SUSPENSE SISTERS: OCTOBER GIVEAWAY

Suspense Sisters: October Giveaway

Coincidence...or Something More Sinister? Plus, A Suspense Sisters Giveaway!

 Hello, suspense lovers! Mary Alford here.

I have a question for you today.

Do you believe in coincidences?

I'm not talking about the little everyday coincidences, like running into an old friend at the grocery store or thinking about someone moments before they call.

I'm talking about the kind that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Imagine this…

Twelve years ago, a man was murdered along a lonely mountain road in a quiet Amish community. His killer was never found.

Now, more than a decade later, his son is discovered dead in almost the exact same location.

Authorities believe the young man took his own life.

But his sister knows better.

Two deaths. One lonely stretch of road. Twelve years of secrets.

Coincidence?

Or has someone been hiding a terrible truth all these years?

That's the mystery at the heart of my upcoming Love Inspired Suspense release, Secrets in Amish Country, coming October 27!

When Eve Lantz returns to Rachel's Crossing, Kentucky, following her brother's shocking death, she's forced to confront the painful memories that drove her away years earlier.

Eve has spent twelve years blaming herself for her father's murder. Now she's facing another devastating loss, and she's determined not to let her brother's death become another unsolved tragedy.

Fortunately, her childhood friend, Assistant Police Chief Casey Masterson, is there to help her search for answers.

But someone is watching.

Someone who knows what happened all those years ago.

And someone who will do whatever it takes to make sure Eve never uncovers the truth.

What happens when the past won’t stay buried?

One of the things I love most about writing suspense is exploring how the past can reach into the present.

Sometimes the most dangerous secrets aren't hidden in dark alleys or abandoned buildings. They're buried in the very places we consider safe.

And sometimes the people we trust most are the ones who have the most to hide.

But while I love creating mysteries that keep readers guessing, there's something even more important to me when I write Christian suspense.

I want my characters to discover that even in their darkest moments, God hasn't abandoned them.

In Secrets in Amish Country, Eve has carried the weight of guilt for twelve years. She believes her choices led to her father's death, and that burden has affected not only her life but also her relationship with God.

Now, as she searches for answers about her brother's death, Eve must confront something even harder than a killer.

She must learn to forgive herself and trust the God she's kept at a distance for so long.

One of the Scriptures that speaks to the heart of this story is Psalm 91:2 (KJV):

"I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

I love that reminder.

Life doesn't always turn out the way we expect. Sometimes we face heartbreak, unanswered questions, or circumstances that leave us wondering where God is in the middle of it all.

But even when we can't see what lies ahead, we can trust the One who does.

That's the kind of hope I want readers to carry away when they finish one of my books.

And it's a message that's especially close to my heart in Secrets in Amish Country.

Of course, before Eve can find peace with her past, she'll have to survive someone determined to make sure the truth stays buried.

And that brings me to today's giveaway!

I'm giving away one print copy of Secrets in Amish Country to a reader who comments on today's post!

Here's your detective challenge:

Two members of the same family die in nearly the same location, twelve years apart. The second death is ruled a possible suicide.

If you were the detective assigned to this case, what would be your FIRST move?

A. Reopen the father's murder investigation. There has to be a connection.

B. Investigate the son's final days. What did he know that might have gotten him killed?

C. Return to the crime scene. Maybe there's something investigators overlooked.

D. Start questioning family friends and neighbors. Someone knows more than they're saying.

Tell me your answer in the comments!

I'll randomly select one commenter to receive a print copy of Secrets in Amish Country. Be sure to leave your email address in your comment.

Mary Alford

WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense

Marji Laine here. 

This sounds like an amazing ending to an amazing series. I love it when a series comes together! 

---

Avenging Angel: A Christian Romantic Suspense 

by Madison Love

---

Rather than hide from her past, she’s hunting it.

