BURDEN OF PROOF
FBI Rapid Response, #1
by
DiANN MILLS
Genre: Inspirational /Mystery / Suspense / Romance
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Date of Publication: October 9, 2018
Number of Pages: 416
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Reeling from a negotiation gone wrong, FBI Special Agent April Ramos is caught off guard when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. Worry for the child’s safety quickly turns to fear when a man claiming to be the girl’s father abducts them at gunpoint. April puts her hostage negotiation skills to use to learn more about who she’s dealing with: Jason Snyder, a fugitive accused of murder.
As Jason spins a tall tale about being framed for the killing of his business partner, April must sort through his claims to find the truth. A truth that becomes all the more evident after April overhears a conversation between Jason and the local sheriff and realizes something more sinister may be happening in their small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. But aligning herself with a known fugitive to uncover the burden of proof could cost April her job . . . or worse, her life and the lives of other innocent people.
PRAISE FOR DiANN MILLS:
“The tension level rises as layers of lies are peeled away in multiple plot twists.” —Library Journal
“DiAnn Mills is a master of fast-paced and intricately plotted romantic suspense.” —Colleen Coble, Bestselling author
“[A] fast-moving, intricately plotted thriller.” —Publishers Weekly
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“I’d rather be guilty of reaching out to someone hurting than stand by and do nothing.”
Burden of Proof starts off strong when a baby girl is thrust into the arms of FBI agent April Ramos, where she is then subsequently accused of kidnapping. The action occasionally slows down, but the story’s overall pace is quick and filled with a slew of misguided people who have placed their loyalty on the wrong side of the law.
Jason, the baby’s father and a widower, is in a heap of trouble from the beginning, but he never loses his status as a good guy, in my opinion. He and April have a rocky beginning, but that doesn’t stop the romantic tug on their hearts from happening. Of course, protecting Jason’s infant daughter and other innocent people in the cross hairs of the bad guy brings the two even closer, both with the goal of making sure justice is served.
The author expertly weaves in many high-tense scenes throughout, with the bad guy staying one step ahead of the FBI and wreaking havoc and ruining lives along the way. Stopping the corruption in Sweet Briar, Texas, is no easy task, and everything quickly becomes dangerous and maybe even deadly as Jason and April work with other FBI agents to clear Jason’s good name, dig deep for the truth, and protect the innocent. As both Jason and April race against the clock to right the wrongs, they tentatively navigate their budding relationship, and April looks deep into her heart for that dormant connection to God that she didn’t know she even needed. The Christian references are timely throughout but not overbearing. The inspirational aspect allows the reader to see Jason’s and his parents’ strong faith positively influence April as she faces danger head on and as she faces the possibility of getting even closer to Jason and his parents, who have opened their arms and their home as her safe haven and home away from home. That part of the story is quite touching and sweet, providing a good balance between the danger/tension and the positive connections between characters.
The bad guy is truly despicable, using his authority to bully and badger people into doing his bidding. This antagonist keeps everyone on their toes, and I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse game as the bad guy arrogantly flaunts his authority and leaves a trail of lies and destruction a mile wide and twice as long.
The author does provide some humor to relieve the tension. Miss Ella is a fantastic secondary character, and when April, while wearing Miss Ella’s shoes and clothes to throw the bad guys off their scent, has a run in with an angry bull, well let’s just say April ends up acquiring a pungent scent of her own (for which Jason takes the blame). I laughed out loud at this scene, glad for the respite from all the serious action.
As usual, DiAnn Mills provides a story that is both a suspenseful thriller and a tender love story that begins when a sweet baby unwittingly brings a grieving single father and an emotionally distraught FBI agent together, effecting both emotional and spiritual healing for them both.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy of Burden of Proof by DiAnn Mills.
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.
DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers.
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5 PRINT ARCs!
OCTOBER 9-18, 2018
(U.S. Only)
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
| 10/9/18 | Excerpt | Hall Ways Blog |
| 10/9/18 | Author Video | Kelly Well Read |
| 10/10/18 | Review | That’s What She’s Reading |
| 10/11/18 | Top List | The Page Unbound |
| 10/11/18 | Top List | Story Schmoozing Book Reviews |
| 10/12/18 | Character Interview | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 10/13/18 | Review | Missus Gonzo |
| 10/13/18 | Excerpt | All the Ups and Downs |
| 10/14/18 | Playlist | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 10/15/18 | Review | Momma on the Rocks |
| 10/16/18 | Review | Reading by Moonlight |
| 10/16/18 | Excerpt | Books and Broomsticks |
| 10/17/18 | Video Guest Post | Sybrina’s Book Blog |
| 10/18/18 | Review | The Clueless Gent |
| 10/18/18 | Review | Forgotten Winds |
Thanks for hosting me and posting this great review!
It was my pleasure! I look forward to the next in this series!
Sounds like some to put on my TBR shelf,!
Love that this author makes so many things work together in the story! TBR!
Thank you for being part of the tour! I’m excited to read Burden of Proof!