Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle
Series: Book 1 of 2 in the Secrets of Kincaid series
Publisher: Bethany House, May 7, 2024
REVIEW BY JOAN HALL
Secondary Target is Angela Carlisle’s debut novel. I purchased the book last year when it was first released because the description was intriguing, but it sat on my Kindle for over a year.
Corina Roberts has built a new life in Kentucky after the brutal murder of her mother and brother in Texas a decade earlier. Her father, a former private investigator, sometimes seems a little too paranoid. She’s temporarily living in his house while her duplex is being renovated.
Bryce Jessup recently returned to his hometown of Kincaid after spending time in the Army. He and Corina share a past. A tragic accident involving Bryce’s younger brother left her believing God had abandoned her.
Corina has no interest in rekindling a romance with Bryce, but when she becomes the target of several threats and her father disappears, Bryce is determined to keep her safe.
“I may have left, but I can guarantee you God didn’t.”
She managed a weak smile. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t my experience. I haven’t felt him in years.”
“Feelings can be deceptive. ‘We walk by faith, not by sight,’ remember?”
They’d memorized that verse together. Too bad it was easier to quote than to do.
Angela Carlislie, Secondary Target
The book had a lot of action, and tension mounted as the threats escalated. Several scenes are from the antagonist’s point of view, but his identity is kept from the reader. The action kept the story going at a decent pace.
However, I had problems with the main character. I’m all for strong female characters, but Corina was too obstinate. She continually ignored advice and placed herself in danger. It’s one thing to be determined. It’s another to act foolishly.
I give Secondary Target three and a half fish.
I purchased the Kindle version of Secondary Target through Amazon.
The Well Read Fish 
Great review, Joan. I think it ups the tension when an author writes some scenes from the bad guy’s point of view, especially when we don’t know who it is yet. The second book in this series is getting better reviews, so maybe Carlisle took to heart reasonable critiques like yours and made her heroine less obstinate.
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This was her debut novel, so hopefully she has learned. (We should all strive to do that, no matter if we’ve published one book or fifty). I haven’t read the second book, but would consider giving it a try.
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Well, that’s disappointing. It sounded so good, and I loved the blur in the title. I was just thinking how it ticked all my boxes, then you mentioned the MC. I’m in the middle of a series now with a similar heroine, and she drives me crazy. If I didn’t want an answer to an overarching series question, I’d have stopped books ago. (I still might.)
Thanks for the candid assessment, Joan.
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I’ve read a few books lately where the female lead is stubborn and takes chances. Not sure if it’s an industry trend, but it’s a bit turn-off for me.
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I think it’s the new “girl boss” trend, but I’m not a fan. I don’t want a damsel in distress, but I’d like some brains with the brawn.
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I agree.
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I get angry at MC who seem to do dangerous stuff for plot purposes rather than expected reasons. Good review of this book.
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Me too, Jacqui. I would have rated the book higher, if not for the MC.
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Great review, Joan. Too bad about the main female character!
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Yes, that was the only drawback.
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Sounds like a cool mystery. Makes me want to know who is behind everything! Keep smiling
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Thanks for stopping by. The book is a good mystery.
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Thank you for this thoughtful review, Joan. I have a backlog of books on my Kindle, so I doubt I’ll add this one to the library. Maybe her next book? We’ll see…
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I know what you mean, Gwen. I’ll probably never run out of books.
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I’ve been turned off from a few books where the female lead was too obstinate. It’s a shame how that tendency crops up more and more in novels. 3.5 Fishes is still a decent read, so I’m glad there were enough positive elements to hold your interest.
A well balanced review, Joan!
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I would have rated it higher if not for the annoying protagonist. Hopefully, the author will improve.
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Thanks for the thoughtful review, Joan. The action, danger, and pace would appeal to me too, but I agree that when characters make too many rash decisions, I might start getting exasperated. Happy Reading.
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Her actions certainly exasperated me, Diana. Other than that, I enjoyed the book.
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Thanks for sharing this review, Joan. I liked how you highlighted the emotional and spiritual tension in Corina’s story, especially that quote about walking by faith, not sight. It sounds like the author handled the suspense and pacing well, even if the protagonist’s decisions were frustrating at times.
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She did, KC. Hopefully, she’ll take note and make her characters more likable in future books.
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HI Joan, it’s lovely to see a review from you. I have read a few books like this where the MC acts foolishly. I also don’t care for it as it’s too hard to believe. Normal people don’t deliberately place themselves in danger. In fact, I’d say most people do the opposite.
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I’ve read a few books like that lately. I wonder if it’s an industry trend. Like you said, people generally don’t act that way. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Robbie.
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💛
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I’ve been wanting to read this book, thanks for the review. There is definitely a difference strong heroines and foolish ones. Why do so many authors think a strong woman is obstinate?
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