Twenty years ago, Sadie Alekseev escaped a nightmare no one else survived with only the clothes on her back and what little faith she had left. She never saw her captor’s face but refused to hide in fear. Instead, she changed her name to Daisy Zurkowski and became a sharpshooter with one mission: track down the man who took her.

Every October, another teenage girl disappears from a national park fitting the same profile. For years, Daisy has chased her captor’s shadow, always one step behind. Until now. A new lead puts her ahead of the next abduction, and she intends to end it for good. And this time, she isn’t alone.

Angel Conway is a field agent sidelined after disobeying orders and reassigned to cold cases. Still one of the CIA’s best agents, his instincts and tracking skills refuse to stay dormant behind a desk. Daisy’s case has haunted him from the start… and so has the woman behind it.

As the clock ticks down, Daisy and Angel pursue a pattern hidden in decades of disappearances. Every three years, the abductions form a near-perfect triangle on a map, pointing to something organized, calculated, and sinister.

With another girl’s life on the line, Daisy must decide if vengeance is worth the cost of her soul… while Angel must decide how far he’s willing to go to save the woman who refuses to stop.

When the truth is finally uncovered, will the pursuit that defined her destroy any chance at love… or lead them both to something worth saving?

Avenging Angel is free from foul language and promiscuity. Christian elements are woven throughout the story, focusing on redemption, mercy, and second chances. This is a standalone novel, but reading other books in the series is recommended.

---

Get your own copy of Book three of the Southern Knight Protector series HERE! 

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!

On Tuesday, Suspense Sister Marji Laine will tell us what’s hot in inspirational suspense and mystery.

Wednesday, Suspense Sister Mary Alford will talk about how two mysterious deaths, twelve years apart, connect to her upcoming new release, SECRETS IN AMISH COUNTRY. She’ll also be giving away a print copy of this exciting book!

The truth could cost her everything…even her life.

Eve Lantz’s life takes a deadly shift when her return home after her brother’s sudden death is met with gunfire from an unknown assailant. Still haunted by her father’s unsolved murder, Eve is determined to uncover the truth behind the tragedies surrounding her family. Joining forces with her childhood friend, Assistant Police Chief Casey Masterson, she plunges into a dangerous investigation. Casey vows to protect Eve and expose the secrets linking these crimes, but the deeper they go, the more perilous their search becomes. The shadowy perpetrator will stop at nothing to keep his dark secrets hidden—and Eve may be the next victim.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

PREORDER IT HERE

Friday, we’ll interview one of our own. Marji Laine will talk about her upcoming release, D-VALUED.

Someone is lying. Possibly everyone.

Tasha Sanderson came to her aunt's Texas farmhouse to disappear for a while — from the law firm that burned her, from the man she can't stop thinking about, from the version of herself she's not sure she likes anymore.

She didn't come to investigate a missing fiancé. Or a murder. Or the peculiar connection between a global tech scheme and a grieving man with nothing left to lose. But when a frightened woman at a roadside accident presses Tasha's hand and whispers find him — something clicks into place that Tasha can't ignore.

D-Street Investigations calls her a trainee. The police call her a nuisance. The killer hasn't called her anything yet.

But they've noticed her.

D-Valued is a Christian romantic mystery set in the small city of High Grove, Texas — where secrets run deep, connections run deeper, and one woman's instincts might be the only thing standing between the truth and another body.

ORDER IT HERE 

Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!

THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

WE LOVE BOOKS

It's about Building Character

I've heard this since I was a "Bluebird," part of the "Campfire Girls" program. But character building is actually one of my favorite things. 

I just released the first book of a new series, and while this character isn't brand new, her development took weeks to complete. Tasha Sanderson was the spunky best friend of Dani Foster in GRIME BEAT and throughout the Grime Fighter series. She is now the "star" of my D-Street Mysteries beginning with my new book, D-VALUED.

