Tag: Romantic Suspense

Cold Light of Day + Giveaway

Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in the quiet Alaska town of Shadow Gap when an unexpected string of criminal acitivity leaves her with a wounded officer, unexplained murderes, and even an attack on her own father. Despite her mistrust of outsiders, she turns to Grier Brenner, a newcomer who seems to have the skills and training Autumn needs to face this threat to her community.

Grier is in Alaska for the same reason so many others are — to disappear — when Chief Long enlists his help. He emerges from the shadows and proves his mettle, but his presence in her life could be a deadly trap for them both. If his secret is exposed, all will be lost. And he’s not sure even Autumn could save him.

As the stakes rise and the dangers increase, Autumn and Grier must rely on each other to extinguish the deadly threats.

My Review:

Um…this is me speechless. I’m blaming Goddard’s incredible suspense-y Ninja skills for my addled brain because….Whooooaaaaaaaa. Hence the rambling review that follows:

What just happened here? And here? And here? And all the way through the book I’m like “What’s up with Grier? What’s his secret? Why is he off the grid?” And — gah — but small town politics gets my dander up, especially when it’s aimed at Autumn who, hellllooo, is just doing her job. And mighty fine at it too, I might add.

My spidey senses were all askew, sensing danger (sometimes where it wasn’t, often from unexpected places) so I was on edge the whole entire read. Like all 352 pages (or 9 hr, 45 min in my case.) And the way the author pulls seemingly diverse plot points together by the end. My mouth was agape as in exhaling a, “Whhhaaaaaatttttt??????”

So, that pretty much describes my reading experience…plus there’s romance and a hero husky named Cap (short for Captain America!) And tons of action and adventure in the Alaskan wilderness! The kind of book that gives a reader a cardio workout without having to leave their comfy armchair!

Re audio book: matching a story with the right narrator is paramount to providing the perfect listening experience and the powers that be nailed it when they hired Sara Farrington. She delivered an amazing performance and I’m hoping that she’s on call for the rest of the series. Because….eeeeeeppppp….Cold Light of Day is the first book in Elizabeth Goddard’s new Missing in Alaska series.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cold Light of Day, 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 11, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Detecting Secrets + Giveaway

Tracking the scents of the missing might be the only way to save them.

Partnered with her air-scent dog and Sheriff Dennis Monroe, marriage and family therapist Charlotte Bradley is desperate to put an end to a black-market baby smuggling ring in Anderson County. Who is kidnapping the pregnant girls she counsels and taking their babies? As Charlotte searches for answers, she and Dennis must dodge gunfire and deadly attacks. But the sinister agenda they uncover just might include her.

A Deputies of Anderson County thriller.

My Review:

This is the third book in the Deputies of Anderson County series and don’t ask me how I missed the first two books! The good news is that I can vouch for Detecting Secrets working fine as a standalone. There’s lots of give and take and teasing amount the deputies which might have meant more if I’d met them all in the first two books but I still enjoyed the banter and teamwork and didn’t feel lost or overwhelmed at all. So, definitely don’t hesitate to pick this one up even if you haven’t read the first two books.

And what a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seater! Pulls at your heartstrings too because the crime is so vile. Kidnapping babies. Bah! And Charlotte’s backstory is pretty heartbreaking. I was emotionally engaged all the read through.

Luckily, we have Theo, air-scent SAR canine extraordinaire for distraction and comic relief. If I wasn’t laughing and melting over his antics, I was cheering him on as he seeks and defends and generally creates bedlam for the bad guys .

A fast-paced, adrenaline rush of a read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Detecting Secrets, 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 11, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Alaskan Avalanche Escape + Giveaway

Sabotage in the mountains…Can this K-9 sniff out the truth?

After surviving a sudden avalanche, mountain survival expert Jayla Hoyt and her search-and-rescue K-9 discover that it was no accident — someone deliberately triggered the mountain explosion. To uncover the culprit, she’ll have to partner with Alaska park ranger Bryson Clarke, a man she doesn’t trust. But when the investigators become targets, can they capture the criminal mastermind…before they’re buried alive?

K-9 Search and Rescue

My Review:

First — love that I could listen to this heart stopping romantic suspense! Kelli Tager did a fantastic job of conveying the intensity and desperation in her riveting narration. Unputdownable…or should I say unstoppable?

Super excited to report that, despite the title, a good portion of this story takes place in the Yukon. In fact, the border patrol between the US and Canada plays a key role and it was fun to watch the two forces work (or not, as the case may be) together.

