Author: Jessica R. Patch
Series: Cold Case Investigators #2
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 224
Date of Publication: August 24, 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
They’re on a cold trail
and running out of time.Convinced his brother was wrongly convicted of murder years ago, detective Cash Ryland’s determined to find the real killer—even if it puts him in the crosshairs. But he needs help from cold case investigator Mae Vogel, whom he mistreated in high school. Can they put their past aside to solve the murder…before the killer succeeds in silencing them for good?
Add Cold Case Double Cross to your Goodreads!
Buy Cold Case Double Cross by Jessica R. Patch
Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335554529_cold-case-double-cross.html
Detective Cash Ryland begins working with cold case investigator Mae Vogel after asking her to look into his brother's case, who was wrongly convicted for killing his wife. Cash knows his brother is innocent and would do anything to find the real killer.
Unfortunately, Cash and Mae have a rocky past, one that began back in high school. Mae was betrayed by Cash, and even tough she is a woman of faith, she struggles to forgive him and finds working with him more than a challenge. But, she excels at her job and is begins looking for answers.
While this story has a good level of suspense, faith and forgiveness play equal roles. Factor in the love that develops between Cash and Mae and this proved to be a delightful story.
Many thanks to Love Inspired Suspense and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
Excerpt of Cold Case Double Cross by Jessica R. Patch (Aug 24)
Love Inspired Suspense
She moved toward the lawn chairs Mom and Grandma Rose were sitting in, glanced up at the radiant display and smacked into marble.
Nope. A man.
She peered up to apologize, but the words died on her lips as recognition dawned. Cash Ryland. Mae hadn’t laid eyes on him, by design, since high school.
Maybe this was the origin surrounding her jittery feeling.
She put some pep in her step and moved backward, but Cash’s tanned arm reached out, as if assuming she’d stumbled and not retreated from him.
She swatted away his steady hand. “I’m perfectly fine.” No need for physical touch between them.
His thick eyebrows tweaked upward. “Sorry.” His voice had grown deeper, huskier since he was a kid. Cash shoved his hand into his pocket, drawing her eye to the badge clipped to his thick black belt looping through well-fitted jeans.
What? How in the world did Cash Ryland make it into any branch of law enforcement and why would he want to? His teenage years had been spent as a juvenile delinquent. Not that she’d imagined what Cash might be doing now, but if she had it would be more along the lines of doing time for drug possession or grand larceny or maybe both. Not on the grounds with a criminal investigations division badge from Willow Banks Sheriff’s Office.
Unbelievable.
“You never were too good at masking your feelings.”
She glanced from his badge to his face and his lopsided grin rolled another wave into her stomach. How dare her body betray her common sense by being attracted to his strong, chiseled features.
His blond hair had turned a little sandier, but it worked for him, unfortunately. His eyes hadn’t changed—they were still the same intense shade of blue that won the hearts of girls determined to rebel against their parents. Cash had never been meet-the-parents material, unless a girl wanted to give them a heart attack and end up grounded for life.
Not Mae.
Mae knew better.
And she’d still been charmed then burned.
Speak, Mae. You have to at least speak. “I’m just surprised, I guess.” As if she were still a high school girl enamored by the bad boy of Willow Banks and unsure of herself, she folded her arms, which felt like dead weight across her chest.
Cash Ryland—a detective. She’d seen it all.
“Well, it’s a surprising thing. Um…” He scratched the back of his neck. “I actually was looking for you. I saw your family and hoped you would be here. Your brother mentioned you were in town on vacation.”
Why did Barrett have vocal cords? He hadn’t mentioned Cash to her. But then, why would he? Barrett was clueless about what had transpired during her senior year with Cash. All he knew was Mae had tutored Cash in English. But if anyone had been schooled that semester, it was Mae.
“Barrett talks too much.” She tried to pass around him, but he blocked her. “Detective or not,” Mae said, tossing grit into her tone, “if you don’t move, I’m going to move you. And I promise you, size doesn’t matter. I can do it.”
While Cash towered above her five-foot-one frame, she was not porcelain, and attached to her petite frame was the muscle to maneuver him if necessary.