When I build a character, I work on three levels, the presentation, the persona, and the pulse. Often I work on these at the same time, but if you really want to put it in order the pulse should go first because it is the central part of the character.

In the Pulse, will be the core values of the character. What are the things that the character will always do? What are the things that the character will never do? And probably more importantly, what happened earlier in their lives that caused these core values to develop? Is it relationships with family members or traumatic experiences that happened to her? Are these situations things that need to be resolved?

That leads me to the wounds. Oftentimes there are more than one wound. What caused the wound and how can it be resolved? Often times a wound cannot be healed, but it can be dealt with. Sometimes it just has to be overcome and lived with or another route needs to be found to bypass the issue that the wound causes. 

These particular situations are important for the development of the character and can make a huge effect on how the character responds to what goes on around her. The wound also tends to develop the a deep horror that the character holds. Oftentimes, this doesn't show up until a time of panic develops

Lies are another important part of the Pulse. Lies can be developed because of practices within the family or background issues, by the influence of others that are respected, or because of habits. The way the character talks to herself or the way others talk to her can develop lies that she believes, both good and bad. What are the lies that she believes about herself? Where did they come from? What could be the resolution? Especially in cases of a lie, the resolution can have a big part in the development of the story. And the same can be true about the lies that she believes about other people. Where did they come from and what could be the resolution for them?

Faith is a big part of the Pulse as well. What is the foundation the background and the growth of the character's faith. How does she interact with God, how often, and in what mindset? The mindset is crucial to discovering and growing the depth of her faith. If the only prayer is in times of need, the relationship is shallow. If prayer is a natural part of the day when anything, good or bad, happens, there is depth to her relationship and a natural acceptance of the constant presence and dwelling with God.

The Persona and the Pulse go hand in hand and sometimes can be developed together. The Goals and Hopes and Fears live in the Persona. Once the Pulse elements are developed, these can be generated. Then, I generally take a Myers-Briggs test for my main character. Keeping her Pulse in mind, I answer the questions to best my ability to develop their personality. The Myers-Briggs test often reveals how my character will react to the situations in which she finds herself.

The beauty of the Myers-Briggs is that the website, 16personalities.com develops the personality of the character for me., telling me the basic behavior of the character and how she will interact with other people. I generally read through it and then summarize it on my character sheet, so that I get it deeply ingrained in me, because I'm the one that needs to know it so that I can stay true to the main character.

So developing the persona is fairly quick and easy. The presentation is a little harder and takes a little longer. Based on my core values and the persona of the character I can give a presentation of my character. Some of the elements of the presentation are not character driven, such as height, body type, eye color, and some day-to-day activities.

Other things can be character driven depending on the personality of the character and what is naturally given. This includes things like hair color, length, and style. Weight falls under this topic along with clothing style, hobbies, strength, and pastimes.

This section is probably the one that I have to refer to the most when I am writing. It will include the type of car the character drives, the type of music the character listens to, the type of snacks she eats, and quirks she has. Favorite colors, likes and dislikes along with dreams and wishes are here. Habits can be defined here as well as attitudes, insecurities, and the fears, values, goals, and lies that are part of the pulse and persona will be reflected in this area. The job or extracurricular activities are often a result of the attitudes, insecurities, fears, values, goals, and lies that she has.

I have to tell you, this list generally starts out as about 6 pages, but by the time I'm done it tends to turn into almost a book itself. It's full of backstories and how my character came to be the way she came to be. My readers won't find that as part of my book or even my series, but the effects of those little pieces will be sprinkled all through the stories. And sometimes some flashbacks will come up to explain where the different wounds developed.

In my new series, Tasha actually gets her beginning in my very first series. Tasha is one of the secondary characters in Grime Beat and the rest of the books that follow that one. She has a desperate wound that develops in Grime Beat, and we learn that she has two other wounds that developed prior to Grime Beat. Then she has a couple of wounds that develop after that series is complete. And one of them is set up in a prequel that will release on November 21st as part of our Suspense Sisters anthology, HOLLY AND HOMICIDE. I can't wait for that release!

