Identity Unknown by Terri Reed

Identity Unknown by Terri Reed ISBN-13: 9780373447701 Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Love Inspired Released: Oct. 4, 2016

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
When a John Doe washes up on the shores of Calico Bay, no one knows who he is—including him. But one thing's instantly clear to deputy sheriff Audrey Martin: the man's marked for murder. And she's the only one who can protect him from the assassins who lurk at every turn.

The arrival of a team of men claiming he's Canadian Border Services officer Nathanial Longhorn only further complicates the matter. As his memories slowly start drifting back, Nathanial's determined to work with Audrey to uncover who wants him dead and why. But he's tangled in something that threatens to submerge them both. And unless Audrey can help him figure out what, this Christmas might be their last.


My Review:
Identity Unknown is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It's the fifth book in a series, but each novel can be read as a stand alone. There were plenty of gun fights as the people out to kill Nathanial were very determined. The continuous threat posed by the bad guys created suspense. However, there were a number of unrealistic details, like prying open elevator doors with one's bare hands and throwing a knife not designed for this with great precision.

The romance didn't work for me, especially as Nathanial and Audrey never learned to work as a team. I can accept that Nathanial, unable to remember any of his past, would become attached to a beautiful woman whom he knew he could trust since she's repeatedly saved his life. But Audrey? We're told repeatedly that Audrey has a deep-seated distrust of handsome, charming men. Yet she's immediately attracted to Nathanial's looks, charm, and tempting lips, and rarely remembers that, oh, yeah, she distrusts this.

We're also told repeatedly that she wants to be in control and has a chip on her shoulder about men who don't treat her as an equal as a cop. Well, Nathanial keeps knocking her to the ground to protect her rather than allowing her to do her job and protect him. She's touched that he instinctively wants to protect her. Personally, I'd be more impressed if he shot the bad guys instead of knocking her down. Anyway, based on Audrey's stated past and his actual actions, I didn't see why she would be attracted to him.

The characters occasionally prayed. There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.