BOOK REVIEW - "TEXAS SMOKE SCREEN" (BOOK 3 OF QUANTICO PROFILERS) BY JESSICA PATCH.

 Who is setting fires with the victims still inside, and is it to get the attention of a local newscaster? As FBI profiler Vera Gilmore helps homicide detective and former fiance Brooks Brawley solve the case, is there a chance of a different sort of fire rekindling? 

"Texas Smoke Screen" is the third and final book of Jessica Patch's Quantico Profilers scenery, and it's a hot one! There are so many twists and turns, you don't know who to trust. 

As usual, Patch introduces us to characters that are unforgettable and enjoyable. This novel is no exception - Brooks' (can I call him Brooksie?) 12 year old daughter Katie is very well developed and adds a lot to the story.

I highly recommend this book.

BOOK REVIEW - "GAZING INTO DARKNESS" (QUEEN CITY HEROES, BOOK 1) BY HEIDI GLICK

Why did someone try to burn down EPA CID agent Stacey Sanderson's apartment ... with her in it? Will her partner Chance McPherson ever see her as his equal? Or could there be darkness in his past that is haunting him?

"Gazing Into Darkness," Book 1 of Queen City Heroes by Heidi Glick, is an exciting romantic suspense novel. Chance McPherson is one of my all time favorite fiction characters. Also, while I'm used to the usual suspects of law enforcement, I learned getting to see characters in the EPA CID. 

One honor I had was working as a critique partner of Heidi's while I was a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) from 2011-2014, which is my first introduction to Chance and Stacey. I'm very excited to finally see it in book form.

I highly recommend this book.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "UNDERCOVER COLORADO CONSPIRACY" BY JODIE BAILEY

Who is bilking money from would-be adoptive parents? Military agents Thalia and Phillip Campbell are posing as a married couple to uncover who's doing the dastardly deed, but has their cover been blown ... on day one? And is the danger from someone they just met, or from one of the agent's past?

Am I the only one who finds the cover of "Undercover Colorado Conspiracy" by Jodie Bailey exciting? The covers for these Love Inspired Suspense novels sometimes focus on the characters (human or animal) posing in front of a picture of the setting, while others - like the above - are a "shot" of the action in the book. In this case, this is showing you what's happening on page one. Ready to strap yourself in for an exciting story?

This is the 16th book I've read by Jodie Bailey, and they are consistently filled with plenty of plot twists and characters that you care about. Add to that a strong Christian story-line for those who aren't bothered by that.

I highly recommend this book.
 

BOOK REVIEW - "CHRISTMAS K-9 GUARDIANS" (MOUNTAIN COUNTRY K-9 UNIT BOOK 9) BY LENORA WORTH AND KATY LEE

As if attempts to keep tech guru Isla Jimenez from adopting, burning down her house, and a threat to her life wasn't enough, why is she running for her life with Veternarian Michael Tanner while being unsure if he's given the whole story of what's going on? Meanwhile, back at the ranch, can FBI agent/K-9 officer Cara Haines protect her sister from a ruthless killer while aided by an untested K-9 candidate and U.S. Marshal Sully Briggs, who has some... shall we say history with her?

 

"Christmas K-9 Guardians," part 9 of the Mountain Country K-9 Unit, consists of a pair of novellas: "Perilous Christmas Pursuit" by Lenora Worth and Katy Lee's "Lethal Holiday Hideout." The key stories of this series have been resolved in part 8 ("Search and Detect" by Terri Reed), but these serve as a nice epilogue. Both novellas have beginning to end suspense, and characters you've been introduced to in the previous books.

I recommend this book and the series.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "HIDDEN IN THE CANYON" BY JODIE BAILEY

 The protestors aren't happy about Angie Garcia's living on what's considered public Grand Canyon property, but is that anger carrying over to vandalism, physical threats and murder? Or is the perpetrator responsible for several missing ladies a suspected serial killer? And why did her brother send his friend, Special Agent "Linc" Tucker, to help, aware of the tension between them?

"Hidden in the Canyon" by Jodie Bailey is a sequel to "Witness in Peril," which focuses on Angie Garcia's brother Jacob. The author's note gives the impression that was supposed to be a stand alone, but Bailey was intrigued by the history between Angie and Linc, so this is the result. 

