** “Standing up for what’s right, trying to make a difference for good — those are not stupid things.” **

Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn and Natalie Walters once again join forces to bring us “Cornered,” three separate romantic suspense novellas that all re-introduce us to well-known characters and locations in the authors’ past series.

In Eason’s “In the Dark,” Stephanie Cross’ world is rocked when her best friend and fellow CPA Brenda is killed in a horrific car accident. With the help of Detective Tate Cooper, she looks into Brenda’s death, coming to a shocking conclusion.

In Blackburn’s “Downfall,” Cassie Quinn, interim chef at the Haven resort’s restaurant, is shocked when she finds the kitchen demolished. When forced to work with Officer Donovan Bledsoe, a man with whom she has a past, she realizes someone is out to get her due to her former life.

In Walters’ “Perilous Obsession,” a stalker is terrorizing Lahela Young. Forced to accept help from her friends, including her crush Briggs Turner, she must determine who she can trust and who has bad intentions toward her.

Each novella is filled with twists and turns and just enough romance to keep the heart thumping. The authors do a great job of creating relatable characters, as well as intriguing and loathsome ones. They also fill their stories with some great themes, like defending what’s right; fighting for one’s self and what we deserve; it’s hard to accept help, and letting one’s guard down; overcoming the feeling of being a burden; and dealing with blame.

Fans of authors like Irene Hannon, Colleen Coble and Patricia Bradley will love “Cornered.”

Five stars out of five.

Revell provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

I loved each of the novellas in this book. I loved that each novella is filled with romance and suspense. I enjoyed all the twists and turns and the surprises that each story held. I think my favorite story was Downfall. I loved Cassie and Donovan. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I love all of these authors and how they tell such wonderful suspenseful stories. I loved how different each of the stories were and how they drew me in and made me want to keep reading. I also liked how each story was short enough that you could read one in an afternoon. I also liked how they gave a nod to characters from their other books. If you like suspenseful romantic stories then this is a wonderful collection of three novellas by three wonderful authors.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

In the dark by Lynette Eason - 5 stars

This was my favourite from the collection. I was flipping pages as fast as I could on my kindle and was engaged right till the very last word.

Downfall by Lynn H Blackburn - 4.5 stars

This one started out great and just as exciting as the first novella. The Quinns and Pierce feud continues and Cassie find herself in danger. At the end, the readers were informed of events vs being part of everything as its happens, which is something which I am not fond off.

Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters - 5 stars

This psychological thriller with a stalker around every corner was thrilling and at the end quite scary. I was totally caught off guard by one twist. Just wished we had a bit more Kekoa in the story.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Cornered includes three novellas by three top romantic suspense authors. Each of the novellas includes familiar characters from the authors' recent series along with some new faces. Readers familiar with Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters will enjoy these new offerings. Those unfamiliar with any or all of these authors will have the opportunity to read a short sample of their work to decide if they want to look for previous and future works, especially those with ties to these novellas. While I really enjoyed all three stories, Down Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn was my favorite. I found Chef Cassie Quinn very easy to empathize with as she worked to cope with her vulnerability. Even through I found Down Fall the best, it doesn't mean the others aren't compelling; they are, as each leading lady finds herself cornered in a dangerous situation. Each of these novellas felt complete and unrushed even though they were brief, this is likely due to my being familiar with some of the characters and settings.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Cornered from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This collection of novellas from three favorite Christian suspense writers gets a rare 5-star rating from me. I received the e-copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley and this is my own unsolicited opinion about it. I enjoyed the stories immensely. They were excellent for the kind of reading that challenges me to figure out who is the culprit and what is going on.

Lynette Eason - In the Dark; Accountant Steph Cross finds a mysterious notebook in her friend and coworkers' desk after a devastating fatal accident. She feels cornered when she and Detective Tate Cooper try to puzzle out what is going on in her place of employment. Was her friend murdered? What was she working on?

