I've enjoyed other books by this author aside from her Love Inspired books so I thought I'd give this one a try. Unfortunately I didn't love it.

I found the entire plot to be a little much and the characters weren't my favorite either.

I did love the bible verses that kept coming up from Isaiah 43 because they are some of my favorite verses.

Overall this book missed the mark for me - but I still love her non-Love Inspired books.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

First, I didn’t like that this was the second book in a series and that not labeled until after I read it. It's annoying to be reading along and try to figure out why you aren't being told certain things about some characters. This looked like a read I'd enjoy, and don't get me wrong - unrealistic stories have their place, but not in a story like this. It is fiction, so some amount of leeway can be given, but seriously? This whole thing was completely unrealistic. This couple is so attracted to each other but they can't seem to communicate about anything. But let's just forget the romance part of this. The mystery was ridiculous. These had to be some of the most inept good guys I've seen outside a slapstick comedy. I won't go into the many times I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of these characters, but I will say that this is not what I expected from the book. Not by a long shot.

Another favorite suspense from favorite author Elizabeth Goddard. She always writes romantic suspense that keeps me on the edge of my seat.

Wow !! The characters in this book are fantastic !!
The various twists and turns of the storyline of this book were very interesting. I couldn't stop reading this book !!

Elizabeth Goddard’s books are always suspenseful and exciting, and in this one the action never stopped until the end of the book. I could feel the tension building as Katelyn and Beck were on the run from an unknown enemy, and also not knowing why they were under attack. I loved the pacing of this story, and the characters were ones with which I could easily have a connection. I liked the partnership that grew between Katelyn and Beck. I read this book in one day—-I could not put it down until I found out how the story ended. This book is one of my favorite Love inspired books that I’ve read.

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

Who is Katelyn & where is she at the beginning of the story? Why? Who are Beck, Clara, Oliver, Tori, and Ryan? How do all these people know one another if at all? Who is Clemmons? What does he say to Kate? Oh my, how many life-threatening things can happen in 24 hours to someone? All the different things that kept happening kept me on my toes throughout the story! There is a lot of sniping going on between Beck and Katelyn, but what do you expect with all the things that are happening between them? What do we learn about Mia? Who is or was she? What is her role in all that is going on? Who is behind what is happening and why? This was truly a suspenseful read for me. The romance part of it was a nice touch of sweetness. This is definitely a book I would recommend, especially if you like books with some suspense tossed into the romance.

Private Eye Katelyn Bradley steps in to help stop an intruder in her neighbor's home. Widower Beck Goodwin just wants to raise his son in a safe neighborhood, but unknown secrets from the past threaten to unravel everything.

A fast paced read, filled with suspense, mystery, and action that kept me on my toes. This author is quickly becoming one of my favorite Christian suspense writers, and this novel is another article in favor of that. I loved the tension in this story of never knowing what would happen next, or if they were safe for even a moment. Plus, the characters were well crafted, I loved the character arcs, and how they grew in their faith.

Taut with tension, with great character interaction, faith, and a plot that had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this action packed read, I couldn't put it down!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Covert Cover-up by Elizabeth Goddard kept you guessing. Beck suspects foul play with his wife’s death. As he and his son are starting to manage life again, Beck starts looking into her death. That starts a chain reaction.
Katelyn is a private investigator and Beck’s next door neighbor. Katelyn comes to his rescue but isn’t sure whether to believe his story about his wife’s death.
I enjoyed the scenes with Beck, Katelyn and Beck’s parents. The story had plenty of action and kept me guessing until the end.
It appears the book is a part of the series but stands on its own. Katelyn’s twin brother played a significant role in the book and he may have been the subject of the previous book.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

What a dud.

#2 in a series. Not marked <I>anywhere</I> on the book until the ending author’s note...it should be marked on Goodreads now, but there was nothing to warn me that a major plot section is to do with the wedding of the leads from book 1, which has nothing to do with the mystery or romance part of this novel: around 50 wasted pages of bland wedding plans and chat and teasing about a hot guy. I felt like I was missing a huge part by having not read book 1....then I got to the end and realized...<I>Wait a minute, I DID read book one mere months ago, and these characters are acting completely differently from before! </I> I didn’t even recognize them.

Physical romance alone.
He’s a jerk. A self-absorbed guy who wants his way or the highway. Makes mistakes and the only one he admits is the one where he wallows in having lost his wife and has a panic attack when getting chased by a killer but somehow he still knows best. These two show over and over again that they are completely incapable of adult communication....but they get tingles and hots and all sorts of stuff after mere days. If the attraction was that strong, why didn’t they get to know each other a little before this as neighbors? I feel like they’d completely forget each other if they spent a month apart.

