I am so excited for the upcoming release of Taken Without A Trace, the newest romantic suspense by Hope Welborn. Hope is a fantastic author, and I can’t wait to dig into this book! It releases on August 25, 2026.
For now, here’s the first line:
He was going to die.
A missing person case . . . or a deadly cover-up?
Georgia Special Agent Cash Brenner gets an anonymous tip on a cold case that’s haunted him for years—but following the lead has him walking into a deadly ambush. He’s saved by his ex, private investigator Maya Reid, who is on a mission to find her missing sister. As eerie similarities between their investigations emerge and Cash grapples with memory loss from the attack, they must put their rocky past aside to find answers. With danger lurking at every turn, Cash and Maya need to act quickly to solve the case and locate Maya’s sister—or risk losing everything they hold dear.
Hope Welborn writes spine-tingling suspense, sprinkled with romance, and saturated with faith. Her manuscripts have won the ACFW Genesis Contest and the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Foundations Awards in romantic suspense.
As a #writerwithadayjob, she spends her lunch hours creating small town characters who face big suspense with faith in a big God. By day, she masquerades as a digital content marketing technology specialist, and by night, she stays up too late putting words on the page.
Hope also serves as editor and web manager for Spark Flash Fiction and is a member of the Suspense Squad.
Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is a Cover Freebie. I went with something very simple — main characters on book covers. While I like lots of cover styles, it is always interesting to see how the publishers/authors envision the main characters. I have heard that traditional publishers vary in the input from authors when it comes to cover art, but we know that with an indie author, what you see is what is in their imagination. The books on my list are from recent reads. I hope you find one to love.
Do you like people on book covers?
For more cover love, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.
It’s release day for When The Silence Breaks, the newest romantic suspense novel by Elizabeth Goddard. Wow, is it action-packed! I never knew if the main characters would be swallowed by an avalanche, picked off by unknown assailants, or both. LOL! If you like your suspense fast and furious and your heroes swoon-worthy, make sure to check this one out!
A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers–and danger closing in.
When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather’s deathbed confession connected to her brother’s murder, she’s determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.
After his father’s death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can’t stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.
Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.
This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.
Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.
The first book of a brand new romantic suspense series by Elizabeth Goddard, When The Silence Breaks, releases tomorrow! I had the good fortune to receive an ARC, so I dug in as soon as I could. This novel checks all the boxes for fans of the genre. Find out more below.
A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers–and danger closing in.
When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather’s deathbed confession connected to her brother’s murder, she’s determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.
After his father’s death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can’t stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.
Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.
This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.
Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.
My Impressions:
When The Silence Breaks is the first book in Elizabeth Goddard’s new Mercy Ridge romantic suspense series. This book has it all for fans of the genre — fast-paced suspense, dangers from all sides, twists/turns/surprises you don’t see coming, and a sweet romance with a swoon-worthy hero. I loved it!
The action starts right away as the main characters are caught up in a mudslide in the Olympic Mountains of Washington State. I have never been to that area of the country, but it was if I was feeling the ground shake and the devastating power of nature along with the main characters. And nature never gave up as the book progressed! A former agent of an unnamed federal agency hires an ex-Navy Seal turned hiking guide to help her uncover a decades old mystery. While the threats from nature are real (which is a great plot device in itself), they are tracked by unknown determined and deadly human assailants. I loved the history behind the mystery, while feeling the tension of the quest with all its risks. The main characters have an immediate attraction that translates into learning to trust each other — something they both needed desperately. As always, the author interjects a faith message that compliments, rather than overwhelms the narrative.
When The Silence Breaks kept me furiously turning the pages even as I wished the story could go on. But luckily, there is more to come in the small mountain town of Mercy Ridge.
Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Ribbons of Guilt by Laura Thomas, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:Ribbons of Guilt Series:Bite of Betrayal #3 Author:Laura Thomas Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink Release Date: July 5, 2026 Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
A marriage in crisis. A betrayer in the wings. A life at stake.
Harriet Duval has it all—a handsome French husband, a delightful young daughter, a successful career as a professional ballerina behind her, and a beautiful future in a charming village in the English countryside. Even her beloved sisters can’t see the painful truth she hides beneath her perfect mask…
Successful businessman Leo Duval is at a breaking point physically, emotionally, and spiritually as he is forced to harbor secrets in Paris while his marriage in England dissolves before his very eyes.
The magnetic pull of Harriet’s old dancing life and the shocking murder of a Swan Lake ballerina causes her to question everything: faith, future, family. When the killer begins targeting the Duval family, Leo and Harriet’s vulnerable marriage is tested by an unimaginable traumatic event. Will the guilt they carry divide them when they need each other most?
Excerpt
“Leo, do you trust me?”
His forehead wrinkled. “I do.”
“Remember when we first met and you said I was born for the stage?”
“Yes.”
“When you used to say I was a performer who could play any part and dance whatever was required of me?”
“Absolutely.”
Her pulse quickened as she devised a plan. Betray the betrayer.
Leo tucked her windswept hair behind her ears and nodded. “I used to tell you that all the time. I’m glad you still remember. You were amazing. Always.”
