Fatal Identity

by Jodie Bailey

As killers close in, a deputy US marshal must face dangerous family secrets--and the ultimate test of her faith--in this romantic suspense novel.

Deputy US marshal Dana Santiago is in the remote mountains of South Carolina for her partner's Christmas wedding. But the idyllic winter scene turns chilling when Dana is nearly abducted. Only the quick actions of Alex "Rich" Richardson save her.

Now Dana and Rich must work together to figure out why the kidnappers seem willing to go to any lengths to capture her. When the clues lead them back to Dana's family, she will have to face long-buried secrets to get to the truth.

Genres: Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Christian Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Love Inspired Suspense, Christian

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2020

About the author

Jodie Bailey is the author of Quilted by Christmas, as well as two suspense novels, Freefall and Crossfire and a novella in Holiday Defenders. Her devotions have appeared in Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home and Sweet Freedom with a Slice of Peach Cobbler. She is also a contributor to PWOC International’s e100 Bible study for military wives. Her memberships include American Christian Fiction Writers.

When not at the keyboard, Jodie is a former middle school literature teacher and yearbook adviser who is convinced a camping trip to the beach with her family, a good cup of coffee, and a great book can cure all ills. Jodie lives in North Carolina with her husband, her daughter, and two dogs.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Suspense Romance. This is a fast pace suspense with a little bit of romance, and in the mix of that some inspired tossed into it. Both the main characters (US Marshal Dana Santiago and Alex “Rich” Richardson) works high risk jobs. Dana learns a big secret about her past she never know about. Also she has to decided between love and her job. I love all the characters in this book, and I love all the twist and turns in this book. This is a short and quick read. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Her life could not end this way.'

I am a fan of Jodie Bailey's inspirational romantic suspense books and have been for quite some time. So I was happy to read a new book by her. This one hit the ground running and never let up once. I love every minute of it. Deputy US Marshall Dana Santiago walks out into the night for a breath of air after attending her partner's wedding and two men attack her. The fast action of police officer Alex Richardson manages to save her by a hair. Now comes the hard part: figuring out why someone wants her dead and who wants it that badly. Things escalate quickly from here as 'Rich' and Dana try to stay ahead of the murderous thugs bent on destroying her.

I love suspense and Bailey has done this very well indeed. Never a moment is wasted in this story as it raced along pouring out pure adrenaline in its wake. She packs a powerful spiritual message here, too, one that really ministered to me. Her very best work, in this reader's opinion. I loved every single minute.

*My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is entirely my own.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an attempted kidnapping at her partner's mountain wedding, US Marshal Dana Santiago finds herself questioning everything that she knew about her past. Rich, a local law enforcement officer saves her in the nick of time, offering her protection.

But will the dark secrets of her past, catch up with her before they can be exposed?

Dana is devoted to her job and loves what she does, she is willing to do whatever it takes to discover the truth and clear her name. The is a lot going on this book, with good tension and high stakes. The pacing of the story is backstory heavy, as secrets are revealed.

Rich is likes Dana and wants to help her however he can, whether keeping her safe or helping her find the answers to her past. I admired his strong faith and never give up attitude.

Overall, a fast paced, action filled read, with great characters and the present tension of what she is facing as well as the secrets that are revealed. An enjoyable read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Mandy D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so honored to get to be one of the first readers of the newest book by Jodie Bailey and it was just what my soul needed! Dana and Rich are compelling and deep characters and there’s enough action and sizzle to keep you turning pages long after you should turn off the light and go to sleep.

I love a good love story and when you add in rival cartels, federal agencies and make the setting my old stomping ground near Fort Drum, NY, then I’m hooked! It’s only enhanced by the faith centered message! Thank you, Jodie!


*I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for my honest review *

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dana Santiago was a wedding when she witnesses something sketchy happening to her car but after a kidnapping attempt and them saying her name its clear they want her but why? Alex was there to help her out in the nick of time but now with her behind down from work because of a past she might have they must prove she believes she is and figure out what's going on to keep her safe because clearly those people want her.

