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About the Book

Title: Defending Honor
Series: Elite Guardians Collection #3
Author: Lynette Eason presents Kelly Underwood
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Sunrise
Release Date: October 4, 2022

She’ll have to pretend to be his wife to save his life…but what will it cost her heart?

Laila Rabbinowitz is all business. Tough and stoic, she was the perfect Mossad agent…until a terrible betrayal led to her worst nightmare. Being a bodyguard with the Elite Guardians allows her to keep her heart safe—she’ll never let anyone close enough to betray her again. And she’s certainly not going to trust anyone who doesn’t earn it.

Billionaire and former playboy Preston Whittaker walked away from his famous family after a terrible event, but then his father and brother are killed in a suspicious boating accident. Since he’s next in line to helm the family business, now someone wants him dead.

Preston needs someone by his side 24/7, and the only solution is a fake marriage. In order to keep him safe, Laila will have to convince everyone that she and Preston are in love. She’s used to putting her life on the line for a client. But what will this case cost her heart?

Grab your copy here!

About the Author

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Life Flight and the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.00

Kelly Underwood‘s favorite things are reading, writing, and drinking coffee. She was born in New Hampshire, but don’t ask her about snow, because she’s been a Florida girl since she was twelve. She writes book reviews for her blog bestinsuspense.com and is an active member of the Central Florida chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She’s a sucker for a good suspense novel, the kind you have to read cover-to-cover until the mystery is solved and the bad guys are in handcuffs. If you’re looking for her, she’s probably on her back patio with a Kindle in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

My Review

Defending Honor
By Lynette Eason and Kelly Underwood
Book 3 in the Elite Guardians Collection 
Rating: 4.5/5

As someone who is a huge fan of Lynette Eason and the Elite Guardians series, I was super excited to read this next installment and it did not disappoint. I’ve read the first two books in this series and they keep getting better and better. 

First, the cover is stunning and so eye-catching!

Second, the premise is one of my favorite tropes – fake marriage. 

Third, their chemistry and backstories were interesting. Flawed people coming together. 

Fourth, faith is woven seamlessly throughout the story. 

PG-13 for some violence but it’s not too graphic. 

Highly recommend if you enjoy nonstop thrillers with strong female leads and lots of action and romance. 

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Also Available

Read my review of Driving Force here.
Read my review of Impending Strike here.

About the Book

Title: Critical Consequences
Author: Clair M. Poulson
Genre: Clean Suspense Thriller
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: August 1, 2022

As a member of the coast guard, Mike Weaver is guided by a single objective: to locate and protect those in need. So when his cousin Martie and her new husband disappear, Mike has no doubt that he possesses the skills necessary to find answers. What he doesn’t anticipate is that the truth he seeks is buried deep within a tangled network of greed and deceit.

When Mike’s past violently collides with his investigation, he is forced to accept help from virtual strangers—Angelia and her family anticipated a quiet family picnic in the mountains, but when they encounter a wounded Mike, Angelia and her father, with his military background, spring into action. When they discover that Mike’s search for his cousin has a surprising connection to their family, they join his dangerous hunt for answers. Search and rescue is in Mike’s blood, and with the help of his unconventional team of investigators, he’ll stop at nothing to bring his cousin home safely.

Grab your copy here!

About the Author

Clair M. Poulson was born and raised in Duchesne, Utah. His father was a rancher and farmer, his mother a librarian. Clair has always been an avid reader, having found his love for books as a very young boy.

He has served for forty-eight years in the criminal justice system. Twenty years were spent in law enforcement, ending his police career with eight years as the Duchesne County Sheriff. For just over twenty-eight years Clair has worked as a justice court judge for Duchesne County. Clair is also a veteran of the US Army where he was a military policeman. He has served on various boards and councils during his professional career, including the Justice Court Board of Judges, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Utah Judicial Council, Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, an FBI advisory board and others. He retired as a judge after 31 years.

In addition to his criminal justice work, Clair has farmed and ranched all of his life. He has raised many kinds of animals, but his greatest interest is horses.

Clair has served in many capacities in the LDS church, including fulltime missionary (California Mission) bishop, counselor to bishop, young men president, high councilor, stake mission president, scoutmaster, High Priest group leader, etc. He currently serves as a Ward Missionary.

