Montana Ranch Crime Ring by Sharon Dunn

 

Book description:

Exposing a smuggling operation

could uncover dangerous secrets.

As veterinarian Erika Gunderson races to save her horses from a burning barn, she is assaulted—and left for dead inside. Newly hired ranch hand Daniel Fowler comes to the rescue just in time. Little does Erika know that Daniel is an undercover ATF agent, investigating gunrunners operating in the isolated Montana wilderness—and considers her a potential suspect. When they unearth a body on the ranch and Erika’s father mysteriously vanishes, hidden family secrets begin to emerge. With more than just their lives on the line, they’ll need to risk everything to take down the smugglers and expose the truth.

My review:
  Love Inspired novels are shorter than trade paperback books, and it always amazes me how much some of the authors can pack into these books. This book comes in at 202 pages, and there is no wasted space in those 202 pages. 

 The book takes off on the first page with a fire that is suspected arson, and from there it is non stop action and drama as Daniel and Erika try to stay alive while trying to catch the bad guys.

Dunn created two great characters in Daniel and Erika who were easy to like and care about. I didn't read the blurb before reading the book, and immediately suspected Daniel of being some kind of law enforcement. He made a great undercover ATF agent. And even though I am not a dog lover, I even liked Pete the dog. :)

There were some surprises in the book when you thought everything was going good for Daniel and Erika, then you get proven wrong.

There was a big discovery at one point, and I just knew what was going to come of that.... and no, I am not giving that away. 

Montana Ranch Crime Ring is a fast paced suspenseful read that I thoroughly enjoyed, and is a great book to have the honor of being my 100th book read this year.

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. 

When Justice Comes, Tupelo Grove Series #3 by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

Book description:

 Hez and Savannah Webster have survived storms that would bury others without a love as strong as theirs--but can they withstand the final battle in the deadly Legare-Willard feud that threatens to sweep away everything they've fought for?

Hezekiah "Hez" Webster and his fiancée, Savannah, stand on the brink of a new life, but their dreams are haunted by specters of the past. Just as they're getting ready to adopt her nephew, two other petitioners also file for custody--both of whom only want Simon for their own gains.

Between the financial company that Hez outmaneuvered to save the university from ruin and the bad blood from the head of the Willard family, it's hard to say who wants them out of the way more. Hez and Savannah's quest for justice leads them through a labyrinth of family law, where loyalties are tested and trust is a dangerous luxury when every decision could be their last.

With the clock ticking, Hez and Savannah must confront the ghosts of their past and their deepest fears to secure a future for Simon. But with every secret revealed, the stakes grow higher. Can they build the family they've always dreamed of, or will their enemies succeed in tearing them apart forever?

The Tupelo Grove series reaches its breathtaking conclusion as an enemy's agenda for revenge runs darker than swamp water and justice remains as precarious as quicksand in this heart-pounding narrative that underscores the power of redemption and forgiveness.

My review:
I have been really impressed with everything this writing duo has put out, and I have been looking forward to the third and final book in this great series. And it was worth the weight. What a ride.

The authors piled a lot on Hez and Savannah in this book. At one point, I asked out loud "Do the authors even like these characters?!" There is a constant battle on in the book for the custody of their nephew, Simon, and at times the likelihood of their getting custody of him looks impossible. 

And there is no shortage of bad guys, including Simon's grandfather.

One thing I have really liked about this series is the relationship between Hez and Savannah. When the series starts, they are separated and divorced, but have been slowly getting back on track with each other and God. I love the fact that a couple that was divorced got back together, and how they took an alcoholic and he got his relationship with God and his ex-wife back. 

There were a few surprises in the book....and I am not giving those away. I'll just say the authors did a great job on pulling those out and totally surprising me. 

This has been one awesome series, and I enjoyed all three books immensely, but this one may be the best of the three. Of course it did help that everything got resolved in it. 

