Happy Friday, fellow readers! I hope you had a great week, and that you will find plenty of time for reading this weekend 🙂 Today I’m linking up with First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books, and sharing the first line and my review of Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason.

“Bad things happened in the dark.”

Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason

The Basics

Title: Protecting Tanner Hollow: Four Romantic Suspense Novellas

Author: Lynette Eason

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

From the Back Cover:

Lethal Homecoming
Nolan Tanner never got over Kallie Ainsworth’s sudden, unexplained departure. Now when he comes to her rescue after an attempt on her life, all the old feelings come rushing back.

Lethal Conspiracy
When professional fundraiser Lillian Maloney sees her father’s campaign manager commit murder, she goes on the run from the men he hires to kill her. A close call brings firefighter Jason Tanner to the rescue, but the killer is closing in . . . 

Lethal Secrets
Someone wants Honor McBride dead. When Eli Murphy helps her change a flat tire and discovers the danger Honor is in, he longs to help–but Eli has secrets of his own that could get them all killed.

Lethal Agenda
When Detective Derek St. John rescues a woman he’s met only once before–and has never been able to forget–he finds himself falling for her. But he’ll have to keep Claire Montgomery alive if they’re to have a future together.

My Thoughts

This is a collection of 4 novellas – honestly, I was mainly interested in the last one, since the Derek St. John was part of Lynette Eason’s last series 🙂 Usually I’m not much of a fan of novellas, since there isn’t as much time to weave a detailed plot or build the suspense. Even with those limitations, this was an enjoyable read! It was fun to see the unofficial conclusion to the Blue Justice series with Derek’s story, but I think my favorite novella was the third one. Honor and Eli were great characters, and I would love to read a full-length book about them!

If you’re a fan of Lynette Eason, you won’t want to miss Protecting Tanner Hollow!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday! It’s time for another First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books. I’m so excited to be sharing Natalie Walter’s newest book, Deadly Deceit, with you today! I absolutely loved her first book that came out last spring, and this book confirmed that Natalie is one of my new favorite authors. Here’s the first line, followed by my review!

“In the face of small-town news, all creativity left Vivian DeMarco.”

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters

The Basics

Title: Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters

Series: Harbored Secrets (Book 2 of 3)

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 5/5 stars

From the Back Cover: Welcome back to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name–but no one knows your secret.

Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason–to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian’s only hope for finding the truth–and the next big story–is small-town law enforcement’s lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called the Watcher force Vivian to fight for answers–and her life.

My Thoughts

I absolutely loved Natalie Walters’ first book, Living Lies, and this one is just as good if not better! Her voice is fresh, witty, and just fun to read. She does a great job at writing suspenseful stories and weaving in some tough issues, like betrayal, abandonment, and forgiveness.

Deputy Ryan Frost and reporter Vivian DeMarco were both side characters in the first book, and it was so fun to get to know them better in this one! It would be hard for any hero to be as great as Charlie in Living Lies, but Ryan is up for the challenge. He is coming into his own as a deputy, and is being recruited by multiple federal agencies for his computer skills. Vivian has also changed as Walton is becoming her home, with a true community of friends and people she cares about more than her career or her next story. Ryan and Vivian are both dealing with the impact of their fathers leaving them, and they both feel unworthy of each other. I love how the spiritual lessons are woven in so naturally, and all the Captain America and Marvel references were the icing on the cake 🙂

Not only were the characters relatable and engaging, but the plot was also so unique and interesting. As Ryan and Vivian try to find the truth about her boss’ murder, they find evidence of a cyber criminal targeting people for extortion. The suspense was really well done, and the ending will have you holding your breath!

If you are a fan of romantic suspense, make sure to read Natalie Walters’ Harbored Secrets series! The third book, Silent Shadows, will be out on March 31, 2020, so you’ll have plenty of time to catch up on the first two by then (and the first book, Living Lies, is on Kindle Unlimited!).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Sunday! I hope you’ve had a great weekend with time to relax, have fun, and read a good book 🙂 Lately I’ve been sharing my reviews on Fridays so I can link up with First Line Friday on Hoarding Books. Today isn’t Friday, but I’m going to share the first line of this book anyway, just for fun! Here’s a look at Dark Ambitions by Irene Hannon:

“‘He got away.'”

