Cover Image: Obsession

Obsession

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I’d say that this was a pleasant read overall. This murder mystery deals with the disappearance, death, shooting and psychical illness in the form of obsession. I like that the novel is not preachy and the characters do not undergo any miraculous changes, it is more that the difficult circumstances make them realize that there might be a need for change in them.
The authoress has touched several interesting topics, among them forgiveness and recovery from the past guilt and pain, which I have found quite gently and sensitively presented. I liked how the Sam’s family situation was described, I have understood his behaviour and also his motivation for the steps to change.
As for the main mystery/mysteries - in my opinion the authoress has played it safely. The big “climax” at the end is quite short and I have never really felt afraid about the one of the main character who was supposed to be in danger.
I liked the human drama aspects better than the mystery part. But I appreciate the pleasant tone of the storytelling here.

Was this review helpful?

Emma Winters definitely gets more than she bargained for when a very personal cold case is dragged into the present at a historic site in Natchez Trace. Now forced to team up with her ex-fiance, Emma and Sam have to unravel a ten year old murder case and find out who is stalking Emma. This story has more than enough page turning action, spine chilling moments and not so buried romantic sparks. A very exciting read!

Was this review helpful?

Obsession is a great addition to the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series by Patricia Bradley. I am giving it four and a half stars.

Was this review helpful?

Classic Patricia Bradley. Suspenseful. Mysterious. Full of numerous twists and turns. Action packed. Enjoy this second book of this series. Five stars.

Was this review helpful?

Emma finds her self with nowhere to turn, but to former flame Sam Ryker, after shots are fired at her while on the job as an interpretive park ranger at Natchez Trace National Park and she finds herself being stalked by an unsettling secret admirer.

A suspenseful read, with great character development and a well placed plot. I liked how Sam and Emma are forced to confront their past and work together, combining their skills and passion for their work. I liked how this book has a lot going on, with a rich backstory, likable main characters that you can cheer for all the way through. Sam is a protector at heart from his job to his family, and then to Emma, he isn't one to standby and let those he cares about to be threatened.

Overall, this was an exciting read that I devoured in the course of a day, I liked that this was a suspenseful read, and even though we get a glimpse of the bad guy's chilling thoughts, it never crosses the line into too much, which for me was perfect. It is a well balanced read, with plenty of action, but also takes time to explore the characters their relationship and their past. A great addition to the series!


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

Was this review helpful?

As the title implies someone has an unhealthy attraction to someone. I can feel the shivers already as I recount the story. Emma is sometimes hard to understand. She is stubborn and wants to do things on her own. I was irritated with some of her decisions and thought she put herself in harms way unnecessarily. Now I did think her job was pretty unique.

I liked the mystery and thought that Sam was a great addition to the story. There is plenty of action but I did figure out who the stalker was which made the story not as fun to read. There is a few things I did like though. The lesson on forgiveness was very well written in the story and I loved how the author used it to help a few characters deal with the past.

The story is good but needed a bit more depth and less predictability. I do like the author and appreciate a book that has action. Overall not a bad story and I’m sure readers will enjoy it.

I received a copy of this book from The Librarything Early Reader Program. The review is my own opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I knew after the first installment that this series was going to be a winner! Bradley has done another fantastic job at creating a unique and thrilling suspense story that keeps you turning the pages until the very end. Set in a Natchez, Mississippi, this book follows two park rangers as they work to figure out who is shooting at them, and which one is the actual target. Cold case murders, archeological digs, missing persons, stalkers, and elusive shooters; this book has a unique mix of elements that blend together into a remarkable story. You'll love the pace of the story, the unique characters, and the beautiful backdrop setting. The only thing you'll have to decide is who to trust.

I received a copy of this book digitally via NetGalley. I also pre-ordered a copy from Baker Book House. I read and reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Obsession by Patricia Bradley is the riveting second installment in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. Obsession tells the story of one-time couple Emma Winters and Sam Ryker who set out to find Emma’s missing twin and to catch Emma’s stalker. Emma is currently working at Natchez Trace to research and identify those in a slave cemetery in order to give the bodies dignity and respect. Sam has just moved back to town and has a job as a Park Ranger where Emma is researching and excavating the slave cemetery. It seems as though someone is trying to stop Emma not only from doing her job or finding her twin, but living her life safely. Sam and Emma refuse to let this continue and are determine to find the culprit who is doing all of this. This book is fast past and you find yourself looking for the culprit as well while reading. I highly recommend this book to any suspense fan. So far I have read all the books in the Natchez Trace Park Ranger series and am really looking forward to the next book. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (This review is also on GoodReads.)

