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Traces

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When a failed romance and a $500,000 prize lure Kate Carson into participating in the reality TV show, Traces, the least she expects is to pick her partner. After all, she’s the PR spokeswoman of the company that derived a thirteen-lens, rotating camera from military use and installed it atop Atlanta’s tallest skyscraper. But she never would have chosen to evade techno hunters for twenty days with “G.I. Joe.”

Stoic, ex-military Alex Mitchell is the sort of man she always vowed to avoid, while the shadows of Alex’s past cause him to spurn emotional involvement. When Kate’s insider knowledge makes her a target of someone more threatening than game show hunters, Alex offers her only hope to reveal the dark plans of proponents of The Eye.

212 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2020

28 people are currently reading
86 people want to read

About the author

Denise Weimer

38 books402 followers
Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance from her home in North Georgia and also serves as a freelance editor and the Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books. A mother of two daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Becky.
752 reviews44 followers
March 9, 2020
Reality TV gone rogue. That's Traces in a nutshell! The suspense in this book is spot on—while I never doubted that Alex and Kate would survive their time on the reality TV show Traces, I did question who was trustworthy, and the tension was palpable! Sometimes, romantic suspense falters on the suspense part, but that's certainly not the case here!

I also felt that the romance was believable, and I appreciated that both Alex and Kate doubted the validity of their feelings, thanks to the circumstances. While I would've liked more chemistry between them, I did buy that they were falling for each other.

My one hangup, the thing that kept me from absolutely loving this book, was Kate. As I read, I can't even tell you the number of times that "she's so stupid" ran through my mind! It wasn't *actual* stupidity, but what I like to call "horror movie stupidity," where someone who is seemingly smart makes the dumbest decisions in the face of danger. It was hard to root for her when she kept doing things to jeopardize her safety. (Alex isn't free of this, either, but Kate's errors seemed more egregious.) I just found her difficult to relate to.

Overall, this is a thrilling novel, and it's even scarier when you know that something like this really could happen—the technology is there! I could absolutely see this as a movie, and it would be so enjoyable. This book is perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, and Dani Pettrey.

Disclosure of material connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Kailey.
795 reviews96 followers
March 6, 2020
This book was really good! I really enjoyed the idea of them having to be fugitives on the run for a reality tv show. I also like how she put together two characters that are complete opposites. The two characters really complimented each other. I liked how they learned some personal lessons while on the run. It came across as a message that we could all use at some point. This was a very original story. I look forward to reading more from this author!



I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Profile Image for Kathleen Denly.
Author 15 books274 followers
March 12, 2020
WHY THIS BOOK:
I chose this book because it sounded different from my usual read but was still within the Christian Romance genre.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
I made the mistake of beginning this book at dinner time, thinking that I would read a little and then go to sleep and continue reading again the next night. Don’t follow in my footsteps! If you want any sleep at all, start much earlier in the day. I could not put this book down! By the climax of the novel, my eyes were burning to the point of tearing, I was so tired, but I had to know what happened next!

MAIN CHARACTERS:
From the very first page, I was hooked right in by the sassy heroine and the pressure she immediately faces. Then there was the obvious chemistry between her and the hero even though she already has a boyfriend.

Kate Carson – She’s been through some tough times that have caused her to place a lot of her self-worth in her appearance and lose trust in men, but she manages to hang on to her sass and has a good sense of humor. She hangs on to that which is comfortable to a point that annoyed me slightly, but not enough for me to dislike her. She carries a lot of guilt connected with her family. Overall, she’s a relatable character you will root for.

Alex Mitchell – A secret good Samaritan who’s too humble to toot his own horn. He takes the role of protecting Kate seriously even before they form any sort of bond. He does and says some boneheaded things that occasionally made me want to shake him, but overall, I liked him. In fact, I liked him more for being flawed. He also Carries a lot of guilt connected with his family.

EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT & PACING OF THE STORY:
There were so many fun and surprising twists to this story that I want to tell you about, but also don’t want to tell you about because I want you to experience this crazy ride for yourself. I laughed out loud, choked up, and even talked aloud to the characters a time or two. And did I mention that I could not put it down? The pacing of this story was spot on for its genre.

