Book Review for CALCULATED RISK by Janie Crouch

She thought she was finally safe,

But her past won’t let her go.

Sheriff’s deputy Tanner Dempsey is just doing his job when he stops a shoplifter trying to steal diapers and formula. But something about this frightened young woman makes him want to do more.

Bree Daniels is grateful for Tanner’s help, but there’s so much she can never tell him...

The truth is dangerous to everyone she lets into her life — and could be lethal to Tanner.

This story is a conspiracy theorist's dream. 
It is severely intense, from the very beginning it is spellbinding with its tension, riveting with the palpable fear, and the possibilities of the unimaginable terror that keeps constantly playing at the edge of the mind while reading... Oh my. 
The tale has a smooth flow, it has chemistry, it has intriguing characters, plenty of action and suspense, the again -- intensity, the power of this story is in its intensive and impressive fierceness.  
And I like the small town vibe the story has, how they all stand together for one of their own.
As the story was unfolding I was fascinated to see how the organization and people behind it would give themselves out, how the plot would play out, what was going to happen, who was going to survive... The story took hold of me from the very first scene and kept it, and I'm looking forward to more in the next installment of this fiery series.
Would I have wished there was more romance --  yes, but the story between Tanner Dempsey and Bree Daniels will continue to develop from here through the four books of the series. The only constant throughout the series is the couple, the trouble they face and the crimes they solve are new in each book, so no cliffhangers. The chemistry between them was hot, the connection was believable and the interest to learn more about their journey, and watch them grow in their relationship is definitely there, high, and arising. 
For the first time, while reading a suspense story, I didn't even stop to wonder if everything that was happening was believable or not. There was no need to, since the story was moving forward with such potent, compelling speed, that I didn't care to wonder about anything, just holding on to my seat to stay on the wild ride. 
It was fast, entertaining, edgy, and even a bit adorable and ardent, filled with twists, and the awareness level dial set to the maximum so that I might now be slightly paranoid myself, too.  
Delightfully vigorous suspense and a marvelous start of an epic love story delivering pure unputdownable entertainment!
~ Five Spoons!

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USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the coveted RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.
Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband's job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she's not listening to the voices in her head (and even when she is), she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.

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