Spending a large part of the first quarter century of my life in Arizona - not far from Coconino County, which is also the  home of the Grand Canyon - the setting grabs me. But I enjoyed Linc's appearance in "Witness in Peril," and was very pleased by this story. Bailey did a great job with the relationships between the characters, as well as having a story with plenty of twists and turns, not to mention a lot of action and suspense.

At the point of writing this in early July, I'd say at the moment this is my favorite novel I've read thus far in '25. 

BOOK REVIEW - "SEARCH AND DETECT" (MOUNTAIN COUNTRY K-9 UNIT BOOK 8) BY TERRI REED

 

Who is so wicked that they blew up Zoe Jenkins' house... while Zoe and her baby girl were still in it? Is there a connection between this crime and the Rocky Mountain Killer's reign of terror? If not, can K-9 Unit Director/FBI Special Agent Chase Rawlston and his team catch all the murderers? 

"Search and Detect" is the explosive (pun unintended) concluding 8th book of the Mountain Country K-9 Unit series. Author Terri Reed not only has the job of concluding the running stories (catching the above mentioned serial killer who also stole a therapy-dog-in-training from the K-9 Unit and finding out who is terrorizing their tech guru Isla Jimenez), but she also is telling a moving and exciting story with Chase Rawlston and Zoe Jenkins.

As mentioned, this book is the 8th in the series, and since it is the finale, of course you'll want to read the preceding seven novels so you know what's going on. (Technically, there is a ninth book involving characters featured in the previous books, such as Isla, but the main story ends with this one.) 

As typical, this multi-author series is exciting, and this one is one of the strongest in the group (as well as having one of the best covers, though I think the one for competing with book 5 - Montana Abduction Rescue - tops it. In other words, I highly recommend this series, and "Search and Detect" in particular.

BOOK REVIEW - "TRACING A KILLER" (MOUNTAIN COUNTRY K-9 UNIT BOOK 7) BY SHARON DUNN

Which is the biggest challenge K-9 officer Hannah Scott and her Newfoundland partner Captain faces? Outsmarting the murderer who drowned her best friend? Protecting Trevor Gage from the Rocky Mountain Killer's deadly intentions? Or convincing Gage he needs to be in a safe house instead of making himself vulnerable to his foe by protecting Hannah from her foe? Oh, did I mention they're on an island, where there is plenty of water nearby?

"Tracing a Killer" by Sharon Dunn is book 7 of the Mountain Country K-9 Unit. Dunn has done a wonderful job of keeping the tension going with not one but two villains who first struck a decade earlier but are alive and well (unlike their victims). She also does a good job in developing the protagonists as they deal with their assumed failures of the past.

The big story of this series is the Rocky Mountain Killer, who killed three young members of a rancher's society ten years ago, killed three more in the current time, and dognapped Cowgirl who was being trained to be a therapy dog, renaming her Killer. A second thread through the series is someone who sabotaged the K-9 unit's tech whiz Isla Jimenez' plans of adoption, followed by escalating threats. A lot of these multi-author K-9 Unit series are written where you don't need to read all the stories in order. Not so with this one. 

I have been enjoying the series. It isn't my favorite, but this set has great characters and nail-biting suspense. "Tracing a Killer" by Sharon Dunn is a good example of that, and I recommend this novel and the series.
 

BOOK REVIEW - "A DANGEROUS PAST" BY SUSAN GEE HEINO

 

Should Gabe Elliot respond like the hospital chaplain he is and keep a 50 year old secret shared by a patient? Or should he as the police officer he is investigate this possible murder in spite of the ghosts and skeletons he'll dig up? And should Brinna Jenson trust the man who promised to marry her but didn't to keep from stirring up accusations against her grandfather that were currently in the distant past?

"A Dangerous Past" is the first story I've had the honor of reading by Susan Gee Heino, and I have no intention of it being the last. She did an excellent job developing Gabe and Brinna, and the plot kept me guessing how it would turn out.

Would you permit me to pretend to be a literary critic here? Having read 85 Love Inspired Suspense prior to this, I'm used to having a car chase, an attempted abduction, or someone taking target practice at one of the main characters before the first chapter's halfway done. With those earned expectations, "A Dangerous Past" might seem slow-moving. My opinion? This book has more of a mystery story arc than a suspense one. If you seem to think this book might be dragging - as I did early on - don't give up on it! It is an inspiring read, and as I implied above, it's a first class mystery, with plenty of suspects and surprises.

