Cooper’s Choice

Separated by tragedy, reunited by love. Will he choose family or love?

As an artist Cooper Holland instantly notices the beautiful woman going into a church, for the second time in as many days. When a man dressed in black begins to follow her, he instinctively knows something is wrong. Soon, he discovers there are two men after the pretty lady, and is shocked when Mia claims they want to kill her. The rules of witness protection prevent Mia Royce from confiding in Cooper, the attractive artist who has raced to her rescue. Unfortunately, her US Marshal contact isn’t answering her calls.

Cooper has the street smarts to help her remain hidden so she reluctantly accepts his help. As the attacks against Mia grow more threatening, she isn’t sure how to keep Cooper safe from the men who now want to harm, him, too. Cooper claims he can protect himself, but Mia secretly knows there’s a lot at stake. She can’t ask Cooper to give up his life, despite the fact he’d already captured her heart. Will Cooper choose his foster family, or her love?

My Review:

‘Cooper’s Choice’ is part of the ‘Smoky Mountain Secrets’ series — book four — but it can be read as a standalone. The series centres around a group of foster kids who escape an abusive foster home and flee in different directions. It’s years later and each book features one of the kids and will gradually reunite them all by the last book.

It’s been interesting to see how the inciting incident in their past has affected each of the foster kids. They’ve all had a rocky start in life so these books are on the edgier side but there’s a solid faith thread woven into each story too.

Cooper is a talented artist with lots of hard earned street smarts which come in handy when he spots Mia in trouble. And after that first contact — whew — the story just flies! Tense with danger and suspense, it’s impossible to know who they can trust. And the romance is just as fast and furious! Riveting from start to finish.

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.

Kidnapping Cold Case + Giveaway

The key to staying alive is buried in forgotten memories.

Ten years ago, forensic artist Jacy Urban escaped her abductor with no memory of that night. Now two teenage girls are missing, and all signs indicate that the same kidnapper is back on the hunt. When Jacy is attacked, it’s clear she’s the assailant’s next target. Only Detective Cash Rawson is there to rescue her—again. Can Cash help Jacy recover her memories before she’s silenced for good?

My Review:

Whoa — the opening scene is spine-chilling! And the reader is kept on edge all the way through. Phew! Some intense moments and there’s a definite stalkerish vibe as well as relentless pursuit. So, seatbelts and crash helmets advised!

Jacy and Cash have a special connection from a decade ago and now they are thrown together in a bid to stop a killer…da da da da duuummmmm. Bwahaha! Scary good. Fast paced. Lots of action. Punctuated by sweet ‘getting to know you’ moments that lead to romance. This one is definitely an insta-love kind of story but it works. And I like the way the author winds everything up. We’re given longer than normal down time to let things settle and give Jacy and Cash a chance to start dating without bullets flying. 🙂

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith. She does a wonderful job with these characters. Loved her tone of voice and performance. I’m becoming quite the audio book connoisseur and this book was easy to listen to.

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.

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!

Seeking Justice + Giveaway

Walking the line between danger and love!

Cold case justice!

When Joy Munson confronts Detective Tarin Finnegan about reopening her brother’s case, she doesn’t expect to be shot at by an unknown assailant. And when the gunman strikes three more times in less than twenty-four hours, she and Tarin are forced to accept the truth. Her brother hadn’t committed suicide, he’d been murdered.

Tarin’s promise to keep Joy safe isn’t easy to keep. It seems as if the gunman knows their every move. Unwilling to trust anyone but his family, Tarin and Joy go completely off-grid. Uncovering the truth is just as difficult as ignoring their mutual attraction. Will they find justice for Joy’s brother, and a possible future for themselves, before it’s too late?

My Review:

published in 2021

Eeeeppp — I do so love a good cold case suspense! And I’m still in a tizzy over discovering this series that features nine (yes NINE) siblings who all work as various types of first responders, hence the series title, Finnegan First Responders. These guys and gals are all about service — both to their God and their community. And in this second book (which could easily be read as a standalone) it’s Detective Tarin Finnegan’s time in the spotlight.

