Counter Attack

Author: Patricia Bradley

Series: Pear River #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 16, 2023

One of Patricia Bradley’s best books yet and a great start to her newest series!

Alexis Stone moves back to be with her grandparents in Tennessee after being wounded trying to catch the Queen’s Gambit Killer. She is only there a short time when her grandfather asks her to become the interim sheriff while he recovers from heart surgery. The Queen’s Gambit killer follows Alexis to Pearl Springs, and she is going to have to fight harder than ever in order to stop him. She has help from Nathan Landry, her high school sweetheart she hasn’t seen in years. Together they must work to stop the killer and see if the feelings they once had for each other are still there.

This book was very good but also predictable, I was able to figure out the twist long before it was revealed. So many romantic suspense books are the same, still enjoyable but predictable. Patricia Bradley is great at writing clean romantic suspense that many will enjoy. This series started out great and I enjoyed the interactions between Alexis and Nathan even if their romance was a little rushed. The small-town Tennessee setting was great and when the serial killer followed her it did bring the story up another notch. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a clean well written romantic suspense.

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

Countdown

Author: Lynette Eason

Series: Extreme Measures #4

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 1, 2023

The final book in the Extreme Measures series gives readers a fantastic ending to a fun and explosive series!

Raina Price has been working as a flight paramedic as she tries to run from her past. She changed her name and left everyone she loved to try and keep them safe. She had spent time in juvie and met several friends who she now works with and would do anything to help her. Raina loves to help people but is always looking over her shoulder for the stalker that almost took her life. US Marshal Vincent Corelli ends up helping Raina through a strange turn of events and quickly falls for her and promises to do anything and everything he can to keep her safe. She tells him about her past and together they work to solve the mystery of who is after her and stop them from hurting anyone else.

The Extreme Measures series from Lynette Eason is one of her very best, the writing is superb and the way the characters find themselves in danger and work through it will suck readers in. The suspense and danger the characters found themselves in was top notch, the romance aspect flowed beautifully, and I felt completely connected with the characters and what they were going through. I often find myself bored with romantic suspense and the way the stories can all end up the same, but Lynette Eason is an exception to this because her writing is so well done and the way she puts these characters in situations that make the reader care for them but also finds the reader on the edge of their seat is amazing. This was a fantastic edition to the series, and I am sad to see it come to an end. I recommend this to readers of romantic suspense, even though it is the fourth in the series it could be read as a standalone.

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

Cold Pursuit

Author: Nancy Mehl

Series: Ryland & St. Clair #1

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: July 11, 2023

A great romantic suspense that is clean, action packed, and as chilling as it is thrilling!

River Ryland can’t get over the case that went wrong and left her with PTSD. After leaving the FBI, she moves to be near her mother who has dementia and her partner, Tony, comes with her to open a private investigation firm. The local sheriff sends them a grieving mother who wants answers for what happened to her son who disappeared years ago. River and Tony know they have to help this mother find closure even with the case being cold. The more they investigate the case, the more danger they find themselves in with a murderer not wanting anyone to find out their secrets.

Nancy Mehl starts her new series off with a bang! This series is looking to be a great one if the next follow the path of this one. River was a great main character, the dynamic she had with her mother really hit me and made me feel for her. She dealt with so much and had to be strong for her mother and now the new client they are trying to help. Seeing her vulnerable with her mother really made her a better character and I loved the way that aspect of the story was written. This book follows the same formula as most romantic suspense stories but still a very enjoyable read. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy clean romantic suspense reads.

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

Alligator Alley

Author: Mike Lawson

Series: A Joe DeMarco Thriller #16

Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press

Release Date: February 7, 2023

A thriller very different than most I have read recently with some dark humor and fun twists that readers will love!

Joe DeMarco is a problem solver and when a young woman working in the Inspector General’s office is found murdered in the Florida Everglades Joe is called in to help. He gets help from one of his favorites, Emma, a retired spy with all the connections they could need to solve the murder in Alligator Alley. It doesn’t take them long to come up with suspects but what they aren’t prepared for is the suspects are FBI agents. With each new clue, they find themselves in the middle of a dark and twisted scheme that goes deeper than they could have expected.

