Christmas K-9 Patrol

The holidays take a threatening turn…
in these riveting Dakota K-9 Unit novellas.

With a bounty on tech analyst Cheyenne Chen’s life, officer Jack Donadio and his K-9 partner safeguard her from hired assassins in Lynette Eason’s Deadly Christmas Trap. Only, when their hideout is discovered, they must uncover the mastermind—and a lethal holiday plot. And in Lenora Worth’s Dangerous Holiday Manhunt, a snowstorm traps US Marshal Lorelai Danvers on Drake Corbin’s ranch—where a dangerous fugitive is hiding. But can she trust Drake to help her catch a murderer…when his secrets make them a target?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

My Review:

Deadly Christmas Trap‘ is Classic Eason. She manages to pack so much into this novella that it has the same kind of impact as one of her full-length novels. There’s depth in characterization and an intense plot that kept me engaged right through to the end and I consumed it all in one compulsive listen!

Cindy Kay is a veteran audio narrator and it shows in the way she delivers Cheyenne and Jack’s story with intensity and emotion. A thoroughly enjoyable and attention grabbing performance.

Lenora Worth’s ‘Dangerous Holiday Manhunt’ is an intense, gripping, edge-of-your-seater. I don’t think I breathed until the final takedown! Love how capable and dedicated and no-nonsense Lorelai is and her Australian Sheepdog K-9 partner certainly earned his stripes! Drake is just as dedicated since he has a personal vendetta with the villain and though he’s also capable, emotions tend to cloud his judgement. Love the way this hero and heroine wrangle their way through problems and set backs with grudging respect and a definite spark of romance.

I enjoyed listening to Callie Beaulieu’s narration. She’s become a familiar voice in my audio book ‘reading’ and always delivers a captivating listen.

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Deadly Christmas Trap

The holidays take a threatening turn…
in this riveting Dakota K-9 Unit novella.

With a bounty on tech analyst Cheyenne Chen’s life, officer Jack Donadio and his K-9 partner safeguard her from hired assassins in Lynette Eason’s Deadly Christmas Trap. Only, when their hideout is discovered, they must uncover the mastermind—and a lethal holiday plot.

My Review:

Classic Eason. She manages to pack so much into this novella that it has the same kind of impact as one of her full-length novels. There’s depth in characterization and an intense plot that kept me engaged right through to the end and I consumed it all in one compulsive listen!

Cindy Kay is a veteran audio narrator and it shows in the way she delivers Cheyenne and Jack’s story with intensity and emotion. A thoroughly enjoyable and attention grabbing performance.

This novella comes at the tail end of the Dakota K-9 Unit multi-authored continuity series but it can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. While members of the team do play supporting roles, this is very much Jack and Cheyenne’s story – a friends to more romance that has been percolating on the back burner for months. It takes a diabolical villain and a few near death experiences to shake some romantical sense into this hero and heroine which makes for an exhilarating read!

My thanks to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Side note for blog followers:Deadly Christmas Trap’ is part of a two novella collection releasing in paperback at the end of November (Christmas K-9 Patrol, which includes a novella written by Lenora Worth.) I’ll be reviewing that book next week. It looks like Christmas K-9 Patrol is being released in paperback, ebook and audio editions while each novella is also being released independently as an audio book. Kinda strange but also interesting. 🙂

Final Approach + Giveaway

Air Marshal Kristine Duncan is not on duty when a hijacker attempts to seize control of the plane she and her friends are on as they head out on a much-needed vacation. Jumping into action and aided by FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross, Kristine thwarts the attack and the plane lands safely. But as the investigation into the incident gets underway, Kristine and Andrew are confused at every step. Nothing about the investigation goes as it should, and each layer they peel back just reveals another layer of perplexity.

As the two work together to navigate a web of deception, blame, and personal reckoning, they find there’s more to this story than meets the eye–and more to love and admire about each other. They’ll have to put their skills to the test–and their hearts on the line–to unravel the truth and ensure that justice prevails.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason is back with another edge-of-your-seat thrill ride as she brings her popular Lake City Heroes series to a shocking and satisfying close.

My Review:

Whoa – be prepared to experience a rush of adrenaline on repeat all the way through to the end of this compulsive romantic suspense! I’m still feeling the after shocks and trying to put all the pieces together because this is one complex, twisty, turny plot with lots of players.

It starts with the whole Lake City Heroes gang on a flight headed on vacation. Well, technically, Kristine is performing one last U.S. Air Marshalling duty and then she’s free to join her friends for some rest and relaxation…until the hijacker. Unlucky for him he’s on a plane with the creme de la creme of law enforcement and, though tense, the takedown is inevitable.

