Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Come Forth as Gold
"But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
I don't know how to describe what I am going through right now, a desert time, a season of solitude, a time of waiting and wondering where God is in all this. For some time now, I have felt that something should change in my life with my writing and yet, I feel stuck and not sure what I should do. Also, as a widow, I experience a lot of loneliness and I have felt it more deeply in the past few months. It feels like I'm always having to drum up social interaction texting friends all the time to see if they want to get together. Often, they are busy with spouses or grandchildren. I am longing for a more connected life and for a community of people who are more available. I've been praying for that. And so, I wait and I pray.
I'm sure that verse in James where it says we should rejoice in our trials came into your mind. I know it always does for me. While I know no one ever does a cheer and yells "Hip hip hooray another trial" I have been trying to practice gratitude in the midst of this feeling stuck. I ask God for the baby steps to do each day to change what my life looks like. And I wait and I pray and I pray some more. And sometimes I grow impatient. This is a trust exercise between me and God and sometimes I don't pass the trust test.
I love the visual that that verse in Job gives of coming forth as gold. Such a beautiful picture of how trials shape us into something of value. And I am holding on to that. It gives me hope. How about you? Do you recall a desert time or a time of waiting? How did it turn out? Maybe you are in the midst of a trial right now or wondering if God has lost your number. I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment with your email address. I will choose three people to receive a copy of my Love Inspired Suspense title Defending the Child (USA only).
Sharon Dunn
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Monday, August 31, 2026
WHAT'S NEW in Christian Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
Camy Tang's mysteries always hold unexpected turns and a chance to laugh. I can't wait to read this one.
Sushi and Suspicions
by Camy Tang
Liv
Whelan's world ignites into chaos when her California tactical training center
is ravaged by wildfires, but suspicions arise that the fire was no accident.
Amidst the ruins, Liv’s old college roommate offers an escape to the lush
tranquility of Hawaii.
Yet the
islands hold their own secrets, and a lucrative job opportunity morphs into a
sinister plot framing Liv for the theft of an antique rifle that belonged to
one of the Hawaiian princes. Determined to prove her innocence, she hires
private investigator Lennox Chang, who is reluctantly impressed by Liv’s gun
expertise and help in the investigation.
But as
romance blossoms under the Hawaiian sun, so do threats from unexpected
quarters. Together, they must trust in God to help them expose the truth
connected to the calamity back in California and the perils in paradise.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!
Wednesday, Suspense Sister Sharon Dunn will talk about Job and what it’s like when we go through trials. She’s also giving away a few copies of her wonderful book, DEFENDING THE CHILD.
Caught in a mountain blizzard with a child to protect.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
ORDER IT HERE
On Friday, Suspense Sister Mary Alford will share how reading classic gothic suspense authors such as Phyllis A. Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Mary Stewart inspired her love of atmospheric stories filled with mysterious houses, buried family secrets, and heroines who aren’t sure whom to trust. She’ll also talk about what it was like to step beyond her usual romantic suspense genre and write THE MEMORY HOUSE, a psychological thriller with gothic undertones that explores memory, identity, and family secrets. She’ll also give away an eBook copy to one reader.
THE MEMORY HOUSE
Some truths aren't buried.
They're hidden inside us.
Instead, she finds hidden journals, secret recordings, and evidence that her father’s controversial psychological treatments may have harmed more than they healed.
As Elise digs deeper, fragments of her childhood begin surfacing—memories of a frightened girl named Ivy, whispered warnings from her long-missing mother, and a darkness lurking beneath the house itself.
But the more Elise uncovers, the less she trusts her own mind.
Someone has been inside Coldwater Hollow.
Someone is watching her search for answers.
And someone desperately wants one missing piece of evidence to stay buried. Because if Elise remembers what really happened twenty years ago, she may discover that the greatest mystery was never what happened to Ivy.
It's who Ivy was.
And the truth could destroy everything she believes about herself.
THE MEMORY HOUSE is a gripping psychological suspense novel about memory, identity, and the dangerous secrets families bury in the name of protection.
PREORDER IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Thursday, August 27, 2026
BOOK REVIEW: When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard
Marji Laine here.
Second, this book has the perfect mix of intensity, mystery, and
romance.