BOOK REVIEW - "TRAIL OF THREATS" (MOUNTAIN COUNTRY K-9 UNIT BOOK 6) BY JESSICA PATCH

Is the Elk Lake Arsonist the same person as the Rocky Mountain Killer? Why did someone burn down Sadie Owens' house... while Sadie and her 3 year old diabetic son are inside? Are K-9 officer Rocco Manelli and his accelerant sniffing chocolate Lab partner Cocoa able to identify the killer before he (or she) strikes again?

Jessica Patch's "Trail of Threats," the 6th installment of the Mountain Country K-9 Unit series, is a thrilling, exciting story with great characters. But then if I made a list of the characters in the 86 Love Inspired Suspense stories I've read that made a big impression on me, the top 5 - maybe the top 10? - were from Jessica Patch novels, and Rocco and Sadie both are in that list. 

Yes, I said this is the sixth installment of a series. I would strongly suggest reading this series in order. For those unfamiliar with Love Inspired Suspense's annual K-9 series, there are 9 volumes by 10 different authors (the final volume contains 2 short stories, and take place after the main threads of the first 8 novels have been resolved. Often, you can read the stories out of order without feeling lost or spoiling stories from the previous books that may not have been ridden. Not so in this series.

Speaking of this series, I strongly recommend it, and I also strongly recommend this story.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "CHASING JUSTICE" (MOUNTAIN COUNTRY K-9 UNIT BOOK 3) BY VALERIE HANSEN

 Is Finn Donovan guilty of murdering his recently discovered birth father, or has he been framed? Since he's been found guilty, why was the van transporting him attacked? And why choose his ex-girlfriend, Deputy Selena Smith, and her Belgian Malinois K-9 partner of all people (and dogs)?

"Chasing Justice" by Valerie Hansen is book 3 of the 9 volume, multi-author Mountain Country K-9 Unit series from Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense imprint. As you'd expect, you have plenty of action, starting from the beginning when a truck pushes the vehicle transporting Donavan off a cliff and continuing to the showdown between the bad person and the heroes of this story. There's also development and chemistry between the male and female leads of this story.

Considering this is the third book of a series, should you read parts one and two first? You can enjoy this story if you read this by itself, but I would recommend that you first read "Baby Protection Mission" by Laura Scott and "Her Duty Bound Defender" by Sharee Stover (respectively books 1 and 2 of this series). As usual, this series combines a unique romantic suspense novel (in this case, the story of Finn and Selena) with three sub-plots that span the whole series. In the Mountain Country K-9 Unit collection, these are trying to catch the Rocky Mountain Killer (aka RMK) who committed three murders ten years ago and has resumed with two - or is it three? - new victims; the dognapped therapy dog Cowgirl (is this connected to the RMK?), and the sabotage of their crime tech's chances to be a foster parent. 

BOOK REVIEW: "HER DUTY BOUND DEFENDER" (MOUNTAIN COUNTRY K-9 UNIT BOOK 2) BY SHAREE STOVER

 Is due-any-moment Naomi Carr-Cavanaugh a would-be victim of a pair of masked men, or is she a drug-dealing mass murderer? Can Detective/K-9 officer Bennett Ford determine whether she is the long sought after killer or not before some thugs silence her? 

"Her Duty Bound Defender" by Sharee Stover is the second installment of Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense annual multi-author series Mountain Country K-9 Unit. It has the action, plot twists, and interesting characters (especially the dog). 

Usually, the first story opens with a big crime to be solved (in this case, the Rocky Mountain Killer who murdered three members of a club ten years ago and two more just recently), and the first story has a case where the heroes question if it's connected to the big story (it never is, or it would be a short series). The difference with this series is the second book also follows that pattern; typically books from 2-6 have stories unrelated to the big  story. 

If you are a fan of Love Inspired Suspense and adorable K-9s, I recommend this book. 

BOOK REVIEW - "BLOWN COVER" BY JODIE BAILEY

 

What is Makenzie Fuller's former partner - AWOL for a year - doing at her undercover assignment? Does Ian Andrew really have no memory of the past four years? And is their threat the associates of the now-deceased criminal Fuller's assigned to, or somebody they would never suspect?

"Blown Cover" is an excellently crafted, thrilling suspense novel by Jodie Bailey. The author keeps releasing books that I consider the best one I've read by her, and this is an example.