Lynn H. Blackburn - Downfall; Yay! We are in Gossamer Falls again. This time it's Cassie Quinn who is the center of suspense when the Haven restaurant where she is subbing for the main chef is trashed. Is it sabotage? She feels cornered by hurt and fear when she has to deal with her ex-boyfriend Detective Donovan Bledsoe who is watching over her and investigating the crime.

Natalie Walters - Perilous Obsession; Schoolteacher Lahela Young is being targeted by someone who is calling and sending frightening texts to her. She has been hoping that good friend and former law officer, Briggs Turner would ask her out. Instead, she has to ask for his help because the stalker has her feeling cornered and wondering if she should give up and go back home to Hawaii. Along with suspense this novella has touches of humor and romance.
I'd read these again. There were twists and turns along with sweet romance in a set of clean reads.

These 3 authors know how to keep you involved in the story and guessing what the ending will be! I loved each story. I will want to hear more about these characters in the series books to follow.
Stephanie and Tate got off to a very suspensful start with a journal that has codes in it.
Cassie and Donavan will be interesting with Cassie's huge family involved!
Lahela and Briggs with her stalker.
Can't wait for the next books so I can keep turning the pages!

In the Dark by Lynette Eason

I love mystery anthologies–especially when my favorite go-to mystery Authors have a story in them! This can be said of Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters. Lynette Eason’s contribution to Cornered is In the Dark. In the Dark tells the story of Steph, who is mourning the death of her friend, Brenda. Brenda died in a car accident, but Steph does not believe it is as cut and dry as it looks. Neither does newly minted Detective Tate. As Steph and Tate seek the truth, and get closer to each other, Steph soon realizes not everything is like it seems. And the truth may hit closer to home than Steph ever anticipated.

Lynette Eason sure knows how to pack a punch of intrigue and suspense into a novella and Ms. Eason certainly does this with In the Dark! The suspense and intrigue hit you from the get-go which is very trademark of Ms. Eason. I love meeting Steph and Tate and thought they were a perfect fit. I also love that the romance aspect of the story was secondary to the mystery aspect, allowing the mystery to be front and center. I love the code cypher aspect of the mystery! I appreciated how Ms. Eason added layer upon layer to keep the reader guessing who will culprit(s) could be. In the Dark is awesome story that Ms. Eason contributed to Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas!

Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn

Downfall is Lynn H. Blackburn’s contribution to Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas! In Downfall Chef Cassie is trying to move on with her life after a traumatic incident at work and a horrible breakup, only then being forced to return back to her hometown of Gossamer Falls where the horrible breakup happened. Things are going well for Cassie as she fills in as Chef at a local resort until her kitchen gets sabotaged. Ex-boyfriend Detective Donovan is put on the case, and quickly learns this not the first time someone has tried to get Cassie out of the kitchen. As Donovan and Cassie track down the Culprit, they begin to get close again while the Culprit continues to try to take Cassie out of the kitchen for good.

I love Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn! I especially love meeting Cassie, Donovan, and Cassie’s loving yet overprotective Family. I love the Chef aspect of Downfall and thought it brought a fun aspect to the story, causing the plot to have a unique twist. I love how Cassie’s Family, especially her Cousins, and Donovan were extremely protective of Cassie. Downfall kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end and is a great contribution to Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas!

Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters

Edgy with an Hawaiian twist is one way I would describe Natalie Walter’s Perilous Obsession in Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas! In Perilous Obsession readers meet Lahela, a woman who moved from Hawaii to Texas in order to start over after an embarrassing breakup, and Briggs, an ex-cop who is part of Lahela’s friends group and is smitten with Lahela. Lahela is enjoying and thriving in smalltown Texas, bringing Hawaiian flair to her elementary classroom where she teaches, and putting down new roots in her dream home. Lahela’s life is going well until Lahela starts being stalked, getting threatening calls and texts. Confiding in her friends about what is going on, including Briggs, her friends set out to try to keep Lahela safe…especially Briggs. As Briggs is keeping Lahela safe, Briggs discovers that Lahela is smitten with him as well. As Lahela’s Stalker (or is it Stalkers?) ramps up their threats, Briggs and Lahela’s relationship may not even have a chance before it even begins.

