The Vanished by Cara Putman is a delightful and intriguing mystery. Janae Simmons moves back to her small town and teams up with museum director Carter Montgomery. He’s her first client in her new law practice, and mystery surrounds several paintings over the original ownership. But what’s more intriguing is the artwork Janae finds stashed away in her late grandfather’s house. Priceless artwork that had become spoils of war. And whenever money is involved, the criminals come out to play.

This isn’t a fast-paced, run-for-your life novel, but I love how the story unfolds. Both Janae and Carter have to deal with their past issues, and I love their character arc. Both fight for justice and want to do the right things even if they are the hard things. I also find the art history interesting.

Check out The Vanishing for an intriguing read. I’m hoping it’s a series because I want more (and maybe Chloe or Margeaux’s 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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The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch is not for the faint of heart. The story is intense and gritty, sometimes terrifying, yet filled with hope and redemption. The Garden Girls follows Tiberius Granger, agent with the FBI Strange Crimes Unit, as he faces the demons of his past. A serial killer is kidnapping and tattooing his victims, and has ties to Ty’s past life in a cult. He reunites with his past love, that he thought had died, and discovers quite a few secrets as he tries to stop a killer from striking again.

I’ll admit that I’m not a fan of stories involving cults, but these characters and the storyline sucked me in. Ty’s heart is decimated over and over again, and he picks himself up and fights to save the ones he loves. I’ve loved Ty from some of the other books (Her Darkest Secret and A Cry in the Dark), and his humor and sarcasm bring some light to the dark storyline. Despite the evil and darkness, Jessica Patch paints a portrait of love, redemption, and sacrifice. I’m still thinking about the ending long after putting the book down. I was practically in tears, and I don’t cry easily. But that’s how emotionally invested I was in the story and characters.

If you love dark, gritty, and emotional stories, put this on your must read list. I’m a huge Jessica Patch fan, and you won’t want to miss The Garden Girls.

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

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Twin Murder Mix-up by Sami A Abrams gives readers more action and suspense than they can handle! Amy Baker finds her life turned upside down when her twin is murdered, and Amy has to take care of her nephew. But Amy knows that the murderer had targeted her, and her sister was just collateral damage. Amy witnessed a murder, and now someone wants to silence her. Amy turns to police detective Keith Young, her childhood friend, for help. But secrets drive them apart.

This story has so many twists and turns plus plenty of secrets that kept me hooked. Danger lurks on every page. But the characters are memorable. Keith has to reconcile his past actions, while Amy struggles with her feelings for Keith and whether or not she can trust him with her future. The romance blends nicely with the suspense.

If you are looking for a great romantic suspense story, be sure to check out Twin Murder Mix-up.

I received an ebook review copy of this book. 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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Malicious Intent by Lynn H Blackburn is a fantastic story for romantic suspense fans. Gil Dixon is a Secret Service Agent who has a case that involves with his childhood sweetheart, Ivy Collins. He hasn’t seen her in years, but when he shows up at her house, he walks straight into danger. Ivy is in trouble, and Gil pulls out all of the stops to protect her.

The novel has plenty of suspense and action. No spoilers, so let’s just say the ending had me on the edge of my seat! Everywhere Ivy and Gil turn, the threats never stop. But much of the story centers on the rekindled flames between Ivy and Gil. She walked away from him years ago, but now they are thrown together in the midst of a challenge to survive. Of course, it’s hard to fight old feelings.

A lot of characters from the first book in the Defend and Protect series (Unknown Threat) are in Malicious Intent (remember Luke and Faith?) But also some favorites from the Dive Team Investigations series make a guest appearance in this story (who doesn’t love Sabrina?)

While there was a bit more romance than I like in a story, the danger and suspense create a nice balance. Fast-paced and edgy, this is one story you won’t want to put down.

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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Following the Trail by Lynette Eason gives readers an intriguing mystery to solve. Lacey Jefferson heads back to her hometown of Timber Creek. She can’t get ahold of her sister and wants to track her down. But when her ex-boyfriend Creed Payne asks if she can use her search and rescue dog to locate a missing child, she soon uncovers that her sister was murdered.  The killer doesn’t want Lacey investigating and she just wants to find out the truth. Her sister had some secrets and Lacey and Creed seek to solve the case.