His hands shot up in surrender, but there was no teasing in his eyes. “I have no doubt, Mae. You’ve always been strong.”
No one had ever uttered those words about her before, but flattery wasn’t going to get him one solid inch. His charm no longer affected her.
He cleared a path for her to flee. “I just want to talk to you for a minute or two. Please?”
About the Author:
Connect with the Author
Website: https://jessicarpatch.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicarpatch/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessicarpatch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicarpatch/
- - - - -
Author: Lynette Eason
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 288
Date of Publication: September 28, 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Their search for a fugitive
makes them both targets.
Out horseback riding, Dr. Katherine Gilroy accidentally stumbles into a deadly shoot-out and comes to US marshal Dominic O’Ryan’s aid. Now with Dominic injured and under her care, she’s determined to help him find her brother—the fugitive he believes murdered his partner. While Katherine’s sure her brother isn’t guilty, someone’s dead set on killing her and Dominic…and finding the truth is their one shot at survival.
Buy Mountain Fugitive by Lynette Eason
MY THOUGHTS:
Not only was US Marshal Dominic O'Ryan nearly killed in a shoot-out the very woman who pulls him to safety is the sister of the man he thinks was responsible. Dominic is dtermined to find Katherine Gilroy's brother, especially due to the fact that his partner was killed at the time.
Katherine cannot believe her brother is a killer, even though it had been a few years since she had seen him. Dominic assures her that her brother was no angel, but Katherine is still determined to believe in his innocence. When Katherine learns how Dominic was familiar with her brother, she must admit to a bit of doubt. Will she be able to find him before the marshals and other authorities? And, will he be able to explain his role in the shooting?
Not only did this book begin with bang - literally - the action and tension never let up. While the search for her brother was in play, answers were needed. While the search is on there is no doubt that Dominic and Katherine are drawn to one another. The fact that they both based their lives on faith only made their connection stronger? Will the guilt or innocence of Katherine's brother derail what could be a warm romance and happy future between them?
Lynette Eason has written an exciting story that blended in a lot of factors that not only had wonderful characters but a story that led to a happy ending.
Many thanks to Love Inspired Suspense and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
Excerpt of Mountain Fugitive by Lynette Eason (Sep 28)
Love Inspired Suspense
Heart pounding a rapid beat, Katherine pulled Hotshot to a stop between the men and the direction the bullets had come from, praying the person wouldn’t shoot the horse. She slid from the saddle, leaving the reins trailing the ground, then snagged the first-aid kit from the saddlebag. US marshals according to the vests the men wore.
Looked like their prisoner or fugitive had turned the tables on them. Which meant the person was either gone now that he’d taken care of the threat—or she was now a target because she planned to try to help the men. A quick scan of the area didn’t reveal anything unusual or worrisome, but the trees could easily be hiding the sniper.
Still using the horse as a shield, she hurried to the man closest to her. The bullet had hit him just above his left ear and he’d landed on his side. His brown, sightless eyes stared up at her and she knew he was beyond help. She checked his pulse anyway and got what she expected. Nothing.
She closed the dead man’s eyes then turned her attention to the other one. A pulse. She focused on his head. A gash just below his hairline bled freely. A low groan rumbled from him and Katherine placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t move,” she said.
He blinked and she caught a glimpse of sapphire-blue eyes. He let out another groan. “Carl…”
“Just stay still and let me look at your head.”
“I’m fine.” He rolled to his side and he squinted up at her. “Who’re you?”
“I’m Dr. Katherine Gilroy so I think I’m the better judge of whether or not you’re fine. You have a head wound which means possible concussion.” She reached for him. “What’s your name?”
He pushed her hand away. “Dominic O’Ryan. A branch caught me. Knocked me loopy for a few seconds, but not out. We were running from the shooter.” His eyes sharpened. “He’s still out there.” His hand went to his right hip, gripping the empty holster next to the badge on his belt. A star within a circle.
“Where’s my gun? Where’s Carl? My partner, Carl Manning. We need to get out of here.”
“I’m sorry,” Katherine said, her voice soft. “He didn’t make it.”
