Romantic Suspense – Page 10

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.

One Wrong Move + Giveaway

Taunting riddles.
A deadly string of heists.
Two broken hearts trapped in a killer’s game.

Christian Macleod was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country’s foremost security experts. When a string of Southwestern art heists captures the FBI’s attention, Christian is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.

Andi Forster was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until one of her colleagues destroyed her career, blaming her for mishandling evidence. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator’s game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.

My Review:

Riveting from the very first word. I listened to the audible edition, narrated by Brian Hutchison and, while I prefer a female narrator (when there’s only one) I enjoyed this performance. A compulsive listen all the way through and I’m still assimilating everything. 🙂

First off — love the pacing, the balance between romance and suspense and the camaraderie between everyone. We have Andi and her best friend and then Christian and his family who run a private security firm. I had so much fun getting to know everyone and catching a glimpse of future heroes and heroines in the series. There’s banter aplenty and some great heart-to-hearts and the kind of loyalty that comes from siblings who’ve been through a lot over the years. Their back story is soooo compelling and creates quite the inner turmoil for each of them.

There are two distinct mysteries, the art gallery heists being the major focus, but there’s also a cold/closed case being investigated by Christian’s brother along with a (hopefully) future love interest. Really liked the way the author divided up the suspense elements, and the relationships as well. Nothing felt rushed, though there was always a sense of urgency but also plenty of time to get to know the characters.

Love the New Mexico setting — haven’t read many books set in this state — and Pettrey does an amazing job of making me feel like I’ve been there. From geography to culture, her details add an armchair traveling charm to the read.

This new ‘Jeopardy Falls’ series is off to a fantastic start and now I’m anxious to dive into the second book only I can’t find any information on it. Not a title or a release date or anything. Whimper. Hopefully it will be released sooner than later because I am completely attached to these characters now and I need more!!!

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 One Wrong Move , 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 2 2024.

Against All Odds + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

For FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Evan Cooper and his partner, dignitary protection duty should have been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, Monica Callahan isn’t making it easy. Estranged from her diplomat father–who is involved in a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East–she refuses to be intimidated by a related terrorist threat back in the States. That is, until a chilling warning convinces her that the danger is very real–and escalating.

As Coop and his partner do their best to keep her safe, Monica’s father triggers an abduction that puts his daughter’s life at risk. And with every second that ticks by, Coop knows that the odds of saving the only woman who has ever breached the walls around his heart are dropping. After all, terrorists aren’t known for their patience–or their mercy.

Book one in the Heroes of Quantico series, this suspense-filled novel will whisk readers along for the thrilling ride.

My Review:

published in 2009

Eeeeppp!!! This was my first Irene Hannon book way back in the day! Read it even before I started posting reviews on Good Reads or started my blog and I don’t believe I’ve missed a single one of her books since then. In fact, I picked Irene Hannon as one of my re-read authors for 2024, so this is the official start.

This time round I listened to the audio book (courtesy of Audible Plus) narrated by Stevie Ray Dallimore. While I usually prefer female narrators, I thought Dallimore did a pretty good job with the female voices and I enjoyed my listening experience….

And discovered that I really like ‘vintage’ romantic suspense. The pacing is very different from current books which leaves room to develop relationships and get to know the characters more. Also time for significant faith threads which is another bonus.

So, while there’s definitely suspense right from the start, it’s drawn out in a different way. As the plot thickens (literally!) readers are drawn in to the high stakes situation that gradually grows more desperate as time progresses.

Meanwhile there’s Monica trying to live her normal life while being guarded by Coop’s FBI team. There’s a certain ominous dread looming over every scene because this is a suspense, after all! But it’s a lot of ‘normal’ too as Monica and Coop clash over safety concerns. Monica can’t quite believe that something to do with her estranged father half way around the world could actually impact her ordinary life. But she’s wrong! Soooooo wrong!!!

Loved the way the romance developed. It didn’t feel rushed and was full of heartfelt conversations, some teasing banter and the delicious tension of two people meeting at the wrong time. He has a job to do and she’s at the centre of it! Definitely no time for romance and yet…happy sigh. Beautifully crafted!

The suspense builds gradually and then bursts into a ‘heart-stopping, gasp-out-louding’ scenario that left me clinging to the edge of my seat. Expertly written, from mega emotions to action scenes. And then — huge bonus — we’re given some wonderful downtime to decompress and wrap things up and head out into our happily ever after. Like I said — impeccable pacing.

A must read for the inspirational romantic suspense connoisseur!

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 Against All Odds , 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.

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. 🙂

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 Double Take , 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 February17 2024.

Shadows at Dusk + Giveaway

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can’t help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition–that he help her track down her friend’s killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they’ll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They’ll have to learn to trust one another–and face the dark secrets of the past–if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

My Review:

Whoa! What an adrenaline rush of a read! Oxygen tank and defibrillator might just be necessary standbys for sensitive readers! 🙂

First, love the Alaskan setting. There’s something so alluring about stories set in this state…at least for me. Have no idea why because I’m definitely not the rugged wilderness type. I’m much more of the curl up by the roaring fire reading about rugged wilderness types kinda gal. But there’s something modern day wild west-ish about this setting which makes it quite brilliant for suspense.

And too funny — I grabbed this book to help me ride out an epic snowstorm only to discover the story takes place in the spring/summer. Still lots of scope for fighting against the elements even if it’s rain and the wilderness is just as untamed so that kind of thrill carried all the way through.

