Tag: Romantic Suspense

Deception

It’s been over a year since Sam McQuaid has been back home to Shadow Ridge, and this time, he’s returning with a bounty on his head.

Welcome to Shadow Ridge, where LONGMIRE meets JERICHO.

From USA Today Best-selling author Lisa Harris comes an epic new series where the survival of Shadow Ridge depends on learning how to fight crime all over again.

In today’s world, law enforcement agencies across the country rely on forensic tools, DNA testing, and crime labs. But what if that technology was suddenly no longer available? No one in the small, west Texas town of Shadow Ridge knows what took down the power grid, or when it’s going to be back up, but everyone knows exactly where they were the moment it went down. And now, with no electricity, no internet, and no modern technology, the men and women responsible for keeping the town safe are going to have to learn how to fight crime all over again.

My Review:

I’ll say right up front that this series (Fallout) must be read in order. ‘Deception’ is book four and it is just as tense and edge-of-your-seat as the first three books…and a tad bit eerie besides. The Dystopian aspects add an extra thrill…and creep factor if I’m being truthful!

Basically, the power grid went down a year ago and society is unraveling as you might expect. The series features the McQuaid family, each book starring one of the siblings and their personal battles and issues as well as an over-arcing suspense thread about who is responsible for the power grid destruction and what their end game is. Lots of drama and danger and romance, of course!

This is Sam McQuaid’s story and it starts out with a desperate manhunt (he’s the one being hunted!) and I really don’t want to say much more than that because of the way previous books and characters weave through this one. Here’s a quote that sets the tone of this story:

“Fear had been used for centuries to manipulate and intimidate various populations as a tactic for control And apparently what they were facing now was no different.”

Grim. Heartwrenching. Terrifying. Yet there is still some good in humanity and the McQuaids are among the best.

Secondary Target + Giveaway

After the brutal murder of her mother and brother twelve years ago, Corina Roberts built a new life in Kentucky. But then strange things begin to happen, and she is thrust into a perilous game of life and death. With nowhere else to turn, her best hope of survival depends on her ex, army veteran Bryce Jessup.

Recently returned from service, Bryce has every intention of staying away from Corina, but when threats close in around her, he isn’t willing to leave her safety to chance. As their search for answers uncovers lethal secrets her detective father kept hidden, Bryce and Corina must untangle the mystery of the merciless killer intent on terrorizing and eliminating Corina’s family before it’s too late.

Debut author Angela Carlisle will leave you breathless with this bone-chilling story of a ruthless murderer, a deadly secret, and an unbreakable love.

My Review:

Whoa!!!! I can’t even…’cause I’m still discombobulated from…well, all of it so excuse my muddled thoughts spewed out in random fashion.

Stunning debut!

Unputdownable. I mean, really riveting stuff. Sometimes creepy but not over the top, just that nice stalker vibe that keeps a reader’s adrenaline rush on standby. 🙂

Two flawed characters making the best of an impossible situation. And it’s oh so complicated because Corina and Bryce were very close five years ago. So — yay — Second Chance Romance. But, goodness, their backstories!

And the way the author builds tension in the suspense is powerful! We get fleeting glimpses from the villains POV occasionally and let me tell you — jaw-dropping revelations by the end!

Great secondary characters create additional layers to the story and I’m anxious to see who is featured in the next book.

Thought-provoking inspirational thread centred around the age-old question of why God allows bad stuff to happen. I appreciated the raw honesty and brokenness — especially in Corina who really struggles with her faith.

I’m really excited to read more from Angela Carlisle. This is a fantastic thrill-of-a-read Debut!

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 of the Secondary 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 May 25 2024.

In Harm’s Way

Random Retro Read

How can she expect anyone to believe her… when she can hardly believe it herself?

FBI special agent Nick Bradley has seen his share of kooks during his fifteen years with the Bureau. But Rachel Sutton is an enigma. She seems normal when she shows up at his office… until she produces a tattered Raggedy Ann doll and tells him about a strange feeling of terror it gives her when she touches it. Nick dismisses her, only to stumble across a link between the doll and an abducted child, setting in motion a chain of events that uncovers startling connections and puts Rachel’s life on the line.

Filled with palpable suspense and heartwarming romance, In Harm’s Way is the final installment of the thrilling Heroes of Quantico series.

My Review:

published in 2010

The third and final instalment of the Heroes of Quantico series and does this one ever pack a punch! First off — no worries if you haven’t read the other books in the series, this one reads wonderfully well as a standalone. However, if you are a series fan, you’ll be thrilled to catch up with past heroes and their heroines so that’s a bonus.

