| Title | : | Not This Time (Crossroads Crisis Center, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1601422075 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781601422071 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 |
| Publication | : | First published February 21, 2012 |
Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara’s husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.
Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn’t fall in love with him, but she can’t resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?
Not This Time (Crossroads Crisis Center, #3) Reviews
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Beth Dawson is a powerful woman, a millionaire business owner, and is beautiful and intelligent. It seems she has it all, but one thing she can't control is her best friend's life. When Sara marries Robert Tayton, there is something about him that pushes every one of Beth's buttons.
Because of this, Beth and Sara's relationship becomes strained, and when Robert turns up missing, Beth is a main suspect. Beth must prove her innocence to the town in order to keep their respect, but most of all, to her best friend in order to maintain their relationship.
But as they tread deeper into the investigation, they begin to realize the real suspect may be closer to home than they think.
Normally when I read this genre of Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, I try to guess who the bad guy is, and more times than not, I'm right. I did the same with this book, but I have to admit, I was wrong. I never saw the ending coming and neither will you! I have never heard of this author, Vickie Hinze, before but I will definitely be reading more from her in the future. She is an amazing writer who created great, real characters, a brilliant plot, threw in several crazy plot twists (no, not just a few!) and seriously had me guessing who the real bad guys were up until the very end.
I loved following the romance of Joe and Beth throughout the book. Beth has a hard time trusting men because of something that happened in her past, but Joe continually pursues her. I completely fell in love with Joe and hoped Beth would too. It gave pleasant breaks from the intensity of the storyline.
If you decide to read this book, I would recommend you read the first and second novels in the series before you read this, the third one. The author makes it obvious during the first couple chapters that Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties should have been read before Not This Time. She does, however, do a good job of weaving the plot in with the reviewing to keep the readers entertained. I didn't feel like there were any slow parts, even when she was reviewing the past, since she mostly did it through character conversation or explaining as the plot goes along.
I never read the first two in this series but I plan to. I have a feeling a lot of things in this novel would make more sense after getting a history on everything that has been happening before the place where this book picks up. If this novel is even close to as good as the other books, they will be a few more books I cannot put down and will tell my friends about.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. -
"I'm finished" would imply I finished the book. In this instance, it means I'm finished trying anymore.
Not this time is the third book in the Crossroads Crisis set, and it shows. It leans so heavily on the preceding books for its characters and situations that a newcomer like me has no chance of understanding (or caring) about what's happening. Admittedly, that's on me for not reading the previous volumes, but the author needs to help out a bit.
The second strike comes from the clunky writing and voice. All the characters sound and talk the same, all their actions are driven by the plot instead of what real people would do in this scenario, and there is SOOOOO much backstory laid out (see complaint one) that it became difficult to follow who was the subject of the story. The main character doesn't even show up until the third segment.
Strike three was (sadly) the performance on audio. I'm sure she is a fine performer and I mean no disrespect to her personally, but the "deep-fried southern" Kentucky/Tennesee accent was tired and tropey. Even if that's her natural voice (and based on the way she handled other characters very likely) it's not a good fit for audio.
Lastly, this is "Christian programming". I have no problem with (and occasionally enjoy) movies and books that have a religious slant. But there's a difference between showcasing a character that believes and preaching to me. This is the latter, and though it started subtly, it quickly became clear that everyone in the town had the same mindset to pray on the matter, and I should too. Big turn off.
So you can have religious overtones, you can read them sounding like Ellie May, you can be set really far up your own continuity. But if you do all three of those things while being badly written, well...
Barely made it into the 2nd disc before I gave up. -
I have mixed feelings on Vicki Hinze's new book, Not This Time. Vicki is a very good writer of Christian fiction, but I think this one has a problem with too much background information at the beginning. The first few chapters were nearly impossible to follow even though I had read one of the previous books in this series. I wish I had read the second before this one. Multiple new people were introduced on every page, and although the author tried very hard to explain each character, I was totally lost. I actually stopped and started the book over. It didn't help because I was still lost and rather frustrated by it. I decided to just forget the first part and just plow through, and it turned out to be a good story.
Not This Time is a more of a thriller rather than a mystery with characters that are government agents chasing an international criminal ring. The characters were varied and interesting. The topics of faith, hope, and forgiveness were evident throughout the book. One character struggles with her criminal behavior and seeks forgiveness. This was a wonderful addition to this book to show God’s love and forgiveness for the worst of the worst.
I don’t normally read romantic novels, but I have to say that I enjoyed the romance that developed between Beth and Joe. Beth was hurt and humiliated by a previous love and trusting “ladies man” Joe was difficult. Their relationship had to progress slowly. Joe, too, had past issues, and he gradually opened up about his Cajun upbringing.
