A Love Discovered

Author: Tracie Peterson

Series: The Heart of Cheyenne #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: March 5, 2024

Set in the wild frontier, Tracie Peterson will have the hearts of readers swooning before turning the last page.

Edward Vogel gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is invited by a friend to help establish the new town of Cheyenne. He isn’t sure about heading out west, but when he gets the opportunity to leave behind painful memories, he thinks it might be for the best. He asks his friend Marybeth to marry him and after the death of her father, marriage might be the only way for Marybeth to keep her young sister with her. Being thrown together in marriage and now in a new town they find more than their hearts in danger of being hurt.

An unexpected love was a good read but not great. I was expecting a little more with this one and felt it fell short of my expectations. I am thankful for good, clean Christian fiction and this one was good and clean but not memorable. It had all the elements of a good historical romance, and I enjoyed the story of Edward and Marybeth as they moved west. Fans of Petersons books will enjoy this one and if you haven’t read Peterson’s work before this is a good one to start with as it is the first in a new series. I do see good potential for the rest of the series and will likely be reading them when they become available.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Seamstress of Acadie

Author: Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: January 9, 2024

With great characters and a heartfelt story, The Seamstress of Acadie is a great historical read by Laura Frantz.

Sylvie Galant is a seamstress in 1754 in the middle of tensions between the French and British on Canada’s Acadian shore. She and her family have land in between the two and with the unrest it is hard to stay on the outside. William Blackburn is a British Army Ranger and he encounters Sylvie and warns her of an upcoming invasion. He quickly falls for her and resigns but is too late to keep her from losing what she had with her family. Now she is trying to work through the mess that has been made and figure out a life for herself.

If you are a lover of historical novels this is one you won’t want to miss. Laura Frantz has crafted a beautiful story that readers will fall in love with. This story had a great romance that was brought along at just the right speed. For a little while I was worried there wasn’t going to be a happy ending, but the story played out well in just the right way. While the reading of this was a little bit slower for me it was a good read and just right for those that enjoy historical romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Never Fall Again

Author: Lynn H. Blackburn

Series: Gossamer Falls #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 12, 2024

Lynn H. Blackburn at her best with the start of her newest series. Never Fall Again is a top-notch romantic suspense story!

Landry Hutton got out of a bad family situation with her daughter and has spent the last three years rebuilding their lives at The Haven outside of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. She teaches art classes and gives her daughter the best life she can. Wanting to build a house close to her work, she hires Callum Shaw to do the construction and the attraction between the two is hard to deny. Cal had a hard past with dating someone with a kid that broke his heart and is hesitant to get involved with anyone at the moment. Cal is about to start construction when Landry is the victim of vandals who destroy her work and set fire to her studio. He vows to keep Landry and her daughter safe, something that proves to be harder than expected.

Never Fall Again is the newest edition in Christian Romantic Suspense and it is a great addition. While it did start just a little bit on the slow side, it picked up speed quickly and never slowed down. Landry and Cal had a great chemistry, especially when all the family got involved. Such a large extended family is going to make for an interesting series as it moves forward. The tension was tight throughout, and Blackburn did a fantastic job keeping me engaged and wanting to see a happy outcome for all these characters. At times I can get tired of romantic suspense books because they tend to end up all alike, but this one was different and had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the outcome would be. I’m happy to say this one hit the mark. I recommend this book to fans of Blackburn and those that love hard-hitting romantic suspense.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Irish Matchmaker

Author: Jennifer Deibel

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: February 13, 2024

Fans of Deibel’s Irish story weaving will be in love with her newest release!

Catriona Daly and her father have a matchmaking business. She is no stranger to the game of love and hopes to use it as her ticket away from the small village that only comes to life once a year for the matchmaking festival. But can her matchmaking skills keep her from falling in love herself?

Each book that Deibel writes brings a new sense of Irish merriment to her viewers. Transported back to 1900s Ireland, she quickly weaves her readers into the countryside with dialect and prose that can’t help but transport them there in a flash. I’ve loved all her books, but I really think that this one takes the cake. The characters are fantastic, especially little Sara, and the storyline moves along so quickly that I wanted to read it again (and did!) Such a fun, clean historical romance!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Fatal Witness

Author: Patricia Bradley

Series: Pearl River #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: February 6, 2024

Another great romantic suspense by Patricia Bradley that kept me up way past my bedtime.

Mae Richmond had been searching for her missing granddaughter for over two decades. When she sees a picture in a magazine of a woman she knows has to be her missing granddaughter, she sets in motion all she needs to find her. Dani Bennett saw her parents murdered when she was a child but doesn’t remember it and since that day, she has lived with her “Uncle Keith” who was always overprotective, but she never understood why. When she is contacted by her grandmother and goes back home to try and find all the memories, she can’t seem to remember. But it all goes wrong when she makes it back and finds someone coming after her for what she doesn’t know.

