Dangerous Montana Inheritance by Jenna Night

Dangerous Montana Inheritance
by Jenna Night

ISBN-13: 9781335957290
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: September 30, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Attacked on the property she unexpectedly inherited, Rose Balfour barely escapes with the help of former hostage negotiator Henry Walsh. Someone is determined to keep her from testifying at a loan shark’s murder trial. But when she does and the danger continues, Rose suspects there are answers in the house left to her. Teaming up with Henry, Rose uncovers surprising evidence and a powerful enemy determined to silence them. Not even Henry’s isolated ranch is a safe refuge. With their lives on the line and captors closing in, can Rose and Henry expose the web of secrets—before they vanish forever?


My Review:
Dangerous Montana Inheritance is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the 4th in a series but works as a standalone. Henry had a crush on Rose back in high school, but he knew that his parent's criminal reputation would always color how people in the town saw him. He left to join the military and later work at a private security firm. Now he's back to get his inherited ranch in shape to sell. Rose left for college, but she quit to return and constantly bail her parents out of their bad decisions, like taking a loan from an unscrupulous lender. That man has since been murdered, and she's a witness at the trial. Two men try to kidnap her so she can't testify, apparently worried she knew more than she did.

We're repeatedly told that Henry had no plans to live in his home town due to his parent's reputation, and he didn't have a job elsewhere. Rose wanted to leave to finish college. They could both leave and be together elsewhere, but they made it sound like the only real option was to live locally so Rose could continue to 'help' her parents. I was disappointed that, in the end, she still felt responsible to spend her resources on making her parents happy. Rose couldn't defend herself from attack, so she was grateful for Henry's free protection and that he always came to rescue her. Both Henry and Rose decided that they'd misjudged each other and that they were a good match.

The story had some realism issues. For example, multiple professionals had guns but they always tucked them into their waistband, like they'd never heard of a gun holster. And the professional hitmen never made any effort to hide their identities, which was the only reason that law enforcement finally figured out who they were. The police didn't look for fingerprints or other clues. Hopefully some of this will be fixed in the final version as I read an advanced reader's copy.

The main characters prayed for help. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Sisterhood by Tasha Alexander

The Sisterhood
by Tasha Alexander

ISBN-13: 9781250374981
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Released: September 23, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
London, 1907: When the Season's most accomplished and elegant debutante, Victoria Goldsborough, collapses and dies at her engagement ball, the great and good of London Society prepare to mourn the tragic loss of an upstanding young woman. But all is not what it seems, and after a toxic beverage is revealed to be the cause of death, the king himself instructs Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves to unearth the truth.

Who would want to harm one of the most popular women of the year? Is it her fiancé with whom she had an unusually brief courtship; a rival for his affections bitter at being cast aside; her best friend who is almost certainly hiding a secret from Colin and Emily; a disappointed suitor with a hidden gambling habit; or a notorious jewel thief who has taken a priceless tiara from the Goldsborough home? When a second debutante succumbs to poison, the race is on to find a ruthless killer.

Emily and Colin’s investigation leads to a centuries old tomb in the center of London with a mysterious link to another death dating back to Roman times and the violent reign of Boudica, ancient Britain's fearsome warrior queen.


My Review:
The Sisterhood is a mystery set in 1907 in England. There's also a secondary story going on in 60 that tells about Boudica's revolt, which is only linked to the main story because someone found a tomb they thought might be Boudica's. This book is the 19th in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this story didn't spoil the mysteries of the previous books.

Historical and setting details were woven into the story without slowing the pacing. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. I was mildly frustrated that Emily and Colin didn't ask very good questions and went off on tangents, discovering a lot of information relating to possible motives while dropping the question of who could have given the poison. When they finally asked the right questions and got proof of whodunit, the reader wasn't allowed to know whodunit until the reveal (though I had finally worked out whodunit shortly before). The 'why' for the first murder was explained, but details about the second murder were sparse and seemed to conflict with some previous information on timing. The story ended abruptly, leaving a lot of loose ends.

There were no sex scenes, though married sex was implied. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery, but I enjoyed this author's earlier mysteries better.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

I Killed the King by Rebecca Mix; Andrea Hannah

I Killed the King
by Rebecca Mix; Andrea Hannah

ISBN-13: 9780063379619
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Storytide
Released: September 16, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a decade of war, the kingdoms of Avendell and Istellia have finally agreed to peace. As nobles and magic wielders from both countries arrive at remote Castle Avendell for a historic all-night masquerade to celebrate, King Costis summons an unlikely group to his chambers: the crown prince, his Istellian bride-to-be, his personal guard, a wild beast tamer, and the palace’s questionable new healer. But before Costis can get the treaty signed, the castle goes dark.

