Tag: Romantic Suspense

Into the Fire + Giveaway

As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn’t want her picking up where he left off in search of answers.

When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the danger escalates. But will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance–and maybe even their lives–go up in flames?

The bestselling and award-winning queen of romantic suspense is back with a brand-new series that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you burn through the pages to discover the truth.

My Review:

Well now…how to review this first book in Hannon’s ‘Undaunted Courage’ series without giving away any spoilers?! Because this is the kind of suspense that insidiously builds tension and plot to a crescendo and — whoa — you look back and see things that you didn’t actually notice at the initial read through. So I want to be careful about not giving things away.

Let’s just say I was gobsmacked a few times. And I can’t really tell you why but it’s like I was happily reading along thinking I knew where the story was going only — whiplash U-turn ahead — and I was like, “whhhaaaatttt?!” But then, in other ways things were predictable, still riveting and all, but classic suspense, and if you read this genre a lot you know what to expect….until the author catches you off guard with a sharp upper cut to the armchair sleuth part of your brain. 🙂

It might be safer to talk about the romance. Love the way the relationship between Bri and Mark develops. Not quite enemies to more but wary professionals walking on eggshells around each other at first. Especially on Bri’s end. She has her reasons and an interesting history to back it up. Mark has had his own issues, but he’s definitely more grounded and ready to recognize the spark threatening to ignite between them. (see what I did there with those fire references?)

And I really enjoyed the pacing. We’re given lots of time to really get to know these characters — and their families too. Mark and his Gran and their heartbreaking backstory. And survivor Bri and her two siblings (so hoping they feature prominently in their own HEA novels.) These relationships contributed to the illusion that we have all the time in the world when, in reality, danger is encroaching…da da da da dummmm….cue the eerie music and grab hold of your support bear and make sure to have some comfort chocolate on hand too.

Irene Hannon is right up there on my ‘Best-Most-Favourite-Auto-Buy Authors’ list and she did not disappoint with this book. In fact, even though I had a print copy from the publisher, I could not resist purchasing the audible edition narrated by the ‘Best-Most-Favourite-Auto-Listen Narrator!’ That would be Therese Plummer. Definitely a novel I’ll enjoy listening to again and again.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc..

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 Into the Fire, 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.

Targeted + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-read

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! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy and open to any reader, anywhere in the world — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Targeted, 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 easier for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 28 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Target for Terror + Giveaway

“If you leave on your own, you’ll be dead by morning.” 

Critical Care Nurse Natalia Sokolova can’t ignore former FBI Agent Sloan Dryer’s dire warning. After the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia dies under her care, her house explodes in front of her eyes and she finds her best friend brutally murdered. Ironically, the only bright spot in this horrific nightmare is Sloan’s bad Ukrainian accent and his willingness to protect her.

Sloan is convinced that someone wants to kill Natalia and when he finds a link to her family, he’s not sure who they can trust. As they run for their lives, and from the attraction simmering between them, they uncover a terrorist plot that could bring the nation to its knees. Time is running out. Can Sloan and Natalia save their country and their future, before it’s too late?

My Review:

Desperation. Tension. Hyperventilating panic. Sheer terror. This is one edge-of-your-seat thrill of a read…and a bit on the grittier side so be prepared. Not quite a spy novel, but there is some international espionage going on and traitors in high places which just ups the ante that much more.

Great dynamics between the hero and heroine. Sloane is kindly surly (and yes, that can be a thing) and Natalia is sooooo stubborn. And clueless when it comes to what they’re up against. She drives Sloane crazy, especially when she lapses into sullen Russian. Bwahaha. But once they figure out they’re on the same side, they bond over bodies and explosions. 🙂

I listened to the audio edition and enjoyed the dual narration by Melissa Moran and Alex Knox. Unputdownable…or maybe I should say unstoppable.

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 Target for Terror, 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 October 28, 2023

Safeguarding the Baby + Giveaway

A child is in danger. Only he can keep them safe.

The discovery of a wounded woman and baby in a stranded vehicle plunges Sheriff Rylan Pierce into a chase with a murderous mastermind. Not only must he protect Emily and the child from a killer hot on their trail, he must uncover the culprit’s identity. But with Emily suffering from amnesia, his task just got harder. Will Rylan find the answers he needs before the killer finds them?

