Tag: Romantic Suspense

Eliminating the Witness + Giveaway

A hidden identity exposed…and murderers on the hunt…

Rachel Bright’s time hiding in a small town comes to a crashing halt when her witness protection location is compromised. Now to evade her serial killer ex-husband after his surprise release from prison, she must go on the run with US marshal Kyle Reid. But with a bounty on her head and determined contract killers on her tail, every move could be their last.

My Review:

Equal parts intense and emotional with enough hair-raising to…well, make your hair stand up on end. 🙂 Some beautiful descriptive passages as well, along with multi-faceted characters that keep a reader on edge with every new revelation.

I particularly appreciated the way the author included fascinating bits of Emergency Medicine (the author is an ER nurse) and the intricacies of the WITSEC programme. It all added an extra dimension to this romantic suspense.

And I love our take-charge heroine! Rachel has been through a horrific ordeal that’s necessitated going into hiding. She’s reinvented herself, from the inside out, leaving her victim persona behind. If only the past would stay in the past! Her resiliency, the way she leans on the Lord and her courage in the face of adversity are all admirable traits that I found so appealing. And so does Kyle. Only there’s all kinds of complications — like keeping the witness alive!

A plot full of twists and turns that kept me engaged up to the very last page.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Eliminating the Witness, 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 July 15 , 2023.

Tunnel Creek Ambush + Giveaway

Danger lurks in the shadows…
and a police dog is keeping watch

Officer Jasper Holt never thought he’d see his high school girlfriend, Kinsley Miller, again—much less become her protector. But when the wildlife biologist returns home for her aunt’s funeral, she’s attacked twice in a matter of hours. With his K-9 partner at his side, the single father will protect Kinsley with his life. But can they uncover the reason behind the assaults…before the next strike becomes the last?

My Review:

Reunion romance of high school sweethearts + action and adventure all wrapped up in a K-9 suspense? Yes please! Lots of elements to lure me in and Johnson’s writing style kept me hooked. Oh — and I love that Kinsley is a wildlife biologist. You can tell the author appreciates all creatures great and small…even the squirmy kind! I enjoyed the wilderness aspects of this story and how the setting added to the suspenseful elements.

‘Tunnel Creek Ambush ‘starts out with the ambush — a nail-biting scene that sets the tone for the rest of the book. Loved the perplexing mystery that keep Kinsley and Jasper stymied while they dodge multiple attacks of an imaginative nature. Fast-paced with enough breathing room to toss in some banter and soul-searching. The kind of read you can’t put down until the cutest ever epilogue promises a happily-ever-after.

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 Tunnel Creek Ambush, 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 July 15 2023.

Olympic Mountain Pursuit + Giveaway

Can this K-9 get a child to safety?

Four years ago, former US Marshal Jackson Dean left his job after falling for a witness—who’s suddenly the target of an assassin. Now it’s up to Jackson and his K-9 partner to protect single mom Everly Lopez and her young daughter when Everly’s identity is blown. But with hired killers looking for a payday, Jackson must use all his resources to stop them from silencing Everly permanently.

Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit

My Review:

Another compelling addition to this continuity series, though it reads wonderfully well as a standalone too. There’s an overarching suspense plot that slowly builds through all the books and won’t be solved until the last one, but each book has it’s own suspense and romance that come to satisfactory conclusions so you aren’t left with too much of a cliffhanger. 🙂

I really loved the way this story developed. Not as fast paced as many Love Inspired Suspense novels, but no less captivating — maybe even more so because of the unique pacing. There’s still plenty of action — but enough ‘down time’ in between to really get into the intricacies of the romance.

An almost-but-not-quite second chance love story. Jackson and Everly developed a close bond four years ago when he over saw her protection in the WITSEC programme. But, of course, those circumstances aren’t conducive to romance and we fast forward four years to a time when so much as changed for both of them.

I really appreciated Everly’s very real struggle with her anger towards God. I found those scenes so honest — emotionally raw — and very relatable. Moving and inspiring.