If a character is developed well, she feels authentic, true to life, and almost like a friend, albeit temporary. So what type of character do you most like to see in a Christian suspense story? Somebody who's quiet and unassuming? Someone who's gregarious and popular? Or maybe something in between?

Let me know your thoughts and don't forget to include your email address. One of you responding will get a free Kindle copy of Grime Beat.

Thoughts on Winter

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

I am finding that I set a lot of my suspense books in winter. One reason for that is that a cold, blizzard prone setting adds to the danger the characters face. The other reason is that I know winter well because I live in a part of the world where winters are long and sometimes harsh. Feedback from readers indicates that they find my descriptions of this season believable. One reader told me she could feel the cold as she read my books. My book that comes out at the end of December, Taken in Wyoming, takes place mostly in the icy frozen month of January. 

Though I have lived in a place where long cold winters were a reality, I have a love hate relationship with the season. I love being where it snows at Christmas time and I love cozy winter days when I have nowhere to go and can stay inside and watch the snow fall. I love the feeling of having been out in the cold and then coming inside for a hot cup of tea. I don't even mind shoveling snow as long as it isn't cold enough to freeze my nose hairs. It's good exercise. 

There is plenty I don't like about winter. I've never been a winter sports person. So even though I see bumper stickers that say "think snow" for the people who love to ski, that has not been my thing. As I get older, driving on the snow and ice wears on me. Having to plan an extra twenty minutes to let your car warm up before you can go anywhere is a pain. Slipping on the ice is not fun. 

I love to live in a place where the is a distinct change in the seasons, but sometimes I wish winter was just a little shorter and a little warmer. What are your thoughts on the coldest season? Maybe you live in a place where winter isn't a factor. What do you love about that? Leave a comment with your email address. I will pick three people for two copies of Taken in Wyoming so you can experience winter while in your cozy warm house. 

Sharon Dunn

 

WHAT'S HOT in Christian Romantic Mystery and Suspense

SUSPENSE SISTER RELEASE! New release for a brand new series. 

Today, D-VALUED by Marji Laine is only 99¢. I hope you'll take advantage of the special pricing! 

---

D-Valued: Mystery & Suspense in a Small Town 

by Marji Laine

---

Someone is lying. Possibly everyone.

Tasha Sanderson came to her aunt's Texas farmhouse to disappear for a while — from the law firm that burned her, from the man she can't stop thinking about, from the version of herself she's not sure she likes anymore.

She didn't come to investigate a missing fiancé. Or a murder. Or the peculiar connection between a global tech scheme and a grieving man with nothing left to lose. But when a frightened woman at a roadside accident presses Tasha's hand and whispers find him — something clicks into place that Tasha can't ignore.

D-Street Investigations calls her a trainee. The police call her a nuisance. The killer hasn't called her anything yet.

But they've noticed her.

D-Valued is a Christian romantic mystery set in the small city of High Grove, Texas — where secrets run deep, connections run deeper, and one woman's instincts might be the only thing standing between the truth and another body.

“D-Valued gave me everything I love in a book. Characters I want to root for and a mystery that kept me turning the pages. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, there was a twist I didn't see coming. If you enjoy compelling characters, intrigue, and a story that keeps you guessing, you need to get a copy of this book!”
A.D. Lawrence author of THE PURPLE NIGHTGOWN

Get your copy of book 1 of the D-Street Mysteries, a Christian mystery and suspense series set in a small town in East Texas, HERE!

THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS!

We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!

On Tuesday, Suspense Sister Marji Laine will tell us what’s hot in inspirational suspense and mystery.

Wednesday, Suspense Sister Sharon Dunn talks about the pros and cons of winter. She’s also giving away pre-release copies of her upcoming book, TAKEN IN WYOMING.

A missing persons case reopened.

