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Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Happy Release Day to Watch Your Back Plus a Giveaway

Kristen here. I have run only one half-marathon in my life, and today feels a bit like reaching the finish line. After months of training and more miles run than I care to count, I ran those 13.1 miles and crossed the finish line with a smile on my face. 

Writing and preparing to release Watch Your Back has felt like a marathon. My son was only a year old when my manuscript deadline for my publisher arrived, and he skipped more naps and got sick more often than I’d imagined possible. I honestly didn’t know if I’d make that deadline, but I did, thanks to my supportive husband and a healthy dose of God’s grace. This year, while preparing to release the book, my now toddler went through several big transitions: potty training, dropping the binkie, and moving from the crib to a “big boy bed.” As a result, naps went out the window, as did this mama’s free time for work and writing.

But here we are. Release day has arrived, and I am beyond grateful to share Avery and Ethan’s story with you. 

About Watch Your Back

You can’t watch your own back.

Private Investigator Avery Reynolds leads the charge to expose Tampa's supposedly “extinct” mob. The crime boss responsible for her foster brother’s death is within her grasp—until she hits a wall in the form of Ethan Bridger, a Coast Guard veteran who unknowingly derails her sting operation. When the elusive “Big Eddie” comes out of hiding, he targets their mutual friends about to tie the knot. 

Avery sets aside her angst toward Ethan to focus on ending the crime boss’s reign of terror. But working together exposes her trust issues and his PTSD stemming from a comrade's tragedy. When Avery goes solo into a prisoner exchange operation, she discovers her vulnerability too late—and must lean on Ethan and the God she thought had abandoned her. But will that help reach her in time?

About Crossroads Suspense

Each book in my Crossroads Suspense series can stand alone but is also related to the other books. Each story features a different hero and heroine, but the leading cast from one book becomes a secondary cast in another book. For example, if you loved the cast in book one, you’ll be glad to see that Kaley and Reef return as secondary characters in Watch Your Back. (And spoiler, they’re getting married!)

Special Thanks to My Suspense Sisters

I owe so many people my heartfelt thanks, including my Suspense Sisters. I'm grateful that several endorsed this book and want to share their beautifully kind words with you.

Nancy Mehl, Bestselling author of Shattered Sanctuary:

Kristen Hogrefe Parnell masterfully weaves faith and suspense together in Watch Your Back, the newest novel in her Crossroads Suspense series. This book will not only touch your heart, but you’ll be unable to stop turning the pages until you find out how this exciting story ends! Highly recommended!

Patricia Bradley, Winner of Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award

Hang on tight because Watch Your Back will take readers on a wild, twisty ride that will keep them flipping pages to the end.

Mary Alford, USA Today Bestselling Author, author of the Hallowed Halls Series

Watch Your Back by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell is a masterful blend of suspense, faith, and romance that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. This fast-paced romantic suspense delivers a satisfying and heartwarming ending. Parnell crafts a riveting story filled with characters that readers will root for, all while weaving in a powerful message of forgiveness throughout. A truly thrilling read!

Marji Laine, Award-winning author of Breaking Point

Kristen Hogrefe Parnell has once again penned a fast-paced, tension-filled suspense that will doubtlessly delight her many readers. Avery and Ethan are perfect together – flawed and broken, but filled with courage, determination, and a passion for protecting those who can’t protect themselves. The redemption message in this is especially sweet and balances well with the pure evil of the traffickers involved in this plot. This is a must read!

For a chance to win a Kindle copy of Watch Your Back, simply leave a comment answering this question: What’s one of the hardest things you’ve ever done? Whether it’s running a literal marathon, finishing a big project, starting a business, raising a family, or something else, I’d love to hear. Be sure to include your email address as well.

Update: Congratulations to Heather on winning the Kindle copy!

39 comments:

  1. Happy Book Birthday! Wishing you much success! watts.vickie@gmail.com

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  2. Congratulations! You have some amazing book sisters! The hardest thing I've ever done? I decided to retire from my job as a librarian in our public library. I loved it and couldn't have asked for a better career. In fact, I wished I'd chosen it earlier but I was a full-time wife, mother, and farmer for many years.

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    1. Thank you, and I sure do! Aw, I am sure retiring from something you love is hard. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. One of the hardest things I have ever done outside of losing immediate family is fighting cancer. This year it will be 12 years in May. Sonnetta2380(at)outlook(dot)com

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    1. I can't imagine how hard that must be. So sorry for your loss!

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  4. Congratulations! One of the hardest things I've ever done was to raise my son on my own after my ex-husband left us. ceedee1958@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks, Cyndi! I can't imagine how tough that must have been, but I'm so glad he had you for a mom!

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  5. travel alone
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  6. Congratulations 🎉 👏 one of the hardest things I've had to do was start over at age 59. This novel looks so good! Thanks for the giveaway.
    kheldreth@neo.rr.com

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    1. Thanks, Kelli! I'm sure that must have been hard. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. congrats on your new book! Hardest thing I ever did was being a single mom to my daughter after my divorce!

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    1. Thank you! That must have been so hard. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Hardest thing I ever did was having 2 ceasearn babies.

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    1. I have a friend who has had two of those as well. Recovery is not easy! Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Congratulations on your book 📕. Hardest thing I’ve ever done….several come to mind from divorcing and being a single mom after years of abuse to caring for my precious parents till they transitioned to heaven.

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    1. Thanks, Lucy, and thanks for sharing. That must have been so hard.

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  10. wow congrats. looking to read soon

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  11. New book, congrats. Hardest thing I ever done is dealing with my dads dementia with Lewy body.

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    1. Thanks, Ed! That must have been very hard. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Watch Your Back sounds fabulous

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  13. Congratulations on your book. The hardest thing is losing my identical twin sister to breast cancer jenningsask@verizon.net

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    1. I'm so sorry for your loss. I have a twin brother and can't imagine how hard that must have been.

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  14. Congratulations on your book birthday! I have never read any of your books, but I sure want to read this one!

    The hardest thing I have ever done is deal with infertility, in vitro fertilization, miscarriage, and finally after almost 20 years, adopting. Our precious daughter is worth ALL of that, but whew! It was a roller-coaster journey filled with a LOT of pain and disappointment.

    Heather Mitchell crhbmitchellfam@duck.com

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    1. Thank you, Heather! That must have been so hard. I am so happy God blessed you with your daughter.

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  15. The hardest thing I have ever done would be the day we buried my Dad over 36 years ago.

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    1. I'm so sorry for your loss. That must have been very hard.

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  16. Starting over after being married 40 years.

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  17. Love the title .... makes me curious

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  18. The hardest thing I’ve ever done was dealing with a divorce I didn’t want after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  19. The hardest thing I've ever done is rearing my children.

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  20. Congratulations on your book!!!
    Getting on a Commercial Plane for the first time three years ago was one of the hardest things I did.
    Sherry Brown
    ozdot4@sbcglobal.net

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  21. I have never ran a marathon before. I have no doubt that writing isn't easy when you have a sick/fussy baby at home. Watch Your Back sounds interesting. I like that each book in the Crossroads series can standalone, but you learn more about the characters in each book. If you liked the main characters in one story, you'll probably love seeing them as secondary characters in the next.

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  22. The hardest things I've ever done is to deal with the deaths of my pre-born babies, best friend, father and mother.

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  23. The hardest things I have ever done are to deal with the deaths of my pre-born babies, my best friend, father and mother.
    pjrcmoore@windstream.net

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