Tag Archives: romantic suspense fiction

Book Review: Cornered

18 Nov

Sometimes I am just in the mood for a quick-paced, suspense-filled story to escape to. Cornered, the 3-author novella collection checked all my boxes! I can’t recommend enough this book authored by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters. Find out more about the book and my thoughts below.

Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker’s desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend’s car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?

In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can’t refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she’s forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.

In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect–especially for Lahela.

Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the Publisher’s Weekly, CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

Lynn lives in South Carolina with her family. You can stay up-to-date by signing up for her newsletter at her website and following her on social media @LynnHBlackburn.

Natalie Walters is a best selling author who loves writing romantic suspense with dynamic plots, memorable characters, humor, heart, and adventure.

As an Army wife, she fills her stories with the right balance of romantic and suspenseful tension to get the heart-racing and a cast of witty characters–all of which, may or may not be inspired by true people and/or events.

When she’s not writing, she’s dreaming of her next vacation, spending time with her family, or chasing after her sock-eating Goldendoodle, Scout. Annnd binging CourtTv.

My Impressions:

In busy times of my life (like right now) I crave fast-paced suspense. Cornered, a 3-novella collection from Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters checked all my boxes! With stories inspired from my favorite series by these authors, this collection combined intriguing plots, characters to love, and inspirational themes. If you are a fan of any of these authors, you are in for a treat! Each novella contains a twisting/turning plot that keeps the characters and readers on their toes. I never knew just where the next threat would come from or just whodunit. I love when I can’t quite figure out just what is going on. In addition to the puzzles, the characters are realistically drawn and relatable. Finding a place and purpose in which to fit is a universal theme. These stories are clean too, but there’s plenty of sizzle between the main characters. Romance fans will find much to love. I really didn’t have a favorite among these novellas — each was supremely satisfying. The bad guys always get caught and the main characters have a HEA.

So if you are looking for a fun book that you can read this holiday season, then I recommend Cornered. Be careful though, once you start each novella you are not going to want to put them down. 😉

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Top 10 Tuesday — Destination Titles

12 Nov

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT prompt is Destination Titles (books with the names of places in their titles). I didn’t anticipate how quickly I could come up with 10 books! My list includes books with cities in the title. The cover art reps the cities as well. Take a close look at A Shadow in Moscow‘s cover! I have a variety of genres and time periods represented — I hope you find one to love!

For more virtual travel, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Destination Titles

The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

Embers in The London Sky by Sarah Sundin

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

The Librarian of Saint-Malo by Mario Escobar

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

The Paris Betrayal by James Hannibal

A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt

First Line Friday — Cornered

8 Nov

Happy Friday! I don’t know about you, but at this time of year I want to read mystery/suspense. There’s just something about getting dark earlier that makes me want to snuggle in with a great whodunit. Cornered, a 3-novella collection by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters fits the bill. It releases soon — November 19 — so I am going to feature the first lines of each story for the next 3 Fridays.

Here’s the first line of In The Dark by Lynette Eason:

The September sun had barely risen over the mountain town of Lake City, North Carolina, casting a warm, golden glow that filtered through Stephanie Cross’s kitchen window.

Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker’s desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend’s car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?

In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can’t refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she’s forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.

In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect–especially for Lahela.

Spotlight on Romantic Suspense — Terminal Danger

28 Oct

Terminal Danger JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Terminal Danger by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Terminal Danger

Title: Terminal Danger
Series: Guardians Unleashed #5
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: October 24, 2024
Genre: Christian romantic suspense

This woman and her K-9 are being hunted.

Exactly as she planned.

When a busload of schoolchildren disappears, Phoenix Gray knows the kidnapper is the unidentified serial killer she’s spent her life trying to catch. This time, she’ll find the killer and bring him to justice no matter what it takes. She and her Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency join the search for the hostages, but they aren’t the only ones who want the criminal captured.

Callum Ross, an FBI agent who specializes in catching serial criminals, is about to resign. But not until he finds one last culprit, the killer behind a famous twenty-year-old crime Callum vowed to solve.

Despite the FBI agent’s uncanny understanding of her psyche, Phoenix refuses to be distracted from her goal. When the serial killer turns into the cat instead of the mouse, Phoenix thinks she’s ready. But will she need the God she rejected to achieve the justice she’s given her life to obtain?

Excerpt

She had never seen such a competent man not care if he wasn’t in charge. Even when she, a woman, was taking the lead over him. Such an attitude could signal a lack of confidence. But he clearly had confidence in abundance. He would be intimidated by her if he were unsure of himself, as many people were. Like they did, he would recoil from her or challenge her to cut her down to his size. He clearly felt he had nothing to prove. 

