"The themes of this book are about letting go and letting God, redemption, trust and second chances. While the plot was inventive, I found it to drag at times and there was quite a bit of repetition. I also didn't care for ending most chapters with a question, as if that is going to keep me reading. A good thing about this plot is that the baddie was hidden until the end and the real motive was a surprise.

Veterinarian Paradise Alden had a rocky youth in the foster care system, but she always remembered her childhood in Nove Cambridge, Alabama and the best time of her life. After getting mauled by a jaguar, she decided that she needs to finally discover who killed her parents. Paradise takes a job The Sanctuary, a wildlife refuge, as their veterinarian. She comes face to face with the man who broke her young heart, the son of the refuge owner, Blake Lawson.

For fifteen years Blake Lawson has wondered what happened to Paradise Alden. When he comes face to face with her, he knows that his feelings for her are just as strong as they were back then. His goal is to make her remember what they once had. On the heels of Paradise's arrival, a body is discovered, and several odd and potentially deadly events occur at the refuge. With a detective who holds a grudge against Blake, he and Paradise will need to discover who is behind the attacks and why on their own. 3 1/2-Stars

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way."

"I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Ambush is the first book in a new series by Colleen Coble set in the coastal area of the Gulf Shores, Alabama. Filled with action from chapter one, we follow Paradise Alden a veterinarian recovering from a big cat attack with the scars to remind her daily of her brush with death, who's returned to her childhood town in the hopes of finding out who really killed her parents leaving her an orphan brought up in foster care where she was abused and hurt.
The second POV is Blake Lawson, who's always had strong feelings for Paradise and has never gotten over their separation all those years ago. Blake and his family now own the animal refuge where Paradise is beginning work, and the two are pushed back into each others orbits.
So much happens in this book, and I flew through it, unable to stop at just a chapter here and there. The book does have a lot of repetition and was dragged out about by this aspect, but the great narration and clever reveal of the murderer and their motive made up for it for me in the end."

"While one could technically argue that each book in the Casey Duncan series contains a case/mystery/problem that is resolved I would strongly recommend starting from the beginning. World-building, character relationships and an overall storyline allow for connections, create tension, and well let's face it, Armstrong has created a brilliant and addictive series.

Protecting a small secluded town that depends on the collective resources of its residents is complicated enough, but Sheriff Eric Dalton and Detective Casey Duncan will soon face their biggest threat yet. The council sends a new temporary resident. A charismatic serial killer, whom they are supposed to guard.

Oliver Brady arrived bound and gagged with a recommendation to keep him that way. Brady is soon protesting his innocence with an outlandish story. The arrival of Brady highlights just how closed off from society this remote town is. Having no choice but to adhere to the council's wishes, they place Brady in their small holding cell and begin working on better accommodations. The story that unfolds was intense, with plenty of twists, and non-stop heart-pounding action.

I love that the townsfolk are a relative mystery, even to Eric and Casey as they try to solve events, look for co-conspirators and keep the town safe. It creates an edge in each of the books. You will come to love some and want to keep others in your peripheral vision. We continue to see a strengthening of the relationship between Casy and Eric. While there is a romance, the mysteries, murders, and danger are center stage. The romance and relationships serve to strengthen the stories.

This Fallen Prey was a brilliant installment that not only provided an engaging tale about Oliver Brady but allowed us to spend time in the woods surrounding Rockton. We get up close and personal with the Others, deep in the woods surrounding Rockton. This encounter was downright chilling. Armstrong has a diabolical mind, and I loved every moment of it. We meet a council member, see death and become caught up in a wicked game of cat and mouse."

"Let me get this right out in front, Sheriff Eric Dalton and Detective Casey Duncan are two of my favorite romantic characters in almost fifty years of reading. Plus, Kelly Armstrong is known for some famously romantic characters in her several paranormal series.
Unlike all of her other series, the Casey Duncan series is a hardcore police procedural, but set in a most unusual location. Armstrong is famous for her supernatural world building, but I think this series far surpasses those worlds.
Rockton is supposed to be a little off-the-grid town of last resort, set within the boundaries of a huge boreal forest in the Yukon. People are granted sanctuary-for a price- for reasons ranging from avoiding a wrongful criminal conviction to escaping an abusive partner and everything in between.
But the investors in Rockton have gotten greedy. First they started sneaking in white collar criminals who pay hefty fees. Then the mysterious investors/council tried sneaking really unsavory people into Rockton unbeknownst to Eric and Casey.
Entering into Rockton means the residents are isolated from just about every modern convenience, surrounded by a forest uncaring about their continuing existence. The even more primitive communities of settlers who left Rockton years ago and hostiles who revert back to a barely recognizable life form are extremely threatening complications to the citizens of Rockton. That’s why rule number one in Rockton is don’t go into the forest alone.
So the above should catch readers up on what Rockton is all about if they haven't read the previous two books. So it is fine to read This Fallen Prey as a standalone, but I highly suggest going back and reading the other two for the pure d. pleasure.
One afternoon while training Casey’s puppy, Eric, Casey, and Deputy Will Anders hear the buzz of a small plane. This is an almost impossible occurrence since Rockton is protected from discovery by high tech and sophisticated physical means.
The small plane lands and delivers a bound and gagged man. A thrill killer, a serial killer, named Oliver Brady is sent by his extremely rich step-father to Rockton as a way for Oliver to avoid prison. Turning Rockton into a prison would be a huge new source of income for the investors, but a major danger for the residents of Rockton as it is not equipped to function as a high security jail. People who find Rockton come for their safety. Not to be serial killer fodder.
It won't come as a shock that Oliver proclaims his innocence, saying his step-father is setting him up. Nor will it be a shock that with the help of an accomplice, Oliver escapes into the forest.
Eric and Casey have to go after Brady because a serial killer could pose a severe danger to those living in the forest and the wild apex predators can't be depended upon to take him out.
The atmospheric forest with it predators, settlers and hostiles does its best to kill Eric and Casey, and puppy Storm during their search for Oliver; with the 80 pounds of Newfoundland puppy seeming to be the major target of the forest.
As much as I love this series I did have a few complaints. The forest starred more than Rockton, and I missed Rockton. Other than Oliver, there were not any new Rockton residents introduced for more than a quick appearance. Many favorite long time residents only made cameo appearances, albeit in shocking ways for some.
Armstrong has always been a master of dialogue, either sharp or amusing. Taking bets on what will kill Oliver if he makes a run for it upon his arrival in Rockton:
“Fine, rabbits��
“But the rabbits haven’t killed anyone yet.��
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The story is action-packed edge of the seat reading. At one point Casey is shocked to find out it is only 3p.m. So is the reader.
I mentioned at the beginning that Eric and Casey were favored romantic characters. They would die for one another but instead do their very best to live for one another. How hot is that?
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review."