ELEMENTS I ESPECIALLY LIKED/DISLIKED:
My favorite part of the story was the realistically bumpy relationship road the hero and heroine follow. I LOVE that they straight-up argue. And not pretty argue, but really argue in ways that shows their flaws and forces them to seek and exercise forgiveness with one another. In my opinion, many relationships are tested and strengthened through such moments.

Then there were the swoony moments. Yep. The author nails those too. Those moments were just the kind of perfection that makes you sigh and (in my case) look around for your hubby to cuddle with.
I have never been to Atlanta and I’m certainly not a tech head, so I can’t vouch for accuracy in those departments, but the author certainly sold me on her details. They seemed plausible and well thought through to me. I definitely got the impression that she did her research.

The only thing that took me out of the story were multiple formatting errors which I encountered and a minor editing mistake or two. But I was reading an advance copy so those will probably be ironed out before the book is officially released. And in any case, the story was so good I mostly just flew on by those errors.

FAITH ELEMENT:
I would describe the faith element as minimal. There is very little mention of God (and what’s there is primarily in the last chapter or two), but the story is still told from a Christian world view. I got the impression that Alex’s faith was stronger than Kate’s but that neither had a particularly close relationship with God (at least at first). I didn’t have a problem with this. The way the faith element was included couldn’t be considered preachy by any stretch of imagination, but neither was it apologetic. Where included, it felt natural and unforced.

THEME:
Running from your past is no way to start your future.

ENDING:
I was very satisfied with the ending of this novel. It didn’t wrap everything into a nice bow but it didn’t leave you feeling the story was unfinished either. The way the romance was wrapped up was cute, funny, realistic, and exactly what this romantic wanted.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
This story is a compelling page turner with relatable characters and a romance you will cheer for. I highly recommend it to fans of Clean/Christian Romantic Suspense.