Even the book’s first page twisted up my insides. I have
driven mountain roads before. The tension wrapped around my middle and kept tightening
with every turn. Then on Sarah Ellison’s brief hike, I felt like the rug was
ripped out from under me. To say I wasn’t expecting what happened is putting it
lightly. And that was all in just the first chapters.
I love the fact that the author uses not only a criminal
element to build suspense, but a natural one to deepen it and send it out of
control. And I love the fact, probably because of the natural element, that the
Lord is the reasonable call.
Elizabeth Goddard gives a clever mastery of the suspense
element. In addition, she has an excellent rhythm for the breaths that a reader
needs before the next intensity begins. That’s crucial. Readers need to breathe
and have a chance to let down their guard for a bit. Goddard’s timing is
perfect!
As for the mystery, that is another stroke of genius that
develops seamlessly. The fact that family members would want to protect each other from a volatile truth is completely believable, as is the
guilt they might very well have felt. This intrigue stunned me with how real it
felt.
And then there is the romance. Sarah seeks out Ryder Goodwin
because of his knowledge of the mountain and expertise in guiding people in the
area. That and the intel she is able to dig up on him. She doesn’t expect the
man to have such deep compassion. I got the feeling early on that his kindness,
like with his mom, sort of broke away the callouses on Sarah’s heart.
The fact that he saves lives and is drop-dead gorgeous doesn’t
hurt.
And I think he certainly notices her beauty. But he has walls
up, a past that still haunts him, and no room for someone else who can cause
him pain. Her surprising personality starts carving away the stone. And
the life-threatening issues just amplify every emotion.
All of the elements come together like the painting of a master. The story has stayed with me even now, over a week since I finished the book. I’ve even started a few other books, but had to stop them. What can I say? They just didn’t measure up! You have to read this book!
Here’s a little more about the story:
When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather's deathbed confession connected to her brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.
After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.
Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.
This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.
Get your own copy HERE!
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
AI. How much is too much?
AI. How much is too much? That’s the big question.
Is any AI acceptable in writing? My kneejerk is ABSOLUTELY
NOT. But I’m finding there is some nuance in the debate (as there is in pretty
much any debate).
The actual writing of the book:
When it comes to actually writing the book, I believe NO AI
is acceptable. I’m too much of a control freak anyway. I don’t even let it
refine my emails at work—though I have some coworkers who are greatly
benefiting from that feature. I want my work to be my voice, even if it can be
outside the norm a bit. I think that’s a benefit, not a bug. I purposefully do
not want to sound like everyone else. And I want my stories to be my stories. I
want to convey the emotion to the reader myself. I want to create interesting
and complex characters. If you don’t like to do those things, get out of the
writing game.
Editing
I lump this into the same category as above. Maybe it makes
me a snob, but I believe writers should know the ins and outs of writing. We
should understand grammar, punctuation, story-telling techniques, how to pull
emotion out of the reader. But some may say, “We use editors—isn’t that the
same thing?” No, I don’t think it is. A good editor helps a writer see certain
things from a different angle and asks questions that make the writer
think—it’s all human-based. A machine cannot understand that. I guess you could
drop your work into AI and tell it to find typos, but that still just doesn’t
set right with me. For one thing, Word already makes grammatical suggestions
(which are very often wrong) so I doubt AI would be much more help, and
secondly, as a writer, I cringe at the idea of dropping my whole work into AI.
“Tests” to confirm if a work is AI
Some claim that you can drop text into AI and have it
confirm if it was written by AI. However, I’ve seen more than one story about
how past works (much, much older than AI) have been dropped in and come back
over 90% AI. For that reason, I caution anyone to judge any contemporary
authors.
Em dashes
I’ve heard from several sources that use of em dashes in a work is a sign of AI.
Um, no. It’s a sign that a writer knows how to use various forms of
punctuation. Most writers do use em dashes.
Google substitute
Where I do think it can be okay to use AI is as a Google
substitute during research. Writing requires a lot of research, so having that
bit of help organizing information from across the internet is great. Of
course, it’s still our job as authors to confirm the accuracy of the
information by going to the source material and diving deeper as needed.