I listened to the audible edition of Olympic Mountain Pursuit, expertly narrated by Cindy Kay. I’m beyond thrilled that the whole series is available on audible and I have them all pre-ordered and ready to start listening to the day they release. A special kind of bibliophile thrill.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com 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 Olympic Mountain Pursuit, 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 July 8 , 2023.

Texas Ranch Target + Giveaway

Somebody wants her dead…but they’ll have to go through him first.

After his client is murdered, security expert Brett Harmon plans to lie low at his family’s ranch — until he comes across an injured woman in the road. With only Brett’s business card in her pocket and no memory of her attack, Jaycee Richmond turns to her rescuers for answers. But when their search reveals a deadly connection, can Brett protect her from a killer she can’t remember?

A Cowboy Protectors novel.

My Review:

I can always count on Virginia Vaughn to deliver a fast-paced, nail-biting, edge-of-your seat suspense and this is definitely all that and more. From the tense opening scene to the high stakes climax, Texas Ranch Target was a devour-in-one-sitting kind of read for me.

I’m not a fan of the amnesia trope but I thought it was handled well here, and definitely added to the mystery of both Jaycee and the suspense. Vaughn expertly balances action and investigation as she builds up the intrigue towards the big reveal. I was as stymied as Brett and Jaycee by the end. Add in a light thread of romance and the promise of more ‘cowboy protectors’ in future books and count me one very happy reader. 🙂

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 Texas Ranch 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 June 24, 2023.

Cougar Mountain Ambush + Giveaway

A shooter in pursuit..and no where left to hide.

When Thad Hanson hears gunshots fired on his ranch, the last thing he expects to find is game warden Carrie Caldwell pinned down by an armed drone—and an unknown assailant closing in. Now Thad’s determined to stay between Carrie and the threat at all times. But with the shooter following their every move, can Thad get Carrie to safety…without leading them both into a trap?

My Review:

I read Kathie Ridings’ debut LIS a few months ago and ended my review begging for more Hanson brothers and here we are, back on Cougar Mountain with Levi, Blane, Sean and, of course, this book’s hero, Thad! Love the way this author writes these brothers — all teasing camaraderie with an underlying thread of steel, ’cause if you mess with one brother you’re going to have to take them all on. Thankfully, Carrie has them on her side.

She’s a game warden who has attracted some deadly attention and it happens on Hanson land so Thad feels responsible (and intervenes in a timely fashion!) He is a hero of my dreams — a veterinarian rancher! Really, can it get any better than that for an animal loving reader? What ensues is a perplexing volley of attacks on poor Carrie that has them all flummoxed and Thad appointing himself protector while they scramble to figure out what on earth is going on and why!

Carrie has an interesting back story that plays an important role in her reluctance to become romantically involved…even though Thad is oh-so-tempting! But running for your life tends to wear down one’s resistance so do not despair, there is a happily-ever-after.

An edge-of-your-seat suspense that kept me engaged to the very last page. (Blissful, happy sigh.) And there are two more unattached Hanson brothers who are crying out for their own stories. (More happy sighing.)

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 Cougar Mountain Ambush, 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 June 17, 2023.

The Shifting Current + Giveaway

When Coast Guard Investigative Service Special Agent LOGAN PERRY’s beloved grandfather is murdered, Logan races to his hometown of Cauldron Creek, New Mexico to investigate the murder. His teammate and friend, EMMY THORTON, insists on joining him. Not a good idea—not when he loves her, but carries a secret that he knows will tear them apart.

Emmy knows Logan will pursue the investigation no matter the cost, and she won’t let the man she loves plunge into a dangerous situation alone. She needs to be at his side, even if he believes friendship is her only reason for joining him.

What looks like a robbery gone wrong rapidly shifts, drawing Emmy and Logan into a dizzying maze where nothing is as it appears. Every lead slips through their fingers as threats against them grow deadlier at each turn. Having only each other to rely on, their love for one another deepens, but will they live long enough to admit their attraction to each other?

