BOOK REVIEW: DANGEROUS PAST by Suspense Sister Roxanne Rustand

Marji Laine here. 

Last week, our Suspense Sister, Roxanne Rustand, released book nine of her Northern Pines Suspense Series. I realized that I’ve never gotten to read one of her books, so I quickly rectified that situation. I didn’t want to start at book nine, so I picked up book one. I’m so glad I did.

Roxanne reminds me of one of my all-time favorite authors, Phyllis A. Whitney. Whitney had a habit of setting a heroine in the midst of unknown hostility where unexplained events covered intentional attacks. Her writing, if memory serves, was either from an omniscient (narrator-type) viewpoint or only from a single point of view, bu
t as the stories progressed, attacks grew more pronounced and more dangerous.

Roxanne, thankfully, uses a dual point of view between the hero and the heroine and even throws in a few other characters from time to time to give a more colorful background. But in the same way as Whitney's heroines, Lauren, faces seemingly inescapable problems.

This is an emotionally-charged story with a good amount of tension and rich characters. It adds multi-layered characters, Lauren and Michael, with strong back-stories, reasonable reactions, and even defining quirks. Amidst past problems and their current hopes and goals, both Michael and Lauren find joy, laughter, and make embarrassing and even heart-breaking mistakes.

A troubled young daughter and an entourage of various pets add to this heart-warming story. Even the goat has a personality!

Dangerous Past has a mild level of suspense, particularly at the beginning as the backdrop of the story is laid with the initial interactions of the characters. Michael and Lauren, though, with their various secrets, hidden needs, and quiet desperation, intrigued me. The story itself amped up its flavor of suspense throughout, and the final scenes satisfied completely, leaving me eager to read more of this series.

Here’s a little more about this story.

She needs to hide from her past. He only wants to be left alone. What could possibly go wrong?

A DISILLUSIONED ATTORNEY
Michael is searching for a quiet life in a small town. Alone. When his elderly, vagabond Aunt Bertie announces her plans for yet another summer in Europe, he agrees to stay at her home on the shore of Briar Lake. It’s perfect timing, while he hunts for a house to buy and a location for his law practice. 

Perfect---until he meets a flamboyant stranger at Bertie’s front door, who refuses to let him inside. A very nervous one, at that.

A WOMAN WITH A TROUBLED PAST
A housemate? No way. Bertie’s menagerie is of epic proportions—thanks to the homeless animals she constantly adopts. Lauren promised to move in and care for them this summer. It’s a promise she cannot break to the woman she has loved as an "extra grandmother" since childhood—even if she fears this forced proximity to a man who could uncover her darkest secrets.

But there’s another problem… one that could end her life.

Roxanne Rustand is the USA Today Bestselling author of forty romance and romantic suspense novels—in both Clean & Wholesome and Christian genres. Her books have sold over 2.9 million copies.

Get your own copy HERE!

But don't miss out on all the books of Northern Pines Suspense - particularly the brand new release, book nine! Learn about them all HERE! 

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I so enjoyed this book with my snowy backyard as a backdrop, wrapped in my sweater and crocheted throw and stretched out in my recliner. What did you do during this year's snowy/icy/frigid days? Share your answer below and you just might win a copy of Roxanne's book. (Don't forget to leave your email address!)

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? THE LONE RICE BOWL by USA Today Bestselling Author Camy Tang!!

A Hawaiian Christmas, an undercover investigation—and maybe a second chance at love.

Mimi Sakai has held the infamous title of the Oldest Single Female Cousin in her family for many years now, but her independent streak enables her to ignore the nagging and pitying looks. When she spends Christmas in Hawaii to help her favorite aunty out at her high-end cosmetics store, Mimi is reunited with Tosh, a boy she wronged when she was much younger and much more stupid. She tries to meet with him to apologize, but she unexpectedly becomes embroiled in his undercover work.

Security consultant Tosh Kusunoki has become a loner after being hounded by the gossip about his father’s fatal car accident, which happened to also kill his girlfriend. He never expected to see Mimi again after all these years, nor could he have predicted that she would be caught up in his investigation into drugs on the North Shore.

Mimi agrees to help Tosh, and as they work together, they fall back into the comfortable friendship they had in the past. But Mimi struggles with loneliness, with regret over who she used to be, and uncertainty over who she wants to become. She knows she’s just a mass of emotional baggage and Tosh should run away screaming.

Despite all that, could Mimi possibly hope to receive the gift of a Christmas romance in paradise?

THE LONE RICE BOWL is Book #1 in the Mahina Security Christian Romantic Suspense series and you can get your copy at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

 Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? PROWL by USA Today Bestselling Author Colleen Coble!!