OVERALL RATING:
4.5 out of 5 stars

Note: Although I did receive a free ARC of the digital version of this book, I was under no obligation to write a review. All views expressed are 100% my own and 100% sincere.
387 reviews13 followers
March 10, 2020
The thrill of the chase. A reality show with fugitives on the run, suspense palpable. This was a wonderful and the premise definitely interesting.
I love how both Kate and Alex were from opposite ends of the spectrum but paired together to work somehow they blended and learned to work together although Kate definitelyade some silly mistakes that nearly jeopardized their time on the show it all worked out in the end.
The book was definitely a wonderful couch trip with very descriptive images.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via JustReads. All opinions expressed are solely mine
Profile Image for Emily Yager.
Author 10 books88 followers
March 10, 2020
An interesting twist to the typical romantic suspense. A reality TV show were the ‘characters’ pretend to be fugitives on the run. Things go a bit awry. The suspense kept the tension until the end. I loved the Opposites Attract romance the was lively and they complimented each other perfectly. This is a great page turner that touches on themes like fear and trust. A fantastic read.
Profile Image for Julia.
3,090 reviews95 followers
March 5, 2020
Traces by Denise Weimer is a contemporary Christian suspense that will have your heart racing as you read.
The main themes are about trust, hiding and running. In life we may choose to run from our past. “Wouldn’t it be nice to stop running from your past?” Our pasts make us who we are but we need to face them, learn the lessons and move on. “Sometimes God uses what look like setbacks as setups.”
We all have times when we want to hide away. The safest place to rest is in God’s arms. No matter what we face, it is best to face it with God.
Trust issues arise in the novel. We have to choose where to place our trust. God can always be trusted to have our backs.
There is the theme of fathers. Our earthly fathers are not always good role models but our heavenly Father loves us and will not let us down. “God is bigger than Alzheimer’s.” Whatever we face, our God is bigger.
At times we feel that our problems are too big to face. God wants us to know that we are not alone, He is always with us. “There is something I can do. I can pray.” Prayer unleashes the power of our almighty God.
Traces was a thrilling read. I did not always follow the action but I think that was because I was reading a kindle copy. I would recommend the paperback and then you can easily flick backwards and forwards.
The novel was well thought out and executed – certainly full of suspense. Buckle up for a thrilling read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews128 followers
Want to read
April 20, 2020
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/20/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Riella Cristobal .
431 reviews9 followers
March 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, though it was not my usual genre. I was so happy to find it really entertaining! It definitely kept me reading, and I was, at different points, so nervous for the characters.
I really felt for Kate, she was really relatable in the circumstances. If anything like that happened to me, I probably would react like her, super out of my depth. She definitely grew throughout the book, even though it really only spanned a few days. Kate and Alex have to learn to trust each other, although they really do not know the other.Though they were both trying, it was quite an crazy adventure they were on.
Alex was really focused, but he was such a sweet guy! He was a protector, looking out for so many. Though he was very intense and could be gruff, he and Kate began to open up to one another.
The story felt really possible, which made it even more suspenseful. It is a concept that is very relevant and a little frightening. The book was a little on the shorter side, though it did feel completed. I appreciate how she incorporated their faith, though I would wish it was a little more prominent. They were still growing in their faith. It was cool how they learned to trust more and more in God and His strength. I do hope that we get to see more of Kate and Alex, I would love to see their future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
2,023 reviews3 followers
February 16, 2020
Loved this romantic suspense. A real edge of your seat plot with lots of action. Fans of suspense will not want to miss this book. I received an arc from the author. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Caitlyn Santi.
Author 4 books104 followers
March 6, 2020
An excellent romantic suspense novel from a new-to-me-author!
I was sucked into this story from page one and couldn't stop reading!
Kate and Alex were both great characters, they were not without flaws and things in their lives that they needed to face and work through, but that only made them more relatable. They were both very likeable and I was rooting for them from the get-go!
The unique premise of this book is what first caught my attention, and it totally lived up to my expectations!
This book has the perfect balance of suspense and romance, and kept me glued to the page throughout!
The author clearly knows Atlanta well and I found it to be a fascinating armchair vacation! My favorite type of storytelling is when the author gives just enough description of the setting and surroundings that I can totally picture it, but not so much that it bogs down the story with pages of unnecessary details, and I'm thrilled to say that Denise Weimer mastered this perfectly, well done!
I so enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future!
I highly recommend Traces, especially for fans of Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey, Dana Mentink, and Susan May Warren.


I received an ebook copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
Profile Image for Samantha McCollough.
23 reviews5 followers
March 10, 2020
Traces stared off with a bang and just kept surprising!

The cover of this book is what attracted me to it at first, but after a couple of paragraphs, I was hooked on the idea of this game show in which two people would have two evade this “all-seeing-Eye” for at least 20 days. It drew me in.

I expected Denise to run out of twists by the time I was halfway through the book, but no, she had plenty where that came from!

I knew that I was going to be a fan of this book as soon as I met Alex. Creating a unique and believable military man with a believable background is not easy, but she did it.

5/5 stars. Great read!
Profile Image for Nicole Putter.
Author 1 book27 followers
September 5, 2020
A book cover should tell you exactly what genre you'll find inside and this one did not fail. I'm not ashamed to admit that I bought this novel because of the cover and it didn't disappoint. Traces ticks all the boxes I enjoy in stories, a bit of mystery, suspense, drama, and wholesome dollop of romance.

A fugitive reality show isn’t a concept I’ve read before which made it all the more appealing. Their journey through friends, homeless shelters and empty houses is an exciting, emotional, yet sometimes humorous one.

It wasn’t particularly scary or mysterious and yet still a highly enjoyable book. Denise Weimer does a great job of keeping the reader occupied without going over the top. Her modest writing style is fitting and flawless and makes it easy for everyone to read. This story addresses themes like betrayal, conspiracy and the simplicity of love. I give it a 4/5 because there are one or two things I can nit-pick on if I have to but won’t since its negligible for a fun and thrilling read.

The next section contains spoilers:

Glamor girl, Kate Carson is the PR spokesperson for SurveyCorp, a company that developed a sophisticated piece of 'spy' technology called 'The Eye'. When the reality TV show Traces comes to Atlanta because of it, Kate's boss urges her to partake.

