K-9 Prime Target by Cindi Myers

K-9 Prime Target
by Cindi Myers
Steve Campbell (Narrator)

ISBN-13: 9781488240256
Audiobook, Unabridged
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Released: Sept. 1, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Videographer Liam Davis is hired to film promotional material for a ski resort with the focus on Olympic medalist Nina Rose. She's currently a ski patroller there, and he once had a brief relationship with her. When she begins receiving threatening notes, Liam is determined to keep her safe since no one else seems to take the threat seriously. Nina is determined to maintain normalcy. Her stalker ruined her life once and she vows to avoid a repeat. Plus, her K-9 Sky is always watchful. But when Nina’s worst nightmare materializes, will her protectors Liam and Sky be enough to keep her alive?


My Review:
K-9 Prime Target is a romantic suspense. Nina survived a serious physical attack by a stalker fan. He was sent to prison, but he's just been released. Now she's receiving notes that sound just like him. Because they don't sound threatening, no one takes her seriously except Liam--who saw the lead up to the past attack--and her fellow ski patrol pals. Liam tried to protect her and backed her up when people didn't take her seriously, but he also suspected that maybe one of her other admirers may be mimicking the stalker.

The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. The suspense came from the escalating threat of the stalker. Liam helped Nina feel safe (at least when he was around) and he helped provide moments of normalcy and pleasure. They had a physical relationship when they last were together and soon resumed that relationship. There was one minimally described sex scene and repeated references to making love after that. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspense.

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job, making it easy to follow who was talking and what was going on. He used different voices for the different characters and narrated the story in a way that allowed me to become immersed in the 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.

In These Hills by Tamera Alexander

In These Hills
by Tamera Alexander

ISBN-13: 9781496475626
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: September 8, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
1905. Josephine Dunham is running for her life. After a women’s suffrage rally in Atlanta turns deadly, she buys a one-way ticket on the first train out and lands in rural Tennessee. There, Dodge Coburn—a rough-edged stranger with undeniable appeal—begrudgingly offers her a ride to Lynchburg, a speck of a town where Josephine hopes to disappear.

Battered and desperate, Josephine has little to say when Dodge delivers her to Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House. Hoping to work in exchange for room and board, she soon discovers the only job matching her skills is at Jack Daniel’s Distillery, an irony not lost on a suffragist committed to prohibition.

Dodge is skeptical of Josephine’s claim that she’s on the run from an abusive husband. But between running Jack Daniel’s cattle farm and raising his young niece, he has little time or inclination to press her. When Josephine’s convictions and compassion draw him in, Dodge begins to consider marriage, while Josephine must face a world far more complicated than the principles she’s held to.

As Jack Daniel’s Distillery gains national recognition, Josephine’s secrets resurface. In a place where whiskey making takes time but justice is too often hurried, Dodge and Josephine must decide what—and who—they’re willing to risk everything for.


My Review:
In These Hills is a romance set in 1905 in Tennessee. Josephine's parents and twin brother worked to help others, but her brother was murdered and her parents died soon after, leaving her alone in the world. She's found purpose in the women's suffrage movement only to be attacked in an alley by the mayor's son who wants to teach her a lesson. She hits him then can't find his pulse. She certainly won't get justice even if it was self-defense. With unexpected help, she manages to get to a town remote enough that she hopes no one will hear the news about her. She believes that alcohol is responsible for men abusing women, so she's not sure how to handle the kindness of whiskey-maker Jack Daniel, who offers her a job as his office manager. Dodge keeps an eye on her, not fully trusting her, but he has a cattle crisis to deal with along with raising his dead sister's daughter.

Josephine came to snap judgments about practically everyone she met, and she kept assuming the worst about Dodge despite the way he helped her. Josephine did grow as she got to know people and learned that some issues aren't as clear-cut as she thought. If you like 'justice wins out despite all odds' endings, this isn't one of those stories.

The characters were interesting, acted realistically, and I cared about what happened to them. The historical details were woven into the story and brought the setting to life in my imagination. 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.

Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

Murders in the Marquee
by Dana Mentink

ISBN-13: 9781335002730
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Released: September 1, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…


My Review:
Murders in the Marquee is a mystery set in 1905. Kitty's a bored rich girl who's reading how to be a detective and wants to apply it as a way to add excitement to her life. As in, they don't find an actual body until 75% of the way in and no one clearly witnesses an actual murder, so she's poking around simply for the excitement of it. She roped two workers at the hotel into helping her, not really understanding until the end that they're risking their much-needed jobs to help her in her reckless behavior. Henry's baffled by why his friend, the previous Duck Commandant, suddenly left his beloved ducks and without even saying goodbye to him. Kitty wants to know why a fellow guest, a rich widow, has suddenly become a recluse. Saul just wants to keep his job, but as a new Christian, he knows God cares about justice.

The characters weren't complex, with only Saul having much development. The mystery was guessable from the beginning. There was a very obvious answer as to whom (if anyone) was pushed from the balcony and whodunit, and the clues clearly pointed that way. However, Kitty came up with some pretty tortuous stories trying to connect their few clues together. I got tired of Kitty's random guessing pretty quickly, and I didn't really like her. She put herself and her friends in danger by doing things like repeatedly using an old, unmaintained scaffolding that the employees were warned could fail (so why didn't they just remove it?!?) just so she could poke about. But the ducks were charming.

If you find descriptions of body parts being eaten by animals to be revolting, then avoid this story. There was no sex 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.

Fighting Edge by Margaret Mizushima

Fighting Edge
by Margaret Mizushima

ISBN-13: 9798892426701
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Released: September 8, 2026


Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A routine welfare check becomes a nightmare when Deputy Mattie Walker finds a young mother dead and a hysterical toddler, possibly the only witness to a brutal crime. Before the investigative team can start piecing together what happened, Mattie discovers another criminal act in Timber Creek.

During a traffic stop for speeding, Mattie observes a nervous driver and a teenage passenger frozen with fear. A quick sweep of the car with her K-9 partner, Robo, reveals a dangerous mix of drugs and suspected human trafficking, providing Mattie with grounds to arrest the driver. After she places the teenager in protective custody, the sheriff’s department hands the case over to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

As the team gathers evidence and information, Mattie’s husband, veterinarian Cole Walker, notices suspicious activity during ambulatory calls at dog kennels, indicating yet a third crime lurking in the shadows. What begins as isolated incidents quickly reveals a chilling truth: Organized crime has infiltrated their rural mountain community.

Every clue leads to more questions, and each answer brings them closer to greater danger. Can Mattie and her law enforcement partners shut down this criminal ring before it claims more victims?


My Review:
Fighting Edge is a K9-detective mystery. It's the 11th in a series. You can understand this book without reading the previous ones, and this book didn't spoil the previous mysteries.

It's a clue-based mystery. There was suspense, especially near the end, due to danger to the good guys and the trafficked teens. 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 and uncover the possible human trafficking group. Mattie struggled with fulfilling her family responsibilities while also doing her job.

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.

Texas Cold Case Murder by Laura Scott

Texas Cold Case Murder
by Laura Scott
Emily Sutton-Smith (Narrator)

ISBN-13: 9781488239045
Audiobook, Unabridged: 203 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: Aug. 25, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Texas Ranger tech specialist Nina Dobson is determined to uncover the truth about her identity and her birth mother’s unsolved murder when she suddenly comes under gunfire. The danger intensifies as she discovers her uncle dead, forcing her to flee. Desperate for assistance, she reaches out to Texas Ranger Jackson Woodlow. With threats emerging from every direction, Jackson instantly assumes the role of protector. Together, they delve into Nina’s mysterious family past, each clue drawing them further into peril. Can they outsmart a killer who wants a secret to stay buried?


My Review:
Texas Cold Case Murder is a Christian romantic suspense. Nina was adopted as a baby after her mother was found murdered and never identified. Using a DNA family-finding service, she connected with an uncle with a criminal past. He said her mother's death was his fault but he'll only answer her questions in person. Yet he has just been murdered when she arrives, and now hit men are after her, too. Is it related to a drug-related case where her team will be called on to testify or is it about her mother's murder?

Nina and Jackson investigated, uncovering clues and interviewing people. The suspense came from the ongoing attacks on them. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Nina liked and trusted Jackson, but he's known for dating casually so she's wary. He's admired her for some time. Now that he's a Christian, he has not dated at all but hopes that Nina will someday show an interest in him.