Love that our heroine is a bush pilot and that our hero isn’t all that keen on flying. They have great chemistry that’s all tangled up in complicated back stories and current agendas. Goddard is a master at weaving all of that into the increasingly difficult situations Carrie and Trevor find themselves in.

And the suspense! A reader practically needs climbing gear to navigate all the treacherous fissures cracking through the plot! So many twists and turns and downright bottomless pits to tiptoe around. And the stakes just kept getting higher as the story progressed. Danger, corruption, deceit run rampant. Oh and that prologue!!! Jaw-dropping, gasp-out-loud, what-just-happened good.

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 Shadows at Dusk , 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.

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.

One Final Target + Giveaway

Two wounded heroes shattered by tragedy and paralyzed by guilt and must find their footing and work together to catch a killer.

A warrant service in the San Bernardino Mountains goes horribly wrong when an IED blast kills four police officers. Devastated by the loss of her team, the lone survivor, Long Beach sergeant Jodie King, struggles with her guilt and grief, especially as the case remains open with no clear leads or suspects. Weeks after the explosion, Jodie retires from the police department and returns to the mountain bomb site seeking peace and resolution . . . only to find herself in the crosshairs once again.

Sam Gresham just happens to be in the right place at the right time when shots are fired at Jodie. The newest detective for the county sheriff’s department, Sam is assigned to work the IED, his first case back after his own traumatic loss. While Sam sees an opportunity to help Jodie heal from her lingering scars, Jodie hopes fresh eyes will bring new insight to the investigation. Because after this latest shooting, one thing seems Jodie has always been the intended target―and the threat may be much closer to her than anyone wants to admit.

Janice Cantore delivers another pulse-pounding contemporary romantic suspense novel about overcoming grief and learning to trust again.

My Review:

Astounding! I listened to this book in a day because I just couldn’t tear myself away! And there’s so much I want to say but can’t because of spoilers but — ohhhh — this is more than a riveting suspense novel (though it definitely is that.) But there are complex characters with hard back stories and lots of tough conversations as they grapple with the why’s and wherefores and the looming question of where God is in all the mess.

The faith thread is amazing! So many great lines I wanted to write down but I never had pen and paper handy since I was always on the go while listening to Jeannie Sheneman’s exceptional narration. She has a kind of gritty timber to her voice that lends itself to this type of tense suspense novel really well.

Impeccable pacing in the plot — the way the author starts to draw everything together for the hair-raising climatic conclusion, well, just wow! I was mesmerized by it all. Great police procedural scenes fraught with emotion. Cantore’s policing background shines in the intricate depths she brings to all the little nuances us regular folk wouldn’t even know to think about.

If you enjoy phenomenal suspense with an honest ‘friends to the potential for more’ trope expertly woven in amidst danger and trauma, then ‘One Final Target’ definitely belongs on your TBR.

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

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 One Final Target , 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 3 2024.

Fragile Designs + Giveaway

Family secrets can be the most dangerous of all.

When Carly Tucker’s police-officer husband is killed during a home break-in, she knows that her side hustle finding the antique treasures at flea markets isn’t enough to support her and their infant son, Noah. So her grandmother’s proposal to have her and her two sisters restore the family’s waterfront Beaufort home into a bed-and-breakfast–that Carly will run–is immediately intriguing. But it’s equally daunting with the animosity that exists between the three sisters.

What Carly never expected as she begins to go through the attic was to find a letter in a trunk, written in her husband’s handwriting . . . dated two days before his death. Eric had discovered that Carly’s grandmother was adopted–a fact Carly is certain Gram is not aware of–and had already begun trying to track down her birth family. Is it possible that Eric’s death wasn’t random after all?

With few options, Carly reaches out to Gram’s neighbor Lucas—and the older brother of her high school sweetheart–who is a local homicide detective. One of the items in the trunk is an enameled egg. If it truly is a Faberge egg, the value could set Carly up for life . . . and would certainly be worth killing for. The journey to find the truth and protect her family will have Carly delving deep into the lost treasures of Eastern Europe–if she and Lucas can survive that long.

My Review:

Classic edge-of-your-seat Coble! Chock full of intrigue and danger paired with bourgeoning romance. And, oh, the family drama! Yikes but I wanted to shake some sense into Carly’s entitled sisters! Gah! I thought the author handled the reasons for the family dynamics and the way they are revealed and resolved really well…but I still want to purse whomp somebody! 🙂

Love the genealogical aspect to the mystery. It brought a bit more edge and emotional rawness to the story. And the Faberge egg angle is unique and captured my imagination. I went on a google deep dive for images and history during the read. Love when a work of fiction prompts me to do that!

The romance is a bit of enemies to more and at first I wasn’t sure I’d become invested in the love story since Carly is recently widowed and a new mother, BUT the author develops the pull between this hero and heroine in a way that had me rooting for them…and swooning over Lucas. Happy sigh. Baby Noah was a heart stealer as well. And when baby-shy Lucas falls for the little guy, well, my heart did happy dancing flip-flops!

Of course, in true Coble style, there’s plenty of intrigue and ominous danger to wade through before the twisty-turny plot can straighten out into a happily ever after and I hung on every last word!

My thanks to the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of Fragile Designs. Narrator Karen Peakes has a soothing, easy-to-listen-to voice which captures the nuances of individual characters perfectly — both male and female. Highly recommend the audio edition if you are an avid bibliophile listener like I am!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com)

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of the book OR the option of an audible.ca edition.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fragile Designs , 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 January 20 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