adult Christian fiction

Sundown is the third and final book in Susan May Warren’s Sky King Ranch series, and it’s a fantastic finale! Here’s what it’s all about:

Former Delta Operative Colt Kingston knows when someone is lying. He may not know the truth, but he sure doesn’t trust Tae, the woman who is caring for his ailing father at Sky King Ranch. Behind those beautiful blue eyes, he can tell there is a troubled–and smart–woman.

A few of her stories prove true–he’s found the crashed plane and the dead body inside. Still, her story of survival seems too incredible to believe . . . until the thugs she claims to be hunting her show up and threaten Sky King Ranch. Now Tae must disappear, along with her secrets.

But Colt’s not about to let her go it alone. And when they discover that her secrets include the antidote to a plague that threatens the world, it’ll take all three Kingston brothers to save the country they’ve vowed to protect.

Susan May Warren’s books keep getting better – and she’s definitely upped the stakes and the pace in Sundown! This book sizzles with intensity from all angles: from the exciting tension between Colt and Tae to the military-like men and their focus on the ops they plan.

Susan May Warren has mastered how to write an exciting, suspenseful, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat story full of fascinating characters and their just-as-strong love interests. That combination hooks me every time, and Sundown was no different. I couldn’t put this book down, and I love how so many angles were at play all at once.

But what makes Sundown a book you need to read if you’re also a Warren fan – and why you should back up and start at the beginning of her book list if she’s new to you – is because she’s also the master of the saga. Short books frustrate me because I want to know characters in deep ways, and then I’m too invested in their stories to want to give them up after a few hundred pages. I want to stay with them and get updates, to drop in on them and find out how they’re doing, I want that world to continue and to feel just as complex and amazing as it did at first.

That’s what Warren has built through her last several series, and it continues through the Sky King Ranch books. Characters and families – the Marshalls, Jones, Inc., etc. – are woven into this series, and their stories continue here. That broadens the cast of characters, deepens the emotional intensity, and builds out this story world in fascinating ways. Warren’s technique and emotionally charged style of writing brings me right into the story, even though I couldn’t dropkick a bad guy or jump out of a plane if my life depended on it like so many of these characters can do, but that just makes me admire them more. It makes these high-stakes story fun in a way that no one else could do.

So get Sundown queued up on your Kindle or en route to your mailbox and settle in for an exciting read. Just make sure that you have an uninterrupted stretch of time – because nothing’s going to take this book out of your hands once you get started.

I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

Defending Honor is the third book in Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians Collection, written with Kelly Underwood, and it releases on October 4! Here’s what it’s all about:

Bodyguard Laila Rabbinowitz is all business. Tough and stoic, she was the perfect Mossad agent…until a terrible betrayal led to her worst nightmare. Being a bodyguard with the Elite Guardians allows her to keep her heart safe—she’ll never get involved with a client, never let anyone close enough to betray her again. And she’s certainly not going to trust anyone who doesn’t earn it.

Billionaire Preston Whittaker walked away from his famous family after a terrible event, but he’s put that behind him—or so he thinks. When his father and brother are killed in a suspicious boating accident, he must take the helm of the family business and carry on the family legacy. But someone doesn’t want him at the helm. They want him dead.

Enter the Elite Guardians. Preston is going to need someone by his side 24/7, and the only solution is…a fake marriage. Laila needs to pull off acting as the trophy wife to the country’s most eligible bachelor. With the eyes of the paparazzi on them, she’ll have to convince everyone that she and Preston are in love.

Preston’s reputation as a party playboy precedes him, and Laila doesn’t belong in his world filled with parties and money. But is there more to Preston Whittaker that the world doesn’t see? Maybe, in time, he’s someone Laila could learn to trust. Only problem is, the danger is closer than they both know…and time is running out.

Defending Honor is a surprise delight! Underwood keeps the action moving, your heart pumping, and the pages turning with this perfect addition to the Elite Guardians Collection.

I must admit that I was a bit skeptical when I read the full summary. A turned-around billionaire playboy? It sounded like, well … a fantasy story, honestly, but Underwood totally pulls it off. She crafted characters that you really care about from the very beginning, and that makes all the difference. She mixes in heartwarming scenes with heartrending action sequences that keep the pace flowing. Throw in believable motivations for the entire cast of characters and surprises that don’t let up and Defending Honor will keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire read!

Defending Honor is the perfect fun fall read. I thoroughly enjoyed this story with characters who felt like they could be friends. Don’t miss this fun ending to a fantastic series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Fallout is the next release in Carrie Stuart Parks’ loosely linked but stand-alone novels that all revolve around a retreat center in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s what it’s all about:

After a difficult childhood, Samantha Williams craves simplicity: jigsaw puzzles, lectures at the library, and the students she adores in her role as an elementary school art teacher in the dusty farming community of LaCrosse, Washington.

