A Dead Draw

Author: Robert Dugoni

Series: Tracy Crosswhite #11

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: May 27, 2025

The newest addition in the Tracy Crosswhite series does not disappoint and will leave fans aching for more from one of the best writers out there.

Tracy Crosswhite has dealt with killers and the worst of the worst without losing her cool. Now she must deal with Erik Schmidt, a sociopath worse than she has ever dealt with who is a suspect in two cold cases she is trying to solve. Schmidt has connections to Tracy’s past that are cause her haunting nightmares and flashbacks to Cedar Grove, her hometown and the death of her sister. When Schmidt gets out on a technicality, Tracy is afraid he is going to come after her and her family, something she refuses to let happen.

The Tracy Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni is one of my very favorites. I have enjoyed all the books in the series but none have been able to compare to the first one and how amazing it was. That is until now, A Dead Draw is the closest to My Sisters Grave, and that’s saying something being Book 11 in the series. Dugoni is a fantastic storyteller and the way he ties elements together from previous books is amazing. With each additional book he has managed to make Tracy relatable to readers, especially now that she has a family and has changed courses in her career that could make her and the series slow down, instead it takes it up a notch. A lot of series get boring after a few books but Dugoni has found a way to keep the fire alive in this one and I can’t wait to see how things will continue to play out in the next book in the series.

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

The Atlas of Untold Stories

Author: Sara Brunsvold

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: June 17, 2025

This book is like a slow ride through the countryside, take your time and enjoy every page.

Chloe Vance must tell her mom some very hard news and the longer she waits the harder it is going to be. Her mom feels Chloe is not realistic in her life and wishes she could be more like her older sister, Lauren. Chloe has accepted a position as an instructor at a Christian school in Prague, a job her mom won’t be thrilled about. Hoping to soften the news Chloe invites her mom on a road trip dealing with some of their favorite books and authors. The road trip winds up being Chloe, Lauren and their mom, and with each passing mile the tensions also rise between the three of them. Just when they feel there is no common ground the sisters and their mom find a way to support each other and learn from past mistakes to try and make the future time they have together as good as it can possible be.

Sara Brunsvold is fantastic at writing a contemporary novel that hit all the right feels at all the right moments. I love when I can open a book like this and get completely lost in the story. Contemporary can be tricky, either it can be written with supreme emotion, or it can be boring and lose the attention of the readers. I have yet to have that problem with a Sara Brunsvold book and am eager to see what else she has cooked up each time I pick up a new one she has written. With characters that are full of emotion, conflict and so easy for readers to relate to it was hard to put the book down and focus on anything else until I found out if they would find a way to get along in the end. If you are a reader that enjoys a good contemporary read this is one you 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.

Capture the Moment

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: National Parks Summers #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 6, 2025

A perfect romance with even more perfect settings that took my breath away.

Kate Cunningham has an amazing life working as a zoo photographer and experiencing the wonderful animals around the world. When she is approached by National Geographic to try and get a rare picture of a legendary bear found in Grand Teton National Park, she knows she can’t pass up the opportunity. There is a reason no one has ever gotten a picture of this rare bear and Kate is hoping to be the first even with the odds stacked against her. She meets Grant Cooper, a park ranger who has worked in the Tetons and knows the area which might help her succeed. The only problem is they are not the only one on the hunt for this bear and the closer they get the more danger they find themselves in.

Suzanne Woods Fisher did a fantastic job with Capture the Moment. I fully felt immersed in this story and setting and did not want to leave when the last page finished. I love national parks and the Grand Tetons are on my list of wanting to visit the first chance I get so this story only made that wish stronger. Kate was a perfect protagonist and had a driving force that pulled me into the story and the adventure she was going on in such a way I had a hard time getting anything else accomplished until I finished. This is the kind of book that will take readers far away into the parks and emotions of the characters that will hit just right. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy storybook settings, romance that has all the right feels and the start of what I hope will be a great series with many more to come.