Cover art
The cover artist I’m currently working with is hardcore NO
AI. I respect her for that. But I don’t know if I would judge anyone too
harshly for using AI to some degree on cover art, especially if it’s creating a
single element to be encompassed within a larger design, when that larger
design was envisioned by the cover artist his/herself. A lot of cover artists
use only images they can buy, but you can’t always find exactly the thing you
have in your head (though I find AI is not always good at that either).
Illustrations
I do not like the idea of illustrations being AI-generated.
I buy a lot of picture books for my 4-year-old and love looking at the
illustrations that some artist painstakingly created. Perhaps AI illustrations feel
too much like the story itself being written by AI. In picture books, the
illustrations are just as important as the words.
Marketing art/memes
This is probably the one semi-artistic area where I don’t care that much.
Maybe I should. Afterall, artists put a lot of work into marketing materials
too, and I respect that. I guess it doesn’t bother me that much since it’s a
supporting aspect of the main work (i.e. the book). Writers were already making
their own marketing materials much of the time; AI just helps them do it
better.
Those are my brief thoughts. What do you think? Both as
readers and/or writers.
~~~
Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt and certified instructor, with a background in multiple disciplines, including Taekwondo and Krav Maga. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She, her husband, their young daughter, and two feisty cats live in Yulee, Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun. Find more information on her books at MelissaKoslin.com.
Coming 9/15/26: Endless as the Rain
If you loved Dangerous Beauty, you'll love Endless as the Rain.
Monday, August 24, 2026
WHAT'S NEW in Christian Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
I'm reviewing this book on Friday. Come back and get my take on this new series.
When the Silence Breaks
by Elizabeth Goddard
A decades-old secret.
A mountain that holds the answers--and danger closing in.
When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather's deathbed confession connected to her brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.
After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.
Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.
This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
Wednesday, Suspense Sister Melissa Koslin asks: “A.I. How much is too much?” How do you feel about the use of A.I. in regards to books? Let us know your thoughts. She’s also introducing her upcoming book, ENDLESS AS THE RAIN.
ENDLESS AS THE RAIN releases on September 15th.
On Friday, Suspense Sister Marji reviews author Beth Goddard's new book, WHEN THE SILENCE BREAKS. She’ll also give away a copy of her own book, GRIME BEAT.
WHEN THE SILENCE BREAKS
A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers--and danger closing in.
After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.
Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.
This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.
ORDER IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Friday, August 21, 2026
Gina Holder's Interview with Kari Trumbo
I'm thrilled to introduce you to author, Kari Trumbo.
Kari Trumbo is a bestselling author, according to Publisher’s Weekly, known for her Wayside Ranch romantic suspense series that emphasizes faith, chosen family, and hard-earned second chances.
Drawing on her background in psychology and criminology, Kari infuses her stories of love, danger, and redemption with emotional depth and genuine tension—skills she developed as a developmental editor before focusing on her own writing.
When she’s not crafting thrilling romances, she enjoys life with her husband of over twenty years in rural Minnesota, where the trees grow tall and mosquitoes are persistent.
And she has a new release.
Beneath Still Waters
Fresh out of training and still haunted by a near-fatal shootout, Ferd Kincade retreats to Wayside Ranch to heal.
She expects quiet. Instead, she finds a body.
When she discovers a mysterious boat washed ashore on a nearby lake, nothing about the scene makes sense and Ferd can’t walk away. Pulling Piper’s Ridge detective Duke Campose into the investigation, she soon uncovers signs of something far more dangerous than a simple murder.
Someone is hiding a deadly secret.
And they’re willing to kill again to keep it buried.
As the truth points to a ruthless drug operation, Ferd becomes the next target. Now, she’ll need every ounce of her training, and a lot of faith, to survive long enough to bring a killer to justice.
Tell us about your new release.
Beneath Still Waters is the first book in the spin-off series, The Wayside
Files. (The new series is richer if readers have at least read Operation:
Wayside ahead of this, but they will be able to read it without the other books
if they choose.)
The thread that will weave through this whole series is: What is home? It will
ask questions like: Why don't I feel at home anywhere? What do I need to feel
fulfilled and at peace?
Ferd (short for Delferdia) Kincade is a 24-year-old officer fresh out of
training in Cody, WY. She suffers a gunshot wound while on duty and is back at
Wayside Ranch, her home, to recuperate. There are some secrets surrounding her
shooting that she isn't willing to share.
