Tag Archives: romantic suspense fiction

First Line Friday — The Choice

24 Jan

Tomorrow is the day of the Turning A New Page Book Festival in Perry, Georgia. 42 authors of a variety of genres, both fiction and nonfiction, will be there! This is the second year of our festival — one that has been marked by grief. One of our board members and dear friends, Angie Heath, passed away from breast cancer last September. Not a month later, one of our board members lost her husband. It’s been a difficult year for sure, filled with tears and laughter too. We are prayerfully optimistic that this event will be a success.

Today I am featuring D. L. Wood, a member of our Thrills and Chills discussion panel. I am so looking forward to meeting her. Here’s the first line of The Choice:

The thing about a vital signs monitor is it only warns you after things start to go really wrong.

What if a single letter could change everything you thought you knew about yourself?

Sadie Miles has built a life she can be proud of in Nashville, raising her best friend’s young son and pushing through every struggle that comes her way. But when an unsigned letter arrives at her door, she’s faced with a decision: ignore the letter and continue as is or take a risk to uncover the truth about her past—a truth she’s been chasing her entire life.

Following the letter’s cryptic instructions, Sadie finds herself aboard a luxury yacht, sailing down the eastern seaboard with strangers who share only one common goal: claim the fortune that awaits at the journey’s end. As the waves churn, so does the tension and when tragedy strikes, it becomes clear that someone will do anything to ensure they’re the last one standing.

Amidst the growing threat, Sadie’s only possible ally is the enigmatic lawyer, Liam Forrester—a man whose loyalties are as uncertain as the stormy seas around them, and who is as much of an unknown as the rest.

With Sadie on course to be the next victim, she must navigate treacherous waters both literally and figuratively. Can she survive until the end of the journey, or will she become another casualty of the deadly undertow of deceit and danger?

Buckle up for a suspenseful, slow-burn thriller that escalates to a heart-pounding conclusion—where every choice could be your last.

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 CleanCaptivatingFiction™- 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.

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Top 10 Tuesday — Most Recent Additions to My TBR Shelves

21 Jan

Have you added a lot of books to your TBR so far this year? My answer is, of course! While I have a seemingly unending reading list, I never shy away from adding just one, or two, or more books. Today TTT tasked bloggers with revealing the latest books that they have added to their shelves. I have focused specifically on my NetGalley shelf, since many of the books have not yet released. I hope my list piques your interest.

For more new books, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Most Recent Additions to My TBR Shelves

Before The King By Heather Kaufman

The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni

Deadly Revenge by Patricia Bradley

Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

Over The Edge by Irene Hannon

The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason

Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard

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Mini-Book Review — Hidden in The Night

20 Jan

I was on a suspense reading-binge in December. I took some time off from book tours and book festival business, and just read for pleasure. Mystery/suspense is my go-to genre choice, and I had a blast reading what I wanted! One of the books I read was Hidden in The Night, Elizabeth Goddard‘s final book in the Missing in Alaska series. It was great! I loved the characters — the chemistry between the two main characters happened before the action in this book and it developed as fast as the action. The plot — a missing manuscript and a missing woman — intertwined in intriguing ways. I loved that the author created a lost book written by Jack London, a fascinating figure in his own right. While the book and its accompanying curse were purely fictional, it ignited a lot of what-ifs in the real world. The setting brought back memories of two trips my husband and I took to Alaska. The scenery is breathtaking, and Goddard did a good job of making the reader feel they were right there. I admit I was surprised to look up after being immersed in the book and not finding the ground outside my windows covered in snow! 😉 As always, Goddard weaves a faith message naturally in the narrative. I appreciate the struggles the characters faced — they will resonate with many readers.

A very satisfying ending to a wonderful series, Hidden in The Night is a recommended read.

Recommended

Audience: Adults

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

At the behest of her ailing mother, former FBI special agent turned rare-book collector Ivy Elliott arrives in Alaska to secure an unpublished Jack London manuscript kept secreted away for decades. But when she arrives, she learns the manuscript is gone–taken by the granddaughter of the woman who possessed it. Ivy sets off in pursuit, not just to save the manuscript but to save the vulnerable girl, who was previously trafficked and has no idea what she’s getting herself into.

Joining forces with Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long, Ivy must battle a blizzard, sabotage, and the worst of an Alaskan winter as the search goes on. But every answer they find only raises more questions–and the danger to their lives and to the missing girl may only be the tip of the iceberg.

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. For more information about her books, visit her website.

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First Line Friday — Hidden

17 Jan

Happy Friday! Are you still caught in the midst of the winter’s cold? It’s a bit warmer here in the Sunny South, but I have a book with a snowstorm setting that you can snuggle in with. Hidden by Hope Welborn is a romantic suspense novella that you need to check out!

Here’s the first line:

Large, fluffy snowflakes swirled in the wind, adding to the mass of white blanketing the ground.

All she wants is a peaceful Christmas…

Young widow Alison Bailey-Curtis seeks the comfort and familiarity of her family’s North Georgia mountain cabin to escape for the holidays.

