Prowl by Colleen Coble

Prowl
by Colleen Coble

ISBN-13: 9780840714374
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: November 4, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When a worker at the Sanctuary is discovered dead in the tiger enclosure, authorities assume the big cat killed her. But when the autopsy shows she was killed by a lethal dose of anesthetic delivered by a tranquilizer gun, suspicion falls on Blake Lawson, co-owner of the Sanctuary. Blake has his hands full trying to clear his name as well as get the Sanctuary finances back in the black. When a soil test turns up traces of rare earth, he's even more puzzled. Is someone trying to run them out of business to get to whatever is under the ground?

Meanwhile, wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden is determined to find the brother she only recently learned even existed. When the results of the DNA test she ran mysteriously disappear from her portal before she can read them, she realizes someone must not want her to know the truth. A break-in at her new apartment is alarming, but she tries to pass it off as someone trying to scare her away. She refuses to turn tail and run when she is desperate for answers.

For Blake, the only solid ground is his relationship with Paradise, and he longs to propose--but how can they even think about starting a life together with so many forces working against them?


My Review:
Prowl is a Christian romantic suspense. This is the second book in a series and continues the story of the main characters in the previous book. However, you can understand this story if you haven't read the previous book.

There were several mysteries that Paradise and Blake were trying to solve: the past murder of Paradise's parents, the person currently threatening Paradise, and who killed the worker at the Sanctuary and why? Paradise and Blake asked questions, found clues, and passed any evidence on to law enforcement that were on their side (as the main detective for the murder had a grudge against Blake). I didn't strongly suspect the non-obvious whodunit until nearly the end but did wonder why Paradise just let a clue drop which hinted at whodunit's involvement. The murder of Paradise's parents' remained unsolved by the end but much of what was happening at the Sanctuary was solved and stopped.

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the danger from the attacks on Paradise. Blake and Paradise genuinely wanted to help and support the other. Blake and Paradise struggled with trusting God with an uncertain future. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting 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.

Rescued Heart by Angela Hunt

Rescued Heart
by Angela Hunt

ISBN-13: 9780764245176
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: October 7, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Ur of the Chaldeans, Ishcah is old to be a bride when she marries Abram, a man she has never met and who renames her Sarai on their wedding day. Their union, arranged since childhood, tests her as she grapples with Abram's sole devotion to an unseen God--entirely unlike the idols she has worshiped all her life. When Abram reveals that Adonai has promised to make his descendants into a great nation, Sarai chooses to trust him and follow his God. As the years pass without conceiving a child, Sarai wrestles with doubt and faith within her marriage. Her skepticism that their descendants will "outnumber the stars" grows with time. It will take nothing short of a miracle to prove Adonai's faithfulness to His promise.


My Review:
Rescued Heart is a story of Abram and Sarai. While some parts of the Bible account are used, it's largely based on the account given in the book of Jasher. The original book of Jasher was lost, and, to quote Grokipedia, "Numerous forgeries purporting to be rediscovered copies of this lost book have been written." Angela Hunt admits she doesn't know it's accurate, yet she chose to go with a version of Jasher that she found even when it conflicted with the Bible. For example, Sarah is Abram's half-sister in the Bible (Genesis 20:12: "Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother.") but is Abram's niece in the book of Jasher.

Angela decided to make Sarai Abram's niece. Staying true to the Bible account would have meant going with half-sister, but she treated the book of Jasher as having the greater accuracy. There were several places where the Bible is clear about what happened but Angela chose to use the book of Jasher instead. I was very disappointed with this.

Unfortunately, I didn't even like Sarai. She's self-centered, wanting her own way and hurting others in the process until the day she died. I expected a story of Sarai's growth in her faith and relationships, lessons learned and things like that. Nope. She started strong in her faith in Abram's God after He saved Abram from dying when thrown into a deadly-hot, fiery furnace, but she quickly fell into self-pity and lack of trust after that. She died trying to go after Abram to stop him from killing Isaac--after Abram lied about what he was doing (traveling to relatives so Isaac could learn from Shem about God) but a "prophet" told Sarah that Abram was going to kill Isaac. So not really the type of story I was looking for.

There were no sex scenes or bad language.


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.

