A hijacked plane. A pursuing killer. And a K9's instinct to help them make it out alive.
Pop singer Keely Williams's search for her biological mother in Alaska has been painfully unsuccessful. Now she just wants to escape this wild frontier and never look back. But when her plane is hijacked, she's suddenly plunged into a race against not only an Alaskan blizzard but also a killer who's on her tail.
After a career-ending injury, ex-cop Dawson Mulligan has only one friend--Caspian, the stray dog he adopted. Dawson just wants to figure out how to get his life on track, but during a flight home to Copper Mountain, he spots a downed plane and stops to help. Except, when his not-a-rescue dog runs off into the woods and discovers the trail of a missing survivor, it's up to the former cop to stage a rescue.
But Dawson has no idea he's being pulled into a deadly pursuit, or that Caspian is more than he seems. There might be redemption and second chances waiting for both Dawson and Keely if they have the courage to face their wounded pasts and fight for their future.
Join master storyteller Susan May Warren for a propulsive ride through the Alaskan wilderness, where love might be the riskiest--and most rewarding--adventure of all.
Prepare to experience edge-of-your-seat action combined with heart-stirring romance and heroic K9 companions in this exhilarating romantic suspense that will thrill fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard.
The courage to make hard decisions has gotten her where
she is and will determine her future.
Track of Courage is the first novel in veteran author
Susan May Warren's new Christian romantic suspense series, Call of the Wild,
and is set deep in the wilds of the Alaskan bush. Mega-popstar Keely Williams, "Bliss"
to her millions of devoted fans, has come to Copper Mountain, Alaska, to search
for her birth mother while she recuperates from the surgery she had undergone
to repair her vocal cords. But once faced with the reality of introducing
herself to this stranger, Keely chickens out and decides to fly back home to New
York City without revealing herself to the vibrant, confident woman she found
or asking her all the questions she has about why she gave her up for adoption.
However, once on the small bush plane to Anchorage, another passenger hijacks
the plane, causing it to crash in the middle of nowhere. Surviving the crash,
but with the attacker after her, Keely is forced to flee into the snowy,
forested bush.
Flying overhead, Dawson Mulligan, an Anchorage police
officer recuperating from an on-duty injury, and his pilot cousin, Moose, see
the wreckage of the small plane and set down to investigate. When Dawson's
rescue dog, Caspian, disappears into the snowy landscape, they separate with
Dawson in pursuit. He runs across Keely, lost and hiding in the bush, and under
fire from an unknown assailant. With the help of a local, they make it to
Woodcrest, a community of artists and artisans, to hunker down as a massive
blizzard hits.
Both main characters, Keely and Dawson, are working through
past traumas, heartbreak, and physical challenges that may alter the futures
they had planned for themselves. Both faced difficult decisions, and their
similar circumstances drew them together. The generous and welcoming residents
of Woodcrest, with their open, natural belief in God, offer the balm their two
struggling souls need at just the right time. Their individual strengths and
talents provide each with the means to give back for the hospitality and feel
useful rather than a drain on the weather-besieged community. Keely and Dawson
are attracted to each other from the start, and their light flirting and banter
were a delight. They meshed so well, looking like the perfect couple if they
could overcome their obstacles together.
The plot is well-paced and suspenseful as Keely's former
fellow passenger is revealed to be a real and ongoing danger not only to
herself but also to the Woodcrest community. As the weather worsens, everyone
is trapped in place until the storms move on. The harsh conditions and remote
setting pose their own dangers and significantly shape the plot's trajectory.
As the suspense built and one twist after another appeared, there was no way I
was going to put this book down before I knew how everything was going to turn
out.
I recommend TRACK OF COURAGE to readers of Christian
romantic suspense.
Author Bio:
Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of nearly 100 novels with more than 1.5 million books sold, including the Global Search and Rescue and Montana Rescue series. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers' Choice Awards, Susan makes her home in Minnesota.
This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Revell & Susan May Warren. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
Just when you think it's safe and can relax, think again!
