Over the Line (Paperback)

** “No, being good isn't enough. We all fall short. We make terrible mistakes. But when someone we love does this, we forgive them. Just as God forgives us. Haven't you ever done something terrible, something awful, and been forgiven?” ** Kelly Irvin weaves an incredible tale of forgiveness while tackling the gun smuggling and border patrol epidemic in “Over the Line.” When a young man with her ATF agent brother's name on his lips dies right in front of her, Gabriella Benoit must turn to her ex-boyfriend Homicide Detective Eli Cavazos — a man she no longer fully trusts — for help. As they delve into the disappearance of her brother Jake, they must also dive deep into their continued love for each other, overcoming mistrust and offering forgiveness. Will they be able to heal their relationship while also solving a case that involves kidnappings, murders and gun smuggling? Irvin does a great job of creating a suspenseful thriller with just enough romance to satisfy the lovers of love. She brings together the worlds of law enforcement and journalism to create a story that leaves the readers guessing who can be truly trusted, and who is involved in the series of crimes. She develops very relatable characters with major flaws, as well as delightful supporting characters like Gabby's sister Natalie and her reporter friend Deacon. Besides being an intense romantic thriller, “Over the Line” is filled with many great lessons, like craving a clean start and a second chance; we all have to answer for our own sins; dealing with regret, hurt and disappointment; in everything God works for our good; being a good and faithful servant; God calls us to help others on their journeys; letting go of bitterness; the power of secrets; and God's grace and mercy are never ending. Trust and forgiveness are also huge themes that run throughout the book. This story reminds us that we all fall short and need forgiveness. “Over the Line” is a standalone novel. Fans of authors like Lynette Eason, Terri Blackstock and Irene Hannon will enjoy Irvin's latest offering. Five stars out of five. Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.

What an accomplishment to switch from Amish Fiction to Romantic Suspense seamlessly. I totally was sucked into this story and the many twists and turns. It was like feeling your way through a maze to see the final outcome. It is interesting to read a cultural diverse book and also have a character in a wheelchair. Kudos for tackling this with such finesse. It is a story of finding forgiveness after betrayal and keeping secrets and how the characters grow as the story progresses. I found myself engrossed in this story with its continuous action and romantic tension. The characters were believable and I was especially interested in the lesser story of Natalie and Deacon. I look forward to reading more of this genre by Ms. Irvin as she is making her mark. I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

If you are looking for a book filled with intrigue and heart pounding action, look no further. The author has really outdone herself with this story that could easily be front page news. I really liked the locations of the story since I live in Texas. It was easy to picture the characters in Laredo or San Antonio with ease by the descriptions. What I liked about the book was the intensity of who was the bad guys and who were the good guys. There is some back history between Gabriella and Eli that did take a while to get to. I liked that because it gave readers time to know each one and see where their flaws were. I loved how they each were a bit stubborn and neither one was willing to give in. Eli certainly tried but Gabriella was harboring unforgiveness which was obvious by her sass and attitude towards Eli. The story centers around a gun smuggling ring and at the forefront is Jake, Gabriella's brother. With him working undercover it became dangerous for the entire family when he comes up missing. I liked the investigation into his disappearance and the author gave us just enough to suspect many people. There was definitely some shady people in the story. At times I wasn't sure who was behind everything. There are many secrets throughout the book and the best part of the book for me was between Eli and his father. It is worth reading just for this part because it deals with forgiveness in a way that humbles both characters. Overall the story is good and definitely action packed. Finding Jake will put lives in danger and I was surprised at who was the head of the gun running operation. Fans of intrigue will not be disappointed in this story that has twists that put you on the edge of your seat. I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.