They’re in the killer’s sights. One wrong move puts their future together and their lives on the line.

My Review:

Don’t let the shorter word count fool you — this novella packs a punch. I’m amazed at how deeply layered and intricate the plot is. How did the author fit so much into a novella form? Definitely reads with all the satisfaction of her longer books….well, except for loving these characters and this team and wanting to stay with them forever!

This novella ends the Coastal Guardians series and does so in grand fashion. Logan and Emmy have played supportive roles in the previous books so I was thrilled to catch up with them here. No worries though, ‘The Shifting Current‘ could easily be read as a standalone as well. Especially since Logan and Em are ‘on location’ across the country in New Mexico for this case.

And it’s a bittersweet story based around a difficult set of circumstances. Logan’s grandfather has been brutally murdered and he’s determined to work the case along side his long time friend who is also the sheriff. And Em isn’t about to let him deal all that alone.

The thing you need to know about this pair is that they are professional partners who work brilliantly together. The perfect compliment of talent and brains. They share a deep friendship that could easily become something more — so if you’re a fan of the friends to lovers trope, this is definitely the romance for you!

What amazes me about their story is the way the author has woven the romance through some very dark times. Logan’s grief is gut wrenchingly real, his emotions raw and Em is tenderly supportive. It’s because they know each other so well, that she’s able to watch out for him — pushing Logan forward when necessary but also allowing him time to process through his grief. So, while there are definitely sad, painful moments in this novella, there’s also the comfort of finding fresh hope in new beginnings.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Stephanie Cozart who did a fantastic job with these characters and their story.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere with a .com Kindle account.

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice, or also audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Shifting Current, 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 June 10, 2023.

Explosive Trail + Giveaway

Can an officer and her K-9 partner survive a bomber with a vendetta?

When a serial bomber’s explosion in Olympic National Park lands K-9 officer Willow Bates in the hospital, her estranged husband, FBI agent Theo Bates, rushes to her side. He’s determined to protect her and the baby he didn’t know she was carrying. But the bomber has revenge on his mind and will stop at nothing to finish them off.

From Love Inspired Courage. Danger. Faith.

Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit

My Review:

These LIS continuity series just keep getting better! This one is third in the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series but would read really well as a standalone as well. Each book has it’s own individual suspense and romance while carrying forward an over-arcing suspense thread that slowly builds with each book and won’t be resolved until the last one. Reed does an amazing job of fitting in pertinent details without bogging the plot down. Great for new-to-the-series readers but also a helpful refresher for P N K-9 fans.

K-9 Star (bomb and arms detection dog) is the star of this story! Loved this furry scene stealer and I was cheering her on in some of the hair-raising (fur-raising?) scenes! But her humans are pretty cool to and…eeeeppppppp…

Mega Second Chance Romance! Willow and Theo are on the verge of divorce and the wounds are still fresh. An attempt at reconciliation three months earlier didn’t prove fruitful…at least not in the way you might think. Now Willow’s pregnant and that just makes navigating all the hurt and angst that much harder.

Now, I’ll say that while the suspense is fantastic in this novel, the romance is spectacular! The author somehow managed to build emotion into every situation…and the undercurrents in the dialogue!!!! I felt every agonizing moment. And completely related to both Willow and Theo and the reasons for their split. And when they let their guard down and the romance starts to sizzle — be still my heart. Breathtaking stuff!

But, of course, there’s a nefarious bomber to apprehend and quite a bit of adventuring to get through before that oh-so-very-satisfactory happily-ever-after can come about.

Oh — and I love the way the author set things up for the next book and added some more dangling threads to series’ suspense. Makes me all kinds of anxious to pick up the next book soon. Which is easy to do since these books are releasing each month.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya. Absolutely LOVE that this entire series is available in audio format. I have them all on preorder and drop everything when I get the notification that book is available. I finished this one in a day and loved every second.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere with a .com kindle account

US — Paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — Paperback or ebook or audible.ca copy — winner’s choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Explosive Trail, 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 June 3, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Counter Attack + Giveaway

No sooner has Alexis Stone been sworn in as the interim sheriff for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed the Queen’s Gambit Killer strikes again–this time in her hometown. Pearl Springs is just supposed to be a temporary stop along the way to Alex’s real dream: becoming the first female police chief of Chattanooga. But the killer’s calling card–a white pawn and a note with a chess move printed on it–cannot be ignored.