But someone is following her and a snowstorm has her trapped.

With an unknown threat tracking her every move, she must rely on the one man she swore never to trust again – Special Agent Noah Chandler.

Noah’s sole mission is to protect Alison without blowing his cover. But as danger closes in, protecting her means resurrecting a web of lies and facing their painful past.

With nowhere to run, Alison and Noah must confront their deepest fears and insecurities, relying on each other for survival.

Can they unravel the truth before the enemy strikes, or will the shattered trust between them be their downfall?

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. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

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Mini-Book Review: 26 Below

16 Jan

I read Kimberly Woodhouse‘s Alaskan Cyber Hunters series all out of order! Don’t be like me. 😉 If you haven’t read this series yet, begin with the suspense-filled 26 Below. Each book in this series builds on the previous one, and 26 Below will whet your appetite for more. Engaging main characters are faced with life and death conditions and decisions as they tackle a cyber attack in the midst of a cold, cold winter in Alaska. The book alternates between the POV of the good guys and the very evil POV of an unknown bad guy. Very. Bad. Guy. I liked that the reader had insight into the machinations and derangement of the villain. Yes, I like thriller elements in my romantic suspense, so this book fit the bill. While the story seems to have a resolution, hold on to your hat for the next two books. All are available, so you have plenty to keep your cold, cold winter nights occupied. 😉

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

In her new role as Emergency Operations Center director for Fairbanks, Alaska, Darcie Phillips prevents disasters. But none of her training can prepare her for the terror that’s coming. 

As a cybersecurity specialist, Jason Myers is determined to ferret out any threats to the town he now calls home–and that includes his reckless brother and his ecoterrorist friends.

When an old woman’s wild prediction–widespread destruction as soon as the Fairbanks temperature falls to 26 below–hits national headlines, neither Darcie nor Jason sees a real risk to anything but tourism.

Then the bodies start dropping.

Darcie is relying on her experience and intelligence to stop a killer; Jason is relying on God to guide the way. They’ll have to work together to find the truth and prevent their Alaskan town from becoming a city of nightmares. The first in a thrilling new suspense series from best-selling author Kimberley Woodhouse, 26 Below will delight fans of Lynnette Eason, Irene Hannon, and Lynn Blackburn.

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. She lives and writes in the Poconos with her husband of thirty years. kimberleywoodhouse.com

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Mini-Book Review — One Wrong Move

13 Jan

Dani Pettrey is known for strong suspense-filled novels with great romantic chemistry. If that’s your thing, you are going to love the first book in the Jeopardy Falls series, One Wrong Move. This one has lots of action to keep the pages turning, plus two main characters to love! Andi Forester was once an FBI agent, but now investigates insurance fraud. She teams up with Christian O’Brady who installed the break-in proof security systems for art galleries that proved him wrong. Both Andi and Christian have big baggage, and this case is make or break on their second chance at proving themselves professionally. These two characters are great at their jobs, and great together. I also loved the southwestern setting of the novel — places I have only visited in books. With Pettrey’s descriptions I can now say I was right there. This book is quick-paced with plenty of twists to keep the reader on his/her toes. I loved it and am betting you will too. Book 2, Two Seconds Too Late, releases in April, so make sure you read this one now!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

Taunting riddles.
A deadly string of heists. 
Two broken hearts trapped in a killer’s game.

Christian O’Brady was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country’s foremost security experts. When a string of Southwestern art heists targets one of the galleries Christian secured, he is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.

Andi Forester was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until her career was destroyed. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator’s game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.

Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, Dani Pettrey has sold nearly one million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).

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TTT– Most Anticipated Books of The First 1/3 of 2025

7 Jan

Happy New Year! With a new year comes new books. Yay! Actually new books release all the time, but it’s still good to celebrate whenever they arrive. This week’s TTT is most anticipated books of the first half of 2025. It really was hard to whittle the list down, so I just went with the first 1/3 of the year instead of half. 😉

Do you have any books that you are REALLY looking forward to?

For more great new books, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Most Anticipated Books of January — April 2025

January

Before The King by Heather Kaufman

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason

February

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard

March

Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn

Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl

April

The Light on Horn Island by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Sunrise Reef by Irene Hannon

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright

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Spotlight on Romantic Suspense — Ambush on The Ranch

6 Jan

Ambush on the Ranch JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Ambush on the Ranch by Tina Wheeler, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Ambush on the Ranch

Title: Ambush on The Ranch
Series: Red Rock Country
Author: Tina Wheeler
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: December 24, 2024
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Seeking ranch refuge…

with lethal threats at every turn.

After running for her life through the forest, art gallery owner Janel Newman wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the past forty-eight hours. A car bomb and masked gunman make it clear she must’ve seen something she shouldn’t have. When she’s forced to hide at deputy sheriff Zach Walker’s family ranch along with her twin sister, secrets are uncovered, and a murderous conspiracy is revealed. With ruthless criminals dogging their every step, will Janel and Zach be able to thwart these villains’ plan to silence Janel for good?

