Double Protection Duty, Dakota K-9 Unit #7 by Sharon Dunn

 

Book description:

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.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

My review:
I love these K-9 series Love Inspired Suspense does. Ironic, since I don't like dogs. :)
They are fun inspirational reads, and it always intrigues me how multiple authors use the same characters and main plot. In this series, gun trafficking is the main plot for the series, with each book having its on separate plot. (If you are reading this review on my blog, this author did a post about how the authors work on a series like this on my blog. Post here.)

I have been looking forward to this book ever since the main male character, Kenyon, came back from the dead. Not really a spoiler since the guy is obviously alive in this book....but when the series begins, Kenyon is believed to be dead, but they discover that is not true in a previous book to this one. And the author did an awesome job with his story.

Kids in books is something I always enjoy.  They add so much to the plot, and a different aspect to a romantic relationship. This book has twin boys, one of which becomes the focus of multiple attempted kidnappings.

I really did enjoy this one. Great main characters: Kenyon and Raina, and three year old Austin and Beacon, among others. There is pretty much non-stop suspense as the team searches for the gun traffickers, while Kenyon, Raina, and the task force does their best to protect the little boys. 

There is also a strong faith element in this story, which I always appreciate in Christian fiction.

Double Protection Duty has a great ending that closes Kenyon, Raina, Austin, and Beacon's story, while setting up for the next book in this series. 

These books are all by different authors, and I would recommend reading them in order. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Sharon Dunn started writing when she was pregnant with her oldest child. He is now 33 years old. She has written cozy and humorous mysteries along with over thirty romantic suspense novels. Her books have won awards and frequently appear on the USA and Publisher's Weekly bestseller lists. She is a widow who lives next to a park with her cat Sparky. She has three adult children. When she isn't writing, she loves going for walks, doing puzzles, reading and meeting up with friends. 

Check out her website for more about Sharon and her books: SharonDunnBooks.net

The rest of the series:

                                                                Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

Book #4

Book #5

Book #6

Book #8, Coming October 28

Book #9, Coming November 25

Finding Faith, The Southern Knight Protectors Series by Madison Love

 

Book description:

I've loved twice and lost both times. I never expected it to find me again, or the trouble that followed.

Four years ago, I was running for my life with my wife and son. Now I have a new face, a new name, and a new home. But I'm raising my child alone.

After losing my wife in a tragic accident, I transferred to the Southern Knights in an attempt to escape a broken heart. I didn't expect to run into someone from my past—the first woman to ever break it.

Faith Conway, my DEA partner before I went undercover to infiltrate a drug cartel in Colombia, made it clear she wouldn't wait for me. She chose her career over love... over me.

Even though she doesn't recognize me now, I remember her—the good with the bad; the love and the heartbreak.

Our reunion is anything but smooth, and working together again is proving to be more difficult than I ever imagined. There's tension and unresolved history between us, yet I can't deny a lingering affection that I fight against. It's a battle I'm not sure I can win.

Still, old instincts kick in when she's kidnapped—and I don't hesitate to step in.

As we work to discover the truth and return safely, we're forced to confront what we left behind.

And what still might be possible.

Together, we face danger, uncover buried secrets, and discover that sometimes starting over means going back to where it all began. To finding faith.

A faith I'd thought I'd lost.

My review:
This author was one who surprised me. I ran across her suspense series Shining Knights Protectors Series, and no offense to the author.....the covers just didn't grab me. But they sounded like the kind of books I like, so I started reading them, and loved that series.

This is a spin-off of that series with new characters along with some characters from the other series. 

It is different from a lot of books of this kind, as in it is the male character who is in danger and is in hiding. Jaxon is a former DEA agent. Widower with a six year old son and a new face and name, he is part of the Southern Knight Protectors.

As with her other books I have read, the author wrote this in the first person point of view, switching back and forth between Jaxon and Faith, always indicating which one, and most of the time every other chapter. I am not a fan of 1st POV, but I do like that kind of writing.

