Review: Mountain Hideaway by Christy Barritt

Christy Barritt is one of my top five favorite authors at the current time, yet of all her books the ones I tend to like least are the ones published by Harlequin/Love Inspired Suspense. Don't get me wrong, I still give them a 4-Star rating at a minimum -- they're that good! -- but they rarely have that same spark that her self-published novels have. For me that changed with this book.

Tessa has been on the run for eight months after collecting evidence that her fiance was selling secrets to foreign enemies. Trent has been hired by Tessa's family to find her and bring her home. Needless to say, bullets fly and there's plenty of action as Tessa and Trent try to stay at least one step ahead of the men hunting for them.

Tessa may be my favorite heroine in Barritt's Love Inspired Suspense novels. She's wary but isn't scared of her own shadow. She and Trent work alongside each other as they attempt to regain the evidence needed to put her former fiance and his family behind bars. She can shoot well and can pick locks. She is definitely not the kind of girl who waits to be rescued by a man. And Trent, though he is protective of Tessa, isn't unwilling to allow her to use her skills when needed.

Barritt once again provides action, intrigue, and strong, well-developed characters for an afternoon of reading pleasure. Mountain Hideaway is highly recommended.