I really enjoyed this book. I love a good mystery suspense novel. I kept wondering what's going on, its clear that Dana is unaware of her past but now its a matter of figure out who is lying to her and figure out what is truly going on. With the amount of close calls and kidnapping attempts someone wants her dead or alive and she's gotta stay safe. Thankfully Alex was there to help out, there is a bit of romance, not a crazy love at sight but an simmering attraction. I liked following along with this book and really enjoyed myself. Great book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Identity
Jodie Bailey
An Inspirational romance Suspense that will have you hooked right off. I did not want to put it down. I loved all of it. The characters are well developed. Marshall Dana is in trouble right off the start. Police officer Alex trying to save her. This story is full of action and suspense from the start. Who would come after Dana and why? Can Alex save her? The two must work together to find out why anyone is going to lengths to get to Dana.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book , but was not told that i had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been waiting a long time for Rich’s story and I am happy to say it did not disappoint! This book is exciting from the word go and unraveling Dana’s past was super intriguing. Another stellar suspense story from Jodie.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dana Santiago is a deputy US Marshal stationed in Atlanta. She has spent some time in the field but was now working the cyber side. Being in Mountain Springs, NC for her partner's wedding has left her a bit at loose ends. She's a workaholic and these days spent here instead of at work don't feel right. During the wedding reception Dana decides to skip outside to avoid the traditional bouquet toss to the single women present. She notices someone by her rental car, maybe leaving something underneath it. As she goes to investigate she is grabbed from behind, incapacitated and taken to the assailant's car. Fortunately Alex "Rich" Richardson walked outside and noticed the struggle. Saved! Dana has no idea why anyone would want to kidnap her. Since the men trying to abduct her got away Rich named himself her bodyguard. Good thing since there were other attempts. But why?

Alex "Rich" Richardson is a police officer in Mountain Springs, NC but he is also ex-special forces. He was injured in an op gone wrong and he left the military. After that he lost his fiancee to violence. He failed to save her. Rich vowed to never fail to protect again. When he saw Dana Santiago being taken toward an open trunk of a car he knew he had to save her. Spending time with Dana during the pre-wedding festivities had been pleasant. She seemed closed off though. Not that he wasn't rather closed off himself. Taking on the responsibility of guarding Dana felt right. As he spent more time with her the ice around his heart started to melt. They just needed to close out this dangerous situation to see where things could go.

Fatal Identity by Jodie Bailey is a fascinating suspense story. The two main characters, Dana and Rich, are super dedicated to their jobs and can't seem to find much time to socialize. I liked how they both finally realized that there's room for more than work in their lives. Rich opens his heart and trusts that God does have a plan for him and Dana. Dana is floored by the truth of who she really is. She comes to realize also God's plan is right. This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more stories by Jodie Bailey.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a book in the Love Inspired Suspense line by Harlequin Books.

This book was great! Yes, there are bits about God in here but it does not detract from the overall storyline. This was a perfect mix of suspense and thrills. This is the type of story where you wish there were more books with the same characters.

Dana has to decide between love of job and love of family in this compelling mystery. Loved the whole US Marshals aspect of this. The whole thing was just well done and an awesome read. Definitely a great representation of the Love Inspired line.

If you love a good Christian romantic suspense mystery, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

[Joy Melville · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best - if not the very best - LIS Book I've ever read!

I cannot say enough about how well written Fatal Identity is. Jodie Bailey has written a well-researched, well thought out novel. The spiritual journey of the characters touched my heart as no other LIS novel has to date. I'm looking forward to more of Jodie Bailey's books, and I'm praying for her as she writes them! THESE CHARACTERS WERE SO WELL WRITTEN!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fatal Identity" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Though a part of the series, it can be read as a standalone. The main characters were likable and capable, and they reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from constant attacks on Dana, and she's not sure why she's a target. She's also worried about losing her job because of a connection that she didn't know about that she has to two serious criminals.

Dana's married to her job, and Rich lived in a different city. Rich also blamed himself for not being good enough to save his fiancée when she was targeted because of him, so he struggled with Dana putting herself in danger even though she was capable agent. She was willing to have someone watch her back, but she wasn't going to avoid danger if it meant getting answers and bringing down the bad guys. Though they're attracted and worked well together, the question all along was if they were willing to make changes to be married to each other. So it kind of worked that they got married immediately upon resolving these issues.

They both struggled with trusting that God had planned everything, was in control, and could use bad things to good purposes. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Jeffrey Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I've gotten hooked on Love Inspired Suspense. In the past 3 years, I've read 47, and 17 of those were this year. Six of them were written or co-written by Jodie Bailey, and this was Jodie at her best.