When a worker at the Sanctuary is discovered dead in the tiger enclosure, authorities assume the big cat killed her. But when the autopsy shows she was killed by a lethal dose of anesthetic delivered by a tranquilizer gun, suspicion falls on Blake Lawson, co-owner of the Sanctuary. Blake has his hands full trying to clear his name as well as get the Sanctuary finances back in the black. When a soil test turns up traces of rare earth, he's even more puzzled. Is someone trying to run them out of business to get to whatever is under the ground?

Meanwhile, wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden is determined to find the brother she only recently learned even existed. When the results of the DNA test she ran mysteriously disappear from her portal before she can read them, she realizes someone must not want her to know the truth. A break-in at her new apartment is alarming, but she tries to pass it off as someone trying to scare her away. She refuses to turn tail and run when she is desperate for answers.

For Blake, the only solid ground is his relationship with Paradise, and he longs to propose--but how can they even think about starting a life together with so many forces working against them?

Colleen Coble's Prowl combines gripping suspense with closed-door romance and includes intriguing mysteries from both the past and present, sabotage and danger, second-chance romance, found family, and themes of overcoming pain and how the past doesn't have to define you.

Also in this series: Ambush (book 1, available now) and Conspiracy (book 3, available July 2026).

PROWL is Book #2 in the Sanctuary series. You can pick up your e-copy of this second-chance romantic suspense  at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL MYSTERY & SUSPENSE?

Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? AMISH BURIAL BLUNDER by USA Today Bestselling Author Samantha Price!!

A funeral gone wrong. A coffin that shouldn’t be opened. And Ettie Smith caught in the middle—again.

Ettie Smith attends what should have been a simple Amish burial—quiet, respectful, and without incident. But when unexpected chaos disrupts the service, the grieving community is left with more questions than comfort.

Something isn’t right.

With murmurs of mistakes and secrets no one wants to speak aloud, Ettie and her sister Elsa-May set out to find answers. But the deeper they dig, the more tangled the truth becomes. Between suspicious relatives, a flustered funeral director, and a detective who’s had enough of Ettie’s 'help,' it’s clear this case won’t stay buried.

If you enjoy Amish cozy mysteries filled with small-town secrets, sharp-witted senior sleuths, and just the right amount of mischief, you’ll need to read Amish Burial Blunder—another unforgettable case in the beloved Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries.

 AMISH BURIAL BLUNDER is Book #31 in the Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries. You can pick up your own copy of this Amish Cozy Mystery with Humor and Senior Sleuths at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? WASTED by Jerusha Agen!

She always follows the rules. But what are the rules for murder?

Victoria Weston encounters tough things as a home health physical therapist, but this is a first—a dead body. The police call the patient’s death accidental. Victoria knows that can’t be true. Her efforts to convince the police they’re dealing with a murder get her labeled a troublemaker by all but one man—the troubler of her youth.

When Cillian Doherty returns to right the wrongs of the past, he finds his high school flame in a different kind of danger than he expected. As a social worker, he’s in the perfect position to corroborate her cry of murder or give her what she wanted—to handle her problems without his help.

But someone wants to silence Victoria. When lies escalate to violence and threaten more lives, the Weston siblings join the battle to save their sister. But it will take a God more powerful than all of them for Cillian and Victoria to make peace with their past and catch the killer. Before the killer catches them.

Wasted continues the thrilling Windy City Westons series that features five siblings who encounter danger, love, and God in the city of Chicago. (Each book can stand alone or be read as series installments.)

Praise for Jerusha Agen:
"Jerusha Agen once again delivers top-level suspense and thrilling action. Fast-paced suspense at its best.”
– DiAnn Mills, bestselling author of Concrete Evidence on Covert Danger

"Fast-paced, explosive thriller. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."
– Carrie Stuart Parks, award-winning, bestselling author of Relative Silence on Rising Danger

WASTED is book 2 in the the Windy City Westons Christian Romantic Suspense series. And you can get your copy at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? DARK DESIGN by USA Today Bestselling Author Nancy Mehl.

As she began to lose consciousness, she realized that she'd just made a very serious mistake. . . . She tried to call out for help, but she couldn't see anyone on the shore. There was no one to save her.

When Erin Delaney learns that a serial killer has mimicked the murder portrayed in her bestselling novel, she joins her friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI profiler, in Virginia. Their reunion, only a few months after fending off an eerie killer in the woods of Tennessee, is bittersweet, as Kaely has been tasked by the FBI to recruit Erin's help to identify a suspect. The FBI's team is stumped by the murderer who re-creates killings from the books of multiple authors, with only ominous notes left behind. As Erin is drawn further into the web of fear and chaos, Kaely begins to fear for Erin's safety.

On top of tracking down a murderer, Erin must shoulder the weight of a haunted past and claims that she stole the plot of her novel from one of her sources. As she struggles on multiple fronts, the enemy looms closer than ever--and Erin's life hangs in the balance.

