The Gift

To Protect and Serve, Book 1

De: Anne Perreault

Narrado por: Lisa Lynn Sandlin

God opens doors, but it’s up to us to walk through them.

Dakota Taylor is stuck in a rut. Her dead-end job as a manager of a pizza place is unchallenging, she gets dumped by her obnoxious boyfriend and feels completely unloved by her family. That all changes in an instant when God steps into her life.

On the way home from a late shift, Dakota finds herself in a terrifying situation. Thankfully, two Boston police officers out on patrol come to her rescue and see her home safely. Dakota is certain that their paths will never cross again. She couldn’t be more wrong.

Shane Donavan likes his job as a Boston police officer. He’s thrown for a loop when he’s assigned to train a rookie but soon begins to appreciate his new partner’s sharp intellect and wit, especially when Shane finds himself staring at the wrong end of the barrel.

As a friendship develops between Dakota and Shane, Dakota accepts his invitation to participate in a weekend scavenger hunt. Shane quickly discovers that stakes are higher than merely lounging by the pool or fishing by the lake.

Will God turn this opportunity into something that will change Dakota and Shane’s lives forever?

© Anne Perreault 2021, All Rights Reserved

©2021 Anne Perreault (P)2025 Anne Perreault

Great read

Loved the characters and their journey to God and their growth. My heart went out to Shane at the camping weekend, and rejoiced at his finding peace

Enjoyable story and Performance

This is an enjoyable story About Dakota who is still looking for her place in the world and the charming police officer Shane. They help each other grow as Dakota finds herself in need of a new job and Shane is in need of a place to lay low as he recovers from an on the job injury. Somewhere away from his overbearing parents and the nosy reporters. While Dakota and Shane have almost an instant connection/ interest into each other their relationship is very slow moving and develops perfectly in my opinion.
Lisa’s narration for this story was wonderful. I always enjoy her smooth and strong voice and the different voices she gives to characters. She doesn’t just read the story, she performs it.

The blend of faith, suspense, and a touch of sweet romance kept me hooked.

This story drew me in right from the start. Dakota Taylor is such a relatable character, stuck in a rut, overlooked by her family, and just trying to get through life one pizza shift at a time, until one terrifying night changes everything. I loved watching her journey unfold as God kept nudging open doors she never expected. The blend of faith, suspense, and a touch of sweet romance kept me hooked, and the scavenger hunt twist was such a fun and unexpected element.

But I have to talk about the audiobook. Lisa Lynn Sandlin absolutely brought this story to life. Her narration was so dynamic and engaging, giving each character a distinct voice and pulling me even deeper into Dakota and Shane’s world. She captured the tension, the heartfelt moments, and the sparks of humor perfectly. Honestly, the audio experience made this book feel like a movie playing in my head.

If you enjoy faith-filled stories with heart, hope, and a dash of danger, I highly recommend this one. And if you can, do yourself a favor and grab the audiobook, Lisa Lynn Sandlin makes it unforgettable!

A Heartfelt Blend of Faith, Friendship, & Romance

I enjoyed this audiobook and was fully invested in the lives of the characters. I couldn’t wait to see how things would work out for Dakota and Shane, both individually and together, and if romance would blossom. I loved how their friendship developed so naturally, with feelings deepening over time. While the actual timespan of the book isn’t overly long, the story flows seamlessly and keeps you turning the pages.

As always, Lisa Lynn Sandlin delivers a standout performance. She captures each character’s tone and personality in an engaging and entertaining way, making the listening experience even better.

If you enjoy contemporary Christian fiction filled with redemption, family, and sweet romance, this audiobook deserves a spot on your list.

I was gifted an Audible code to listen to this story, but my review reflects my honest opinion.

great story

The Gift is the first book I have read written by Anne Perreault, and I am completely blown away. This book hooked me in from the very beginning.

I had the privilege of listening to the audiobook, narrated by Lisa Lynn Sandlin. When I tell you Lisa brings books to life, she truly does. She is not just reading the book; she makes each character come to life. So much so that I have been choosing audiobooks over watching TV.

 The character development in this book is huge. I loved all the layers to Dakota and Shane that we get to peel back. Shane is a police officer, but he comes from a very well-off family. Dakota’s family owns the Boston gossip newspaper. Both Shane and Dakota are dealing with a loss of a person in their lives, both feeling at least partial blame for their death. Watching their friendship blossom into more as they overcome their own grief and family dynamics.

My favorite scene was when Shane and Dakota went to Shane’s family cabin and had a big scavenger hunt.  

This whirlwind romance was perfect, a sweet with kisses only.

Anne Perreault did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. A positive review was not required. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.