He froze. Then horror sent his eyes wide—and searching. They found the man behind her and Dominic shuddered. “No. No, no, no. Carl! Carl!” He army crawled to his partner and sucked in a gasping breath, cupped Carl’s face and felt for a pulse.
Katherine didn’t bother to tell him she’d already done the same—or what he’d find. After a few seconds, he let out a low cry then sucked in another deep breath and composed his features. The intense moment has lasted only a few seconds, but Katherine knew he was compartmentalizing, stuffing his emotions into a place he could hold them and deal with them later.
She knew because she’d often done the same thing. Still did on occasion.
In spite of that, his grief was palpable, and Katherine’s heart thudded with sympathy for him. She moved back to give him some privacy, her eyes sweeping the hills around them once more. Again, she saw nothing, but the hairs on the back of her neck were standing straight up. Hotshot had done well, standing still, being a buffer between them and a possible sniper, but Katherine’s nerves were twitching—much like when she’d worked with the police department. “I think we need to find some better cover.”
As if to prove her point, another crack sounded, and Hotshot reared. His whinnying scream echoed around them. Then he bolted for home. Katherine grabbed the first-aid kit with one hand and pulled Dominic to his feet with the other. “Run!”
About the Author:
Connect with the Author
Website: https://lynetteeason.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynetteeason
- - - - -
Author: Justine Davis
Series: Coltons of Grave Gulch #8
Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 288
Date of Publication: August 24, 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Man's best friend
…is this cop's most trusted partner
New to the Grave Gulch Police Department, K-9 detective Brett Shea feels like an outsider among its many Coltons. Even Annalise, his dog's trainer, is a Colton! But when she's attacked by a man pretending to be her date, Brett vows to track down the criminal. Though he's sworn off forever love—which is proving harder by the day—Brett will protect her at any cost.
Add Colton K-9 Target to your Goodreads!
Buy Colton K-9 Target by Justine Davis
Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335759382_colton-k-9-target.html
About the Author:
Justine Davis lives on Puget Sound in Washington State, watching big ships and the occasional submarine go by, and sharing the neighborhood with assorted wildlife, including a pair of bald eagles, deer, a bear or two, and a tailless raccoon. In the few hours when she's not planning, plotting, or writing her next book, her favorite things are photography, knitting her way through a huge yarn stash, and driving her restored 1967 Corvette roadster—top down, of course.
Connect with the Author
Website: https://justinedavis.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustineDareDavis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Justine_D_Davis
MY THOUGHTS:
Detective Brett Shea is the new K-9 officer for the small town of Grave Gulch. His partner is a gorgeous black lab named Ember, and Ember's trainer was Annalise Colton. The Colton name is not new to Brett. In fact, his boss is a Colton, as is most of her family.
Annalise longed for true love, and chose an online service in her search. However, she was catfished and soon attacked. Although the man has gotten away, he has no intention of letting Annalise go. Brett is determined to do his job and find Annalise's attacker, and in the meantime, he finds himself drawn to her. However, Brett and Annalise are very different. At least their backgrounds are. Annalise has the entire Colton clan behind her. Brett's family life left a lot to be desired.
While Annalise and Brett draw closer together, so does the danger facing her. Will they catch the man, and while they work on that will Annalise be kept safe? At the same time, will Annalise and Brett find a way to be together, despite Brett's reticence due to his past?
Colton K-9 Target was a quick and enjoyable read, especially if you enjoy dogs that play an important role in stories.
Many thanks to Harlequin Romantic Suspense and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
Excerpt of Colton K-9 Target by Justine Davis (Aug 24)
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Annalise stared into the darkness, hoping that forcing herself to keep her eyes open would perversely trigger the overwhelming urge to sleep. It was her last resort; she’d been lying here for two hours, unable to find a way to turn off, or at least slow down, her whirling thoughts.
And the fact that a few minutes ago Brett had come to her open doorway and lingered a moment didn’t help.
She’d heard the faint creak of a floorboard and felt a spike of that adrenaline rush before she realized it was him. That realization caused a spike of an entirely different kind until she heard him walk away and realized he’d only been checking on her.
What did you expect? That he’d climb into bed with you?