Before the show starts, Kate notices some inconsistencies in the technology’s press release, which is her department but was covered by her boss. She also finds some incriminating evidence on her boyfriend’s laptop. When she goes to confront him, he’s with another woman. On a furious whim, and with $500,000 prize money stake, she enters the show without reading the fine print.

I enjoyed Kate because her strengths and flaws cancel each other out. She’s the typical reluctant hero, yet far from dumb. Her failed writing career, red hair and freckles shape her insecurities which she covers with a too-thick layer of foundation. She’s human, relatable and perhaps not the best contender for a show like Traces.

When the producers asked Kate to participate, they implied—never promised—that she would be partnered with her cop brother. However, when she’s escorted to the starting point, she finds Alex Mitchell, the G.I. Joe of SurveyCorp’s security. Unlike Kate, Alex is prepared, determined and trained for the show. He’s in desperate need of the money and will do whatever it takes to win the game.

But, with Kate’s implicating evidence, they have to avoid more than just Traces handlers to get out alive.
2 reviews
Read
March 2, 2021
This book grabbed my attention from the beginning to the end. Too many books drag you through the first few chapters and almost loose you before you get to any suspense or romance. From the beginning Kate finds that the security system created by the company she works for, the one intended to keep the citizens safe, has become the very thing that she must hide from as she becomes an unwilling participant in a reality TV show. It started out as a game but was it? She is forced to reexamine relationships; her boss, her boyfriend and finally her reality TV partner, the last person she expected to be paired with. I love the way the main characters were able to blend together in spite of their different back grounds. The two of them together were able to build on each other's strength and weaknesses. I found myself surprised at the different twist and turn of events. This book has humor and romance; the kind that does not offend the reader. The ending was unexpected but what I had hoped for.
146 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2020
Action packed and full of suspense

A story full of suspense as Alex and Kate come to terms with who and what life their life was being lived for. Kate gets volunteered to on on the run by her bosses on a reality TV show called Tracers test a new surveillance system that was just installed on the top of the building she worked in. She is partnered with the head security guard from her building, Alex. She had some suspicions about the system and wanted to give the information to a friend but was stopped when she was almost run over. It heats up from there on out as the two partners suspect there is more going on than just the TV show hunters following them. Come on this intriguing and highly suspenseful story to find out what trouble they get into as they try to evade the ones after them and how they handle all they are going through. It is hard to put down once you start this action packed book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Gretchen.
1,461 reviews31 followers
March 17, 2020
This book had me hooked from the first chapter. Kate is a preppy PR spokeswoman for a security company who is carrying around a mountain of debt, a recently failed relationship, and a failed novel. Alex is an ex-military security man for the same security company that Kate works for. They have rarely interacted until a split second decision has them working together to evade the law and surveillance on a reality TV show for a big cash prize. Soon, it becomes apparent that the show is not as it seems. Kate has discovered a huge secret about the company she works for, and someone is trying to silence her. The events that follow find Kate and Alex becoming closer, learning to trust one another, and learning to trust God. This was a thrilling romance story that I thoroughly enjoyed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cindy Huff.
Author 11 books55 followers
April 10, 2020
Denise Weiser has taken a what-if moment to create a wonderful love story and so much more. Putting two people together with nothing in common to compete in a Reality TV show is interesting enough. Add someone trying to kill them and you have a heart-pounding Suspense Romance that leaves you wondering just how much Big Brother is watching. Love the vulnerable characters and the inspirational thread that made me root for their happily ever after moment even more. Denis Weimer delivers well-written stories with satisfying endings. I find myself thinking about the characters throughout the day anxiously waiting for a chance to rejoin them on their quest. Grab a copy.

Profile Image for Evangeline.
168 reviews
March 12, 2020
Wow! This book had me hooked from the beginning. I don’t normally read mysteries, but since Denise Weimer is one of my favorite authors, and I have read all her other books, I couldn’t pass this one up. And I’m glad I didn’t! I could hardly put it down and finished it in two evenings. My oldest daughter reads mysteries exclusively, so I can’t wait to share this one with her. Now I anxiously await Denise’s next book. She can’t turn them out fast enough for me!
222 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2020
Can We Stand for this Kind of Surveillance?