Missing at Christmas is the fourth book in author Deena Alexander's Jameson Investigations series for the Love Inspired Suspense line and another top-notch inspirational tale of romantic suspense. Freelance journalist Lexi McKenna had fled her childhood home, taking her younger sister, Gia, with her, when she'd discovered their father was the head of a New York criminal organization, intending never to return. However, as the pair constantly moved about, changing their names, staying out of their father's grasp, Gia began to feel differently, longing to return to the city, where she met and fell in love with a man from a rival crime family. When she realized she was pregnant, he left her without a word to continue on her own, with only her older sister for support. Someone else within the city's criminal organizations discovered her and her twin daughters' whereabouts and decided to use one of the babies as leverage against her father, killing Gia in the process. Now Lexi was determined to get the other child to safety and figure out who was behind the kidnapping and do all she could to get her little niece back in her arms.
Lexi, while one tough cookie, is still a loving and protective sister and aunt. She'd gotten the education and skills necessary to support herself and help out Gia and the new babies by working as a freelance journalist, but things were tight. After the death of her mother from cancer, losing Gia is an unimaginable loss.
Noah Thompson, a former NYPD cop, now works for Jameson Investigations and uses all their considerable resources to help Lexi on her mission, but even Jameson can't control the weather in Montana, where they end up looking for safety. He, too, has a vested interest in taking down the Cipriana crime family. His feelings are very close to the surface as he and Lexi bond over their shared goals.
As is a hallmark of this author's work, the story hits the ground running, and the action never lets up. Just when you think Lexi, Noah, and little Alyssa catch a break, think again. Both Noah and Lexi have developed their own faith-filled inner lives and share their deepest common beliefs and discover common ground. They work through their past traumas while trying to rescue Alyssa's twin sister, Avery, from the unknown kidnapper. The surprising resolution makes for a satisfying conclusion to the story.
I recommend MISSING AT CHRISTMAS to readers of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat, faith-forward romantic suspense.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy
When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.
Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.
Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives
Praise for Canyon of Deceit:
"…Time was running out, and the chilling certainty settled in Alina’s life depended on them unraveling the truth before the ruthless men hunting them closed in. With danger at every turn, Therese and Blane had no choice but to trust each other, even as the secrets they carried threatened to pull them apart…" ~ Sue Garland, Christian Novel Review
"Set against the rugged, dangerous beauty of the Guadalupe Mountains, Canyon of Deceit is a riveting tale of high stakes, survival, and trust that I couldn't put down. DiAnn Mills has crafted a page-turning novel. This is romantic suspense at its finest!" ~ Elizabeth Goddard, award-winning author of Storm Warning
"A pulse-pounding blend of romance and suspense, Canyon of Deceit has a gripping plot and unforgettable characters with a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page." ~ Carrie Stuart Parks
"Buckle up, readers! Canyon of Deceit is a heart-pounding suspense packed with intrigue on every page. Danger, action, and adrenaline-fueled drama make this a must-read for fans who crave edge-of-your-seat adventure." ~ Natalie Walters, bestselling, award winning author of the SNAP Agency series
Canyon of Deceit Trailer:
Plus, Canyon of Deceit includes two original songs written by the heroine, Therese—one from her childhood and one that captures the depth of her love and transformation as an adult. These heartfelt lyrics come to life in custom-recorded tracks that reflect the emotion and spirit of the novel.
New Caney, Texas
October, Thursday, Current Day
Therese
The shrill ring of my mobile phone jolted me awake at 2:00 a.m., a haunting prompt that emergencies seldom emerged in daylight. Someone had ventured into the wilderness and needed me to lead a rescue mission. My skills of trekking over precarious terrain to find victims who suffered from physical injuries, dehydration, starvation, or all three, kept me on alert. At times I viewed my life like a Star Trek tagline, “Where no man has gone before.”
I grabbed the phone off my nightstand. Unidentified caller. “Hello?”
“Ms. Palmer, this is Professor Rurik Ivanov from Houston Leonard University. We met nearly a year ago. You taught a course in wilderness survival as an adjunct professor.”
I captured a mental image of the Russian man—gray-blue eyes, stone-gray hair, angular face. “Yes, sir. How can I help you?”