Why is deputy US Marshal Dana Santiago a kidnap target? Why do they call her Danna, a name she's called in her recurring nightmares?

This is the third in a series by Jodie Bailey. I've read the first, and missed the second. However, I haven't really missed a thing. This is a stand alone story, even though it contains characters from the previous tales, and this one won't spoil the others.

Dana and "Rich" Richardson are excellent characters, dealing not only with the bad guys but also their own weaknesses and their feelings for each other (I don't think this is spoiling much in a romantic suspense novel). And of course the action is full throttle from the beginning to the end.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only main complaint is that there's no way to tell from the marketing that this book is part of a series, so I managed to dive in to the end of the series and try to figure out what the references to other characters were. Otherwise I loved Dana's thrilling story, and how she has to try to figure out whether her pursuers were correct about her identity being something she'd never dreamed of. Jodie Bailey's quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me because of her well-plotted books and characters that hop off the page easily.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

[Joy DeLaine Lanman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the excitement of this story. It was well developed. Dana was a US Marshal protecting people in WitSec. Now she is suspended because her superiors found out she lied on her background check. Dana didn't lie. It turns out her parents she grew up with were not her parents. Her real parents were heads of a cartel and murders. Now someone is out to kill her. Rich is assigned to be her bodyguard. Let the adventures begin. The flow of the book and the story was very well done. I also appreciated this book was a fast read.

[Harisa- EsquiredToRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining!! This is one of the best Harlequin I've read and the first one from the "Love inspired suspense" line. It wasn't perfect but I really liked it. There as a lot to go through since it tackled religion, love, AND a mystery but overall it was really good and I enjoyed it and it kept me reading.

If you haven't tried this book or books from this line I would recommend!!

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dana Santiago's life is in danger and she has no idea why. Alex "Rich" Richardson is there to help her figure out why. She realizes it has to do with her family and digs up the past to find the reason behind the danger.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Jodie Bailey knows how to write suspense and to keep the reader hooked. She kept you guessing right up until the end. I always enjoy her books.

[Terry Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Identity, shouldn't be in a job, it should be hidden in Christ

I choose a five star rating because the story was well thought out, The suspense was rea!istic and believable.
The hero, Rich and the heroine, Dana each had reasons that held them back from giving their hearts away. They each found out that if the trusted in the Lord their future could be better.

[Debbie Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Faith Book. High Adventure!

Loved the excitement. There was also a lot of solid faith building going on for both main characters. They both had major trust issues. Allowing Jesus to take over total control of their lives again, as adults, was a hard lesson. It was great to see how their friends talked to them about what was happening.
Such a good book!!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted Dana and Rich to have their own stories.... I never expected to find this little gem but so glad I did... Jodie Bailey outdid herself connecting all her characters without linking them to a series..

LOVED IT!!

[Lela Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a whisper of different.

When every thing in your Life turns out to be a total lie,, you can shatter, or you can have your Talk with Jesus. All things in it's own time,, even true love.

[Mary Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this novel had a well-thought-out, ambitious plot. /As usual in the Love Inspired Suspense series, the story was full of action and not dull. It is a well-written novel, a good clean read.

[Angela D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced race to safety and love.

There was barely a calm moment in this fast-paced read. Your heart will race right along side the hero and heroine as they run from and then toward the cartel. Well done, Jodie Bailey!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It drew me in right away and kept me hooked to the last page. The characters are likeable and well developed. I highly recommend this book if you like romantic suspense.

[Linda Reville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action Packed

I loved the author's development of the characters' faith in God and their love for each other. This story was full of suspense and surprises. I loved dressing it and highly recommend it for anyone's reading pleasure.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emotions... Overworked. Over the top.

At least that's my opinion. I just couldn't get into these characters Because of their "emotions". That was just overplayed. And because of that I couldn't get into the characters or the plot.

[Megan_the_book_witch Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! I was hooked when they mentioned Asheville NC. I was born and raised there. But their story is absolutely amazing. This whole plot was amazing. I was so excited for the end!

[Elaine. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good suspense story even tho it took me a few days to read I love my job but there are days I just want to stay home and read

[Lynsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story.

[Viv Wilday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[sandy moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal identity

An awesome story of intrigue and personal drama that the author combined to keep your interest and it was hard to put it down