Missing at Christmas by Deena Alexander

Missing at Christmas
by Deena Alexander

ISBN-13: 9780593197882
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: October 28, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When journalist Lexi McKenna receives a desperate call for help, she rushes to her sister’s home, only to find her sister dead and one of her twin nieces missing. With her past mafia ties resurfacing, Lexi must go on the run with agent Noah Thompson to protect herself from her father’s enemies. Although Lexi is the daughter of the mob boss who murdered Noah’s brother, Noah will do anything to take down her family—even work with her. As danger looms from all sides, they must find the abducted baby and dismantle a criminal empire before Lexi and her nieces end up as collateral damage.


My Review:
Missing at Christmas is a Christian romantic suspense. Lexi left her father when she learned he was a crime boss who wanted her to be his heir. But daddy still named her his heir in his will if she married one of his trusted men. When her sister is kill, one of her baby nieces is kidnapped, and her father's murdered, suddenly everyone wants her--either to marry her or to kill her. She just wants to save her nieces. Noah's brother died because of her father, but he admires Lexi's character and so offered to protect her as a bodyguard while his co-workers helped them find the missing baby.

The main characters were likable, courageous, and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. Lexi and Noah worked well together after they realized they could trust each other. The high suspense came mainly from the potential danger to the nieces as well as the attacks on Lexi. Lexi and Noah were Christians and prayed to God for help. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable 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 Song in the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse

A Song in the Dark
by Kimberley Woodhouse

ISBN-13: 9780764244674
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: September 23, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Against the simmering backdrop of the impending WWII, blind virtuoso pianist Chaisley Frappier embarks on a concert tour through a rapidly changing Europe despite the dangers. When she learns that Hitler's escalating regime of injustice is targeting other disabled people, Chaisley realizes she is in a prime position to help those who are threatened reach safety. But the Führer's growing fascination with the celebrated musician endangers her undercover mission and forces her to walk a tightrope between her fame and her calling.

When Rick Zimmerman receives his next assignment from the British Secret Intelligence Service, he's surprised to learn he'll be acting as the personal driver of a world-renowned pianist as she traverses Europe. The role gives him the perfect cover to complete side missions of sabotage and intelligence-gathering, but he soon suspects the brilliant, alluring pianist has secrets of her own. As Chaisley and Rick confront evil at every turn, it will take every bit of faith and courage they possess to triumph over hate--and survive.


My Review:
"A Song in the Dark is a Christian romance set in 1938 in Europe. The main characters were complex, dealing with their fears while still wanting to be brave and help. I cared about what happened to them. Rick and Chaisley worked well together and both cared about helping others. Though I'm not blind, Chaisley's point-of-view seemed realistic for a blind woman.

Chaisley's mainly the excuse for her crew to be in an area. She helped blind and disabled children get in contact with a network of people that helped them get visas, then Rick or others sneaked them out of the Nazi-controlled countries. Chaisley was in danger because some Nazis didn't want to overlook her blindness (even if caused by an accident) and celebrate her skill. She and her assistants were in danger if Nazis found out what they were doing, and the danger to those helping and to those targeted by the Nazis kept the suspense high.

The ending felt a little rushed. For most of the book, Chaisley's assistant was afraid her German family likely became Nazis and didn't want them to discover her. At the end, we're suddenly told that she had contacted her brother, and it felt this came out of nowhere just to set up the danger-filled ending. Anyway, the main characters acted out of their Christian belief's and trusted God to help them save people. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this 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.

Two Truths and a Murder by Colleen Cambridge

Two Truths and a Murder
by Colleen Cambridge

ISBN-13: 9781496742780
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Released: October 28, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
While her famous employer is happily back home at Mallowan Hall, wrestling with her Belgian detective’s dilemma on board the Orient Express, Phyllida is finding her local renown as a sleuth has put her in high demand. A distraught Vera Rollingbroke suspects her husband of infidelity and has invited Phyllida to a dinner party to observe his behavior, particularly in regard to one Geneva Blastwick.

What she does observe at the party is that Geneva craves attention, in contrast to her shy sister Ethel. Geneva introduces a game called Two Truths and a Lie, and one of her questionable statements is that she once witnessed a murder. At this bold claim, the guests react with disbelief and pepper her with questions. Geneva remains cagey, withholding details, but insists this is not her lie.

The next morning Phyllida learns poor Ethel was purposely run down by a motorcar the previous night while inexplicably walking home alone from the party. She fears Geneva may have been the target. With Geneva in potential danger—and Inspector Cork proceeding ponderously as usual—Phyllida takes it upon herself to unmask the killer. With two murders to solve, she will need to grill Geneva and the guests as well as re-examine any past sudden deaths or disappearances. And if she’s smart, she’ll look twice before crossing the road.


