CHRISTMAS HIDEOUT by Susan Sleeman

Nicole Dyer is a widowed single mom who has been dating a policeman.  When he becomes abusive she breaks it off.  Now strange things are happening.  Things that are  scaring her.  Calling the police has never been fruitful since her ex in on the force.  When she returns home one evening she finds a butcher knife stabbed into her picture on the kitchen counter.  Fearing for her life and the life of her daughter she throws some things in the car and takes off.  Lost Creek is where her car chooses to breakdown.  Knowing because of the cold they can’t stay in the car, they take refuge in a cabin.  Sheriff Matt McKade finds them when checking the property.  Nicole explains what happened.  Not sure if he really believes her or not, he decides to take them home to his family’s ranch to offer her the safety and protection while he checks out her story further.  But trouble just seems to continue to pop up at every turn.  Will Nicole’s story check out and will they figure everything out before it’s too late?

This was my first Susan Sleeman book but I can tell you it won’t be my last.  The story held my attention from beginning to end.  The characters were well developed and I fell in love with the McKade family.  The interaction between them is great.  It makes me want to go back and read the others in the series.  Although this is a Christmas theme it’s really a story you can enjoy anytime.  I loved the chemistry between Nicole and Matt.  You really felt the romantic pull that makes a good story even better.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense.

This complimentary copy was provided by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more information about his book or other books by Susan Sleeman I encourage you to visit her website at https://www.susansleeman.com.

A SECRET TO DIE FOR by Lisa Harris

Psychologist Grace Callahan thinks Stephen Shaw is a paranoid when he explains that people are after him.  That is until he’s murdered.  Now they are after her because they think Stephen gave her something they want and are willing to go to any lengths to get it.  Detective Nate Quinn suffers from PTSD after a bombing that left him the only survivor.  He has just returned to active duty and is assigned investigate the murder of Stephen Shaw.  Turns out the only lead is Grace Callahan, an old friend of his.  Now it’s a game of keeping Grace safe while they trying to figure out who’s behind Stephen’s murder and what he left for Grace that is important enough to kill for.

This story was fast-paced right from the very first page.  It keeps you guessing about who is behind the murder until close to the end, which I really enjoy.  I didn’t particularly fall in love with Grace or Nate.  They both had been handed difficult things to deal with and Grace was a good example for Nate.  I just didn’t really feel a strong connection between them.  I felt this was more of a suspense than romantic suspense.  I would say it had a touch of romance.  Overall it was a good book that holds your interest until the end. 

This complimentary copy was provided by Revell through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

For more information about this books or other books by this author, I encourage you to visit her website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com.