Night Prey

by Sharon Dunn

"Stay off the King Ranch."

Jenna Murphy wants to ignore the anonymous, puzzling note. How could she leave the work she loves at the ranch's Birds of Prey Rescue Center? But when someone attacks the birds under her care, she starts to worry. And when Jenna is attacked, she knows she's in over her head. She never expected Keith Roland to come to her rescue. They were childhood friends before he fell in with the wrong crowd. Now the former troublemaker is a soldier, and a changed man. Yet has he really reformed? Can Jenna truly trust him with her safety—and her heart?

Genres: Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Christian, Harlequin

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

After almost 27 years of marriage Sharon's beloved husband Michael passed away in 2014. Together they had a life filled with adventure, laughter and unconditional love. She considers herself blessed to have been loved that way. She has three grown children and a busy cat named Sparky.

Her love for mystery and suspense began in the fifth grade, when she found a whole set of Nancy Drew mysteries with pink covers in the school library. Sharon is the author of five humorous mysteries that were written for Christian readers. Her second book in her Ruby Taylor mystery series was voted book of the year by American Christian Fiction Writers. She has written over thirty books for Love Inspired Suspense many of which have appeared on USA Today Bestseller lists. Night Prey (Love Inspired Suspense) won the Carol Award from American Christian fiction writers.

Sharon has a bachelor's degree in film production and a master's degree in history. She loves old movies like Double Indemnity and anything by Frank Capra or Alfred Hitchcock. She enjoys reading all kinds of books but is partial to the nonfiction of C. S. Lewis. She loves to hear from readers. You can contact her and sign up for her newsletter at her website http://sharondunnbooks.net/

Reviews

[Lady Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Has decent characters, but the premise and focus on "saving the birds" is just too much in the story. At one point it just got more tedious than boring.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational romance novel filled with suspense. The main characters Keith and Jenna are on an intriguing mystery filled with a chase to figure it out. Someone is attacking Jenna's birds at the Birds of Prey Rescue Center. Then they come after her. Luckily, Keith has her back and is doing his best to protect her.

Lots of moments of intense situations that threaten both their lives. Jenna is faced with learning to trust Keith again. Being childhood friends that had drifted apart leading to mistrust on Jenna's part, she doesn't know if she can trust him now.

The storyline had lots of action and a relationship that teetered on the edge between love and mistrust. The ending wrapped up everything nicely. Very enjoyable read.

[Karen Pawelko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I might have read this book years ago because parts of it I seem to have remembered. It turned out to be a fast read. I've read other books by Sharon Dunn and have another one in my pile of to read books.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenna has her dream job, working at Birds of Prey Rescue Center. Now someone is trying to kill her birds. Her hero comes as a lost friend from the past. They have so many questions and not finding answers. Really great, exciting read.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good. for a "clean" romance it was surprising to me how much action there was. I wasn't excepting the bad guy to be who it was!

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was excellent in focusing on two characters who had a past history where they were best friends. Jenna's compassion for raptors and Keith's military history give the story depth.

[Kim]

I really enjoyed this book very much.

[Wendy Sparkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenna Murphy is trying to rescue an injured hawk. Getting shot at was not part of the plan.

While tracking the hawk on the King ranch she is found by the King's grandson Keith Roland, a childhood friend before he fell in with the wrong crowd but now a soldier and a changed man.

Why are they being shot at?

Why are eagles and hawks being shot?

Why are there a lot of bear carcasses turning up?

Why was the threat on the King's door written in wolf's blood? Who else is using the King ranch?

And why are Jenna and her Bird's of Prey Centre being threatened and attacked?

Both are determined to find the answers, and both are determined to protect their hearts from the other so as not to get hurt again.

A great fast-paced, action filled story; with undercurrents of faith, love, forgiveness and second chances.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenna Murphy owns a birds of prey rescue center. She rescues injured birds and nurses them back to health. Her relationship with her father is very strained due to a drinking problem he's suffered with for many years. So when former childhood friend, Keith Roland, returns to take care of his grandparents ranch, she has no idea that he's fighting his own battles that began twelve years ago.

But they find themselves trying to solve a crime that has started on Keith's grandparents' property. Something illegal is going on, and their lives are being threatened.

The romance in this book came slowly, but was very sweet. The suspense was a bit odd, but all made sense at the end...kinda...

[Linda Ortiz · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Night Prey" was a book about Jenna Murphy who works at Birds of Prey Rescue Center. An old childhood friend Keith Richards comes back to town to make amends with his grandparents from his troubled youth. The both are thrown together by events that are happening on his grandparents ranch and at the Birds of Prey Rescue Center. Personally, I thought the story was slow and did not catch my attention. I wanted to put the book down, but I continue to read the story to see what happens. Night Prey, was a slow read. I really did not enjoy it much!

[Chasity Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I volunteer at a bird's of prey rescue/rehab center in Colorado and I really enjoyed reading this book. I was able to relate to the main character as she took care of her birds. I also love a good mystery/romance. The fact that this book is an inspirational one was an added bonus for me! I am a christian and it's sometimes hard to find a decent book that I can truly enjoy.

[Carolyn E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Night Prey by Sharon Dunn. I especially enjoyed reading about Jenna Murphy's work rescuing injured large birds of prey.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jenna rescues injured birds, nursing them back to health and releasing them back into the wild (when possible). On one of her rescue missions she lands herself in hot water...

While I do enjoy Sharon Dunn novels, this one didn't really grab me. I struggled to finish it. It wasn't bad, but for some reason I wasn't feeling the connection to this book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenna Murphy runs the Birds of Prey Rescue Center but needs help when she keeps rescuing wounded birds who have been shot. Birds aren't the only animals being killed and when she and an old fried Keith Roland start looking into it, they and the center become targets.

[Judine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent in focusing on two characters who had a past history where they were best friends, which made their romance much more believable. Jenna's compassion for raptors and Keith's military history help give the story depth.

[Vintage Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the story of Jenna. Keith displayed great courage in coming back and getting his life together again and Jenna displayed that courage also in taking steps to restore her relationship with her father.

[Georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline was ok. I just prefer books with a little more depth to them. The author put together a plot and several subplots all in the space of a little over 200 pages.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read that keeps you turning the pages.