I enjoyed the book, but I would recommend reading the first two in the Crossroads Crisis Center series before this one or be prepared to make a flow-chart to keep track of characters!
I was provided a review copy of Not This Time by Vicki Hinze in return for an honest review. -
The day started as a celebration to a loving couple, but was interrupted by a terrorist attack resulting in at least one death. Why would NINA want to attack anyone in the small town of Seagrove Village? Someone(s) is not what they seem. Police make a troublesome find in a building in the woods - a mattress soaked in blood. Is it human? If so, whose blood is it? Thus begins the third book in the Crossroads Crisis Center series by Vicki Hinze.
Sue and Beth have made a lot of money together and are best friends, but when Sue married a man Beth couldn't trust, their relationship is put to the test. When Sue's husband is kidnapped, some suspect on Beth. Could Beth have orchestrated the kidnapping and ransom demand? Meanwhile, the Shadow Watchers are trying to take down the terrorists (NINA) and keep the people of Seagrove safe. Beth's relationship with one of them, Joe, can bring her happiness or pain. Will she trust her heart or put up a roadblock? Who is Raven? Who has duped everyone and infiltrated the town? Will the terrorists be taken down, or will the attacks continue? Come along and meet the people of Seagrove and the Crossroads Crisis Center. There is a lot more here than meets the eye.
I have read the other two books in this series, "Forget Me Not," and "Deadly Ties," so it was easy to relate to the characters and continued story line. The story is realistic and reads like something out of today's news, the characters real and likeable (for the most part). I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves action/suspense/thriller novels. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages! I received my free review copy from the Blogging for Books program and thank them for the opportunity to read it and offer my honest review. -
When I first started reading this book, I wasn’t so sure I was going to enjoy it. I even stopped read another book then came back to it. I am so glad I did, it turned out to be an even better murder mystery than I ever thought.
Deception, murdered, kidnapping, and a huge ending with a twist that blew me away!
I only gave it a 4 stars, because I did have trouble with the beginning, but hopefully for others they love it from the start! -
Needed to end about 50 pages before it did
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It always amazes me that no matter how long I do this, I still sometimes forget to check that books I choose for review are in a series. So Not This Time took me a little while to get to because I had to get Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties from the library before I could read the third book. This is definitely a series that you need to read in order or you'll be completely lost. It's worth the time, though because all three are great stories.
Not This Time brings us the story of Sara and Beth, best friends and business partners. Despite being extremely smart and excelling in business, both women believe that they are not worth loving. Sara's response to that is to jump into an abusive marriage. Beth's answer is to avoid relationships completely. We get to see Sara grow and blossom, but we don't see much change in Beth, even with a good man pursuing a relationship with her.
I enjoyed seeing the Seagrove Village townspeople again and following their stories. I always love a series (as long as it isn't too long) because I like to see characters I've already gotten to know. Unless you're reading Outlander, one book isn't long enough to get to know several characters well. In this third book, the locals have to face the fact that one of their own is responsible for the recent terrorist attack. While everyone scrambles to stay alive while figuring out who the culprit is, Sara and Beth are also navigating budding romances with the men who want to be in their lives.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was Beth's persistent self-disparagement. No matter how many ways or times Joe or anyone else told her that he cared, she was still sure that he didn't. Gah. There comes a point when that goes from sweet and humble to just plain annoying. There was also one exchange between Mark and Beth in which he asks her if Joe calls her "sha", which apparently means "sweetheart". He tells her that Joe has never called anyone else that. How does he know what it means if Joe has never used it? How does he know that Joe has never called anyone else that? They're not attached at the hip. They also spend months at a time apart since they got out of the Army. How does he even know to ask if Joe calls Beth "sha"? That's not something that Joe would have told Mark. Not phrased that way. That's pretty much my only complaint about the whole series. Check it out.
I received this book free from the Blogging for Books review program in exchange for an honest review.
This review is part of my Hurricane Relief Review-a-thon.
http://www.livinglearninglovinglife.c... -
Title: Not This Time
Author: Vicki Hinze
Pages: 328
Year: 2012
Publisher: Multnomah
Have you ever been betrayed or deceived by someone you trusted? I know I have, and it is very painful. That is one of the themes in this story. There are also extreme loyalty, love, confrontation, lies, and murder. Sound interesting yet?
Sara and Beth are best friends and business partners. They own a computer company and have made millions of dollars, but they both are very down-to-earth ladies. Their business works with the government sometimes. Sara has married Robert via a 5-week courtship and elopement. Beth thinks Robert is a slime ball who is just using Sara for her money. Beth is single for now. Sara has health issues that require close monitoring and Beth is always on-hand to look after her. Lately, Sara has been acting weird, but won’t discuss what’s going on. Beth is determined to find what’s happening. Then, Robert is kidnapped and a ransom is demanded.