She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow, wondering why these wild thoughts kept careening into her mind. What kind of woman was she, to have been so very excited about her date tonight—never mind that it had all been a scam—yet almost simultaneously so attracted to this man who had no interest at all in her that way? Or in anything like the kind of relationship she was looking for?
I’m not looking for what you’re looking for.
He meant it. She didn’t doubt that. And she knew she should consider it fair warning. A warning some men would never bother to give. Why had he? She felt her cheeks heat at the thought that maybe he knew, how she reacted to him. Maybe she’d betrayed it somehow. That would be embarrassing. They’d always gotten on well in the joint training sessions with Ember, but her focus had been on the smart, willing dog, not on him.
Well, not any more than usual. Qualified, capable K-9 officers with a record like his weren’t thick on the ground, and he’d proven that rep well-earned in their first exercises together. That he was quietly competent and apparently unaware of his own looks were big points in his favor, in her book.
She’d assumed at first he was married, because how could he not be? He didn’t wear a ring, but some men didn’t. Then Troy had told her a week later he wasn’t and had never been.
You have to believe in love before you can give up on it.
She sighed into the darkness. That just might be the saddest thing she’d ever heard. Yet he didn’t seem sad to her. Or bitter. Just…closed off. Except with Ember. That alone told Annalise that he wasn’t completely closed off.
But that didn’t mean she should be lying here thinking about him.
And about what she would have done if he had climbed into bed with her.
“I can drive myself—”
“I know you can,” Brett said patiently to Annalise the next morning, “but I have to drop Ember off anyway.” He didn’t mention that he also didn’t want her taking off to go get lunch or something. He wanted her under observation at all times, and he’d already called Sergeant Kenwood to let him know to keep an eye on her; the man might be retired from active duty, but his instincts were as sharp as ever.
“But I’ll need my car to get home.”
“I’ll pick you up when I come get her,” he said, with a scratch of the Lab’s soft ears. “After I talk to the two other women this jerk targeted.”
“I want to take Apple and Jack,” she said. “I don’t want to leave them alone. They were scared, too.”
And that was Annalise Colton in a nutshell, he thought. “Fine. There’s room. And Ember won’t mind.”
And so he ended up with a carload of three dogs and the woman adored by them all.
Including you?
He yanked his mind off that fruitless path. He drove, trying to concentrate on mentally organizing his day.
About the Author:
Connect with the Author
Website: https://justinedavis.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustineDareDavis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Justine_D_Davis
- - - - -
Author: K. D. Richards
Series: West Investigations #2
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 256
Date of Publication: August 24, 2021
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
To bring her sister home for the holidays
They’ll put everything on the line.
Private investigator Shawn West is stunned when the attack victim he rescues is Addy Williams—the one woman he never forgot. She’s turning a quiet upstate New York town inside out to bring her missing sister home by Christmas. Shawn offers to help if she'll provide a cover for his own investigation into a suspicious company in town, but can they work together to find Addy's sister…or are they already too late?
Add Missing at Christmas to your Goodreads!
Buy Missing at Christmas by K.D. Richards
Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335489111_missing-at-christmas.html
MY THOUGHTS:
Shawn West is a private investigator on his latest case in New York when he saves a woman from an attack. Imagine his surprise when he discovers that the woman he saved is one he met at his brother's wedding. In fact, the woman made a deep impression on him but he thought he'd never see her again. Her name is Addy Williams and she is looking for her younger sister. Addy had stopped hearing from her and is more than a bit worried.
Addy asks Shawn for his help and he agrees, but with a caveat. He wants to use the search as a cover in his investigation. Addy is glad to accept his terms because her own search is going nowhere. The two make a fine pair and I love how Addy held her own no matter the danger facing them.
In this fast-pace story Addy and Shawn work well together. As they focus mostly on the search, the attraction they share is undeniable, although that is not the fous of the story. The chemistry is already there, so factor in tension, action and suspense, Missing at Christmas is a well-rounded story.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
Excerpt of Missing at Christmas by K.D. Richards (Aug 24)
Harlequin Intrigue
The doors to the kitchen swung outward, and the man reappeared, a white plastic bag in one hand and Cassie’s picture in the other.
