Tag: Love Inspired Suspense

Kidnapping Cold Case + Giveaway

The key to staying alive is buried in forgotten memories.

Ten years ago, forensic artist Jacy Urban escaped her abductor with no memory of that night. Now two teenage girls are missing, and all signs indicate that the same kidnapper is back on the hunt. When Jacy is attacked, it’s clear she’s the assailant’s next target. Only Detective Cash Rawson is there to rescue her—again. Can Cash help Jacy recover her memories before she’s silenced for good?

My Review:

Whoa — the opening scene is spine-chilling! And the reader is kept on edge all the way through. Phew! Some intense moments and there’s a definite stalkerish vibe as well as relentless pursuit. So, seatbelts and crash helmets advised!

Jacy and Cash have a special connection from a decade ago and now they are thrown together in a bid to stop a killer…da da da da duuummmmm. Bwahaha! Scary good. Fast paced. Lots of action. Punctuated by sweet ‘getting to know you’ moments that lead to romance. This one is definitely an insta-love kind of story but it works. And I like the way the author winds everything up. We’re given longer than normal down time to let things settle and give Jacy and Cash a chance to start dating without bullets flying. 🙂

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith. She does a wonderful job with these characters. Loved her tone of voice and performance. I’m becoming quite the audio book connoisseur and this book was easy to listen to.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Kidnapping Cold Case , 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 March 16 2024.

Lethal Mountain Pursuit + Giveaway

Hunted by a killer…with a K-9 standing guard.

After witnessing several murders, Natalie Pearson narrowly dodges death but knows the killer is still out there—searching for her. And even her sister’s remote cabin in the Smoky Mountains can’t keep her safe. After fleeing into the woods, she runs into former detective Andrew Moore and his K-9. Trusting Andrew is Natalie’s only chance for survival, but together they must outwit a relentless villain…before they become his final victims.

K-9 Search and Rescue

My Review:

Oh, the wonderful irony of naming a floofy Newfoundland dog Rambo. 🙂 This breed is known for their goofy adoration and laid back disposition. Mind you, they are also fiercely loyal and protective and Rambo definitely has heroic moments in this gripping romantic suspense. K-9 Search and Rescue may be his job but taking down criminals is his passion. Bwahaha — he has a wonderful save-the-day moment towards the end of the story that had me alternately cheering and laughing. Atta boy, Rambo!

Oh, and yes, there were humans in this story as well. Andrew is reassessing life choices in his grandparent’s Tennessee cabin when Natalie runs into him. And then, well, let’s just say his dog isn’t the only one possessing an uber protective gene.

Whew! High-stakes suspense all the way! And there is so much going on it’s hard to figure out what might be connected to Natalie’s dilemma and what might not. And the whole stalker vibe brings an extra urgency to the situation.

Light romance and faith threads added to my overall enjoyment. This is very much a strangers to friends to ‘hey, there might be something here, let’s explore that when all this is over’ kind of love story, which I really appreciated.

I listened to the audible edition (so thankful that Love Inspired Suspense is making more books available in this format!) Patricia Santomasso did a great job making these characters, and the tense situations they find themselves in, feel so breathtakingly real!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Lethal Mountain Rescue , 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 March 9 2024.

Hunted in the Mountains + Giveaway

With nowhere to turn… the wilderness is the only escape route.

When a scared boy appears on her doorstep, Julia Fay has no time for questions before they’re chased into the woods by armed assailants. Former navy SEAL Troy Walker subdues their attackers, but young Jake insists the police can’t be trusted. Now three strangers are on the run together. Can Julia and Troy protect a child against the unknown…when the truth could get them killed?

My Review:

Phew! This one is an edge-of-your-seat nail-biter for sure! Addie Ellis sets the tone of the book from the very first sentence: “There was always something about the darkness of the night that left Julia Fay feeling adrift.” Cue the shiver of suspense-y delight creeping up my spine and I was committed for the long haul.

Fast-paced. Adrenaline surging. Relentless pursuit. All the the elements of a high-octane read that kept me riveted. And somehow, in the midst of all that, the author manages to flesh out some engaging characters. Easy to relate to and empathize with. And the romance, while a bit rushed, is still believable. There’s sense or urgency that mirrors the suspense and made this an unputdownable read. Devoured it in one sitting.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read 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 Hunted in the Mountains , 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 March 9 2024.

Crime Scene Conspiracy + Giveaway

Too many mysterious deaths…not enough clues.

A string of staged deaths forces Texas Ranger Emily O’Connell on a covert mission to investigate a governor’s connection to the deceased women. She doesn’t trust anyone—including crime scene cleaner Stone Spencer. But when Emily’s questioning makes her the serial killer’s next target, she must turn to ex-ranger Stone for help. With threats at every turn, outrunning a merciless villain could be the last thing they do.

My Review:

Ummm….definitely clear your calendar, turn your phone off and lock yourself away from your real world, ’cause once you enter this fictional one there’s no turning back. Riveting. Compelling. Absorbing. Intriguing…and all the ‘ings’ you can think of.