"Readers will be riveted by this non-stop, twisty thriller."--Elizabeth Goddard on Shattered Sanctuary.

Bestselling author Nancy Mehl threads a plot of police investigations and shadowy evidence with heart-drumming suspense in this clean, high-stakes read that will thrill fans of Lynette Eason and Elizabeth Goddard.

DARK DESIGN is book 2 in the The Erin Delaney Mysteries series. And you can get your own copy at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

REVIEW: Perilous Tides by Elizabeth Goddard

Hi, Marji Laine here. I have been reading books by Elizabeth Goddard for almost a decade, and she never fails to totally wow me! The same can be said about PERILOUS TIDES. 

Ferry leaving Seattle for Bremerton

Her newest story begins in a place of my worst nightmares. Not the northwest—Washington is lovely—but being locked in a car that is sinking in the Puget Sound! I had to deal with serious horror as I read through the first chapter of PERILOUS TIDES. Talk about suspense! Wow! And oh, so good!

Beth is a master at the details and allows the reader to live through the story as well and better than some of the greatest suspense writers of our time. The research she does is amazing! For this book, it’s forensic science. I almost feel like I could be a forensic scientist after living in the skin of one for this ten-hour suspense-filled vacay. (Well, if I could draw worth beans! Lol!)

About the research, Mrs. Goddard says, “I based Jo and her mother off a real mother and daughter forensic art team who possessed a unique gift for portraying criminal depictions with extraordinary accuracy, so most of what I used to created Jo and write about her skills I gathered from this specific research.” So cool!

Jo is a wonderful character, rich and deep with layers of experience. “Jo’s experiences, her battles as well as the secrets and answers she discovers along the way, give her a strong sense of who she is and what her real purpose is as someone who will fight for justice against all odds, no matter the cost.” I really like her character, especially how smart she is. 

And I like the romantic confusion between her and her ex-boyfriend, Cole Mercer. That tension is palpable between them. I have to say, second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes. Mrs. Goddard says, “I love second-chance romances, especially in romantic suspense. If the hero and heroine already have feelings for each other—good or bad—that gives the romance plot of the suspense novel a running start.”

The romance does start at an unexpected sprint, but the suspense races right alongside it. I don't want to give too much away, but history becomes vivid—events that I lived through and remember so clearly. I love how each detail has purpose! 

I also love that a couple of characters from the first book of the series play an important role in this one. I always like the revisits from past main characters. And I hope there is a future main character in this book. There’s a detective in this story that lays his life on the line to help Cole and Jo even though he doesn’t know them very well. I’m hoping we get to see him again. He deserves his happy ending too.

This is a strong suspense! One of my favorite so far this year, right up there with Patricia Bradley, Nancy Mehl, and Lisa Phillips. Here’s a little more about it:

High-Stakes Romantic Suspense from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard

Three years after her mother's suspicious death, forensic artist Jo Cattrel is in hiding, working at a storm-watching lodge along the Washington coast. When her father sends her a disturbing and cryptic message, Jo leaves the safety of the lodge to find him. But during the ferry crossing, Jo witnesses a murder--and becomes a target.

More surprising to Jo than being in danger is the identity of the person who steps in to protect her--none other than her ex, former Green Beret Cole Mercer. Now a private investigator, Cole has been looking into her mother's death. If he can just uncover the truth, maybe Jo can end her self-imposed captivity and the two of them can pick up the pieces and build a future together.

As Cole and Jo search for answers, the past rushes in like a dangerous tide before the truth can be revealed.

--

I can't wait for book three of the Hidden Bay series! DEADLY CURRENTS is due to release next February, but you can get your own copy of PERILOUS TIDES HERE! Leave a comment and you could win a $10.00 Amazon gift card!

I hope you LOVE PERILOUS TIDES! 

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

 Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? Dark Water by Betty Thomason Owens.

Revelations Can Kill . . .

Lisa Oliver has spent her entire life hiding, on the run. She didn’t know anything different until Jake Bradley entered the picture. Now, he and his family give her a yearning for . . . home. Something she would never have because of the secrets she’d only recently learned about.

Jake is convinced that learning the truth about Lisa’s parents will release her to a new life. A life with him. But when he finds a body near his office - a man that he knows and has fought with before - Jake himself is on the run. From the authorities.

No place is safe. Lisa travels across the country, but she is still certain that she’s being followed, hunted. Even changing her name doesn’t seem to make a difference. And the closer Jake gets to finding answers to Lisa's past, the more danger he thrusts upon them both.

Will the answers come at a price too high to pay in this thrilling conclusion to the Home Found Suspense series?