My Review:

Intense, emotional and unputdownable! I flew through Patricia Bradley’s latest release. Just never found a good place to set the book aside and do other things and I do so love getting lost in a book…even if it’s sometimes scary and a little bit creepy like this one is.

Just the right blend of investigative work interspersed with all the action/danger. And so many things are happening at the same time it’s hard for Alex and Nathan, her police chief counterpart, to keep on top of things. (I’ve always found the US police hierarchy so interesting — where a town has a chief but also a sheriff. And Bradley describes the various responsibilities of each really well.)

I did a good job of sleuthing out some things and was totally clueless about others, so that made for an exciting read. I’m so proud of what I did figure out but agog at what I missed. I won’t quit my day job to become a professional armchair sleuth anytime soon. 🙂

And — woohoo — reunion romance in the making after a high school romance went sour a decade earlier. Love how well they know each other and how irked they are about that. Kinda grumpy and edgy and oh so reluctantly slipping back into old habits. I do so love the second chance romance trope and this one made me all kinds of happy.

A stellar, faith-infused romantic suspense that somehow also manages to ooze Southern Charm. And did I mention that Counter Attack is the first in Bradley’s new Pearl River series? I’m giddy with anticipation for book two’s release.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Gently read paperback copy available internationally — so, yay, everybody’s included in this giveaway no matter where you live.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Counter Attack, 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 June 3, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Mistaken Mountain Abduction + Giveaway

Tracking a kidnapper leads to a deadly pursuit.

After her twin is abducted and mistaken for her, former army helicopter pilot Aggie Newton must move fast. She has to find her sister and figure out why she’s become a target — even if it means working with her ex. But Detective Bronson Young knows there criminals will do anything to stop their investigation. Can they dodge deadly attacks long enough to save Aggie’s sister and expose the kidnapers?

My Review:

Love the unique twists, Redmon brings to this Love Inspired Suspense…starting with Aggie being an Army helicopter pilot! She’s capable, no nonsense and determined. Every inch the soldier, even though she’s a civilian now. A nice change from the military alpha male lead (though I do love them as well!!!) Also love the twist in Aggie and Bronson’s former romance — again, a departure from the norm, so that was fun too. (I don’t want to say anything else for fear of spoilers, but when you meet this pair and read their story you’ll understand what I mean.)

Equal parts investigation and action and no end of danger (including some awesome flight scenes) made this a high-octane page-turner. All wrapped around the promise of a second chance love story. I’m one happy reader!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Gently read paperback copy available anywhere — so — yay — International Readers Alert!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Mistaken Mountain Abduction, 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 May 27, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Deadly Vengeance + Giveaway

The easiest way to murder someone is to make sure they don’t exist…

Someone has erased profiler Gabe Buchanan’s identity…and now they’re trying to kill him. And although Chief Warrant Officer Hannah Austin betrayed him in the past when she was undercover investigating his friend, now she’s his only hope to stay alive and restore his name. With the clock ticking down, can they track down the killer who wants to silence him permanently?

My Review:

Woohoo, twisty turny and completely riveting. Love the cyber aspects of the crime — the concept of losing your entire identity in this day and age with all the repercussions! Shudder! That’s a nightmare all on it’s own but add in the relentless pursuit of the villains and, yikes, hair-raising stuff!

This is a kinda second chance romance — Gabe and Hannah were good friends in college, on the cusp of something more until….well, you’ll have to read the book ’cause it’s complicated. 🙂

A perfect romantic suspense escape read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Gently read paperback copy to anyone, anywhere in the world. Yay, another International giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Only the Beautiful, 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 May 20, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.