But what seems to be the end suddenly becomes a beginning as Kristine and Andrew are thrown into a maze of contradictory and confusing puzzles. I honestly had no idea what was going on (a deliberate ploy on the author’s part) which made the suspense plot so engaging. How are certain events connected? Who are the targets? And why?

The chaos of the case becomes entangled with the engaging backstories of our hero and heroine which serves to amp up the tension all the more. And then we reach a pivotal point leading to a succession of ‘aha’ moments that left me breathless and Kristine in grave danger. Oh, and three cheers for a blockbuster, stand-up-and-cheer climax! Such a thrill of a read!

This is the fourth book in the author’s ‘Lake City Heroes’ series and all the former heroes and heroines are included in this enthralling series send-off so it might be a bit overwhelming for new ‘Lake City Hero‘ readers. ‘Final Approach’ can still be read as a standalone, I think, just be prepared to to be a bit confused in the first couple of chapters. Things will soon sort themselves out as Kristine and Andrew take centerstage.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of this book, narrated by Lauren Pedersen.

Serial Burn + Giveaway

She’s out for justice. But the arsonist she’s tracking is out for retribution.

Now the fire marshal of Lake City, Jesslyn McCormick is determined to find the person who started the fire that robbed her of her family when she was just seven years old. As the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy approaches, a string of fires–including at Jesslyn’s church–brings up all those old feelings and offers new evidence.

Because church fires are considered a hate crime, FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to work with local law enforcement. Nathan has his own past–one he’d prefer not to revisit. And focusing on helping Jesslyn track down the arsonist is a great distraction.

As both the case and the chemistry between Jesslyn and Nathan heat up, memories will come flooding in from the past to bump up against hopes for the future. And when Jesslyn comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare, she’ll have to confront her fears and rely on Nathan and her community of friends in order to survive.

My Review:

Gobbled this one up in a day. Just could not leave these characters at any point in the story. An engrossing police procedural mixed with arson investigation and a s-l-o-w burn romance had my bookish heart singing!

This is the third ‘Lake City Heroes’ book and something that is done spectacularly well in this series is the ‘found family ‘aspect in the diverse friendships. The gang is back, ready to serve and protect and kid around at every opportunity. As well as have those pointed heart to hearts when necessary. It was such a blast to spend time with these characters again and I loved getting a glimpse at previous books’ power couples. Having said that, ‘Serial Arson’ can easily be read as a standalone novel too so don’t be afraid to hop in mid-series if you feel the urge.

Jesslyn and Nathan make a great team – both in the investigation and as friends…and maybe something more? This book is quite light on the romance and more about the deepening friendship (they’ve known each other through their friend group for a while.) They both have traumatic backstories and I appreciated the time the author gave them to work through issues and come to terms with how they can move forward together.

And there’s a powerful inspirational thread about forgiveness that really hit home. “Forgiveness is a decision.” Had to sit with that simple but profound statement for a bit. I love when something like this jumps out at me through my fiction and there’s a moving scene involving Nathan that really touched my heart.

Of course, the suspense is stellar (this is a Lynette Eason creation after all) with just the right mix of action and danger and good old boots to the ground legwork before the pieces of the puzzle finally come together in a resounding conclusion.

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of this book, narrated by Lauren Pedersen. She’s become a familiar voice in my audio book ‘reading’. I really love the way she captures the personalities of each character which helps me feel even more connected to the story.

Cornered + Giveaway

Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker’s desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend’s car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?

In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can’t refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she’s forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.

In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect–especially for Lahela.

My Review:

Happy sigh! What a sensational Romantic Suspense collection which comes as no surprise given the caliber of these authors. Each book reads with as much depth as their longer novels do. Satisfying to the very last word! Oh — and with this trio, ‘it ain’t over ’til it’s over’ is a good thing to keep in mind.

I listened to the audible edition expertly narrated by Leah Horowitz. She really knows how to deliver a suspense! A perfect pairing of authors and narrator. Highly recommend the audio book.

Target Acquired + Giveaway

Tough-as-nails Kenzie King has finally earned her place as a tactical medic on a SWAT team. But not everyone on the all-male team accepts her. Rumor is, she didn’t get the position because of what she could do but because of who she knew. Which means she has to work harder and longer than anyone else to prove herself.

Cole Garrison is a man with deep faith who is finally ready to settle down and build a family of his own–if he can find the right person, that is. Kenzie sure has set off his interest meter, but trouble seems to follow in her wake. Since she joined the team, someone has begun to ambush and pick off team members, one by one.

