Double Take; Trial by Fire; Guarded Secrets

Here are three great suspense from Love Inspired


Title: DOUBLE TAKE
Author: Jenness Walker
Love Inspired Suspense
October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-373-44360-4
Genre: Inspirational/suspense

Cole Leighton had picked up the best seller for some light reading on his vacation. But he’s barely a few pages into the mystery when the story literally starts coming to life before his eyes. The heroine of the book boards the bus with Cole. And then Cole could almost follow the drama word for word as the story described the bus getting robbed and the woman abducted.

The only trouble is when Cole goes to the police with the book and where the book says that the woman would be found, he’s considered a suspect, and the police don’t seem to take his opinion of where the woman is seriously. So, Cole goes to investigate himself. He finds the woman, barely alive, but this only seems to cause more suspicion to land on his head.

Kenzie Jacobs is alive for now, but Cole is convinced that is about to change. Since Cole turned his copy of the book over to the police, he goes out and buys another copy of the book. He needs to know if Kenzie is truly safe or if there’s a mad-man after her.

DOUBLE TAKE starts out with action and doesn’t let up. Even though the hero is reading, I was instantly caught up in this story as I wondered what would happen next. Cole is a realistic heroine, kind and caring, and even willing to appear a fool to do what he knows is right. I didn’t relate as well to Kenzie, but as the book went on she did begin to grow on me.

DOUBLE TAKE is the first book I’ve read by Jenness Walker, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Ms. Walker is a very talented writer that brings the pages of a book to life. Parts of the story even had me scared to death. I had to put all the lights in the house on. Don’t miss DOUBLE TAKE. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. 207 pages.

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Title: TRIAL BY FIRE
Author: Cara Putman
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-373-44359-8
Genre: Inspirational/suspense

Prosecutor Tricia Jamison is facing a difficult trial case when the phone rings. Her mother’s house is on fire. When Tricia arrives at the scene, she discovers that its only the shed, but still. All evidence points to arson.

Firefighter Noel Brust has harbored hard feelings toward Tricia for the past year. Even though she won the case, his hero father was still raked over the coals and he feels that Tricia didn’t do her job. Now, he’s investigating the fire at her mother’s house. How can he keep the past from tarnishing their working together on this case?

When Tricia’s brother’s house is next on the arsonist’s list. Tricia is sure that someone is targeting her family and that she will be next. But who is after her family? And why does every fire seem to throw her in Noah Brust’s path?

TRIAL BY FIRE is the sequel to Deadly Evidence, the first Love Inspired Suspense by Cara Putman. I enjoyed getting to know Tricia and Noel, though I found both characters rather brusque in the beginning of the book.

Ms. Putman is a very talented author who obviously did her research into both the job of a prosecutor and firefighters. The story isn’t as fast paced as the other Love Inspired Suspense that I’ve read recently, but the story still held my attention and I couldn’t wait to see if my suspicions about the identity of the arsonist were correct. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. 210 pages.

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Title: GUARDED SECRETS
Author: Leann Harris
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-373-44358-1
Genre: Inspirational/suspense

Lilly Burkstrom is plunged into a nightmare when her ex-husband dies from an apparent convenience store robbery gone wrong. When she goes to his apartment to collect his belongings, she finds the place ransacked and recalls her husband’s words. “If I die, it won’t be an accident.”

When Lilly returns home to find her own home to be ransacked, she calls the kind detective who came to notify her of her ex-husband’s death. But then she hears a noise, indicating that someone is still in her house.

Detective Jon Littledeer is quick to respond to the single mother and even goes above and beyond the call of duty to try to keep her safe while the police try to find out what really happened with the death of her ex-husband and what are the killers hoping to find?

GUARDED SECRETS is a fast read, a romantic suspense that grabbed me from page one and wouldn’t let go. I enjoyed getting to know Lilly and her young daughter, Penny, as well as Jon. There is also a cast of secondary characters that help to bring the story to life.

Leann Harris is a very talented author and I am looking forward to reading more books by her. Her dialog is realistic and not strained at all. There isn’t much sense of setting in this book, the story could be set in any more populated subdivision but the story is still very well told. I enjoyed reading GUARDED SECRETS. If you pick up any suspense this month, this would be a good book to consider. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. 209 pages.