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

The Boomerang

Author: Robert Bailey

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: May 1, 2025

A fast-paced thriller full of all kinds of twists and turns making for a super-fast and fun read.

Eli James has worked for the president as his Chief of Staff and seen him through all kinds of trials, including his secret battle with cancer. Just when things look bleakest, they take a turn as his condition improves, but as the president shows signs of improvement Eli finds out his daughter is now sick. At each new turn of events, he finds a crazy cover up going from the top of Big Pharma all the way through the White House and with each new piece of evidence he finds himself and his family in more danger. Only wanting to save his daughter Eli and his family flee and find themselves in a crazy war to survive.

Now this was a fun read! I enjoyed the fast-paced thrill ride with each page and new danger the characters faced. This book pulled me in and didn’t let go until the last page finished, I loved the characters, especially Eli and the love he had for his family. For me, that is what drove the story, the strong sense of family connection and protection Eli had kept me wanting to see him have a safe and successful outcome. After several reads that have been lackluster in the past few months it was nice to have this one be quick and enjoyable. So many books have become the same old same old and it is getting a little harder to find good entertaining ones. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy the fast-paced action with great character connections throughout.

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

Every Deadly Suspicion

Author: Janice Cantore

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: March 4, 2025

Another fantastic police procedural by Janice Cantore!

Hanna Keyes has lived her whole life with knowledge that her father is a murderer. She is the Chief of Police in Dry Oaks, California and gets a call that her father is dying. He is given a compassionate release, and she is asked to let him live with her in his final days. Even though she never got to know him and can’t really think of him as her father, she feels led to say yes to the request. When Joe, her father arrives in Dry Oaks, not everyone is happy to see him there and things start to go from bad to worse. Joe starts making comments to Hanna that lead her to believe he might not be as guilty of murder as everyone thought. With each new piece of the puzzle more danger comes their way and Hanna isn’t sure what to believe anymore.

Janice Cantore has always been one of my favorite’s when it comes to romantic suspense; the way she writes police procedurals is one of the best. I enjoy the way she writes characters and situations that are believable and enjoyable to read about. Her stories flow with ease and I find all aspects of them more believable than most written now a days. So many books out there are not worth the time and have served to put me in a reading slump lately. It is nice to find a book that is enjoyable to read and makes me want to keep reading. I would recommend this book to those that enjoy good, clean romantic suspense thrillers.

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

Rift

Author: Steven James

Series: Rift #1

Publisher: Sky Turtle Nova

Release Date: October 29, 2024

Steven James has crafted a master suspense story that will be impossible for readers to put down.

Sahara O’Shaughnessy has moved in with her grandmother after the death of her father and a falling out with her mother. Sahara starts working at the local library and things get strange when she finds a “rift” into the realm of lore. Her grandmother has told her stories of ghosts and haunts for a long time and now she might just be seeing it firsthand.

Steven James is a master storyteller and his newest, Rift, starts what I’m sure to be a fantastic trilogy. The first book in this new trilogy is just the start of a story that will take readers deep into the lore of chilling ghost stories set within the Appalachian Mountains and full of tension. Sahara has a complicated past with her family dynamics, a fact that will probably help many readers connect with the characters. Most of us have some kind of family drama that will help us relate to these characters. That is one of the best things about a book written by James, amazing characters, along with the best storyline and writing that is out there. There are so many books written and available today to choose from that it can be hard to know what is worth reading, but anytime I see a book written by James I know it is going to be a homerun. I would recommend this book to any readers that like a griping tale that will be hard to put down.

A Healing Touch

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a master when it comes to writing entertaining and endearing characters and stories that readers will think about long after the final page.

Ruth is a rare doctor that still does house calls, and when she does, she treats her patients for more than just physical, she pays attention to what they might need emotionally too. Her skill set comes in handy when a patient, Bee, is diagnosed with breast cancer and then her assistant leaves Ruth for another calling. Ruth does all she can to help treat her patients but must come to the realization that it will take more to truly heal, a true healer.

