I started Don't Breathe a Word and it had a very slow start and I didn't feel compelled to pick it back up again. The plot had lots of mystery, but the relationship between the two MC's was strained to me. I was unable to get past the 45% mark, but maybe one day I'll pick it back up again.

*ARC courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. I want to express a thank you to the valued author, the publisher who took a chance on the author, and Netgalley for providing a copy.*

This novel had quite a slow start and was hard to get into, but it was ultimately a good mix of romance and suspense. The plot was mysterious and the growing relationship captured by attention. It was sexy and sweet but also exciting and I really enjoyed my time while reading.

I started Don't Breathe a Word a couple months ago, but once I put it down I haven't felt compelled to pick it up again. Romantic suspense doesn't always work for me and I don't think I was in the right mood for this one. DNF for now but I may try again at a later point.

Police detective Juan Acosta doesn't only carry scars on the outside. He's filled with guilt and anger ever since his undercover job led to the murder of those he loved the most. Now he's living for one thing: revenge. That is, until Juan meets his beautiful new neighbor.

Vicki Holloway prides herself on being capable and independent, but her life is turned upside down when her sister Sara is killed by an abusive ex. Fearing for the safety of her niece, Vicki and the little girl go into hiding...resurfacing in Texas with new identities.

Juan has a poodle that keeps escaping and going to Vicki's house, no matter what Juan does to fix the fence. Vicki's niece and the dog bond. I couldn't get enough of those 2 together.

Juan and Vicki meet as he is trying to apprehend a burglar trying to get into her home and things start from there and a lot of funny situations between them.

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the ARC to review.

Juan Acosta is a police detective with an obvious facial scar. However, that is not the only scar he bears, he carries wounds inside that have not healed. When Juan finds himself involved with his new neighbor that he knows as Nikki, and her daughter, Bell, he starts to heal in a way he never thought possible.

Vicki Holloway has secrets. These very secrets just might save her life and that of her niece. Having gone into hiding after her sister Sara was killed, Vicki will do anything she can to keep Bell safe. Juan may have been scarred by what cost him to lose his wife and all that he held dear, but it doesn't stop her from being drawn to her. What is more is that it doesn't take Juan to realize that she is hiding something. More than that, however, is Juan's strong need to protect them.

What a wonderful book! It has it all - suspense, danger, romance, family, an adorable child and a naughty dog. Don't Breathe a Word is the second book in the Texas Justice series. The first book was Don't Close Your Eyes. I loved that book as well. I look forward to the next book, Don't Look Back, due for release in September.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Vicki is on the run with her niece. Juan is a cop with a history of loss. His job is dangerous and danger just looks for him.
Juan will do anything to keep Vicki and Bell safe. While he's keeping them safe his sad heart finds love.
This was a good book. A romance between two people who have experienced deep loss and deserve a new chance.

3.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐💫
I really enjoy the romantic suspense genre and Don't Breathe a Word had a satisfying mix of romance and suspense.
The story does start off on the slow side, so it took some time to really get into, but once it picked up the pace it was a pleasing read.
The mystery was intriguing and the relationship that developed between neighbors Juan and Vicki was sweet, and sexy.



**Complimentary copy for review provided by Grand Central Publishing and Forever Romance. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.**

Definitely an interesting read, one of those books that just pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading when you should be sleeping. Technically it is a suspense/mystery type genre, but there is so much romance that you almost forget about the danger the heroine is in.

Vicki is a very likable main character who has been in hell recently, starting with the loss of her sister and her need to protect her niece by any means necessary. Enter Juan, a cop with several demons of his own and just watch the sparks fly.

*I received this book free in return for an honest review.

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.
Omg. I’m honestly going to have nightmares about this. It was a thriller and suspense and TERRIFYING. I’m honestly having to hold back from cussing because it’s 12am and I shouldn’t have stayed up so late to read but once I started I couldn’t stop or I’d have nightmares. This was excellent. I hate horror and scary books but I don’t regret it unless I can’t sleep. Which is possible. But holy hell.
The characters were great. I loved every one. Except Pablo. What a scary human. Ugh. My skin crawls in thinking of him. Good lord. Everything in this book was so well done. I had a good idea of what would happen but the way it played out. Man. Ugh. Very well done. I would definitely read more by this author if I don’t get nightmares.

A very good mix of mysteries, new and old, mixed with a growing romance makes this an enjoyable read. Christie Craig gives two characters that have hardened their hearts to protect themselves. Now they must work together to keep a young girl safe. A quick read, only a couple of evenings long for me.

Boom...

What a wild ride. Fast paced, non stop action. This series keeps getting better and better.

I loved Juan’s story...and man Vicki sure did have some drama...murder, mayhem, chaos and more twists and turns than a windy Delco back road.

Great read!

Don't Breathe a Word is a great emotional thriller. The characters are well developed and the storyline is well written.