While there, she meets the local investigator, and they both happen upon a
death scene in passing. Ferd doesn't seek out investigation, but it sure comes
naturally as she's drawn into this case. It feels natural. She feels competent.
So where does that leave her in her career? She has to go back to Cody—and the
secrets waiting there.
What sparked or inspired this story?
Honestly... I kept seeing requests for Christian fiction without romance. To be
completely clear, it's likely there will eventually be romance in this series,
but I don't see it ever taking over. I wrote this (and am currently writing
book 2) to be a mystery series. Think Murder, She Wrote mixed with a healthy
dose of Scarecrow and Mrs. King, with faith woven in.
Ferd is internally snarky but sees how emotions and less tangible things can
help solve a mystery, while Duke Campose, the actual investigator, is a
solid-evidence kind of guy. Her instincts and his evidence weave together in a
way where neither is more important, and both are helpful in solving cases.
I didn't want one character who was "super smart and always right,"
like so often happens. My goal in writing this was to create a pair who rely on
each other's strengths to get an important job done.
Do you have a favorite character in this book?
I love both Ferd and Duke and don't think I could choose between the two for
the top slot, but as for secondary characters... My absolute favorite is Maddie
the Mortician.
She is about 30 and has taken over her family's mortuary business. Since
Piper's Ridge is a VERY small town, she's also taken over the ME duties half
the time because the last one is 84 years old and semi-retired. She has lovely
blonde hair with bright pink highlights and drives an electric blue hearse as
her everyday car.
She has a sweet and calm demeanor that makes dealing with all things death a
little less heavy. She is not comedy, but levity. And she is based on someone
in real life whom I admire.
Who was the most difficult character to write?
This will sound horrible, but the hardest character was the deceased. Bailey
had secrets. Lots of them. He was divorced. He used to be an alcoholic. He had
turned his life around but was still largely misunderstood. Small towns still
talk, long after deeds are done.
I wanted readers to understand who he was, so he wasn't just "a
body." It's hard.
What is your favorite setting?
With very few exceptions, I write about small towns and rural areas. Give me
rural lakes, streams, fields, gravel roads, and cafes. That's my vibe.
Did this book require you to do any interesting research?
Every book does, to some extent. For this one, I studied which tribes are in
central and southern Wyoming, and while I created a fictional reservation, it's
based on the one that is there.
I often create a fictional town instead of using a real one if a location has
the potential to be recurring in my books because I don't want people who live
in the area to read my story and have my description pull them out of it. I've
had that happen with books written near where I live, and I vowed to never let
that happen to me.
Piper's Ridge is also a fictional place, as is Wayside, though they are real in
my head.
I also had to research how deep the lakes were in the area and how large they
could be. I needed a massive lake for this story to work and was very glad I
found one, though again, I didn't use the name of an actual lake.
That's how I keep things believable. If something naturally occurs in the area
I'm writing in, I can include it. If not, I need to think of another way around
the issue.
How long have you been writing?
I have been published since 2016 and have over 90 published titles.
Did you always want to be an author?
This is a tricky question. Implicitly, no. I was told by friends I would be
"one of those romance authors" when I was in high school because I
was rarely found without a romance novel back then. But my English teachers
would've disagreed.
In 2015, I was laid up with a massive back injury and decided to write down a
recurring dream I had that had story potential. It was not Christian fiction
(though it was clean), and it was pretty bad, BUT it was enough to make me see
that I could do this thing.
I started on my next book the very next month for NaNoWriMo (National Novel
Writing Month) in November. I wrote over 100k words that month and finished the
first draft of the first book I would ever submit to agents and later
self-publish. My agent came less than five years later.
You have written in multiple genres, what has been your favorite?
I have written mystery, romantic suspense, historical romance, contemporary
romance, and women's fiction (under the name Teri Blake). I write in each one
to fill a current need, but my favorite genre is romantic suspense.
Even though The Wayside Files doesn't include romance in the traditional sense,
at least not yet, I miss it. I love writing romance.
If you could be a character inside any one of your romantic suspense books,
which one would you choose?
