The Last Orphan

Author: Gregg Hurwitz

Series: Orphan X #8

Publisher: Minotaur

Release Date: February 6, 2024

The next installment in the Orphan X series is full of action and the usual Orphan antics.

Evan Smoak is back as Orphan X, an orphan that was taken in and trained up to be an assassin for the government. He has left his life as an assassin and puppet for the government and now uses his skill set to help those in need as The Nowhere Man. As time has gone by though his ability to avoid those in the government wanting to find him has been harder and harder and now the higher-ups are wanting him for a job. The President wants Evan to eliminate a man she sees as a threat and uses his past to get him to do her bidding. Evan now must decide how far he is willing to go to stick to his principles and keep his life.

I have decently enjoyed the Orphan X series but with book 8 I found myself ready for the story to be over. I would have liked to see more between Evan and his sometimes love interest and her son, instead of a snippet here and there. For most of this story I found myself skimming the pages for what might be interesting and leaving the rest behind. As always, Evan’s interactions with Joey are some of the best moments and bring the story a breath of fresh air. Fans of the series might possibly enjoy this one, but it wasn’t one I can highly recommend.

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

Over The Edge

Author: Irene Hannon

Series: Undaunted Courage #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 1, 2024

A quick page-turner full of chills and thrills.

After a near fatal incident, Lindsey Barnes is trying to move on with her life and recover. Unfortunately, that isn’t as easy as she hoped; someone is trying to make her look unstable and not a reliable source after being the only witness in a murder case. Detective Jack Tucker gets called out after Lindsey needs his help after an enemy starts leaving behind evidence to make her look unreliable as the witness they need. It doesn’t take long for Jack to see someone is setting her up and maybe out for more than just making her look unstable.

Irene Hannon has written a real page-turner with Over the Edge. I loved the dynamic between Lindsey and Jack; she is witty and also neurotic at times with all she has gone through which made her relatable. The way the two characters were brought together was done well; I didn’t find myself having any eye rolling moments at the predictability. There were a few moments when the story fell flat and took a little longer to get thorough. Other than that, it was a very fast read and enjoyable that fans of romantic suspense will enjoy.

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

One Last Stand

Author: Susan May Warren

Series: Alaska Air One Rescue #4

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 8, 2024

A fantastic ending to a wonderful series by one of the very best in Christian Fiction.

London Brooks has been part of Air One Rescue as a way to rebuild the life she has left behind that was full of clandestine meetings as part of a team to take down a Russian terrorist. When her old life comes back to haunt her, she must disappear to hopefully keep all of those she cares about safe. When Shep Watson is taken hostage as a ploy to bring London out in the open, she has no choice but to jump back into the world she thought she had left behind.

The Alaska Air One Rescue series has been a fantastic series with lots of action, romance and more. Susan May Warren is a fantastic author that is full of so many great stories. This one was really good except for a few parts in the middle that fell flat. When London goes home to her parents, I just lost connection with her and the story for a good little bit. The other parts of the story were full of action and adventure that kept me glued to the page. This is the type of story that fans of romantic suspense will not want to pass up. You would read this one without having to have read the others in the series but it is best to read the whole series to get the most out of it.

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

One Last Promise

Author: Susan May Warren

Series: Alaska Air One Rescue #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 6, 2024

Another great romantic suspense from one of the masters in the Christian fiction genre.

Moose Mulligan was in the Navy and lived for the thrill of it all. After he got out, he returned home and started up Air One Rescue to help others and maybe find a life for himself. He has a habit of going to the local diner for breakfast but also to see Tillie Young. When Tillie shows up at his door, beaten and in need of help, Moose and his friends jump right in. Tillie needs help after her daughter has been kidnaped by her ex, a former MMA fighter who also trained Tillie. One problem after another arises as they hunt down a kidnapper and try to get out of the situation alive.

This is the third book in the Alaska Air One Rescue series and might just be my favorite of the series so far. Tillie started as a meek little character but turned into one that was able to do so much more than expected. Her fighting was fun to read with her MMA background and the way she fought for her family was very well done. Fighting sequences can be hard, either they turn out brilliantly or laughable. As the years have gone by Susan May Warren has really improved in her ability to write these scenes and I enjoy reading them. The relationship between Moose and Tillie was written at just the right speed, they obviously had feelings for each other, but it wasn’t rushed in a way that made me roll my eyes. I know that fans of romantic suspense, and especially if they have been following this series will not want to miss this one.

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

Target Acquired

Author: Lynette Eason

Series: Lake City Heroes #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 20, 2024

Target Acquired was a perfect bullseye by Lynette Eason that readers will love to devour!

Kenzie King has worked hard to earn her place on the SWAT team as their medic and is finding it hard to fit in with all her male coworkers. Not everyone is thrilled to have her on the team but Cole Garrison, the team leader, is determined to help her find her place. Cole and Kenzie are not only faced with getting the team to accept her but also deal with someone who is out to take the team down.

I’ve read a lot of Romantic Suspense books, and a lot by Lynette Eason, but this one is going to rank up towards the top of that list. Kenzie was a top-notch character that had depth, heart and kept me feeling all the emotions. The attraction between her and Cole was obvious from the beginning but the way it was played out was perfect for me. Some of the members of the SWAT team were a bit annoying but mainly in the way they were supposed to be written, which was a job well done by Eason. Each romantic suspense book I pick up is either a great read or the same old same old. This one was a great addition to my Lynette Eason shelf, and I believe that readers will not want to miss this one.

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

Cold Vengeance

Author: Nancy Mehl

Series: Ryland & St. Clair #3

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: July 16, 2024

By far the best book in the series and the best book I have read by Nancy Mehl! Cold Vengeance is a must read for fans of Christian Fiction!