“I apologize for the hour, but I’m in a desperate situation.”
The angst in his voice zapped me into guarded mode, especially when I barely knew the man. I snapped on my bedside lamp. “Are you all right?”
“No, ma’am, which is why I’m calling you. Do you remember my wife and daughter?”
“I met them both at a faculty dinner last Christmas. A lovely family.”
“My wife was murdered today, and kidnappers have taken my daughter.”
I inhaled sharply, and alarm for the professor’s family fired hot from the soles of my feet. “Daria? Alina? What happened?”
“A man called me late this afternoon while I prepared to leave for home. He said he’d taken Alina. Then he sent a link to a video showing my wife’s execution—”
He stopped abruptly, his final words drumming into my senses. The seconds ticked by, and I waited.
“I watched Daria grab her chest and struggle . . . The blood rushed from her precious body—my dear Daria’s life gone forever.” He grappled again to control his tear-filled voice. “He said they would release Alina unharmed if I paid three million dollars. They’d call with instructions. When the man hung up, I hurried home thinking it had to be a terrible mistake or someone had used AI to generate the video. On the way, I phoned Daria and the call went to voice mail. I also redialed the man who’d contacted me. The phone rang repeatedly, but the number offered no way to leave a message. I contacted Alina’s school and learned Daria had picked her up before noon.
“At home, reality rooted. A lamp and a table in the living room lay in pieces. Daria would have fought hard, but there were no signs of blood. I didn’t recognize the place in the video where they killed her. I even checked for geotag information on the clip, but it had been stripped. I later clicked on the link . . . the video had disappeared.”
I ached for his loss. “What do the police say?”
Silence answered me, then Rurik finally said, “Contacting them is impossible. The man warned me against telling anyone who works in law enforcement, or I’d never see Alina again.” He sobbed into the phone. “Please, give me a moment.”
“Take all the time you need.”
The professor taught Russian language and literature at Leonard University and was highly respected and liked among faculty and students. I’d enjoyed our occasional chats, and he’d observed some of my classes. What had he done to upset the wrong people?
“Thank you. I can talk now,” he said. “I have no idea where the killers have taken Daria’s body or how to find Alina. Neither do I suspect anyone.”
I willed my pulse to slow. “Professor, the police are trained in handling confidential matters and how to find who is responsible. They have families and understand what you’re going through.”
“And endanger my daughter?” Panic throbbed in his ragged voice.
“I’m sorry.” My grief over losing Kate many years ago surfaced raw and bleeding. “Are you alone?”
“Yes. At home.”
“Are there family or friends who can stay with you?”
“My family is in Russia, and I do not trust anyone.”
“You could very well be in danger too.”
“My welfare is unimportant.”
“Who are these people, and why has your family been victimized?”
“I have no idea. The man refused to identify himself, but he did say ‘we.’ Maybe he thinks I have money or believes I have done something criminal to my country or to the US.”
What was he not telling me? I tossed off my blanket and stood in my bedroom, shivering, not from the cold but the horror of this unfolding story. “Professor Ivanov, I’m confused. Why call me? This is a job for the police or the FBI.”
“I cannot risk my daughter’s life. You are my only hope to find Alina. You have the skills to get her back.”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “I’m a wilderness-survival specialist, nothing more. I’m not equipped to carry out a hostage negotiation without backup, which is another reason you need to involve the authorities.” More questions bolted into my mental space like a landslide. “How would I find her?”
“That’s where I can help you. Alina has GPS trackers hidden in her shoes. Not even Daria knew about them.”
“Why would you track your young daughter?”
“Alina’s biological mother died when she was a baby, and I’ve been consumed with protecting my daughter ever since. I checked my phone app and learned at one thirty this afternoon, Alina was taken to a private landing strip west of Houston. I called there, and a woman who worked in the small office said no one had filed a flight plan. But she made a mistake. The tracker had stopped registering.” He coughed and asked me to wait while he got a glass of water.
A connection at Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management popped into my consciousness. They had the technology to confirm the date and time a plane took to the skies and where it landed.