Book 1: Still Water
Book 2: Open Water
Book 3: Dark Water

DARK WATER is book 3 in the The Home Found Suspense series. Learn more about the entire series at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

 Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? DOUBLE PROTECTION DUTY by USA Today Bestselling Author, Suspense Sister Sharon Dunn.

When a toddler goes missing,

a K-9 team must move fast.

A family trip to the Wind Caves National Park quickly turns into a nightmare when K-9 officer Kenyon Graves discovers one of his twin boys has been abducted. Now Kenyon needs the help of his team and his longtime friend Raina McCord to save his toddler son. 

But the kidnappers are elusive—and intent on killing anyone who stands in the way of their sinister scheme. 

With threats closing in, time is of the essence to catch these criminals…before Kenyon and Raina pay the ultimate price.

DOUBLE PROTECTION DUTY is book 7 in the Dakota K-9 Unit series from Love Inspired Suspense. And you can get your copy at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

 Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? RANGER BELIEF by Lynn Shannon

Some hunters choose their prey carefully…

State Park Ranger Laney Torres left the battlefield behind when she traded her military uniform for park service greens. Now she patrols the trails with her loyal K-9 partner, helping families create memories and keeping her favorite corner of the world safe. But when Lanie discovers the murders of a young couple at a remote campsite while the killer is still near, she's thrust into a fight for her life.

Texas Ranger Jonah Foster has always been the grumpy realist to Laney's unwavering optimism. Called in to lead the investigation, the murders—and Laney's assault—leave him determined to find the killer. But working closely with the one woman he's never gotten over threatens to expose feelings he's kept hidden for years.

As more victims fall and the killer closes in, Laney and Jonah must navigate the fragile line between friendship and something far more dangerous. Because falling in love isn't just risky to their friendship…it may make them the predator's final target.

Ranger Belief is the eleventh novel in the Texas Ranger Heroes series, although each book can be read as a standalone. A fast-paced mystery paired with a sweet romance, it's guaranteed to keep you hooked until the final page! And you can get your copy at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? DANGEROUS DECEMBER by USA Today Bestselling Author of over forty novels, Roxanne Rustand.   

A chilling secret, a second chance, and a Christmas they won’t survive—unless they can heal their past...

After a painful divorce, small-town bookstore owner, Beth Carrigan, has rebuilt a quiet life in northern Wisconsin. The last thing she expects is her ex-husband Devlin—a decorated Marine—coming back with life-changing news: his late mother’s will binds them together for six months with a shocking ultimatum.

To secure the future they each desperately need—Beth’s beloved bookstore and Dev’s full inheritance—they must work side by side for six months to manage his mother’s stately home, now a temporary refuge for down-on-their-luck residents. It's a daunting mission that requires compassion, cooperation...and staying under the same roof.

But someone doesn't want them to succeed. 

A string of "accidents" becomes increasingly dangerous. Sabotage, secrets, and a long-held grudge threaten not just their second chance at love—but their lives.

This Christmas, healing a broken heart will be the least of her worries.

The Northern Pines Suspense series: Clean, heart-warming romance, mystery, and suspense set in quaint, picturesque small towns nestled amongst the beautiful lakes, bluffs, and river country of northern Wisconsin. It's a charming, peaceful place to live, where you might just find an unexpected chance at love. Though not everything is as it seems. For danger might be lurking...

This clean, small-town, romantic suspense is book 8 in the Northern Pines Suspense series and available at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

 Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? Laura Scott is releasing book 7 in her "Sullivan K9 Search and Rescue" series, SCENT OF EVIL.   

Tracking an escaped convict...

When a sexual predator escapes from prison, US Marshal Raine Whitman is determined to find him. But when the evil man kidnaps her young niece, Ginny, Raine is desperate for help. When her FBI colleague suggests Justin Sullivan and his K9 Stone, she gratefully accepts, knowing time is of the essence.

Justin has never tracked a convicted killer, but he doesn’t hesitate to head into the Bighorn Mountains on horseback, with Raine. His K9, Stone tracks their quarry, but all too soon, the trail goes off in two different directions. They need to find Ginny, especially if the convict has left the eleven-year-old to fend for herself. But they can't allow this man to harm another innocent victim. Will they find Ginny and the escaped killer, before it’s too late?

Laura Scott has been releasing new books in this series regularly since the first part of January. This Christian romantic suspense is book 7 of 9 and you can find the series page at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

BOOK REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Marji Laine here! Happy Spring! 

I began reading some of Christy Barritt's Lantern Beach books several years ago. Those are books that I can seriously just drink in. So when I happened upon a brand new one, released on April 17, I was beside myself with excitement! 

And CHAIN REACTION, book 1 of the Lantern Beach Blackout: Detonation series, does not disappoint. The story explodes, literally, out of a quiet little town on one of the coastal island along North Carolina. The place is well-detailed and alive with vibrant characters and real-ish events and places. I feel like I should stop in at The Crazy Chefette someday and try one of her grilled cheese and peach sandwiches. The combination wells up curiosity and disgust within me, with the curiosity winning out. 