Excerpt

“He’s going to kill us!” Janel scrambled over the SUV’s center console as Zach crawled out through his window. Waiting for him to clear the threshold so that she could follow sent her thumping heart into overdrive. “Hurry!”

A second bullet fired with a bang and shattered the back passenger window. Fear reverberated down her spine.

Zach reached inside, grabbed her upper arms and pulled her out into the chest-high raging waters. She gripped his broad shoulders as the frigid temperature assaulted her senses, and the undertow kept her boots from gaining purchase on the rocks below. The ping of another bullet made her shudder.

Using the SUV’s door as a shield, they each took hold of the window frame to keep from being swept away. Janel leaned toward the closed back seat window, daring a quick glance at the shooter. He sat on his motorcycle up on the cliff, ready to take aim.

She panicked and ducked.

Water hit her face.

A bullet whizzed over the SUV, inches from where she’d been seconds ago.



PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

Ranch Under Fire

About The Author

Tina Wheeler

Tina Wheeler is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author and retired teacher. Although she grew up on the edge of the desert in Arizona, her favorite place to plot a new story is on a balcony overlooking the ocean. She enjoys spending time with her large extended family, brainstorming with writing friends, discovering new restaurants, and traveling with her husband.

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

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon digital gift card!

Ambush on the Ranch JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 6, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 13, 2025. 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

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First Line Friday — Hidden in The Night

3 Jan

Happy first Friday of 2025! I am celebrating with the first First Line Friday post of 2025 as well. My go-to genre is suspense, so what better way to begin a new year than with Hidden in The Night, the final book in the Missing in Alaska series by Elizabeth Goddard. I met Elizabeth for the first time in person last November while at the Reading Rendezvous in Chicago. What a treat! And what a treat to read this book!

Here’s the first line:

Get in, get out … a blizzard’s coming.

At the behest of her ailing mother, former FBI special agent turned rare-book collector Ivy Elliott arrives in Alaska to secure an unpublished Jack London manuscript kept secreted away for decades. But when she arrives, she learns the manuscript is gone–taken by the granddaughter of the woman who possessed it. Ivy sets off in pursuit, not just to save the manuscript but to save the vulnerable girl, who was previously trafficked and has no idea what she’s getting herself into.
 
Joining forces with Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long, Ivy must battle a blizzard, sabotage, and the worst of an Alaskan winter as the search goes on. But every answer they find only raises more questions–and the danger to their lives and to the missing girl may only be the tip of the iceberg.
 
Don’t miss this breathtaking race for truth set amid the glorious–and deadly–Glacier Bay from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard.

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Mini-Book Review — Fragile Designs

2 Jan

Fragile Designs is a standalone novel by Colleen Coble. It combines history and mystery for a twisty romantic suspense that fans of this genre will love. Messy family dynamics are front and center, as the main character negotiates her present circumstances and past secrets. After her husband is killed, Carly moves back to her home town and her grandmother’s house. Danger follows her as mysterious break-ins occur. It’s providential that her next door neighbor is a policeman, who soon becomes as interested in her as the case. I liked the relationship that went from cautious friends to more. The mystery involves a lot of digging into the history surrounding Faberge eggs, and the two soon uncover more than they bargained for, including more family for Carly. Everyone was a suspect as I tried to figure out whodunit. Coble does a good job of keeping her characters and readers on their toes!

If you like fast-paced suspense, strong romantic elements, and a cleverly plotted novel, then put Fragile Designs on your wishlist.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

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

Since her police-officer husband Eric’s mysterious murder, Carly Harris has been struggling to support herself and their infant son. Her career as an antique dealer isn’t sustainable, nor is her dream of becoming a novelist. So, when her grandmother proposes she and her two sisters restore the family’s large Beaufort home and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast, she immediately gets to work clearing out the house. In the process, she uncovers a family secret that Eric kept hidden. And an heirloom that the wrong person wouldn’t hesitate to kill for.

Homicide detective Lucas Bennett isn’t his neighbor’s biggest fan, not since she broke his brother’s heart years ago. But when Carly turns to Lucas for help, believing she’s found a lost Fabergé egg that would be worth millions and could put her family’s lives in danger, he can’t help but get involved. Soon, they’re entangled in a mystery with threads that lead all the way to the Russian mafia. Lucas has gotten in deep, and while he trusts his ability to keep Carly and her family safe, he begins to realize he’s vulnerable to an unexpected kind of danger–and helpless to stop the freefall. As they continue working closely together, Carly and Lucas realize they may have found something more precious than gold. Yet it’s only a matter of time before Carly–or, worse, someone she loves–gets hurt.

Colleen Coble’s Fragile Designs is gripping suspense with closed-door romance and includes an intriguing mystery surrounding an extremely valuable Fabergé egg, second-chance romance, home renovation, and found family.

Best-selling author Colleen Coble‘s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 5 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

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