Jackson prayed briefly before every meal, often asking for guidance on solving the case and for safety. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job of saying the text in a way consistent with the text (with surprise if surprised, etc.) and it was easy to follow who was talking and what was going on. She read the story in a way that easily kept my interest.


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.

Hunting an Arsonist by Jessica R. Patch

Hunting an Arsonist
by Jessica R. Patch
Lisa Larsen (Narrator)

ISBN-13: 9781488239014
Audiobook, Unabridged: 367 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: Aug. 25, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Forensic mechanic Helena Rutherford is investigating a serial arsonist targeting young women when her own house is set ablaze, trapping her inside. Officer Trevor Slate and his K-9 partner, Lark, arrive just in time to save her from the flames. But the discovery of her missing best friend’s bones among the ashes upends everything, drawing them into a puzzling cold case. With a dangerous killer on their tail, Helena and Trevor must unravel the mysteries of both cases before she becomes the next victim.


My Review:
Hunting an Arsonist is a Christian romantic suspense. When he was a young teenager, Trevor's mother ran into a burning home in an attempt to rescue his sister. His mother ended up with debilitating COPD. As penance for not running in himself, he's dedicated his life to caring for her and works with an arson detection K9 to solve arsons. Helena feels like no one could love her because she loves working as a forensic mechanic and isn't traditionally 'girly.' She and Trevor worked on three cases: the ongoing series mystery of the kidnapped pregnant girls, the serial killer arsonist case they had been working on, and the cold case of Helena's missing best friend.

Helena and Trevor actively investigated the cases, uncovering clues using their skills and interviewing suspects. They sifted through the evidence until they discovered the truth. The suspense came from the attacks on Helena and other women. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Trevor didn't believe he deserved a loving relationship or life outside of caring for his mother, so he struggled to embrace a relationship with Helena even though he admired and cared for her. Helena had trouble believing he genuinely cared for her, especially as he gave mixed signals. They had to work through these hurts to find love.

Trevor believed that his mother would go to heaven, and both Trevor and Helena believed in God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

The narrator of the audiobook got into the story, reading the story in a dramatic way. She did a good job of saying the text in a way consistent with the text (with surprise if surprised, etc.) and it was easy to follow who was talking and what was going on.


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.

Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley

Murder in Blackfriars
by Jennifer Ashley

ISBN-13: 9798217187058
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: August 11, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that a kind man rescued him from the streets all those years ago. So when a man claiming he knows where Daniel comes from turns up dead moments before meeting with them, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. Kate's determined to figure out who Daniel truly is and where he came from. She'll do whatever it takes to protect the man she’s come to love. The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past.


My Review:
Murder in Blackfriars is a mystery set in 1884 in London, England. This is the 9th book in the series. Street-raised, clever Daniel became incompetent in this book. A man offered to tell him information about his past. Daniel paid him but basically said, 'I need my girlfriend to tell me if you're telling the truth or not, so don't tell me anything until we can meet with her.' There was no reason why he couldn't have heard the information right then. Of course, the fellow was killed before telling the information.

Kate never met him but assumed he was a kind, well-meaning fellow and they should solve his murder. Even though the fellow said that it was seeing Daniel's teenaged son that brought the connection to mind, Kate assumed his information must be about when Daniel was a toddler. She also treated Daniel like a child, forbidding him from doing anything dangerous, though it was fine for her to do the same dangerous activity.

Kate was just so arrogant. She kept thinking about how she ought to tell various cooks how to make their food better. Though there was no reason for her to be involved and her presence could be used against Daniel, she insisted on confronting a criminal overload in his own home and not only insulted him but told him what he ought to do. Um, are you insane? How did that make anything better?

Most of the story was about Kate getting her food stand going and dealing with her daughter moving away for a while. Much of the investigation was handled by others while Kate suggested things to look into. It didn't feel much like a mystery but rather a historical fiction following the lives of all the characters from previous books.

Historical details were woven into the story. There was no sex. There was occasional use of of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical to fans of the series as we finally do learn the mystery of Daniel's past.


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.