I picked this one up after seeing it recommended by one of my favorite authors hoping to find a new series to enjoy. I’m not going to say I didn’t enjoy it, but I don’t know if I will be getting anymore of the series. The characters were good, not great; the suspense better than expected, the outcome interesting but not enough to continue on with the series. If you are looking for a quick easy read without much thinking this is a good one to pick up. If you are wanting a deep series that you can have characters that grow and change and really go deeper and will keep you thinking, this didn’t do it for me. I enjoyed what I read but not enough to recommend highly to others.

Blind Trust

Author: Natalie Walters

Series: The SNAP Agency #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 11, 2023

A fast-paced, suspense filled conclusion to a great series.

Lyla Fox has worked at the SNAP Agency for a long time and is known to be a bit impulsive. Her impulsive nature causes her to go full throttle when a man she put away starts sending her threats. To stay safe and stop the threats, Lyla must accept help from Nicolas Garcia. She and Nicolas have a history and her lack of concern for her safety is an issue for Nicolas, making the case even harder for both of them.

Natalie Walters does a fantastic job of wrapping up the SNAP Agency series with a bang! I loved reading about Lyla and Nicolas after getting snippets of them in the first books. All the characters in this series are great and the way they all come together to help each other made me care for each of them. The romantic tension between these two characters was spot on; I felt for them from the very beginning and couldn’t wait to see them have a happy ending.

One of the best aspects of this book was the pacing, not once did I feel bored with the storyline or find myself not wanting to continue with the story. The danger that Lyla found herself in put me on edge, but she never played the victim or waited around for someone to come and rescue her, she stayed strong and that made me love her even more. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy romantic suspense and have enjoyed the first two books in the series.

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

Out of the Ashes

Author: Kara Thomas

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: May 1, 2023

Out of the Ashes is the epitome of a slow-burn suspense thriller! So much tension drives this story, giving readers a great book!

When Samantha Newsom was only thirteen years old, her family was murdered, and the only thing left of her home was ashes. The investigation into what happened to he family was not handled well and when she returns over twenty years later she is quickly pulled back into all the tragedy she tried to leave behind. Rumors surface that Samantha’s baby sister may still be alive surface, along with other secrets, leading Travis Mecham to investigate the case. The little town Samantha grew up in is no longer a safe place; with every secret she uncovers, the danger increases and this time she might not make it out alive!

Out of the Ashes was a true slow burn thriller that was a quick read and very enjoyable. The only downfall I would say is it’s not very memorable, after reading it and leaving it for a awhile I don’t have much that I remember about the story other than it being a good quick read. For some though that is a good thing, a quick enjoyable read that doesn’t take a lot of mental energy. The characters were enjoyable to read about, and just when I thought I knew who the killer was, there was another twist and turn. For readers that enjoy a good thriller, this is one not to be missed!

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

Broker of Lies

Author: Steven James

Series: Travis Brock Thriller #1

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: April 11, 2023

Steven James at his best writing a fantastic suspense thriller that does not disappoint!

Travis Brock works at the Pentagon as a redactor and has an eidetic memory. One night, he wakes up to a fire in his house. He searches for his wife who ends up dying in the fire. The fire is ruled arson and for over a year and a half afterwards he searches for answers that no one else has for him. During his search, he finds himself in the middle of a terror attack and helps a homeland security officer that has been framed for an attack. Together they must work to prove her innocence and stop the attack before others are hurt or worse.

It has been far too long since I have had a new Steven James novel in my hands. He is one of my very favorite thriller writers for so many reasons. He has a way of crafting characters that are amazing, relatable, and so fun to read about. The plot of this book had me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning; so much tension on each page making it hard to put down until I knew if these characters were going to come out alright by the final pages. This book is the first in a new series by James and already I’m in love with these characters and what they can do. The ending has a great cliffhanger and twist that brought the biggest smile to my face knowing there is more to come by a master storyteller. I recommend this book to fans of thrillers and a storyteller that will show you what it’s like to read a book that is written by one of the best.

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

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: April 4, 2023

Another fantastic suspense book from one of the best in Christian fiction. Jaime Jo Wright has out done herself with The Vanishing at Castle Moreau!

