Teenaged girls have been disappearing from Apache reservations--a danger that hits far too close to home for tribal cop Pilar To-Clanny. She'll have to go after a ruthless killer. And she's not looking forward to partnering with a painful part of her past, in the form of Special Agent Alex Torres in The Stronghold by author Lisa Carter.

This book was anything but easy reading for me. Quite frankly, I needed a story that could connect with a singular area of my anger, much of it in relation to issues in real life that this romantic suspense novel tackles.

Indeed, it's a heavy read that braves rough and dark terrain. Poverty. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Self-harm. Manipulation. Racism. Rape, and a culture of sexual violence. Serial murder. FEAR. It's not a story to be read for thrills but for its illustration of dynamic light cutting through grave darkness.

Now, I often say I don't have to think a book is perfect to find it amazing. Some of the digs, arguments, and characters' reactions become redundant in this book, and action beats in the dialogue fall into predictable patterns at times. Many of the paragraph breaks are jarring and unnecessary when the dialogue isn't switching between speakers. I wouldn't have forgotten that Alex is good-looking and Pilar is Apache even if those points weren't repeated so often. And a few matters at the height of the novel play out in ways that aren't entirely convincing.

Still, this author writes with depth, realism, and flashes of pithy lyricism, weaving an intricate plot that pierces so that it can heal. ChristFic fans who appreciate gritty and relevant stories of faith would do well to check this one out. ( )

FBI Agent Alex Torres and Apache tribal police officer Pilar To-Clanny have a long history together of ups and downs. After being gone for years, Alex returns to Arizona when young girls come up missing from New Mexico and the reservation in Arizona. Alex wants to help find them but, because of his faith, he also wants to make things right with Pilar. When Manny (a boy they both love) goes missing, Pilar and Alex reluctantly work together risking their lives to rescue the boy. What they discover along the way is not only more sinister than they ever imagined but it will also change their lives forever.

I have read several Lisa Carter books and really like her stories and The Stronghold is no exception. I will say though that this was not an easy read because of the nature of the story. It deals with some dark subject matters. Some scenes are pretty intense and graphic which is why it’s difficult to read. Aside from that, I thought the story was very good. The dynamics between Alex and Pilar were interesting, complex and edgy. Their history together was about great love and deep hurt which you learn about through a series of flashbacks. Pilar felt unclean and unloveable because of what happened to her so she holds everyone at arms length. I appreciated seeing Alex’s faith in action and the ways he expressed it especially to Pilar. But I also saw the way he still struggled with certain things. To me, that’s real life. God never promised we would never have trouble, pain or heartache but He did promise to walk through all of it with us. For me, the beginning of the book seemed a bit confusing but when you get to the end of the story it all makes sense and the author brings everything together in a very cohesive way.

*This complimentary copy was provided by Abingdon Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

A favorite quote:
“The only thing I’ve managed to cling to, Pia, is the great love of God for his children. A love that desires a real relationship. The kind of relationship that offers a choice. To love or not to love.” Alex’s chest heaved. “And not to love Him, I realized, was the first step on the path toward evil. Because real love, like His, loves enough to let us choose Him or the darkness. To make our own mistakes. But He’s also there to pick up the pieces of our brokenness when we cry out to Him.”

For more information about this book or other books by Lisa Carter, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.lisacarterauthor.com ( )