Perilous Obsession is an awesome addition that Natalie Walters brings to the Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas anthology! I love all things Hawaii and mystery, and when those two things can be married together into an thrilling story, I am really excited to read it! I love the essence of Hawaii that Natalie Walters brings into a story set in the state of Texas. I love how Ms. Walters pack a punch with Perilous Obsession, taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride, then giving it an explosive and powerful end. I love meeting Lahela and Briggs and thought they were perfect for each other. I love that Lahela has a strong group of friends behind her. I love the message of trusting your friends to help you get through life and not being afraid to be yourself in the process that is in the story. I was pleasantly surprised at how the mystery of Perilous Obsession turned out. (No spoilers from me!) Natalie Walters’ Perilous Obsession was a wonderful way to close out Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas!

Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas (As A Whole)

When Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters join forces to create a novella collection I know I am in for a treat of the suspenseful kind. This can definitely be said of Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas! Cornered is full-throttle from the get-go, full of dangers and twists–and I expect nothing less from Ms. Eason, Ms. Blackburn, and Ms. Walters. Each novella is unique, but has the writing DNA of it’s writer that people have come to know and love. I love how each novella is complete and at the same time left me wanting more of the story because I was enjoying it so much. If you love mysteries that give you a suspenseful escape, full of twists and turns, then I highly recommend Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters!

Have you read Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas? What did you think of the book?

I would like to thank Lynette Eason for giving me copy of Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas to review (as well as NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book) and for letting me be on The Cornered Superstars Launch Team. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My review is on Goodreads, and my blog Leslie's Library Escape. Amazon review pending.

Three fantastic novellas full of suspense, mystery and plenty of action will keep you up late into the night flipping pages.

There is so much packed into these pages including consequences for choices you make which means you sometimes have to face your past, to stalking, as well as so many emotions that will have you going from one extreme to the other. Each novella was filled with characters that are relatable and easy to get to know through the pages.

You do not want to miss this collection from three expert writers in the Christian romantic suspense genre. You will be kept on your toes as you read each novella.

Thank you to Revell and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

These three stories are great. Full of suspense, romance and mystery. A mysterious death, a second chance romance and a stalker are in these stories. The heroines find themselves in danger and the heroes who are by their side protecting them. Well woven stories that will keep you guessing. I just loved them.

This fantastic collection features fast-paced and exciting stories from three of my favorite suspense authors. Sometimes novellas can feel rushed and leave me unsatisfied, but that was not the case here. These stories were jam-packed full of everything I love in a romantic suspense. I loved all three of them.

In the Dark by Lynette Eason
I was hooked from the very first page. I liked Steph and Tate together. They had great chemistry right from the start, and I enjoyed watching them work together to try and solve the mystery surrounding her friend’s murder. There was so much intrigue! I couldn’t read fast enough. I could hardly catch my breath during the climactic ending. And that twist left me reeling! So good!

Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn
This story was suspenseful and full of danger. I was really rooting for Cassie and Donovan to work through their issues because they were so good for each other. I thought Cassie’s dislike of confrontation was relatable, especially after what had happened to her. I loved to see so much character growth packed into this novella. I also thought that the Hatfield and McCoy-esque feud added a really interesting aspect to the story.

Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters
This was an intense and action-packed story that gripped me from the very beginning and didn’t let go until the very end. I instantly liked Lahela and Briggs and was eager to see them go from friends to more. They had amazing chemistry! The danger started off kinda slow, but it kept ramping up until I could hardly catch my breath. I was so worried for Lahela. There was one point near the end where I could hardly read fast enough. My anxiety was at an all-time high. There were a couple of moments that sent chills down my spine.