What had made him such a unique man? Full of confidence and skill with no ego to match it. Possessing a rare comfort in his own skin. A contentment and calm that defined him at all times, even though he appeared to genuinely care about the children and understand the danger.

But his knowledge of her background, coupled with the occurrence that had just taken place—the moment when he may have seen much more than she’d intended, much more than anyone ever had—that made him one of the most dangerous men of her acquaintance.

She would not let him get that close again. And she would make him forget what he had seen.



PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy Directly From the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books in This Series

Hidden Danger Covert Danger


About The Author

Jerusha Agen

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies.

Connect with Jerusha by visiting jerushaagen.com to find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting stories, follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Terminal Danger, a Terminal Danger mug, $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, Terminal Danger magnet, plus more swag!

Terminal Danger JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 28, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 4, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Book Review — 70 North

16 Oct

70 North JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for 70 North by Kimberley Woodhouse hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

70 North

Title: 70 North
Series: Alaskan Cyber Hunters #3
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense

The Cyber Solutions team has managed to stay one step ahead of the madman who has killed so many. From the original 26 Below cyberattack in Fairbanks to the 8 DOWN serial murders in Anchorage and beyond, they matched wits with the killer and stopped him from reaching his ultimate goals.

But final judgment is coming. And this time, there may be no defeating him.

David “Mac” McPherson has a personal stake in making sure this predator stays down for good. His family died in the cyberattack. Mac knows that God says “vengeance is mine”—but surely an exception can be made.

Surgeon Tracie Hunter is determined to stay sober and keep saving lives in Fairbanks, Alaska—even if it means being a little obsessive. After all, that same kind of determination is how she kept Mac alive after the murderer targeted him. And she won’t let Mac run himself into the grave looking for payback; he’s come to mean too much to her.

Then someone hacks into the system at Tracie’s previous job as a medical examiner and frames her in a murder cover-up. There’s no one else skilled enough to create a digital trail this incriminating—the killer is back in action, exploiting cybersecurity weaknesses to destroy lives. Can Mac stay focused and stop the next attack when his own vulnerability is exposed? Or will his need to make someone pay for his pain allow the maniac to pull ahead and win at last?

Excerpt

Two years, twenty-one days, three hours, and seven minutes had passed since that monster—that crazed lunatic—had murdered his family.

Mac winced and shook his head as he leaned over the sink in the tiny restroom and splashed frigid water on his face. When he looked into the mirror, he hardly recognized himself. His cheekbones were sharp. His skin chapped and dry. His eyes hollow and dark. But it was more than just how he looked.

The man David McPherson had been—husband, father, friend—was long gone. 

His faith lay in tatters. His relationships cut off. He didn’t know who he was anymore. Other than the man chasing the monster . . . and failing to find him.


My Impressions:

70 North is the thrilling and chilling conclusion to Kimberly Woodhouse’s Alaskan Cyber Hunters series. Thrilling because once the action ramps up it never stops, and chilling because the terrorist plot seems all too plausible. For those who have read the first two books in the series, 70 North begins 2 years following Griz’s disappearance. Everyone in Alaska has breathed a sigh of relief believing the man behind the 26 Below and 8 Down attacks has been killed. But David “Mac” MacPherson has seen him with his own eyes and lived to tell the tale. Alaska learns the truth as well, and it’s all hands on deck as characters from each of the books work to find and stop the man obsessed with creating chaos.

I loved this whole series, but especially liked 70 North. The two main characters both struggle with loss and overwhelming feelings of helplessness. For Mac it’s the reality of his wife and daughter killed in the original attack, and for surgeon Tracie Hunter, it’s the demons of addiction and perfectionism. I liked that they were flawed and knew it. It made their dependence on God and not themselves more relatable. The strong faith journeys for both characters balanced well with the out-of-control suspense that rocks all of Alaska. As the ending loomed, I was furiously turning the pages. Clear your schedule because you will not want to put this book down!

If you love an adrenaline-fueled suspense, put this whole series on your TBR list. Prepare to binge read them from start to finish. You’re welcome. 😉

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Kregel for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books from This Series:

26 Below 8 Down


About The Author

Kimberley Woodhouse

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of more than thirty books and novellas, including A Deep Divide, Bridge of Gold, and The Mayflower Bride, as well as the coauthor of the Heart of Alaska series with Tracie Peterson. Kimberley’s writing has earned a Carol Award, the Christian Market Novel of the Year, the Holt Medallion, and many others. A proud former resident of Alaska, she now lives and writes in Colorado where she’s traded in her hat of “Craziest Mom” for “Nana the Great.”