The two main characters, Raven and Jake, are surrounded, sometimes physically, with "stars" from other books like the leaders of the Blackout security team and the Lantern Beach police, including Chief Cassidy Chambers, the character who started the first Lantern Beach series. While the presence of the other well-loved characters is special, Raven and Jake and their connected past take center stage. 

Both have brokenness and insecurities hiding within them. The insecurities come out slowly and the characters have to battle against them: Raven with her issues of abandonment, and Jake with his fear of failing. Both are such natural issues to deal with that it's easy to relate to these characters. The fact that they have an unfortunate past between them only makes this chance meeting that much more delicious. 

As with many of the Lantern Beach books, the main characters make the book. That's harder to say with CHAIN REACTION, though. Raven and Jake are perfect together with just the right chemistry and concern over the past to make their interactions engaging, but the story is captivating all by itself. Each new setting, each environment and event, could be a backdrop for another explosion. Having bombs as the modus operandi amplifies the danger and heightens the tension. 

And speaking of tension, I actually have a rating scale for that. I'll be talking about that scale (a bell-curve) next month, but I'll go ahead and tell you that this story settles right into my happy place of a #3 with a medium-high (sparkling) intensity. You'll see what I mean next month (May 16).

As with most of the book groups from the Lantern Beach world, there is a bit of an over-arching mystery. The story itself stands alone well enough, but it leaves lots of questions that will be answered in a future book. And this is the very first time that I've read the first book of one of Christy Barritt's series before the last book of the series has been published. Let alone before the second book has been published! I eagerly await the next episode! 

Here's a little about CHAIN REACTION. 

When an explosion rocks Lantern Beach, authorities scramble into action. Was the WWII relic that washed ashore merely bad luck—or something far more sinister?

Dr. Raven Newton, a forensic archaeologist, is called to investigate the bomb that killed one person. With her specialized knowledge of military artifacts, she’s the perfect person for the job—until she discovers who else is on the case.

Former Navy SEAL Jake Laudner never forgot his whirlwind romance with Raven. Once assigned as her protector during a high-risk overseas mission, Jake broke his cardinal rule: Never get emotionally involved. Now working for elite security firm Blackout, Jake is stunned to find himself face-to-face with the woman who still haunts his dreams.

As the investigation intensifies, so does the tension between Raven and Jake. Raven insists their previous relationship was nothing but adrenaline and proximity. Jake knows differently—and he’s determined to prove it.

With a killer targeting Raven and time running out, she needs protection whether she wants it or not. And Jake won’t fail her twice, even if it costs him everything.

--- 

Get your copy HERE!  

Who are your favorite authors who write in series? (I have at least 4 that I can think of off the top of my head!) Let me know your favorites and you might win your own e-copy of CHAIN REACTION! 

What's HOT in Inspirational Suspense

 Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery? Seeking Evil, Book Three of Hallowed Halls Series, by our own Mary Alford was released just this past week! Here's a little bit about it--

No one knows where she is. . .

When BAU Agent Sierra Parker's car dies in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, she breaks a critical rule by catching a ride with a kind stranger. This decision leads her straight into the lair of a serial killer, where she discovers she isn't the first victim. Barrels containing the remains of those who went before her line a wall proving none of them escaped their captor. Can Sierra outwit the seasoned killer to save her life, or will she become the latest victim buried in a barrel?

The last Agent Zeke London heard from Sierra was when she told him she needed to get away to figure things out between them. That was over a week ago and his calls have been met with radio silence. Can he do the impossible and locate Sierra in the middle of the mountains before it's too late?

Find out in the next book in the Hallowed Halls Series!

You can buy Seeking Evil from the Hallowed Halls series HERE  or read it on KU!

Have a great week of reading, lovers of inspirational suspense and mystery!

Patricia Bradley ~ Suspense Sisters

What's HOT in Inspirational Suspense!

Marji Laine here, and we have TWO IN A ROW! Another brand new book releases today by a Suspense Sister. This time, it's with Roxanne Rustand! DANGEROUS STORM is a new element of Roxanne's Northern Pines Suspense series, boasting a small-town, clean romantic suspense story.

This book sounds amazing! Here's a little more about it.

Claire has inherited her sister's small, rustic resort on Lake Superior. Given her business experience in New York, running it won't be much of a challenge. Right?

The cabins and quirky guests she can manage. She hopes. But now she has guardianship of her orphaned five-year-old nieces and their rebellious brother. With no experience as a mom, can she help them feel secure and happy once more?