River Ryland and Tony St. Clair are retired from the FBI after years of being there and leaving after a nasty case affected them both. Now they have their own private investigators office and are working to help solve cold cases in their hometown while River also helps take care of her mother who is having memory issues. They are tasked with a case after a crime podcaster goes missing and her boyfriend knows she is still alive and would never leave him. This case becomes more and more complicated with each turn. Not only are they trying to locate the missing podcaster, but they are also dealing with an enemy who has been after them for years. In order to survive, they will have to trust each other like never before.

Cold Vengeance was a great read. I loved the way it played out, especially the last few chapters wrapping things up nicely for the series. In a way I’m sad to see this series end, it has been one of the better romantic suspense ones I have read in a long time. It seems that a good portion of the romantic suspense out now is a formula that is all the same, I was pleased to really enjoy this one from start to finish. River is a great female protagonist and I enjoyed following along with her as she and Tony got closer with each case. I would recommend this book to fans of Christian romantic suspense for a great series with fun characters and lots of twists and turns.

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

One Last Chance

Author: Susan May Warren

Series: Alaska Air One Rescue #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 4, 2024

The second book in the Alaska Air One Rescue series is full of action, adventure and all the things you would expect from a Susan May Warren novel.

Axel Mulligan returned home to Alaska after an unfortunate incident while he was working for the Coast Guard three years earlier. Now, he works for the Air One rescue team and is sometimes seen as a wild man that will do anything to save lives. While he is out to help rescue tourists, he ends up being the one that needs to be saved. He hears a voice on the other end of his radio that helps to give him hope and keep fighting. Flynn Turnquist comes to Alaska to find answers and ends up helping save Axel before trying to find a serial killer she has been tracking. Axel now spends his time and energy trying to help Flynn and together they uncover more danger than they could have realized.

The second book in the Alaska Air One Rescue series is a great addition to an action-packed list of books by Susan May Warren. This is a great new series and I loved the second installment. Axel and Flynn were a fantastic protagonist duo. The back and forth between them and the danger they found themselves in only helped to keep me glued to the page to see if they would come out safe and happy in the end. There were plenty of twists and turns, even up until the very end keeping me satisfied with the storyline and how Warren played each detail out. With a lot of Romantic Suspense books, they can end up feeling the same as readers get into the story, and I have had this happen with a book or two of hers, but this one felt fresh and entertaining throughout. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy Susan May Warren’s writing and great romantic suspense.

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

One Wrong Move

Author: Dani Pettrey

Series: Jeopardy Falls #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: February 6, 2024

A fantastic romantic suspense book by an author that fans of Christian fiction have grown to love.

When Christian O’Brady left his adolescent life behind, he wanted nothing more than to prove he was no longer a criminal and only wants to help people. He uses his past to become an expert on security and helps others stay safe. After a group of art thieves attack a gallery he helps provide security for, he works with Andi Forester, an insurance investigator to figure out who is behind the heists and stop them before they hit again.

It had been far too long since I had a new Dani Pettrey book before picking One Wrong Move. As the start of the newest series Pettrey sets up a fantastic plot line and characters that I couldn’t help but root for. Christian and Andi both have complicated pasts that end up intertwined in an interesting way throughout the story making them more endearing as the pages turn. The closer they got to finding the truth the more danger they find themselves in. There are plenty of questions left at the end of the story that leaves it open for the next on the series. I loved the way the story wrapped up but also left it open for more to come with the next in the series. This book is great for readers that love romantic suspense.

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

Hidden in the Night

Author: Elizabeth Goddard

Series: Missing in Alaska #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 4, 2024

The third book in the Missing in Alaska series fell a little short of my expectations but is still a good romantic suspense read.

When Ivy Elliott’s mother asks her to find a rare book, she moves heaven and earth to accomplish this sending her to Alaska looking for the unpublished Jack London manuscript seemingly lost decades ago. Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long finds himself helping Ivy after a blizzard hits and dead bodies turn up in the search for the missing book. Along with the missing book they are in search of a missing girl who might be the key to finding all they search for.

Hidden in the Night follows the first two books in the series which I really enjoyed and was expecting to enjoy this one as well but unfortunately this one fell short. I just couldn’t get myself connected to the characters and even though I was intrigued with the missing London manuscript, it wasn’t enough to keep me focused on the pages. The romance aspect was well played and did hold my interest better. Even though this wasn’t my favorite, I do believe fans of romantic suspense will enjoy it.

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

The Butcher and the Wren

Author: Alaina Urquhart

Series: Dr. Wren #1

Publisher: Zando

Release Date: July 25, 2023

A slow start but a massively entertaining ending.

Tales from true crime podcast host following a medical examiner and serial killer. Deep in the Louisiana bayou, a killer is hiding and waiting for just the right moment to strike. Dr. Wren Muller has been working as a forensic pathologist with a deep dark secret. Her past has helped her solve every case brought in front of her until now, and if she is able to dive deep into what this killer is doing, it will take her back to the past she has tried so hard to escape.

I have had this book on my shelves for months and when I finally decided to pick it up. I was kicking myself for not reading it sooner! It was a bit of a slow start but by the end I loved the twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Wren is a fun character that once the big reveal happened for her as a character, I sat with my mouth open in shock loving how it played out. I connected with Wren to begin with and then even more so as the twists presented themselves and I loved it even more. I didn’t realize until reading it that it was the start of a series and more is to come which makes me so happy and will continue to dive into this series. I would recommend this to anyone who loves suspense thrillers with fantastic twists.

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