Targeted

GIVEAWAY

EASON, LYNETTE

BLACKBURN, LYNN H.

WALTERS, NATALIE

TARGETED

Three women. Three men. Three unsuspecting targets.

Get ready for triple the thrills with three heart-stopping stories from your favourite romantic suspense authors!

In On the Run, IT Specialist Daria Nevsky is a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead -- and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.

In Deadly Objective, physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper are committed to keeping their relationship professional. But when the vice president's son enters the crosshairs of a killer, some lines will have to be crossed in order to keep him safe.

In Caught in the Crosshairs, there is no love lost between former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman and CIA officer Claudia Gallegos after Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. But to prevent a coup that would put America at risk, they'll have to learn to trust each other -- before it's too late. 

My Review:

Three headliner romantic suspense authors join forces to deliver a trifecta of edge-of-your-seat suspense reads with intrepid heroes and heroines who keep things interesting. Because heightened emotions lead to romance and the toe-curl/danger combo kept me turning pages. And rooting for three happily-ever-afters...once justice is served, of course.

Of note: each novella relates to a series but can easily be read as standalones, so no worries if you're not up to date. 'Targeted' provides the perfect opportunity to sample these authors' storytelling styles and get a feel for their series.

Each story involves plenty of action and danger and just the right amount of romance to keep things interesting. These authors excel at pacing and plotting and manage to deliver fully fleshed out characters and well developed plots despite the shorter word count (each novella is about 120 pages.) I can't pick a favourite because each of these heroines and their heroes are completely captivating! 

A perfect collection to pick up during the holidays...or anytime of year, actually.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, #6 Stay current with a series

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Targeted, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 3 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Malicious Intent

GIVEAWAY

BLACKBURN, LYNN H.

MALICIOUS INTENT

Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company's cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been heralded by government, medical, and advocacy groups and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose -- and how far will they go to get what they want?

Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to spend the rest of his life with her. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life's work, her own life, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

Perfectly balancing chilling suspense and uplifting romance, award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a story of revenge, greed, and overcoming that you won't want to put down no matter how late it gets.

My Review:

Gobsmacked, that's me after finishing Malicious Intent. Not sure there are words enough to describe how good this book is so I'm just going to gush!!!! 

From the romance -- hello, reunion romance!!! There's nothing like a redeeming teenage love gone bad romance!!! And the suspense is so compelling -- set at a whiplash pace and steeped with intrigue. And that opening scene. Yikes!!!!!! I can't even...have your defibrillators handy. But the investigative side of this novel is just as riveting as Ivy and Gil and company work at putting all the pieces together. 

Eeeepppp --- and speaking of 'company,' not only do we get the whole gang from the first Defend and Protect book but we also get all kinds of Dive Team Investigators cameos too. And the camaraderie is so much fun -- full of banter and teasing and the kind of heart-to-hearts only the best of friends can get away with. I'm more than a tad shy of giddy over these guys!!!!!!

Love the balance the author achieves between the suspense and romance and faith elements in this story. With touches of humour seamlessly woven throughout. I'd go from laughing uproariously to cowering under my blankets with the flick of a page! Honestly think this might be Lynn H. Blackburn's best book yet...but I might have to go back and re-read the Dive series and this one just to make sure. :-)

Oh -- and no worries if you haven't read Unknown Threat or the previous series -- Malicious Intent reads beautifully as a standalone as well.

Goal Update: #6 Stay current with series

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or e book copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Malicious Intent, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 26 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Unknown Threat

GIVEAWAY

BLACKBURN, LYNN H.

UNKNOWN THREAT

US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends, and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He and his team are experts at shielding others, but now the protectors are in the need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

Luke has teamed up with Faith before, but he's not convinced she's up for the job and she's not convinced he's telling her everything he knows. As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to learn to trust each other and work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

My Review:

Snort! I didn't know what to make of Faith at first. She's channeled her inner snark to near perfection. Sometimes it's funny (hence the snort laughter) but other times I was, "wait, whatttt? Did she just think/say....?!" Definitely a heroine with porcupine quills and walled up defenses. And definitely not of the all soft and fluffy variety. :-) Here's a glimpse into her mindset:

"...she had limited exposure to baby humans. Or little humans. Or pretty much any human who didn't have a fully formed prefrontal cortex. Although, come to think of it, she strongly suspected a few guys she'd dated in college had still been growing their brains..." (p 75)

Bwahahahaha!

Meanwhile Luke is definitely all brain...and brawn. Swoony hero material in fact. He's the suffer-in-silence, stoic, protective type. Drives Faith a little bit crazy because she can't always corral random wisps of attraction that keep surfacing the more she spends time with him. And they are clocking a lot of hours trying to chase down leads to stop a killer, all while being targets themselves. 'Cause somebody seems to be determined to wipe out Luke's entire unit.

I've never been a huge Secret Service devotee, but, until I read this book, I had a very narrow view of what exactly these agents do. Turns out there's a whole lot more to their job description than just protective detail so now my interest is piqued. And Blackburn has created a dynamic team with hints at intriguing back stories of future heroes and heroines to come. Super excited to read more of this series.