Addy slid her phone back into her purse and rose. The pity she saw in the man’s face as he drew nearer dashed the hope that had swelled in her chest.
“I showed your sister’s picture to everyone who’s still here, and no one recognized her. I’m sorry.”
Two solid days of showing Cassie’s picture everywhere she could think of in Bentham and nothing. No one remembered seeing her.
“Thanks, anyway.” She didn’t bother trying to muster a smile of thanks. She reached in her purse for her wallet.
“No charge,” he said, thrusting her food and Cassie’s picture at her. “You take care of yourself.”
Addy looked up into the man’s now compassion-filled eyes and wiped away the single tear she couldn’t stop from falling. “Thank you,” she croaked out before turning and fleeing the restaurant before the dam of tears broke.
Silver garlands hung from the streetlamps along with fluttering signs ordering the denizens of Bentham to have a happy holiday. The lamps themselves were spaced too far apart for the weak yellow light they cast off to beat back the dark December night.
Five blocks west, cars coasted along one of Bentham’s main thoroughfares, but the street in front of Addy was clear and quiet, the surrounding businesses having long since closed for the night.
She’d left the metallic-blue Mustang she’d rented for the two-hour drive from Manhattan to Bentham in the hotel’s parking lot. It was easier to canvass the neighborhood on foot. All she had to show for her effort were sore feet.
A footstep sounded as she pocketed her phone. Shooting a glance over her shoulder, she squinted into the darkness but saw no one.
You’re just not used to so much quiet, she thought, walking on.
She’d lived in New York City since she was twelve but spent summers on her grandfather’s ranch in Texas. She’d loved the ranch almost as much as she loved the city, but New York wasn’t called the city that never slept for nothing. There was always something to do and see, and she was used to being surrounded by thousands of people, even though she’d been very much alone since Cassie moved to Bentham.
A scraping sound came from close behind her, followed by the unmistakable sound of fast-moving footsteps.
She turned, intending to move to the side, when a hand clamped around her ponytail, jerking her backward against a hard chest.
It took a moment for her brain to catch up with what was happening, and by the time it did, her assailant had taken his beefy hand from her hair and clamped it over her mouth.
Addy fought her rising panic. Like any savvy city girl, she’d taken self-defense classes, but it had been a while since she’d brushed up. She’d never thought she’d actually have to use any of those techniques.
She tried to pull away, but the man’s arm was like a vise around her neck.
“Don’t fight, and I won’t hurt you,” the man growled.
She didn’t believe that for a minute. She’d left the small gun she carried for protection locked in her car’s glove compartment, a decision she regretted now. Who’d have thought the streets of Bentham were more dangerous than Manhattan?
Well, she had no intention of going down without a fight, gun or no gun. She sent up a quick prayer and fisted her hands at the same time a yell came from somewhere in the night.
Connect with the Author
Website: https://www.kdrichardsbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdrichardsauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiadwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kdrichardsauthor/
Website: https://www.kdrichardsbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kdrichardsauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kiadwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kdrichardsauthor/
- - - - -
Author: Barb Han
Series: O'Connor Family #4
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 256
Date of Publication: September 28, 2021
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
She’s fighting for her and her baby’s lives
But she can’t remember why…
Injured and locked up in a decrepit trailer, Alyssa Hazel wakes to only fragments of memory. She knows she's pregnant, her life is in danger—and there's one man she can trust once she escapes. But police officer Blake O’Connor hasn't forgiven Alyssa for walking away from their marriage. Can he protect her and their unborn child…even when this conspiracy hits too close to home?
Buy Texas Baby Conspiracy by Barb Han
MY THOUGHTS:
Blake O'Connor cannot believe the gall when Alyssa Hazel shows up at his door expecting his help. And the fact that she is pregnant! He is certain it is with another man's baby. She is his ex-wife and he is still reeling that that once happy marriage ending in a sudden divorce.
Alyssa is not sure why she is at Blake's home. All she can think of is that he will help her. She is not even sure why she needs help. She is pregnant but not even sure about much - other than the fact that Blake is the father. Can she answer the myriad of questions he undoubtedly has all while trying figure out why her memory of past and recent events is so damaged?