Sara is hospitalized with a medical emergency, so that leaves Beth to pay the ransom. She doesn’t pay it to free Robert, but because she loves Sara. However, the ransom is never picked up. What’s going on? Is Robert already dead? Sara is able to leave the hospital after a few days. Beth has been keeping in contact with Joe, who works for the government watching spies and their organizations. Is that what is at work in this case? Beth and Joe talk frequently on the phone and develop a relationship. Beth has trouble trusting him, as well as herself, in their developing relationship. Is Joe the one God has brought to her as the one to spend her life with? Sara admits something is going on, but refuses to tell anyone about it. The lead detective on the case begins to have feelings for Sara, but doesn’t act on them as he knows she is married. Sara returns those feelings, but she won’t act on them either. As the situation comes to the highpoint, can these characters trust when lives are on the line?
There is lots of tension amongst the various characters, and danger abounds for some. The story flows nicely, and I thought the characters were fleshed out well. I’ll be reading more of this author’s books in the future for sure!
My rating is 4 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at
http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo... . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at
https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson... -
Not This Time is the third book in the Crossroads Crisis Center series, and it gets straight into the action when Jeff Meyers arrives late to a wedding reception and finds all the guests lying lifeless on the ground. Unfortunately, this is about where the confusion started, as my first reaction was that this was some kind of elaborate joke, and my second was that the author had just killed off fifty people. Neither reaction was correct: it was a deliberate attack but there was only one (accidental) fatality, as the guests had actually been knocked out by a gas.
It is determined that this is an attack by NINA (Nihilists in Anarchy), who have been behind two previous incidents in Seagrove Village, Florida (I assume these were the subject of the earlier books in the series). It is then discovered that Robert Trayton has been kidnapped, and when his wife, Sara, is admitted to hospital it falls to her business partner, Beth, to assist the police and come up with the ransom money.
The first chapter is from the point of view of Jeff Meyers, and the second from the viewpoint of two policemen, who find a blood-soaked mattress in an abandoned house that was previously used by NINA in their criminal activities. The third chapter then introduces us to Beth, Sara, and everyone else of any importance to the plot. There were a lot of characters, with confusing relationships, and it took several chapters to actually work out who and what the story was about (it turned out that Jeff and the blood-soaked mattress are both sub-plots).
This, frankly, seemed strange. Most modern novels make an effort to introduce the main character in the opening pages, and, where there is a romantic subplot, to introduce the hero quickly as well (we meet Joe in Chapter Four), but Joe and Beth don’t actually see each other in person until well into the story, which makes it difficult to for the author to develop a convincing romantic interest. I liked Beth, I liked Joe (and I particularly liked his Cajun pet name for Beth), and I liked the idea of Beth and Joe, but their romance could have been better.
I did enjoy Not This Time, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who hasn’t already read and enjoyed Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties. I still have questions about aspects of the suspense part of the plot, and the romance, while sweet, wasn’t enough to make up for the confusing beginning.
Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah and BloggingforBooks for providing a free ebook for review. -
" Not This Time" is a suspenseful murder mystery combined with undercover intrigue that's set in the small town of Seagrove Village. As the story opens NINA- the Nilhilists For Anarchy- have sabotaged the remarriage ceremony of Dr. Harvey Talbot and Roxie an FBI agent, leaving one fatality and a warning left on the wedding cake. Sara Jones-Tayton is stunned by the clue and returns home to find her husband kidnapped. Suffering from an asthma attack, she's rushed to the hospital where it's discovered her condition is more severe than expected which leaves her friend and business associate Beth to negotiate with the kidnappers. Beth despises Sara's husband fearing he has an ulterior motive for wooing and marrying the wealthy Sara so fast, and is quickly suspected of being involved in the crime. In the midst of finding little support from her suspicious friend Detective Jeff Meyers, Beth turns to a man from her past, a Shadow Watcher named Joe for help. With his support and that of the FBI and local police the mystery behind the disruption at the wedding as well as the murder of an assassin and the kidnapping are unravelled as is their sinister connection to the terrorist organization's plans for the town.
This story flows smoothly as the characters interact and the plot progresses. Tension slowly mounts with every clue uncovered, and as NINA draws closer to fulfilling its plan.