But when an SUV crashes into the building where she teaches, her entire world is upended. Samantha manages to keep the children safe, but her car isn’t so lucky. Oddly, her purse—with her driver’s license, credit cards, and other identification—is missing from the wreckage.

After authorities discover that the driver in the accident was shot seconds before the crash, Samantha quickly becomes entangled in increasingly strange events that have her constantly looking over her shoulder.

Samantha has long tried to forget the tragedy of her past, but the twisting connections she discovers between the murdered driver, a deadly secret government project, and an abandoned town can’t be ignored. Those involved are determined to keep these secrets buried, and they’ll use any means necessary to stop Samantha’s search for truth.

Carrie Stuart Parks’ latest novel Fallout is a dangerously delicious tale of high-stakes action and what-if whodunnits. She drips out the drama as Samantha tries to survive each day while you try to figure out what’s fiction, what’s real, and what’s going to happen next.

Samantha is a quirky character you can’t help but love – though you might find yourself groaning at some of her choices. The same is true of a few other characters, too; you can’t help but cheer them on all while wondering what they’re really up to.

Parks’ novels always include a historical aspect, and I love that, but this one read a bit different to me, because not only was the story built around real historical truth, but she placed an event in history that hasn’t happened yet – but could. The possibility of this had me searching online to determine how much was real and how much was creative license early in the story. The very real danger posed by this history isn’t over, and that ups the stakes for any concerned reader. That whole situation takes this book to a whole new level.

So if you love mysteries and whodunnits, if you love history and mystery but don’t mind a bit of fear factor, then Fallout is the perfect autumn read for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The conclusion to Roseanna M. White’s current series, The Secrets of the Isles, releases on September 13, and it will knock your socks off! Here’s what it’s all about:

After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Scofield and her friends must hide the unprecedented discoveries they’ve made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother, who will stop at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family–even if it means being cut off entirely.

Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table–an interest he’s kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed on the islands that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.

As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her family and a team of archaeologists. In a race against time, it is up to them to decide what makes a hero worthy of legend. Is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure . . . or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?

Roseanna M. White ends her series The Secrets of the Isles on a high note with Worthy of Legend! This compelling story ramps up the action, the treasure, and the lessons from each of the ones before and takes them to new levels.

I love how White uses the events of this story to tie together all of the tiny details and ideas from the other books. Nothing is left out – which doesn’t mean that everything is wrapped up neatly – but everything has a purpose. In fact, White surprised me with just how far she takes the action in this story. She definitely pulls every emotional thread her characters have to drive the lesson home and keep the reader as invested as possible in this story – and it works.

You won’t be able to put this book down! The large cast of characters feels like family, and I love the way that they worked together to find the treasure and to help each other personally. The balance of the realistic, loveable characters and the drama caused by Emily’s villainous family means that there’s never a dull moment.

For me, White’s books are known for their lessons. Each one investigates an issue that somehow, through the way that the characters explore this question, is driven home and embedded in my heart. Worthy of Legend is no different. While I hope that there are few out there facing the heartache that Emily does in this book, the truth that she learns is no less real and every bit as necessary. I have absolutely no idea how White does it, but I hope she continues to do so for dozens more novels.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

Read my reviews of the other books in this series, The Nature of a Lady and To Treasure an Heiress here.

Crossfire, Lynette Eason’s latest book in the Extreme Measures series, releases today! Here’s what it’s all about:

FBI special agent Julianna Jameson is a top-notch negotiator who has never lost a hostage. Surely she can manage to take care of her much younger sister, Dottie, who showed up unannounced to live with Julianna while she finished her senior year of high school.

A former sniper with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Clay Fox left the army after a tragic incident that he can’t get past. Now he’s working as a high school resource officer until he can figure out what to do with the rest of his life.

Their paths cross when Julianna is called in to negotiate a courtroom hostage situation involving Clay’s sister. Impressed and a bit intimidated by the calm, capable woman with the dark hair and blue eyes, Clay invites her to speak at his school. Dottie’s school.

But as the anniversary of a school shooting from Julianna’s past approaches, it becomes clear that her perfect record is about to be tested and that Dottie is at risk. If Julianna and Clay can’t figure out who’s behind the attacks, more innocent people will die–and Dottie is next in line.

Wow, Lynette Eason really ups the stakes in Crossfire! The action in this book starts on the first page and doesn’t stop until the very end. I love the way that she kept me guessing throughout the entire story. Every time I thought I had something figured out, she threw in a whole new twist!