“Thanks.” Harriet stretched her spine as long as possible and lengthened her neck. “It’s time.”
“Time for what?”
“I need to put the mask in place for the performance of my life.”
A multi-award-winning Christian author, Laura Thomas writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul—especially in her numerous romantic suspense novels, Christmas novellas, teen fiction and children’s books, as well as her non-fiction writing.
Laura is a certified writing coach, a book-loving chocoholic mom and nanny, and is married to her high school sweetheart. Originally from the UK, they now live the empty nest life in Kelowna, British Columbia, with their French bulldog!
Connect with Laura by visiting laurathomasauthor.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and an ebook copy of Captured in Frame!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 13, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 20, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Happy Friday! Today I am featuring Elizabeth Goddard‘s upcoming release When Silence Breaks, the first book in the Mercy Ridge romantic suspense series. Goddard will take readers on a thrilling ride in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Releasing on August 4, 2026, this novel will be the perfect book to round out your summer reading!
Here’s the first line:
Secrets can’t stay buried forever.
A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers–and danger closing in.
When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather’s deathbed confession connected to her brother’s murder, she’s determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.
After his father’s death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can’t stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.
Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.
This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.
Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry.
Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are sharing upcoming books that they cannot wait to read. It’s really hard to limit the list to just 10, but here goes.
Happy Tuesday and happy summer! Today TTT is featuring bloggers’ Summer TBR Lists. Mine is short, but sweet 😉 . I do have a favor to ask of you, though. I need to pick something for my book club to read in August. I’ve presented 3 choices — please tell me which you would choose and why. Thanks so much!
Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is Favorite Books By Favorite Authors. This is a really hard post to write. Not because I can’t think of any authors/books that fit, but because there are too many! I read a wide variety of genres, so narrowing down the list to 10 is nearly impossible. So, today I am going to feature some of my favorite romantic suspense authors and the one book that I think you should read. Ugh! Too hard! But here goes. The books I’ve listed are perfect for those of you who haven’t read anything by these authors yet because they offer a good introduction with a lot of great reading to come! Enjoy!
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Crossbones by C.C. Warrens, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:Crossbones Series: A Holly Novel #6 Author: C.C. Warrens Publisher: Independently Published Release Date: May 15th, 2026 Genre: Romantic Suspense
“Sticks and stones will break your bones, if you make me hurt you.”
Some truths are better left buried, but Jace Walker is determined to unearth the skeletons in her family’s closet. Leverage is all she needs to keep her brother alive, and she’s willing to risk everything to save him.
Even her life.
But is she willing to risk the lives of her friends?
Holly and Jordan take on the case, but what should be a simple investigation takes a deadly turn when they stumble onto a murder. Family secrets are the least of their concerns as their path intertwines with a killer intent on remaining hidden.
He doesn’t want to be found.
He doesn’t want to be known.
And anyone who threatens his anonymity dies.
Excerpt
Maybe my history was making me overly cautious, but I would rather look paranoid than end up in the trunk of a car.
I backed up a few steps. One of the alleys would take me through to the back side of the agency, and I could come in through the storage room.
As I turned to go back the way I had come, the car rumbled forward.
I quickened my steps to the nearest alley and turned into it. The car engine roared louder as the vehicle sped up before grinding to a stop where I’d been standing a moment before.
My heart jolted, and I broke into a run.
I cut left down the intersecting alley and collided with the first door I saw—a back exit for one of the local businesses. I wrenched at the handle. Locked.
I pounded a hand against the door. “Help!”
A car door closed.
He was coming after me on foot. I stumbled back from the building and searched for a place to hide.
Jesus and laughter have brought C.C. Warrens through some very difficult times in life, and she weaves both into every story she writes, creating a world of breath-stealing intensity, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sparkle of hope. Writing has been a slowly blossoming dream inside her for most of her life until one day it spilled out onto the pages that would become her first published book.
If she’s not writing, she’s attempting to bake something—however catastrophic that might be—or she’s enjoying the beauty of the outdoors with her husband. One of the many things she’s learned since she started this journey is that the best way to write a book is to go on a long stroll with her husband. That is when the characters—from their backgrounds to the moments that make them laugh or bubble over with anger—come to life.
Connect with C.C. by visiting ccwarrens.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a grand prize of a signed Crossbones paperback with bookmark, sticker, character art card, and a $10 Amazon gift card!
Up to (5) winners will each receive an ebook of Crossbones, delivered via Bookfunnel!
Up to (4) winners will each receive an audiobook download of Crossbones!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 25, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 1, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for grand prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Many of the books I review are provided to me free of charge from publishers, authors, or other groups in return for a review. The opinions expressed in the reviews are mine and mine alone. No monetary consideration is given. This disclaimer is in accordance with FTC rules.
I am an Amazon.com affiliate, which means that I earn a small percentage of the sales from products purchased through links on my site. I NEVER recommend a book in order to receive a profit. Proceeds from affiliate sales help to defray operating costs of the blog.
Giveaways are open to persons 18 years or older. All winners are picked randomly. No purchases are necessary to enter a giveaway. All giveaways are for US entries only and are void where prohibited.
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