Critical Alliance

Rocky Mountain Courage #3

by Elizabeth Goddard

Mackenzie Hanson's special set of skills opened the door to a successful career as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university, allowing her to put her criminal past behind her. But when a long-ago partner in crime delivers a cryptic message about her father's tech company being under cyberattack, she heads for Montana to secure exposed assets, close security breaches, and hopefully save lives.

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana to decompress from a mission gone wrong. But even as he's trying to relax, he's drawn into another mystery, complete with suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common--a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.

When the situation turns deadly, Alex and Mackenzie will have to work together to find the answers they need--before someone silences Mackenzie for good.

USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard weaves a tangled web of nail-biting suspense and heart-stopping romance in this fast-paced conclusion to her Rocky Mountain Courage series.

Genres: Suspense, Christian Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2022

About the author

Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and Reader's Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry. For more information about her books, visit her website.



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Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final story of the Rocky Mountain Courage series. Three friends who lost a parent in a SAR event fifteen years ago are featured in the series. In Critical Alliance, we get Alex Knight's story. His father died in the rescue attempt along with others on a Montana mountain. Alex works with the Diplomatic Security Service as a special agent and is on vacation after a tragic incident overseas. A monument on the mountain has been vandalized and Alex is working on finding out who is responsible. While home, he comes into contact with Mackenzie Hanson. Mackenzie is a cybersecurity professor who applied for a position at DSS a few years ago but wasn't offered a job. She is back in Montana after receiving a warning that someone was after her family's tech company. The two work together to try to find who is after Mackenzie, her family, and the company. There is plenty of danger, action, and suspense to find out who is working to destroy Mackenzie and there are lots of possible suspects. Mackenzie and Alex are attracted to each other, but will they get together? There are some family issues going on in the background with Alex, with a surprise event. I recommend this story and the series for those who enjoy suspense with a thread of romance and faith intertwined.
I received a complimentary copy from Revell Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real nail biter!
This was certainly an edge of your seat suspense. Full of cyber security, drones, hacking and a mysterious criminal from the past. The author also gave us the beautiful mountains of Montana, with its ravines and forests. The story ties up a few loose ends from the other books in the series as well as letting us catch up on previous characters.
Mackenzie and Alex meet in Montana after a fleeting tour of the city in DC, never expecting to meet again. The romance progressed quickly but was built on mutual respect and a common faith.
Mackenzie found herself in an impossible situation, hoping it would not put her job or her life in jeopardy. “She hoped to stay out of reach of the ghost from her past, present, and maybe her future.” And Alex, although he is supposed to be on a break, puts himself in a precarious place in order to help her.
Hold on for real excitement and a great story pitting a cyber criminal against the good guys.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Revell Reads program on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

[Kristina Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Characters: Mackenzie, with her hacking/computer skills, was an intriguing character. I didn't connect well with Alex. He didn't seem all that traumatized from the past that had supposedly traumatized him. But I did enjoy learning about the DSS (the organization Alex worked for). I'd never heard of it before.

Language: Clean.

Moral/theme: One of the big themes was forgiving yourself. Mackenzie was a Christian, and I wish she had instead learned to fully trust that God had forgiven her.

Plot: Plenty of suspenseful moments and intrigue kept the plot moving.

Romance: Clean. Just kissing. One of those kisses did occur right after Mackenzie and Alex witnessed the villain's death. I don't exactly find watching someone die romantic. It made the kiss not seem as impactful as it could've been.

Writing: Elizabeth Goddard's clear writing worked great for this novel. Everything flowed well, and I could picture what was going on.

Overall: Critical Alliance was an interesting read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction and romantic suspense.

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a very suspenseful ride into the world of cyber criminals. Elizabeth Goddard has developed a plot that is full of action here, featuring good characters and some appearances from ones in the last two books. It’s scary what cyber criminals can do!
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The review here is my own opinion.