Set in two timelines, The Vanishing at Castle Moreau starts in 1870 with Daisy Francois, an orphan who goes to Castle Moreau as a housemaid running from her past. The castle is owned by a very peculiar woman who writes gothic novels and keeps many secrets in her estate, and local legend has girls form the area disappearing in the vicinity of Castle Moreau. In present day timeline, Cleo Clemmons is also running from her past and answers an ad for help at Castle Moreau. She is hired by the grandson of an illustrious billionaire to help his grandmother deal with her hoarding and bring the Castle back to what it once was. Within hours of arriving, she is sucked into the mysteries surrounding Castle Moreau that is not only in the past but still shrouding them today.

Nothing and no one are what they seem when it comes to The Vanishing at Castle Moreau. Jaime Jo Wright has crafted a story with characters so far beyond and better than I could have hoped for. I have loved all I have read by her, and this tops the list. The mystery and story in each timeline will suck readers in and keep them glued to the pages until the very end. Both Cleo and Daisy have great character development and the interactions they have with those at the Castle are mysterious, intriguing, and luring. This book has everything I wanted in a mystery book all while being clean and delivering a good message throughout. Jaime Jo Wright gets better and better with each novel she writes giving readers a story we can’t help but fall in love with and characters we want to see succeed. I’ve found a lot of the books I’ve read lately to just have the same feel and end up being bored with them; luckily, I can say that was not the case here. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great story with mystery and a great lesson of redemption and not judging someone by what others say.

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

Hollow Beasts

Author: Alisa Lynn Valdes

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: April 1, 2023

This book surprised me in the best of ways: gritty, action-packed, and just plain good!

Jodi Luna has left her life in academia to return to her home state of New Mexico to become a game warden. Others in her family have followed this career path and after many challenges in the academic world, Jodi leaves with her daughter to start anew. In her first week on the job, she apprehends a poacher who quickly threatens to retaliate. Jodi finds herself and her daughter being stalked and in the middle of a fight with a white supremacy group. The group has been kidnapping women of color and hunting them for sport. Jodi is met with resistance from the local sheriff and turns to his young deputy, Ashley Romero for help. Together the two work to stop the group and keep those in the area safe.

This book started out on the right foot and took off down a path of suspense, tension, and darn good writing from page one. I loved the rugged setting, characters that weren’t afraid to get after the action, and the ones I was supposed to dislike I sure did, all signs of excellent writing. This was the first book I’ve read by Valdes and from the looks of it there will be more to follow with these characters, making me a very happy reader. I loved that there was nothing trivial in the story; all the events as well as the characters involved all felt right and real. As the story came to a close, I was very satisfied with how it was all playing out even though I can tell there is more that could be done with the characters and continue the storyline in different directions. I live in Texas in a town close to New Mexico, so it was fun for me to read about a rugged area so close to where I actually live. I would recommend this book for adults who enjoy suspense thrillers with hard themes that are written well and a story that can be read in a single day.

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

Her Deadly Game

Author: Robert Dugoni

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: March 28, 2023

Another fantastic thriller from master storyteller, Robert Dugoni!

Keera Duggan wanted to make a name for herself on her own, so she set out in the Seattle prosecutor’s office and worked her way up until a complicated relationship with a colleague messes it all up. Now, Keera goes to work in the family law firm with her father and sisters. When she is hired by Vince LaRussa, she has the chance to show the rest of her family that she has what it takes to try the big crimes and win. Going against her in court is Miller Ambrose, Keera’s ex who wants nothing more than to take Keera down in court. It will take all Keera and her team have to win the case and keep anyone else from getting hurt.

Robert Dugoni is one of the best thriller writers around and this newest addition is further evidence of that. The characters and storyline flow freely with great tension that kept the pages flying and my attention until the last page. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the storyline and characters after the many books in the Tracy Crosswhite series and loving every one of them.

I have found after readomg many books by Dugoni that his writing style is one that readers will find relatable and easy to read. There is something about the way he writes that makes me know with every story I am going to find characters that will be engaging and make me want to see them come out safe and sound by the end of the story. Keera is a great strong female protagonist that I have come to love from Dugoni books. Even when I thought the story was finished there was another fantastic twist that made me smile and know I was reading a book I could easily pull from the shelves anytime and enjoy. I recommend this book to those that love suspense thrillers.

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