DEADLOCK By Diann Mills

http://www.diannmills.com/

If you love suspense and mystery, then you will enjoy Deadlock by Diann Mills. FBI agents Bethany Sanchez and Thatcher Graves must work together to find a serial killer. Both have different styles and definitely, different personalities. Right off the bat, they begin to but heads about how to go about solving their mystery; but as days roll on, they become the hunted themselves, clearly targeted by an unknown killer. In the crosshairs, their survival instincts kick in and they begin to see the positives in each other's styles and how they can benefit from acknowledging these as strengths, even while, they both fight mutual attraction. Survival depends on staying emotionally unattached, never mind professional careers. `Candle declares Deadlock a very enthralling read.

MORE THAN A PROMISE By Ruth Logan Herne

http://ruthloganherne.com/index.html

Matt Wilmot is a widower and workaholic father struggling to raise his three boys and dig his family out of debt. He remains mad at God for the death of his wife but brings his children to church to appease his former mother-in-law who has threatened to take the children from him. In steps Elle Drake, a divorcee, independent career oriented woman and talented artist. Elle sees Matt's efforts with his children and has compassion on him and defends him with the gossips in the community. 

Even though, Elle is a successful artist, she suffers from self-esteem issues the residual effects of her marriage and subsequent divorce. She mourns not being able to have children. 

Matt's biggest issue is being able to trust. He is a "Lone Ranger" type trusting only himself to handle his problems; however, when one of his sons gets on a piece of Dad's construction equipment and loses control onto next door neighbor, Elle's lawn, destroying property and endangering his life, Matt must defer to Elle's common sense discipline to rectify things.

Things come to a head when tragedy strikes and circumstances lead to a unique solution, marriage between Matt and Elle. Will marriage strengthen or destroy them.

Ms. Herne always writes about everyday dilemmas with grace and skill. You find yourself rooting for her characters as they struggle and grow through real life issues. She manages to throw curves and twists in to thicken the plot and you find yourself turning page after page until you reach the end, always a satisfying ending. This one is another one for your keeper shelf.

CALICO SPY By Margaret Brownley

Katie Madison, Pinkerton Agent, works undercover as a Harvey Girl to find a killer. She needs to work with Sheriff Branch Whitman who has a very low regard for Pinkerton agents. Harvey Girls and Pinkertons are a real part of our history and Margaret Brownley writes with a warm blend of humor, history, romance, and suspense to steal our imaginations and our hearts. "Calico Spy" is part of Brownley's Undercover Ladie's Series and a fun and excellent read.

Katie learns a lot about trying to be a Harvey Girl, makes friends and enemies among her co-workers and clients; but finding clues to the killer who has killed two Harvey Girls doesn't seem to be coming easily.

Branch, on the other hand, knows he has a Pinkerton in town he is suppose to work with but is caught off guard when he discovers it's a woman and that the woman is  Katie, whom he finds himself attracted to.  In addition, he is a widower still grieving the death of his wife tragically killed during a tornado 8 years ago, the same as the age of his son. The son he claimed because his wife delivered it that night and saved the infant's life by putting it in an oven.

Both Branch and Katie find themselves struggling with their relationships both working and personal as well as with the complications of the case they are working and the unexpected problems and people that arise along the way to make life even more interesting.

Ms. Brownley stocks her novel full of suspense and surprises and many twists and turns. I highly recommend this for your reading list.

AT LOVE'S BIDDING By Regina Jennings

http://www.reginajennings.com

Ms. Jennings novels always have a down to earth feel to them. You easily get involved with her characters and root for them. In "At Love's Bidding", we begin with a mystery as we meet Miranda Wimplegate and her family who run an auction house in Boston for high end antiques. They accidentally auction off a painting and Miranda and her grandfather find themselves heading for the wilds of Missouri to another auction house  they've purchased in order to get the painting back. It turns out the new auction house is a stock auction barn run by Wyatt Ballentine.

When the painting shows up, it is a mysterious item that arrives off the same train that the Wimplegates arrived on and it is addressed to Wyatt. It comes with a letter addressing his heritage--that of the LeBlanc's of Boston.

Miranda's grandfather begins to act erratically, his memory failing him, and insulting Wyatt at every turn as Wyatt tries to help with his new purchase. In the meantime, despite a bad first impression by Miranda and wrong assumptions by Wyatt, they begin to find themselves strongly attracted to each other.