[Cara Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good whodunit with lots happening in a short time span. The romance is a bit angsty but that fits based on everything going on. Those who love a good mystery with an equal romance will enjoy this novel.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book in this series by far in my opinion.
Fast action from the beginning and it never let up. Lots of twists and turns that will keep your nose glued to the book for sure and certain! I know it did me. I couldn't wait to get to the next scene in the story.
This book y'all had me guessing right up until the end. I love a good book like that.
I loved meeting and getting to know MacKenzie and Alex. They were awesome!
I finished this book in one day!
Just awesome I tell you.
I also appreciated in how Alex treated MacKenzie as an equal. That's great teamwork.
The romance was perfect too. Not too much at all!
I'll be looking forward to Elizabeth's next book. I can't wait to see what she writes next!
Her book covers are always gorgeous too.
I highly recommend!
5 stars for a job well done!
My thanks for a copy of this book.
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own

[Monica H (TeaandBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard is a suspense book--focused on cyber crimes. . .with some action and adventure between real people thrown in. This book is the Third book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series. You could read this book alone but it would be a better read in order with the other books in the series.

In Critical Alliance, Mackenzie Hanson is a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university. When she finds out her father's company is under cyber attack, she heads home to help--even though she isn't sure her family will want to see her.

Alex Knight is also back home in Montana on a leave from his job in Diplomatic Security Services. He is supposed to relax but then he is drawn into the mystery facing Mackenzie as they renew their friendship.

I enjoyed the mysteries in Critical Alliance. I figured out a few things but there were also some I didn't know until it was revealed in the book. Some of the implications of what the hacker could do were pretty creepy to think about happening in real life. I didn't like Mackenzie's sister, Nora, too well at first but she grew on me as the book went on. I also struggled to understand some of what was going on in Alex's family--but that was all revealed in due time.

There is a bit of a spiritual element in the book but it is not preachy at all. Mostly this is just a clean suspense book. There is some chemistry between Alex and Mackenzie which holds a tension for the reader that adds to the book. Can they forge a relationship in the midst of everything going on?

All in all, I enjoyed this third installment to the Rocky Mountain Courage series. If you haven't read any of them yet, it would be a great series to binge read.

I received a copy of this book from the author and the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.

[Kelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back, Elizabeth Goddard! I have missed you and your work. From the first Goddard book I read, she set my expectations high…and she surpassed them tenfold with Critical Alliance. Thank you for bringing me back into your world. I love traveling through your imagination, and I would remain there for an extended stay if I could. Is that creepy? Regardless, my trips through your stories are never long enough. That, however, is my own fault. When I pick up a Goddard novel, I do not put it down if I do not have to. Critical Alliance was no exception; it served as a vacation from reality.

Different people like different types of vacations. Some like to relax on the beach. Others like kicking back on cruises. Me? I enjoy traveling to the bustle of New York City or hiking at a national park (though I like the latter slightly more). “Relaxing” vacations are not my style. A national park typically has limited cell service, so I can disconnect from everything—social media, my job, and society as a whole. Hiking 10+ miles a day exhausts my body and my mind, thus I sleep as if I am dead.

This is Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard. It is not a tubing trip down a slow-flowing river; rather, it is a slog through white water rapids in a kayak. At times, you fall out of the kayak, and you have to catch quick breaths when you can while you fight the water. Critical Alliance never stops; it catapults its characters forward in high stakes—and illegal—situations that would make anyone want to back off. Mackenzie and Alex do the opposite; they charge into the fray with few inhibitions. There is too much on the line, and too many close to Mackenzie have already died. She could be next, and Alex won’t let that happen.

What I loved most about Critical Alliance: cyber’s significant role. The cyber world is increasingly vulnerable, each and every day. Much like a terrorist, a cybercriminal only has to be successful once to infiltrate a system; meanwhile, the cybersecurity team must succeed 100% of the time. All it takes is one unpatched critical vulnerability. Something occurring in the cyber realm can have significant—even deadly—impacts on life. Elizabeth Goddard portrays cyber’s significance perfectly, and she explains it perfectly. Goddard imparts new terminologies on her readers without being patronizing.

Because my dislikes of Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard are so minimal and few, I’m not going to mention them in my review. This is a good one; it is another remarkable example of the Christian romantic suspense genre.

