Pride and Fall (Cathedral Lake #3) by Staci Troilo #bookreview #suspense #romance

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews

Fear unchecked cripples. Fear conquered liberates. 

Faith Keller has suffered much in her life–the murder of her sister, the near-destruction and almost-ruin of her family, a traumatic abduction. It’s no wonder she battles the effects of PTSD on a daily basis. The last thing she needs is to be the subject of an intense police investigation for the very crime her father was blamed for years before. Yet, despite her family’s staunchest efforts, she finds herself on the hot seat with a tenacious officer–but one whose attention she actually relishes.

Carter Emerson takes his job seriously. It’s the only tribute he can make to honor his fallen brother, and he’s determined to do the title “police officer” justice. When he sets his sights on Faith Keller, he’s torn. His mentor tells him he’s got it all wrong, but the evidence doesn’t lie. The worst part? He doesn’t want her to be guilty. He just wants her.

A story of healing and personal growth, Pride and Fall ends the Keller Family trilogy with action, deception, and a revelation readers won’t see coming.

This is the third book in the Cathedral Lake series, but it could also be considered a standalone.  Although reading the first two may be helpful, enough backstory is provided in Pride and Fall so that it’s not confusing.

After reading the first two books over the past year or so, it felt like catching up  with old friends again when I picked up this novel.  I’d missed these characters, and was anxious to see where life had taken them.  But we didn’t get to catch up for long, because the action and suspense begin almost immediately.  The other books have focused primarily on other family members, but this story is very much Faith’s.  She’s struggling with PTSD, along with trying to establish her veterinary practice and independence, while also dealing with family relationships fraught with tension.

Faith’s relationship with Carter is also tension-filled, and they have to maneuver around several obstacles before hitting smooth waters.  Carter is a new character to the series, and I enjoyed seeing his sometimes harsh, professional outer layers peel away to reveal a likable, gooey center.  As much as I enjoyed Carter and Faith’s relationship, as an animal lover, I thought the ‘relationship’ between Max and Ruby (their canine companions) was adorable and charming.

It was nice to see these characters find their happily ever after (hopefully) and finish their story.  If you’re a fan of family drama and suspense with a dose of romance, you can’t go wrong with this series.

36 thoughts on “Pride and Fall (Cathedral Lake #3) by Staci Troilo #bookreview #suspense #romance”

    2. Not a sex scene to be found in this one, Craig. Pretty much innuendo. This story was much more about the mystery than the romance.

      Thank you so much for the kind words. It’s really something when you can interest someone who doesn’t read your genre.

      Liked by 2 people

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  6. A great review for an excellent novel, Teri. I was smitten with all the characters in this series, and was sucked in from the first Cathedral Lake novel. Pride and Fall was the perfect close. Staci really knows how to do family drama and tension well. I love her writing!

    Liked by 3 people

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