“I’m better. I apologize for my lack of control,” the professor said. “My app showed tracking again near an abandoned airstrip in a remote area south of Hobbs, New Mexico. The tracking indicated ground-speed movement for two and a half hours to a section on the north side of Guadalupe Mountains National Park called Dog Canyon. That’s where the tracking ended, and I’ve detected nothing since. I assume the kidnappers parked the vehicle and proceeded on foot with Alina. Research shows the area is off-grid. Ms. Palmer, did they remove her shoes? How would they expect her to walk in bare feet?”
My thoughts trailed to the worst possible scenario. Why take Alina to a remote location unless they planned to dispose of her body there? Another argument lay with logic. Why go to the expense of transporting a kidnap victim there when they had the ability to dispose of her body in their backyard? A morbid idea, except true. Whatever the reason, they risked exposure from security cameras until they reached an off-grid area.
“I can’t stress enough how the authorities have technology and skills to find Alina. They can unravel valid threats and comprehend the danger of taking your story to the media.”
“The man who called me said they’d be watching my every move. I bought a burner phone tonight to call you.”
His anguish rippled through me, interfering with my ability to think clearly. “What about the ransom?”
“I can liquidate assets here and in Russia to meet their demands, but the statistics on kidnappers returning my Alina alive are not good. Perhaps they would accept what I can put together now. I’m sorry . . . I wish I had an answer. Why harm an eight-year-old little girl?”
“I have empathy for your grief.” Daria’s lovely face and the white-blonde-haired little girl refused to leave me alone. “Although I could lead you into Dog Canyon, I have no idea how to pull her out of the clutches of dangerous men. You’d need armed law enforcement and possibly a negotiator.”
“That would draw attention. I’ll pay you whatever you want.”
“Money is not the issue, Professor—”
“Alina means more to me than anything else in this world. What is love but to take ownership of a problem and do all I can to stop those men?”
“What if I fail?” The terror of not finding his daughter alive resurrected an echo from the past that had shaped my career.
“Can you live with yourself if you don’t try?”
Unaware, he’d pressed my weakest button. “I’ll hear you out. But I don’t believe you’ve given me the whole story, and I need the truth before I risk my life.”
“I’ve . . . I’ve given you all of it.”
“You’ve stated what you want me to know. What have you done or not done in this tragedy that Daria is dead, Alina is missing, and you can’t go to the police?
***
Excerpt from Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills. Copyright 2025 by DiAnn Mills. Reproduced with permission from DiAnn Mills. All rights reserved.
Guest Post:
Please welcome DiAnn Mills, the author of today's featured book, to the blog!
What
Music and Movies/TV Series Attract a Survival Expert and a Texas Ranger?
In CANYON OF DECEIT, I introduce readers to
two unforgettable characters: Therese Palmer, a wilderness survival expert
haunted by the past, and Blane Gardner, a Texas Ranger caught between duty and
danger. I wondered—what do they listen to during a solo hike . . . or after a mission? What if you could peek
inside a character’s earbuds—or their video streaming queue?
I asked them what would be on their playlists
and watchlists. The results just might surprise you.
3.The
Mountain Between Us (survival + reluctant emotional connection)
4.Alone
(TV series – History Channel)
5.Everest
(when life seems impossible)
6.Call
the Midwife (emotional strength in a nurturing profession)
7.The
Chosen (for her faith and connection to Jesus’s compassion)
8.Hidden
Figures (women who beat the odds quietly but powerfully)
BLANE GARDNER’S FAVORITE MOVIES/TV SHOWS
1.Lone
Survivor (mission focus + brotherhood)
2.The
Unit (TV series)
3.Justified
(law enforcement with moral gray areas)
4.SEAL
Team (TV series)
5.Wind
River (crime in remote areas and deep emotion under stoic surface)
6.The
Rookie (respect for field agents and heart-driven service)
7.The
Equalizer (Denzel Washington version)
8.Facing
the Giants (because his faith was once tested just like theirs)
What about
you? Have you a list of your favorite music and movies when you’re up or down?