Was this review helpful?

Obsession by Patricia Bradley is book 2 in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. This series is fascinating in that it deals with park rangers. Here, an excavation and a secret admirer lead to suspense at every turn. I love how the author created a story with interesting characters and scenarios that seem very realistic. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic suspense. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligation. These opinions are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my goodness, I love this series! It's suspenseful and well written. I've enjoyed each of the main characters and all the twists and turns to the story!

Was this review helpful?

Hang on! Who is stalking Park Ranger Emma? I loved how I was sure it was one person but then started questioning myself! Emma's former fiance Sam seemed like a great caring guy but he was keeping secrets! You will wonder what happened to Emma's twin brother and if he is still alive! I wondered if there really was someone objecting to the digging near the old slave cemetery! The Natchez Trace is a great setting for the book. If you enjoy romantic suspense, you will love Obsession! I received an advance e-book through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

This is book two in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series, however I feel it is a stand alone book. I had no idea it was part of a series till I went to write my review and had no problem knowing what was going on. Now that I know I probably missed a good read and a little history but nothing major.
Emma Winters is an independent, strong, woman whom sometimes has a hard time trusting men. When she is forced to trust the one man she never expected to see again, sparks fly.
Sam Ryker has moved back home, where he was hoping to never be, when he now must protect his one true love there may be more to lose than his heart this time.
Sam and Emma must find the killer before he finds them. This book is full of mystery, suspense, surprise, forgiveness and romance.
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed reading this book. I read the first book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series and was hooked! This book can be read as a stand alone though, as the story in this one, focuses on different characters than the first. 🙂
Patricia Bradley really knows how to pull in suspense, action and romance into her books, while keeping it clean. There is no foul language in her books, which I really appreciate.
This booked pulled me in, so much so that I really did not want to put it down. If you enjoy clean romance with mystery and action thrown in, then Patricia Bradley is an author you will love!

This book is available in hardcover, paperback and a kindle edition on Amazon.com, ChristianBook.com, and other retailers.

Was this review helpful?

Obsession
by Patricia Bradley
Revell
Christian | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance
Pub Date 02 Feb 2021


I am reviewing a copy of Obsession through Revell and Netgalley:


Emma Winters is a Natchez Trace Ranger as well as a historian. She hoped to never see Sam Ryder again, 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. Complicating matters even more is the fact that Emma has gained a delusional secret admirer who is determined to take her life as his own, and his eyes Sam is only an obstruction that needs to be removed.



Sam knows he has failed Emma before and he has no intentions on letting her down again, especially with her life being 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.



If you are looking for a novel that has mystery, intrigue, romance as well as action, I would highly recommend Obsession.


Five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Was this review helpful?

Not just “Obsession”, but deception, suspense and intrigue!

This book is another visit to Nachez Trace with Patricia Bradley. The story is wrapped in mystery and betrayal with deception along for the ride. There were many twists and turns involving broken lives that are sometimes restored and sometimes destroyed.

My favorite quote from this book:
He was silent for a minute and then he said, “Forgiveness should be true, from the heart. Not because it’s what I’m supposed to do. I don’t feel like forgiving him.”
“Sometimes we do the right thing even when we don’t feel like it,” she said. “If you do, the feelings will follow. Eventually.”
A truth I had to learn long ago.

I was given an ARC complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

“Emma hopped off the porch just as a rifle report split the night air, and a bullet splintered the wooden post where she’d just stood.”

Talk about starting a book with a bang, Bradley held my interest from beginning until the end. There was danger at every turn, but the underlying feelings between Sam and Emma really kept me hooked.
Overall, I really enjoyed the feel of this romantic suspense book. It was a mystery that kept me guessing. I loved the characters and the whole feel of the book. It stood out as one of the better mysteries I have read this year. I’m looking forward to more from the series. However, this story could be read as a standalone.