The children and their more unusual pets make life interesting. But when Logan, her late sister's first husband, shows up at her door and pushes her to sell the property back to him, everything changes.

Someone is threatening her...
She might feel a simmering attraction to him, but is Logan behind it, trying to drive her away? Or is it someone else...someone who will stop at nothing to get what he wants?

And now, the danger is rising.
Lake Superior's North Shore is stunningly beautiful. But it can erupt with incredible, deadly force when a N'Easter slams into its rocky cliffs. A massive storm is on its way.

And life just might depend on knowing who to trust.

Get your copy HERE! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~Marji Laine

What's HOT in Inspirational Mystery and Suspense!

Marji Laine here, and I'm not gonna lie; I have been eagerly awaiting this week's new release! Suspense Sister Patricia Bradley launches her newest book TODAY! Here's the LINK to buy it! 

Deadly Revenge is the third book in the Pearl River series. These books all take place in Pearl Springs, but they all have their own stand-alone story, characters, and romance! I can't wait to get my copy tomorrow! 

Here's a little about the story:
Deputy Jenna Hart has only been working in her sleepy hometown of Pearl Springs for seven months when city officials begin to be targeted by a killer. Twenty years ago, the construction of a dam caused people to lose their land to eminent domain. That wound has not healed with time, and someone bearing a grudge is clearly set on revenge. With the former mayor of Pearl Springs now running for the US Senate, Jenna will have to call in backup to ensure his protection.

That's where Agent Maxwell Anderson comes in. He and Jenna used to work together in the Chattanooga Police Department, and there was even a smoldering fire of attraction. Now they team up to track down the killer before a big political rally that promises to bring not only the former mayor into the crosshairs but hundreds of civilians as well.

As the sparks of romance reignite and the threads of the investigation get tangled when another suspect comes into play, Jenna and Max will have to draw on all of their skills to stay alive and prevent the wave of disaster poised to hit the community of Pearl Springs. The question is, can either of them fully trust that the other has their back?

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji

BOOK REVIEW: FATAL WITNESS by Suspense Sister Patricia Bradley

Marji Laine here. 

Since reading Counter Attack a few months ago, the first book in the Pearl River series, I have been so excited, anticipating book 2 of the series. I was not disappointed.

Fatal Witness starts off like a rocket. I was gripped from the first sentence from the perspective of a frightened child. The twists and turns in this story carried me along like a roller coaster. And I love how Patricia Bradley teases with false security from time to time.

She has a rhythm to her writing that gives just enough tension before allowing for a breath. I found myself heaving great sighs at the end of each suspenseful scene.

The characters of Danielle Bennet and Mark Lassiter are strong protagonists, especially against a large cast of possible enemies. And yes, I think I had almost everyone on my suspect list at one time or other. And no, I didn’t see the ending coming! Well done, Patricia Bradley!

However, I have to mention some charming secondary characters who practically stole the show. Gem, the German Shepherd police dog who belongs to Mark is delightfully playful when she’s not “working.” And Lizi, Dani’s Puli, is intriguing. I had to stop and find pictures of a Puli to fully see this dog in my mind’s eye. They really do resemble a group of four mops with a moppish head. I have no idea how they see through all of those dreadlocks, but they are darling! Patricia Bradley has a talent for details that makes her stories come to life in a unique way!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one other character – so detailed in her description that I feel I know her. Mae Richmond is a septuagenarian potter who insists on living alone in her mountain home above Pearl Springs. She’s firey and direct, but full of compassion and devotion for her friends and family. What a spark to add to this story! I LOVED her.

In fact, I loved everything about this story. Except when I got to the end and there was no more to read! I’m anxiously awaiting book 3 from Pearl Springs!

Here’s a little more about Fatal Witness:

As a child, artist and potter Dani Bennett witnessed the brutal murder of her parents. With no memory of the incident or her true identity, she was forced to take on a new name and a new life, hidden away in Montana for the past 25 years.

Mae Richmond has spent the same stretch of time searching for her granddaughter, who went missing the night her daughter and son-in-law were murdered. Convinced the woman she saw in a pottery magazine feature is the woman she's been searching for, she enlists the help of K-9 officer Mark Lassiter of Pearl Springs, Tennessee, who tracks Dani down.

Skeptical but curious, Dani sets out on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past and reclaim her true identity. But someone close to her is determined to keep the truth of what happened all those years ago hidden.

Fatal Witness is available in e-book as well as paperback and also as an Audible audiobook. I highly recommend the audiobook! Tantor Audio always does an outstanding job on their books and narrator, Ann Richardson, is downright brilliant with her renderings of the characters!

You can find Fatal Witness at all major bookstores, but here is the Amazon link.

INTERVIEW with Suspense Author Jerusha Agen

I'm so glad to welcome a long-time writer-friend to Suspense Sisters this week! Jerusha Agen has a talent for spinning stories illuminated by hope in Christ. 