Jaxon and Faith were both great and likable characters. They had dated before he married his wife, and she has no idea who he is when the book starts.

I love the title of the book. It has a dual meaning. Jaxson has to find Faith the woman, in more than one way. He also has to find his faith in God that he lost along the way, so yes...the author does not shy away from the Bible and Christian content in this book. 

In my not so humble opinion, this is the author's best book so far. Loved the cover, the title, the characters, the Christian message, and the non stop suspense throughout  the book. And of course, I loved the ending. 

My only complaint: the book ended kind of abruptly, setting up the next book. I tried to click to the next page, and discovered that was it. But other than that, this was an amazing story of love and redemption among suspense and betrayal. I am already looking forward to more in this series. Though this book will be difficult to top. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance e-book copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Currently 99 cents for the preorder: Finding Faith. 

About the author: 
Best Selling, Award Winning Author, Madison Love enjoys writing clean and Christian romances while intertwining humor, faith, and suspense. She has spent most of her life traveling abroad, discovering new places, and meeting wonderful people. She spent twenty years in the military before settling in a rural town outside of Buffalo, New York, where she now lives on a forty-acre farm with her husband, son, and two dogs. Having been afforded the time and opportunity to bring her ideas and stories to life, she seeks to give her readers the ‘happy ever after’ they seek.

Check out her website: MadisonLoveRomance.com

Girl Lost, The King Legacy #1 by Kate Angelo

Book Description:

A LOST BABY

Luna Rosati found acceptance and comfort with her childhood foster family, but when she became pregnant at sixteen, she gave the baby up for adoption and left without a word. Now a CIA counterintelligence officer, Luna wants to reconcile her fractured sense of self by finding the only blood family she has--the teenage daughter she's never met. As Luna closes in on learning the girl's identity with the help of her mentor, Stryker, she prepares to meet him in her old neighborhood--the last place she wants to be. Then Stryker is captured.   

AN INESCAPABLE PAST

Special Agent Corbin King changed his last name to escape the shadow of his convicted father serving a life sentence. When he runs into Luna, the object of his failed teenage romance, the two must put their pasts aside and work together to expose a secret that someone's willing to kill for.

A DEADLY THREAT

But when they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna are keeping from one another are only the beginning of the threat they face with more than their own lives at stake.

My review:
I have read all of this author's fiction novels with the exception of her Love Inspired Suspense novel. This is her first series of her own. With the exception of her LIS book, all of her books have been in series with other authors. This is the first book in her first solo series, and what a book it is.

Girl Lost had an excellent plot. It is a bit difficult to say much about it without giving away spoilers and details that you don't find out until further in the book. There are a couple of missing girls, a missing guy, and a lot of bad guys who have hatched up a very bad operation. 

Corbin and Luna were awesome main characters. This is not one of those books where boy meets girl and they fall in love over the course of being in danger throughout the book. No, these two very likable characters have a past. And a baby who would now be a teenager between them that was adopted out at birth. The sparks fly all throughout the book between Corbin and Luna, and not always the good kind.

There is a lot of suspense, which I love, and once I got into the book, I didn't want to put it down.

I liked the Christian theme of the book: forgiveness. Luna had to forgive Corbin,  Corbin had to forgive himself and his father. There is a scene in the book that involves Corbin and his dad that I loved, and which sets up the next book. 

There were a couple of surprises in the book. The author had me thinking one thing, and then she revealed something that was a definite surprise. 

And when the whole plot was revealed, it was evil and it made you think. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the King Legacy Series, and look forward to the rest of the series. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:

Kate Angelo is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Selah Award winner, and Amazon Top 100 bestseller from Southwest Missouri. She writes fast-paced romantic suspense novels where her characters confront trauma and find faith and healing.

When she's not putting fictional people through the wringer, Kate works alongside her husband, Jerry Angelo, as the co-founder of their nonprofit ministry dedicated to strengthening marriages and families. Whether she's helping people survive in fiction or thrive in real life, Kate is passionate about helping others discover their happily ever after.