It’s all hands on deck to discover the culprit and end the killing. Can Kenzie and Cole put aside their differences and work together as a team? Or will their budding attraction be snuffed out by a sniper’s bullet?

As you’ve come to expect from bestselling author Lynette Eason’s stories, this tightly wound plot unfurls at breakneck speed and will leave you breathless.

My Review:

Totally gripping. Tension in the suspense, in the romance, in Kenzie’s personal life — all of it had me on the edge of my seat straight through to the end of ‘Target Acquired.’ (And what an apt title!)

Have you ever seen the TV show ‘Flashpoint’? It was a Canadian police procedural (2008-2012) featuring the day-to-day lives of a SWAT team that also included only one female member. Well, this novel made me nostalgic for that show. It has the same intriguing mix of personal life experiences with high octane SWAT callouts. And Eason builds it to an exquisite fever pitch of excitement. Seriously, the way she weaves everything together makes for exceptionally good reading.

I especially enjoyed the team dynamics…well, maybe ‘enjoyed’ isn’t quite the right word since Kenzie is having a hard time with some of the team’s male prejudices. They feel like her female presence is messing with their precious brotherhood dynamics. Grrrr. But she’s tough and relentless in her determination to carve out a place on the team.

And that resolve doesn’t diminish, even when she becomes a target. Lots of complicated emotional layers to delve through. Kenzie hasn’t had an easy life. Love the way Cole champions her. He’s fair and open-minded, though keeping the team working as a cohesive whole is testing his leadership skills.

And the suspense! Oy — current cases, a cold case, the attacks on Kenzie and the team — it all seems like a chaotic mess…until the author oh so cleverly begins pulling everything together and then — kapow — mind blown, gaping gobsmacked and reeling in stunned stupefaction. Just the way you want to see a suspense wind up.

Double Take + Giveaway

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he’s rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it’s not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

My Review:

Whooooosssshhhhh!!! That’s the sound of my pent-up breath releasing at last! Warning: this book may induce light-headedness, hyperventilating and the need for a defibrillator. Read at your own peril! Bwahahaha!

Double Take’ is the best kind of suspense because it’s all edge-of-your-seat plot paired with mind-blowing revelations BUT it’s also the worst kind of suspense because it’s impossible to express true bibliophile euphoria in a review for fear of sharing spoilers. So, excuse me if I’m vague.

Truth: I started reading and I couldn’t stop. Right into the wee hours of the morning and I never do that because I covet my beauty sleep! 🙂 However, today I wear my bloodshot, raccoon ringed eyes as a badge of honour. Not only did Lainie and James survive the read, I did too!

More Truth: the plot has more highs and lows than a rollercoaster. Death defying drops even. And the way Eason s-l-o-w-l-y makes sense of the impossible. Whoooaaaa! Astounding! Stunning! Indescribably good.

Even More Truth: The romance between James and Lainie is so well done. She’s been his sister’s best friend for years but he’s been overseas with the armed forces for a decade. They reconnect in a spectacular way (no spoilers here!) and then gradually develop a friendship that teases on the edge of becoming something deeper…only… Issues. Personal struggles that complicate things. Not to mention the trying to stay alive part!!!! But, oh, sweet joy, the heart-to-hearts, the faith talks, the way he starts to be able to read her mind because they have a connection that won’t be denied. Swoon! Thud! And repeat!

Last Truth: Read this book. Seriously, it’s that simple. If you love romantic suspense, read this book. If you don’t love romantic suspense, read this book anyway and you will. 🙂

Rescue Mission + Giveaway

A missing baby’s trail has gone cold…but this K-9 has one last lead…

With a baby still missing after months of searching, Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit handler Lucas Hudson and his furry partner must protect the only witness as she recovers from amnesia. But the kidnapper wants Kate Montgomery silenced — permanently. Now hiding in the icy Montana mountains might be the key to their survival and to triggering Kate’s memories of the night baby Chloe Baker disappeared…

Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit

My Review:

Woohooo! This is the book I’ve been waiting for — when we finally get to find out what happened to baby Chloe. ‘Rescue Mission’ is the eighth book in this multi-authored series and I love how each previous book edged us closer to this big reveal. If you’re new to this series, you can totally jump in here so no catching up needed, though you’d enjoy it if you did. 

Each book in the series has it’s own unique suspense and romance as well as an overarching suspense plot that finds resolution in this final instalment. But the authors do a great job of catching new readers up with former heroes and heroines as well as the progress of the suspense tie-in so you can really hop in at any point in the series.

