NIGHTFALL by Lisa Phillips, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

(Benson First Responders Book 6)

"Success or failure is totally up to you. Don't make the wrong choice."

Violet Anderson was a sight to behold . . . lovely in face and form, fierce when it came to facing down angry wanna-be-adults and challenging their wrong behaviors. Her dual lifestyle as a paramedic and dedicated volunteer at a local teen center apparently left her little time to socialize. But didn't explain how Detective Blake Reed had somehow missed meeting the infamous "Lettie" whom his younger sisters had raved about. Until now. . . their paths crossing along a dangerous trajectory . . . especially for her. Drug gangs in Benson were fighting a turf war and someone wasn't playing fair.

Fast and furious . . . might best describe this book, but the author also managed to cover quite a bit of relational mine fields in the process, making the end result quite impressive! The power of prayer can never be underestimated.

"Lord . . . There were so many lives at stake." 

*I purchased this book and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 3.5 stars

BackCover Blurb:
BIG CITY CRIME. SMALL TOWN HEROES

A woman determined to save lives.
Violet Anderson fights for survival every day, as an EMT and volunteering at a center for teens. But nothing will erase the fallout of hitting rock bottom. Determined to keep going, Lettie has to juggle her callings and pray nothing falls out of her grasp. When her personal and professional lives crash into each other, she lands in the middle of a police investigation. Her carefully constructed boundaries are about to fall. But facing the path God puts in front of her head on means she could gain everything she’s ever wanted.

A cop looking for a place to call home.
Detective Blake Reed might be new to Intelligence, but he’s spent years training for this. All his skills will be put to the test when he’s given an assignment to sniff out drug deals at the Benson Teen Center. When he realizes who Lettie really is, the flimsy foundation of his career is shaken. Will the past come back to bite him and destroy the good he’s been able to do?
With a dangerous bomber on the loose, Violet and Blake have to figure out how to keep it all from burning down. This time the entire first responder community is on the line.

Each Benson First Responders story is a stand-alone Christian romantic suspense.

 

Two Dogs Publishing, January, 2024

Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:

Buy NIGHTFALL at Amazon

 

 

ONE FINAL TARGET by Janice Cantore, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

"Four good cops died on my watch. They. Were. My. Responsibility."

Continuing to reel under relentless waves of grief and guilt over the deaths of her teammates, former police sergeant Jodie King is still trying to figure out what "life after" looks like; resigning from her job and taking an early pension has left her mentally, physically and spiritually adrift. Returning to the scene of the fatal explosion, she suddenly becomes an unknown shooter's bullseye, until a "superhero" in the form of officer Sam Gresham randomly shows up at exactly the right time. What were the chances?

Sam Gresham is well acquainted with loss, his body bears the scars of trying to rescue a fellow officer who was also a best friend; his heart is filled with compassion while observing the gaunt figure and haunted eyes that reside within the former special units officer. Jodie's scars penetrate deep on the inside, her faith questions are valid, and even to be expected, but it's the continued attempts on her life that are a grave concern. Sam is fully prepared to fight . . . on her behalf and to pray . . . for her faith to be renewed. Perhaps, after the dust settles the two of them can become much better acquainted . . . on a more personal level.

"Be still and know that I am God."

What great faith principles are embedded in this novel! Through multiple conversations with multiple characters, words of truth encircle Jodie in a protective covering of prayer and supplication, coaxing her heart to release its burden. The take-off and landing of this plot were exemplary . . . I never saw the end coming and neither did the characters!

"God is good, even when life is not."

*I purchased this book and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 3.5 stars

 SEE PAULA'S REVIEW

BackCover Blurb:

Two wounded heroes shattered by tragedy and paralyzed by guilt and must find their footing and work together to catch a killer.

A warrant service in the San Bernardino Mountains goes horribly wrong when an IED blast kills four police officers. Devastated by the loss of her team, the lone survivor, Long Beach sergeant Jodie King, struggles with her guilt and grief, especially as the case remains open with no clear leads or suspects. Weeks after the explosion, Jodie retires from the police department and returns to the mountain bomb site seeking peace and resolution . . . only to find herself in the crosshairs once again.

Sam Gresham just happens to be in the right place at the right time when shots are fired at Jodie. The newest detective for the county sheriff’s department, Sam is assigned to work the IED, his first case back after his own traumatic loss. While Sam sees an opportunity to help Jodie heal from her lingering scars, Jodie hopes fresh eyes will bring new insight to the investigation. Because after this latest shooting, one thing seems clear: Jodie has always been the intended target—and the threat may be much closer to her than anyone wants to admit.

Janice Cantore delivers another pulse-pounding contemporary romantic suspense novel about overcoming grief and learning to trust again.

-Contemporary romantic suspense
-Discussion questions for book clubs
-Police drama

Tyndale House Publishing, February 2024
Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:
Buy ONE FINAL TARGET at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

ONE FINAL TARGET by Janice Cantore, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

“God is good, even when life is not.”
 

What a crazy ride for Sergeant Jodie King as life deals her blow after blow. Reeling from the deaths of her whole team, she discovers that someone is out to see her dead. No stranger to grief after his partner dies, Detective Sam Gresham is at the right place to save Jodie from a sniper. Together they try to figure out who still wants to kill her.

Filled with lots of twists and turn and possible suspects, this is a nail biter of a story. The author used her experience as a police officer to make this an interesting, authentic and thrilling tale. The pacing was great and kept me guessing as to who the villain was.

The two protagonists are Christians but at different places of healing as they deal with the deaths of those close to them. 

“Faith does not always take away the pain, but it does give you the ability to handle the pain.”

Fantastic look into the warped mind of a killer. With a solid faith thread, this story follows the spiritual growth of Jodie and Sam.
*I won an ARC copy of this book from the author on Romantic Suspense A Team Facebook page. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. 5 stars and a solid faith thread

BackCover Blurb:

Two wounded heroes shattered by tragedy and paralyzed by guilt and must find their footing and work together to catch a killer.

A warrant service in the San Bernardino Mountains goes horribly wrong when an IED blast kills four police officers. Devastated by the loss of her team, the lone survivor, Long Beach sergeant Jodie King, struggles with her guilt and grief, especially as the case remains open with no clear leads or suspects. Weeks after the explosion, Jodie retires from the police department and returns to the mountain bomb site seeking peace and resolution . . . only to find herself in the crosshairs once again.

Sam Gresham just happens to be in the right place at the right time when shots are fired at Jodie. The newest detective for the county sheriff’s department, Sam is assigned to work the IED, his first case back after his own traumatic loss. While Sam sees an opportunity to help Jodie heal from her lingering scars, Jodie hopes fresh eyes will bring new insight to the investigation. Because after this latest shooting, one thing seems clear: Jodie has always been the intended target—and the threat may be much closer to her than anyone wants to admit.

Janice Cantore delivers another pulse-pounding contemporary romantic suspense novel about overcoming grief and learning to trust again.

-Contemporary romantic suspense
-Discussion questions for book clubs
-Police drama

Tyndale House Publishing, February 2024
Available in digital ebook, paperback, and audiobook:
Buy ONE FINAL TARGET at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House