My Review:

Once again an author tackles one of my least favourite tropes and sells me on it! Sometimes amnesia stories — especially suspense ones — can end up reading like a cliche but Nelson had me hooked from the very first page. It starts out deep in the heroine’s perspective and her panic and confusion just roll off the page. I could feel the tension climbing and had a solid knot in my stomach by the end of first chapter! So well done!

What follows is an intricate, cleverly executed suspense that left me as puzzled as Rylan and Emily. What was going on? What did these villains want? How were they always able to suss them out? Great combination of action and romance that kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy — open to any reader, anywhere in the world so…yay…another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Safeguarding the Baby, 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 October 21, 2023

Tracked Through the Woods + Giveaway

Targeted by the mob…and their’s no place to hide.

Abby Miller is determined to find her missing FBI informant father before the mafia does, but time is ticking away. Someone tried to kill her father before he disappeared—and now gunmen are on her trail. Teaming with Agent Wyatt Kane is her only chance to uncover an FBI mole—and survive the mob. But finding the truth could uncover deadly secrets…and lead them into a dangerous trap.

My Review:

Still hyperventilating after finishing this incredibly tense, action-filled romantic suspense! Way above the level of a page-turner — Tracked Through the Woods is a thrilling wonder that is impossible to put down.

The suspense is so…suspensey! 🙂 I mean, there are layers of clues and misdirections to wade through and all the while the feeling of dread shivered up my spine because….I can’t say without posting spoilers but Scott handles all the pressure and strain with sly precision. She knows how to mess with her characters and keep her readers glued to the page!

I was so excited to discover this Love Inspired Suspense on audible (usually it’s just their continuity series that are given ‘voices.’) Jennifer Jill Araya did a magnificent job of bringing these characters and their desperate situation to life. A thrilling, spine-tingling 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 (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Tracked Through the Woods, 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 October 14, 2023

Undercover Operation + Giveaway

Rescuing valuable stolen puppies requires a K-9 officer to go deep undercover.

K-9 officer Asher Gilmore and trainer Peyton Burns have two rescue three stolen bloodhound puppies and expose a drug ring. To outwit the criminal masterminds, they must go undercover as married smugglers with the help of an underwater-detection dog. But infiltrating the crime ring proves more dangerous than expected, putting the operation, the puppies and their own lives at risk.

Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit

My Review:

Eeeep — we’re getting closer to the grande finale of this continuity series! In fact, two of the secondary over-arcing mysteries find resolution in this seventh book so this might not be the place to start in on the series. Though it would read perfectly fine as a standalone — it just contains spoilers for two side mysteries. So, if you don’t intend on playing catch up jumping in here is totally fine.

And — woohoo – we have a forced proximity romance between a hero and heroine going undercover as a married couple! Definitely one of my favourite tropes because it provides all kinds of relationship building opportunities. So we get some fun banter mixed in with poignant moments as both Asher and Peyton wrestle with some personal stuff. Plus we have a spiffy springer spaniel K-9 officer and some ornery villains to catch — and all of that makes this one riveting read.

Well, listen for me, since this is another Love Inspired Suspense novel I was thrilled to find in audio format! I enjoyed Abby Craden’s narration and hoping for more Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense novels to be made available in this format.

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 Undercover Operation, 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 October 7, 2023

Mountain Abduction Rescue + Giveaway

A wildfire threat…becomes a missing person search.

A serial arsonist is out for revenge in the Canadian Rocky Mountains—and kidnaps park warden Hazel Hoyt’s son and his camping troop. Now Hazel must team up with the man who broke her heart, firefighter Mitchell Booth, to find the missing boys as wildfires blaze around them. But someone has no intention of letting the pair get off the mountain alive…

My Review:

An exciting mix of wilderness adventure and suspense set in the Canadian Rocky Mountains! And there’s nothing as heartrending as a child stolen away from his mother, so this one has a real emotional kick to it.

Hazel is spunky and stubborn — a Mama Bear personified and she’s relentless in her search for her son. Heedless of every set back, of raging fires, fierce storms, crazed killers, she just won’t give up. Mitchell is right there by her side trying to be a voice of reason, and keep her safe even as he pursues the serial arsonist who seems to be holding Hazel’s son captive.

Lots of edge of your seat, rabid page-turning goodness paired with the rekindling of a high school romance…and a timely read given the amount of raging wildfires Canada experienced this summer.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy — open to any reader, anywhere in the world so…yay…another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Mountain Abduction 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 September 16, 2023