The intense opening scene sets the stage for this action-packed grand finale. I felt like I knew Kate already from snippets in previous books and I was excited to delve into her story. And — bonus points — she comes with her very own therapy dog so we get double the puppy love and that makes me very happy. 🙂 Plus hero Lucas is kinda alluring in his own right. 

I like that there’s a bit of a history between these two as well. More on Lucas’s end since he has been watching over Kate (in a way) since her attack eight months previously. So he’s really invested in the outcome of this case and his protector spidey senses are fully charged. It makes the romance that develops all the more realistic.

And, though ‘amnesia’ isn’t my favourite trope in a suspense plot, I really like the way it plays out here. It’s been eight months since Kate’s attack and she’s been through extensive physical and psychological therapy during that time. Even so, she still hasn’t fully regained her memories. They are coming to her in fragmented pieces though, and no one knows if she will ever fully recover. I like how realistic this approach to the amnesia trope is. I just bought into it more, plus it really amped up the suspense all through the series as we got updates on Kate’s recovery…and lack of solid memories that could have helped the investigation along. 

Eason delivers an enthralling conclusion to this outstanding series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Rescue Mission, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday Nov 18, 2023.

Targeted + Giveaway

Three women. Three men. Three unsuspecting targets.

Get ready for triple the thrills with three heart-stopping stories from your favourite romantic suspense authors!

In On the Run, IT Specialist Daria Nevsky is a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead — and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.

In Deadly Objective, physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper are committed to keeping their relationship professional. But when the vice president’s son enters the crosshairs of a killer, some lines will have to be crossed in order to keep him safe.

In Caught in the Crosshairs, there is no love lost between former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman and CIA officer Claudia Gallegos after Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. But to prevent a coup that would put America at risk, they’ll have to learn to trust each other — before it’s too late. 

My Review:

published in 2022

Three headliner romantic suspense authors join forces to deliver a trifecta of edge-of-your-seat suspense reads with intrepid heroes and heroines who keep things interesting. Because heightened emotions lead to romance and the toe-curl/danger combo kept me turning pages. And rooting for three happily-ever-afters…once justice is served, of course.

Of note: each novella relates to a series but can easily be read as standalones, so no worries if you’re not up to date. ‘Targeted’ provides the perfect opportunity to sample these authors’ storytelling styles and get a feel for their series.

Each story involves plenty of action and danger and just the right amount of romance to keep things interesting. These authors excel at pacing and plotting and manage to deliver fully fleshed out characters and well developed plots despite the shorter word count (each novella is about 120 pages.) I can’t pick a favourite because each of these heroines and their heroes are completely captivating! 

Countdown + Giveaway

A stalker who wants to finish what he started. A US Marshal who’s vowed to protect his charge. And one woman who is determined to put the past in the past.

Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it’s hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people’s lives, but because her stalker was never found, she’s never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.

US Marshal Vincent Corelli’s job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs–whether it’s his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina’s past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn’t live long enough to do it.

Countdown is the breathless conclusion to USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason’s thrilling Extreme Measures series.

My Review:

This was one of my anticipated reads and it did not disappoint! An Audible preorder, downloaded on release day and then I was in romantic suspense heaven! Great narration by Sara Shekells — she did all four books in the Extreme Measures series and I liked that continuity. (FYI: The books can all be read as standalones.)

I’ve enjoyed the glimpses I’ve seen of Raina in the earlier books so I was excited to finally discover her full story. And — mercy — what a heart-hurting, stomach-churning time we had of it! And that was just her personal story arc! I appreciated the raw honesty in her struggle to trust God in the hard places. She feels abandoned and alone, despite being surrounded by friends, and once you’ve delved into her past, you’ll be able to understand why. Eason tackles the tough question: why does God let bad things happen to good people? Raina and Vince have some very candid conversations that I could relate to.

This is a friends to more romance and I loved the substance that brought to their relationship. Vince has always wanted to move the relationship along but Raina has been consistently keeping him at arms’ length, so there’s a bit of unrequited love here too. Obviously, Raina has her reasons for fighting the attraction and all that is explored realistically as the story progresses.

And Vince! Happy swoony sigh! He’s an alpha hero only with brakes. 🙂 He’s protective, but just short of bossy and the way he pursues Raina…be still my heart. Careful deliberation, utmost respect, never pushing beyond what she is willing to offer. But he’s steadfastly by her side all the way, and she needs to see those traits in him in order to let go of the baggage she’s been carrying around for much too long. Vince is one gem of hero!

Of course, the suspense is topnotch — can’t expect anything else from an Eason novel! It’s complex and compelling and layered in mysteries. I was challenged and intrigued all the way through.

A resounding conclusion the the Extreme Measures series!