You may notice the cover has a car going off a cliff. Thus, I don't think mentioning that a car going off a cliff - with one of our heroes inside - would be spoiling the novel, nor that it occurs at the beginning. There is no drop-off in the suspense. The story of Makenzie and Ian is also well written.

I considered this the best novel I read in 2024. Thus, I'm sure you won't be surprised for me to highly recommend this book.

BOOK REVIEW - "WITNESS IN PERIL" BY JODIE BAILEY

 Why are a Federal Marshall and a Swift River policeman trying to kill estate lawyer Ivy Bridges, and how did they know about her four year old daughter Wren? Is Special Agent Jacob Garcia able to protect them from a notorious killer and her gang? Does the fact that Ivy was a college girl-friend and Wren the daughter he didn't know he have affect this mission?

Love Inspired Suspense's "Witness in Peril" has a lot going for it. First, it's written by Jodie Bailey who has become one of my favorite novelists. Second, its Grand Canyon setting makes me homesick for the state where I grew up in. 

As I would expect from Bailey, there are characters you care about and exciting plot twists. Likewise, this story has Christian themes which are organic to the story but not at all preachy.

This is a stand-alone story, though there is a reference to her novella "Missing in the Wilderness," part of Love Inspired Suspense's collection "Canyon Standoff."

Is there a Jodie Bailey novel I would not highly recommend? Thus far, not at all, including this one.

BOOK REVIEW - "SNOWBOUND ESCAPE" (PACIFIC NORTHWEST K-9 UNIT BOOK 8) BY DANA MENTINK

 

After seven months on the run, can Mara Gilmore survive long enough to clear her name as a suspect of a double murder, even though her father and brother are threatened by the real killer? Will K-9 Officer Tanner Ford and his Boxer partner Britta be able to to protect Mara from the murderer and his henchman during a blizzard? And which of three candidates for the unit's two open positions be disappointed?

"Snowbound Escape" by Dana Mentink is the thrilling conclusion of the eight part multi-author Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series. Okay, there is a book 9, featuring a pair of novellas, but all the main story threads are wrapped up in this story.

This is what you expect suspense to be. There are more twists and turns than there are on Tanner and Mara's escape route. And speaking of Tanner and Mara, you have two well developed characters. And of course, there's Britta.

By the way, did I mention this is the eighth book in the series? Should you read them in order? At this point, absolutely.  I read books 3-5 before 2, and that wasn't a problem. But that's not true as everything is being resolved. And speaking of resolved, I had a suspicion of which recruits would become part of the team, and that proved right. But my lips are sealed. I'm not telling.

I absolutely loved the whole series, and "Snowbound Escape" wrapped it up on a high note.

BOOK REVIEW - "COLD CASE KILLER PROFILE" (QUANTICO PROFILERS BOOK 2) BY JESSICA PATCH

 

Did discovering the latest victim of the Sunrise Serial Killer put forensic artist Brigette Linsey in the murderer's radar? Can she manage this mystery while dealing with her father who has dementia and FBI Agent Duke Jericho?

"Cold Case Killer Profile" is the second book of Jessica Patch's Quantico Profilers series, but if you missed book one, you'll still enjoy this one; there are some common characters, but this is basically a stand alone.

This story is full of surprises, some of which are unsettling. The lead characters work well together. There also are faith themes in it that blend in with this novel.

I recommend this book.

BOOK REVIEW - "UNDERCOVER OPERATION" (PACIFIC NORTHWEST K-9 UNIT BOOK 7) BY MAGGIE K. BLACK

 Can K-9 officer Asher Gilmore, and trainer Peyton Burns working undercover as Dan and Merry with their underwater detection K-9...er, pet Spark, locate three missing bloodhound pups and bust a drug ring without their identities being discovered? Who stole the diary Peyton was writing as Merry? And which of the four candidates for two spots on the Pacific Northwest K-9 unit is trying to sabotage their rivals?

"Undercover Operation" by Maggie K. Black is the seventh part of the Love Inspired Suspense series Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit. Most of the time, I find these novels written so that you can read them out of order and still enjoy them (e.g. I read parts 3, 4, and 5 before I got to book 2, and was still able to follow the story), but in this case, I think you should have read the first six books first.

I enjoyed the relationship between Asher and Peyton. The plot is exciting, but has a few holes in it. For example, would a trio of bloodhound puppies dognapped and kept for six months be as small as the cute trio on the cover? You will need a very generous suspension of disbelief with this story. It's still fun.