A shocking truth revealed.

Bethany Henderson returns to town to solve the twenty-year-old mystery of her childhood friend’s disappearance, but now someone wants her dead. Attacked and left in the snow, she refuses to abandon her search for answers. With police officer Christian McTavish—haunted by his late father’s failure to close the case—by her side, they begin to dig into the past. But the closer they get to the truth about Felisha’s vanishing, the more dangerous their investigation becomes—because someone will do anything to keep their crimes hidden.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

ORDER IT HERE 

Friday, author Marji Laine will discuss her writing process when she crafts a series. She’ll also give away a copy of her novel, GRIME BEAT, where readers can meet the main character that appears in her newest series. Here’s something about the first book in this exciting series, D-VALUED.

Someone is lying. Possibly everyone.

Tasha Sanderson came to her aunt's Texas farmhouse to disappear for a while — from the law firm that burned her, from the man she can't stop thinking about, from the version of herself she's not sure she likes anymore.

She didn't come to investigate a missing fiancé. Or a murder. Or the peculiar connection between a global tech scheme and a grieving man with nothing left to lose. But when a frightened woman at a roadside accident presses Tasha's hand and whispers find him — something clicks into place that Tasha can't ignore.

D-Street Investigations calls her a trainee. The police call her a nuisance. The killer hasn't called her anything yet.

But they've noticed her.

D-Valued is a Christian romantic mystery set in the small city of High Grove, Texas — where secrets run deep, connections run deeper, and one woman's instincts might be the only thing standing between the truth and another body.

ORDER IT HERE 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROXANNE CRUZ FOR WINNING LAST MONTH'S GIVEAWAY! SHE RECEIVED A $100 GIFT CARD FOR AMAZON! BE SURE YOU ENTER THIS MONTH FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!

THE SUSPENSE SISTERS

WE LOVE BOOKS

The Turn - And a Giveaway!

Marji Laine here.

There’s something so refreshing about a season change. Especially this one that ends a desolate, scorching period of time with a refreshing chill and welcome rain.

Life has seasons like this. I can see the fall in a life or spiritual sense as the season when the work that has been done starts showing fruit. That would lead to winter as a season of rest, preparing for the next opportunity. I see summer as a season of waiting, almost like the earth holds its breath between the planting of the spring and the harvest of autumn.

That leaves the spring.

It’s a season of planting, awakening. For most of nature, it’s the season of new beginnings.

Such is the case for me right now. I know, we’re finally getting to the fall – my favorite season! But I’ve been working for almost eight years to reach this point.

I not only have a new book, I have a new series based on my most popular Grime Fighter Mysteries series. I’m so excited about the D-STREET MYSTERIES. Book 1, D-VALUED comes out Tuesday, October 6.

Here’s a little about the book:

Someone is lying. Possibly everyone.

Tasha Sanderson came to her aunt's Texas farmhouse to disappear for a while — from the law firm that burned her, from the man she can't stop thinking about, from the version of herself she's not sure she likes anymore.

She didn't come to investigate a missing fiancé. Or a murder. Or the peculiar connection between a global tech scheme and a grieving man with nothing left to lose. But when a frightened woman at a roadside accident presses Tasha's hand and whispers find him — something clicks into place that Tasha can't ignore.

D-Street Investigations calls her a trainee. The police call her a nuisance. The killer hasn't called her anything yet.

But they've noticed her.

D-Valued is a Christian romantic mystery set in the small city of High Grove, Texas — where secrets run deep, connections run deeper, and one woman's instincts might be the only thing standing between the truth and another body.

Launch Day price for the e-book is only 99¢ next Monday and Tuesday! Set a reminder to grab it!

And I'm giving away a free e-copy to one of you who will answer this question in the comments: What season are you in? Why do you think you're in that season? 

Don't forget to leave your email address with your comment! I look forward to seeing you're answers! 