Marin from Bound by Evidence. She is competent and cool. She's not a K9 handler
but gets to work with a K9. She deals with everything life throws at her and
keeps swinging. I would love to be her.
Which of your villains in your favorite?
Tough question. Since redemption and second chances really flow through my
stories (there's some of that in every single one), I think Maisey from
Hometown Hero is my favorite because she becomes the heroine in the next book.
She gets the chance at the redemption I love giving my characters.
Which do you enjoy more, creating villains or heroes?
Heroes, by far. I always have to add a dash of evil to my villains before
publication. My heroes come to me much quicker and easier than my villains do.
Giveaway: In honor of my interview with Kari, I am giving away an eBook
copy of Beneath Still Waters. Please comment below to enter and be sure to
leave your email address so I can send your book.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Sit Down with Author Nancy Mehl about Fatal Finale
Kristen here. I'm honored to interview Nancy Mehl, our fearless leader at the Suspense Sisters, about her latest release, Fatal Finale. She's giving away one copy of the book, so keep reading to the end to learn how to enter the giveaway.
Nancy, it's such a joy to chat with you about your new release today. What sparked the first seed of this story—an image, a question, a character, or a “what if” moment?
I needed a dramatic end to Erin and Kaely’s story. My “what if” moment was wondering what would happen if Kaely was kidnapped and Erin was the only person who could save her life.
I've got goosebumps already! Did any real‑life location, person, or experience quietly inspire elements of the plot or setting? If so, how?
I set this series in the Great Smoky Mountains. I decided it was the perfect place to hide a kidnap victim. Lots of forest and spots to hide.
If you could step into one scene from the book—not the dangerous ones—where would you go and why?
Interesting question. I guess I can’t lead the police to the spot where Kaely is being held? LOL! Okay, then I guess I’d want to join whoever is left at the end of the book. (See what I did there? I didn’t say that everyone would make it out alive!)
Haha, no spoilers here! What’s one part of your daily routine that quietly fuels your creativity or keeps you grounded?
Praying while I’m writing – asking the Holy Spirit to help me – reminds me that this is more than just entertainment. I want to touch people for Him. That’s the reason I write.
I love that advice, and it's so relevant for all of us, no matter what we're doing throughout our day. What’s one theme in this book that reflects something you’ve personally wrestled with or learned in your own life?
I think the most pervasive theme of “Fatal Finale” is trust. Kaely must trust God through her ordeal – and Erin must trust Him to find Kaely in time. It’s easy to trust when things are going well. A lot harder when they’re not.
I feel you there. What are you working on now?
I’m writing book two in my new series. It’s titled “The Holmes and Watson Files.” The series revolves around two police detectives – Nathan Holmes and Rachel Watson. It’s my first series involving the police, and it’s something I’ve wanted to write about for a long time. I hope readers enjoy these books. Book one, “Redux” releases in February. It’s followed by book two, “Resurge” and book three, “Reborn.”
I can't wait to hear more details about those stories soon! Where can your readers learn more about you?
I’m active on Facebook. Readers can also contact me through my website: nancymehl.com. My books are available online and in stores across the country.
Thanks, Nancy, for sharing your time and story with us! Keep reading to learn more about Nancy and how to enter to win a copy of Fatal Finale.
Now, here's more about Fatal Finale.
They'd started back to the house when they heard a male voice behind them. Then a shot rang out.
"Run!" Kaely said.
When bestselling author Erin Delaney's novel gets picked up for a movie deal, she eagerly awaits her friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter's arrival in Tennessee before they head to California to observe the film's production. However, when Kaely does not arrive at the scheduled time and Erin can't reach her by phone, her concern grows.
A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms Erin's worst fear--she has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The message comes with a warning: Contact the police or FBI, and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department, and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.
Nancy is giving away a print copy (U.S. only) or an eBook for an international winner. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment along with your email address.
***
Congrats to Debbie P. on winning the giveaway! Thank you to everyone who commented.
Monday, August 17, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
Suspense Sister Nancy Mehl has a yummy new suspense that releases TODAY! Happy Launch Day!
Fatal Finale: a Christian romantic suspense novel with action, cryptic clues, police, and FBI Investigations
by Nancy Mehl
They'd started back to
the house when they heard a male voice behind them. Then a shot rang out.