I loved the characters, their personalities as natural as they are interesting beginning with the fragile and fearful Sara and the strong-willed, determined Beth whose sleuthing leads her into danger. Detective Jeff Myers is suspicious by nature, but kind to those considered fragile and weak, while Joe the complex and tough undercover agent is drawn to the strength and nurturing compassion of Beth. Even the antagonists are unforgettable; the cold and calculating Nathara, the antithesis of her twin Nora, the greedy, power- hungry husband Robert Tayton, the submissive and malleable Tack Grady, and the contrite Darla Greene who's looking for redemption for her past sins.
Underlining the fear, anger, remorse, heartlessness and abuse in the story are blended elements of faith, hope, friendship redemption, and love. This novel is a page turner from beginning to end as it captures and holds the reader captive with the mounting tension and clash of wills.
Like all Vicki Hinze's books I liked it immensely and highly recommend it. -
NOT THIS TIME
Crossroads Crisis Series #3
by Vicki Hinze
To the outsider Seagrove Village located in western Florida is a quiet small town, but to those that live there danger is lurking around the corner. Detective Jeff Meyer is late arriving for Harvey and Roxy Talbot's remarriage and what he finds when he gets there leaves him stunned. Everyone is laying all over the ground. A chemical smell is quickly dissipating and five of the women have strings tied to their fingers and Clyde Parker is dead. NINA is suspected of being behind the attack.
That night Sara Jones-Tayton is frantic, she hasn't heard from her husband Robert who was on his way to New Orleans. Her best friend and business partner Beth Dawson comes to stay with her until she hears from Robert.
But when Jeff Meyers and Kyle Perry show up at Sara's house before dawn, Beth and Sara both know something is wrong. Robert's rental car has been found in Destin with blood in it. A note was found in the saying Robert had been kidnapped for ransom. Sara then had a severe asthma attack and had to be put into ICU in Pensacola.
With her dislike of Robert well known, Beth is Jeff's top suspect in Robert's kidnapping. Though Beth declares that she would never do something that would hurt Sara, Jeff is skeptical. When two million dollars is demanded for Robert's return, Beth puts up the money so that Sara won't be further stressed.
But as Beth thinks back over the last few weeks and Sara's odd behavior she is confused. Sara is vague and cryptic in her conversations with Beth making her wonder how well she really knows her best friend.
As Beth talks covertly with Joe a member of the Shadow Watchers, he offers her both moral and emotional support. Beth is drawn to Joe against her own better judgment, after all he couldn't be attracted to someone like her.
But as the case continues it becomes obvious that Robert was not who he appeared to be but who exactly is Robert Tayton III? And who is the NINA operative living in Seagrove Village is it a friend or a casual acquaintance? Will the truth be discovered in time or will NINA destroy them all?
With twists that you don't expect Not This Time will keep you in suspense. Who will live to see another day, read Not This Time find out for yourself!
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. -
I loved this book. There was so much going on that the story just flew by. There was drama, suspense, mystery, romance, it had so much too it.
The characters were pretty good. Sara reminded me of myself a bit. She was so loyal to her friend Beth that she would have done anything to protect her. She didn't have the best idea, but she was doing what she thought she had to do to keep those around her safe. I wish she reminded me of myself because she was rich - but we can all dream right? Beth was also loyal, but seemed to have a much stronger support group around her. She was able to deal with things, but also checked with her friends to get their advice on what she should do. The two seemed to have the kind of friendship that everyone wants. Even with Beth's doubts about Sara's husband Beth is able to keep their friendship strong without pushing Sara away by voicing her displeasure with Sara's husband. I don't know that I would have been able to keep my mouth shut that long, but somehow Beth does it. She lets her need to be Sara's friend over ride her despise for Robert.
The story is the second in a series, and I didn't get to read the first one. However, this was so well written that all of the back story was filled in and I didn't feel like the author was just throwing information at me. Everything had a reason, and as the need for a particular fact arose Hinze wove it into the story beautifully. I still would like to read the fist one, but I don't feel like I was "missing" anything from the first book.
It's a pretty quick read. The mystery of Nina and who in the small circle of characters is part of Nina was exciting to try and figure out. Just when you think you've got it all figured out there's another clue that kind of throws everything off. It doesn't take a complete turn, but it give the story a bit of a jog. Just enough to keep it exciting without being frustrating! There's a few things that I didn't see coming but they were by no means so far out of the park that they didn't fit the story. I was masterfully put together!
My favorite thing about this book is that although there was quite a bit going on it wasn't a confusing story. I didn't have to re-read any of it and it didn't take much to keep myself on track. I was able to keep up with everything - which can sometimes be a problem in a book that has so much going on! -
Not This Time by Vicki Hinze
Beth and Sara were roommates in college, more like sisters than just friends. After college they went into business together and built a successful computer technology firm. As best friends and business partners they had a solid relationship until Sara married Robert.