WHAT'S HOT in Christian Romantic Suspense

 Marji Laine here. 

I love this gal's books! So happy to highlight one of them here!  

Watched

by Jerusha Agen

---

His mind is a steel trap.
He didn't know it could trap him.

Robert Weston became a psychiatrist to heal people’s minds. He can’t lose his. But if the strange occurrences of forgetfulness and confusion continue, he may not be able to hide the truth much longer. When his psychological issues put his life in danger, he must face the reality that the genetic nightmare he fears inheriting has seized him.

Attorney Monty Montgomery doesn’t trust Robert Weston. His expert testimony once ruined her client’s case. She didn’t realize the psychiatrist isn’t only wrong but also completely unreliable. How can she defend him against a malpractice suit for the insurance company that hired her when he’s clearly incompetent?

Robert and Monty have bigger problems than they know. Someone has a mission. A mission that won’t be stopped until somebody ends up dead.

Is everyone a pawn in the lethal game, or is Robert’s failing mind playing tricks on him? Even with the help of the Weston siblings, Robert and Monty may need a mind smarter than theirs—the mind of God—to escape this twisted game alive.

Watched 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

Interview with Lori DeJong

 Dear Readers,

I am thrilled to introduce author, Lori DeJong to you. She has recently dipped her toe in the suspense/thriller world, but is no stranger to writing great stories. Her novel, Mistletoe and Malice, was a 2026 Carol Award finalist, and its sequel, Sanctuary and Sabotage released September 15th.

Lori DeJong (pronounced DeeYung) is a contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Lori arrived in Texas in 2005 and dug those roots right in. She currently resides in beautiful Georgetown, north of Austin, with her husband of thirty-plus years. Other than their two fur-babies, their nest is empty, as their daughter and son-in-law are settled in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

Lori loves to write about love and romance and all that fun stuff, with a firm foundation of faith. Clean but sassy, sparkly, and even goose-bumpy romance, with God in the middle and characters seeking and learning and changing, couldn’t be more heartwarming or spine-tingly.

Lori is an ACFW Genesis Award winner, a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, four-time Selah Award finalist, Angel Award winner, and runner-up in the Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers Reader's Choice Awards.

Welcome, Lori, to the Suspense Sisters.

Tell us about your new release.

·        Sanctuary and Sabotage is Book 2 of my Guarded Hearts Series featuring bodyguards with an international security company based in Houston. Trevor, my male protagonist, appeared in Book 1, Mistletoe and Malice, and I knew immediately I wanted to write his story. For some reason, I felt he would be perfect for a brother’s best friend trope. So I took him out of the big city, plopped him down at his family’s ranch, and back into the life of Kinsley, the little sister of his boyhood best friend. Sparks fly but they’re both hiding secrets that could send everything toppling. 

What sparked or inspired this story?

·         I honestly don’t know. When I “met” Trevor, I saw an ex-Army special ops soldier now working as a security specialist with an impressive skill set. One who now questions his place in the world due to some personal tragedies for which he blames himself. I felt his story was of a man in a crisis of faith. Not such that he doesn’t trust God, but that he doesn’t feel worthy of God’s attention.

Do you have a favorite character in this book?

·         I would have to say Trevor. There’s just something about a cowboy who’s also a bodyguard. Especially one with a soft heart and fierce protective instincts.

Who was the most difficult character to write?

·         Kinsley took the most research because of her vocation as a large-animal veterinarian. And there were times when she proved a bit stoic and it could be a challenge to get a read on her emotions. But she’s definitely someone I’d want to be friends with.

What is your favorite setting?

·         Sanctuary and Sabotage is set in the Piney Woods of Texas, northeast of Houston. Trevor’s family ranch and the land where Kinsley’s practice sits are right next to each other. I really enjoyed creating Kinsley’s veterinary practice with its various buildings and outdoor spaces.

Did this book require you to do any interesting research?