That’s what I love about a good suspense story: you fall in love with the characters, get caught up in the action, and the next thing you know, you’re in for a crazy ride – and Eason is a master of this genre. I want to be friends with all of her people, but keep me away from her bad side, because she dreams up some seriously interesting things. She takes each story a bit deeper and just a bit wilder – and that only makes it better.

I love when authors write about friends who are just really fantastic friends – the kind of friends who you know will be there for each other, no matter what – because you know the author’s going to test that in crazy ways, right? That makes for a fantastic story and some really amazing characters. Eason took this one a step further. The two main characters in this book, Julianna and Clay, each had really amazing sisters. I’d love to see each of them have their own stories, but especially Dottie, Julianna’s little sister, because while we get her basic backstory in this one, we don’t really hear her side of things. Her spunk, determination, and kind heart will make her the perfect female lead in a future story.

Julianna and Clay aren’t without those qualities, either. They have just enough to overcome that you can see the mountain of difficulties and you can feel their frustration – but you also see the determination and desire to save the day. We need heroes like these. We need books that showcase that light and the desire to make the world a better place in good ways. We need to see hope and character played out in realistic situations – and while I certainly don’t want to see anyone fight the evil that Julianna and Clay do in this story, the headlines are full of similar situations. Crossfire shows us the other side of the story. In this book – in the Extreme Measures series – we see the side of the heroes who are fighting back against the bad. Crossfire is a good-versus-evil story at its very best.

Keep writing, Ms. Eason. We need more stories that are both entertaining and show us how good really can triumph.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Elizabeth Goddard’s conclusion to the Rocky Mountain Courage series was stunning! Here’s what it’s all about:

Mackenzie Hanson’s special set of skills opened the door to a successful career as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university, allowing her to put her criminal past behind her. But when a long-ago partner in crime delivers a cryptic message about her father’s tech company being under cyberattack, she heads for Montana to secure exposed assets, close security breaches, and hopefully save lives.

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana to decompress from a mission gone wrong. But even as he’s trying to relax, he’s drawn into another mystery, complete with suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common–a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.

When the situation turns deadly, Alex and Mackenzie will have to work together to find the answers they need–before someone silences Mackenzie for good.

The title of this book nails the major themes and issues within it – it’s absolutely perfect! It’s the question of relationships – with, of course, the danger and suspense – that will keep any reader on tenterhooks throughout this story. I love the way that the idea of whom to trust and how far to go to do what’s right form the foundation of this story.

Because that’s really what it’s all about. What are your priorities? Are you willing to put what you say you believe in to the test? Are you willing to take radical steps to live out forgiveness, redemption, honesty, and trust? Will you put the past behind you and move forward to do what’s right, now matter the cost?

These are big questions, and for most of us, we say ‘yes’ without too much thought. When you know that you could lose your family, your reputation, your career, even your freedom – you might rethink those answers. That’s what’s on the line for Mackenzie, and eventually for Alex, too. The weight of these questions and the high cost of their decisions makes for an exciting read – but so does the setting.

As always, Goddard knocks it out of the park with her descriptions of the rugged outdoors and its natural beauty. She incorporated it smoothly into the story elements, and I love the way that this enabled her to add unexpected elements of danger to her characters – even though I loved them, too, and didn’t want to see them get hurt. This made Critical Alliance even more fun to read – and despite the danger in the story, it made me want to head west to see these mountains for myself.

My favorite stories are ones that leave me flying through the pages to find out what happens but then leave me contemplating the issues within for days afterwards. Critical Alliance is one of those fantastic books – and it wraps up the Rocky Mountain Courage series in a stunning way. If you enjoy suspense and haven’t ventured into the Rocks yet with Goddard, now’s definitely the time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

Impending Strike, the latest story in Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardian expanded series is almost here! This is what it’s all about:

He loves her, but he can’t have her…

Elite Guardian Charlie Lee knows that there is no future with the woman he loves—fellow Guardian Lizzie Tremaine. And he gets it. Lizzie’s a single mom focused on protecting her daughter, and Charlie’s got his own baggage anyway. It’s easier, and safer, to keep things the way they are.

Then, the unthinkable happens. While Charlie is undercover, he’s seriously injured…and his memory of the past four years is gone. But maybe it’s the fresh start he didn’t know he longed for.

And now he’s getting too close…

Lizzie cares for Charlie, but she’s lost all the men she’s ever loved and can’t risk her heart again. Still, she’s determined to protect Charlie, and help him discover who attacked him—and why.

But in the process, she begins to discover an unburdened, impossible-to-resist version of the man she knows. And—along with the details of his attack—Charlie seems to have forgotten their reasons for keeping things platonic. Suddenly, all of their self-imposed rules are gone, and Lizzie needs things to get back to normal, stat.

It’s her heart…or his life.