While this was a good romantic suspense, it had moments that left me underwhelmed. I flew through the pages but somewhere less memorable than others. Patricia Bradley is a great romantic suspense writer, but this story did fall a little flat for me. The story was a little on the more original side with the focus being more on Mae and her mission to find her granddaughter, which was what kept me connected to the story. Mae was a fun and spunky character, and it would be nice to see more from her in coming stories. Dani couldn’t remember some of her past, but she didn’t let that define her future and I liked that about her. The romance aspect came on a little strong with Mark and some at times I wasn’t as interested in seeing them come together as a couple as I would have liked. I do recommend this book to those that love romantic suspense, it is the right book for that genre.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Cold Threat

Author: Nancy Mehl

Series: Ryland & St. Clair #2

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: January 23, 2024

A good read that felt familiar, like an old friend, a very enjoyable read.

It’s been twenty years since a serial killer known as the snowman murdered several people in Des Moines. Things seem to have stopped until similar murders start up in a small Iowa town and a detective from the original crimes is determined they are related. River Ryland and Tony St. Clair come to help Tony’s father try and solve the case that has haunted him for years. They don’t have long before another murder happens, and they work to uncover the evil that has been around for far too long.

I have been wracking my brain for days trying to figure out why this story seems so familiar, still haven’t figured it out. Something about the storyline was like déjà vu with each chapter. The storyline itself was good and kept me interested, I just wish I could figure out why it seems so familiar, especially the part about how the bad guys subdue their targets. I do like the slow burn between River and Tony, it is so much better than when things are rushed. This is a quick read that fans of Romantic Suspense will not want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Double Take

Author: Lynette Eason

Series: Lake City Heroes #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: January 9, 2023

Lynette Eason starts the New Year off with a bang in her new series! Double Take is a fantastic romantic suspense read with all the right stuff!

Lainie Jackson is still trying to deal with the fact that her fiancé tried to kill her and she ended up killing him in self-defense. It’s been 18 months, and she wants to move on but when she thinks she sees him at the hospital where she works, all the bad memories come back. When an attempt is made on her life, she can’t help but think maybe he is back for revenge. She receives help from Detective James Cross, the brother of one of her longest friends. James finds his work cut out for himself trying to keep Lainie safe and the more time they spend together the more attraction they find to each other and the more danger they encounter.

I’ve read a lot of Romantic suspense and this one is by far at the top of the list. The way Lynette Eason crafted this story had me hooked and wanting nothing more than to see these characters find a safe and happy ending. The cat and mouse gam that Lainie was thrown into made the tension rise with each page turned. This looks to be the start of an amazing series and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. A lot of authors I read have gotten into the habit of writing the same types of stories that just aren’t interesting after a while; Eason is above the rest and only gets better with each book she writes!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Summer in the Spotlight

Author: Liz Johnson

Series: Prince Edward Island Shores #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 1, 2023

The final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series finally gives readers insight into the Island’s most reclusive character.

Levi Ross is known to be very softspoken, but few people realize just how intelligent he is. As the facilities director at the local high school, Levi is getting everything ready for a hurricane, but when it hits earlier than expected, he discovers that Kelsey Ahern, the drama teacher, gets trapped in her classroom. After getting her to safety, Kelsey learns the local playhouse has been destroyed and likely her future with it. Turning to Levi, the two team up to produce a play to raise money to rebuild the theater. With a score of obstacles in their way, the two set out to make dreams come true.

I’ve enjoyed the story of each Ross brother, but I think this one was probably the best. Levi also had such a small part in the first two books that this one was greatly anticipated. Each brother had their past issues, but Levi was just a regular guy that was set on seeing his dreams come true, but genuine enough that he would put his own dreams aside to help someone else achieve theirs. What a great story! I can’t wait to see what Johnson dreams up next!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

2023 Top Romantic Suspense

It’s that time of year again! Time to pick our favorite 2023 reads in each genre. First up, is Romantic Suspense.

Top Pick: Brooke by Ronie Kendig

I always say suspense is my favorite genre, but honestly, I just want a well-written story that keeps me engaged with the characters and story. This series is just that and so much more. I recommend this to readers that enjoy a fast paced romantic suspense read that will keep them up far past their bedtime.

Read the full review here.

Havoc by Ronie Kendig

Ronie Kendig has blown it away with Havoc! She quickly pulls readers into the story with strong characters, both with two legs and four.

Read the full review here.

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason

The third installment in the Extreme Measures series is another romantic suspense that will give readers exactly what they have come to expect from this genre.

Read the full review here.

Into the Fire by Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon is one of the bestselling authors when it comes to Christian fiction both with romantic suspense and contemporary fiction books. This was a great first book in her new series and I enjoyed it as much as any Christian romantic suspense I’ve read lately.

Read the full review here.

A Royal Christmas

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: September 5, 2023

Melody Carlson delivers a great Christmas read to get you in the holiday spirit!

Adelaide Smith has her goal of finishing law school and doesn’t want to let anything keep her from achieving that goal. When she receives a letter that shakes things up, she isn’t sure if she wants to pursue it or stick to her plan. Through a DNA registry, she is found to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V of Montovia. Curiosity gets the best of her and she takes a Christmas trip that changes her life and leads her down a made for TV movie path.

I waited until right at Christmas to read this one and it was just the thing to get me in the holiday spirit. I’ve come to expect fun holiday reads from Carlson each year. The setting of this one was fun and a great royal affair. This was a sweet novella that was a super-fast read and one that holiday readers will very much enjoy. As usual, Carlson will make readers ready for the holidays.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.