While not usually fond of amnesia stories the twists in this book were done really well. I loved the balance of Alyssa fighting to regain her memory all while Blake struggled to fight feelings of anger. Their connection was palpable but whether or not it could ever go anywhere remained to be seen.
What a thrilling story from the very starte while Alyssa made her escape until the point when things became revealed. I love how the story progressed, whether it was the tension and danger, or the romance that was more than evident. The ending was just as wonderful as the rest of the story.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
Excerpt of Texas Baby Conspiracy by Barb Han (Sep 28)
Harlequin Intrigue
When Alyssa Hazel stirred and felt nothing but walls on all four sides of her, shock robbed her voice. Panic caused her pulse to pound and the extra blood thumped against her skull. Her head threatened to split open as she tried to recall where she was and why she was here.
She pushed her hands out, trying to see if the walls would give. The material was pliable but solid enough to hold form. She felt for cracks or anything she could grip. Movement hurt. She attempted to stretch out her legs and couldn’t get very far.
Where was she? What happened? Why was she enclosed in such a tight space? A haze pressed down on her brain and the pressure was the equivalent of a thunderstorm rolling in.
It was pitch black and she couldn’t remember a thing about where she’d been or what she’d been doing before ending up in this…whatever this was. Forcing recall only made her brain hurt more. A stomach cramp drew her legs tighter to her belly.
Wouldn’t there be a door if she was in some kind of compartment? There would have to be a crack around a door or hatch. She reached up and couldn’t find a ceiling. That seemed like the first good sign so far. It meant that she might be in a small closet or storage room.
She felt around, trying to get her bearings because right now she was at a loss as to where she was and what she was doing there. Bringing her hands to cradle her stomach, she knew one thing was certain, she was pregnant. Very pregnant. Her belly was huge.
Again, her mind drew a blank to a question that was so basic she felt like she should have an answer. What on earth was she doing there? She brought her hand up to her head and looked for a reason for the memory loss and headache. She touched a tender spot and felt dried blood.
At least she thought it was. Seeing was impossible despite her eyes adjusting to the dark.
Logic said if she’d gotten inside this structure, there had to be a way out. Bracing her hands against thin walls, she maneuvered up to a sitting position.
Next, she instinctively checked to make sure she had on clothes and then immediately checked for her wedding ring. The band was gone. Thank heavens she had on a cotton shirt and jeans. No shoes but she did have on socks. She remembered wearing her favorite boots. The random memory seemed to float around with no context to ground it. Where had she been going? What had she been doing?
A noise startled her. She froze, unable to make out what it was or exactly where it came from other than out there.
About the Author:
Connect with the Author Website: https://www.barbhan.com/
- - - - -
Author: Juno Rushdan
Series: Fugitive Heroes; Topaz Unit #1
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 256
Date of Publication: October 26, 2021
My Rating:
DESCRIPTION:
He'll sacrifice his safety
…for a woman who could completely upend his Christmas.
After Gage Graham saves her from drowning, Hope Fischer revives, determined to learn the truth about her sister's death. All she has to do is infiltrate a mysterious closed Virginia town and discover why the attractive—but secretive—Gage feels compelled to help her. Can she trust him? Will he risk being discovered by his former employer, the CIA, for a woman he just met? Neither will matter if a killer succeeds.
Add Rogue Christmas Operation to your Goodreads!
Buy Rogue Christmas Operation by Juno Rushdan
Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335555410_rogue-christmas-operation.html
MY THOUGHTS:
Gage Graham was in the right place at the right time. He sees a car going under water and saves Hope Fischer's life. Hope is in the town of Benediction trying to discover what happened to her sister. Benediction is no usual town and answers most certainly will not come easy for Hope. Her sister was said to have committed suicide but Hope refuses to believe it. Hope will go to any extreme to get to the truth and Gage feels impelled to help her.