Thrilled filled suspense with an ex military cop, a witty OR writer for the company that installed a surveillance camera with 13 lens on top the tallest building in Atlanta. Great characterization of Alex and Kate. But who is trying to kill them and why?
52 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2021
Interesting premise flawed by the female character

I chose this book because of the premise, but the progression of the story was choppy, unrealistic and unfulfilling. I found the female character to be annoying to the max and unbelievable that her male counterpart would be interested.
Profile Image for Candee Fick.
Author 29 books292 followers
March 6, 2020
The latest from Denise Weimer is a fast-paced tale of love on the run. A reality television show was just the beginning, but when chased by more than technology ripped from the headlines, who can they trust? Traces is romantic suspense at its finest and you won’t want to miss it!
Profile Image for Ann.
2,648 reviews3 followers
March 6, 2020
This book is full of action and suspense. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. If you like christian suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat, grab this book. I received an ARC copy and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Sandy.
1,005 reviews16 followers
April 21, 2020
Traces

Very interesting and entertaining storyline about a couple participating in a TV reality show but end up on the run from paid assassins. Great suspense with Christian principles.
Profile Image for Lois Kirby.
143 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2020
Traces

It may seem like a futuristic concept but a factual one for the future I'm sure. I enjoyed the story the story line a bit of mystery, deception ties into a bit of romance. I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Jennie Webb.
668 reviews14 followers
Read
May 8, 2020
Romance story with some action

For any of you who love romance novels, I think you will like this one. However, you must also like a little suspense/mystery. This story has likeable characters and is well-written. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Marilee .
1,462 reviews233 followers
March 9, 2020
This was a great romantic suspense! The plot was a unique twist on a classic theme and I loved the character growth of the two main characters. This one was hard to put down and I am hoping that there will be a future book starring the heroine's best friend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but am voluntarily leaving a review of my own opinions.
Profile Image for Bobbi Snyder.
155 reviews5 followers
April 14, 2020
Such a great read. Present day action packed, adrenaline filled story. I had a hard time putting it down.
Profile Image for Shelia Hall.
77 reviews22 followers
May 12, 2020
Great book

Denise has wrote a great story that keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next! Really enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Patrick Cox.
245 reviews2 followers
May 21, 2020
Wow!

That was a really good book. Set in one my favorite cities in the whole world Atlanta Georgia. What starts out as a reality show turns into a run for your life survival story.
Profile Image for Jennifer Purcell.
Author 3 books27 followers
July 25, 2020
Traces by Denise Weimer is a romantic suspense novel set in Atlanta, Georgia. PR spokeswoman Kate Carson works at SurveyCorp, a company that developed a surveillance camera that now sits on the highest skyscraper in the city. When she enters a reality TV show called Traces, she’s partnered with SurveyCorp security guard Alex Mitchell. Their task: go on the run and evade capture. Their prize: $500,000. But someone’s after Kate, and it has nothing to do with the show. Or does it?

The premise of this story is interesting and doesn’t feel contrived like some novels. In fact, Weimer mentions in an author’s note where she got the idea for the story, which I found interesting. The plot is engaging and will keep you turning pages. Not only is there the question of whether or not Kate and Alex will win the game but also who is after Kate. Weimer did a great job of dropping hints and there, but I still didn’t see the ending coming.

At times I did find myself a bit annoyed with both characters, but I think that’s what makes them realistic and relatable. Alex, especially, I found to be creative but also demanding at times. I think, though, that Weimer did a good job of choosing traits that went along with Alex’s military background. I also think she did a good job of fleshing out the characters’ backstories. Kate sometimes acted a bit irrationally to me, but she grew on me as a character. Both characters had well-written arcs. I enjoyed seeing them grow throughout the story.

Overall, this is a well-written story with a satisfying romance and engaging suspense.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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