Avenged by Janice Cantore

Carly and her partner Joe are the first on the scene of 3 gang members shot execution style. One is still alive but barely holding on. With all of the unrest by the Ocean’s First group protesting the renovation of the wharf area the town of Las Playas does not need a gang war to start, but that is exactly what it looks like is going to happen.

Carly is constantly in a state of worry for her husband Nick’s safety. With Nick and his team trying to find out what is going on with the two major gangs in the city he is in danger on a daily basis. Carly knows she needs to trust in the Lord for both of their safety, but knowing that and practicing trust are very difficult.

When Carly meets an ex-con looking for trouble she makes an enemy in him and his journalist girlfriend. The girlfriend is determined to smear Carly’s name and portray her as a crooked cop. Things don’t look good for Carly when her partner Joe is hurt on the job and several confrontations with the ex-con make it look like she is harassing him. 

When it looks like so many things are being orchestrated by unknown people Carly, Nick and their fellow co-workers know that they need to find the perpetrators behind all of the happenings before it is too late.  Who is out for revenge and what is the reason? 

One of the things about Janice Cantore’s stories that I like is the attention to detail as far as police procedure goes. I like reading all of the technical stuff or “inside” stuff. Add in a bit of suspense and it all makes for a well-written adventure that I have enjoyed in each story. While I like Carly and Nick’s characters very well I find that Carly’s partner Joe could almost be a non-character. In each book he has had something happen that causes him to not be able to be a part of whatever investigation is going on at the time. The poor guy really needs a break!  Avenged was an exciting read and I look forward to other books by Janice Cantore.

Accused by Janice Cantore

Carly Edwards is a police officer sworn to protect the community she serves in. While out on patrol with a substitute partner she was involved in a shooting. Now she is working juvenile until the investigation is over.

Carly's personal life is also in a shambles. She has just recently divorced her husband Nick for being unfaithful. She can't get away from him though since he too works for the police force.

Carly wants nothing more than to be back out on the streets. She thinks she is being given the chance when she is called to the scene of where the missing mayor's body is found. In reality she was called because the juvenile in the car asked for her. He is the son of Carly's mom's friend. Carly is to question him and get him to confess to the mayor's murder. The only problem is that after talking to him she doesn't believe that he was involved.

When Carly is told to back off of the investigation she begins to think that something isn't right in the department. At first she can't believe that there is corruption among her brothers in law enforcement. Carly soon comes to believe though that there are few people she can trust in the department.

Bitter against God and angry at her ex husband, Carly struggles with whom she can trust. She doesn't want to believe her mother when she tells her of the peace that God has given her after her father died. Carly has to take notice though when Nick too becomes a believer. Regardless of what he did, she still has respect for him as a cop. She soon finds that Nick is the only one she can trust as a cop, even though he failed her trust as a husband.

I really enjoyed this book! The story was quick-paced and action packed while also filled with suspense. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! Also I found that the faith woven into the story was real and not distracting or preachy.

Thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for my review copy.