Dark Ambitions by Irene Hannon

The Basics

Title: Dark Ambitions by Irene Hannon

Series: Code of Honor (Book 3 of 3)

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Former Army Night Stalker Rick Jordan usually has his camp for foster children to himself during the winter months. But someone has visited recently–leaving a trail of blood. One of the two clues left behind tips Rick off to the identity of his visitor, who soon turns up dead. The police deem it an accident, but Rick isn’t convinced. With the help of private investigator Heather Shields, he sets out to decipher the remaining clue. Except someone doesn’t want them to succeed–and will stop at nothing to keep them from finding the truth.

My Thoughts

This is a great conclusion to Irene Hannon’s Code of Honor series! It’s the third book in the series, and the characters from the first two books do make appearances, but this one can definitely be read as a stand alone. The main characters have unique professions; Heather is a private investigator, and Rick is a former Army Night Stalker turned camp director and private helicopter pilot. The case seems simple at first, but as Heather and Rick look into the death of his friend, they are drawn deeper into a tangled conspiracy with implications that reach farther than they could have imagined. I thought I knew who was behind it all partway through the book, but I was surprised by a twist at the end!

Irene Hannon is definitely a must-read author for fans of romantic suspense, and Dark Ambitions will make a great addition to your TBR!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday! I’m so excited to be sharing this book with you today. Wyatt, the fourth book in Susan May Warren’s Montana Marshalls series, just came out this week, but I had a chance to read it early. It was just as amazing as the rest of the series has been! I’m linking up with First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books, and sharing the first line:

“Usually Wyatt, goalie for the Minnesota Blue Ox NHL team, could shrug off his mistakes. Ignore the horn blaring behind his ears, block out the cheering – and occasionally the gloating of the opposing players.

Not today.

Wyatt Marshall hadn’t come all the way to Russia only to fail.”

Wyatt by Susan May Warren

Okay, so that’s more than one line… but you need a few to really set the stage for how the book starts. Keep reading for my review!

The Basics

Title: Wyatt by Susan May Warren

Series: Montana Marshalls (Book 4 of 5)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romantic Suspense/Adventure

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

He’s lost her twice…he’s not going to lose her again…

NHL Hockey Goalie Wyatt Marshall has everything–fame, money and a thriving career. But he’s hiding the two things that matter most…a career-ending injury, and his broken heart. He’s been in love with Coco Stanley since she walked into his life at age fourteen, a foster child for the Marshall family. She stole his heart years later, when, after a secret tryst, she returned to her home country of Russia. But she won’t let him back into her life—and he can’t figure out why. 

She’s harboring a secret that could cost lives…

Coco Stanley is tired of living her life undercover. Or at least, with an assumed name, always pretending to be someone she’s not. And that’s not the only secret she’s harboring. If Wyatt discovers the real reason she left him, it might just destroy him. She’s resigned herself to loving him from afar… 

But when he discovers she’s in danger…

Wyatt is horrified when he learns Coco has been shot and left in Russia, her fate unknown. There is nothing—nothing—that will stop him from finding her. So what if he’s not one of his super-heroic brothers, not a Ranger, not a SEAL…Wyatt is a hockey goalie, a special kind of crazy brave. Except, is he brave enough to face the secret Coco is keeping, or will it destroy everything he’s hoped for? 

What will it cost them to save her? 

What Wyatt and Coco don’t know is that revenge is stalking her and bringing her home just might cost them their long-awaited happy ending. 

My Thoughts

In this fourth installment of the Montana Marshalls series, we are officially introduced to Wyatt, the second youngest Marshall brother. He is a star hockey player, loved by the world but wanting to prove he’s as tough as his brothers. Coco, one time Marshall foster sister and Wyatt’s longtime crush, is hiding some big secrets of her own – ones that will change the Marshall family forever.