This was my second visit into Nick and Rachel’s world and I was just as captivated as my first read. This time I enjoyed the audible edition narrated by Stevie Ray Dallimore.

Really loved the retro vibe to this romantic suspense. The pacing is so different, leaving plenty of time to develop the romance while the suspense quietly stews in the background. But that doesn’t make it any less suspenseful. If anything, it edges it up a notch and makes for an even more compelling read.

I’m finding that Irene Hannon’s masterful storytelling stands the test of time as I reread my way through her earlier works and I’m not surprised by that at all. She creates Keeper Shelf quality books I’ll want to read again and again.

An Eye For an Eye

Random Retro ReRead

After he accidentally shoots a teenager at a tense standoff, FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Mark Sanders is sent to St. Louis to work as a field agent and get his bearings while the bad press starts to settle. Just weeks away from returning to Quantico to resume his work on the HRT, Mark has a chance encounter with an old flame, Emily Lawson. But their reunion is cut short by a sniper. Now Mark must find the shooter before he tries to strike again. But what is his motive–and who was his intended target? Can Mark put the pieces together, keep Emily safe, and rekindle a long-dead relationship at the same time?

A fast-paced tale of romance, suspense, and intrigue, An Eye for an Eye is the exciting second installment in the Heroes of Quantico series.

My Review:

published in 2009

I’m really enjoying the pacing and plotting of these ‘retro’ suspense novels. There’s more breathing space for a relationship to develop and the slow build in the mystery feels more suspenseful.

A sniper takes a shot at two people out for their morning run — but which one is the target? We get the occasional villain POV which gradually reveals all, but full disclosure takes a while and I was on tenterhooks trying to figure it all out. And what a high stakes meet-cute — and reunion of teenage sweethearts! A random meeting in the park that nearly turns deadly. The set up for this novel is soooooo good!

The solid suspense plot doesn’t move too quickly and we’re party to the inner workings of an FBI investigation — some of it ho hum tedious and very true to life. (Not that the reading was tedious — but this isn’t a series of relentless attacks kind of suspense which is more typical of today’s plots.) Love the give and take among the investigative team — especially the good-natured ribbing which lightens the darker moments.

And the romance — a second chance twenty years later that starts with friendship. So many wonderful getting reacquainted moments which include some frank discussions on faith and feelings and expectations. Reminded me of early Dee Henderson novels (O’Malley’s.)

Thrilling from start to finish. I enjoyed this second read of ‘An Eye for an Eye’ as much as the first.

Pages of Promise

When Eliza’s life is threatened, she turns to a handsome veteran for help.

I left everything I’d ever known behind. And that decision may cost me my life.

The moving truck hadn’t even been unpacked when my fresh start went up in flames.

A frightening letter left in my mailbox and signed Always Yours sends me running to the only man in town who can help me.

Driven by his protective nature and a mission he believes comes from God, ex-Army Ranger Lance Knight agrees, despite the fact that I’ve made it no secret I want nothing to do with him–or anyone for that matter.

The longer we’re together, the more I begin to realize that Lance is more than I gave him credit for. Something that troubles me nearly as much as the fact that an unknown man seems to have already claimed me as his.

Trouble is, my admirer has a jealous side, and it’s not long before Lance is pulled into the crosshairs right alongside me…

My Review:

A classic romantic suspense with all the chills and thrills. The stalker vibe adds extra oomph to the plot and kept me anxiously listening to make sure Eliza and Lance reach their happily ever after.

This is the first book in the ‘Coastal Hope’ series and the author does a great job of setting the stage for subsequent books. Loved meeting future heroes and getting to know everybody in this friendly small town (aptly named Hope Springs.)

There’s a bit of grumpy/sunshine to the romance with Eliza being the grump. She has her reasons for being standoffish and it takes a while for Lance to get the whole story. Love his protective nature and determination to help Eliza even though she’s so prickly. I did feel like the romance moved too fast given Eliza’s back story and I was a bit uncomfortable with their first kiss (again, given her back story) but, overall I was firmly onboard for their HEA.

The author does a great job of drawing out the suspense. Especially enjoyed going deep into Eliza’s POV — put me on edge so many times ! I did figure out the whodunnit part of the suspense. At first it was just a glimmer of an idea without any substance but then it began to take shape as I continued reading. The armchair sleuth inside of me might be gloating a bit. 🙂

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition narrated by Savannah Gilmore and Jarman Day — always fun to have a dual narrator performance!