Illogical sequences.
You know you’re getting chased by crazy rogue spies and you don’t have a lookout while all the good characters are in the same room where they can be surrounded and eliminated? You don’t have your friends go watch the parents’ home to catch whoever might snoop on it, then act floored when someone’s abducted? You have a gun in the woods but don’t watch someone’s back and get into yet another hostage situation because you dropped the weapon? Hm....there was just too much that didn’t add up.

I’d advise skipping this book and trying a different Goddard novel. I’ve generally enjoyed her books a lot; this one was just a mess.

Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

Katelyn is a private investigator helping out a neighbor when she notices some suspicious activity. Little did she know it would land her in the sights of whoever she thwarted. Since she managed to land herself in the middle of the mess Beck hires her to help figure out what's going on thinking this whole mess is because of her and her past.

From the beginning on this book the readers land right in the middle of the action. There was so much going on to keep the readers on their toes and I really enjoy self reading this. I liked getting to know the characters and seeing what they were going through. Beck was coming off really paranoid but he had a hard time proving himself and Katelyn was skeptical but willing to help especially since something really does seem to be off and they need to figure out how is after both of them now that she helped him. I liked that all though there was a bit of romance, it didn't take over the book. I appreciate that this book remained clean. Overall really good book I really enjoyed it.

I usually like the books in this series but this one was not my cup of tea.
I didn't like the relationship between the MCs, to antagonistic, and I found the romance forced.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Isaiah 43: 2:
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
I wanted to add this in because like the author This was perfect. A perfect reminder too that God never leaves no matter what. All we need to do is ask Him and trust Him.
This was a pleasure to read another enjoyable fast paced book by Goddard that will keep you in the edge of your seat to see what happens next.
Typical Goddard style she puts her characters Katelyn and Back through their paces to all solve the mystery that was developing in Mount Shasta.
I loved every minute of this book! Some excellent twists and turns And I even held my breath in certain scenes.
I love how Goddard keeps her readers interested from beginning to end with a little romance added in along the way. I thought the romance part was perfect and not too wishy washy.
I liked Katelyn immediately but I felt there was more to Beck than Katelyn realizes!
I like Katelyn because she asks and trust God for help on their journey. I like how she talks to Him like he's sitting next to her. I like do that too!
In time, I began to love Beck for the person he is.
I highly recommend this book! An excellent author Goddard is!
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

This story left me wanting on all the three major aspects of a Love Inspired romantic suspense book.
With suspense, there were too many instances that the assassin/agent plotline felt unbelievable. And why did Private investigator Katelyn Bradley, a former police officer, let Beck Goodwin, a rock climber, take the lead again and again, when he obviously made several poor choices on a row when it came to surviving the mayhem they were in?!
Beck and Katelyn had a physical attraction, and when it came to romance that was all they seemed to be riding on. Beck and Katelyn both had control issues, trust issues, communication issues, PTSD, and I wasn't sure if they would even want to talk to each other after the first scene.
There have been other books with Love Inspired series that have had the faith element as an assumed fact of the characters' lives. With Covert Cover-Up it felt even less than that, even though stopping for a moment and together praying for guidance in the deadly mess they were in could have had a chance to improve all the three major aspects of the book.
So this story left me wanting, that happens sometimes since it is impossible to please all readers always. But while reading the book I didn't consider quitting before the end, more like wondered and waited for redemption that didn't arrive.
~ Two Spoons

Covert Coverup
Mount Shasta Secrets #2
By Elizabeth Goddard

When her neighbor reports suspicious activity next door Kately Bradley checks it out for her. What she finds is neighbor Beck Goodwin being attacked in his own home. When Katelyn attempts to intervene she finds herself the newest target of an assassin.

Katelyn knows that Beck is hiding something and that he didn't tell the whole story to the police. The question is why. But all too soon both are busy keeping half a step ahead of someone who seems determined to keep them from ever disclosing what they know. There is just one problem Katelyn doesn't know anything and Beck doesn't want to talk about it. But with both their lives on the line Katelyn wants to know why.

Beck is sure that his late wife's death and his subsequent "investigating" has put him in someone's crosshairs, he just doesn't know whose and why they have decided to target him now. But he knows he doesn't want to put anyone else in danger and that is just what is happening.

Katelyn doesn't want to drag her family into the mess and ruin her brother's upcoming wedding. Can she help Beck discover the truth and still be her best friend's Maid of Honor in three days? Time and a determined killer are against them...

This is the second book in the Mount Shasta Secrets series and can easily be read as a standalone if you have not read the first book. As a Love Inspired Suspense series, you don't have to be concerned about graphic anything - this is a clean read. The story takes place over just a few days and involves several scenes of peril that understandably are suspenseful. But being a Love Inspired Suspense you can be assured of a satisfying conclusion. Overall I would highly recommend this book to those who like suspense and romance with no blushing involved.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Katelyn Brady, former police officer and now private investigator, stops the burglary and assault of her widowed neighbor, Beck Goodwin. During the attack, Katelyn sees the assailant's face and becomes the next target on his list! The question is what could have happened to make Beck the target of a killer?