This book picks up where Ford left off, with Wyatt in Russia trying to find Coco, bring her home, and clear his sister Ruby’s name. While the story has plenty of action, like the others in the series, there’s a little more time for reflection as we learn more about Wyatt and Coco’s history. In the midst of nail-biting suspense is a beautiful story about second (or third) chances at love. Missed connections are brought to light, secrets are revealed, and the stakes become even higher as Wyatt and Coco travel across Russia and try to make it home. I really enjoyed getting to know Gerri Marshall better in this book – she’s just the grounding, encouraging matriarch this crazy family needs!

Each one of the Marshall siblings is so unique, and Susie May has done a great job of writing their stories in ways that fit them, but that still bring them together in one overarching plot. She has a unique way of getting into the characters heads and bringing us along for the ride. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, you won’t want to miss Wyatt, or Ruby Jane, which is sure to be an explosive finale to the series, when it comes out next month!

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you all have a good book to read and plenty of time to read it this weekend 🙂 Today I’m joining Hoarding Books for First Line Friday and sharing from Terri Blackstock’s upcoming novel, Smoke Screen:

“He left me for a size-two selfie star and didn’t want me to make a scene.”

Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

The Basics

Title: Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: November 5, 2019

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: One father was murdered. Another was convicted of his death. All because their children fell in love.

Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado hometown. His mother begs him to come back now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.

Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down not long after, people assumed Nate set the fire to get even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left town without looking back.

Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and now she’s fighting a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. Brenna is barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.

As Nate and Brenna deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—the past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first.

My Thoughts

Terri Blackstock’s last three books, the If I Run series, are some of my favorites in the suspense genre, so maybe my expectations were too high for this one, but I didn’t love it. The premise sounded really interesting, but it ended up being more family drama than suspense. That’s fine and has its place, but not the action-packed suspense I was hoping for. When the suspense aspect did come into play, the crimes were solved almost by coincidence more than any investigation. Nate was a great hero, but Brenna wasn’t that likeable to me for the first half of the book. It’s still a solid, engaging story with a satisfying ending, and some people might love it, but it didn’t quite live up to my hopes. I will definitely keep reading Terri Blackstock’s books, though!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It’s Friday, and you know what that means… time for another First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books! Hopefully this weekend also means some quality reading time for you 🙂 Today I’m sharing the first line from One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn:

It didn’t get much better than this. At least not on this side of the world, anyway.

One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn

The Basics

Title: One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn

Series: Dive Team Investigations (Book 3 of 3)

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: When investigator Gabe Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell, a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.

Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her–the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.

When Anissa’s fractured past collides with Gabe’s investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they’ll have to put aside their complicated history with each other in order to uncover the killer’s identity. 

My Thoughts

This is the first time I’ve read a book by Lynn Blackburn, but it won’t be the last! I loved the camaraderie between the members of the dive team; their work is unique and not something I’ve read much about in the suspense genre. The characters were well-developed and felt like a real group of friends that would be fun to hang out with. Gabe and Anissa’s tenuous friendship turning to more was, of course, a major part of the story, but the group of secondary characters – their relationships and struggles – added richness and complexity to the book.

Not only were the characters great, but the suspense was really well-done, too! The story was unique and fast-moving, with plenty of twists and an unexpected ending. Lynn Blackburn is now an author I will be following, and I’m excited to go back and read the first two books in the series! If you’re a fan of Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey, or Irene Hannon, I think you would enjoy One Final Breath.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy Friday, fellow readers! The book I’m sharing today is a perfect fall weekend read – a small-town story about faith, family, and forgiveness that’s lighthearted but has substance. I’m linking up with Hoarding Books‘ First Line Friday series to share the first line of You Belong with Me by Tari Faris:

“Was she really the only one left who cared about this town?”

You Belong with Me by Tari Faris

The Basics

Title: You Belong with Me by Tari Faris

Series: Restoring Heritage (Book 1)

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents. Unfortunately, selling houses isn’t one of them.

When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map–and hopefully restore her disgraced family name. But she’ll need help to do it.

As a foster kid, Luke Johnson never truly felt he belonged. Now he has a chance to earn his place in his hometown. But he doesn’t anticipate how his relationship with Hannah will set into motion events that reveal the truth about who he is–and who he was.