Buy This Book
I’m a big fan of the current thriller market, with its dark often psychotic villains and flawed narrators, but every once in a while I miss the classic police procedural romantic suspense novels that were popular back in the nineties and nones. Fortunately, some writers are still producing good novels in that genre and Don’t Breathe a Word by Christie Craig is one such story. While it is book two of the Texas Justice series it works very nicely as a standalone.

When Anniston Police Detective Juan Acosta looks out his window and sees a man jump into his neighbor’s backyard he immediately gives pursuit. He’s almost caught the perpetrator when the miscreant manages to grab a small charcoal grill and fling it at Juan’s head, blinding him with ash. Then he’s attacked from behind by a second party, which enables the potential thief to escape as Juan gets his ass kicked by a determined individual wielding some kind of bludgeon. Fortunately, he is rescued by the local beat cops. Unfortunately, they find it hilarious that the person who got the drop on him and beat his ass was his beautiful neighbor.

Vicki Holloway calls the police when she sees someone in her backyard. Then, showing questionable judgment, she confronts the reprobate with a baseball bat as her only backup. As a personal trainer she’s fit and strong and the element of surprise gives her the chance to win the battle. When she finds out the man is her neighbor, and a detective with Anniston P.D. she realizes that she’s drawn way too much attention to herself for someone who needs to keep a low profile. Her sister Allison had been married to a dirty cop who wound up killing her, and now Vicki and her niece Bell are on the run and in hiding, pretending to be mother and daughter. She doesn’t have legal custody. The last thing they need is to come to the notice of local law enforcement.

Juan finds himself obsessed with his new neighbor. He was far too aware of her toned body and lush curves as they fought. After his wife and daughter were murdered by a drug kingpin he’d been working to take down, he found himself unable to even look at or think about women as anything but friends but Vicki draws him like a magnet. He likes Bell, too, who is funny and sweet and completely unafraid of the facial scar he received trying to rescue his family. They’re a lure for his dog Sweetie as well; the pup keeps escaping from his backyard to hang out in theirs. Which works perfectly for Juan, since it gives him an excuse to visit their house and get to know Vicki. The problem is, the better he knows her, the more he realizes she’s lying to him.

Vicky knows that hanging out with Juan is dangerous. He is far too astute not to see through the flimsy lies that are all that stand between her and the dangerous, deadly man hunting for her and her niece. The evenings they spend together eating pizza, drinking wine and watching Bell play with Sweetie have become a balm to her soul, though. She knows it’s a risk, spending time with a detective, but she also finds herself instinctively trusting Juan, who seems honest and hardworking as well as caring and kind. She’s considering confiding in him when the decision is taken out of her hands and all three of them find themselves facing a determined killer.

I liked how the author built the relationship between Juan and Vicki, both of whom have issues from their past making trust difficult. They also have a lot going on in the present. Juan works cold cases but one of those old files has just heated up and he’s spending a lot of time tracking down the witness who just might be the key to a double homicide that left a young girl orphaned. He’s also still working through the tricky emotions caused by his pregnant wife’s murder several years earlier and trying to accept the idea it might be time to move on. Vicki is trying to stay one step ahead of a man who knows how to use the system to his advantage and whom she knows will show no mercy once he finds them. She’s not sure why her sister’s ex is so determined to kill her and Bell, but she knows that’s exactly what will happen if he locates them. Trusting another cop could backfire but she is deeply drawn to Juan, who oozes integrity. The two of them do a lot of cautious steps forward, as well as a few steps back as they head toward their HEA but Ms. Craig does a nice job of showing what both characters think and feel as they do so. It’s not an issue of them blowing hot and cold but of Vicki and Juan wondering how they can possibly make things work when their lives are so complicated.

While the timing of their relationship is difficult, nothing else is. Juan and Vicki both work jobs they love but while they used to be completely career oriented, the hard lessons life has taught them in the past few years has them valuing family and the people in their lives more than their professions. The fact that they are on the same page on this issue and no one had to change to accommodate the other is nice. In fact, on almost every issue Juan and Vicki find themselves holding similar positions – the bulk of the conflict here comes from external factors.

The numerous threads surrounding the mysteries of Juan’s cold case and Vicki’s murderous relative are woven skillfully throughout the narrative, with the pace of the resolution being brisk but with the hero and heroine still having time to connect. I was able to figure out the puzzle of Juan’s mystery witness, as well as what was driving Vicki’s stalker pretty easily but that was okay since the book is more about the characters than it is about the riddles.

Don’t Breathe a Word is a well-executed romantic suspense novel that does a nice job of showing two similar souls finding each other in unlikely circumstances. If you’re a fan of the genre, I think you will like it.

After the death of her sister, Vicki makes a run for it with her niece fearing for her safety. Finally settled in a different place, under different names hopefully things will remain quiet. Police Detective Jaun is still a bit broken after the death of his wife and unborn child that steamed from a undercover mission he took on. Juan can tell his new lovely neighbor got some secrets and can tell that she is hiding something but what is it?