For exclusive updates, free books, giveaways, and wild stories from her life—including the one about her pet lion—subscribe to Kate's free newsletter on her website, KateAngelo.com
Girl Lost is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Spotting the Fire, New Freedom Fire and Rescue Book #1 by Lily Hann

Book description:

 She came to escape the past. He came to face it. But neither expected to find danger waiting…

Paige McFarland came to New Freedom to hide and finish her work. A brilliant paramedic with a classified past, she’s spent years developing life-saving technology to protect soldiers—driven by the heartbreaking loss of her fiancé. But when the couple who took her in are run off the road, and their daughter—Paige’s best friend—is threatened, she realizes danger has found her.

Scott Crafton had never planned to return to New Freedom, but he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to prove to the town that he was no longer the hot headed teen he had been. Haunted by the past and the town’s whispers about his connection to a long-ago disappearance, he was done running and took the position as the new fire chief. When his parents are nearly killed in a suspicious crash, his focus is split between protecting his sister, uncovering the truth, and fighting for his second chance.

As a ruthless enemy sets their sights on Paige, Scott finds himself caught between duty, his desires, and the shadows of his past. The closer they get to the truth, the deadlier the game becomes. Will they expose the enemy before Paige vanishes like the girl Scott couldn’t save? Or will history repeat itself—this time, with even higher stakes?

My review:
This is the first book that I have read by this author. She has a story in Justice, one of the 4 Long Hot Summer anthologies, but I have not read it yet. 

 This is a great debut novel that left me wanting to read more in this series. Great plot. I wasn't sure what was going on for a while, but that just added to the suspense and kept me hooked. 

Hann created some great and likable characters, not only in the two main characters Paige and Scott, but in the "supporting cast" of characters. 

I was kept guessing to the identity of the bad guys, and was surprised when that aspect of the story was revealed. 

The book had a great ending, and the author left a bit of it up in the air for the next book. I enjoyed the story, and it was one that was difficult to put down. 

 Special thanks to the author for an advance e-book copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Spotting The Fire releases October 7.

About the author:

Lily J. Hann writes Christian romantic suspense novels that intertwine thrilling mysteries with messages of faith and love. A devoted wife and mom, she cherishes time spent exploring life’s adventures with her husband and two sons. When she’s not writing or adventuring, you’ll likely find her curled up with a good book or enjoying a quiet moment with a cup of coffee. 

Deadly Force, Hightower Security #3 by Jorgia Yates

Book Description:

Threats don’t shake him...She’s a different story.

When a terrified whistleblower reaches out to journalist Brooke, she’s thrown into a deadly race to expose the truth. Then her source vanishes. Her car’s sabotaged. And someone clearly wants her story buried—permanently.

The last thing she expects is Caleb—a brooding, ex-Green Beret turned bodyguard—showing up on her doorstep.

She doesn’t want protection. He’s not asking for permission.

But when her source turns up dead, the danger gets personal—and Brooke becomes the next target.

The threat is real.
The stakes are lethal.
Caleb’s locked, loaded, and ready to do whatever it takes. Because when the mission goes off the rails, and the woman you’re protecting becomes everything—

Rules don’t matter. Survival does.

My review:
   Yates is still the new kid on the block, with this being her third full length suspense novel. She does have a prequel novella that I believe is still free for signing up for her newsletter.

  The first two books in this series were great. I totally loved them, and devoured them. So doing no disservice to Collision Course (#1) and Lethal Deceit (#2), the author has truly found her groove in this third novel. It was a truly awesome word, and I am not overusing that word here. 

The writing was truly well done. Yates did a perfect blend of suspense, romance, drama, faith, and even humor. I found myself chuckling out loud a few times, such as the thought of a 6 foot plus former military guy sleeping on essential oil scented Strawberry Shortcake sheets. 

I liked the main characters. A lot. Brooke was determined to seek out the truth, with no thoughts to her safety. Caleb was determined to keep her safe, no matter what she thought of him. 

The plot was a great well thought out one, and the author kept the characters and the readers in the dark a bit about what was really going on.