*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are my own.

[Robin Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this book came up for request from the Revell Reads Blogger Program, I hesitated briefly, as cybercrime/cybersecurity are not tropes (if they can be considered that) in the romantic suspense genre that I’m particularly interested in. But I loved the first two books in this series, as well as all of the author’s Uncommon Justice series, so decided I should trust her. And I’m so glad I did. It wasn’t all computers and online shenanigans. There was plenty of real action, real suspense, and real danger.

For some reason I wasn’t quite as drawn to the hero, Alex, a Diplomatic Security Services (DSS) agent, as I have been to previous heroes in Ms. Goddard’s books, but that doesn’t mean I disliked him. He was a really good guy, dealing with some emotional baggage after an op gone wrong. And while the heroes from the previous two books in this series also become involved in the story, they felt a little removed from how I remembered them.

But I loved Mackenzie. She’s spirited and feisty and brave. As a teen she got caught up in the world of hacking, and she and her friend Julian became embroiled in another hacker’s evil doings, which eventually led to Mackenzie and Julian turning themselves in to the authorities. While they came away from the whole event with their juvenile records sealed, when Mackenzie applied to the DSS, (where she met Alex and spent a day with him), she was ultimately not hired, and that has been one of the biggest regrets of her life. Now Julian has sent her a message that she is in danger, her family and their tech business, may be in danger, and she’s come home to warn her brother and sister.

I wondered if one reason I may have struggled to better connect with Alex was because of how secretive he was. He’s also come home to Montana, taking some enforced time off to visit his mother and recover emotionally from that failed op. Once Mackenzie comes back into his life and he finds himself protecting her from an unknown threat, he often wonders what he’s gotten himself into, but he won’t back down. She’s in danger, and he’s not about to leave her to face it alone. But he will not tell her anything about his own past and what he went through. On the other hand, Mackenzie won’t tell him what is going on, why a drone would be following her on a run in the woods, why someone would shoot at her in the woods. As the danger progressively increases, she still keeps him in the dark, and I actually got irritated at her for not trusting him enough to read him into the situation sooner than she did.

Anyway, as always, Ms. Goddard’s writing is wonderful. The scene in the woods, especially when they were trying to get away from the shooter, was pulse pounding. I’m sad that the series is over, but hoping Ms. Goddard has a new one in the works!

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and have voluntarily reviewed it*

[Sarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5

Though there was a lot of action at crucial points, this book was not as suspenseful as expected or more to my preferences for suspense. I think a lot had to do with all the cybersecurity explanations which was needed, but it made the book slow and a bit boring.

I did not expect who the cyber criminal was - so I was glad to be surprised there, but the ending felt a bit resolved too quickly.

The plot about the vandalized memorial wrapped up in this book. I wanted and expected a more mysterious suspenseful plot here as well, and again this plot’s conclusion felt a slightly bit rushed.

I did enjoy the book and will read more from this author.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Critical Alliance is the third and final book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series. You can still enjoy this novel on its own even if you haven’t read the first two books. The major thread of the story involves Mackenzie, who is in the field of cybersecurity and has some things that she regrets from her past. Alex is the other lead character, a man that Mackenzie knows from a few years earlier. They definitely have an attraction that simmers throughout the novel.

Critical Alliance is primarily a story revolving around cybersecurity and hacking. yet there are physical dangers that arise for both Mackenzie and Alex, as well. It is clear that someone wants to harm Mackenzie and possibly her family, too.

The author wraps up the smaller storyline that has woven into the other books involving vandalism to the memorial that includes a plaque for Alex’s late father, who died working Search and Rescue years earlier. It was good to finally uncover the motive behind the damage.

I liked Alex and Mackenzie and also enjoyed seeing the previous two couples from the other books in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blog post here https://veganbookblogger.wordpress.co...

