It's hard to write romantic-suspense and do justice to both genres--especially in the page count allotted for Love Inspired Suspense. I don't recall reading this author before. It can be read as a stand-alone book (though I do think I read the first one in this series as well--even though I don't remember any of the characters from it).

The suspense part is done better than the romance in my opinion, though even that relies on tried-and-true plot points such as doppelgangers.

The romance part of the book suffered in my opinion. Colt begins the book convinced that Danielle is really Adriana and that she's guilty. Not really the basis on which I'd want to begin a relationship with a man. (Though his character does grow throughout the book and by the end is willing to admit that they need more proof to know if Adriana is guilty of what they think she has done.) Even when he's presented with concrete evidence that Danielle is not Adriana, he seems to go back and forth with himself as to whether he wants to be personally involved with her or whether he wants to see her only as "a job".

The romance builds from them meeting to him proposing to her in a short period of time. Yes, they do go through more together than some couples might in the same amount of time, but . . . as Danielle pointed out at one point, they're in an emotionally charged time, and they really have no idea how they'll relate to each other on a day-to-day basis. They probably haven't moved beyond the infatuation stage of a relationship at the time he proposes to her. Not something I'd recommend non-fictional characters do. ( )

Title: Christmas Double Cross
Author: Jodie Bailey
Pages: 218
Year: 2017
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Danielle Segovia is trying to make ends meet. She runs her own gift shop with art, pottery and various decorations for the home. She is also raising her 15-year-old brother, who has recently begun hanging out with gang members. She has tried to tell him how dangerous this is, but he believes the gang will take care of them. Danielle gave up finishing her college degree to raise her brother and run the shop when her parents died in a car accident. A handsome man enters her shop just before closing and talks to her about things she knows nothing about. What is going on?
Colt Blackthorn is undercover as an illegal art dealer to ascertain the identity of a particular art shop owner. He has received intel that she is the sister of a Mexican drug cartel leader. She has stolen a huge cash of drugs from her brother and he wants it back. He will do anything to retrieve it as the drugs are worth millions. He also wants his sister back to exact a more personal revenge. Colt and the other U.S. Marshals want Rio’s sister to stop the infiltration of more drugs in Texas from a potential new drug lord. Colt enters the art shop and soon identifies the owner as Rio’s sister. He leaves the shop certain of her identity and filled with anger as she is also responsible for his best friend’s death. While he tries to gain control of his emotions, he sees her forced into an unmarked vehicle. Has her brother found her? Colt races to catch the car so he can see justice done for his best friend and not let a murderer get away.
This excitement is all in just the first few chapters of the book. There is plenty more where that came from! This is another great suspense-filled story! Danielle’s struggle with raising her teenage brother was an interesting side plot, and Colt’s struggle with his feelings of vengeance also rang true. The faith element is evident in the story without being overwhelming; it is seamlessly woven in. This would be a good stocking stuffer for the reader on your Christmas list! ( )