Problem is, the closer Charlie gets to uncovering his memories, the closer he gets to trouble. What will protecting Charlie cost Lizzie?

I love books that let you get into the heads and backstories of exciting characters, and Impending Strike does just that! This latest Elite Guardian story keeps the action speeding past and the emotion running high as you fly through these pages.

I really enjoyed the way that Sami pulled the backstory from both Lizzie and Charlie and made it super relevant to their here and now. She kept their past experiences pertinent but kept the suspense high as she moved them towards new experiences professionally. This added a bit of an edge to the plot and made it even more fun to read.

The spiritual lessons that both Charlie and Lizzie needed to learn were incorporated in fun ways. It’s too easy for us to look back and lump things together and draw assumptions, when in reality sometimes we need to use a wider lens – and sometimes we need to talk through our experiences with a mentor or friend. Abrams draws attention to this in realistic ways – I love walking away from a fictional story feeling as though I’ve learned a good and relevant lesson.

If the Elite Guardians are bookmates of yours – or if you’re in need of a high-octane summer read – then give Impending Strike a try. You’ll be glad that you did.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Nancy Mehl wrapped up her Quantico Files series with Free Fall, available everywhere now – and it’s a doozy! Here’s what it’s all about:

FBI behavioral analyst Alex Donovan and her colleague Logan Hart have been called upon to write a profile for a missing woman, but a little digging quickly turns up more disappearances in Virginia with the same physical description.

Alex is in a race against the clock to rescue the missing victims, so when the UNSUB makes demands of her in exchange for information, Alex takes the bait. But when her life is put in jeopardy, Logan must do whatever it takes to track them down before time runs out.

Alex works to think one step ahead of the suspect, but the more Logan and the BAU learn about the serial kidnapper, the more they fear Alex may not make it out alive.

Free Fall wraps up Nancy Mehl’s best series yet – but it’s so good you won’t want it to end! The Quantico Files are far and away my favorite books by Mehl, and even within the series they kept getting better. The combination of unique crimes, crazy plot twists, and loveable characters make these the perfect books for fans of suspense stories.

Free Fall culminates the trilogy expertly. I don’t see how Mehl could dangle Alex and Logan over any more dangerous scenarios, and yet she employs a wide variety of strategies that keep the stakes rising. I couldn’t put Free Fall down – I read it in a single day! – and couldn’t wait to finish. I love the way that Mehl teaches the reader spiritual lessons through what Alex and Logan face in the story – and for me, these were very applicable.

The only problem with finishing Free Fall is waiting for Mehl’s next book. Write quickly, please.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What’s the rest of the Quantico Files series like? Read my reviews for Night Fall and Dead Fall here.

Rachel Fordham just released a fantastic new historical fiction, and you won’t want to miss it! Here’s what Where the Road Bends is all about:

As Norah King surveys her family land in Iowa in 1880, she is acutely aware that it is all she has left, and she will do everything in her power to save it–even if that means marrying a man she hardly knows. Days before her wedding, Norah discovers an injured man on her property. Her sense of duty compels her to take him in and nurse him back to health. Little does she realize just how much this act of kindness will complicate her life and threaten the future she’s planned.

Norah’s care does more than aid Quincy Barnes’s recovery–it awakens his heart to possibilities. Penniless and homeless, he knows the most honorable thing he can do is head on down the road and leave Norah to marry her intended. But walking away from the first person to believe in him proves much harder than he imagined.

Rachel Fordham’s writing in Where the Road Bends is lyrical and memorable – but it’s her characters that will have you engrossed in the story from the very first page! There’s something about Norah that made me want to cheer her on from the very beginning, and that’s not always the case. There’s much to admire about her, though, and just as many reasons why she needs a cheerleader in her camp.

Quincy Barnes has a past, and he’s a complex character. I found myself believing in him, though, too, and I wanted to see them both survive their troubles. Fordham grabs you from the beginning and gets you completely invested in these characters!

Even though this is a historical fiction, and Fordham sets the scene well, it doesn’t take over. The actions, the feelings, and the problems are all completely relevant to today. It didn’t take long for me to be so caught up in the story that I completely forgot about the time difference.

Where the Road Bends left me pondering lots of smaller life lessons, which fit the story overall very well. You’ll be considering things like:

• When should you give a second chance?
• How desperate is desperate?
• For what – or whom – are you willing to make a stand?
• What does honesty really mean?
• How far should you go to pay a non-monetary debt?
• What does forgiveness – and redemption – really look like?
• Can people really change?

This is the first book by Rachel Fordham that I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be my last! I love the way that she puts words together in this book to make even the simplest objects sound beautiful and poetic, and I want to befriend more characters like Norah and Quincy. If outstanding writing and amazing characters make your heart beat faster, grab a copy of Where the Road Bends today.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.