And I have to say kudos to the author for her pro-life message in the book. 

I can't end this review without mentioning the faith aspect. The author wove it seamlessly throughout the story, giving some truths through her characters in a way that resonated without being what some people call "preachy." I read some things regarding faith that I needed. 

The suspense was pretty much non-stop, and I read the book in one sitting, not wanting to put it down.

With this latest suspense novel, Yates shows she has her place on the Christian fiction market. I am already looking forward to the next book in this great series. 

 Special thanks to the author for an advance e-book copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Falling in love shouldn’t be this dangerous—but Jorgia Yates wouldn’t have it any other way.

She writes Christian Romantic Suspense with protective heroes, courageous heroines, and a faith that holds strong when everything else falls apart.

Jorgia married her teenage sweetheart (after a very awkward meet-cute in the 90s), and together they’re raising two amazing children on the spectrum.

Living with chronic illness means her world is a little smaller—but her imagination is anything but. So while real life includes rest, resilience, and lots of grace, her characters chase danger, dodge bullets, and fall hard for the kind of love that protects—body and soul.

Check out her website at JorgiaYates.com. If you subscribe to her newsletter, you get a free e-book copy of the prequel to this series, Covert Rish.

                                                                   Prequel

Book #1

Book #2

Book #4, coming December 8, 2025

A Song In the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse

Book description:

Her music captivates crowds.
His mission exposes secrets.
Their courage defies a dictator.

Against the simmering backdrop of impending war, blind virtuoso pianist Chaisley Frappier embarks on a concert tour through a rapidly changing Europe. When she learns that Hitler's regime of injustice is targeting other disabled people, Chaisley realizes she is in a prime position to help those who are threatened reach safety. But the Führer's growing fascination with the celebrated musician endangers her undercover mission and forces her to walk a tightrope between her fame and her calling.

When Rick Zimmerman receives his next assignment from the British Secret Intelligence Service, he is surprised to learn he'll be acting as the personal driver of a world-renowned pianist as she tours Europe. The role gives him the perfect cover to complete missions of sabotage and intelligence-gathering, but he soon suspects the brilliant, alluring pianist has secrets of her own. As Chaisley and Rick confront evil at every turn, it will take every bit of faith and courage they possess to triumph over hate--and survive.

My review:
  Ever since I heard this author was doing a departure from her usual writing, I have been wanting to read this book. Tonight I sat down and read it from cover to cover, and have feelings I don't normally have after reading a fictional novel. 

It is a masterfully written novel. If you have ever read any of this author's historical novels,  you know she excels at research, and that came through as I read this book. 

But the subject matter. Man. The author has no graphic content at all, but in all my knowledge of Hitler and what he did, I still learned some things...or maybe I forgot. Such as handicapped people being exterminated and some were sterilized early on so they could not reproduce.

The author did an amazing job of showing the horrors and evils that Hitler and the Nazis did, yet infused the story with hope, relating stories - some of them true  - of people who risked everything to save lives. The book made me think more than the average Christian fiction novel. There has been so much in our own country in the last several years that concerns me....and what Hitler did was so gradual, and so many people looked the other way. It is sobering. 

This is not the first novel that I have read set during this time period, but I feel it is the best one that best described what was going on then without graphic details.

And then there are the main characters. Chaisley (where DID the author come up with that name? 😀) Pianist extraordinaire, she has her own handicap (read the book to find out what), and she is determined to help people no matter what. And Rick, an undercover British spy determined to do what he can to help people and hinder Hitler. The two of them together - though fictional characters - give a glimpse into what real live heroic people actually did back in those days. 

It is difficult to pigeon hole this book. Yes, it was entertaining, and even has a slow burn romance....but it was also sad and challenging to read. In one novel, Woodhouse challenged me, and made me want to do better in standing up to hate and bigotry. This may be her best historical novel to date. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

A Song In the Dark releases September 23 from Bethany House Publishers. 

About the author:

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them. You can connect with Kimberley on her website, KimberleyWoodhouse.com.