If you're looking for edge-of-your-seat, heart-pounding romantic suspense, grab a copy of this book! You won't be disappointed. Even though these stories are connected to the authors’ series, they standalone perfectly fine.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

This triple threat novella features my three favorite suspense authors all wrapped up in one book! Each novella packs a unique punch and delivers the intensity and danger that I have come to expect from these authors! My favorite story in this collection was Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, because what is creepier than a stalker! I love the characters in this story, they felt real and it added pops of humor and fun to this suspense story! Downfall was also a great read and reminded me why I’m loving the Gossamer Falls series so much! With unexplained vandalism, a kidnapping and sparks of romance it was a great addition to this collection! In the Dark by Lynette Eason had me guessing until the action packed conclusion! I really enjoyed this collection and love that these authors each have their own style but deliver the same caliber of story each and every time! I definitely recommend grabbing this one if you are a suspense reader!

What do an accountant, chef, & school teacher all have in common? Find out in these three fantastic novellas by three amazing romantic suspense authors! I thoroughly enjoy reading all three of these authors & eagerly anticipate their books. I was so excited to find them all together in this thrilling collection. Each novella features endearing side characters from their nail-biting series, but each one can easily be read as a standalone & acts as the perfect introduction to their books.

In the Dark by Lynette Eason takes the reader on a wild ride as Steph Cross finds herself in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. When her fellow colleague is killed in a car accident, Steph takes on the responsibility of cleaning out her desk. What she finds suggests that her friend’s death wasn’t an accident. As she & Detective Tate Cooper (Lake City Heroes) work together on the case, Steph finds herself the target of a killer. I loved the romance, action, & edge of your seat suspense. It all comes down to the wire in this one & I was holding my breath as the final scenes played out.

Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn continues Cassie’s & Donovan’s story in this new exciting novella in the Gossamer Falls series. Cassie Quinn’s a chef who recently broke up with Detective Donovan Bledsoe. When she’s given the opportunity to fill in for the chef at a famous mountain resort, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery when the kitchen’s destroyed. Forced to rely on the help of her ex, her feelings begin to thaw as it’s clear neither one wanted to end their relationship. Will they get a second chance at love before the culprit behind the destruction sets his sights on Cassie?

Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters is a twisty, heart pounding mystery involving Lahela Young, the little sister of Kekoa from the S.N.A.P. Agency series. Lahela’s a school teacher who recently broke up with her boyfriend & is looking for a new start in Texas. She meets the handsome, ex police officer Briggs Turner & they immediately hit it off. But before they even have their first date, Lahela receives threatening phone calls. As things escalate, she relies on Briggs to help keep her safe, but will it be enough? This book was full of swoony romance, delightful humor, & plenty of action! There were some definite unexpected twists that kept me eagerly flipping the pages.

Every novella in this collection was fabulous & I highly recommend it to romantic suspense fans! It’s a great way to get to know these writers if you’re new to their series & for fans, it’s so fun seeing these side characters get their own stories. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the authors & publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

Another fun novella collection by three of the best romantic suspense authors around. I enjoyed getting to know these spin-off characters from the authors’ current or previous series. Full of adrenaline, intense and fast-paced action, wonderful and lovable characters and sweet romance, this collection is a treat you can finish in one sitting.

I especially enjoyed connecting with Cassie and Donovan in Lynn Blackburn’s story while catching up with the crew in Gossamer Falls. I loved getting to know Lahela and Briggs in Natalie Walters’ story that had all sorts of twists and turns.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

What a great three novellas full of really good suspense, romance, and wholesome values!

Each was different and unique, but pulled you into the story and had you guessing who was responsible!

In busy times of my life (like right now) I crave fast-paced suspense. Cornered, a 3-novella collection from Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters checked all my boxes! With stories inspired from my favorite series by these authors, this collection combined intriguing plots, characters to love, and inspirational themes. If you are a fan of any of these authors, you are in for a treat! Each novella contains a twisting/turning plot that keeps the characters and readers on their toes. I never knew just where the next threat would come from or just whodunit. I love when I can’t quite figure out just what is going on. In addition to the puzzles, the characters are realistically drawn and relatable. Finding a place and purpose in which to fit is a universal theme. These stories are clean too, but there’s plenty of sizzle between the main characters. Romance fans will find much to love. I really didn’t have a favorite among these novellas — each was supremely satisfying. The bad guys always get caught and the main characters have a HEA.