This is the third and final book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series. Now this can be read as a stand alone but I do recommend reading the others in this series as there is some character carry over from previous books.
I'll admit to having never read a book quite like this before. It borders on sci-fiction but the author has done an excellent research job and everything cyber that happens in the story could actually happen. Now cyber intelligence is not my kind of thing that would be my first choice of reading material but I love this author's books so I knew I had to give this book a try and I loved it. I read the book all at once over a several hours period.
It is feverishly paced with basically no down time at all.
In this book you'll find a woman who is a cyber security expert hiding a past that she's trying to forget about but will she have to go back to her old ways to save not only herself but those around her.
Angsty romance, that part was take it or leave it for me. I read it for the action not the romance.
To think of the things people with cyber intelligence can do is pretty scary as evidenced in this book. They control so much more than we are even aware of.
There was a part in there that hits you like a lightning bolt as it's so unexpected.
I'll be stepping up to the plate as soon as I know she has another book releasing.

Pub Date 05 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Amber Thiessen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in this series highlights a mystery of cybercrime. Now a professor of cybersecurity-with a criminal past-Mackenzie's life is uprooted by a warning from an old friend. This leads her back to her Montana home to her family's tech company where she discovers things are not as they should be. In an effort to help discover who's behind the security breach she will face temptation to return to her old hacking ways. A DSS agent, Alex, is supposed to be on vacation after a detail gone wrong overseas, but he steps in to lend protection as Mackenzie faces threats around her.

Recommend if you enjoy cybercrime mysteries and if you've got an interest in Alex's story after reading the previous two in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping and outstanding mystery. The suspense was palpable, the romance was heartfelt, and I loved the characters. An excellent end to the trilogy (although I will miss these characters!). This book kept me up late reading - I hated to put it down! I don’t know much about the “how it works” of cybersecurity, but I found that element to be fascinating (and scary!). Excellent book!

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart pounding action from the beginning. Who is trustworthy? Who could possibly know the answers to why threats keep happening? Each decision on how to deal with these scary scenarios could bring closure and the truth. Love and faith can possibly be found, too. This is another great story from author Elizabeth Goddard. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for this final chapter in the Rocky Mountain Courage series. While this is book 3 in the series, the story can stand alone. You see some of Terra and Erin in this novel and having their back-stories is helpful, but not necessary to the enjoyment of this story. This story follows the final member of the trio who lost their parents in a search and rescue avalanche 15 years prior, Alex Knight. Fans of the series will have seen snippets of Alex, but he's been a bit distant and aloof, and in this book we get to find out why. We're also introduced to Mackenzie Hanson, whose cyber exploits sent her away from her family many years ago, but has come back when she's warned of trouble. This book hit the ground running and had a lot of twists and turns. In the digital age in which we live, the occurrences in this book were rather frightening in their realism.

I enjoyed the story line of this book and the twists and turns. I thought I'd figured out the villain several times and though the person who ended up being the villain had been on my suspect list, it still surprised me (as pretty much everyone else had been on the list as well). I enjoyed the character development in this one as well. Alex and Mackenzie both have past mistakes to work through and have to learn to forgive themselves. There's a solid faith thread in this one as well as the characters seek the Lord's guidance and pray regularly for help. The romance was sweet and moved at a decent pace, which I enjoyed because romantic suspense novels tend to make the romance move too quickly. I enjoyed getting to "catch up" with the characters from the prior novels as well. My only complaint was that some of the computer lingo dragged things a bit for me, but I'll be the first to declare how un-tech-savvy I am. I'm guessing that most people in my generation and younger won't be bogged down in the least. It was a pretty minor complaint as the story moved quickly around it though. All in all, an excellent read and one I'd recommend to fans of inspirational romantic suspense.

Special thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
"You're vulnerable to deadly attacks. They're taking the stronghold!"

A cryptic message preceding an unforeseen accident . . . or had it been? Mackenzie Hanson didn't know what to think, but one thing was certain . .. . she needed to go home, back to Montana where it all began. Her family was in trouble, whether they knew it or not and she could help them, whether they wanted it or not.

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is also back in Montana, and like seeing a specter, Alex spots the beautiful woman he spent a day with in Washington, D. C. some years earlier, hiking along a trail above the Rocky Mountain Courage Memorial where he and his friends were inspecting some damage. "What was she doing here?"