Author Bio:
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who invites her readers to step into stories where suspense meets adventure and romance warms the heart. Known for crafting unforgettable characters tangled in unpredictable plots, DiAnn believes every breath we take unfolds a story waiting to be told—so why not make it thrilling?
Her novels have consistently landed on bestseller lists including CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly, and have won prestigious awards such as the Christy, Selah, Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol awards.
DiAnn is a founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers. She actively participates in Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and International Thriller Writers, DiAnn passionately invests in helping fellow authors succeed through mentoring, book coaching, and editing. She travels nationwide speaking and teaching engaging writing workshops.
A proud coffee snob who roasts her own beans, DiAnn also enjoys diving into good books, experimenting in the kitchen, and unabashedly spoiling her grandchildren—whom she insists are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband make their home under the sunny skies of Houston, Texas.
Connect with DiAnn online for behind-the-scenes glimpses, writing tips, and lively discussions:
A haunting attack. A killer in the shadows. A protective love.
Murder--that's what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnessed as she departed her studio one evening. Waking with bruises on her neck and a foggy memory, she believes she survived an attack, but everyone seems to think she simply sustained a head injury from falling down the stairs outside her studio. Plagued by an undiagnosed health condition, she is torn between the haunting reality of what she may have seen and the possibility that her mind is playing tricks on her.
Without proof the other victim ever existed, Detective Eric Thornton can hardly declare the area a murder scene. Still, he adds Allye's report to his already full caseload. But when new evidence surfaces to support her claims, Eric must stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer and uncover the truth before the suspect closes in on Allye again.
Praise for Angela Carlisle:
"Fans of romantic suspense, add Angela Carlisle to your must-read list!" ~ Lynn H. Blackburn, bestselling and award-winning author
"Make room on your shelves--this is a keeper!" ~ Jaime Jo Wright, bestselling author on Secondary Target
"Surprising twists and unfolding mysteries kept me turning pages until the end." ~ Jerusha Agen author of the Guardians Unleashed series on Secondary Target
Angela Carlisle resides in the hills of northern Kentucky and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN. Angela’s debut novel, Secondary Target, was a Parable Weekly top seller and was included in the Library Journal Stars So Far listing. Angela is an editor by day and prefers to spend her free time reading, baking, and drinking ridiculous quantities of hot tea.
Exciting and mysterious tale of romantic suspense.
Shadowed Witness is the second book in author Angela
Carlisle’s fresh and satisfying Christian romantic suspense series, The
Secrets of Kincaid, and features a young photographer struggling with
health issues who may have been the only witness to a terrible murder. Allye
Jessup was leaving her studio for the night when she heard odd noises coming from
the rear of the building. Going to investigate, she steps around the corner
just in time to see a man beating and kicking a limp figure on the ground. Spotting
her, the man attacks her, too, and she later comes to laying at the bottom of
the staircase to her second-story studio, being helped by the mayor of Kincaid,
whose office is next door to her building. Although Allye knows what she saw,
Mayor Jennings is just as adamant that she must have fallen down the stairway
and has imagined it all.
Allye Jessup is a kind and relatable young woman trapped in
a bad situation. Not only is she physically ill from some as-of-yet undiagnosed
malady, but she’s the only witness to a murder that no one else believes
happened. An old friend, Detective Eric Thornton, wants to take her at her word
when bruising from her attacker’s hands around her neck appears the following morning,
and eventually discovers enough independent evidence to indicate that she’s not
hallucinating. Her gaslighting at the hands of some of the characters was difficult
to watch, but it made for an intriguing part of the story.
While the book is the second in the series, readers new to The
Secrets of Kincaid should be able to read and enjoy it as a standalone. Initially,
I felt like I had walked into the middle of the story. The relationships
between characters seemed well established, far beyond the introductory stage, with
a lot of backstories left untold. However, as details from the past were woven
into the present story, that feeling dissipated, and I felt caught up.
The suspense builds as weird things happen, causing the main
character to question her sanity at times, and it was heart wrenching to watch
as her health deteriorated more and more. The tension between Allye and Eric is
irresistible as they figure out their feelings for one another, as they unravel
what’s behind the secrets in Kincaid.