In some ways, Jayla and Bryson are on their own, since they can’t figure out who they can trust…and Jayla has some history with Bryson which makes him untrustworthy in her eyes. But she has her own issues to deal with and I did find her attitude towards Bryson a bit hard to take at the beginning. Thankfully there’s lots of character growth, including spiritually, but, Jayla is very much a work in progress for most of the story. So, there’s angst aplenty and Turner dishes it out on both the romance and suspense front.

Love the search and rescue details around avalanches — so many interesting details in what is involved and how the dogs work to find victims. The weather plays as an important role in the suspense as the mayhem the villains dish out. Makes for a nail-biting read (or listen.)

While part of the multi-authored K-9 Search and Rescue series, Alaskan Avalanche Escape can easily be read as a standalone novel.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Alaskan Avalanche 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 March 4, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Ranch Under Fire

A witness on the run. A mission to survive.

Fleeing after witnessing a shooting in her office, Bailey Scott must rely on cowboy Jackson Walker for protection when the gunman turns his sights on her. With a drug ring determined to silence her, Jackson promises to protect her at his ranch. But he’s an undercover DEA agent with secrets he can’t reveal. Can he take down the criminals before their pursuers lead them straight into an inescapable trap?

My Review:

High stakes. High octane. High stress. A new edge-of-your-seat LIS author for me to start following. I couldn’t be happier ’cause I always have room on my TBR for stellar authors who write the unputdownable kind of suspense I so love reading. And, phew! This one had me turning pages until the read was over…in one sitting.

Love the way Wheeler set up the opening scene. A normal, if harried, day for our heroine until — wham — it isn’t! And then the tension mounts and the investigation begins. And Jackson being undercover makes things that much more complicated in the romance department. And, while this isn’t labeled as a series, I checked the author’s website and she does have a follow up novel coming out in August. Eeeep! I ams so there for more perilous adventuring with Tina Wheeler.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Ranch Under 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 easier for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 25 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Defending Honor + Giveaway

Brains. Beauty. Boldness. The Elite Guardians will keep you safe.

Laila Rabinowitz is all business. Tough and stoic, she was the perfect Massad agent…until a terrible betrayal led to her words nightmare. Being a bodyguard with the Elite Guardians allows her to keep her heart safe — she’ll never let anyone close enough to betray her again. And she’s certainly not going to trust anyone who doesn’t earn it.

Billionaire and former playboy Whittaker walked away from his famous family after a terrible event, but then his father and brother are killed in a suspicious boating accident. Since he’s next in line to helm the family business, now someone wants him dead.

Preston needs 24/7 protection, and the only solution is a fake marriage. In order to keep him safe, Laila will have to convince everyone that she and Preston are in love. She’s used to putting her life on the line for a client. But, what will this case cost her heart?

Book three of the riveting, high-octane world of the Elite Guardians reboot!

My Review:

Phew — this one got my ire up on so many levels! I am totally not into all things rich and famous or reality stars with skewed values and this story is rife with that. Poor Preston! No wonder he fled his noxious family but now he’s back, reluctantly taking charge of the business empire which puts a target on his back. Loved the intrigue, there were just so many truly dreadful characters to line up as suspects. So many shallow, manipulative, conniving…gah! Like I said, ire up the whole read through.

Laila put me in mind of Ziva of NCIS fame. She has the same kind of grit and determination and aloofness that hides so much hurt. And she’s really good with the Ninja moves. And the pretend marriage trope is sooooo much fun! Equal parts toe-curling and anxiety inducing.

And the suspense was really good. Hooray to me for pegging the villain before our intrepid hero and heroine. But that was after discarding so many other possibilities. This one kept me on my toes. And there’s a gripping scene at the end that sent shudders through me. Very creepy.

An exciting addition to the Elite Guardians Collection.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Defending Honor, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT Yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, please 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 to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 25 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Solid as Steele + Giveaway

He lost his memory…

Mackenzie Steele has been instrumental in keeping Steele Guardians afloat, working long hours for months. Nearing burn out, her family encourages her to take a vacation, and she reluctantly agrees. She needs solitude and quiet, and a vacation rental home in the Oregon desert is just the ticket. But she’s no sooner unpacked her bags when a man lands on her doorstep. A man who can’t remember his identity or why he’s there. All they know is that the name Owen seems familiar to him.

But will finding it bring a killer to her doorstep.

Mackenzie shouldn’t trust this man, but something about his earnestness draws her to him and she agrees to help him determine his identity. When her rental home is bombarded with bullets, she knows she’s accepted a task that could turn deadly, and she should walk away. But by this time, her deepening connection with the stranger keeps her firmly rooted at his die, and she can only pray that she won’t regret her potentially life-altering decision.

