Blind Trust by Natalie Walters brings a nice mix of both suspense and romance. Lila Fox and Nicolas Garcia have obviously had a thing for each other since Lights Out. But Nic can’t stand watching Lila run headfirst into danger. When she becomes a target, he steps in as her protector, whether she likes it or not.

I love this story along with the entire series. Lila has always been one of the more fascinating characters. She’s bold, opinionated, and speaks fluent sarcasm – the opposite of reserved Nic. Readers have a front row seat to the inner workings of Nic and Lila’s relationship as they grow closer together while being dragged into an international investigation. Danger and romance blend perfectly together in Blind Trust.  I love how this book ties into the prequel novella, Initium, concluding an epic series.

Be sure to check out Blind Trust, but if you haven’t read the others in the series, start with Initium and read them all.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Move Fatal Code by Natalie Walters up to the top spot on your TBR list and thank me later. I’ve enjoyed the whole SNAP Agency series, from the prequel novel Initium to Lights Out. But Fatal Code might just be my new favorite.

This story centers around Kekoa Young. He’s a cryptologist but gets sent undercover to find out more information about Elinor Mitchell. It looks like she might be selling classified information, but Kekoa discovers there’s a lot more to Elinor, and that she couldn’t possibly be one of the bad guys.

I loved this story from start to finish. Definitely a great pick for suspense fans. The plot flows like a high-tech thriller, with plenty of action to keep the readers flipping pages.  But this story has a great blend of humor, suspense and romance. Kekoa makes an intriguing character with his Hawaiian roots and his larger-than-life personality. Kekoa faces off against all sorts of danger, but also deals with some tragedies from his past. Elinor hides behind her work, trying to uncover the mystery of her grandfather’s notebooks filled with secret codes. But all bets are off when she meets Kekoa who works his way into her heart.

Definitely check out Fatal Code when it releases May 3^rd! You won’t want to miss this one (and you don’t have to read the other books in the series to dive into Fatal Code, but I highly recommend them.)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Lights Out by Natalie Walters is a must-read for suspense fans. Brynn Taylor is a CIA analyst who is tracking a missing person with ties to terrorism, but things heat up when she’s forced to work with the SNAP (Strategic Neutralization and Protection) Agency. Her ex-boyfriend, Jack Hudson, happens to be on the SNAP team. They pair up, dodge danger, and try to piece dangerous clues together to figure out how to keep America safe.  

I love this introduction to the SNAP team! I always enjoy quirky characters and this rag-tag team of analysts and spies brings the story to life. We get to meet Kekoa, the Hawaiian hacker who adds lots of humor to the team, and Lyla, the sassy analyst with plenty to say. The relationship between Jack and Brynn creates explosive tension as they are thrown together and have to deal with their past to keep moving forward in the investigation.

While all the action and suspense make this a fast-paced novel, the author finds time for readers to get to know the characters. My favorite scene is Lyla’s birthday party. Readers will fall in love with the characters while getting a thrilling story.

Oh, and don’t miss the prequel novella, Initium. It gives a lot of details on how the team came together. Definitely check this out! 

Overall Rating:
5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)

Suspense Rating:
5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through Revell and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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For fans of romance, suspense and character transformations

Silent Shadows gives readers a swoon-worthy romance mixed with some run-for-your life suspense.  Pecca Gallegos has moved to Walton to escape her past and literally runs right into Colton Crawford, the ex-Army captain that is also her patient. But after several attempts are made on Pecca’s life, she realizes that gang members have tracked her to Walton and want her dead. Colton steps in to protect her but has his own physical and spiritual battles going on.

I loved the characters in this story. Pecca is strong and sassy. But Colton Crawford faces his struggles head-on throughout the novel and I enjoyed watching his transformation from his “victim mentality” to hero.  Pecca works at the Home for Heroes where Colton is staying while in rehab. But the other men who live at Home for Heroes are a riot. Sticks, Gunny and Sarge spend their days bickering about which branch of the military is best, and they become witty sidekicks for Colton throughout the story. I also loved to see Lane and Charlie from Living Lies adding to the mix of characters.

This novel is more romance than suspense (as compared to the other novels in the series), but the chemistry between Pecca and Colton gives readers a great storyline.  There is plenty of action, it’s just towards the end of the novel.

Silent Shadows is the third novel in the Harbored Secrets series. You could probably read this as a stand-alone, but I suggest reading these novels in order (Living Lies is first).

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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For Fans of Romantic Suspense, Small Town Settings, and Crime Novels

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters is book two in the Harbored Secrets series. You don’t necessarily have to start with Book one, but I hate reading things out order. I will admit that I loved book one (Living Lies) and so I had super high expectations for the second.

Deadly Deceit didn’t disappoint. In fact, I think I liked it more than Living Lies!

Deadly Deceit takes readers back to small town Walton, GA. Vivian DeMarco is a journalist who is drawn into finding out the truth about the mystery surrounding her boss’s suspicious death. Ryan Frost is the police officer assigned to the investigation, and he decides to work with Vivian rather than against her to find out the truth.

I tend to love suspense more than romance, but the romance in this novel was sweet and quirky. The author created nice tension in the characters and their relationship didn’t feel contrived. I also liked that Ryan seemed to be a different character in book one and came back for Deadly Deceit as a trained investigator and even the FBI and other agencies seeking his talents. He was a background character in book one, and I loved him then!

Besides the characters, the plot line keeps readers hooked. Complicated and high tech, readers have to get into the mind of the criminal as Vivian and Ryan try to stop a sophisticated hacker and blackmailer.

This is a great series for fans of romantic suspense. Looking forward to book three!

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Set in small town Georgia, Living Lies delivers page-turning suspense with memorable characters. Lane Kent battles depression and tries to pick up the pieces of her life after the death of her husband. But everything shatters when she discovers a dead body in the woods. Charlie Lynch is the newest Walton police deputy, and it’s hard to fit into a small town where everyone knows each other. But his path intersects with Lane as he works to track down a murder.

If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, this is a novel you’ll want to pick up. For being the author’s debut novel, the writing is up to par with seasoned authors. With an intriguing plot line, the characters are well developed and relatable. I’m more of a suspense fan than romance, but Lane and Charlie belong together. The romance didn’t stand in the way of the mystery. The setting of the small town of Walton added to the story. Both Lane and Charlie struggle with family expectations and work to find themselves in spite of everyone’s over-involvement in their lives.

I would definitely recommend you add this to your TBR list. It’s definitely a well-written, intriguing story.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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