I recommend SHADOWED WITNESS to readers of romantic
suspense, especially those looking for an inspirational theme.
Tour Participants:
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Fire rains from above as they fight to discover the truth and stay alive.
In the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why she's suddenly in possession of someone's baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.
As the threat of eruption grows, former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, which is why he's the only one left who can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn't want to get tangled up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and the bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he's in this thing, like it or not.
When two armed men with ill intent approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and find the baby's missing mother--all while a deadly mountain rains fire from above.
Praise for Fire Mountain:
"Fire Mountain comes in hot! An eruption of taut suspense and a crackling romance that Mentink’s fans will devour. A real stay-up-all-night read!" ~ Jessica R. Patch, bestselling author of the FBI: Strange Crimes Unit series
"A masterful blend of high-octane suspense and heart-pounding mystery. Mentink delivers an explosive thriller where danger lurks on every page, with a volcanic backdrop that mirrors the simmering tension of this unforgettable story. Clear your schedule—you won’t be able to put this one down." ~ Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Lake City Heroes series
"Dana Mentink is at the top of her game in this heart-pounding thrill ride. Danger explodes onto the page as Kit and Cullen fight to survive a volcanic eruption while relentless killers pursue them. An action-packed, gripping suspense, Fire Mountain will keep readers riveted until the end!" ~ Elizabeth Goddard, award-winning author of Storm Warning
Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She's written more than 50 mystery and suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press. Winner of two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, Dana lives in Northern California with her husband.
A riveting, faith-forward run-for-your-life thriller of a
story!
Fire Mountain is the first book in veteran author
Dana Mentink’s new Elements of Danger Christian suspense series, and boy,
does it deliver on the suspense! I think my heart was in my throat from its
chaotic opening to the last page.
Commercial trucker Kit Garrido comes to in the crumpled cab
of her eighteen-wheeler with a stranger trying to rouse her and get her moving
with no memory of how she’s ended up in such a muddled state. She’s even more
confused when they find two bullet holes in the windshield, a small bloody handprint
on the passenger side window, and hear the cry of a baby coming from the truck’s
sleeper compartment. Her truck has obviously plunged off the side of a road, a
road she has no reason to be on, especially since it runs through the
evacuation zone of nearby Mount Ember, which is in the throes of a massive eruption,
and she doesn’t have a baby. Now, an SUV is approaching her crash site with its
lights off, not acting anything like rescuers, and more likely to be the source
of the bullet holes.
Kit and Cullen Landry, a former cop and actual rescuer, prove
to be a formidable pair: smart, resilient, and determined to save the infant
they’ve named Tot while getting themselves out alive. Fundamentally, they are a
good match, and as they struggle to survive, they get to know one another on
entirely different levels. As their trust develops, they begin to break down
the walls in their lives that keep them from fully living. Cullen gets closer
and closer to letting go of the guilt he harbors over his past, and Mount Ember
gets closer to its big eruption. As Kit and Cullen fight to overcome a myriad
of obstacles in their path, I couldn’t help but become completely immersed in
the story.
The story moves so quickly that I got a good idea of the
confusion and chaos the characters were experiencing. The suspense was
heart-pounding, and I had a hard time putting the book down as challenge after
challenge and plot twists pummeled the couple. It was definitely a thrilling
story.
I recommend FIRE MOUNTAIN to readers of Christian romantic
suspense.
Tour Participants:
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This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Dana Mentink, Revell, & Baker Book House. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
Excitement and suspense from its adrenaline-inducing beginning to its surprising conclusion.
Beneath the Broken Oak by Lori Altebaumer is an exciting and suspense-filled story set in West Texas. It is told in dual timelines that will keep readers turning pages as fast as they can. Indeed, there were twists in the plot that had me gasping out loud!
The story’s main protagonist, Jodee Trevaine, is with the Texas A&M Forest Service and is in the small town of El Hueso to check out an ancient live oak, which, if trees could talk, could definitely tell a tale. A simple restroom break at a truck stop proves to be a life-changing event for more than one reason, including a chance encounter with a man from her past, a child’s abduction, and a vicious attack.