And...BONUS...insert high-pitched fan girl squealing...there are some fun nods to the author's Dive Team Investigations series!!!!!

An intense page-turner that kept me reading at a frenetic pace until I devoured the very last word. 

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Unknown Threat, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday June 5 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

One Final Breath

GIVEAWAY

BLACKBURN, LYNN HUGGINS
ONE FINAL BREATH

When investigator Gabriel Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell -- a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.

Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her - the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.

When Anissa's fractured past collides with Gabe's investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they'll have to put their complicated history with each other aside in order to uncover the identity of a killer. What they'll discover is that revenge has no statute of limitations.

Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn closes out her nail-biting Dive Team Investigations series with a story that will have you wondering how long you can hold your breath.

My Review:

GabeGabeGabeGabeGabeGabeGabe...am I babbling? Yes. But...Gabe!!!!!! My fried neurons from last week have short-circuited so I'm stuck on a Gabe loop now...which is sublimely distracting. :-)

I have been waiting for Anissa and Gabe's story since meeting them in the first Dive Team Investigations book! The anticipation was nearly unbearable and I eagerly dived into this one (pun intended.) I listened to the audible version and Kate Forbes did justice to these beloved characters and their story! Her narration made this a compulsive listen.

Love, love, love how the author brings the whole team together so many times in this final Dive Team Investigation book. (Sob!) Their banter-fueled camaraderie is the best and kept me grinning through the tough times. My jaw aches from smiling so much! You don't need to have read the first two books to get the team dynamics -- Blackburn does an excellent job of highlighting relationships and catching new-to-the-series readers up so they won't feel lost. But these guys have all been given plenty of page time regardless of who has the starring roles so this felt kinda like a reunion read for me.

The suspense is crazy intense -- three cases that become entangled with just enough sinister asides from the mysterious bad guy to give a reader sublime anxiety. :-) Page-turning (or rabid listening) is a foregone conclusion once you start in on this story.

And did I mention Gabe? Of course I did -- excitedly fangirling without any substance so let me rectify that. Think contrasts. Tough and tender. Teasing and serious. Protective but respectful. He's been falling in love with Anissa for months and he's just realizing it. And when he lapses into Spanish here and there...well, it's time I posted a sizzling meltdown warning! The swoonworthiest of swoonworthy heroes!

I love that both Gabe and Anissa are Christians who believe in the power of prayer. Blackburn includes some wonderful inspirational threads throughout this plot. Love how their faith just flows naturally into the story. But they are by no means perfect -- they have their own doubts and fears to wrestle with. As dear Mr. Cook gently advises -- "Be open to the gifts God's trying to give you."

Hair-raising, heart-racing, toe-curling laugh-out-loudable and a whole lot of fun!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of One Final Breath, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 2 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

In Too Deep

GIVEAWAY

BLACKBURN, LYNN H.
IN TOO DEEP

When the dive team is called to recover a body from a submerged car, they aren't prepared to find an encrypted laptop -- or an unsettling connection between investigator Adam Campbell and the dead accountant.

Adam turns to his friend Dr. Sabrina Fleming -- a professor at the local university with unparalleled computer security and forensics skills -- to recover the file from the laptop. But the deeper they dig, the deadlier the investigation becomes. When evidence uncovers a human trafficking ring and implicates members of Adam's own family, he and Sabrina will have to risk everything to solve the case.

The truth could set hundreds free -- but someone is willing to do whatever it takes to silence anyone who threatens to reveal their secrets. Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn invites readers back to Carrington, North Carolina, where everything is not as it seems and sinister elements lurk behind the idyllic facade.

My Review:

You know that moment when you reach the end of a really good book and you have the sudden urge to charge up the highest mountaintop with a megaphone in hand so you can holler out a proclamation of epic proportion about a not-to-be-missed book? Because you just can't stand the thought of somebody missing out because they might not know about it? Well, that's me right now over In Too Deep. 

Serious reader nirvana magic. Especially if you are a romantic suspense lover! And if you favour quirky heroines and quietly intense heroes and awesome team dynamics and a complicated suspense that's layered with intrigue and danger and all things sinister.

So we have Sabrina who is adorably literal -- brilliant scientific mind, a technology whiz but not able to navigate normal social cues. Love the way the team accepts her and how patient and understanding Adam is of her unconventional ways. He's been in love with her practically since the day he met her but he's so cautious and a little bit bumbling which makes him great fodder for lots of good-natured ribbing from his friends. And then crazy happens and suddenly emotions are heightened and how can he not say something while he still has a chance?! Phew!!! These two together are sweet and amusing with a sizzling side of toe-curling!

And I love the way Blackburn has included a strong inspirational thread throughout the story. It flows naturally from the faith of each team member and brings a spiritual focus to the tough subject matter.

"...it's not about how big our faith is. What matters is how big our God is."