I compulsively listened to ‘Crime Scene Conspiracy’ in a day and, since I have a rule that I can only listen to audio books when I’m moving, I’m sooo sore and tired! Oy, but I couldn’t hit the pause button on this one and I’m not sorry. Except that it’s all over now but — hooray — this is the first in the Texas Crime Scene series so there are more books in store and I think we’ve gotten a hint as to which Spencer sibling will be up next in the starring role. (At least, I hope so!)

Love the way the author has set the stage for the whole series. A crime scene cleaning company is such an interesting angle and the Spencer family is full of captivating characters who all seem to have unique back stories that need exploring. Eeeeep! I can’t wait!!!

This time ’round it’s older brother Stone who ends up in the thick of things, helping Texas Ranger Emily O’Connell on a covert mission. They’ve worked together before (he’s ex-Texas Ranger) and he’s even asked her out a time or two (she declined…crazy girl!) so it was fun to see them up close and personal once again. Awkward meet-cute leads to so much more. Great banter along with some sniping (Emily has major trust issues) paired with some lovely ‘getting to know you’ moments. And a beautiful faith thread about trust and how trusting God can open your heart to trusting others. It’s a lesson Emily has to learn the hard way.

The complex suspense kept me on the edge of my seat trying to suss out the killer right along with Emily and Stone. Nice pacing between the high point action scenes and the investigative ones until — ack! — the nail-biting conclusion. A thrill of a read all the way through.

I didn’t realize going in that this was a Christmas story. The details are light enough not to feel too seasonal if you’re reading the book any other time of the year but, if you’re looking for a Christmas read, this one definitely fits the bill with some lovely festive traditions. So — an ideal romantic suspense for any time of the year!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cold Case Conspiracy , 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 February 24 2024.

Alaskan Wilderness Rescue + Giveaway

A missing person rescue  is now a K-9 manhunt for a killer…

A missing person case sends search and rescue worker Elsie Montgomery and her K-9 to a remote Alaskan island…only to discover she’s got a target on her back. Now she must partner with pilot Wyatt Chandler, the one man she doesn’t trust, to stay alive while confronting her shadowy past. But can they capture a killer before their time together runs out for good?

My Review:

I can’t express how thrilled I am that some of the Love Inspired Suspense novels are coming out in audio format too! I have them preordered as fast as they appear on Audible. Enjoyed Sara Sheckells’ narration immensely.

Varland knows how to deliver an edge-of-your-seat suspense with emotional depth. Elsie’s backstory is especially compelling and explains a lot about her reactions and need to be in control even as her life transforms into a terrifying free fall.

Enter Wayne — her best friend’s older brother who has a past of his own even though he’s a changed man. Once he comes to Elsie’s aid the pull to continue helping her is too strong to ignore — despite Elsie’s stubborn independent streak. Really enjoyed the way their relationship evolved, the deep discussions as they started trusting each other with their pasts.

And, of course, there’s the K-9 angle full of interesting SAR tidbits that added to the suspense and kept me riveted right to the very end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Alaskan Wilderness Rescue , 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 February 10 2024.

Christmas Vendetta + Giveaway

RANDOM RETRO READ

Is she a mistaken target…or next on an enemy’s hit list?

Sandy Lynn Forrester’s Christmas holiday takes a terrifying turn when someone breaks into her home and attacks her roommate…thinking it’s her. But no one believes that an imprisoned man from Sandy Lynn’s past is behind the attacks—except for her high school heartbreak, ex-cop Clay Danforth. Can she trust Clay to keep her safe in the Ozark wilderness long enough to stop a ruthless criminal’s vengeance?

My Review:

published in 2021

I somehow missed this book when it first came out, though I’ve read the rest of the series, so I was thrilled to discover it in audiobook format! Loved the narration — Romy Nordlinger did justice to the tense, action filled plot.

So, reunion romance amidst the chaos of vengeance and danger made for a thrilling read. Clay’s life is already complicated when he runs into (literally) Sandy Lynn again. Loved the pacing in their ‘reluctant return to love’ story, though survival takes the front seat in this taut romantic suspense.

Desperation. Revenge. Betrayal. Corruption. All play a part in this complex plot to create a spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat thrill of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible book if you have audible.ca  

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Christmas Vendetta, 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 December 16, 2023

Alaskan Mountain Search + Giveaway

A missing teen, a killer on the prowl…This K-9’s on the case

In the Alaskan wilderness, there’s only one way to track a serial killer: a K-9. For police captain Bre Dayton, that means working with her ex, search and rescue worker Griffin Knight. With her niece missing and possibly kidnapped, Bre has to find the murderer known as the Echo Pass Hunter—fast. Even if it means trusting the man who broke her heart…and putting herself in the killer’s crosshairs.

