I enjoyed this book. Sure, it was simple (not too many, if any unexpected plot twists), but sometimes that’s just what a person needs: an easy-breezy, straightforward path from point A to point b without the distraction of having to exert any intellectual effort.

The relationships felt flat, but considering this was book #2, and I didn’t read book #1, I found that easy to forgive; perhaps I missed something in the first story that would have filled-out the dynamics. On the up-side, there’s plenty of growth-potential here: Where will the relationship between Taylor and her FBI pal go? Is romance looming? How will Taylor’s relationship with her mom develop? Or will it?

I’m planning on back-tracking to read the first book, and if I stumble upon a book #3 at some point down the road, I’ll read that too. My biggest disappointment with the story was that I seemed to know who the villain was before the main characters did. I’m hoping Jordan’s other books will offer me the same light reading experience, but with a touch more suspense or surprise.

The best word to describe this book is Bland. It wasn't bad, it was just weak. On the one hand, it was a quick read, on the other, it'll be quickly forgotten.

Double Cross is full of hard to believe two-dimensional characters, a mystery less interesting than those found in the Sunday papers, and a lead with no charisma. Characters and locations are introduced with a sense of deus ex machina, and having played their part, exit the stage until needed again. As such, they are more readily identifiable by the parts they play than the names - the crazy estranged mother, the dead father, the sister/protectee, the FBI contact, the policeman, the character who only exists so the lead can go on a date and 20 more pages can be filled, the character you don't meet until halfway through the book who turns out to have done it - but you don't care by then, the heroine who has a troubled past but somehow has the perfect background for this situation. Lastly, the incredibly small glaze of Christianity that he spoons onto the characters at opportune moments comes across as forced, and to me does a disservice both to those who want an expression of faith in their stories (for not having enough, or having it properly integrated), and to those who don't (for it being shoehorned in and distracting from the story).

Now, admittedly, this is the second novel in this series, so there might be more for people who have read the first novel, but if the first novel is stronger, and therefore somewhat necessary to reading this book (which is a wholly separate storyline and not a sequel per se), then shame on the author for not doing a better job of introducing the new readers to the richer world.

Overall, I felt no empathy for any of the characters, no hook into the mystery, and no compulsion to keep going. I had no difficulty putting the book down whenever I came to the end of one of the very short chapters.

But if you want an entirely forgettable book that you can read in its entirety on your next plane ride, you could do worse than Double Cross. ( )

This is a quick book to read and an interesting little murder mystery with a few funny moments. A young woman who offers security services is helping the daughter of a close friend who recently died uncover proof that someone is embezzling money from her father's ministry. Seeking information, they chance upon an employee of the ministry who's apparently committed suicide, but is later confirmed have been murdered.

While she grapples with finding the murderer and keeping a reporter at bay, her mother, who left her 20 years ago, appears at her doorstep and expects their relationship sail smoothly into the sunset without explanation or apology.

There are a couple of odd scenarios and a character in the story which I thought could have been omitted because they weren't relevant to the main plot and neither did they add any value to the story.

It wasn't hard to guess who the murderer was though. Quite a bit of action and the developing relationship between our security officer and her mother is interesting. ( )

I would definitely read other books by this author. The story line was easy to follow, the characters were written well. If you like a "clean" read (meaning no profanity/sex) this you will like. The main character Taylor and her roommate finds the church assistant dead. Looks like suicide but the clues don't add up to suicide. In the meantime, Taylors mom shows up after being absent since she was a child. Lots of twists and turns and the end was surprising.
Reminded me of a Sue Grafton book.
After reading other reviews, I found out this was a Christian lit. but it must have went over my head (LOL) because it didn't seem like a mainstream Christian book.
Highly recommend and will be looking for other books by this author. ( )

After finishing the first book "Forsaken", I was eager to read the sequel "Double Cross" and I was not disappointed. It is good to note, that this book could easily be enjoyed read as a stand alone as well. The suspense and the action in this book was on a level up from Forsaken and the pages were turned even faster. I was astonished at how fast I read the book, but I just wanted to get to the next scene.This novel reunites a mother and child in a unique way and takes a reader through a gambit of emotions on whether or not they will appreciate the mother. The depth of character is realistic and invites a reader to delve into their own relationships looking at joys and woes. I recommend the reading of books by James David Jordan and look forward to more in the future myself. ( )