Beth has a strong dislike for Robert and is suspicious of his motives for marrying Sara. Did he marry Sara because he loved her or because she is a wealthy woman, who outside of business, has little confidence and is easily controlled? Beth’s obvious dislike of Robert is difficult but the women try to work through it and remain friends. In the small town where they live there are two groups of people; those who agree with Beth’s opinion of Robert and Robert’s friends.
There is a terrorist attack at a wedding that most of the town is attending and just hours later Sara learns Robert has been kidnapped. Who is responsible for the attack and the kidnapping and are the two events related? With Homeland Security investigating the terrorist attack and the FBI investigating the kidnapping there are lots of questions being asked with lots of conflicting answers.
During the investigations Beth begins to suspect Sara’s love for Robert is not what it seemed and perhaps their business is at risk. And in the midst of all this Beth is reunited with a man from her past that makes her question herself and her common sense.
There is a lot going on in this book; acts of terrorism, kidnapping, questionable friendships, affairs of the heart, past hurts affecting the present, and people just being people. The book moves at a fast pace, is suspenseful, entertaining, and has a spiritual message. This is the third book that revolves around the people of this small town and often the author alludes to those previous books.
Although, Not This Time stands alone as a story the back stories from the first and second books was, to me, not confusing but somewhat bothersome in the frequency and vagueness of the references. I liked the book but would have liked to read Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties first.
I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group free of charge in exchange for this review. -
Not This Time is the third book in the Crisis Crossroads Center series. I read the first one Forget Me Not, but I did not read the second one, Deadly Ties.
In Not This Time, Sara and Beth are the two main characters. They have built a multimillion dollar company and are successful in their own right. When an act of terrorism occurs at a local wedding, the questions start. Who is behind this act and why? Who can they trust and who is the traitor? Beth is sure it has something to do with Sara's husband Robert but then he is kidnapped and presumably murdered.
The author, Vicki Hinze, does a wonderful job of weaving the story. As you progress through the book, the author lures you into a false sense of "I have this all figured out" when BOOM! another twist comes. It takes you right up to the end when the mystery is finally solved.
I also thought the author did a great job of developing the characters, particularly Sara and Beth. The NINA team fit their roles so well as did the "good guys." How she managed to seamlessly weave in romances, I do not know but she did and did it well!
It's been a while since I read the first book and I did feel like I was missing some of the nuances. There were some refreshers in there but not enough to make me remember the characters and players in this series. Even though this works as a standalone series, having read the first one, I knew I was missing some important tie-ins from the second book. For that reason, I would recommend reading this series from start to finish. I'm tempted to go back and read the first and second books.
While this is a Christian thriller, it's not slap you in the face religion. The characters faith, or lack, is subtly woven in throughout the story. Reliance on God is evident and comforting. I really love how this author was able to make the story exciting and fluid without having to remove the presence of God in the character's lives.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author. Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah for allowing me to review this book as part of the blogging for books program.
Love and Blessings Always!
Margaret -
I have to be honest; I prefer that my fast paced suspense novels come served with a bit of romance on the side. With Vicki Hinze’s novel Not this Time, you get both served in pretty much equal portions-a very nice meal so to speak.
The opening of the novel is fast paced and starts off right away with a terrorist act at a wedding where all the guests are completely knocked out and sadly, one is dead. As I had not read the previous two novels in this series I had a tough time keeping everyone straight as there are many characters in this novel, but things do get clearer as you read on, so I urge you, read on! Two women Sara and Beth are multi-millionaire co-business owners with a bit of strife popping up in their longtime friendship as sadly Beth has some pretty strong negative feelings towards Sarah’s husband. To make matters worse Sarah’s husband winds up kidnapped and Beth jumps to the top of the list of suspects. Talk about putting a strain on a friendship. Then there is the matter of a certain guy that Sarah just can’t get out of her mind named Joe. He is everything she is not looking for in a man- charming, handsome and women flock to him like a moth to a flame. Beth, having been badly burned in a previous relationship is guarding her heart a little too well as she really, really does not want to let Joe in, but Joe is a persistent guy and just won’t go away.
This novel explores themes such as betrayal and how we move through it and learn to trust again to how we can heal from our bad decisions in the past and let God work in our lives. Vicki Hinze maneuvers her characters through many situations to get to these points and the reader will enjoy how this comes to a conclusion in several of the character’s lives.
I feel this novel can be read as a stand- alone novel, but I would highly recommend that you read the other novels in this series entitled “The Crossroads series” first, as I feel that things would be less confusing for the reader. Those novels are Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties.
