Shades of Truth

Undercover Cops #2

by Sandra Orchard

MISSION: HIDDEN IDENTITY
Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.

Book 2 in Undercover Cops:
 Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line.

Genres: Love Inspired Suspense, Love Inspired, Romance, Suspense, Christian Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Mystery Thriller

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Sandra leaps off the garden trails of her herbal-researcher-turned-amateur-sleuth (Port Aster Secrets) series, to the museum corridors of her plucky FBI art crime agent Serena Jones, in A Fool and His Monet.

When not plotting crimes, Sandra plays make-believe with her grandchildren or hikes with her hubby along the escarpment, near their home in Niagara, Canada.

Her novels have garnered numerous awards, including the National Readers' Choice Award, a Holt Medallion Award of Merit, an RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Daphne DuMaurier Award of Excellence and five national Canadian Awards.

Learn more about Sandra’s books and fun bonus features at www.sandraorchard.com

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story starts off with a bang, and there are tons of twists to the crimes and plenty of suspects. Add to that a great male lead and a spunky leading lady, as well as a very strong message of Christian forgiveness and not living a defeated life. If you're wanting to kick back with an absorbing Christian mystery, kick back with this series.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I like it when a Christian book like this is more than just the suspense or romance. In this story, Ethan had done something as a teenager that he couldn't forgive himself for. He felt he didn't deserve anything good, and it even skewed his view of God and God's love and view of and for him.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I debated on whether to give this 4.5 or 5 stars, but since the story was so good, I decided on 5.

One thing I particularly liked was how Ginny (from Deep Cover) was is this book. It was great to see how things were with her.

The characters in Shades of Truth were great! I loved Ethan - he was my favorite character in this book. Kim was another great character, but she sometimes frustrated me because she didn't tell Ethan all of what had happened at the time.

The mystery is Shades of Truth was really good! I had a hard time trying to decide who I thought was behind it all and kept changing my mind. :)

With suspense, romance, and a powerful story on forgiveness, I loved Shades of Truth and look forward to reading the third book in the "Undercover Cops" series, Critical Condition, very soon.

If you like romantic suspense novels then I think you'd like this book.

* I borrowed this book from the library. I was not required to write a review, but chose to. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“MISSION: HIDDEN IDENTITY
Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.”


Series: Part of the Love Inspired Suspense line, Book #2 in the mini-series “Undercover Cops”. Review of Book #1 Here!


Spiritual Content- Isaiah 65:17 at the beginning; Scriptures are quoted & remembered; A mini-sermon; Many Prayers; Many talks about God & forgiveness; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God, peace & forgiveness; Mentions of prayers; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of churches, church going & youth group; Mentions of devote Christians & believing; A couple mentions of Bible reading; A couple mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of a preacher-warden; A mention of being blessed; A mention of getting religion;
*Note: A couple mentions of the devil.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘crap’s, three forms of ‘screw/screw up’, and five forms of ‘stupid’; Mentions of curses & slurs (said, not written); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; All about mentions of a drugs, drug ring, drug dealing, gangs, users, fighting, overdoses, injections & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Blood, pain, injuries, screaming, been drugged, being kidnapped, gunfire, a knife & a gun (up to semi-detailed); Threats of killing; Many mentions of jail, parole, prison, detention centers, felons & offenders; Mentions of deaths, bodies, murders & victims; Mentions of a suicide watch and suicides (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a suicide attempt; Mentions of abuse, beatings & a husband beating his wife and son; Mentions of threats of killing; Mentions of hatred & vandalism (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of bullets, gunshots, shooters, been shot & shooting (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of knifes, scars & a dirty cop; Mentions of a hit-and-run, screams, reckless driving, accidents & injuries; Mentions of injuries, pain and blood; Mentions of getting drunk and accidents (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a party with drugs & stoned teens; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; Mentions of a robbery; Mentions of blackmail; Mentions of tattoos & piercing; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors; A few mentions of stealing; A few mentions of sick graffiti; A few mentions of a bully; A few mentions of coyotes getting a rabbit (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of highs; A couple mentions of beer cans; A mention of a drowning child.


Sexual Content- a thumb-to-lips touch, a hand kiss, an almost kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss & two semi-detailed kisses; Remembering an almost kiss & a kiss (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss & be kissed; Touches, Embraces, Warmth & Butterflies (up to semi-detailed); Noticing & Smelling; Mentions of touches (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of blushes; Mentions of dates, dating, boyfriends, exes & a cheater; A few mentions of crushes; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of a roofie (the girl doesn’t seem to be assaulted); A mention of a romance novel; Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Kim Corbett
-Ethan Reed
P.O.V. switches between them
217 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add ½ for older girl interested in Law Enforcement.}
This wasn’t a light read by any means, but I did enjoy it. It’s not my favorite book by Sandra Orchard, but I liked it more than the first book in this mini-series. I am looking forward to reading (& reviewing) the third book in this series though! :)


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Katy Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-Stop Action!

This book did not lull at any point. There was always something to pay attention to, and the surprises around many corners kept you guessing. I love Sandra's many play on words. Her writing is so creative and visual. She knows exactly how to say the right amount of words, and in many cases with the right amount of humor, to get her point across.