Connect with Kimberley by visiting kimberleywoodhouse.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of 70 North and a $25 Amazon gift card!

70 North JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 16, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 23, 2024. 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. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Happy Release Day — 70 North

15 Oct

Happy release day to Kimberly Woodhouse! 70 North, the thrilling conclusion to her Alaskan Cyber Hunters series is now available. If you haven’t read the first two books, 26 Below and 8 Down, just go ahead and get all three. You do not want to miss one page of this series. Now your next few days are booked!

The Cyber Solutions team has managed to stay one step ahead of the madman who has killed so many. From the original 26 Below cyberattack in Fairbanks to the 8 DOWN serial murders in Anchorage and beyond, they matched wits with the killer and stopped him from reaching his ultimate goals.

But final judgment is coming. And this time, there may be no defeating him.

David “Mac” McPherson has a personal stake in making sure this predator stays down for good. His family died in the cyberattack. Mac knows that God says “vengeance is mine”—but surely an exception can be made.

Surgeon Tracie Hunter is determined to stay sober and keep saving lives in Fairbanks, Alaska—even if it means being a little obsessive. After all, that same kind of determination is how she kept Mac alive after the murderer targeted him. And she won’t let Mac run himself into the grave looking for payback; he’s come to mean too much to her.

Kimberley Woodhouse (KimberleyWoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.

Top 10 Tuesday — Supplemental Reading

15 Oct

Happy Tuesday! As you can expect from me, I changed up this week’s TTT topic. I just wasn’t feeling a rehash of books I read in my long ago classes, so I’ve created a list of books I would include as supplemental reading for dusty college classes 😉 . At least that’s how I view them now from a lens that is *ahem* 40+ years old. Please note that I am all for reading the facts, but a little entertainment is always a good addition. I hope you find a book that sparks your imagination.

For more on topic bloggers, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Supplemental Reading

Computer Technology 301: Topics in Cyber Security

Alaskan Cyber Hunters Series by Kimberly Woodhouse

Ecology 101: Conservation

Where Trees Touch The Sky by Karen Barnett

World History 201: Wartime in The Far East

Darkness Calls The Tiger by Janyre Tromp

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Political Science 201: The McCarthy Era

The All American by Susie Finkbeiner

American History 301: Forgotten Events in The Civl War and Reconstruction

The American Queen by Vanessa Miller

Library Information Sciences 101: Building A Library

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

Criminal Justice 301: Hostage Negotiation

Lethal Standoff by DiAnn Mills

Top 10 Tuesday — Bookish Brags and Confessions!

8 Oct

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT is all about brags and confessions. When thinking about this topic I have to admit I felt a little bit ashamed about all the books I haven’t read yet. But I have had some accomplishments in my reading life too. So this list will be a balance of things I need to work on and some wins that I can feel good about. And let’s be honest — reading should bring joy not guilt! My list highlights some great books too — hope one sparks your interest.

Top Bookish Brags And Confessions

First The Brags

I am fairly well-read and count many classics as my favorite books. I have read both The Count of Monte Cristo and Moby Dick and loved both!

I almost always find the book better than the movie. While the movie version of The Count of Monte Cristo was horrible, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers was very well-done. You also need to read The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin before seeing the movie. And if all you know is the movie, read the book now!

Through my book club I have discovered very good books that I would not have normally picked up for a variety of reasons. Two of those are The Women by Kristin Hannah and The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.

Now for The Confession 😉

I have a lot of books. I mean a lot. More than I want to count. Physical books, ebooks, audiobooks — you name it! It’s only an out of control problem if I don’t live another 573 years LOL! I am really trying to whittle them down, but since I quit working 5 years ago I seem to have less time to read. Ask your old friends, it really is a thing. 😉

Here are some of the books that have recently entered my house that I need to read! They are for book club and review, so I’m pretty confident they will be read in a few weeks.

I was going to add another confession, but really this encompasses all of my book issues — can’t resist a pretty cover, have to acquire a favorite author’s latest book, have to support indie bookstores, etc.

Sorry, not sorry!

First Line Friday — 70 North

7 Oct

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring 70 North, Kimberly Woodhouse‘s thrilling conclusion to the Alaskan Cyber Hunters series and her FORTIETH book! Woo hoo! Kimberly will also be a participant at the Turning A New Page Book Festival January 25, 2025 in Perry, Georgia. If you are anywhere in the vicinity, you need to make plans to attend.

Here’s the first line:

He’d killed more people than Pedro Lopez.

