Counterfeit Hope

 

About the Book:

Trapped by their pasts, is there hope for a future?

When Secret Service operative Andrew Darlington is brought in to support a US Marshal case involving counterfeiters in rural Indiana, he thinks it's simply the next rung on his climb to the top of his career. But liars can only climb so high--and Andrew is keeping a dangerous secret he doesn't ever want to get out. When he clashes with the criminal family that took over the town of Landkreis and killed the Marshal he was sent to assist, his past life is in danger of being exposed.

Widow Lightning Lu Thorne has only one goal: escape the clutches of the Thorne family with her son. Her decision to be an informant and testify against the Thornes looked like the perfect answer. Until the Marshal ended up dead. Now the tether keeping her tied to her felonious family is tightening, and a forced marriage to someone else in the Thornes' clutches threatens to kill any hope of escape.

Andrew and Lu find themselves on the same team--unwillingly. They each believe the other to be the enemy to their future plans. And even if they could learn to work together, the secrets they hold could shatter all hopes and dreams. Despite the encouragement of the local preacher, they're not even sure God can be trusted--much less other humans. Can either of them escape their past--and the family that is willing to kill their own when they smell betrayal?

My Thoughts: 

This is a book about second chances. Most of the time one character is given that opportunity, but in Counterfeit Hope, both Lu Thorne and Andrew Darlington find forgiveness. They are given a chance to redeem their pasts and have a fresh new start.

Crystal Caudill portrays the evil and manipulative Thorne family so well that you are caught up in the story of Lu and her hope to escape such debauchery. I was nervous and holding my breath at times, wondering what would happen next. Ma Frances is one horrible, vile woman that it seems that the web she has wound around her family and the town will never be able to be undone. But, Lu’s hope and determination for a new life along with Andrew’s help makes this possible. The faith element in this story was so well done and shines light to even the darkest of circumstances that people are caught up in.

There are some difficult topics in this book that Ms. Caudill shares before you begin the book. I appreciate how she shares that living in a broken world shows we have an even greater need for hope and rescue.

I was given a copy of the book. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.