The answer to that question is complicated, and soon Mackenzie and Alex reunite in order to track down a lethal cybersecurity criminal from Mackenzie's past who seems to have nine lives and dangerous access to the inner workings of the drone manufacturing company that Mackenzie's father built from the ground up. Will Mackenzie's background be a liability or an asset . . . or both. Lurking in the back of their minds is another relentless unknown; can they work together safely . . . legally, professionally, and personally?

"Looked like she would have to become a cybercriminal - again - to fix this."

This story took off both quickly and efficiently, with plenty of entertaining moments and high-octane action . . . . . complicated in some ways, but simple enough to understand in others. One thing remained certain, Mackenzie and Alex had formed a "critical alliance" of their own making, and thank goodness! They were going to need it. A very enjoyable book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-pounding suspense, filled with intrigue, faith, and romance.

Mackenzie Hanson is a brilliant cybersecurity expert, she goes home to help her estranged family after threats from her past reemerge. Alex Knight is an old acquaintance on vacation in his home state, when he gets drawn into a tangled web of intrigue and danger with a beautiful professor of cybersecurity.

A thrilling suspense, filled with non-stop action, great relationship building, with a twisting plot that kept me guessing with no idea who to trust. Mackenzie is an intelligent heroine who puts her skills to good use, she is a whiz on the computer and knows the weak points in a system because she once exploited them. Alex is a wonderful ally, supportive and ready to step in, even though it puts his position in jeopardy.

Overall, a excellent conclusion to the Rocky Mountain Courage Series, I loved seeing familiar faces from previous books, as well as seeing Alex have a story of his own. There is so much going on in this book, and I didn't want to put it down. Romantic, full of suspense, well researched, and definitely kept me guessing. Highly recommend!

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

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first ran across this author when I read several of her Love Inspired Suspense novels, and loved everything I read. This is her second series for Revell, which are much longer novels, and she has written two great series, this being the third and last of the second series.

As always, the author came up with great characters for the book, and brought back the others in the other two books also. Mackenzie, still trying to right the wrong she did as a sixteen year old hacker.... and Alex, trying to get away from what he viewed as a failure on his part in the line of his work.

The plot of the book is centered around cyber security, hacking, cyber attacks, and drone technology. Any time an author tackles that, there is a danger of using too much techno language and having the reader's eyes glaze over like a donut.

Goddard pulled it off without doing that. I found it all very interesting, and actually parts of it fascinating. Mackenzie made an awesome hacker, and Alex a great protector and researcher on the drone technology part of what was going on. A cool thing about Christian fiction, is how you can learn a lot while being entertained and inspired.....and I did learn a lot about drones and cyber security "stuff". The author did a lot of research, and it shows.

The romance angle was different in this book than in the first two. In the first two books, both couples had previously dated and broken up. In Critical Alliance, Mackenzie and Alex had previously met and spent a day together, but had never dated. The romance was much more slow moving in this story, though it was obvious that it was going to happen with the way the two got along. :)

Nebulous 2.0 made a great villain and did a lot of damage and threats. The author totally shocked me when the identity was revealed. I totally did not see that coming.

And the mystery of the memorial vandalism was finally solved.....and that was another great surprise and showed what kind of man Alex was with his reactions and actions when he found out.

This book was a great ending to a great series, and I enjoyed every page and minute of it.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series, and we do get, actually surprising, answers to some lingering questions from the beginning of this series!

This is Mackenzie and Alex's story, but it goes deeper, and your mind will be all over the place, and switching back again.

As the bodies fall, the need for answers, and whom can they trust? This is deep in artificial intelligence, we are dealing with cybersecurity and we need answers before it is to late!

We are given some sweet romance, along with a roller coast ride for answers! Yes, you will be page turning for answers!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Abigail Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could hardly force myself to put this book down!
It is a great suspense read!
Mackenzie is trying to protect her family and redeem herself from past mistakes. But she is in too deep and needs help.
This storyline will familiarize you with cybersecurity and hacking. The “smarter” technology gets, the more dangerous. I’m thankful none of this takes God by surprise.
I highly recommend this excellent read.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard is the third and final book in her Rocky Mountain Courage series.