The plot unfolds in dual timelines and from multiple points of view, each with their own storylines of building suspense and secrets. But perhaps my favorite aspect of the book was the mysterious, other-worldly cowboy who makes timely appearances just when he’s needed the most.
However, it is the author’s writing style that really made this book special for me. Her use of language made for compelling reading, with vivid descriptions that piqued my interest in what she was saying beyond the gripping tale, as well as tantalizing foreshadowing of what was yet to come in the story itself. I couldn’t put this book down, wanting to see what would come next and next and next.
I recommend BENEATH THE BROKEN OAK to readers of Christian fiction, mystery, and suspense.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.
Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.
Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.
Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.
Praise for Never Fall Again:
"What a fabulous story with characters who will live in your head--and heart--long after the last word." ~ Lynette Eason, award-winning, bestselling author of the Lake City Heroes series
"Lynn Blackburn's voice is unrivaled! A must-read." ~ Elizabeth Goddard, bestselling author of Cold Light of Day
"This book had it all--a delicious romance, obsession, found family, redemption and reconciliation, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and the kind of ending we all root for!" ~ Susan May Warren, USA Today bestselling and RITA Award-winning author
Book Details:
Genre: Romantic Suspense Published by: Revell Publication Date: March 12, 2024 Number of Pages: 352 ISBN: 9780800745363 (ISBN10: 0800745361) Series: Gossamer Falls, Book 1 Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Baker Book House
Read an excerpt:
They passed several offices before they reached an open door.
“Maisy. Stay.” That same deep voice from the intercom floated to the hallway.
“Oooh! A dog!” Eliza dashed into the room.
Her little sprite was fast and already halfway across the office before Landry realized what was happening. “Eliza, wait!” Fortunately, she stopped at Landry’s words.
“I know, Mommy. Never touch a dog without permission. I just want to see.”
Eliza turned her big brown eyes toward the man who had come around his desk and knelt beside a dog now quivering with excitement.
The man—Callum Shaw, she assumed—met her daughter’s eyes and said, “Your mom’s right. You can’t ever rush at a dog, even dogs as gentle as this big baby. But if it’s okay with your mom . . .”
His eyes, which were as blue as the Carolina sky, now met hers. There was humor and gentleness. And shadows. Something dark flitted across his gaze. But then he blinked and it was gone.
Landry nodded her permission, and he turned all his attention back to her daughter. “This is Maisy. She’s a golden retriever. She’s three years old. She loves long walks in the woods, sunbathing, peanut butter, and belly rubs.” He demonstrated the belly rub. Maisy melted under his touch, and Eliza crept closer. “You can pet her. Maisy doesn’t bite my friends.”
Eliza dropped to her knees beside Callum and held out her hand toward Maisy’s nose.
Maisy took a quick sniff and rewarded Eliza’s good behavior with a lick. Callum stayed where he was until it was clear to everyone that Eliza and Maisy were set, then he rose to his feet and extended a hand. “Ms. Hutton.”
“Landry. Please.”
“Landry. A pleasure.”
Landry kept the contact brief. “Sorry, my hands are rough.” She turned them palms up. “Hazards of the job.”
Why had she said that? What did it matter if her hands were a bit on the crispy side? She didn’t have to prove anything to this man. Embarrassment crept across her and burst through her pores, heating her neck and face, and now she had no idea what to do with her hands. Should she put them down? Tuck them behind her back?
Callum glanced at her hands and turned his own up. “Same here.” He heaved a dramatic sigh. “It’s to my eternal despair that I’ll never land that hand modeling contract I’ve always hoped for.”
His easy humor made it automatic to tease him back. “Well, there’s always ditch digging.”
“Good point. If this construction gig doesn’t work out, I’ll have something to fall back on.” Callum turned his attention to Eliza. “And I gather your name is Eliza?”
She giggled with the abandon unique to happy children. “That’s right, but sometimes Mommy calls me Liza or ZaZa, but never Lizzy because that’s too close to Landry, and it gets confusing.”
Landry tried to keep a straight face as Eliza parroted what she’d heard Landry say too many times to count.