So how did you get your start writing fiction? 

I started writing fiction from before I can remember! I was one of those writers who grew up inventing my own stories as a young child, when I would often put those stories into a little book made of cardboard and construction paper, complete with my poorly executed illustrations. 

I completed my first novel when in high school, and that was a contemporary Christian romance novel that later became the work now published as If You Dance with Me (after undergoing several revisions and edits to become the book it is now). 

After starting my journey with contemporary romance, my imagination kept wanting to insert dangerous and suspenseful elements into the stories! So now I’ve moved to predominantly writing Christian romantic suspense and other books that are Christian suspense with a breath of romance.

What has being published taught you?

Publishing has taught me a great many important lessons. Among the most life-changing is the need to daily depend on God for everything. I need to trust Him to provide the ideas for my stories, then the words with which to tell them, the keen eye for editing, and the opportunities to publish my books. 

And then begins the part of a book’s journey where I need to trust God for the results with the publication, to get the book into the hands of the right readers, and to generate the sales I need to keep writing!

 What is your favorite part about writing? And what about the least favorite?

My favorite part of writing is having written! Seriously, I do find the most joy in completing a book. That’s a moment of great joy, relief, and a tremendous sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the story to reach readers.

My least favorite parts are tied, I think, between the outlining phase and the writing phase. Both can be incredibly difficult and require a great deal of discipline—something I don’t always have in abundance! 😉

 Are you a panster or plotter when it comes to your writing process?

As you can probably guess from my previous answer, I am a plotter! Early on in my career, I was more of a panster, and then I experimented with hybrid approaches, trying to find the fastest, most efficient method that had the best results.

I learned that I could dramatically shorten my production process by taking the time to plot my entire novel first. And, perhaps best of all, plotting essentially eliminates writer’s block and the need for revisions!

Oh, I agree with you there! I'm so excited about your new book!
Would you tell us about Unseen Danger?

Unseen Danger is getting such a wonderful reception from readers! I think the romance in this romantic suspense novel really shines between two very likable leads, Nevaeh and Branson.

Though Nevaeh is a security specialist who works with a protection K-9 partner, she struggles with fear and PTSD. Branson, a celebrity bodyguard, is pretty much fearless, and he also triggers Nevaeh’s fear from the get-go.

But I’ll share a behind-the-scenes tidbit that Branson is probably one of the most likable, sweet, and swoon-worthy heroes I’ve written. And he’s exactly what Nevaeh needs. It takes her some time to realize that, but together, these two have a fun chemistry that I loved writing and am thrilled to see readers enjoying now.

 What’s next on your horizon?

Right now, I’m part of Holiday Menace, a special ebook collection of Christmas romantic suspense novellas with nine other authors. You can preorder the collection on Amazon now.

Then up next in early 2024 is Lethal Danger, Book Four in the Guardians Unleashed Series! I can’t wait for readers to enjoy the story of Jazz Lamont, her K-9 Flash, and the thriller-author hero, Hawthorne Emerson!

Both of those books sound amazing! Thanks so much for joining us today, Jerusha! 

UNSEEN DANGER description:

This woman and her K-9 protect others. 

        Now who will protect them?

After a brutal attack, it took Nevaeh Williams six years to rebuild her life. Now a security specialist at the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency, she faces danger nearly every day. But when an old friend is targeted, her fragile stability begins to crumble.

Celebrity bodyguard Branson Aaberg could lose more than his career if he fails to end the mysterious threat against his client. Soon he’s more concerned with rescuing the tough but vulnerable woman who joins his security team.

Interview with Mystery Author April Hayman - and a free book!

I'm so delighted to be chatting today with the fabulous April Hayman. Her latest book, When the Pilot Falls, is a mystery set in the 1920s based on a fairy tale and part of the new Ever After Mysteries by Celebrate Lit Publishing. AND she's giving away a copy of it! Woohoo!

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So I have to ask, April. Where do your mysteries come from. How do you formulate the clues and all of the twists?

A mystery is a question that you don’t want your audience to know the answer to until the end of the book and that, hopefully, keeps them in suspense and guessing all that time. So, I just ask myself a question and build from there. Clues and twists come in two ways. While I’m plotting, I work backwards from the “final reveal” and determine how they got there and what the characters need along the way to figure it out and twists come while I’m writing, usually, and trying to make life as painful as possible for the characters and surprising for the audience. A good twist can be hard to write but when it happens, it’s always a fist pump in air moment.

Working backwards - that's a concept! I've never tried that, but I did find writing a mystery in a historical setting was a lot of fun. Did you find it easier or more difficult than writing a contemporary mystery?