In Too Deep was impossible to put down yet I was reluctant to reach the end. The kind of novel you love because it's glorious and you hate because it doesn't last forever.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of In Too Deep, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 9 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Beneath the Surface

GIVEAWAY

BLACKBURN, LYNN H.
BENEATH THE SURFACE

She thought she'd be safe when she moved back home. She was dead wrong.

After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston needed a change. She thought she'd left her troubles behind when she moved home to Carrington, North Carolina and took a job in the emergency department of the local hospital. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her down and reaches out to her high school friend turned homicide investigator, Ryan Parker, for help.

Ryan finds satisfaction in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff's Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer -- one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.

My Review:

Eep! Squeal!! Thud!!! I'm in a discombobulated frenzy of excitement over this new series by Lynn H. Blackburn. Not only am I smitten by Beneath the Surface, but I'm all aflutter just contemplating the future Dive Team Investigations books! That's because Blackburn has done an incredible job of introducing team members with unique personalities that already have me clamoring for answers. Like what's up with Gabe and Anissa?! Inquiring reader minds want to know, Ms. Blackburn!

There is so much to love about this book but I'll get the one big negative out of the way first before I start waxing poetic. Ready? The worst thing about this romantic suspense is that the pages run out! Like, seriously, I'm blissfully reading along alternately swooning and cringing and occasionally shoulder-checking when -- snap -- just like that, it's over. Way too soon, even if the ending is all toe-curling sweetness. Insert disgruntled sigh here (heavy enough to cause my bangs to stand up on end.).

At least the author leaves us with a glimpse into what's coming up in In Too Deep which provides some consolation and not a small amount of anticipatory hyperventilating! If you love the kind of romantic suspense series written by Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason and Irene Hannon, you are going to become a huge Lynn H. Blackburn fan!

So, the things I love about this book. The fact that Leigh is Chinese American because I am looking for diversity in my fiction. She's a spunky nurse with a huge heart for her patients. And she's been harboring a secret crush on Ryan since her brother used to bring him home in their high school days. That's a great foundation for building a realistic romance in the midst of danger and intrigue. Especially since Ryan was interested in Leigh way back then too!

And I love the way Blackburn balances the romance and the suspense with flashes of team camaraderie and humour. I soaked up every delicious word! And the dive team angle is a refreshing addition to this genre. This is the kind of story it's easy to get immersed in -- ha! no pun intended. A taut and  gripping pager-turner I found impossible to put down...even when I reached the end!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Beneath the Surface, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 22 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Hidden Legacy

GIVEAWAY

BLACKBURN, LYNN HUGGINS
HIDDEN LEGACY

To save her child

Arriving home with the baby she's adopting, Caroline Harrison finds her house vandalized...and an intruder intent on shooting her. She's saved when police sirens approach, but all signs point to the little boy as the true target -- and the assailant won't give up. Now she has to rely on Detective Jason Drake, the man who once broke her heart, to figure out why someone's after her soon-to-be adoptive son. Reunited after thirteen years apart, Jason can't help but hope their love might be rekindled, but Caroline and her son's safety come first. Because if he wants a chance at a future -- and a family -- with them, they have to outrun a hit man.

My Review:

"The house had been ransacked." What a great opening line for a heart-stopping romantic suspense. It promises so much, even as it raises questions in a curious reader's mind. If my tummy wasn't flipping over the relentless attacks against Caroline and little Henry, it was flipping over a certain Detective who just happens to be an old love interest. The one that got away, though Caroline's heart is having a difficult time believing that it's really over. She's guarded. He's wary. But their past differences have to be put aside so they can deal with the ever present danger. Delicious tension -- both romantic and suspense -- amped up my reading frenzy and I devoured Hidden Legacy in an afternoon.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hidden Legacy, leave a comment below, or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email in your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 16 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Covert Justice

GIVEAWAY

BLACKBURN, LYNN HUGGINS
COVERT JUSTICE

Agent Undercover

When a woman drags Blake Harrison out of his wrecked car, he knows the mysterious stranger has saved his life. But more shocking than the hit-and-run is the news that a crime cartel has infiltrated his factory. There's a fortune to be made by tampering with the factory's products…but only if Blake is out of the way. Undercover FBI agent Heidi Zimmerman has two goals—catch the criminals in the act, and keep Blake alive. Falling for the single dad and his adorable daughter isn't in the plan. But everything changes when an abduction leaves Heidi face-to-face with a killer, revealing the danger that's been hiding in plain sight all along…

My Review:

Wow -- my head's still spinning. What an incredible debut novel. Really unique opening. Loved the role reversal with Heidi being the professional and all about the protection detail. And the suspense? Oy, I couldn't figure it out. But I didn't feel so bad because neither could Heidi and Blake. I mean we know it involves a crime cartel but we don't know what they're up to...or why. And the author plays her cards close to her chest right to the very end. Heidi and her team kept looking for motive and I kept offering them suggestions but they ignored me (which is just as well since I was wrong, wrong, wrong!) And that's not the only suspense in this book. Heidi is quite the mystery herself. Her story is revealed by slow degrees and that kept me riveted trying to put the pieces of her puzzle together. Brilliantly done.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Covert Justice please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday June 21 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!