4 stars
I was graciously given a complimentary copy of this novel through the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. -
Not This Time is book number two in Vicki Hinze’s Crossroads Crisis Center series. The book opens up when a small town is hit by an act of terrorism during one couple’s renewal of their marriage vows. Without giving too much away, the plot spirals into the kidnapping of Sara’s husband. Sara is fragile and in ill-health, which is why her best friend and protector Beth attempts to solve the kidnapping with the help of other local FBI agents who belong to a secret anti-terrorism group. The whole town is involved in one way or another and the crimes involve much more than a mere kidnapping.
This book was a little hard for me to get through. I understand that authors must make some leaps when writing suspense and crime novels, but the plot line was so widely implausible and unrealistic that I almost couldn’t enjoy the book. First of all, almost every member of a small town in Florida is somehow involved in a terrorist operation? It’s a little too convenient that two counter-terrorists in a “secret” group live in the town (nobody is supposed to know about this secret group but somehow the whole town knows about them). Also, it just so happens that the two main characters vaguely work with “Quantico” though it isn’t described what they do. The characters leak almost every confidential piece of information in the book and they all talk to each other about confidential/legally protected information.
Without spoiling the plot, it’s a little coincidental that all of the bad guys and good guys come from the same small town even though the terrorist group is supposedly this mega-high reaching association. Also, unless you read the book before this one, you’ll be spending a lot of time trying to figure out who is who, who is narrating, and what is going on, something I don’t like to do when reading suspense. The plot wrapped up nicely – almost too nicely- and other than the problems mentioned above, the characters were pretty believable and realistic.
Genre: Christian Suspense/Crime
Overall Rating: 3
Character development: 3
Plot: 3
Fluidity: 3
Originality: 3
I received this book for free from Blogging for Books. -
Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by Lisa
Review Copy Provided by Edelweiss
Beth Dawson and Sara Jones-Tayton run a successful software business called SaBe that assists the government with security issues. After a whirl wind courtship Sara marries the mysterious Robert Tayton. With Beth and Sara’s relationship now strained due to Robert, Beth becomes the prime suspect when Robert is kidnapped. After an act of terrorism and Robert’s kidnapping, Beth life is turned upside down. Beth will have to rely on her faith and a man from her past to solve Robert’s kidnapping.
Terrorism has come to the small town of Seagrove Village, Florida, courtesy of Nihilists in Anarchy (NINA) in Vicki Hinze’s third book in the Crossroads Crisis Center series, Not This Time. This is a fast paced romantic suspense book that introduces many characters in the first several chapters. For that reason, I do recommend reading the other Crossroads Crisis Center books in the series for additional background on some of the characters. The main characters of Beth and Sara are well developed, as are the secondary characters. The reader can easily become emotionally invested in the characters of Beth and Sara and the outcome of Robert’s kidnapping.
Not This Time has plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and guessing until the end. There is good flow to the story and the plot moves quickly as do the subplots. Christian themes of redemption and forgiveness are incorporated which compliment the elements of romantic suspense effortlessly. Fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a wild ride in Seagrove Village. If you are looking for great suspense book with romantic elements, this one will not disappoint.
Favorite Quote: “Some people were in your life for your whole life, but most were there just for a season. When it ended, they moved on and so did you. Of those people, some were blessings, some gave you something you needed, and some took something they needed.” -
Vicki Hinze most definitely saved the best for last!
Not This Time is the conclusion to her Crossroads Crisis Center series, and in my opinion is the best book of the series.
I, honestly, took a few days to read each of the first two books, but I finished Not This Time in about 24 hours. I went to bed and had a such hard time putting it down, it kept drawing me on and on. Just one more page. Just one more chapter. You get the idea.
The suspense angle in this book is very well written and paced nicely. The reader is drawn on, hardly taking a breath, to find out what happens next. It doesn't careen from one moment of danger into the next without pause or break. There are the quiet moments as well, where you get a chance to learn more about the characters, what motivates them, their thoughts and emotions. I was very happy with how the story played out. The author struck a good and enjoyable balance between action and emotion.
I absolutely liked Beth and Joe. They are “crazy” about each other and it's fun to watch.. eerrr...read. Both of them value friends and family, having 'adopted' people into their circles of those they call family.
Sara is Beth's best friend. They have a lot of history together. Beth is willing to do whatever it takes, no matter how dangerous, to protect and help her friend. Just how far will she have to go?
Joe is pretty closed mouth about his family, but his former spy group The Shadow Watchers are as close to family as a guy can get. He leads a life of danger and now NINA has a price on his head, just what will it take to beat them and save the woman he loves?
Don't miss this exciting book! Make sure you have a long quiet evening ahead so you won't have to stop reading, that is, IF you can stop.
(I received this book from the Publisher through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.) -
Do you really know your neighbors?