·         Definitely. First, I have no idea about Delta Force or Army special ops, which is where Trevor served while in the military. That was some impressive information, and while I’m sure I took some dramatic license, I hope I represented it well in Trevor’s story. And, of course, all of the veterinary processes, equipment, and even the educational track Kinsley would’ve had to take to become a surgical specialist.

How long have you been writing?

·         You’d think that would be an easy question to answer, but I had an eleven-year hiatus from 2009 to 2020. I joined my first writers’ organization in 2002 and started writing in earnest until our lives were turned upside down in early 2009. I had to go back to work, we had to sell our house, and I pretty much put my manuscripts away for eleven years. I came back to it in January of 2020, so I guess the true answer would be actively writing for thirteen years – seven years the first time and the past six.

Did you always want to be an author?

·         In high school, I really enjoyed writing and thought it would be cool to be an author. But I had a teacher who discouraged me from that track, and it took almost another twenty years to get back in touch with that dream. But once I joined a writers’ group and started learning the craft, I was all in.

You have written in multiple genres, what has been your favorite?

·         My first series was straight-up contemporary romance, while my current series (Book 3 releases next September) is romantic suspense. I find it a bit easier to write contemporary romance because a suspense thread adds another layer to the story that I never had to before. But my romantic suspense novels lean hard into the romance with the suspense thread being the catalyst for bringing the characters together. It’s actually been a lot of fun, even if more of a challenge.

If you could be a character inside any one of your romantic suspense books, which one would you choose?

·         Wow, that’s a great question. I love both of my female protagonists so much, they feel like friends. But I think I’d choose Kinsley. I would love to have red hair, live on a ranch, be super smart, and end up with Trevor. If I was thirty years younger. Haha!

Which of your villains is your favorite?

·         Hmm. A favorite villain. That’s interesting because you think of ‘favorite’ being something you like, and I don’t like the villains in my stories. If I had to pick one, though, I think it would be the bad guy from Mistletoe and Malice. He was despicable, but he was interesting to write because he was a man of many disguises. Someone talented enough to have lived a good life but who let jealousy and bitterness turn him into something evil.

Which do you enjoy more, creating villains or heroes?

·         Definitely heroes. No question. I find it difficult to get into the head of a villain, but I can imagine all sorts of heroes.

The greatest threat isn’t the enemy outside—it’s the secrets between them.

Security Specialist Trevor Paxton returns to his Texas hometown searching for sanctuary after the death of a colleague under his leadership. The family ranch should be a place to regroup, recover, and make peace with the past.

Instead, it leads him straight back to Kinsley Talbot.

The freckle-faced tomboy he remembers is now a beautiful, determined veterinarian fighting to protect her clinic, her family’s land, and a future built on faith and grit. Trevor never expected to fall for the sister of his boyhood best friend, but the more time he spends with Kinsley, the harder it is to walk away.

When her clinic is sabotaged and danger closes in, Trevor’s instincts tell him the attack is no accident. Kinsley is holding something back, and though she refuses his offer to involve his security agency, Trevor knows the threat is too serious to ignore.

As Kinsley begins to trust him with her heart, Trevor makes a choice that could shatter that trust. Working behind the scenes may be the only way to keep her safe, but Kinsley has a secret of her own, and the truth between them may be as dangerous as the enemy closing in.

Perfect for fans of Robin Patchen, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Dee Henderson, Sanctuary and Sabotage is a Christian romantic suspense novel filled with small-town danger, buried secrets, and a Texas mystery where love and trust are tested under fire.

Start reading Sanctuary and Sabotage today and uncover a Texas mystery where every secret comes with a price.

https://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Sabotage-Christian-Suspense-Collide-ebook/dp/B0HC86XLFV/

Giveaway: Leave a comment below to be entered in to a giveaway for an eBook copy of Lori's Sanctuary and Sabotage. Please leave your email address so you can be contacted if you win.