Darlene shows off her creative skills in this well-written romantic suspense novel Border Breach. The opening pages drew me in and kept me on my toes. Kaylin and Hudson’s backstories give them relatable emotions as they struggle with inner turmoil. The plot will have your head spinning with the realities of a drug made from poppy straw called Doda, and a deadly cartel who will stop at nothing to obtain this drug. Kaylin is assigned to team up with Hudson and find the cartel who breached the Canadian border. She is reluctant to work with him but has no alternative….
Killer Insight by Virginia Vaughan
Virginia Vaughan did a fabulous job of keeping the suspense high and raising the stakes at every turn. This novel packs a punch when FBI Agent Lucy Sanderson, a profiler, arrives in town in search of the Backroads Killer. The role takes an unexpected turn when the murderer snatches her while she’s out jogging, and throws her into his trunk. She barely escapes with her life, but the killer doesn’t give up. Bryce Tippet, an old Marine friend of Danny’s, her deceased fiancé, and a single dad, finds Lucy standing in the road, battered and bruised. He rescues her from…
Seconds To Live by Susan Sleeman
Congratulations to Susan Sleeman on her December 3rd release of Seconds To Live, book one of her Homeland Heroes series! The opening pages of Seconds To Live thrusts readers into the intensity of a crime about to happen. With the turn of each page, the action and suspense build. The adrenaline rush keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Taylor Mills, U.S. Marshal WITSEC Deputy, is assigned to protect individuals in the witness protection program. She buries herself in her work determined to save everyone, especially her newest assignment, Dustee, due to her commitment as a deputy and the…
Protecting Tanner Hollow by Lynette Eason
Never a dull moment. Lynette Eason doesn’t disappoint. Protecting Tanner Hollow contains four action-packed novellas: Lethal Homecoming, Lethal Conspiracy, Lethal Secrets, and Lethal Agenda. Each story contains well-developed characters, believable plots, and multiple twists. Whether it is Nolan Tanner in Lethal Homecoming struggling with old feelings for Kallie Ainsworth while trying to protect her, or firefighter Jason Tanner in Lethal Conspiracy, trying to make sense of his instant attraction to Lillian Maloney when he rescues her from a fire and keeps her from certain death, or any of the other novellas, the action, suspense, and romance remain strong. It amazes…
Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters
This suspense-filled novel is a nice balance between romance and suspense. Journalist Vivian DeMarco will take you on a roller coaster ride as she faces danger, emotional heartbreaks, and an unexpected relationship with the handsome Deputy Ryan Frost. After years of trying to measure up to what she thinks others expect from her, Vivian must discover her true self-worth. Ryan Frost finds himself indecisive about staying in his small home town to watch over his mom and sister or accepting a job offer with the FBI Cyber Crimes Division in Washington, DC. An added complication pops up when he encounters…
God is Not Our Virtual Assistant by DiAnn Mills
Recently, I heard a speaker state God was a virtual assistant. The claim didn’t resonate with me. In fact, it irritated me, so I dug deeper for a definition and the qualifications for a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant is self-employed and generally works from home to assist a client or clients with professional, technical, communication, and creative advice. Nothing spiritual in that definition. The need for a virtual assistant is basic: reduce our work load, give us more time personally and professionally, and flexibility. Nothing spiritual there either. To be among the five-star virtual assistants, one must: Express him/herself…
Light from Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker
When I began reading this novel, I kept questioning what I’d missed in the first chapter, so I went back and reread the chapter. Questions remained unanswered until the end. The toss-up between what was real and unreal and whether Cohen Marah actually killed his father kept me turning the page. In some sense, the context had me wondering if the novel was along the lines of a Frank Peretti thriller or was Smucker walking the reader through Cohen’s imaginary past or maybe his nightmares? Were the dark shadows Cohen saw symbolizing demons or was he simply afraid of the…
Cold Aim by Janice Cantore
Whatever you do when you read this book, don’t skip the Prologue. It gives essential information you’ll later connect with as you read. Police Chief Tess O’Rourke has strong reservations about sheltering a witness in a high-profile human trafficking case in her small town of Rogue’s Hollow. The town has been through enough with the recent forest fire that swallowed people’s homes. Pastor Oliver Macpherson’s belief is that anyone can be rehabilitated and can change, including hardcore criminals. Tess isn’t convinced, but she chooses to trust Oliver’s opinion. Because of his strong faith, Tess gives in to the FBI and…
Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland
FBI Official, Stephanie Maddox comes face-to-face with right and wrong when her son is accused of being involved with an extremist group that’s plotting against high ranking government officials. Like any mother, she believes her son Zachary is innocent. She searches his closet and finds a loaded gun tucked away in a sack in his closet. When she questions him about the weapon, his response and body language convince her he’s clueless. What does she do with the gun? Her actions and reasoning must remain above board and yet she if she turns the pistol into the authorities, her son…
Living Lies by Natalie Walters
I loved the gripping suspense that captured my attention from the beginning. Lane Kent harbors a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know about. Even though her husband died a few years ago, she still suffers from grief and regret. She becomes severely depressed and clings to the bridge by the lake that’s surrounded by trees. Thoughts of suicide haunt her, but she has a five-year-old son who needs her. Charlie Lynch, the new deputy in town, is out riding his mountain bike when spots Lane on the bridge. He stops to see if she’s okay. His presence spooks her….