Mackenzie is a reformed hacker who’s life is upended when her family’s tech company is targeted. Her return to Montana coincides with Alex Knight’s, with whom she went on one amazing date.

This is an incredibly crafted story! The detail is given in just the right amount, but more so, I loved the way each little thing is important. Alex is a great hero and even the coding language is understandable. I struggled with Mackenzie at times, but that was easy to overlook because of how well the story is written.

If you love romantic suspense set in a gorgeous setting like the Montana Rockies, then this is definitely a book to read. And you don’t have to read the previous books in the series to appreciate this one! Though, the others are great, too. In fact, I’d like to go back and read all three together now that the series is complete.

—
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This engaging story delves into the dangers and risks facing individuals, corporations, and world governments today from intrusive and devious hackers into cyber systems. These cyber systems are incorporated into major and minute tools of today's world. Our phones, our home systems, our computers, our cars, our machinery, our weapons, our defense and offense systems. Everything!
As a young teen our heroine, Mackenzie, was involved in illegal hacking and regrets her participation. She has turned her life around and is now a cybersecurity professor. Her family's corporate footprint involves the cyber world and development of various drones.

She is drawn into an attack on her family's corporate world and her life is in danger as well as that of her sister, Nora. As she immerses herself in discovering what is happening and what the actual threat is, she is attacked in the woods by an unknown assailant. The story and the threat escalates from this point on.

I highly recommend this exciting story.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very suspenseful novel dealing with cyber security that keeps the readers guessing. I always look forward to Elizabeth Goddard's newest releases and this one was no different.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I wanted to give this book 3 stars because the story line was interesting, but the writing was just too fragmented and very choppy; most of the time it just didn't flow. I also felt like it dragged on. There was very poor character relationship development, which is imperative to a good story. Another thing that bothered me, and it may just be me, is that the "internal thought monologue" was excessive. It felt like every other line began with a "thought monologue" before either of the main characters spoke. Definitely not necessary as much as it was used and kind of annoying 😬. I struggled to finish this book.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rocky Mountain Courage book #3

In this latest battle of wits Elizabeth Goddard sends her protagonist Mackenzie Hanson, a reformed hacker, to her family tech company in Montana after a cybersecurity alarm was set off. There she bumps on Alex Knight, an old friend.....tension escalades and we are into a skillfully crafted drama.

Ms. Goddard is well-known to give us a plot that is not only filled with action and suspense she also includes heartfelt romance to pepper her story. Everything is clean and well said and moves at a steady pace. Not only are the scenes vividly described to make them captivating but they are also played out by top notch characters easy to root for.

I agree with some reviewers “Critical Alliance” is a suspenseful ride into the world of cyber criminals. A gripping and emotional page-turner that reveals itself layer by layer till the mystery is unpuzzled.

I hate to see this trilogy conclude no doubts Ms. Goddard will come up with another exciting trilogy in the near future.

I received this ARC from the Publisher Revell via the First Reviewer Program for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series.



Alex and MacKenzie are on the hunt to stop a cybercriminal before it destroys the company that her dad built.



I did not know who the cybercriminal was until close to the end of the story--I just kept guessing but had no idea. This is the sign of a great suspense novel, it kept me turning the pages!



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book that starts out with danger and never lets up. The author is very gifted in writing stories that keep you guessing and has you on pins and needles as the journey becomes more intense. When a book is about cybersecurity I know that I will not be able to put the book down. The details are chilling as the author surpasses my expectations with her ability to deliver a book worthy of a movie.

Mackenzie is one of those characters that just jumps off the page. Her intelligence is impressive and will be an asset as she tries to figure out what is going on with her family’s company. Her past seems to follow her when some of her family still holds a grudge against her. How sad that they could not swallow their pride and forgive her. When someone gets a message to her that screams of eminent danger she needs to act fast. Who is shooting at her and why?