My Thoughts

Tari Faris has written a charming, delightful debut novel in You Belong with Me! I loved the slightly quirky small town of Heritage, Michigan, and the close-knit group of family and friends that make up the cast of characters. The friends-to-more storyline between Hannah and Luke was done really well, although there were times I wished they would just talk to each other, for goodness’ sake! If the sign of good, realistic characters is when you feel invested in their lives and care about the decisions they’re making, this book is full of them 🙂

Luke’s story is really compelling; he grew up in foster care, and that experience had a huge impact on his life as an adult. He’s always felt a little bit out of place with his friends, with Hannah, and with God. The twist revealing his family history was one I definitely didn’t see coming! Hannah is a problem solver and wants to help her friends and her town, but that tends to get her in trouble sometimes. Her brother, Thomas, is a secondary character and has his own storyline that adds depth to the story. One of my favorite characters was Pastor Nate, who has a knack for showing up at just the right time with wisdom and encouragement!

If you enjoy small-town romance with substance and are a fan of Courtney Walsh, Becky Walsh, or Susan May Warren, you’ll love this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

The Basics

Title: The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal

Series: Talia Inger Series, Book 1

Genre: Christian Suspense/Thriller

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe–a department only known as “Other.” When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she’ll be back in DC within a few days. But that’s before she knows where the designs are stored–and who’s after them. With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where only criminal minds and unlikely strategies will keep the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault, hovering in the mesosphere.

Even Tyler is more than he seems, and Talia begins to wonder: Is he helping her? Or using her access to CIA resources to pull off an epic heist for his own dark purposes?

My Thoughts

This book is full of action and excitement from the first page! Talia is a strong main character; she’s brave, bold, and willing to take risks that often get her in trouble. Unbeknownst to her, someone is pulling strings to have her assigned to the Eastern Europe – Other department. The twists keep coming as she finds herself caught up in a high-stakes heist with an elite team of thieves, and she isn’t sure who she can trust. Her friend and fellow CIA officer Eddie provides technical expertise along with some lighthearted moments. Throughout the story, the details we learn about the death of Talia’s father’s add depth to her character and another layer of intrigue to her present-day case.

There’s more to this story and the characters involved than meets the eye! Each twist and turn reveals more possibilities and creates more questions than it answers. Part suspense and part spy thriller, this book has made James R. Hannibal an author to watch for me!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

I’m so excited to be joining the First Line Friday linkup hosted by Hoarding Books and sharing from Erin Bartels’ newest book today! I absolutely loved her first book, We Hope for Better Things, that came out earlier this year (and is on Kindle Unlimited!). She truly has a gift for writing poignant, compelling stories. Here are the first line(s) from The Words Between Us:

“Most people only die once. But my father is not most people. He is a monster.”

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels

The Basics

Title: The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels

Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Robin Windsor has spent much of her life under an assumed name to avoid association with her infamous parents. She thought she’d finally found sanctuary running her used bookstore in quiet River City, Michigan. But when she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father’s scheduled execution. Robin is thrown back to the summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. Why would Peter be making contact now? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she’s about to be exposed all over again?

With evocative prose that recalls the classic novels we love, Erin Bartels pens a story that shows that words – the ones we say, the ones we read, and the ones we write – have more power than we imagine.

My Thoughts

I don’t know how to put into words how much I love this book. The story, the characters, and the literary references are captivating. On the surface, it’s beautiful story about classic books and a small-town bookstore, but it’s also about so much more. It’s a story of young love, forgiveness, and second chances. It’s a story about the power of words – the words we say or don’t say, and the choices we make to lie or tell the truth.

Robin’s story is gradually revealed through alternating timelines, from her present as a bookstore owner to her past as a high schooler trying to reinvent her identity after a family scandal. As a teenager, she finds a friend in Peter; as he shares books with her, she begins to share her heart and secrets with him. His apparent betrayal sets her on the path to her present-day life as a slightly reclusive bookstore owner… until parts of their past start showing up in her mail. It’s a beautifully told story with a satisfying, if not a little bittersweet, ending.

The best books are the ones that make you feel; that draw you into the story, into the characters’ lives, so deep you feel like a part of them. They are the ones you can lose yourself in, and find pieces of your heart. This book celebrates those books, and is one itself. I was drawn in from the first page, and I didn’t want it to end! It’s definitely one to read slowly and savor.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!