When the lights come back, the king is dead—murdered with the princess’s knife, in a weak spot only his guard knew of, and with venom from one of the beast tamer’s monsters lacing the blade.

With no clear killer—and everyone a suspect—they make a risky pact: Tell no one until the treaty is signed. But when a winter storm seals everyone inside and someone aware of the king's untimely death begins to pick off guests one by one, the six suspects must work together to discover who killed the king . . . before one of them is next.


My Review:
I Killed the King is a suspense novel that happens in a fantasy world. The suspense was well done as I kept turning the pages to see what happened next. People (including main characters) died one after another. It didn't really feel like a mystery, though, because each of the six viewpoint characters (prince, princess, king's guard, healer, beast tamer, assassin) knew information that the reader then knows which strongly hinted at who is behind the chaos. The king's killer confessed about halfway through, but the main characters still needed to stop the bad guy behind everything. At the end, they think they accomplished this, but the reader knows they didn't: they only made things worse. So not really a happy ending.

The fantasy world wasn't developed very far, mentioning things like unicorns and basilisks (which are snakes with deadly venom in this book), but most of it was just backdrop stuff to establish that there was magic (not much used in the story) and 13 gods (of which a few play a role). The characters weren't initially very developed either, though they became more realistic and less like simply roles by the end of the book. The prince spent most of the crisis thinking about how much he loved his male guard and looking to him to solve the crisis. The healer drank himself insensible, though he became more proactive after someone he loved was killed. The princess was starting to develop some independence and use her cleverness by the end, yet she also loved someone she shouldn't and ended up unhappy.

One character liked to cuss, so there was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex, though there certainly was enough longing and thwarted love.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Two Seconds Too Late by Dani Pettrey

Two Seconds Too Late
by Dani Pettrey

ISBN-13: 9780764238499
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: April 1, 2025

Source: Bought.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a luxury spa and couple's retreat turns into a chilling nightmare when a woman vanishes without a trace, just hours after a public fight with her boyfriend. Worried something sinister has happened, her friends reach out to investigator Riley MacLeod, an expert skip tracer, for help. The assignment means going undercover at the retreat, which means pairing up with private investigator Greyson Chadwick. Their partnership ignites a tumultuous mix of attraction and conflict as Riley's unorthodox methods clash with Greyson's meticulous approach.

As they delve deeper into the case and a ruthless hitman is unleashed upon them, Riley and Greyson find themselves fighting not only for justice but for their very survival. In their race against the clock, they can only hope that they're not too late.


My Review:
Two Seconds Too Late is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second book in a series, but it can be read as a stand alone. We get Kelly's viewpoint (the missing woman) as well as that of Riley and Greyson, so the reader has a better idea of what's going on than they do. Kelly drops off a key at Riley's but doesn't stay to tell her what it opens. Now killers are after both Kelly and Rily since Kelly stole a lot of money from crooks to return to someone they wronged in the past. Only knowing that Kelly's disappeared, Riley and Greyson look into the background of Kelly and her boyfriend then go undercover to the couple's retreat that she disappeared from. They discover criminal activity and must survive while bringing the bad guys to justice.

The physical danger to the main characters and others kept the suspense high. The characters were smart, complex, and dealt with realistic struggles. I cared about what happened to them. Riley and Greyson built each other up and worked well together even though their different styles created some tension. They were Christians, and Greyson struggled to trust God with his future rather than trying to control everything. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, suspenseful novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills

Canyon of Deceit
by DiAnn Mills

ISBN-13: 9781496485151
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: Sept. 9, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story, especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet. As the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot.


My Review:
Canyon of Deceit is a Christian romantic suspense. There was plenty of suspense due to physical danger, both from the wilderness landscape they were searching and from the bad guys. The man who asked for Therese's help in saving his kidnapped daughter was clearly withholding information, but she felt responsible for her sister's death and so was willing to risk her life to save the young girl. She asked Blane to come with her as backup.

As this is an Advanced Reader Copy, some of these issues may be cleared up in the final version. However, I sometimes had trouble following the wilderness descriptions. For example, Therese returned to the trail head, yet she was obviously still off trail, out in the middle of nowhere. Neither Therese or Blane talked normally. When Therese learned that a serial killer who wanted to torture and kill her was after her, she responded with: "fear rises like the sun and binds me to take precautions." Or "No respect for human life continues to play out" or "Questions pelt me like someone throwing stones" or the thought "The men who'd bled and died placed my caution on high alert." These things kept me from getting immersed in the story.

The main characters also did illogical things. They were trying to sneak around behind the bad guys, had to camp, and deliberately made a fire that would be visible to the enemy. Later, Blane waited until nightfall before making his smoke signal, which somehow was seen only by the good guys. Blane had a severe concussion and an badly injured arm, but as soon as he visited a hospital, he was back to driving and gun fights. I wish hospital visits were so miraculous.