So if you are looking for a fun book that you can read this holiday season, then I recommend Cornered. Be careful though, once you start each novella you are not going to want to put them down. 😉

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

This was a fun romantic suspense novella collection! The first story was "In the Dark" by Lynette Eason. When Stephanie's best friend and co-worker is killed in a car accident, some evidence comes to light that it might not be an accident and she works with the handsome new detective to figure out whodunit before it's too late. Of the 3, this one was my least favorite and I would give it 3 stars. I think this story would have made a better full-length novel with a bit more fleshing out. It was still an enjoyable story line, but it felt a bit rushed and off-kilter to me. The second story was Downfall by Lynn Blackburn. When Cassie Quinn comes in for a private meeting with the CEO of The Haven to find her kitchen completely trashed, she's at a loss. When her inability to manage conflict has some serious backlash, she finds her own life in danger and it doesn't help that the officer who responded to her case was her ex. I really enjoyed this story and would give it 5 stars. It fully sucked me in from the very beginning and took me along for the ride! The final book was Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters. When Lahela Young receives a disturbing phone call and texts on the night she's out with her friends and expecting Briggs Turner to finally ask her out, even after she's changed her number, she wonders how her stalker has continued to find her. Will this be the thing that pushes her to move back to Hawaii after all? I also enjoyed this story and would give it 5 stars. With humor woven in to the suspense and romance, this one had a great mix!

Each of these stories had a fabulous mystery element to it, a sweet romance and a light spiritual thread. All of these were clean romantic suspense stories. All were well written, decently paced and enjoyable in their own rights. Each had a unique story line and a whodunit that had me guessing, along with some serious twists and turns. All in all, this was an enjoyable romantic suspense novella collection and one I would easily recommend to fans of the genre. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this collection. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Three romantic suspense novellas that keep you turning pages and keep you guessing. Tough heroines and loyal heros who love them and want to protect them makes for great stories complete with complex villains who make a mess of their lives. There is an underlying faith thread that shows the characters are grounded.
In the Dark- Lynette Eason
Steph is too ready to trust and needs to be more cautious. Tate gets a workout keeping up with her.
Downfall- Lynn Blackburn
Someone is sabotaging the kitchen in The Haven in Gossamer Falls. Who wants Cassie gone and why? Donovan searches it out. This was my favorite. I loved going back to Gossamer Falls.
Perilous Obsession- Natalie Walters
Stalking and a kidnapping keeps Lehela on edge but Briggs comes to the rescue and wants to take their relationship to the next level.
A great trio of suspense stories.
* A complimentary copy of the book was provided by Revell through NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

All three of these romantic suspense novellas were so fun! I was very familiar with the characters from both Eason and Blackburn’s stories, and while I haven’t gotten to Walters’ newest series yet, I still didn’t feel lost. I don’t always love novellas for not getting the depth I’m used to in full length novels, but I never felt that way about this collection. All the characters deal with not only their current suspense plots, but also work through some other things. Each of the couples were just perfect for one another and I felt so rewarded with the conclusion of each one. I’m a huge fan of all three of these authors, and I completely recommend Cornered as either a way to get MORE from each of their respective series or as a way to introduce yourself to their writing, which will definitely leave you wanting more!

I received a complementary copy of this book from the authors. I was not asked to leave a positive review. My opinions are completely my own.

Buckle up for three suspenseful stories that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who done it! Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters have truly outdone themselves with these page-turning stories. Through it all, the best part of these stories is their ability to point to Christ regardless of what circumstance the characters, and we, may find ourselves in.

I highly recommend this trio of novellas to anyone who loves Christian fiction, suspense to the max, and mysteries solved!

I received an ARC from Revell and NetGalley; however, my review is my own opinion and done of my own volition.