"Run!" Kaely
said.
When bestselling author
Erin Delaney's novel gets picked up for a movie deal, she eagerly awaits her
friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter's arrival in Tennessee before they head to California
to observe the film's production. However, when Kaely does not arrive at the
scheduled time and Erin can't reach her by phone, her concern grows.
A cryptic phone call from
Kaely's kidnapper confirms Erin's worst fear--she has exactly six days to save
her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The message comes with a
warning: Contact the police or FBI, and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary
Police Department, and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an
impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the
kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.
Nancy Mehl delivers
thrills like no one else in the closure of her high-stakes Christian romantic
suspense series full of action, investigations, cryptic clues, and dangerous
threats. This promises to captivate fans of Criminal Minds, Lynette
Eason, Colleen Coble, Irene Hannon, Susan May Warren, and Elizabeth Goddard.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!
Wednesday, Suspense Sister Kristin Hogrefe Parnell interviews author Nancy Mehl about her new release, FATAL FINALE. Leave a comment and you could win a print copy (U.S. only) or an eBook copy.
FATAL FINALE
They'd started back to the house when they heard a male voice behind them. Then a shot rang out.
"Run!" Kaely said.
A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms Erin's worst fear--she has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The message comes with a warning: Contact the police or FBI, and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department, and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.
ORDER IT HERE
On Friday, Suspense Sister Gina Holder interviews author Kari Trumbo about her book, BENEATH STILL WATERS
Fresh out of training and still haunted by a near-fatal shootout, Ferd Kincade retreats to Wayside Ranch to heal.
She expects quiet. Instead, she finds a body.
When she discovers a mysterious boat washed ashore on a nearby lake, nothing about the scene makes sense and Ferd can’t walk away. Pulling Piper’s Ridge detective Duke Campose into the investigation, she soon uncovers signs of something far more dangerous than a simple murder.
Someone is hiding a deadly secret.
And they’re willing to kill again to keep it buried.
As the truth points to a ruthless drug operation, Ferd becomes the next target. Now, she’ll need every ounce of her training, and a lot of faith, to survive long enough to bring a killer to justice.
ORDER IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Friday, August 14, 2026
THE WRITING LIFE - WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
The writing life can be interesting. When I started writing, manuscripts were sent in the mail. (Yes, I’m that old.) I remember when the idea of sending work over the Internet was something publishers weren’t sure about. The change came slowly. Now, our work is sent back and forth in seconds. The idea of going back to paper is…ridiculous. However, this fast-paced digital life can present problems. Like when a manuscript disappears and there’s no way to retrieve it. So…you have to write it again, making your release date much longer than anyone, including me, my publisher, and my readers, expected. After a long wait, FATAL FINALE, the third and final book in my “The Erin Delaney Mysteries” series, will release on August 18th. This series brings back one of my most popular characters, Kaely Quinn. Here’s a little something about the book:
They'd started back to the house when they heard a male voice behind them. Then a shot rang out.
"Run!" Kaely said.
A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms Erin's worst fear--she has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The message comes with a warning: Contact the police or FBI, and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department, and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.
Nancy Mehl delivers thrills like no one else in the closure of her high-stakes Christian romantic suspense series full of action, investigations, cryptic clues, and dangerous threats. This promises to captivate fans of Criminal Minds, Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble, Irene Hannon, Susan May Warren, and Elizabeth Goddard.
And by the way, I email my work to myself every day now. A very successful author told me that no matter what advice she’s received, it’s the only way of saving her work that she trusts. Wise words and very helpful. Thanks, Colleen.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
A VISIT WITH CARRIE STUART PARKS
Join us today for a great interview with Carrie Stuart Parks. I met Carrie many years ago at an American Christian Fiction Writers conference, and we just hit it off. She is a fascinating writer with a great "Day Job" as a forensic artist. Check her website out for more details. She also raises Great Pyrenees!
Now for our interview. We'll be talking about her book, Survival in the Mountains. Carrie is giving away a print copy so be sure to leave a comment.