Suzanne Woods Fisher has written a beautiful tale that addresses so many issues that will connect with many different readers. Not only does she tackle cancer but also a grieving widow, foster system and much more. Each issue is written with deep emotion connecting me to the characters and story. Ruth is a character that I wanted to see come out happy and safe by the end of the story. I devoured this book and was sad when it ended all too soon. This book left me inspired and sitting afterwards thinking about the story and all the lessons throughout. I recommend this book to those that enjoy Amish Fiction but also just a flat out good story.

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

Deadly Revenge

Author: Patricia Bradley

Series: Pearl River #3

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: November 5, 2024

A good finish to a romantic suspense series that fans of Bradley’s writing will enjoy.

Jenna Hart came back to her hometown of Pearl Springs and became a deputy just as city officials are in the bullseye of a killer. The town itself has problems of its own. Decades ago, a construction company took over land that belonged to others and now someone is coming after revenge. When the former mayor of Pearl Springs is up for a spot in the US Senate and in danger, Jenna gets help from Agent Maxwell Anderson who she used to work with at the Chattanooga Police. The attraction that they once had for each other comes back quickly as they work on this new case tracking down a killer.

This is the third book in the Pearl River series and a good finish up to a fun romantic suspense series. Patricia Bradley has made a name for herself as a top romantic suspense author in the Christian fiction market. These stories are enjoyable but predictable. The romance was nice but didn’t make me swoon. The tension was probably the nicest part of the story, it was tight and enough to keep my interest. All of those are enough to make this a good story, not a great one. Fans of the series will enjoy it as it wraps up the

storyline.

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

Tea with Elephants

Author: Robin Jones Gunn

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: October 15, 2024

A fun contemporary read that is full of adventure, friendship and amazing faith filled moments.

It’s been almost 20 years since Fern and Lily met volunteering at a center in Costa Rica and ever since they have remained close friends. When they get the chance to go on an African Safari together, they jump at the opportunity to get back out and see what the world has to offer them. The last 20 years has been hard on both of them and being out in the wild and connecting with their faith and each other is a little harder than when they were young.

Tea with Elephants is a great contemporary read, full of all the great adventure moments one would come to expect from a book like this. I loved the way Gunn brought readers right into the thick of the African wilds with all the exotic animals and the glory that comes with being in the presence of God’s greatness. Both Fern and Lily have a lot going on in their lives and have to be able to work through it in order to return from this trip better than when they started it. I enjoyed the way they struggled with decisions they had to make and the fact that it wasn’t too easy and expected that would have made me roll my eyes at the way it was written. This is the first book by Robin Jones Gunn I have read, it was well written and enjoyable making her a new author to add to my shelves. I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy contemporary adventures in an exotic setting.

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

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Author: Robert Dugoni

Series: Keera Duggan #2

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Robert Dugoni has crafted a spectacular legal thriller that will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

Keera Duggan has had some hard cases in her time as a lawyer but none as hard as having to defend a childhood former friend accused of murder. She knows how manipulative Jenna Bernstein can be ever since they were young and had several run ins with Jenna that didn’t end well. This isn’t the first time Jenna has been accused of murder; the first time Keera’s dad got her off and now it’s Keera’s turn. Trouble follows Jenna wherever she goes and if Keera isn’t careful, she might just find herself caught up in the trouble with her.

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

This is the second book in the Keera Duggan series and by far better than the first. I enjoyed the first book, but it was only mediocre. This one was hands down better, better story, better character connection and much more tension to keep the story moving at a fast pace. The back and forth between Keera and Jenna was spot on, especially when Keera would go into memories of what happened between the two of them when they were younger. Robert Dugoni has a way with writing female protagonist in a way that all readers will relate to and want to route for and see succeed. He has done this with his Tracy Crosswhite series and now Keera Duggan. This story had a particularly good flow to it, regardless of if they are in the courtroom or researching things for the case. Robert Dugoni is a one of a kind author that seems to not be able to write a bad book. Fans looking for a fantastic legal thriller will not want to miss this one.