In this thrilling story, part of the suspense involves the town of Benediction, which is in itself is like a character in this story. The town is very unusual which play into the difficulties that Hope faces while looking for answers. All while Gage does try and help Hope, he has secrets involving his past with the CIA. In fact, the danger that faces Hope is not the only danger at hand. Gage faces his own share, especially as he pushes the envelope while helping Hope.
Rogue Christmas Operation is an exciting first story in a new series. I look forward to future installments.
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
Excerpt of Rogue Christmas Operation by Juno Rushdan (Oct 26)
Harlequin Intrigue
She’d been warned. That’s what everyone wanted. For her to leave it all alone. To go back to California and bury her head in the sand.
But then a murderer would go free.
She had failed her sister once. Not again. She swallowed past the ball of anxiety in her throat. You can do this.
The SUV zoomed up alongside her, sending a new wave of fear crashing through her. What was he doing?
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than the SUV swerved sharply. The front end slammed into her side of the car, propelling it into a wild slide toward the edge.
Hope panicked, hitting the brakes. The wheels locked. Her vehicle lost traction and went into a skid. Everything was happening so fast. Too fast.
Spinning out of control, her car missed a large tree and slid over the edge of the slope. A high-pitched cry escaped her lips. Dirt and rocks spit up. She tried to straighten the steering wheel and pumped the brakes. Her car fishtailed, clipped a tree and went airborne.
The sedan flipped. Rolled end over end down the gradient. Metal crunched and groaned around her.
Hope’s seat belt jerked hard across her body, cutting off her oxygen for a second.
The airbag deployed like a hot fist, knocking her head back against the seat. Dust and chemicals saturated the air.
Her lungs seized as a scream lodged in her throat.
The car slammed to a stop with the impact of crashing into a brick wall. Her skull smashed into something hard.
A riot of pain flared…everywhere. In her head, chest, bones—even her teeth hurt.
Her vision blurred. Not that it mattered. She couldn’t see past the airbag, which was the size of a large beach ball in her face.
Hope pushed on the light fabric, and the airbag deflated. Coughing, she wiped at the wetness coming from her nose with the back of her hand. Blood. Her nose was bleeding.
She switched on the interior light and pushed the deflated airbag out of her way.
The headlights were still on.
Water.
The car was in the lake. Beneath the water, or at least half of it. The weight of the engine pitched the front end forward, so that the car was almost pointing straight down. She looked back at the rear window. Rain and darkness.
Water was starting to seep inside the vehicle. The foot well was filling up as water rushed in. Faster and faster.
Hope pressed the button to release the seat belt. But nothing happened. It was stuck, jammed tight. She yanked on the belt, trying again, tugging and pushing. Praying.
Oh, God. She was trapped.
Icy water rose past her hips to her waist. Shockingly cold. Her toes were already growing numb, and she was shivering. She had to get out. Now!
Her purse floated up on the passenger’s side. If she reached it, got to the Swiss Army knife inside, she could cut herself free.
She extended her hand in the water. Her bag was inches from her fingertips. She stretched out as much as she could, straining her arm muscles. A pang wrenched through her chest, her eyes tearing at the intense pain, but she didn’t stop. She kept reaching for her purse. Almost had it. The bag was so close—she needed to stretch a hair farther, but the seat belt had her pinned.
The car shifted, still moving. Down and down it sank. The car tipped to the side, and water carried her purse away, out of reach.
About the Author:
Although Juno is a native New Yorker, wanderlust has taken her across the globe. Fortunately, she is blessed with a husband who shares her passion for travel, movies, and fantastic food. She’s visited more than twenty different countries and has lived in England and Germany. Her favorite destination for relaxation is the Amalfi Coast, Italy for its stunning seascape, cliffside lemon groves, terraced vineyards, amazing pasta, and to-die-for vino.
When she’s not writing, Juno loves spending time with her family. Exercise is not her favorite thing to do, but she squeezes some in since chocolate and red wine aren’t calorie-free.
She currently resides in Virginia with her supportive hubby, two dynamic children, and spoiled rescue dogs. Check her out on Instagram, Facebook or follow her on Twitter or BookBub. She loves to connect with readers!
Connect with the Author
Website: https://junorushdan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/junorushdan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JunoRushdan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junorushdan/
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