• Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Hearts in the Crosshairs by Susan Page Davis

    Shots fired at the State Capitol!

    Newly elected State of Maine governor Jillian Goff has arrived for her inaugural address. But what she ended up doing was dodging bullets! Jillian can’t begin to understand why anyone would want to kill her, but whoever the assassin was got close. Way too close. Dave Hutchins is a member of the state’s Executive Protection Unit, and now he’s a man with a very important mission—he must protect the governor and find the would-be assassin. Bodyguard rule #1: Do not get emotionally involved with your client. Dave is one of Maine’s finest. He knows the rules, and he’s trying hard to stay emotionally detached. But the more time he spends with Jillian, the less he can imagine ever leaving her side. Not with her life—and his heart—caught in the crosshairs. A note about the story and the author:

    “This is a story of faith and romance. Most of Susan Page Davis’s books are set in small towns, many of them in Maine, where she grew up.”

     

     

  • Best Historical Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    A Heartless Design by Elizabeth Cole

    An enigmatic woman, a determined spy, and a design that could shake the foundations of England…

    “Heartless” Cordelia Bering refuses every marriage offer she receives. Yet men still try to win her, drawn by her sharp wit and intoxicating green eyes. But Cordelia knows a marriage could reveal her deepest secret and truly endanger her life. Besides, she hasn’t met a man worth considering, until… Sebastien Thorne, a spy in the service of Crown. One of the elite agents in the group known as the Zodiac, he comes to London determined to solve a mystery with roots on the Continent. He won’t let anything distract him. But is Cordelia a distraction, or the key to the mystery? As he learns more about the “heartless” woman, he becomes embroiled in secrets, plots, and a design that could change the future…and Cordelia is at the center of it all. The author’s on her inspiration for the novel and the series:

    “I came up with the name of the Zodiac and the concept of twelve agents who use the signs as their code names. I also have some secret pasts for characters that I’m taking my time to tell… I just love reading romances set in the Regency period, and I love mysteries, so I guess putting them together made sense. That’s why there’s a mystery element to each story. The spies are all working to uncover plots or conspiracies, which is how they keep running into my fabulously intelligent and stunning heroines!”
    Elizabeth Cole

     

     

  • Best Historical Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Dark Desires by Eve Silver

    Is her handsome employer innocent … or is he a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?

    Betrayed by those she trusted, penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares, as the assistant to dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole. Ignoring the whispered warnings and rumors that he’s a man to fear, she takes her position at his eerie estate, where she quickly discovers that nothing is at it seems, least of all her handsome and brooding employer. As Darcie struggles with her fierce attraction to Damien, she must also deal with the blood, the disappearances … and the murders. With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she is falling in love with. A raving review for the novel:
    “…a gripping gothic that combines the tension of the Jack the Ripper stories with the dark aura of Jekyll and Hyde and the chill of a classic horror film. There’s icy fear and smoldering passion, twists and turns and red herrings thrown in here and there to keep you up all night.”
    RT BookReviews
       
  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble

    Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was. Can Bailey even trust herself anymore?

    Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down. Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava.

    A five-star review on the novel:

    “From beginning to end, Coble’s conclusion to the Lavender Tides series kept me riveted and riding the action-packed suspense. I loved that all the characters from previous books appeared in this book, and many of the loose story plots were brought to wonderful conclusions.”
    Loraine –Goodreads

     

     

  • Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Desperate Choices by Tracy Brody

    When a killer wants her dead, her brother’s best friend comes to her rescue. Will their suppressed passion turn to love?

    Eight months ago, Stephanie Anderson’s idyllic life shattered when her husband was killed. Now she’s doing the best she can to support herself and her little girl. She never anticipates the danger they face after witnessing activity that may tie her husband’s unsolved murder to a drug smuggling operation.

    On leave following a deployment, Ray Lundgren answers a new call to duty when his best friend’s older sister turns to him for help. Stephanie’s brother may have ordered him to steer clear of his sister when they were younger, but protecting her reignites the attraction they both denied years ago.

    The police push Stephanie to gather the evidence needed to crack her husband’s murder case and ensure her and her daughter’s safety. Ray objects, but with his leave time running out and her options limited, Stephanie agrees to help the authorities with their plan. When imminent danger emerges from an unexpected source, Ray disobeys orders from the police, and he must race to get to Stephanie when not only their shot at love but her life is in jeopardy.

    A five star review on Goodreads

    “Wow, what an excellent debut for Bad Karma Special Ops series. A well written storyline that is fast paced, action packed with danger, suspense, romance and all around good feels. The characters are captivating and easy to fall in love with. Read this in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to reading more in this new series.”

    Maggie – Good reads

  • Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Ranger’s Rescue by Caitlyn Lynch

    Get. Her. Back.

    Kidnapped by a ruthless drug lord to use as leverage against her father, a powerful South American politician, Ariana Monterro needs a miracle. Discovering the kidnapping was an inside job, her desperate father turns to the one man he knows he can trust to put his life on the line for Ariana: Army Ranger Captain Jack McAuley.

    Six years ago, Jack walked away from Ariana after making the biggest mistake of his life. Now, he’s heading into the South American jungle armed to the teeth with only one thing on his mind.

    A five-star review of the novel:

    “This is a wonderful romantic military suspense story that draws you in from almost the first page. Yes it is a second chance romance but this isn’t a strong theme in the story.”

    Debbie Caswell

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    Night Fall by Susan Sleeman

    She faces dangerous situations all the time, but she has no idea what lurks in the shadows…

    Olympic downhill skier, Harper Young, knows what it’s like to look danger in the face. After all, she does it every time she races down a ski slope. She’s fine with that danger and even excels under the pressure, winning Olympic gold. And as a governor’s daughter, she’s familiar with receiving threats from the general public. But when a stalker turns his sights on Harper, she possesses zero skills to protect herself.

