Eye of the Mind + Giveaway

She can’t picture his face.
But he knows hers.

Firefighter Jules Adler suspects her blind date with Officer Dante de Marco will not go well. When she witnesses a violent crime, the night goes from bad to worse fast.

Dante, the police sketch artist, is tasked with getting enough details from her to draw the killer. If only Jules could visualize the man’s face.

She and Dante are forced to spend a lot more time together than either would like, trying desperately to come up with a likeness. The problem is, with a ruthless psychopath closing in, that time is about to run out.

For fans of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat suspense, slow-burning romance, humor, and deep issues of faith.

My Review:

The more I read Sara Davison, the more I appreciate her unique romantic suspense style. And the more she surprises me with her clever spins on classic tropes.

‘Eye of the Mind’ begins with an inauspicious meet-cute that is both cringey and amusing…until it swiftly turns deadly and then — whoa — compulsive page turning ensues.And there’s a subtle creepiness that gradually builds to downright eerie, but not to the point where scaredy-cat me couldn’t continue (though I did stop reading mid evening because I was starting to have the urge to check my windows every five minutes – and I live on the third floor of an apartment building!)

So, definite stalker vibes, a kinda enemies to more romance (that meet-cute!) and close proximity tropes mesh with a compelling suspense plot which combine to create an unputdownable read.

Mad Dog + Giveaway

In the next eight seconds, he will achieve everything he ever thought he wanted.
Or he will die.

Four years ago, Maddox “Mad Dog” Holt walked away from a life with the woman he loved to pursue rodeo success. Winning the championship failed to quench the drive to achieve more, so he entered the highly secretive and extremely dangerous underground X Games. Then a devastating tragedy forces him to choose between taking one last ride—the one that could see him crowned King of the X—and being there for his three-year-old niece.

Mad Dog has faced this choice before. Will he make the right one this time?

With deadly pursuers on their trail, Maddox fights to save the people he cares about the most as everything he has worked so hard for slips from his fingers. It might take losing all he has for him to finally understand what is truly important. When he does, will it be too late to get back everything—and everyone—he chose to leave behind?

My Review:

“He had eight seconds to live. Maybe less.” How’s that for an intriguing opening? And then what follows! Break neck action and a desperate escape courtesy of the girl he left behind!

Woohoo – this is the definition of a page-turner – I read ‘Mad Dog’ in one sitting because there just wasn’t a good place to leave off! There’s a second chance romance with a lot of hurt that needs forgiving, the sweetest little three-year-old sprite (Maddox’s niece) to watch over, and more than one posse of bad guys in hot pursuit. Oh, and a few plot twists to keep things interesting!

Love the way Davison blends action and intrigue with tender family moments and poignant romantic ones. Maddox and Tory make an indomitable team as they face demons from their past…and present. Love the faith elements the author has deftly woven into the story. Never heavy handed but they spark hope, even in the dark times, and shine a light on the importance of living a God entered life.

What a compulsive read! And the first in the new “Seconds to Live” series (isn’t that a deliciously ominous series title?) Tory has some brothers I wouldn’t mind learning more about. 🙂

One Nine + Giveaway

Detective Chase Washington knows Brooke Turner is guilty of murdering her best friend. What he can’t comprehend is how she has managed to elude capture for six months. With Lenora Chambers’ blood calling out to him from the ground, Chase will stop at nothing to find Brooke Turner and bring her to justice.

When he finally tracks her down, nothing is as black and white as Chase thought. Lost in the wild with no way to communicate with the outside world and another possible suspect on their trail, Chase and his prisoner have become the prey in a desperate quest to survive.

Fans of riveting, edge-of-your-seat suspense with clean romance and spiritual truths will love this fast-paced offering.

My Review:

Gotta love an impulse buy. KCRhoades mentioned this book in her comment on Sunday’s discussion. I ordered it on the spot, the book was delivered on Tuesday and read by Wednesday. Great book recommendations make me a happy reader! Thank you, Karen!

I was hooked by the first gripping sentence: “Brooke Turner lay on her back staring up at her fingers, dripping red in the glow of the dying sun.” Grab your defibrillator and settle in for an enthralling suspense with stalker vibes galore and the kind of hair-raising pursuit that takes your breath away.

Brooke is on the run with no real game plan. She knows she’s innocent, she even knows who set her up but proving it is impossible. Meanwhile Chase is on the case and he earned the nickname ‘the Pitbull’ for a reason; he never gives up on an investigation.

The angst ramps up as Brooke battles both Chase’s preconceived ideas and the very real threat toying with them. Add in the wilderness setting for a good portion of the ‘chase’ and, phew, you’ve got a riveting read! Love the drama that plays out in their relationship and the twists with the suspense. It all adds up to making ‘One Nine’ (you’ve got to read the book to understand the title) an unputdownable read.

I Heard the Bells + Giveaway

Four authors, four Christmas novellas of peace, joy, love (and red pickup trucks)

A Christmas Wedding to Die For by Darlene L. Turner

’Tis the season for deadly secrets.
Photographer Adelaide Fox thought she had the perfect assignment—capturing the winning shot at a high-profile Yukon wedding. But when the bride vanishes and a guest is found dead, holiday cheer turns to mystery. As a blizzard approaches, Adelaide teams up with the bride’s rugged brother, tracker Declan Stone. With danger closing in, suspicious guests, and threatening messages, Adelaide must unravel the truth—and maybe open her heart—to find peace on earth this Christmas.

