Countdown

Author: Lynette Eason
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Series: Extreme Measures #4
Pages: 304
Release Date: August 1, 2023
Publisher: Revell

A stalker out to finish what he started. A US Marshal who's vowed to protect.
And one woman determined to put the past in the past.

Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it's hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people's lives, but because her stalker was never found, she's never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.

US Marshal Vincent Covelli's job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs--whether it's his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina's past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn't live long enough to succeed.

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Reviewer: Lauren Nel

Raina Price is a flight paramedic with a dark past. She has been trying to flee this past for many years, but it seems like it is finally starting to catch up to her! Will she be able to escape it, or will she have to face all she has been running from?

I liked that this book had a lot of action. The action was ongoing from the first page and made me eager to keep reading. Most of the book is packed with these kinds of moments that make you want the antagonist to be caught soon.

Raina, the main character, was fierce and strong. It was refreshing to see that she could be weak at times too, and that her character grew in that she did not only represent herself as fearless but showed growth in that she was able to accept help when needed. Later in the book, a deep secret she had is revealed too. This made her seem so much more human. It was good to see that the main character could also make mistakes and, through them, learn the value of relying on God.

Unfortunately, I failed to connect with many of the characters in the book. I think this was because I was jumping in at the finale of the series and lacked familiarity with the characters. As the book progressed, the author did her best to fill the reader in on events that had happened throughout the series. I still found myself feeling a bit lost and confused at times, but I think this would not have happened had I read the previous novels.

This book is for audiences that enjoy mystery, love stories, and a book grounded in Christian principles. Tough topics such as abuse and adoption are discussed and are a major theme of the book. I would recommend reading the other three books in the series before jumping into this one. All in all, the book was enjoyable.

I received a complimentary copy of the book through Revell, NetGalley, and Interviews & Reviews. All views and opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Amy Smelser

If you are looking for a rather intense storyline with danger all around, then I suggest this book. The danger was acute and pretty much nonstop for these characters. In fact, Raina Price has been running from her stalker for fourteen years, who once upon a time left her for dead. Being young and rebellious got her into a situation with a man whom she never really even knew. And when she finds out how sick he really is, well, that explains why everyone she knew was threatened by him.

US Marshal Vince Covelli is in love with Raina. However, he knows she has secrets that she has not even told her closest friends. He also knows she is in some serious trouble, and he has made the decision to stick by her till the end, no matter what comes. And, oh boy, does it come. Vince and Raina are both in danger, and they are doing their best to protect one another along with their friends.

This one was full of heart-stopping dangers, huge revelations, and a patient, slow-burn romance. This is a great edition to this series.

I was provided a copy of this novel from Revell Publishing through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Elisha Varela

This book did not disappoint. The romance in this book was well written and added in all the right places. The suspense kept me tied to the book. And there were parts that had me high on adrenaline. It was so good!

A psycho ex-boyfriend. I do not like this topic specifically because I do not like to think about things like this because they could happen to anybody. But Lynette Eason wrote it so well that it made the whole psycho-ex-boyfriend thing less "scary" for me.

Vincent was part of the reason I kept reading this book. Rooting for him. Aside from him being a US marshal, he is a swoon-worthy character who has been interested in Raina for a while. I am such a sucker for the he fell first trope, and Lynette Eason does an amazing job with this as well, especially when he protects the woman he loves.

I received this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. 

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Reviewer: Lori Parrish

I've loved this series from the beginning! This book has certainly been a rollercoaster ride, with many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Eason did a great job with this story. She kept me guessing all the way through. Just wow! I loved every minute and was sad when the story ended.

Vince and Raina made a great team, and I loved getting to know them. Eason also added the right amount of romance. My favorite was all the faith-filled themes scattered throughout this book, gentle reminders of how God is always near and how He watches out for us. This is my favorite book by Eason, simply because she kept my attention the whole way through. Great characters that you will make friends with, along with wanting to shake your head at them too. 5 stars for an awesome adventure! I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my honest review.

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Reviewer: Nikita Wells

“I think that’s where faith comes in. We just have to trust that God is still in control even when it looks like he isn’t and we don’t understand why he does or doesn’t do something.” She squeezed his fingers. “Easier said than done.” “Yep.”

You'll want to read this one with the lights on. Countdown is an intense suspense novel filled with twists, turns and elusive suspects that pop up like whac-a-moles.

I really loved Raina's character. She was kind, thoughtful, and selfless in everything she did. She made a great flight paramedic and an even better friend.

U.S. Marshal Vincent (Vince) Corelli was a brilliant supporting character and protector to Raina and her medical team. His job sounded both seriously dangerous and amazing!

Honestly, this is my new favorite book of Lynette's, with Crossfire being a close second. I hate to see this series end, but can't wait to see what other ideas she has up her sleeve.

I received a complimentary e-book from the publisher through Netgalley to review. I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts above are my own. 

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Reviewer: Kristina Hall

An intriguing romantic suspense!

I'd been waiting to read this new release by Lynette Eason, and it didn't disappoint.

Vince and Raina were well-developed characters with backstories that played into the plot. Poor Raina had been through such a hard time, and she had to go through a lot more before she got her happy ending. Her job as a flight paramedic was quite interesting, and I wish I'd gotten to "see" her in action more. Vince was also a cool character, and he got to use his US Marshal skills to try to keep Raina out of danger. Simon's perspective added an interesting twist and gave me a close-up view of the inner workings of the plot.

The plot was engaging, given the suspenseful scenes, touching moments, and plentiful villains. I appreciated that Lynette Eason kept both the language and the romance clean. I thought the romance was well done. In a lot of romantic suspense books, the romance can feel rather rushed, so I liked that Vince and Raina had known each other for a good amount of time before the book started.

Overall, Countdown was an exciting read I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction and romantic suspense.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. My opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this following the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Reviewer: Conny Withay

“Flight paramedic Raina Price’s past has marched back into her present–and it wants to kill her,” the back jacket states in Lynette Eason’s novel, Countdown.

The fourth book in the Extreme Measures series, this three-hundred-and-three-page advanced reader copy targets those who enjoy crime suspense with Christian undertones and light romance. Containing no profanity, the topics of physical abuse, torture, and murder may not be appropriate for immature readers. The book ends with acknowledgments, a teaser of the writer’s next book, the author’s biography, and advertisements for other Revell books.

In this story set in Asheville, North Carolina, flight paramedic Raina has kept her past secret from her best friends, but when she recognizes someone from fourteen years ago, she not only has to tell them her tragic tale but also involve Vince, a U.S. marshal, who is determined to keep her safe. As they search for a serial killer, the countdown is on to stop one more death.

This romantic suspense keeps the reader wanting to protect the protagonist as she confronts her past mistakes. The family dynamics of the killer are well-written while being believable. I appreciate Vince trusting and relying on God for support at every turn. The romance is light and innocuous.

Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not like the prayers to God or calling on His name for protection. Others may not care for a story about a serial killer. Some may not like the life choices Raina made and the consequences they produced. I found the ending a bit confusing. I wish all pronouns of God were capitalized for reverence.

Whether you have read other books in the series or not, this stand-alone story will keep you interested trying to figure out how to deal with one’s past when a killer is involved.

Thanks to Revell and Interviews & Reviews for this complimentary book. I am under no obligation to give a positive review.

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