Burden of Proof + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Reeling from a negotiation gone wrong, FBI Special Agent April Ramos is caught off guard when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. Worry for the child’s safety quickly turns to fear when a man claiming to be the girl’s father abducts them at gunpoint. April puts her hostage negotiation skills to use to learn more about who she’s dealing with: Jason Snyder, a fugitive accused of murder.

As Jason spins a tall tale about being framed for the killing of his business partner, April must sort through his claims to find the truth. A truth that becomes all the more evident after April overhears a conversation between Jason and the local sheriff and realizes something more sinister may be happening in their small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. But aligning herself with a known fugitive to uncover the burden of proof could cost April her job…or worse, her life and the lives of other innocent people.

My Review:

published in 2018

Wow…just…wow! Intense doesn’t begin to describe this book. Riveting right from the nail-biting opening scene and, whoa, talk about a meet-cute! How can any of this be made right? Through the cunning creative mind of the author, that’s how.

Impossible to review adequately without spoilers because the plot catapults from one tense scene to the next with enticing clues and downright stunning revelations. Danger. Corruption. Betrayal. All woven into a web of deceit so insidious it’s impossible to prove. Hence the apt title, ‘Burden of Proof’ and that burden is placed on April as she tries to sort out fact from fiction in her search for the truth.

DiAnn Mills is a masterful storyteller and I need to read more of her books. ASAP!

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 Burden of Proof, 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 April 20 2024.

Baby Protection Mission + Giveaway

When a baby is targeted, can a K-9 team keep him safe?

When his sister is kidnapped, rancher Cade McNeal will do anything to prevent his baby nephew from being next. Now Officer Ashley Hanson and her K-9 partner are on the case, and it’s up to them to track down the assailant and keep Cade and his nephew from harm. But as the suspect list grows and the attacks escalate, will they bring a kidnapper to justice…before he strikes again?

Mountain Country K-9 unit

My Review:

Woohoo! We’re at the start of a new Love Inspired Suspense continuity series featuring K-9s. That right there has sent me into a euphoric state of bibliophile bliss. Plus all the books will be available in audible format too which has me a tad shy of giddy. I know, I’m such a ridiculous book nerd.

Laura Scott has us off to a great start with lots of adrenaline rushes and high intrigue. And, seriously, who can resist a rough, tough cowboy cradling a baby in his arms? Not me!

So, the suspense in this first novel deals with an abduction which involves lots of tense moments and heart-stopping action scenes, but there’s also an over-arcing series suspense involving a serial killer. We’re introduced to all the team members in this book though the focus stays mainly on Ashley and her K-9 partner. And I love that it’s a multi-state task force so we’ll get to do some traveling as we follow the team on the hunt for a killer.

An absorbing, quick read (or, in my case listen). Jennifer Jill Araya’s narration enhanced my ‘reading’ enjoyment that much 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 Baby Protection 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 April 13 2024.

Cold Case Target + Giveaway

Caught in a serial killer’s deadly game with nowhere to turn…

Interrupting an attempted murder—and leaving with incriminating evidence—makes Sissy Spencer a serial killer’s next target. With a flash drive in her possession containing disturbing proof of multiple murders, Sissy has no choice but to trust her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Beau Brighton, to keep her safe. But can they unravel the clues and track down a killer…before he catches them first?

My Review:

Whoa…emotional overload and hair-raising angst…this must be a Jessica R. Patch romantic suspense novel! Be prepared for a reading (or in my case, listening) marathon, ’cause you’ll become so absorbed in the story you won’t want to break away until everything is resolved. And — phew — what a journey to that happily every after!

A second chance romance filled with trepidation. Sissy does not want anything to do with Beau Brighton. Period. But her brother has hired the man on as a private investigator for the family business and with a serial killer stalking her, no one is listening to Sissy’s protestations.

What she doesn’t understand is that Beau is a changed man. Transformed by faith and eager to make amends. These two clash and battle (well, that’s mostly Sissy) even as sparks fly and yearnings for ‘what might have been’ start to take hold. Only, these two have backstories that will break a sensitive reader’s heart so be prepared for some emotional turmoil. Love the honesty of their romance. It’s raw and real and punctuated with highs and lows. Hurt feelings. Unforgiveness. So many barriers stand between theses two and their second chance. Makes for the kind of read you feel your way through. Outstanding and, eventually, triumphant.