My Review:
Two Truths and a Murder is a mystery set in England about 1933. This is the 5th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, but it would help with understanding the various relationships within the household. During the game of Two Truths and a Lie (at the beginning of the book), I immediately thought, "Oh, whodunit is..." and I only became more convinced as the story went on. However, Phyllida got sadly sidetracked by false assumptions, though she asked good questions and investigated the leads. She investigated the past murder (which accident was really a murder?) and who killed Ethel. The murder that looked like an accident could have been a very simple thing, but the author made it so elaborately staged that it pushed my belief that the witness would have accepted it as an accident.

Historical details were woven into the story, bringing the time and place alive in my imagination without slowing the pacing. However, I found it hard to believe that a logical woman like Phyllida would believe that she could repeatedly sneak into a fellow servant's quarters to have sex and no one would notice. She also seemed to think this behavior would have no consequences, which seems naive.

There were only a few uses of bad language. While Phyllida did engage in sex, it was fade-to-black after her intentions were clear (so no sex scenes). Overall, I'd recommend this historical mystery.


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.

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham

Sense and Suitability
by Pepper Basham

ISBN-13: 9780840717061
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: October 14, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she'd found her perfect match in Simon Reeves--charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel—until he vanished from her life without so much as a "farewell" or "my deepest regrets" (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson never fall for a man known for his charm.

Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband--because she's already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?

But fate—or the misfortune of Simon's reckless patriarchs—has other plans. Simon's once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.

Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She'll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic—no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.

There's just one small the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she's still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories--especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones--are worthy of a rewrite?


My Review:
Sense and Suitability is a Christian romance set around 1814 in England. Emme and Simon bring out the best in each other, but Simon needs a wealthy bride to help restore the debt-ridden estate that he's inherited. Emme 'only' has 2,000 pounds as dowry plus a secret 3,000 pounds invested in the Funds. Even if that was enough, Emme writes Gothic novels under a male name, and being an authoress would ruin her reputation and make her unsuitable. Considering how concerned they were about her reputation, it's strange that Simon kept asking her to meet him alone, in the dark, in a garden during balls. And she readily agreed to it. Then again, rather than approach her father for permission to marry her, he proposed during a dance at a ball. I suppose it was meant to be funny, but I got hung up on how a gentleman would never do that.

The main characters were engaging and tried very hard to do the right things. Emme and Simon intended to avoid each other due to their continued attraction yet ended up encountering each other in a series of humorous encounters. Then add in Simon's two younger sisters, who seemed determined to cause chaos. Both referred to God throughout the book in little comments related to what they were seeing or doing. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable, humorous 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.

Dying Cry by Margaret Mizushima

Dying Cry
by Margaret Mizushima

ISBN-13: 9798892421959
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: October 14, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Newlyweds Mattie and Cole Walker are teaching Cole’s daughters how to snowshoe in a remote canyon when a shattering scream pierces the air. They know that somewhere ahead, someone has been injured or worse. Cole takes the girls while Mattie and Robo go deeper into the canyon to search for the source of the scream.

From a distance, Mattie and Robo see a shadowy figure at the base of a cliff, but a rockslide buries the person under layers of stone and shale before they can provide help. Desperate to uncover the individual in case they’re still alive under the rock, their efforts are in vain. The victim is already dead. When they investigate the canyon rim from which the person fell, they discover evidence that indicates the fall was no accident. To make matters worse, the victim was one of Cole’s friends.

The Timber Creek County investigative team springs into action, uncovering a trail of greed that leads to a killer who threatens Mattie’s cherished new family.


My Review:
Dying Cry is a K9-detective mystery. It's the 10th in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries.

The main characters were likable and complex, and they reacted realistically to events. They came across as real people, and I cared about what happened to them. Mattie and Robo (her talented k9) and the sheriff’s department worked to solve the murder. It's a clue-based mystery, and it's possible to guess whodunit. Quite a few people had a possible motive and could have done the murder. I was beginning to suspect whodunit before the reveal, though I didn't guess the twist. There was suspense, especially near the end, due to danger to the good guys.

The crime scenes were not described in gory detail. There were no sex scenes. The was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting mystery.


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.