The Cyber Solutions team has managed to stay one step ahead of the madman who has killed so many. From the original 26 Below cyberattack in Fairbanks to the 8 DOWN serial murders in Anchorage and beyond, they matched wits with the killer and stopped him from reaching his ultimate goals.

But final judgment is coming. And this time, there may be no defeating him.

David “Mac” McPherson has a personal stake in making sure this predator stays down for good. His family died in the cyberattack. Mac knows that God says “vengeance is mine”—but surely an exception can be made.

Surgeon Tracie Hunter is determined to stay sober and keep saving lives in Fairbanks, Alaska—even if it means being a little obsessive. After all, that same kind of determination is how she kept Mac alive after the murderer targeted him. And she won’t let Mac run himself into the grave looking for payback; he’s come to mean too much to her.

Then someone hacks into the system at Tracie’s previous job as a medical examiner and frames her in a murder cover-up. There’s no one else skilled enough to create a digital trail this incriminating—the killer is back in action, exploiting cybersecurity weaknesses to destroy lives. Can Mac stay focused and stop the next attack when his own vulnerability is exposed? Or will his need to make someone pay for his pain allow the maniac to pull ahead and win at last?

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews.

Book Review: Unintended Target

3 Oct

Oh my golly! D. L. Wood is going to be a participant at the Turning A New Page Book Festival in January 2025! I will definitely be fangirling when it comes to this mystery/suspense author. Unintended Target has made her an auto-read writer. Find out about this book, the author, and my thoughts below.

Her twin brother is dead. Now they’re coming for her.

Travel photojournalist Chloe McConnaughey knew that her brother—a brilliant programmer—would compromise anything to get ahead. She just didn’t know that included her.

When he dies unexpectedly, Chloe copes by taking an assignment in the Caribbean where she meets Jack, a charming Manhattan escapee who almost has her believing life could turn around. But the illusion is shattered when a series of bizarre incidents leaves them framed for murder and running from killers convinced Chloe is the key to getting what they want.

Suddenly Jack’s timely entrance seems more than coincidental, but with nowhere else to turn, Chloe must trust this man who is not only charming, but also dangerous, and much better at evading capture than he should be.Hunted from the tiny island of St. Gideon all the way to Miami, Chloe desperately searches for evidence to prove her innocence and eliminate her as a target of the shadowy conspiracy that will stop at nothing to make its problems go away. Will she expose the truth in time, or will her brother’s betrayal ultimately cost Chloe her life?

This series is can’t-put-it-down suspense that’ll keep you up to the wee hours. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

If you like riveting intrigue and heroines and heroes you root for, you’ll love USA TODAY bestselling author D.L. Wood’s thrilling suspense laced with romance and faith. Get it now and don’t miss another suspense-filled moment.

D.L. Wood is a USA TODAY and Amazon bestselling author who writes thrilling suspense laced with romance and faith. Her books have won multiple awards and her novel Unintended Target was selected as the May 2019 American Christian Fiction Writers Book Club book.

D.L. writes CleanCaptivatingFictionâ„¢- fiction that entertains and uplifts. In her novels she tries to give readers the same thing that she wants: a “can’t-put-it-down-stay-up-till-3am” character-driven story, full of heart, believability and adrenaline. She lives in North Alabama, where, if she’s not writing, you’ll probably catch her curled up with a cup of Earl Grey (light milk, one sugar) and her Westies, bingeing on the latest BBC mystery series. You can stay apprised of D.L.’s releases and promotions (including free and discounted books) and receive a free gift by subscribing to her newsletter on her website at dlwoodonline.com.

My Impressions:

If you need a fast-paced, adrenaline-filled suspense novel to rev up your reading time, then Unintended Target is for you! Author D. L. Wood puts her characters through the wringer as they dodge bullets and evade hitmen as they try to figure out just what is going on. I loved that along with main characters Chloe and Jack, I was kept on my toes. I never knew who to trust — the twists just keep coming. Chloe’s twin brother had high hopes of scoring a big deal to give him and Chloe the lives he dreamed of. Unfortunately, the scheme turned into a BIG nightmare for Chloe. I really felt for her. Betrayal seems to dog her heels, and saying she has trust issues is an understatement. But Jack gives her reason to hope that the God he believes can be depended on in all situations really exists. And remember those twists, they show up to the very end. 😉 Chloe and Jack have two more books in the Unintended series. I cannot wait to dig in.

You have it all in Unintended Target — characters with great chemistry, a mystery/suspense to keep you guessing, and a genuine faith message. You’ve go to read this one!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)