love inspired

Targeted for Murder by Elizabeth Goddard

October 19, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Targeted for Murder, the first book in Elizabeth Goddard’s Wilderness, Inc. series left me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails. Just when I thought I could take a breath, the action and suspense kicked right back in at full forces. No easing into anything in this story.

When Hadley Mason learns her father lied to her and her life is now in danger, she does the first thing that comes to her mind. She runs. While danger is on her heels, she comes across the path of Cooper Wilde, a wilderness expert in Oregon’s Rogue River Wilderness.

As Hadley and Cooper fight for their lives, they also fight to come to terms with the doubts that plague them. Can Hadley trust anyone again knowing her father, the person she trusted the most, lied to her? Will Cooper escape the grasp of the perceived mistakes of his past to embrace the possibility of a full and rewarding future?

Goddard captures both the beauty and the danger of the Oregon Coast terrain beautifully. It’s been twenty-plus years since I’ve visited but I could see the cliffs, hear the ocean, and feel the danger as I embarked on this wild ride with Hadley and Cooper. Target for Murder is an exciting, enjoyable thrill ride full of twists and turns, and I’m already looking forward to the next book!!

The author provided me with a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Small-Town Girl by Jessica Keller

August 23, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Have you ever wanted to get away? Leave the past behind—your heartbreaks, your hurts, your mistakes—and start fresh? Find the person God meant you to become?

Kendall Mayes has done just that. She’s settled in Goose Harbor, a small tourist town along the shore of Lake Michigan, to start her dream business. Instead of focusing on dating herself, she wants to help others plan the perfect dates. Tasked with finding a weekly excursion by her silent business partner, Kendall’s chance meeting with shipping-owner Brice Daniels seems timely. While she insists she’d not looking for love, and Brice has been burned too many times in the past, the attraction the two feel sparking between them is undeniable. But will past hurts and doubts of their worth derail the chance of these two finding a happily-ever-after?

Jessica Keller handles the topics of difficult upbringings, of how misconceptions can shadow a person for years, of letting go of the past and seeking your worth in light of God’s love with finesse. Both Kendall and Brice have lived through messy pasts that years later leave them believing they are not worth God’s best. Both need to come to terms with their pasts, forgive those who hurt them, and let go in order to love themselves—and others—fully. And, of course, there’s the underlying tension of attraction whenever these two get together.

Maybe, we’ll get to read more about the Daniels family (Brice’s brother and sister both piqued my interest). But for now, enjoy Kendall and Brice’s story in Small-Town Girl.

***The author provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another Winner in the First Responders Series by Susan Sleeman

July 27, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Susan Sleeman has delivered another page-turning romantic suspense with book number five in her First Responders series. Readers who have followed from book one know that there are two team members who have yet to meet their match—negotiator Archer Reed and team leader Jake Marsh (whose story is coming this December).

Emily Graves is threatened by a lone gunman, and Deputy Archer Reed makes it his personal mission to protect Emily and her failing aunt. When Emily shares some more incidents that seemed like accidents, Archer is convinced someone is out to ruin Emily and her aunt’s B and B.

The chemistry between Archer and Emily is electric and I was rooting for them from the beginning. This may have included wanting to yell at them to get out of their own heads or to move on from the past. The return of a few team members, including Darcie from Emergency Response, was also enjoyable.

While the non-stop action and a plot in Silent Sabotage will keep you guessing to the end will keep you turning the pages, it’s the personal journeys that both Archer and Emily take that speak to the heart of the reader. It is so easy for us to want to control the events in our lives, to avoid those things that ***might*** be painful. Sometimes we avoid them to our detriment because coming out on the other side can be beautiful.

The entire First Responders series has been a joy to read as I’ve gotten to know this team of good-hearted law enforcement professionals who are also human (with struggles and fears of their own to overcome). Can’t wait to read about their fearless leader this December!

Available Aug 1 in eBook format and Aug 9 in paperback. Both are available for pre-order now.

Keep up with Susan Sleeman’s latest releases here.

***The author provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Suspense Ramps up in Emergency Response by Susan Sleeman

May 1, 2016 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

Of all the members of Susan Sleeman’s First Responders Team, Darcie Stephens is the one I’ve been most curious about. There have been mentions in every book about her past which just piqued my interest more. Now readers get to learn what happened with Darcie and her family. But Sleeman doesn’t just tell readers about it. No, she starts readers off with a bang in Emergency Response.

From the first page of this book, someone wants Paramedic Darcie Stephens dead. Since Darcie is the only member of her team who is not in law enforcement, the fact her name is on what appears to be a hit list doesn’t make sense. As Detective Noah Lockhart inserts himself in the investigation, both he and Darcie struggle with their growing attraction toward each other. Neither of them wants to share the pain of their past and with a murder hunting Darcie down, they may not get their second chance.

I enjoyed the fact this book dove deeper emotionally than the first three. As a reader, I got to experience Darcie’s tragedy and Noah’s regret in a way that resonated. Yet, there is still plenty of action and suspense as Noah chases down the people behind the hit list, including an intense scene at the end (I’ll give you nothing more than that). You’ll be so into this one, you won’t want to put it down (and the nice thing about the Love Inspired books is that you can finish them in a day).

If you’ve been following the First Responders team, don’t miss out on Darcie’s story (available May 1 (TODAY) in eBook format and May 10 in paperback) and put the last two books (we still have more to learn about Archer and Jake) on your list to pick up later this year.

***The author of this book provided me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Silent Night Standoff by Susan Sleeman

October 30, 2014 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

What do you get when two hostage negotiators, a sniper, a bomb technician, an EMT, and their commanding officer live together? The answer is a family.

In Silent Night Standoff, the first installment in Susan Sleeman’s First Responders series, readers are introduced to this unique team of law enforcement professionals. Skyler Brennan, a hostage negotiator, is in the wrong place at the wrong time. While dropping off a check at the bank for an upcoming holiday party, Skyler finds herself in the middle of a bank robbery. After being rescued from her team and a man she believed left her for good, the threats one of the bank robbers made on her life become a reality.

Logan Hunter has returned to Portland to secure a promotion and with that accomplishment, his dad’s approval. The last person he expects to find in the center of a bank robbery is a former flame—a woman he hasn’t been able to forget. He’s pulled between his head (bringing justice to those involved in the robbery) and his heart (protecting Skyler at all costs).

A story of two people trying to overcome mistakes and hurts from their past and searching for what’s important for their future, Silent Night Standoff, captivated me from the first page. The action is constant, the characters are human but likable, and the mystery keeps the reader guessing until the end. The concept of these co-workers living life together reminded me of the relationships in Dee Henderson’s O’Malley series. I can’t wait to read to read the other team members’ stories.

To learn more about the First Responders or Susan’s other books, visit her website.

Order on the author’s website or from Amazon (kindle version available Nov 1 and paperback Nov 4)