K-9 Search and Rescue

My Review:

I’ve read (well, listened) to all the K-9 Search and Rescue books except for this one. It released back in January 2023, but for some reason didn’t appear on audible until this month so I read this one way out of order. Not a problem though, since this isn’t a continuity series. The books are just loosely tied together via the K-9 Search and Rescue theme.

I was immediately drawn to the Alaskan setting in this 8th book. Varland does an incredible job of setting the scene, describing the environment and generally making a reader feel like she’s freezing on a mountain trail somewhere. 🙂 Add in some nail-biting suspense and the drama of a second chance romance and I was in bibliophile bliss all the way through.

Beautifully written — this story reads well, as in it makes an excellent audio book. I’ve found that listening to a novel really highlights the strengths…and the flaws…in storytelling techniques and this one was a joy to listen to..

Loved the complicated dynamics in the relationship between Bre and Griffin. Their personal back stories and collective history added so much depth — and angst — to the plot. Absolutely relatable and believable and full of raw honesty. I was emotionally invested in them as a couple very early on.

The suspense is full of edge-of-your-seat stuff, including some wilderness survival scenes, as this hero and heroine face down the elements in their desperate search for Bre’s missing niece.

Unputdownable (or should I say unstoppable?) until the very last word. Definitely a favourite Love Inspired Suspense.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible book if you have audible.ca  

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Alaskan Mountain Search, 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 December 9, 2023

Rescue Mission + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

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.

Snowbound Escape + Giveaway

To rescue a witness…this K-9 teams must face a killer and a storm.

After months tracking a colleague falsely accused of a double homicide, officer Tanner Ford and his K-9 partner finally locate crime tech Mara Gilmore—but the real murderer is closing in. Now they must run into a frozen wilderness to survive. Evading the killer is the only way for Mara to clear her name. But will the harsh winter conditions cover their tracks…or bury them forever?

My Review:

Finally — the resolution we’ve all (well, fans of the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series) have been waiting for!! And it’s a doozy! So, definitely don’t read ‘Snowbound Escape‘ if you are planning on reading the whole series — it has a number of spoilers since this is the grand finale. But if you want to jump in and just read this one, the story will make sense…maybe just won’t pack the same emotional wallop it will for those of us we have been with this K-9 team from the very beginning.

Dana Mentink did a fantastic job of wrapping things up with her unique blend of hair-raising and laugh-out-loud finesse. Honestly, the meet-cute — desperate tension meets Cheshire grin because Mara is one tough, tenacious, never-say-die survivor. She’s been on the run for eight months and just when she finally gets some K-9 help…well….if the killer in pursuit doesn’t do them in, Mother Nature’s fury just might.

There’s something about reading a good ‘stranded in a blizzard’ suspense that ticks all the boxes for me. I actually crave this scenario once the weather starts to grow colder so I was in reading ecstasy all the way through. Loved all the wilderness survival parts and, oy, the relentless snow! Luckily they have K-9 wonder dog Britta on their side.

An exciting conclusion to this continuity K-9 series — and I’m hoping there will be another one starting up in the New Year.

Oh — and I listened to the audible edition expertly narrated by Eva Kaminsky. Love, love, looooovvvvveeeee that this series was available in audio format. I preordered them all and got such a thrill each time I got the notification that I had a new book ready to download. (Yes, I’m nerdy like that.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Snowbound Escape, 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 November 11, 2023

Christmas Baby Rescue + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

An infant on his doorstep…and enemies closing in.

Liam Knight’s solitary plans for Christmas Eve fall apart when he discovers a baby left outside his cabin — and bloody footprints leading to his injured pen pal. Suffering from PTSD, the former navy SEAL thins he’s the wrong choice to protect Ashlyn Sutton and her infant niece. But with contract killers on their trail, he must overcome his fear…and stop the criminal behind the threats.

My Review:

published in 2022

Whoa — intense from the very first page — both in the suspense and emotionally for both hero and heroine. But it’s Liam’s struggles that really touched me. He feels irrevocably broken and unworthy of the kind of future he once dreamed about. In some ways, Ashlyn was the shadow of a dream, a ‘what if’ things were different. 

They haven’t met in person, but Ashlyn has been corresponding with Liam for three years while he served overseas. The two have shared a lot about their pasts and their hopes for the future but never dreamed they’d actually meet under the kind of circumstances that has Ashlyn running for her life, and Liam worried he’d fail her.

The dynamics in this romance kept me on edge right to the very end. It doesn’t pan out the way most Love Inspired Suspense romances do, and I appreciated the difference. (No worries, there’s still a HEA) For all that they’ve never met, Liam and Ashlyn know a lot about each other so there’s this wonderful mix of awkward getting-to-know-you-in-person vibe meshed with an I-know-some-of-your-secrets vibe. Made for an emotional roller coaster of a read.

Then there’s sweet little Emory, Ashlyn’s innocent niece who is caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous enemy. Pulled at my heartstrings all the more! Loved the edginess of the suspense married with the emotional conflict within the characters — especially Liam. Riveting!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an autographed 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 Christmas Baby Rescue, 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 November 4, 2023.