Blane's friend has talked with him about God, and he discovered Therese also believed despite the bad things that have happened in her life. When badly injured in the wilderness, he seriously considered what they'd told him about God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this twisty suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen

A Sea View Christmas
by Julie Klassen

ISBN-13: 9780764242441
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: September 2, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With a promise to her youngest sister, Sarah Summers declares that this year's Christmas at Sea View will exceed all expectations. But the arrival of Callum Henshall--dashing Scottish widower and returning guest--blows a flurry of doubts into her mind. Sarah had discouraged his attentions before and is once again torn between attraction and duty. Yet even while she's busy managing the family's guest house, alluring thoughts of a second chance at love weave their way into her practical heart.

Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Georgiana eagerly anticipates the exciting Christmas of her dreams after last year's dull, disappointing holiday filled with endless chores. She enjoys all the promised parties, music, and dancing, but is taken by surprise when young love comes knocking. Does the festive romance of a Sea View Christmas hold the key to a happily-ever-after for both sisters?


My Review:
A Sea View Christmas is a Christian romance set in 1820 in Scotland and England. This is the 4th book in a series, and it's best understood and enjoyed if you've first read the previous novels. Georgiana's now old enough to be interested in a visiting young man who's a fop. Only, he's more interested in the things that Georgiana enjoys and cares about than she expected. I assume their romance will complete in the next novel.

Sarah's romance with Callum really happened in a previous novel. In this story, Callum would marry Sarah at any time, but she kept finding reasons to put him off. Sarah's mother told her that one can always find a reason to put things off. Sarah likes to feel completely necessary for Sea View to run and that she can't be replaced, so she tells herself it's her duty to stay and help her mother when that's not even being asked of her. I liked the character growth as Sarah came to realize what was really holding her back, but I guess Sarah went "Yes! No... Yes! No..." so many times that I just got exasperated with her.

A lot of the story was actually the details of what a 1820s English Christmas would have been like, from the games played to how various foods were made. The many historical details were woven into the story and brought it alive in my imagination. The characters were generally likable and acted in realistic ways. Sarah had to learn to trust God with the future rather than trying to control everything herself. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Things We Keep Hidden by Jill Lynn

Things We Keep Hidden
by Jill Lynn

ISBN-13: 9781335045003
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Released: August 26, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The last time lifelong friends Payton, Isley and Clara were together, Clara broke their unwritten rule and brought up the one thing they never talk about. And now, more than twenty years after their friend Cece took her life, they must confront that night as the three women and their husbands gather at Isley’s Breckenridge vacation home. With tension already simmering just below the surface of their relationship, they’re each left shaken when a cryptic note Tell the truth or I will.

Who is the message for and what does it refer to? The women fear it could be linked to the truth they’ve kept hidden since the night Cece died. Or maybe it has something to do with one of the problems they’ve each brought with them. Isley’s son is in rehab after narrowly avoiding jail time. Clara, usually so careful to follow rules, is haunted by the one night that she didn’t. And Payton struggles to accept her husband’s desire to get divorced.

As the weekend unfolds, all three will revisit the bonds they share and the challenges that have shaped their lives. And by the trip’s end, a truth that shocks them all will be revealed.


My Review:
Things We Keep Hidden is general fiction. I had mistakenly thought it was a Christian book, but there's no mention of God (or Jesus) and the main characters strove to solve their problems in their own strength and wisdom. However, there was no sex or bad language. Even though we're introduced to 8+ main characters within the first chapter, the author did a good job of making them each distinct. I had no trouble remembering who everyone was, their problems, and their relationships. Perhaps to prevent slowing an already slow start, details about the characters came out over time.

However, the characters KNEW what problem they were thinking about (when you're supposedly in their head and know their thoughts) yet they only vaguely referred to various problems for over half the book. Even with all the hiding, the truth behind what happened with CeCe was predictable (yes, I guessed it before the reveal). And what the girls did that they hid was meant to be supportive of CeCe, so obviously everyone forgives them. It's a non-issue at this point yet these women couldn't see this and were burdened for a good chunk of their life over it.

The author kept me at a distance by hiding rather than inviting me into the main character's problems, so I never bonded with any of them. The author didn't seem to understand how farms work, so even that couple's very vague farm problems were hard to relate to because they didn't make sense to me. Despite two of the women being control freaks, they missed what was obviously happening under their noses. And the meaning behind the "Tell the truth or I will" was a bit of a letdown.

Also, these women were supposed to be best friends, yet they spent the first part of the book trying to hide their troubles from the others. Why? When they did, they all did act like good, supportive friends, so why try to pretend their lives were fine? It wasn't a bad story, but it just wasn't relatable to me. It felt like they self-inflicted a whole lot of stress over minor issues while the major ones were just glossed over.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.