My Review - Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

 

5 out of 5 Stars

NEVER FALL AGAIN by Lynn H. Blackburn has all the key points in a romance/suspense novel. Intriguing characters. Creative plot. Interesting twists. Great chemistry! Definitely a great start to a new series.

Landry Hutton and her daughter Eliza have flown under the radar for three years. As the artist-in-residence at an exclusive resort, Landry has worked at building her career and her foundation for a new life. Just as she is ready to make her life in Gossamer Falls permanent, her studio is destroyed in a fire—but it was no accident. Landry’s immediate response is to run, but Callum Shaw provides for her stability she never even dreamed of. Even though she knows with the baggage she carries, she can’t allow a deeper relationship to form, having Callum at her side allows her some time to plan her next steps.

Callum Shaw is not looking for a relationship, especially one with a child involved. Though he thinks Landry is incredible and Eliza is the sweetest little girl, his heart has been badly scarred by a previous relationship. Not willing to put himself through the devastation another relationship could bring, he and Landry decide friendship is all they can ever have. Even as Landry and Callum work to define boundaries in their relationship, threats against Landry continue to escalate. Knowing his heart is already attached to Landry and Eliza, Callum makes it his mission to not only protect the both of them, but to find out who is behind the deadly threats and stop them before it’s too late.

NEVER FALL AGAIN is packed with action and emotion. Callum’s family welcomes Landry and Eliza with open arms, immediately giving Landry a glimpse of what a normal life could be like when surrounded by family and friends. And considering Callum’s family is one of the esteemed families in Gossamer Falls, they both are lavished with love, acceptance, and a real sense of belonging. Landry is convinced this is where she wants to be, and a life her daughter deserves, but there is another person determined not to let that happen.

A true romance/suspense book with plenty of both to keep you turning page after page.

Though I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for a review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Review - Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley

4.5 out of 5 stars

FATAL WITNESS by Patricia Bradley will definitely satisfy the romance-suspense reader! 

Dani Bennett’s world is completely shaken when she finally finds out why her uncle/guardian has always been so protective of her. When tragedy happens, she finds out what he’s been hiding, but it’s so much more than she ever even imagined. Now she must find out who she is and why someone is out to kill her.

Mark Lassiter genuinely cares for his neighbor Mae Richmond. When Mae is convinced she has finally found her long lost granddaughter, Mark offers to help track her down. However, coming back to Pearl Springs, Tennessee is proving to be dangerous for Dani, Mae, and anyone helping these women to solve the crime that separated them twenty-five years ago.

FATAL WITNESS was packed with action, drama, and just enough romance to keep the story interesting. Even though Dani and Mark try to discount the attraction between them as being fueled by fear, it’s obvious their chemistry is too much to ignore. The push and pull got a little tiresome, but the momentum of the story made up for it. Patricia Bradley has a knack for pulling you into a story from the get-go. That, and its twist and turns keep you turning page after page. Though I caught on early who the culprit was, I had to keep reading to make sure I was right.

I definitely recommend FATAL WITNESS to anyone interested in fast-paced whodunit mysteries.

Though I was given an advance copy of FATAL WITNESS by the publisher, I was not obligated to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Review - Double Take by Lynette Eason

5 out of 5 Stars

DOUBLE TAKE by Lynette Eason definitely satisfied the Romance/Suspense label. With main characters that were likable and relatable but not without their flaws, DOUBLE TAKE starts off the new Lake City Heroes series with a bang!

Physician’s Assistant Lainie Jackson knows there is no possible way her ex-fiancé is alive. She shot him. There’s no way he could’ve survived. Then who just ran her off the road and tried to kill her . . . again? Knowing there has to be an explanation about who she saw, Lainie tries to move on. However, when other people start seeing her dead ex, she searches for the proof she needs to know he’s truly dead.

Detective James Cross - a childhood friend - crosses Lainie’s path when he is hospitalized with a gunshot wound. He’s quick to learn what’s bothering Lainie and offers to help her find the truth. It doesn’t take long to find out Lainie is in real danger, even if they can’t explain how her dead ex could be perpetrating the threats on her life.

Though Lainie doesn’t want to relive the past, she recognizes she needs help to find answers. Having James – her teenage crush – wanting to protect her is messing with her senses. She tries to keep the lines between them professional, but when James presses her to identify their relationship, the family baggage they both bring to a relationship seems too daunting to overcome. However, like it or not, James has no intention of backing off where Lainie’s life is concerned. It’s obvious someone is out to kill her. He and Lainie just have to figure out how a dead guy could be there prime suspect.

DOUBLE TAKE’s plot dealt with more than just murder, mayhem, and a phantom ex. Domestic abuse and family dysfunction were integral threads throughout the story. Both Lainie and James have deep-seeded family issues to deal with while trying to keep Lainie alive. The chemistry between James and Lainie was immediate. Of course, they already had a history together to build off of, but now they had to define their relationship and be sure it wasn’t just the intensity of the situation they were thrown into that was making their feelings for each other so powerful.

One observation I have notice of late in Christian suspense novels is the thinning of the faith aspect in the stories. I am a big proponent of not breaking character in order for the author to throw in an evangelistic thread that seems out of place. However, the faith aspect in the lives of the characters seem to be lacking. Now, I realize this novel was not labeled Christian/Romance/Suspense, and maybe Christian authors are purposely not labeling their novels as such so they can reach a broader audience, which I thoroughly applaud. Maybe it’s me that has to change my way of thinking when I pick up a book from one of my favorite “Christian” authors, realizing I am going to get a clean story, not necessarily a faith driven story. Just food for thought.

I would like to thank Revell Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of DOUBLE TAKE. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

 

MY REVIEW - The Resolute by MaryLu Tyndall

 

5 out of 5 stars

THE RESOLUTE is a masterpiece in storytelling! Spellbinding action, polarizing characters with magnetic personalities, and an exhilarating adventure that will not allow you to put the book down. MaryLu Tyndall is the queen of pirate romances with a redemptive theme!

Lady Gabrielle Hyde’s life had not turned out as she had hoped. Her childhood dream of marriage and motherhood no longer exists. Instead, she had been charged as a pirate and soon to be hanged. When she is rescued by Captain Caden Hayes, she soon finds out she is not free, but a pawn in his game of revenge. Feeling God has deserted her and her unborn child, Lady Gabrielle has no choice but to go along with the captain’s scheme until she finds a time when she can escape.

Captain Caden Hayes is on a mission; to ruin the man who destroyed his future. With revenge as his single-minded goal, Caden uses Lady Gabrielle to draw out his enemy. Once he is rid of her and his nemesis is destroyed, he’ll find the treasure he seeks and have his just reward.

WOW! Is not strong enough! In fact, there are not enough adjectives to describe THE RESOLUTE. I received an advance copy early one evening. I went ahead and downloaded it, intending on reading only the first few pages to get a feel for the book. I went on to finish the book early the next morning. I don’t know what it is about MaryLu’s writing style, but she absolutely captures you from the very first page. Her imagery is beyond compare. I usually skim books when they go into unnecessary detail, but every word, every description is so thoughtfully executed, they meld together into a seamless visualization that pulls the reader in. Her characters are rich but not flawless. Their layers are slowly revealed as the story progresses. Their finer qualities polished; their insecurities addressed. Ms. Tyndall’s characters grow throughout their journey and the reader gets to go along for the ride.

I can’t get into the specifics of the story; afraid I will reveal too much. But believe me when I say, THE RESOLUTE is a swashbuckling tale with everything you would expect from a story on the high seas and then some! And Ms. Tyndall once again proves, all souls have the ability to be redeemed when they finally seek the true Master of their journey.