Surprises at every turn, a mystery to the end, "At Love's Bidding" should definitely be on your reading list.

YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT By Susan May Warren

You're the One that I want opens with dramatic flare as Owen Christiansen and Scotty McFlynn struggle to survive after going overboard during a storm while at Sea on her father's fishing boat. Drawing us into the story, Ms. Warren sets the stage for the developing romance between the hero and heroine. She gives us glimpses of Owen's strained history with his family, his desire to return home but certainty that he cannot. Scotty has her own issues having been raised as an only child by her father after losing her mother at a young age. She thrives at doing a man's job, Captaining a boat and being one of the men and as a police detective on the side. But, a tragic circumstance on her detective job involving family members has her denying a need for faith.

Things get even more complicated when Owen's brother, Caspar shows up to convince him to return home and then has to be arrested and escorted home by Scotty because of a suspected murder charge. Waiting on them, is the woman, Caspar loves and the mother of Owen's child.

This is a great climax to a family saga. It can stand alone as an enjoyable read but many of the characters and their part in the story will be much more meaningful if you have read all the earlier books in the Christiansen series. I highly recommend the whole series for your keeper shelf. Ms. Warren remains in the top 5 of my Christian Romance authors.

COLDSHOT (CHESAPEAKE VALOR SERIES) By Dani Pettrey

http://www.danipettrey.com

If you like romantic suspense, then you will thoroughly enjoy this new novel and series by Ms. Dani Pettrey. She writes masterfully using both third person and first person to tell her narrative. I enjoy hearing clues through the first person thoughts of her villain.

In addition, I am encouraged by the faith depicted through her hero and heroine as they breathe their spur of the moment prayers to God. As a Christian, I do this throughout the day and can relate. If you are offended by those living out their faith, you may not be able to overlook this. However, if you can, you will find a very interesting story that details crime scenes, post-mortem, and ballistics. Ms. Pettrey has obviously done her research.

Our story opens as National Park Ranger, Griffin McCray discovers grave robbers while he makes his rounds. The surprise is that, instead of a violation of a civil war grave, he finds it is modern remains. He calls in forensic anthropologist,  Finley Scott. From here, the mystery grows, the romantic tension smolders, and the  foundation is laid for the rest of her series.

Turns out the victim was killed by a sniper and this leads us to the knowledge that, in his past, Griff was a sniper learning his skills in the military and performing for a police department. Secrets from the past haunt both Griff and Finley. They are both fighting a relationship even though they are drawn to each other. Will the truth destroy them? Will they find the truth before they become the next victim--and they are in the sniper's line of sight.

 Coldshot, actually, a hot suspenseful read that I highly recommend for your reading list which should include looking forward to the rest of the Chesapeake Valor Series.

A NOBLE MASQUERADE By Kristi Ann Hunter

I have found a new favorite author, Ms. Kristi Ann Hunter. Her book, "A Noble Masquerade" combines romance, humor, mystery and suspense in a most delightful read. One can not help but fall in love with her hero and heroine. One of the things I like best is that the angst she creates between hero and heroine doesn't stress you out but has one turning the pages to find out how they are going to get out of each new predicament.

Immediately, you are drawn into the intrigue of Miranda Hawthorne's missives to her make believe confidant, who is an actual school friend of her brother. Then when you are introduced to her brother, you also discover his mysterious valet and suspect that her erstwhile correspondence may get even more complicated.

Miranda, struggles under her mother's strict tutelage on being a lady, when within she is a passionate free spirit. She finds solace in writing her feelings to her confident Marsh, her brother's favorite colleague from school.

Things become a comedy of errors when Marlow, the mysterious new valet of her brother, mails one of her letters. Then, he inerrantly becomes her confidant. She,in turn, becomes inexplicably drawn to both him and to the Duke who has surprisingly answered her letter.

Ryland, Duke of Marshington, moonlighting as a valet to Miranda's brother, Griffith, his childhood friend, discovers more than he bargained for as he is undercover spy for the Crown. He wants to know more about this lady who has written letters to him for years. As things begin to develop between him and Miranda in person, they also are developing between Miranda and the Duke, as well, through the letters. Ryland wants to know more of her and to court her when he is free of this job; but the conundrum is how to maintain his integrity through the subterfuge, as Marlow, the valet, and not lose his heart in the end.

This is a must read and an author to add to your keeper shelf.