TITLE:  Deadly Deceit (Harbored Secrets Book Two)
AUTHOR:  Natalie Walters
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****

Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason: to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian's only hope for finding the truth—and the next big story—is small-town law enforcement's lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called the Watcher force Vivian to fight for answers—and her life. 

Deadly Deceit is a story of presumptions, suspicions, and learning to trust. When Vivian’s boss and mentor dies in spite of her best efforts, she becomes tangled in a web of deceit and danger.

The last time she spent time in Walton (in the previous book, Living Lies which I read but didn’t remember), Ryan saw her tenacity but not her compassion. His distrust of her and attraction to her create their own tension even as they are forced to work together to find the Watcher before he strikes again.

I enjoyed getting to know Ryan and Vivian through this story, even though I couldn’t picture them clearly. Vivian is referred to as a brunette beauty; I wanted more details on her and Ryan’s appearances to make them real in my mind.

The twists and turns in the plot line kept me reading and guessing—the mark of good suspense writing. Faith plays a part in both Vivian’s and Ryan’s character arcs, which I always appreciate.
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I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group. Deadly Deceit earns four stars.
 

TITLE:  Protecting Tanner Hollow
AUTHOR:  Lynette Eason
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

Lethal Homecoming
Nolan Tanner never got over Kallie Ainsworth's sudden, unexplained departure. Now when he comes to her rescue after an attempt on her life, all the old feelings come rushing back.

My take: I’d read this story previously and enjoyed reading it again. Family secrets abound and threaten in this well-written novella.

Homecomings should be sweet, right? Not for Kallie. Her abusive step-father was dead, so it should have been safe to return home, but she doesn’t even get to the lake house before an attempt is made to stop her permanently.

Nolan, the man Kallie loved and left, is now a detective in the small town of Tanner Hollow. He’s desperate to save Kallie, in spite of their past.

Plot twists and turns abound in this novella, making it a fast and anxious read. Five stars.

Lethal Conspiracy
When professional fundraiser Lillian Maloney sees her father's campaign manager commit murder, she goes on the run from the men he hires to kill her. A close call brings firefighter Jason Tanner to the rescue, but the killer is closing in . . .

My take: The back copy disappointed me (I’m glad I didn’t read it before diving into the story), because it included a bit of a spoiler. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the thick tension and fast pace of this novella.

A suicide attempt—at least that’s how it appears—starts this story with a bang. In the brief moments at the fire, Jason connects strongly with the victim, Lilly. When he realizes she’s a target, not suicidal, he determines to help her. No matter what.
Great characters and some surprising twists make this another fantastic read. Five stars.

Lethal Secrets
Someone wants Honor McBride dead. When Eli Murphy helps her change a flat tire and discovers the danger Honor is in, he longs to help--but Eli has secrets of his own that could get them all killed.

My take: When Honor and her five (yes, five!) children drive into Tanner Hollow, danger follows them. Eli is a terrific hero: tall, strong and red-haired. The secrets Honor carries kept me turning the pages, anxious for a happily-ever-after for her and Eli. The five kids add an extra measure of sweetness, and the townspeople warmed my heart.

The only issue I have with this one is not the story itself, but the back copy. After reading the novella twice, I could find no mention of dangerous secrets in Eli’s life. Did I miss it? Twice? However, the threats against Honor were dire enough to carry the story with plenty of tension. A great story, well told. Five stars.

Lethal Agenda
When Detective Derek St. John rescues a woman he's met only once before--and has never been able to forget--he finds himself falling for her. But he'll have to keep Claire Montgomery alive if they're to have a future together. 

My take: Derek visits his old friend in Tanner Hollow, Nolan Tanner (now sheriff), and immediately gets involved in a home invasion case. The victim? Claire, forensic supervisor and the woman he’d connected with month ago at a conference.

Levi, Claire’s autistic neighbor, won my heart right away with his stilted language and keen observations. His innocence relieved the tension, but only for a moment. The attacks on Claire continue, and they’re personal.

Another fast-paced, super-suspenseful story, Lethal Agenda wrapped up this four-novella series with a bang. Several bangs. A quick and at times breathless read, it also earns five stars.

Conclusion: Author Lynette Eason has mastered the art of suspenseful romances, with compelling characters, great settings, and plots the keep the pages flipping. And she does it without graphic violence, a trait I greatly appreciate. All four stories in Protecting Tanner Hollow are stellar examples of what a romantic suspense should be.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.

TITLE:  Stitches in Time
AUTHOR:  Suzanne Woods Fisher
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: *****

Detachment had worked well as a life strategy for horse trainer Sam Schrock. Until he met Mollie Graber . . .

New to Stoney Ridge, schoolteacher Mollie has come to town for a fresh start. Aware of how fleeting and fragile life is, she wants to live it boldly and bravely. When Luke Schrock, new to his role as deacon, asks the church to take in foster girls from a group home, she's the first to raise her hand. The power of love, she believes, can pick up the dropped stitches in a child's heart and knit them back together.

Mollie envisions sleepovers and pillow fights. What the 11-year-old twins bring to her home is anything but. Visits from the sheriff at midnight. Phone calls from the school truancy officer. And then the most humiliating moment of all: the girls accuse Mollie of drug addiction.

There's only one thing that breaks through the girls' hard shell--an interest in horses. Reluctantly and skeptically, Sam Schrock gets drawn into Mollie's chaotic life. What he didn't expect was for love to knit together the dropped stitches in his own heart . . . just in time.

I loved this story! Stitches in Time begins with Luke Schrock, the recently reformed ne’er-do-well from Mending Fences, receiving an unwelcome assignment as deacon. His determination to prove himself worthy creates a steep learning curve and tension in his marriage to Izzy (also introduced in Mending Fences).

Izzy’s relationship with her sheep provides the central lessons in this sweet story—beautiful analogies of Jesus as our shepherd.
Newcomer Mollie, eager to live life to the fullest, and shy Sam need these lessons to heal their own pasts, and watching their hesitant relationship develop made me smile.

All four main characters, Mollie, Sam, Izzy and Luke, grow through this novel as they learn to follow the Good Shepherd.
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Stitches in Time earns five stars and is recommended. Book was provided by Baker Publishing Group.