In short, I think writing a contemporary novel is more difficult. The longer answer is, that when reading, I will take a historical over contemporary only because the past is like a dream and I can think about it in fuzzy terms. It’s almost fantastical, in that I don’t have a clear memory of what it was like to live during that time.

Oh, I totally get what you mean by that. Like a little vacay into a time period that isn't all that familiar.

Yes. Books closer to our time period make me more suspicious and I tend to nitpick on jargon, events, fashion, etc. Writing-wise, I like that a historical setting is fairly set in stone and I have to be clever to write around them or weave them into the story, like how I included George Remus, the famous bootlegger of Cincinnati. And I’m forced to research more diligently because I know that the history police are always watching for a mistake. I tend to forget to do that with a more contemporary novel because I’m more familiar with it.

How fun that you were able to incorporate a real person into your story. And incorporate a fairy tale, right? Which one is your story based on and how did you fit it in?

The fairy tale that inspired this book is "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," an old Norwegian fairy tale found in the Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. I loved how the female protagonist has agency to make her own decisions, even the really bad ones, and learns from them even while humbling herself. I think we could all learn from her actions, honestly.

I'll give an amen there, but quietly because I'm mostly talking to myself! LOL! So tell me about your life as an author. how does it impact your "real life"?

Real life? Is that a thing? Just kidding! Now that my children are older, writing is just another part of mom’s day job. I still have to maintain certain writing or author hours in which the boys are not allowed to interrupt me. As a matter of fact, I have a small sign I post on my office door that states: IN A MEETING. Text if an emergency (I.e. fever, vomiting, broken bones, burglar, aliens). And, yes, writing time falls under “meetings.”

Of course, it does! You're meeting with your characters!

Right. But all joking aside, finding that balance is hard because I am home all day long. Making writing a priority, and convincing myself of that, is a never ending struggle. One that I’m sure many mothers, whether they work from home or not, can understand. It’s not all bad though. My kids and husband are my biggest fans, all of whom are always letting me know it’s just a matter of time before I’m just as famous as JK Rowling. That always makes me smile.

It's such a blessing to have built-in cheerleaders, isn't it? And what's on the horizon for you?

On the horizon is a new 3-book series set on an island chain in the South Pacific. It’s being published by Celebrate Lit as well. I also have a cozy mystery series, The Crawford and Crawford Detective Agency, in the works. The first book of the series is nearing its first draft (finally) and I hope to get that out as soon as I can. I know quite a few of my fans have been waiting for it anxiously.

Sounds intriguing! And I LOVE intrigue! Thanks so much for visiting with us today! Readers, if you want to learn more about April, visit her website, HERE. 

And here's a little bit about April's book, When the Pilot Falls:

In 1923, there aren’t many pilots, but Willie Labeau didn’t let that stop… her.

A bear of a man, Hugh Taylor, needs a stunt plane pilot, and despite their rocky introduction, Willie sets off for golden California and a new life as his pilot. There’s just one little thing she has to do in addition to flying.

Leave his past alone. Period.

When the flame of her own curiosity becomes fanned by encouragement from Willie’s sister, the feisty pilot can’t help but do just a little investigating.

And Hugh vanishes.

Friends rally around her, and with all the information she can find in hand, Willie sets off to rescue Hugh and battle the evil family holding him hostage.

A fierce air race, a sincere act of humility—are they enough to free Hugh and give Willie a chance to be with him… forever?

Find out in this next book in the Ever After Mysteries, combining beloved fairy tales and mysteries. When the Pilot Falls offers a retelling of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” that will keep you gripped to the edge of your seat as you watch hearts soar and daring dos.

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You can purchase When the Pilot Falls by clicking this LINK or clicking the cover. And if you want to win her copy, share the most recent (or current) mystery that you've read! We'd love to know what's on your bedside table!

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

by Patricia Bradley

WONDERING WHAT'S NEW IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE AND MYSTERY THIS SUMMER? Susan Sleeman's latest released this month ~ DEAD EVEN! It's one you won't want to miss!

When she discovers her worst nightmare…

When Maya Glass—the Veritas Center’s toxicology/controlled substances expert—goes to check on her scientist friend after a cryptic phone message, Maya stumbles upon her worst nightmare. A deadly toxin has been released, her friend’s assistant has died in his secluded island lab, and her friend is missing. Worse yet, Maya is exposed to the deadly botulism toxin and she needs help. Fast. Problem is, the only person she can think of with the right contacts is her former love, FBI Agent Hunter Lane.

Will she let him help her or go it alone?
Maya sets out on a hunt to find her friend and Hunter warns the feisty and tantalizing Maya to back down. But when it becomes clear that he needs Maya to locate her missing friend and find the killer, Hunter knows they must work together to stop the killing spree before the killer gets even and ends Maya’s life.

You can purchase DEAD EVEN at Amazon.