Carrie: I think two things came together in my mind—one was the tricky sales claims of various products: “bestselling suntan oil” doesn’t mean it works, “Doctor recommended” could be a doctor of literature, “Over one million bottles sold” could mean there are a million chumps. There are a lot of ‘miracle’ products advertised that claim to cure anything from hangnails to cancer. What if someone wanted to exploit that? Add to that, when I was going through chemo for breast cancer, one of the chemo drugs came from the lowly yew tree. Soooooo, what if a couple of like-minded bad guys decided to exploit a common berry that could, supposedly, keep you looking young?
Patricia: Oh, wow! I love the way your mind works. What’s your favorite scene? And why.
Carrie: Any scene with Izzy, the Bull Terrier.
Patricia: I can see that. :-) What keeps you at the keyboard, especially on days you would rather do something else?
Carrie: Deadlines.
Patricia: I'm with you there. Is there a part of the book that comes from your own life?
Carrie: I mentioned the chemo drug. Izzy—we’ve had bullies for 37 years. Idaho. Horseback riding.
Patricia: How long does it usually take you to write a book from thought to finish?
Carrie: It used to take a year. Now more like 4 months.
Patricia: Deadlines usually make us write faster...or at least make writing a priority. What’s your favorite beverage? Coffee, tea or something else?
Carrie: Coffee and wine.
Patricia: Ah, a girl after my own heart! What are you working on now?
Carrie: Edits for two books—Dead File Whispers and Tracked in the Wilderness
Patricia: Oh, wow, you are busy! Thanks for taking time to visit The Suspense Sisters Blog!
Be sure to check out Carrie's website and social media. She's giving away a copy of Survival in the Mountains to someone who leaves a comment on the blog. (US addresses only) You can ask Carrie a question or comment whether you've read any of Carrie's books. I've read Survival in the Mountains, and it is awesome!
You can connect with Carrie here:
Monday, August 10, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Christian Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here.
Brand new release this week! What a tempting read!
Wild Fire
by Kendra Cross
A deadly cover-up.
And a truth someone is willing to burn to keep hidden.
Fire Captain Cole Brennan
has faced danger before—on the battlefield and in the mountains he now
protects.
But nothing has prepared
him for this.
When a series of
wildfires ignite across the Colorado backcountry, Cole knows something isn’t
right. The patterns are too precise. The timing too perfect. And as the fires
spread, so does the uneasy feeling that someone is using the chaos to destroy
more than just land.
ATF Special Agent Bennett
Jameson has spent years hunting arsonists. For her, fire isn’t just
destruction—it’s personal. When her investigation brings her to Brennan Ridge,
she quickly realizes these fires are part of something far more calculated… and
far more dangerous.
Because someone is using
the fires to erase evidence.
Evidence tied to a secret
the Brennan family has been chasing for years. And if Cole can’t face what’s
burning inside him as well as what’s raging around him, he may lose more than
the mountains he’s sworn to protect.
A powerful Christian romantic suspense about purpose in the fire, healing from the past, and finding faith when everything feels lost.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
We have exciting things planned for you this week on the Suspense Sisters!
Wednesday, Suspense Sister Patricia Bradley interviews author Carrie Stuart Parks about her book, SURVIVAL IN THE MOUNTAINS. Carrie is giving away a copy of this exciting book to someone who leaves a comment.
SURVIVAL IN THE MOUNTAINS
Someone is hunting them.
But she can’t remember why…
ORDER IT HERE
On Friday, author Nancy Mehl talks about her new release, FATAL FINALE. Leave a comment, and you could win a signed copy of her latest novel!
FATAL FINALE
They'd started back to the house when they heard a male voice behind them. Then a shot rang out. "Run!" Kaely said.
When bestselling author Erin Delaney's novel gets picked up for a movie deal, she eagerly awaits her friend Kaely Quinn-Hunter's arrival in Tennessee before they head to California to observe the film's production. However, when Kaely does not arrive at the scheduled time and Erin can't reach her by phone, her concern grows.
A cryptic phone call from Kaely's kidnapper confirms Erin's worst fear--she has exactly six days to save her friend's life by solving his twisted clues. The message comes with a warning: Contact the police or FBI, and Kaely dies. But Erin works for the Sanctuary Police Department, and Kaely's husband is with the FBI, putting her in an impossible situation. As Erin races against time, she's forced to crack the kidnapper's chilling puzzle before it's too late.
PREORDER IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
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