Clair is married to Ruth, and together, they have five children, all of whom are married: Alan (Vicena) Poulson, Kelly Ann (Wade) Hatch, Amanda (Ben) Semadeni, Wade (Brooke) Poulson, and Mary (Tyler) Hicken. Between them they have twenty-six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Clair and Ruth met while both were students at Snow College and were married in the Manti temple.

Clair has always loved telling his children, and later his grandchildren, make-up stories. His vast experience in life and his love of literature has always contributed to both his telling stories to children and his writing of adventure and suspense novels.

My Review

Critical Consequences
by Clair M. Poulson
Rating: 4/5

Having never read anything from the author, I was intrigued by the premise and was eager to start reading. The story jumps right in and hooks you so you have to keep reading until the end.

First, the cover is beautiful and eye-catching.
Second, the premise of the story is enticing. I love a good (and clean) suspense thriller with some romance and lots of action! Detective stories are always so interesting to me.
Third, the characters were interesting and very relatable in some ways and not relatable in others. Keeping track of all the different characters can be a little bit confusing but I was able to follow along. The book is written from many different perspectives which also can get confusing but somehow worked.
Fourth, all the twists and turns and connections are fun and almost unbelievable. I love having to keep guessing until the end.

PG-13 for the violence.

Note: this is not the only LDS author that I’ve read but it is the most content I’ve read that includes a backdrop of LDS within the story (I read a lot of LDS authors that write Regency Romance).

Highly recommend this exciting suspense thriller with romance and action!

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Read a preview here.

About the Book

Title: You’ll Be Mine
Series: Hearts Bend Collection #2
Authors: Rachel Hauck presents Mandy Boerma
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Sunrise
Release Date: August 16, 2022

He just wants to leave the past behind him…

International hotel manager Ben Carter is not sticking around Hearts Bend. He’s just home to sell the inn he inherited from his grandparents. The place holds all his best memories—especially the ones that include regular summer guest Cami Jackson. But she’s been out of his life for years, and she’s not coming back.

She is headed for a glorious future…

Real estate developer Cami Jackson is ready to take over as VP of her father’s company, Akron Development. When the Hearts Bend Inn comes on the market, she wants to swoop it up, if only because of the sweet memories of her favorite summers. The last thing she expects to find is her first love back to sign on the dotted line.

But a first love won’t let them go…

The more time Cami and Ben spend together, the more they realize they have unfinished business. Suddenly, an impulsive decision could turn into a lost-but-found dream. But for Cami’s father, the inn holds memories of a terrible tragedy, and he wants to kill the deal.

Will their lost dreams survive another betrayal?

Grab your copy here!

About the Authors

New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida. A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues. Readers have fallen in love with the quaint and loveable small town of Hearts Bend, TN introduced in the NYT bestselling The Wedding Dress, which launched her Wedding Collection novels. Visit her at www.rachelhauck.com.

When Mandy Boerma isn’t hanging out at her favorite coffee shop writing, she’s a busy mom. After meeting Prince Charming, they started their own version of Happily Ever in the Florida Panhandle. Nothing compares to life at the beach. While those early days included romantic sunset walks with sand between our toes, days are now filled with sandcastles, swimming and school. Mom-duties fill Mandy’s days. You know them all— cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, organizing, helping at school, all the lessons and practices, homework, etc. And because that’s not enough, she also teaches piano, normally with coffee in hand. Visit her at www.mandyboerma.com.

You’ll Be Mine
by Mandy Boerma & Rachel Hauck
Book 2 in the Hearts Bend Collection
Rating: 4/5

It’s always good to be back in Hearts Bend, Tennessee! I really enjoyed this story surrounding Hearts Bend Inn that captures small town charm and the lure of second chance romance. I highly recommend reading the other books in this series and setting but it’s not necessary to appreciate this lovely story.

First, how cute is the cover! I love the design.
Second, I loved the setting around the Inn. Small towns have so much charm and character that makes the reader fall in love so easily.
Third, I really loved the main characters and their chemistry together. They were not perfect by any means which makes them incredibly relatable. Ben and Cami get a second chance at love despite all of the things keeping them apart.
Fourth, I always enjoy when the authors bring faith into their stories and speak of God’s willingness to give us second chances.

Be transported back to Hearts Bend and fall in love again!

Highly recommend this sweet romance full of humor and second chances!

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Also Available

Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of the book and You’ll Be Mine mug

Visit @justreadtours on Instagram for how to enter. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on September 5, 2022.)

#justreadtours #YoullBeMine #MandyBoerma #HeartsBendCollection #RachelHauck #SunrisePublishing #giveaway