A street confrontation with a woman determined to get justice for her brother ends with bullets flying and Joy seems to be the target. A closed case turns into a cold case as Tarin tries to balance the investigation while keeping Joy safe.

Love the dynamics between this hero and heroine. Joy is spunky and determined and pushes her way into Tarin’s heart despite his attempts to keep her at arm’s length. As in the first book in this series, this is very much an insta-love romance, so if that isn’t your jam, this isn’t the book for you!

There’s a nice balance between investigative work and the romance and, of course, lots of lovely Finnegan family shenanigans to enjoy! I got an extra kick out of cameos from characters from the author’s LIS Callahan Confidential series as well.

I’m so enamoured with the Finnegan First Responders series that I’m leaping right into book three immediately. I’ll be enjoying all the books in audio format and was pleased to discover them on sale on Chirp.

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 Seeking Justice, 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 August 12 , 2023.

Explosive Truth + Giveaway

Walking the line between danger and love! Stalked by a bomber!

When Devon Thompson’s car explodes at the click of her key fob, she doesn’t want to believe she was targeted on purpose. But when the next bomb is found in her apartment, she can’t ignore the fact that someone wants her dead. Trusting Captain Rhyland Finnegan with the truth isn’t easy, but soon she realizes Rhy is an honorable man who will go above and beyond to keep her safe.

As the oldest of nine kids, Rhy has spent the ten years since his parents’ death keeping the Finnegan family together. His personal life has been on hold, until now. Keeping Devon alive is a priority, yet he can’t ignore the attraction between them….

Reviewer Note: I felt like the synopsis gave away too much of the plot — liked carried it into the last quarter of the book so I am cutting it off here. Do yourself a favour and don’t read the entire synopsis before diving into this book!

My Review:

Okay…first off…I’m a tad shy of giddy over a whole series built around a family of nine (yes NINE) siblings who all work in some sort of law enforcement or medical field. The Finnegans are all about service — both to their God and their community. And Rhy is up first, which is only fitting since he is the eldest.

Lots of action, some amazing family dynamics and the lure of sweet romance kept me fixated on this story until the very last word. Then I was all happy swoony sighs. 🙂 The romance is as fast and furious as the suspense so if you’re not a fan of insta-love, this might not be the book for you. I tend to adore my romance in a myriad of forms and insta-love is one of them. I definitely felt the connection between Rhy and Devon and was rooting for their HEA long before the last bomb blast echoed in the distance. Bwahaha!

Oh — and fans of this author will be thrilled by a unexpected connection with some fave heroes and heroines from her LIS Callahan Confidential series. You don’t have to read those books in order to enjoy this one, but it was a fun surprise. You know an author is good at characterization when a last name immediately brings a series to recall!

I’m so enamoured with the Finnegan First Responders series that I’m leaping right into book two immediately. I’ll be enjoying all the books in audio format and was pleased to discover them on sale on Chirp.

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 Explosive 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 July 29 , 2023.

Shielding the Baby + Giveaway

A K-9 Unit has a child to protect…and a murderer to catch.

A double murder and an attempted kidnapping of a baby in a national park have Officer Danica Hayes and her K-9 partner on high alert. She’ll have to protect Luke Stark and his six-month-old son while tracking the person who murdered his sister. Danica and Luke face a battle for their lives to keep from becoming the next victims.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit

My Review:

Woohoo! A brand new multi-authored K-9 continuity series from Love Inspired Suspense! And double woohoo because the books are available on audible and I might have them all preordered. 🙂 I’m such a happy reader!…er, listener.

And does Laura Scott ever know how to pull together an unputdownable (unstoppable?) story. The suspense is non-stop, edged with danger and bogged down in a baffling case that has all kinds of twists to it.

Plus, there’s an adorable baby, a kind of wary romance (both Luke and Danica have issues to resolve) and an exceptional K-9 to fur-bond over. My heart is full of bookish glee over this great start to the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit 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 Shielding 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 April 8, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.