“Sometimes we do the right thing even when we don’t feel like it,” she said. “If you do, the feelings will follow. Eventually.”

Forgiveness is an underlying theme for both the hero and heroine of the story. Learning to let go of past hurts, too grab onto the hope of a better future seems easy, but sometimes it takes a step of faith to make it happen. Bradley went right to the heart of the matter, and somehow still kept up a riveting storyline filled with mystery and danger.
If you love Irene Hannon and Lynn Blackburn, I think you will enjoy this type of mystery.

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own and have been given honestly.

Was this review helpful?

This latest must-read novel by Ms. Bradley will leave readers eagerly anticipating her next suspenseful release. I loved this book and had been looking forward to reading it! This book focuses on Emma and Sam. Emma seems to either be in the wrong place at the wrong time or someone is extremely focused on her. After she is shot at when she goes to retrieve something from work, there is a question as to why. If you like reading about older crimes and forensic anthropology, you will really enjoy this novel. Like her other novels, this one is high in suspense with the added romance included too. I highly recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed! If you have never tried one of Ms. Bradley’s books, I would encourage you to try any of them, but you can start with this one. Even if you have not read the first book in this series, you can read this one as a stand-alone, but you would enjoy the first book as well.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.

Was this review helpful?

Loved it!! All stalker books are creepy because you don't know who it is! When skeletal remains are found, ghosts from the past pop out, and Emma finds her secret admirer has similar actions to a previous murder that was pegged on her brother. Such a tangled mess and the three main suspects are her friends. As the body count rises I got paranoid and suspected her neighbor, and the chief police who weren't on the suspect list. So who was it?! You must read and go through all the twists and turns I did, to find out! 5 stars!!!!

Was this review helpful?

I’m pretty sure I have loved every book I have read by Patricia and this one was no exception.

Even though I had a feeling who Emma’s stalker was early on in the story Patricia kept planting seeds of doubt and I wasn’t one hundred percent sure until closer to the end.

I loved Emma and Sam’s story and the forgiveness that is woven throughout this book and reconciliation of relationships.

If you like romantic suspense I am sure you will enjoy this read.

Visit Patricia here.

Grab your copy at your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or your favorite retailer.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Obsession by Patricia Bradley – Mixed Feelings

Obsession by Patricia Bradley is the second book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. I’ve read a couple of books by Patricia and looked forward to this book because of the interesting setting.

Emma Winters works as a Natchez Trace park ranger and historian. She is overseeing a project to document and preserve the graves of the slaves who had been buried on this historical site. As Emma is getting ready to head home, her day’s about to get a whole lot longer when someone takes a couple of shots at her. Called in to help investigate is her former fiancé Sam Ryker who also works as a park ranger. While things didn’t end well between them, Sam wants to find the person who is targeting Emma and get out before any feelings between them are revived.

I struggled a bit with the novel. I wasn’t too keen on the main character, Emma, she wasn’t a very likable character. She was the independent woman who was also the helpless stubborn female who didn’t want help. Parts of the story seemed rather contrived to keep Emma and Sam in regular contact. There wasn’t a lot about faith in this book. I think the story would have been richer if that aspect of the characters’ lives had been developed. There were three people in the book that struggled with unforgiveness, Emma, Sam, and Sam’s sister Jenny. I would like to have seen at least one of them have a biblical perspective and understanding of forgiveness. Sam did work his way through the unforgiveness he had been harboring.

Something I can’t stand in books is when a character does something really stupid and illogical which puts them at risk and in harm’s way, which Emma did towards the end of the book. When that happens, I stop caring about the character because I feel manipulated and it’s not logical.

The character Sam was likable, but I didn’t understand why he continued to be drawn to Emma. Emma’s continued to blame Sam, and herself, for her brother’s disappearance ten years earlier. That got old really quick! She blamed others instead of recognizing her brother’s own personal responsibility for his life choices and the risks he took.

I liked the character Sheriff Nate Rawling and hope to see him in future books in this series. He seemed to respect and trust the team that he was working with and was there to work alongside them. The Natchez Trace park setting was interesting.

There were a few elements and characters I liked in Obsession, but they were overshadowed by a character and parts of the storyline I didn’t care for.

I would like to thank Revell Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Obsession by Patricia Bradley. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Was this review helpful?