This is the second book in her Undercover Series, and she has proven to have what it takes to take it on. I loved her hero's inner conflict of having to go back to a place like the place he had once did time in himself. Being on the otherside of the fence this time gave him insight into the lives of these teenagers and the ability to steer them away from the life of crimes he himself had once brushed with.

I like that the heroine was capable to work in such a place, but yet not some "she-woman" I couldn't relate to. She was feminine and tough at the same time.

Well done!

[Jessica Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Shades of Truth. Orchard's underlying themes of truth and forgiveness in a undercover policeman scenario has always interested me, but what I love most about this book is that I had no clue who the villain would be!
The story is about Kim, a compassionate youth worker who is trying to save her father's facility for troubled youths from losing its funding. Enter Ethan, the undercover policeman determined to unearth who is recruiting young kids from the facility to deal drugs. If it takes closing the place down, then that's what he'll do.
Both Kim and Ethan have some things they struggle with from the past but the main focus of the story is the suspense and romance.
I loved that the storyline was clear and suspenseful without being confusing. Shades of Truth keeps you guessing until the end.

[Betti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, with characters that kept me wondering which one would turn out to be the villain. I really felt for the hero as he struggled with forgiveness, and found the spiritual references give us all something to ponder. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more by this author!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book in this series I was excited for this one. It did not disappoint. In fact, I loved this on even more. It was the 2 characters, Kim and Ethan. I liked both characters where in the 1st book I had some issues with Kim. In this one I felt they were both strong, smart and capable. Not to mention the suspense scenes had me on edge.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

This edge-of-your-seat suspense has enough sharp turns to give you whiplash! Orchard keeps her readers on their toes from the very first action-packed scene. My head was spinning with possible suspects...or maybe it was because of the hunky hero, Ethan Reed. Talk about a knight in shining armor exploding onto the scene! Every girl's dream -- except for Kim's. Not that she doesn't appreciate an attractive man with a rescue gene. What girl wouldn't? But life's too complicated to go there...right? Little does she realize just how complicated things will get after their first powerhouse introduction!

A truly riveting read packed with a solid dose of inspirational insight that left me floored. A brilliant mix of romance, suspense and inspiration!

[Dancer · Rating 4 out of 5]

MISSION: HIDDEN IDENTITY
Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan's mission: ferret out who's recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won't tell Ethan anything-- even when she's threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.
Book 2 of Undercover Cops:
 Fighting for justice puts their lives--and hearts--on the line.

Ethan's and Kim's characters are well delineated and the action is compelling. The ending is a bit twisted and not believable, however.

[Debbie Heaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Orchard’s inspirational romantic suspense, detective Ethan Reed is undercover at a youth detention center similar to the one he grew up in. His mission: determine who is recruiting resident teens for a local drug ring. The director, Kim Corbett is resistive in cooperating with the detective especially after she is attacked. When Ethan stumbles across the reason for her uncooperative behavior, he realizes this is probably the most dangerous assignment he has ever pursued.

A good addition to the Undercover Cops series.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good suspense/love story (more of a suspense to me). I normally don't read the Love Inspired books but I picked some up while back for .50 a book at the used book store for quick reads and to give to friends/family. I was waiting for a book to come in so I decided to try this book and I really did enjoy this book and I will be looking for more from this author and the Undercover Cops.

Shades of Truth had me from start to the end and I would keep saying I will go to bed after this chapter which would end up being two or three chapters later lol.

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well it is 2:00 am and I just finished this book. I began it at 5:00pm yesterday. I really enjoyed the suspense of the story . . . Wondering if everyone would be alright in the end. The characters felt like real people that you wanted to care for and could not just put the book down and leave. My only problem was I wish that there was a bit more of an extension of time at the end. Well now I will have to get the first book of the series.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The characters were well developed, and there was good chemistry between the h/h. I liked the mystery aspect of the story as well. Sometimes these "suspense" imprints aren't all that suspenseful, but this one was full of action and kept me guessing.

On the spiritual side, I liked this book's message. Secrets and guilt really are terrible burdens, and just about every character was struggling to come to terms with choices they made.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shades of Truth

The story of Ethan and Kim reveals that in order for you to receive all the blessings that God has in store for you after he forgives you, you have to be willing to forgive yourself and let it go. Holding on to guilt hinders your blessings. Kim and Joy helped Ethan accept this truth. A very good Christian romance.

[Judine Brey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how Kim's background interest in policework led to her figuring out (and understanding) Ethan's work as an undercover cop. Her brother Darryl's conflicted and semi-illegal behavior led to the conclusion being mostly satisfying. The novel does well highlighting strong themes of guilt and forgiveness.

[John Hanscom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe a little less, but this was one of the better ones - good story, well written, and without poor editing.

[Loree Huebner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic Suspense and more...I enjoyed Shades of Truth. Sandra is a novelist to watch. I look forward to reading her 3 book series from Revell coming next summer.

[Eva Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea who the villain was until the end of the book!
Very likeable characters with a touching sub-plot that dealt with a dying family member.
A great read!

[Kereasa Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Non-stop action. Loved how Sandra Orchard kept you guessing what was to happen next.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ethan comes in like a knight in shining armor and ends up needing some rescuing of his own.

[Kim]

I enjoyed this book every much.

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't really interesting at first but the more I read the more I HAD to read. The end chapters made me tear up BUT the epilogue made me smile.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Undercover Cops
Category: Inspirational Romance