Review – The Thanksgiving Target

Army lieutenant Max Forrester is excited to be stateside and able to celebrate Thanksgiving with his sister, Melissa. He’s been in Iraq for some time, and has missed seeing his little sister. But when Max arrives in town, he discovers that Melissa is in the hospital beaten into a coma by her boyfriend, Gary. And now Melissa is fighting for her life.

Tara Carmichael is Melissa’s social worker. She was stunned when the hospital calls to tell her about Melissa’s condition, and horrified to learn that Melissa’s abusive boyfriend has been allowed to do this to her. When Max arrives on the scene, Tara is apprehensive, until she is able to prove that Max is who he says he is.

But it soon becomes apparent that someone is after Tara as well. Max is torn between being at his sister’s side and taking care of the woman who cares for his sister. If only he could find a way to care for both women at once. But Tara and Melissa aren’t the only ones in danger when the stalker’s true target is revealed?

The Thanksgiving Target is the first book I’ve read by Laura Scott, and since I can’t find any information on previously published books, I believe this is her debut novel. The Thanksgiving Target is a well-written story, with a voice that is unique in the suspense line.

I enjoyed getting to know Tara and Max. They are both well-developed characters with issues to work through that could hamper their eventual get-together. Ms. Scott did an excellent job writing a formula story, but still one that held my attention from the beginning to the end. I look forward to reading many more books by Ms. Scott in the future. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book.