. The girl’s mother has a terminal illness, and desperately wants to be reunited with her daughter while she still has time to spend with her. What seems to be a routine investigation quickly turns deadly as Willow has a couple of attempts made on her life. Nothing in this case is as it seems, and Willow turns to help from an unlikely source: Her ex-boyfriend Austin, who offers to protect her as she investigates the facts in this case. The setting of Jackson Hole, Wyoming makes a great backdrop for this story and the location adds to the suspense that builds all throughout the book.

The characters of WIllow and Austin are complex and intriguing. Both are fiercely loyal, intelligent , and determined, but
still struggle with their relationship. As they fall deeper into danger, they fall more deeply in love with each other. Learning to trust each other becomes vital to solving the case before someone else gets killed. There were enough twists and turns in this story to keep my attention and the answer to the mystery isn’t clear until the final chapter. I’ll be keeping up with this series to see what happens next.

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

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This is the first book in a new series, Uncommon Heroes. I loved the action-packed adventure of solving the cold case of an abducted baby. Clues slowly come together for Willow, a genealogist after her grandfather is murdered and her house is burnt down. Follow this suspenseful trail from Texas to Wyoming as Willow and her ex boyfriend, Austin hunt for the stolen baby who is now 21 years old. Highly recommended!

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