I enjoyed this inspirational mystery/romance. I know what to expect from the Love Inspired suspense series and this book delivered! The writing was fast-paced and well-written. Katelyn and Beck are characters with secrets that have kept them emotionally unavailable, so it's fun to see their "walls" about love break down. I did feel that Beck was a little too overbearing or stubborn at first. Jack's son, Oliver and his parents were enjoyable characters.

When I want a fast-paced, inspirational suspense Elizabeth Goddard is a wonderful choice!

I'm looking forward to the next book in the Brady family saga!

Neighbor helping neighbor turns into a race for their lives!

As a former law enforcement specialist, turned private investigator, Katelyn Bradley has experienced many different scenarios but this one seems to be stretching her to the limit. We start with a burglary, then attempted murder, accidents, fire, shootouts and kidnapping - by now I am suspecting everyone, even Beck, who hired her!

This incredible story keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering which shoe will drop next! The romantic attraction between Katelyn and Beck just adds to the tension, particularly when he disagrees with many of her more experienced decisions. Will they manage to get out of this without further loss of life?

An ARC was received through Love Inspired Suspense and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

“No one could see him except God, who saw everything, even the hidden tears in his heart.”

With non-stop action and danger at every turn, award-winning author Elizabeth Goddard’s latest Love Inspired Suspense novel, Covert Cover-Up, is sure to delight fans of romantic suspense. In Covert Cover-Up, former cop Katelyn Bradley finds herself a target after a burglary at her neighbor Beck Goodwin’s house puts her directly in the sights of a killer. Death-defying suspense, secrets from the past, and romance come together to make a truly enjoyable novel that readers will not want to put down.

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Goddard’s trade length novels through Revell Publishing, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read more from this author. As I started reading Covert Cover-Up, I realized that this is the second book in her Mount Shasta series, but this book can easily be read as a standalone novel. I am very curious about Katelyn’s brother Ryan and Tori’s path to romance that was hinted at in this novel, so I am looking forward to going back and reading book one in the series, Deadly Evidence. The best thing is that Katelyn has three brothers, all in law enforcement, so there will be more books to look forward to in the Mount Shasta series.

Covert Cover-Up is recommended for readers who enjoy inspirational romantic suspense.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

“Here all was quiet and the world was right again. Here Beck could be closer to God, and to his son.”

Covert Cover-Up is an easy, fast-paced read with a decent suspense hovering in the shadows. I didn't care for some of the finer points in the relationship between Beck and Katelyn though. He was overbearing to the point of completely disregarding her sound advice as a former cop turned PI. In that regard, I thought Katelyn was weak and should have had the wits to dump him as a client. But, they have this electric connection so they stick together while they solve who killed Beck's wife. Figuring out the mystery surrounding her was what I enjoyed the most.

I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

'He'd brought a knife to a gun party.'

Elizabeth Goddard once again brings her readers a suspenseful good time as we careen through this faced paced, action packed story. this one needs to be on your TBR list for sure!

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.
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"Covert Cover-Up" is a romantic suspense. Unfortunately, I didn't care for it because Beck kept tearing Katelyn down until she started doing the same to him. Seriously, statements like 'And just how do you think you're going to do that?' or 'you're not able to do that' (when they could, especially with the other person's help) are not romantic. I'm also tired of "Christian" books that make physical attraction the driving reason for the two to get married. Beck and Katelyn felt an electrical current every time they touched and couldn't resist their attraction. If they built each other up, attraction is great, but it shouldn't be the reason to marry when it's a verbally abusive relationship.

Beck always had to be in control and was very domineering. Katelyn gave decent advice about what they should do to investigate, but he refused to listen her and kept doing whatever he wanted. This usually put him and Katelyn in danger and made the investigation take much longer than it had to. Only once did Beck actually follow her advice...initially. But then he wanted to barge into their attacker's house and confront him rather than call the police like she suggested. Yep, he's not very clever. Especially since Beck assumed that the people after them were trained assassins (apparently, all CIA agents are trained assassins) even though they didn't seem particularly skilled (as another character pointed out). Even though Beck is not ex-law-enforcement or ex-military, he still believed that he's more able to take them on than Katelyn.

Worse, he kept forcing Katelyn into the role of damsel in distress. When they're in a fire, he literally wraps her up so that she cannot move (without asking her permission) and then "heroically" carries her out of the house. It would've made more sense for them to both crawl out of the house, but he didn't give her that option. But she's grateful for being rescued and doesn't seem to mind being a damsel in distress (which is odd for an ex-cop). Some parts just didn't make any sense. Like, why did the man who's trying to kill them both leave Katelyn after knocking her out when he had a perfect chance to kill her? Or why did Katelyn silently and dramatically slip beneath the waves when she got too tired swimming and she could've easily asked Beck for help? Anyway, there was no bad language or sex.