Again, I suggest you read the series in order before you read this book and the finale. I still recommend this book, and I absolutely love this series.

BOOK REVIEW - "SECRET SABOTAGE" BY TERRI REED

 What happened in the two week prior to Ian Delaney waking up in a Colorado hospital bed? Who is trying to kill him before he regains his memory of that time? And how can he be free to learn who his enemy is without bodyguard Simone Walker and her assistants getting in the way by keeping him safe?

I discovered Terri Reed while reading Love Inspired Suspense's annual multi-author K-9 collections, and her contributions made me a fan (particularly "Seeking The Truth" and "Explosive Situation," respectively book 5 of True Blue K-9 Unit and book 4 of True Blue K-9 Unit Brooklyn). 

"Secret Sabotage is the first non-K-9  story by Reed, and I absolutely loved it. The excitement and mystery starts on the first page and doesn't let up, and I loved the characters, especially Simone. 

This book includes characters from a former story which I have not read. I didn't need to read that story to enjoy this story.

I highly recommend this book.

BOOK REVIEW - "COLD CASE REVENGE" (PACIFIC NORTHWEST K-9 UNIT BOOK 6) BY JESSICA PATCH

 Why did someone take Nick Rossi's 3 year old daughter and leave her on a cliff? Is there a connection between this abduction and Nick's sister vanishing off the face of the earth a quarter of a century earlier? Will K-9 officer Ruby Orton and her K-9 partner Pepper solve the case before another kidnapping ... or murder?

"Cold Case Revenge" is book six of the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series. While ideal to read them in order, the authors of the series  do a good job of keeping the reader from being too lost if they miss a book without spoiling the ending.

Jessica Patch does a great job of keeping you off-kilter in trying to figure out who the villain is, as well as weaving a romance in the story. 

I recommend both the series - my favorite of the K-9 series I've read - and this installment.

 

BOOK REVIEW: COLD THREAT (RYLAND & ST. CLAIR BOOK 2) BY NANCY MEHL

Can the recent arsons in small town Burlington be connected to the three Des Moines fires twenty years ago, where they caught the killer after the third house? Is the psycopath who almost killed River Ryland years ago and is currently stalking her going to achieve his goal? And was Ryland responsible for her co-worker and friend Tony St. Clair getting shot when Ryland was nearly drowned?

"Cold Threat," the second part of Nancy Mehl's Ryland & St. James series, turns up the heat in excitement, plot twists, nail-biting suspense, and excellent character development. You learn to love the main characters and Tony's family, as well as have a hard time figuring out what will happen next.

Yes, this is part two. Do you need to read part one first to enjoy the two books? Definitely. "Cold Pursuit" deals more with River's family, which is hinted at in the second though not a major part of this installment, and there's a few things that will make more sense in this book. when you read the books in order. Additionally, both books end with a cliff-hanger, connected with the person who almost killed the main characters before this series started!

I have enjoyed Nancy Mehl for years, and I highly recommend this to any suspense lover.

 

BOOK REVIEW - EXPLOSIVE TRAIL (PACIFIC NORTHWEST K-9 UNIT, BOOK 3) BY TERRI REED

 

Who is exploding trail markers at the National Park and why? And who is more dangerous to K-9 Officer Willow Bates: the unpredictable, vengeful bomber, or her soon-to-be-ex-husband, FBI Officer Theo Bates?

"Explosive Trail" by Terri Reed is the third book of the Pacific Northwest K-9 Unit series from Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense series. As usual with the multi-author K-9 series, each book has threads that extend the whole series, but also has its own story. Thus, it is written where if you miss a story or start with a book other than the first one, you'll neither feel lost with references to earlier stories nor spoil the previous installments if you want to catch up. (In this case, I have read the opening book "Shielding the Baby" by Laura Scott, but I've yet to read book 2, "Scent of Truth" by Valerie Hansen.)

I've read Love Inspired Suspense stories where the lead characters were formerly married and fall in love again (am I spoiling a Harlequin to say there's a happily ever after ending?), but this is the first I've read where the characters are on the verge of divorce. Reed tells a compelling story about the ups and downs of the relationship. Personally, I found that aside from the first scene, more focus is on the romance side than the suspense angle, but it felt natural to the story.

I highly recommend this book and the series (at least, as far as I've read so far).