I was excited when I heard that these two authors were teaming up for this series, and it was even better than I expected. 

Special thanks to the authors 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 authors:

USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Colleen Coble has captivated readers with over 6 million books in print, earning #1 spots on Amazon. Her novels blend suspenseful plots, emotional depth, and faith-filled redemption that keep fans turning pages late into the night.

Colleen also teamed up with attorney Rick Acker. Together they launched the high-octane Tupelo Grove series which infused her signature coastal intrigue with Rick's courtroom-sharp twists. Multiple high concept novels continue to flow from their fun and exciting collaboration including I Think I Was Murdered, a ripped-from-the-headlines AI suspense novel.

A passionate mentor to aspiring writers, Colleen has served on the American Christian Fiction Writers board for 20 years, helping foster a warm and supportive community. A life-long Hoosier, she and her husband recently moved to Arizona where she continues to spoil her grandchildren and craft stories in the sunshine. 

Check out her website for more about Collen and her books: CollenCoble.com

Rick Acker writes high-octane suspense novels during breaks from his “real job” as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice, which provides inspiration for his acclaimed legal thrillers. 

Rick has also teamed with award-winning romantic suspense author Colleen Coble to pen bestsellers such as I Think I Was Murdered and their Tupelo Grove series. Library Journal praises their “dynamic author partnership,” and predicts they “will continue to produce hits.” 

When Rick isn't writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife Anette exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading. 

Check out his website for more about Rick and his books: RickAcker.com 

The rest of the series:

                                                 Book #1

Book #2

Standalone novel by the two authors

   

Taming Lady Temperance, The Secret Society of Spinsters Series #1 by Karen Witemeyer

 

Book description:

When passion for justice conflicts with the heart, which will prevail?

Noreen O'Sullivan is an enthusiastic member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and believes herself called to defend the cause of prohibition. When she's invited to join the Secret Society of Spinsters, Noreen jumps at the chance to rally others to her movement and shut down the local saloon for good. However, her passionate campaigning often puts her at odds with the men around her--including the local deputy.

Deputy James Paxton believes in preserving the peace, but Miss O'Sullivan has been disturbing his peace for months. If James wants to be elected sheriff, he can't afford to be seen as her ally. But when Noreen ropes him into helping her plan a temperance march, their growing closeness sparks unexpected feelings. Then tensions escalate at the saloon and accusations fly. James must choose between upholding his badge and protecting the woman who's captured his heart--knowing either choice could cost him everything.

My review:
Karen Witemeyer is one of my top favorite authors, and I always look forward to her newest book. 

And this book has intrigued me since I first heard about it. The book is set in the late 1800's, and centers around a group of women who are unmarried, have no intentions of getting married, and are all about women's rights and suffrage.

The main female character is Noreen O' Sullivan, whose main focus is temperance and getting the town saloon closed down. The main male character is Deputy James Paxton who agrees with her stance, but is torn between keeping the law and peace and helping the woman he is attracted to. That comes to a humorous climax, which I will not give away.

There is a lot of back and forth between the saloon owner and Noreen, with the former not being too excited about her temperance efforts. 

I loved both main characters. They played off of each other very well, and both were very likable characters. There is a lot of drama, action, romance, humor, and even an element of suspense in this great novel. It might seem odd that a guy could enjoy a book with the women's rights and suffrage topics, but I loved the book.

And it is educational. I learned a little about the temperance movement, including the fact that there were temperance hymns, which I Googled. 

Some books have an evil stepmother, but this one has an evil stepfather, who is very easy to dislike.

Witemeyer certainly did not disappoint with this first book in her new series. I thoroughly enjoyed Noreen and James' story.  I am already looking forward to the next book. 

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:

Voted #1 Reader's Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction magazine, bestselling and Carol and Christy Award-winning author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She and her husband make their home in Abilene, Texas. Learn more about Karen and her books at KarenWitemeyer.com.