Not This Time is the third book in the Crossroad Crisis Center series and if you love a suspenseful story that will keep you up late then this is the one for you! The pacing was rapid with barely a moment to breathe that made it hard to put down. It totally drew me in and had me flipping the pages as fast I could read them. Spellbinding suspense kept me thinking of possible scenarios each time I had to lay it aside.
My favorite character is Joe. He’s a Shadow Watcher, part of an elite group that is hunting NINA, a terrorist organization, and their operatives. He’s introduced in book two, Deadly Ties, and I was so happy to see him spotlighted in his own story. Of course, he’s not an attention hog, so we get lots of face time with Beth, Sara, and Jeff who are trying to figure out who is behind the latest attack and a murder or two, in Seagrove Village. But Joe has a special something. Maybe it’s his Cajun drawl that surfaces, and the pitch of his voice, when he’s talking to Beth. He unconsciously slips into his “real” self around her, trusting her with his secrets.
And boy howdy, there are some big secrets in Seagrove Village! I was shocked to find out the identities of some of the terrorists, and I’m usually pretty good at ferreting out the bad guys. Some of the scenes are so sad but there’s a theme of redemption that is unquestionably one of the best I have ever read. Not This Time, along with Forget Me Not and Deadly Ties, has a place of honor on my bookshelf because I will be reading and re-reading them for years to come!
WaterBrook Multnomah provided a copy of the book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, just my opinion of the book, which I have done. No compensation has been received. -
Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara's husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.
Then their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn't know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn't fall in love with him, but she can't resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?
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This is the first book I have read written by Vicki Hinze. Her writing is detailed and well-researched. The action begins right in the first chapter and the suspense continually builds upon each new twist and turn in the plot. This book not only gives a fictional view of terrorism, but also the lengths at which people go to protect those they love. Each character is well-developed and the reader is drawn into their personal struggles and achievements.
Click HERE to read Chapter 1!
It did take me a few chapters to be drawn into the storyline and characters. I believe this is due to NOT reading the first two books in the series. I don't believe it took away from the story; I just needed a little bit longer to understand who the main characters were and how they related to each other. Not This Time is the third novel in the Crossroads Crisis Center series.
# 1 Forget Me Not
#2 Deadly Ties
I received a complimentary copy of Not This Time from Waterbrook Multnomah and their Blogging for Books program for this review. -
What if someone wanted to hurt you?
What if the person knows you better than most?
Beth and Sara best friends creator of SaBe realize that others are now what they seem. Trust is easily compromised, but if you cannot trust your business partner whom can you trust.
Crossroads Crisis Center workers along with knowledgable detectives know the hour is crucial and time is precious, but the mystery must be solved before lives are at stake adn before international foulplay is committed.
I really loved this creative and very well written book and was on the edge of my seat alot of the time spent reading it! It was very hard to put down. Playing out like a detective and murder movie that was peppered with crime, kidnapping and fear, all of these elements encompassed the story successfully while faith of the characters remained strong. The storyline is easy to follow and the novel has lots of twists, turns and key points to keep the tension high and to keep you reading! This book is the third in the series and reintroduces a few of the characters from Deadly Ties as well as new characters but this book could easily work as a stand alone novel if the first two have not been read yet. Excellent character development, believable dialogue,and visual scenery all worked well together as the book had no dull parts. I was highly entertained, challenged in my faith and would definitely recommend this novel to others. I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. -
It has been a while since I've read a good mystery. I think this book may have had some of the characters introduced in a previous book. The main character has her husband kidnapped, funny though the money is never picked up. There are all kinds of twists and turns, there are terrorists involved with the city and they wonder if they are behind this and a large attack on a wedding party being gassed....the book just keeps you reading to find out what happens. I liked the book! It was a quick read for me because I was enjoying the story, although because some of the story was introduced in a previous book or books, I had some things that I kept wondering if there were more details available in the previous book.
Here is the description from Good Reads: Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor?
Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara’s husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.
Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn’t fall in love with him, but she can’t resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption? -
WHEW!! I need to take a huge breath after that book!! I know it is sometimes hard to jump into the middle (or end, in this case) of a series and figure everything and everyone out, connect all the dots...but WOW!! There were so very many people and agencies involved in this book I still didn't have them all figured out by the wrap up letter at the end of the book!!
Plus, what are the human odds that you are going to have the same "terrorist type cell" that are all american and all but a couple from the same VILLAGE living in the same village that is full of FBI agents, Undercover Shadow Agents, two computer geniuses who have some of the highest security clearance in the World??? And this is the third time they have all worked together to take this cell down and it keeps growing in among them and they don't know? But they are the best and brightest in our country??
I found it frustrating. If it was a huge city like New York or Chicago, etc. MAYBE, in hundreds of thousands of people, but in a VILLAGE?? Not likely.