Alex is back home in the beautiful state of Montana. The mountains are beautiful and there is a calmness that surrounds him. He is there to relax but a situation arises that has his full attention. Mackenzie needs his help and he will have to decide if he can trust her enough to keep her safe. Danger , secrets, and unexplained deaths keep these two on high alert and gives us a journey into a dark world where greed and power come out to cause destruction. Is Alex prepared to put his life on the line to protect Mackenzie?

I loved the technology that the author uses throughout the story. It is evident that she did extensive research in this area to make the story so realistic. I was beginning to have my doubts about a certain person, yet I wasn’t totally convinced that they were a threat to Mackenzie. Oh how the twists are plenty as drones start popping up in the sky. I could see how drones would be valuable for some but to others it could be a way to spy or be intimidating. It reminds me of the saying, “big brother is watching.” Oh my was I getting more intrigued as the author draws me into a explosive espionage scheme complete with technology that uses drones and threatens people so they can get the information they needed. Mackenzie is using everything she knows to stop the secret technology from controlling the world. It was very scary to think that this very thing could happen in real life. Cybersecurity is very much needed to take down the threat and Mackenzie may be the only one who can stop it. Get ready to fasten your seatbelt everyone as we take off on a mission that will take smart hackers, quick thinking and God to stop a threat that could damage more than just a company.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical Alliance is the 3rd and final installment of Elizabeth Goddard’s Rocky Mountain Courage series. Though I’m so sad to this series end, I really enjoyed reading about Mackenzie Hanson and Alex Knight’s story. Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana after a mission he was on went all wrong. It’s a good thing too. Even though he is trying to relax and put his mission behind him, he stumbles upon 2 mysteries that need his help in solving. One is trying to figure out who keeps destroying the Rocky Mountain Courage Memorial. The other is helping Mackenzie Hanson who is back in Montana trying to figure out who is trying to sabotage her family’s business. Mackenzie is a professor of cybersecurity at the U of Michigan. She is given a secret message from an old friend from her hacker days concerning Hanstech, the company started by her father. She heads to Montana to warn and protect her family. She stumbles into Alex where he gets caught up in protecting her. Together they must find out who is behind this cyber attack before her family members are killed one by one.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a nice change from other romantic suspense books where they rely on a lot of action (which I love). Critical Alliance had action, but a lot of the suspense wasn’t physical. It was more realistic and scary in what cyber criminals can do. I loved learning about cybersecurity and all the ins and outs. Elizabeth Goddard really wrote such an interesting book. It kept my attention throughout. I couldn’t wait to find out who was behind the cyber attacks on Mackenzie’s family company. I can see this being made into a movie. It was that good. A thriller for sure! I appreciated that we got to see a lot of the previous couples from the first two books. Although they weren’t the main couple, they were still a huge part of the book. It was nice that we found out what was going on with them. This is a faith based book, so it has some praying going on and it’s a good clean mystery. These are my favorites! My only complaint is that we didn’t get an epilogue which I feel it needed since it was the end of the series. I’m sad to say goodbye to Montana and this world Elizabeth Goddard has created, but I’m excited for her next book series. Hard to say goodbye, but saying hello makes it a little easier.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, but all opinions are my very own!

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-researched book that delves into the dark world of cybercriminals and also informed me of how much harm a cyber attack can actually do. Part of the Rocky Mountain Courage series, this one knocked it out of the park with suspense from the very beginning until the end. I liked the picturesque setting in Montana and all of the ways that the setting was used so well for the non-stop action. I particularly enjoyed the low-key romance developing between Alex and Mackenzie. They were so busy concentrating on finding and stopping the cyber attack that they barely had time to acknowledge each other’s feelings, but they were definitely attracted to each other. That is my kind of love story, simmering on the back burner until one day it catches on fire. The plot was complicated and very well told so that it was understandable in spite of the fact that it dealt with some really complex issues in the cyber world. I really enjoyed meeting the characters from the previous books in the series again as they were called in to help Alex safeguard Mackenzie and capture the criminal. I was not able to guess who the bad guy was, and I do love a book that keeps me guessing until the big reveal. Fans of romantic suspense, with the emphasis on suspense, will enjoy this final book in the trilogy and, like me, will look forward to the next book from this talented author.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and from Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”