My Review:

First, who knew that there was a desert in Oregon? Not this Canadian, that’s for sure. So, great setting, including some wilderness adventuring. And we’re also introduced to a band of brothers who run an outdoor wilderness adventure business and I am heartily hoping that their inclusion might be a foreshadowing of a future series! Please, please, please!

But, I digress. Best opening line ever: “The body lying on the front porch wasn’t included in MacKenzie Steele’s vacation home rental.” Bwahahahaha! And we’re off and racing through pages of adventure and danger and toe-curling romance! And didn’t Susan Sleeman go and bewitch me by turning a not-so-favourite trope of mine into something dazzlingly clever?!

I think I might have to stop saying I’m not an amnesia trope fan now. It’s done so well, and with a fresh slant too which makes it all the more interesting. Loved MacKenzie’s reaction to meeting Owen and that she was smart and sensible about it (you have to read the book to find out what I mean.)

And then I was in sheer bibliophile delight all the way to the end as Sleeman delivered her iconic blend of family, faith, humour and suspense. And I loved all the investigative details — along with some exciting cameos from previous series.

I listened to the audible edition of Solid as Steele, narrated by Whitney Dykehouse (who does all of Susan Sleeman’s audio books and I love the giddy ‘home coming’ feeling I get when I start listening to a new book.)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Solid as Steele, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you leave an email in your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. I 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 announce don Saturday February 18 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Mistaken Twin Target + Giveaway

A case of mistaken identity. A bounty hunter to the rescue.

Taken by men who think she’s her identical twin, Charlotte Halstead finds herself staring down the barrel of a gun. Thanks to bounty hunter Wade Fast Horse, she escapes their clutches, but she’s not safe for long. Her twin sister suddenly goes missing, and someone wants Charlotte dead. Wade is her only hope for survival, but can they find Charlotte’s sister before the killer finds them?

A Range River Bounty Hunters Story

My Review:

Whoa! Unputdownable and then some! I intended to only read the first few chapters and then move on to a ton of other things I have on the go but, instead, I came back with a jolt to my real world a couple of hours later. Just couldn’t put it down. I had to know if Charlotte was going to be okay and what happened to her sister and then I was squealing over cameos from previous books. Had way too much fun to stop reading anywhere but at the last page!

This is the third Ranger River Bounty Hunters novel, but it reads really well as a standalone, so no worries if you’re just starting the series here. I love the bounty hunter angle and the way the author slips in tantalizing tidbits of information about the profession and the way they work alongside other law enforcement officials. As with her other books, there’s just the right mix of action and danger and romance which makes for the perfect escape read.

And I’m super excited because the next book is going to feature Connor and I’m all kinds of intrigued. Plus, who can resist a man who rescues stray animals? I’m on tenterhooks waiting to find out his full story…at last!

GIVEAWAY OPPROTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy of this book.

If you would like win a copy of Mistaken Twin 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 11, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Critical Threat + Giveaway

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioural analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn’t mean they’re not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer — in prison but certainly not out of Sam’s life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with Peter’s MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They’ve met before — and though Grace thought they’d made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They’ll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case — especially because it’s about to get personal.

My Review:

Wowzers! This one crept out of my comfort zone a wee bit, ’cause serial killers aren’t a favourite suspense trope of mine. My all too active imagination ran riot with the thriller-ish aspects of this story. Plus there’s a rather gruesome murder detail that isn’t overtly described but just knowing about it raised the creep factor for me. But, this is Lynette Eason and her characters are so real and relatable that I couldn’t resist.

Lots of edge-of-your-seat moments that include heart-stopping near misses and ominous foreshadowing which made me rush through the read. Well, listen, actually — I enjoyed Sheryl Sheckells’ gripping narration. Made it seem all the more real to me which is both a good thing and a bad thing. 🙂

One of Eason’s many talents is the way she creates characters who are honest and vulnerable and flawed. And then she gives them complicated back stories and throws them into a vortex of chaos and mayhem. She really is an evil genius, at least, I bet that’s how her characters think of her!

Both Sam and Grace have complex family issues which add a whole other level of angst to their lives. I loved the way they respected each other’s boundaries, willing to listen but open to waiting for the ‘right time’. They never pushed for more but they also didn’t shy away from sharing for long. Such a rich, emotionally laden romance that felt believable.

Critical Threat is the third book in Extreme Measures series but it can easily be read as a standalone. And, yay, we have a fourth book to look forward to later this year and it’s going to have a stalkerish vibe! Can’t wait for Countdown’s release this summer!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Critical Threat, 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 4, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.