That is why I gave this book a 4. As far as writing and getting into the main character's mind and feelings, Vicki did a masterful job! Some of her descriptions of sand in the shoes and the glitter of an ice crystal glimpsed just before it melts...masterful! Wonderful twists and turns!
My favorite part is that she shows the redeeming Love of God that has no bounds! To the lowest person at their lowest point. If they but ask HE can and will change their whole world! A wonderful, wonderful job telling that story!! One of the best I have ever read!! -
It still surprises me that there are Christian suspense novels out there. This is the second one I've read and I just can't get over how much I like them. I've always read authors such as James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell and these Christian authors can give them a run for their money. Not that I'll ever give up my James and Patricia, but I do love that their Christian counterparts write books without all the vulgar language and sexual content. Side note: I'm working on cleaning up my language, so I can use all the help I can get :)
The thrills in Not This Time started from the get-go with a terrorist attack at a wedding and just kept going from there. It was action-packed with a little love story and a fantastic message about redemption thrown in. This is book 3 of the Crossroads Crisis Center series and I've already made a mental note to get the other 2 books. I would love to get to know the characters better especially Nora, a supporting character who is the wise mother figure to everyone. There are parts that allude to the other 2 novels, but this book can stand alone because you won't be lost if you haven't read the others. However, once you're done, you are definitely going to want to go back and read the other 2. I would definitely recommend this book to adults and because the violence is minimal, older teens could read it as well.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Multnomah Books in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours. -
Terrorist! Suspense! Intrigue! All packed into this book. The following is from the author's website for "Not This time."
"Sara and Beth built a multi-million dollar business and act as anti-terrorism consultants. Now their business and friendship are strained because Beth is leery of Sara’s husband. When he goes missing and is verified kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.
Then their hometown, Seagrove Village, Florida, is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn’t know who to trust. Someone close to her is connected to the attack, but who?"
As I began reading the book, I thought, "Boy, they are jumping in with both feet right at the start." Then characters were introduced one after another until it got a bit confusing and tangled. Finally, I got the characters straight in my head and the story began to unfold with more sense to me. This is a complicated tale of suspense.
Unidentifiable secret agencies at work clandestinely while local law enforcement works with homeland security to get to the bottom of the mysteries that revolve around this community and especially around Sara and Beth. Read Chapter One
FTC disclaimer: "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review." Opinions expressed are my own and a positive review was not required.
This review is also on
http://Bloggingforbooks.com and
http://ChatWithVera.blogspot.com -
Not this Time is the third in a series of suspense novels by Vicki Hinze, set in the small Florida town of Seagrove Village. A large cast of characters includes many whose story’s might be told in earlier volumes. Not having the read the preceding novels I found myself struggling to remember who was who in the first part of this tale, and references to Shadow Watchers and NINA had me unsure what was real and what imagined till the story took off. There’s a fantastic first scene that certainly had me eager to read on, and I enjoyed the level of believable faith in the characters’ interactions—real people struggling with real faith questions in situations that stretch the boundaries of hope.
Faith, hope and love characterize this novel, with romance, suspense and drama intertwined. The interplay between good and evil leaves pleasing space for redemption, and as things get progressively worse, there’s always room to believe the good guys will win. The action’s maybe over the top, but that says more about my usual choice of novel than about the writing. An exciting suspense story with Christian characters, redemptive themes, and convincing hope in the face of kidnap, terrorism and more, Not This Time is a fine evening’s read that leaves me thinking I might want to try reading books one and two some day.
Disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. -
I'm not going to lie. This book started out pretty dull. Maybe it was because this book is part of a series, and I didn't read the previous novels. I dunno. But I read the first few chapters, and put it down. But I couldn't leave it down, as I had gotten it to review from a Publisher, and I had given my word to review it. So, after finishing all other books at hand, and then kicking my feet, I picked it back up, telling myself, "You've read worst things, you can do it". And for awhile, I did have to force myself to continue reading. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but you know that feeling when you walk into the middle of some one's conversation and feel left behind? Yeah. That's what I got. But after reading it, I started to get the feel of things. Annie and Liza's problems, WHO Darla Green was, whatever NINA was, and why Beth was so nervous of having her heart broken. It cleared up nicely. And after that? You couldn't have torn me away from 'Not This Time'. The greatness in the novel was there, I just had to read a bit longer to find it.
There was no language, no Drugs or drinking, miminal violence (it was there, it just wasn't gory, bad or drawn out. No blood gushing from wounds sort of thing). The Romance was sweet and tender without any Sexual content. All in All, it was a very good read for my heart. I enjoy finding clean, exciting novels.