This story is action-packed! Lacey and Creed dodge bullets as they keep searching for answers. But the more the danger increases, so does the romantic tension between Lacey and Creed. They need to overcome past hurts to find a future together. I also love Scarlett, Lacey’s search and rescue dog. I might have done an online search to see if I could adopt a redbone coonhound!

Overall this story brings the suspense with Lacey’s mission to find the truth about her sister. The ending plot twists make this a must-read!

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 family drama and epic settings

Sunrise by Susan May Warren gives readers a thrilling ride through the Alaska wildlife. Dodge Kingston heads home after years of running from his past. He intends to stay long enough to help his dad with the business. But he can’t hide forever from Echo Yazzie, the woman that broke his heart years ago.

There’s plenty of emotional drama in this story as well as real dangers from the wilderness. Dodge and Echo each have to overcome their own past issues to be able to find love. Echo is a strong woman who knows her way around the Alaska wilderness. I fell in love with her tenacity and fearlessness. But what steals the stage in this story is the scenery and setting. Whether flying through the sky or trekking on a sled pulled by dogs, this story takes readers into the depths of Alaska. Dodge and Echo have to contend with bears, poachers, and freezing temperatures to name a few of the hazards of life in Alaska. The author captures the breathtaking scenery and paints a picture that makes me feel like I’m part of the story.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves epic family dramas and of course the scenery of Alaska! This story ends with a set-up for the second book in the series (Sunburst) and I can’t wait to read this. Talk about intense. Susan May Warren knows how to bring readers heart-warming characters with tons of drama and action. This is going to be an epic series!

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 suspense, action and the Metcalf family

Stone by Ronie Kendig gives readers more Metcalfes. The story centers around Stone Metcalfe, who left his governor’s office amidst a scandal. Hiding out in his mountain resort he runs, he relishes in his anonymity. Until the one woman who took him down shows up at the resort needing his help.

This action-packed story gives readers an intense but heartwarming read. Despite the danger, Stone has to come to terms with protecting his heart or helping Brighton Buchanan stay alive. She’s mixed up and has been the victim of some very bad men, and Stone has to see past his hatred (or is that love?) for Brighton. Looks aren’t always what they seem, and Stone and Brighton have to fight to overcome past hurts right alongside the very real present danger.

I love seeing the Metcalfes come together for their own feature story. Ronie’s fans may remember Canyon Metcalfe from Wolfsbane, or Leif Metcalfe from the Book of Wars series. There are plenty of other Metcalfes in the family – and readers get to meet Stone’s sisters, Willow and Brooke. Canyon might even make a guest appearance!

If you’ve read any of Ronie’s stories, Stone brings everything you’d expect – intriguing characters, danger, intensity, drama, all mixed with emotional tension. I highly recommend stone to fans of romantic suspense.

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. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Life Flight by Lynette Eason is a must-read for suspense and thriller fans. Intense and fast-paced, this story captivated me from page one. Penny Carlton is a helicopter pilot who becomes the target of a killer. FBI Special Agent Holt Satterfield is tracking the killer and teams up with Penny to keep her safe.

This story has everything I want in a thriller. Plot twists, danger, creepy criminals, action, and suspense all kept me hooked. But I still found time in the midst of the danger and drama to fall in love with the characters. Penny makes a fierce heroine and she saves the day on several occasions. She’s not helpless by any means. Holt has his own family struggles but discovers his love for Penny as the killer closes in.

You can’t go wrong with any of Lynette’s novels, but this is her finest story yet! I highly recommend this all suspense-lovers!

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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A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble brings danger and suspense to Jekyll Island. Torie Bergstrom is an heiress to a hotel empire, but decides to go on her own undercover mission, returning to her hometown of Jekyll Island to find out what happened with her best friend’s death. She doesn’t buy that her friend committed suicide and hopes people will open up to her if she keeps her identity hidden. She meets Joe Abbott, and the two tackle the unfolding mysteries together. But danger hits them from all sides because someone knows who Torie really is and sends threatening messages for her to leave.

This story has the perfect balance of suspense and romance. I like how both Joe and Torie struggle to reconcile their pasts to move forward to a future relationship. Torie relates to Joe’s daughter, as they both lost their mothers in tragic circumstances. But the suspenseful elements make this a fast-paced story (I think any story with sharks in it is a must-read!) There’s danger practically on every page. Colleen Coble always has fantastic and intricate plot twists coupled with super-unique settings that leave readers breathless.

I love how the mystery in this story unfolds. This is a great story to kick off the new year for all suspense fans!

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 NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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