“It’s a pleasure, Ms. Eliza.” Callum pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m Cal Shaw. I’ll answer to Callum, but not LumLum because”— he dropped his voice to a stage whisper—“that’s just not dignified.”
Eliza’s laughter filled the room. Bronwyn hadn’t been wrong about Cal Shaw. He was very good with children. Even now, he kept his attention on Eliza. “Are you good here with Maisy while your mom and I talk?”
“Yes, sir.”
Cal grabbed a legal pad and pen from his desk and took the chair opposite the one he directed Landry to sit in. From their seats, they could both see Eliza and Maisy.
She waited for him to start the conversation, but maybe she was supposed to go first?
“She’s a beau—”
“Land—”
They both stopped talking, and his smile seemed genuine as he nodded to her. “Please. Go ahead.”
“I was going to say your dog is beautiful.” She willed her body to stop flushing scarlet, but it refused to cooperate. She didn’t have to see herself to know that her face, neck, chest, and even her feet were on fire. This was why she did best behind the walls of The Haven. She could interact with the patrons there with minimal difficulty. But put her out in public, and she became a tongue-tied, socially inept disaster.
Cal’s grin held mischief, and he leaned toward her. “If all goes as planned, she’ll be pregnant soon. I bet Eliza would love a puppy for Christmas.” His voice was cajoling and teasing, but at least he had the good sense to keep it too low for Eliza to hear.
He winked in a way that was friendly and not flirtatious, and Landry understood why Bronwyn liked him so much. He leaned back and in a normal voice said, “I gathered from your conversation with Carla that you’re going to build nearby.”
“Yes. I have three acres on the edge of Pierce land.” She watched him carefully as she spoke and was unsurprised when his grip tightened on the pen at her words.
“How long have you lived in Gossamer Falls?”
“Long enough to know the Pierce and Quinn families don’t get along.”
***
Excerpt from Never Fall Again by Lynn H Blackburn. Copyright 2024 by Lynn H Blackburn. Reproduced with permission from Lynn H Blackburn. All rights reserved.
Review:
5 stars!
Satisfying start to a new romantic suspense series!
Never Fall Again is the debut novel in author Lynn H.
Blackburn’s new romantic suspense series, Gossamer Falls, and it sets a satisfying
high bar for the future. With wonderful characters in emotional and perilous
situations, this book was a great way to kick back and sink into a compelling
and exciting story.
The main character, Landry Hutton, is a young
widow with one eye always looking over her shoulder. She fled an untenable
situation with her small daughter and is hiding out, in plain sight, but in a
different region of the country. Starting over as the artist-in-residence at The
Haven, an exclusive resort outside Gossamer Falls, North Carolina, she
creates exquisite pottery and provides a safe place for her young daughter to
grow up, until a suspicious fire reveals her past may have caught up with her. I loved her interactions with her daughter, Eliza, a wonderful child
character, and how they both connected with the loyal Maisie. Cal Shaw is also
a complex character, with his own past affecting his present. He’s kind,
gentle, and so aware of the needs of others, yet a capable and ready former
Marine when danger calls. The story introduces readers to his large family and
the conflicts among the Shaws, Quinns, and Pierces.
As a first book, the author must spend a considerable amount
of effort building the setting for the series, and Blackburn does this without
overwhelming readers, including characters in natural ways that fit seamlessly into
the events of the story. The author’s storytelling absorbed me right into the
thick of things, and I immediately liked Landry and Cal together, even before
strange threats caused them to get closer. I was so involved in the story that
I was surprised by some of the plot twists and, of course, the final reveal of
what was happening.
With faith-forward characterizations that are satisfying,
natural, and authentic and a plot that kept me glued to the page, I recommend
NEVER FALL AGAIN to readers of romantic suspense, especially those who enjoy faith-based
stories.
Author Bio:
Lynn H. Blackburn is the award-winning author of Unknown Threat, Malicious Intent, and Under Fire, as well as the Dive Team Investigations series. She loves writing swoon-worthy Southern suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she's a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters by putting them into terrifying situations while she sits at home in her pajamas. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.
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