Season of Forever by Helena Smrcek

Past meets present. Two hearts, WWII secrets, and a Christmas of second chances.
Past and present entwine in a story of love, loss, and second chances. In the shadows of WWII, a fragile romance is tested by sacrifice and distance. Decades later, in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Faith helps at her grandmother’s sweater shop, while next door Joseph acquires a charred WWII Bible marked with a red ribbon. Despite their rocky first encounter, will Faith and Joseph give their budding relationship a chance—and uncover the hidden story within the Bible’s pages?

Falling for You by Melanie Stevenson

A broken engagement, a broken rib, and a broken heart.
Author Laurel Bennett hadn’t planned to spend Christmas this way. Her escape to Banff was meant to avoid her ex-fiancé’s wedding, not land her in recovery at the Banff Springs Hotel. But when she crosses paths with Dr. Ethan Pine—the charming stranger who saved her on the slopes—everything changes. A whirlwind of magical days sparks undeniable chemistry, and they must decide if love can bridge both the distance and the wounds that threaten to keep them apart.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter by Sara Davison

He thought he knew exactly what he wanted.
Jack Miller is determined to make it big in the Big Apple. So why does he keep getting dragged back to the place—and the woman—he’s trying to leave behind? Playing the lead in his tiny Nova Scotian town’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life gives Jack a glimpse into the life that could have been his. Good thing it’s not the one he wants, since it’s clearly too late for him to get it back.

My Review:

Woohoo! Greatest impulse buy ever. I saw the pretty cover on Instagram and discovered that the collection is written by four Canadian authors with four different Canadian settings! Sold!

The novellas vary greatly, from mystery to dual timeline to rom/com but they all feature a Canadian Christmas and each story cleverly features a red truck and a classic Christmas Carol. Loved spotting those little connections in each novella.

In A Christmas Wedding to Die For by Darlene L. Turner, two cases of unrequited love meet up again in the Yukon wilderness. A Christmas wedding dissolves into mystery and mayhem, though there are plenty of cozy vibes that keep this from being a traditional suspense. Loved the fast pace and the eclectic secondary characters (a few who are truly dreadful!) I love feeling righteously indignant on behalf of a hero and heroine! I got a real sense of a Yukon winter which added an atmospheric element to the story.

Season of Forever by Helena Smreck is set in the scenic town of St. Jacobs Ontario (present day) and in England during World War II, so, yay, dual timeline novella style! I’ll admit to being drawn to the WWII romance (it made me cry) but I enjoyed the contrasts in the contemporary romance as well and the way the timelines fit together by the end wrapped things up nicely.

If you enjoy a good rom/com, Falling for You by Melanie Stevenson is the perfect fit. It’s super cute and playful with great comedic beats. The Banff, Alberta setting is a bonus. The author’s descriptions of the resort and the town made me feel like I was actually there. Romantical and funny with a bit of festive toe-curls thrown in to heat things up!

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is one of my favourite holiday movies and it takes centerstage in Sara Davison’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter. Angst abounds in this second chance romance that features two actors reunited in a small town theatre production of the classic movie. The Nova Scotia backdrop added an extra thrill to my maritime loving heart! And the way the author weaves elements of ‘It’s a Wonderful Live’ into Jack and Kali’s situation is masterfully written. A stunning way to end a stellar holiday collection.

The Color of Sky and Stone + Giveaway

She is the only one who truly sees him.Which makes her his greatest threat.

Black ops undercover agent Tane Temauri—code name Vapor—has made it his life’s mission to stay out of sight. Given the dangers inherent in his job, the last thing he can afford is to step into the open and become a target. Again.

Then a letter from a mysterious stranger changes everything. Although the letter was not meant for him, somehow, on a greater, cosmic scale, it feels as though it is.

But answering it will make Tane vulnerable.

How can he emerge from the shadows to risk everything for a woman he has never met?

My Review:

published in 2023

Totally not what I expected but I loved it anyway! Not quite a suspense but it sort of is. Definitely a romance….but not totally. Not fully epistolary but there are letter writing elements. Bwahaha — kinda undefinable.

What is definable: excellent writing, deep characterization, faith-infused page-turning perfection. Oh – and Canadian author as well as a Canadian setting!

Our introduction to Tane comes in the form of a tense, action-packed scene that had me on the edge of my seat and trying to figure out how Lia was going to be drawn into his sphere. But the book starts off from Lia’s POV in a random pub with vague hints as to her involvement with a ‘team’ that about drove me crazy because we don’t figure out what she actually does for a living until well into the book. Gah, the suspense was deliciously frustrating and I had so many crazy scenarios racing through my mind!

And that’s about all I can tell you without posting spoilers. Other than Lia and Tane connect in an unexpected way and….the story evolves. I was totally engrossed all the way through and have done a deep dive on the internet trying to figure out if there’s a second book because the ending isn’t exactly all tied up in a bow but not quite a cliffhanger either. Just gives me the impression that there must be more to come.

The cover says “In the Shadows : Book One” but ‘The Color of Sky and Stone’ is listed as a standalone on the author’s website. Ack! I need more Tane and Lia!