    Former Navy SEAL and ATF Agent, Aiden Byrd of Nighthawk Security is well versed in protection skills and knows the dangers she faces. Problem is, there’s an instant attraction between Aiden and Harper, and as Aiden and the Nighthawk team contract to protect her, he has to fight to remain professional. When the stalker grows bolder and tries to end Harper’s life, Aiden’s only hope in keeping her safe is to deny his feelings. Something that borders on impossible.

    The author on writing romantic suspense novels:

    “I write romantic suspense books because I love to read romantic suspense novels. Plots in the books I write usually come from news stories that peak my interest. I start thinking about the stories and ask myself questions until I can come up with an interesting plot filled with twists and turns. This all inspires me to create characters who will be conflicted over the main plot and soon their personalities are formed in my mind.”

    Susan Sleeman

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    A Harmony for Steve by Hallee Bridgeman

    Harmony and Steve draw closer and spiritual war wages when heaven meets hell.

    Christian contemporary singing sensation, daughter of Christian radio and media family counselor icons, Harmony Harper, has spent her entire life serving God. From teen sensation to celebrated adult Christian contemporary music artist, she regularly plays sold-out concerts everywhere she goes. Nearing thirty, and nearing burnout, Harmony heads to her mountain cabin hideaway to commune with Christ and compose some new music.

    Hard rocker Steve Slayer faces an ultimatum: keep rocking life the hard way and watch his organs fail due to addictions, or, sober up – for real this time – and live. Hiding out in the mountains of Oregon, he spends weeks detoxing. Finally strong enough to venture into town, he comes face to face with Harmony. Over the next several weeks, the two become unlikely friends as Steve learns to love and trust God, and mutual attraction surprises them both.

    Once news of their budding romance reaches the world, no one is happy. Not her people – not his people. Then letters written in blood start arriving. An attack on a concert threatens more than just their lives. Harmony and Steve realize the threats might just be real. Can Harmony and Steve discover who wants to destroy them, or will the enemy bring their house down in a dissonance that strikes at their very souls?

    The author on her emotions while writing the novel:

    “I was writing A Harmony for Steve, and… the antagonist is actually a satanic cult and so there’s a couple of really dark people in that cult… So, I started writing it and found myself writing darker and darker and darker even though I’m writing this, you know, Christian romantic suspense. But my writing got darker, and my personal countenance got darker, and I had to stop writing it. I put it aside wrote the Virtues and Valor series… then went back to a Harmony for Steve and shored myself up with prayer. Like, I know that this is the book I need to write, I know what has to be in it. I need the shield of these emotions as I’m writing it so that I can not drag myself into the darkness with it, and that worked! I was able to punch out the book and it was a really good book. It’s one of my favorites.”

    Hallee Bridgeman

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    A Carol for Kent by Hallee Bridgeman

    A Ruthless Serial Killer Seeks to End a Love Song Eight Years in the Making.

    Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Carol Mabry heads up an investigation into a string of stranglings in Virginia’s capital. The serial killer known as Richmond Red remorselessly snuffs out beautiful young women with violin strings before ritually enshrining their lovely lifeless bodies inside a pentagram of blood red candles. Country music superstar Bobby Kent makes an unscheduled return trip to his Virginia home for the first time in years. To his shock, he discovers that he and Carol have a young daughter, Lisa. His parents have kept Lisa hidden from him her entire life while simultaneously deceiving Carol about Bobby’s interest in fatherhood.

    Angry and hurt over the deception, Carol and Bobby strive to cope with this newly discovered reality. They struggle to overcome harmful secrets and years of lies to decide whether they have a future. Neither of them realize how every waking moment they move closer to the serial killer who harbors an unnatural and deadly obsession. With the beautiful Carol locked in Richmond Red’s sites, the clock is ticking down to her destruction. Will the two find love, or is their sonata striking a dangerous final chord?

    The author on her emotions while writing the novel:

    “I’ve realized as I was writing A Carol for Kent that, whenever I wrote the serial killer scene or wrote in the journal of the serial killer, I was kind of done for the day. I started analyzing that and trying to decide why and I think that the reason is because the the way that I write when I am writing a scene I’m completely immersed in that scene. So it’s like I hear it, I see it, I taste it, I smell it. Where the characters are is where I am also… and so I guess that there’s a part of me that also emotionally dives into the character too, because in A Carol for Kent that serial killer was the darkest character I have ever dug into in the point of view. I’ve had bad guys, but never like a truly evil point of view.”

    Hallee Bridgeman

  • Best Christian Romance Books,  Best Romantic Suspense Books

    An Aria for Nick by Hallee Bridgeman

    The Only Man who can Save her Life Has been Dead for a Decade…

    Raised in a loving home, Aria Suarez dreamed of becoming a professional pianist happily married to her high school crush. After the only boy who ever caught her eye dies a hero’s death and her wrist is shattered along with her future plans, she turns her brilliant musical mind to nuclear engineering and solving mysteries of science. Abandoned to an abusive father at five, Nick Williams grew up dreaming of escape; of enlisting in the Army and leaving his wretched life behind; of proving himself worthy of the girl he loves. But the crucible of combat offers only the escape of death.

    A decade later, Aria uncovers a nuclear plot that threatens the heart of our very nation. Sinister forces surround and threaten her when, out of nowhere, the man who reportedly died so many years before returns as if from the grave — intent on protecting her.
    Has God finally joined them together?
    Or is Aria doomed to mourn Nick twice?

    The author on her character Nick Williams:

    “Nick is such a deep character who has suffered so much in life that you just find yourself rooting for Aria and him to be together so that maybe some of his demons will quiet.”

    Hallee Bridgeman