I don't know why I pick up Christian fiction. I'm not religious and I don't really enjoy it. Anyway, the mystery was alright in this one. Fairly predictable. Mercy was an okay character. The romance was lame. Likely won't continue with the series. ( )

This book was very . . . interesting.

Mercy Brennan, the MC, captured my interest at the beginning. She was a very complex character. Mark St. Laurent, the other MC, fell a little short in my opinion. He was very sweet, but didn't have the same complexity that Mercy had, and I missed that. Overall, the characters were interesting, but I never truly connected with them. I personally love character-driven stories, so this was a little disappointing for me in that regard.

The storyline was well-thought out, and very fast-paced. I read this in about 24 hours. There were some parts that were predictable, and others that weren't very realistic. For example, a character is left in sub-freezing temperatures in a blizzard without clothes on for several hours. But then, when he is finally rescued, he's right back to normal within minutes, seemingly. There would be far more severe repercussions than just needing to warm up for a few minutes. Also, a character is shot in the arm, and only applies a loose bandage, but then is able to function almost normally. He would have lost a large amount of blood and been incapacitated, but that is not shown here. Those are just two example of some of the things I found unrealistic. I found some of the details with the gangcartel rather disturbing, and a little violent for my tastes.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this. It was okay for a one-time read, but isn't necessarily something I'd recommend or read again.

CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 16 for violence, mainly. There is a lot of gun play, a few characters are killed, severely wounded, or almost freeze to death. There's also details of rough family situations. The main story revolves around a drug cartel and gangs. ( )

Title: Fatal Frost (Defenders of Justice #1)
Author: Nancy Mehl
Pages: 304
Year: 2016
Publisher: Bethany
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
In her newest series, Defenders of Justice, readers are introduced to a U. S. Marshal character named Mercy Brennan. Mercy’s coworkers give her a nickname that implies how well guarded Mercy keeps her heart and life. As readers progress through the book, it is revealed why Mercy protects herself from what she believes will end up hurting or breaking her heart. Mercy has few friends from within the service and from other agencies, but with danger rapidly closing in on her life Mercy may have to face her past head on!
In a tale of danger, suspense and unending battles, the flavor of a great suspenseful tale is revealed. The author does more than simply write a good book; she draws her audience into the adventure of the story and keeps them engaged as the plot unfolds. At times, when I least expected, Nancy Mehl would bring a sudden change into the tale that would ramp up my heartbeat!
Nancy Mehl has written many books in her career and I have enjoyed reading her novels. Now, in her Defenders series, I was even more engrossed in the plot, the lives of her characters and the suspense that didn’t let up till the very end. Personally, I cannot wait until the next story of the series comes out so I can see where Mercy is as well as some of the supporting cast. Keep up the great storytelling Nancy! ( )

Fatal Frost
Nancy Mehl

Book Summary: Mehl Ramps Up the Suspense in This Brand-New U.S. Marshals Series- Mercy Brennan followed in her father's footsteps in a law enforcement career, but she has no interest in any other connection to him. A U.S. Marshal in St. Louis, Missouri, she's assigned to a joint task force with the St. Louis PD that puts her back into contact with her father and in the sights of St. Louis's most powerful gang. When the gang has reason to believe Mercy has possession of some highly sensitive and incriminating information, her boss assigns Mark St. Laurent--a Deputy U.S. Marshal and Mercy's ex-boyfriend--to get her out of town until they can guarantee her safety. Initially unaware of the danger she's in and uncomfortable working with Mark, Mercy's frustration escalates when she discovers the extent her boss and Mark have been keeping her in the dark. It isn't until a freak ice storm hits, stranding them at a remote location and out of contact with the district office, that the full severity of their situation becomes clear. As the storm worsens, the forces of nature combine with a deadly enemy closing in to put their lives at imminent risk. Can they survive long enough for help to arrive--if help is even coming at all?

Review: I really enjoyed this book. The twists and turns were fun. I also liked Mark the most. It was a well written book with a good struggle about faith. Mercy had a lot going on. She was someone who was struggling. Despite this she was empathetic at times, although she had a lot of baggage. The story was realistic in the fact that drug trafficking seems to be overwhelming. They way the ending went it was tense and things seemed to go well than the twists and turns began. Definitely a series to look forward to.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. ( )

Previous books by Nancy Mehl have focused on Mennonite or Amish communities interacting amongst those in secular communities and often laced with a strong element of suspense. In Fatal Frost Mehl steps firmily into the suspense genre aligning her characters in the U.S.Marshal camp and with the world of protection, gang-bashers, and drug cartels.

I say this is a good fit for Mehl's talents as she takes the reader into the corruption that drugs, murder, and ill-gained money place characters. As the title indicates, the death defying chill of a severe winter storm and the deadly pursuit of evil men takes the reader into the mind, actions, and horrors of a spine chilling suspense read. Frosty indeed!

Character development is excellent and reveals weaknesses and strengths of each of the major players. Corruption in high places as well as low-life gang members run a strong thread of fearful encounters throughout the book. There is, however, a promise of hope as characters share their Christian faith.

As the first book in a series of Defenders of Justice, Fatal Frost has given me a sure-fire appetite for additional "defenders of justice" stories. Thanks Nancy Mehl for a good, Christian read.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review of my honest opinions and received no compensation to review. ( )