The suspense is the edge-of-your-seat, whiplash-inducing kind that’s impossible to put down. And, are we surprised (?), features a serial killer. Tense and spine tingling and that ending…..Wow, just…WOW!

This second book in the Texas Crimes Scene Cleaners series reads well as a standalone but I love the camaraderie among the Spencer siblings and the glimpse we are given into the lives of future series heroes and heroines. Can’t wait for book three to come out!

I enjoyed listening to the audible edition of this book and can’t gush enough over how excited I am that more and more Love Inspired Suspense novels are being made available in this format! Woot! Makes me one happy listener.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

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

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

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

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

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cold Case 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 April 13 2024.

Tracking the Truth + Giveaway

To expose a suspect, he needs evidence…and a K-9’s instincts.

After Emery Duncan is abducted and dumped in a lake, private investigator Roman Wolfe and his bloodhound partner rescue her from an icy death. Someone doesn’t want Emery to find out what really happened the night her father confessed to attempted murder. To keep Emery and her baby nephew safe, they must uncover the connection between her father’s confession and the attack…or they’ll be silenced for good.

My Review:

Spectacularly brilliant!

Say what you will, but you’ll never convince me that Wally, the ‘nose with a dog attached’, isn’t the hero of this romantic suspense. Okay, maybe not in the romance department (though he is a lovable goofball) but definitely in every other way. Even if he has some unusual quirks that Roman can’t fix no matter how hard he tries. Mind you, without them Wally would just be your run-of-the-mill bloodhound. Instead he’s a one-of-a-kind rock star hound! Seriously, getting to meet Wally is worth the read.

And, yes, Roman makes a great straight man for Wally’s comedic schtick, but he’s also the perfect blend of flawed hero and knight in shining armour. And just the guy to help Emery out of a perilous situation that embroils them both in mystery and danger. Loved the way the author blends intrigue and romance while upping the suspense in tantalizing measures until — Whoooshhhh, it’s finally safe to let go of that pent-up breath!

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Tracking the Truth’ and thoroughly enjoyed Abby Craden’s narration. So thrilled that we are seeing more Love Inspired Suspense novels available in this format. I’m preordered all the way up to November and it’s such a bibliophile rush when I get the notification that a book is waiting for me!

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 Tracking the Truth, 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 April 6 2024.

Fatal Witness + Giveaway

As a child, artist and potter Dani Bennett witnessed the brutal murder of her parents. With no memory of the incident or her true identity, she was forced to take on a new name and a new life, hidden away in Montana for the past 25 years.

Mae Richmond has spent the same stretch of time searching for her granddaughter, who went missing the night her daughter and son-in-law were murdered. Convinced the woman she saw in a pottery magazine feature is the woman she’s been searching for, she enlists the help of K-9 officer Mark Lassiter of Pearl Springs, Tennessee, who tracks Dani down.

Skeptical but curious, Dani sets out on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past and reclaim her true identity. But someone close to her is determined to keep the truth of what happened all those years ago hidden.

My Review:

An edge-of-your-seater up to the very end. Intense and intriguing. Love the family history connection which brought an emotional tone to the suspense. And the pacing — the way the author draws out certain situations until I could feel every last nerve stretched taut. I felt gut-punched by the end. 🙂

Bradley knows how to create memorable characters and that includes secondary ones. In this case, Mae, a feisty grandma who has never given up hope of finding her missing granddaughter. The police might consider Dani’s disappearance a cold case, but Mae’s dogged determination finally produces results…and then everything goes wrong.

Oy — I wish I could convey how brilliantly the suspense plays out. The glimpses we get of Mae’s memories and Dani’s fragmented ones as they try to piece together a puzzle that someone definitely doesn’t want them to solve. Chilling and captivating, creating a charged atmosphere through the whole read.

And if all that suspenseful tension wasn’t enough we also get the romantical kind as well. A K-9 Officer makes for an appealing hero and Mark does the role justice. He’s protective and kind and compassionate and willing to support Mae in her quest when everyone else has given up. And then Dani comes onto the scene and sparks fly and Mark becomes embroiled in a cover up decades in the making.

Lots of gasp-out-loud moments. Danger. Intrigue. Richly layered mystery. And some swoonalicious moments too. The perfect combination for a stellar romantic suspense.

I listened to the audible edition of ‘Fatal Witness’ and Ann Richardson delivered a compelling narration.

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 Fatal 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 March 23 2024.