I love mystery thrillers and this was a pretty great book. I loved watching as the mystery began to unfold wondering when Vicki's late sisters husband would show up. Every one believes him to be dead but she knows the truth, not only that he got ties as a dirty cop so that only muddles things even more. I loved that now only do we readers get a view on both main characters but the ex's as well, we get to see how things are going on from his perspective and really see how twisted he is. There is so much to enjoy about this book and seeing how things were getting closer to the end and just read this book it was pretty great

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was not impressed with this romantic thriller. Juan loses his wife and unborn child after his cover is blown. Three years later he meets Nicky and her daughter who appear to be running from a dark past. The book continues in alternating narrations as we follow Juan's quest to discover the secrets Nikky is hiding.
I feel the author writes a superficial novel that does not capture the true thrill of running from gangsters. The story is filled with cheesy scenes and unrealistic dialogue. I was not afraid of the monsters nor sympathetic of Juan's loss. He seems distracted by his attraction to Nikky and uncertain of himself.
It's entertaining if you're looking for a cheap thrill but not memorable.

DNF at 38%. This might be a case of right book, wrong time. Juan is a cold case detective trying to heal after losing his wife and unborn baby 3 years ago. Vicki and her niece Bell move in next door - they are on the run from Bell’s dad. While Vicki feels a spark with Juan, she’s determined to not let anyone get too close.

I enjoyed the story but wasn’t feeling truly drawn in - when I put it down, I wasn’t compelled to get back to it. I also felt like the “bad guy” was drawn so over the top terrible villain that it was hard for me to believe and feel invested.

Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Sandy M’s review of Don’t Breathe a Word (Texas Justice, Book 2) by Christie Craig
Romantic Suspense published by Forever 5 Nov 19

I have loved Christie Craig’s romantic comedies for years. A sense of humor is one of those elusive things that happens in romance less often than not, but she has it down pat. Thus, that’s my entire reason for taking my time reading her foray into romantic suspense, which turns out to be a really idiotic idea. So my apologies to Ms. Craig for selling her short. Don’t Breathe a Word is a terrific book, the edge-of-your-seat kind – great storyline and mystery and the characters will work their way under your skin in no time at all.


The beginning of this story is heartbreaking. We find out right away how Juan lost his family and has become the man he is today – a police detective who is all business, keeping to himself and riddled with guilt. He currently works the cold cases in his precinct, along with two other top-of-their-game officers, and they’ve had some great success. Then one night Juan tries to take down an intruder at his next-door neighbor’s house, only to have the tables turned on him, losing the perp and getting his butt kicked…by a woman.

Said woman is Vicki Holloway, and Juan’s gut tells him things aren’t on the up and up with her, but he’s still attracted – even when he discovers she has a child. Vicki and Bell have been on the run for months with the help of a women’s shelter to keep their identities unknown to the man who killed Vicki’s sister and horribly abused little Bell. Vicki is a super smart cookie, but Juan’s instinct and determination is going to win out, especially the more his guilt lessens, along with his burgeoning and almost unwelcome attraction to Vicki.

The scenes with Bell and Juan are so heart warming. This little girl is just as intuitive as her aunt, knowing Juan’s scars aren’t his fault. Vicki finally realizes she needs help and begins to open up to Juan, which leads to one heck of a relationship. I really like these two – strong, stubborn, honest, and loving. Juan’s slow-but-sure release of the past is also heart wrenching, but it’s definitely time for him to move on. The villain is as dastardly as they come, and I cheered for his hastened end every time Juan gets close.

I didn’t realize this is the second book in the series, but you don’t need to have read the first one. I haven’t and I didn’t miss a damned thing while reading. But I’m definitely going to be delving into Don’t Close Your Eyes very, very, very soon.

Grade: A

Juan Acosta is a cold case detective struggling to get over his own personal tragedy when he accidentally runs into his new neighbor Nicki . Nicki  is on the run with her niece to keep her safe from her father who she suspects killed her sister .When they both meet sparks fly but can Nicki trust Juan to keep them safe and will she be able to heal Juan’s broken heart?

Don’t Breathe a Word by Christie Craig is the second book in her Texas Justice series and can be read as a stand alone.Its an emotional roller coaster that refuses to let you go .This book was great and if you are a fan of the romantic thriller genre you will really enjoy  this

I would like to thank  Forever (Grand Central Publishing) & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

This had me on the edge of my seat. The way the book began for Juan breaks your heart. He loses so much at the beginning and it scars him both inside and out. So much so that it seems he will always harbor the guilt he feels. This guilt and desire for revenge leads him to be in the cold case unit. Where he and his fellow partners do great work and solve cases that many could not. To me his life seemed hollow now. He was just living to exact revenge and not really seeing life as it is but just existing.

Than his neighbor and her little girl comes in and his world is turned upside down. Vicki wakes up every nerve and feeling in Juan. He can tell though something is wrong. That things don’t add up. Especially after his first encounter with her his radar is up. That first meeting was a hoot. A strange meet cute that has you smile and see that Juan is right something isn’t quite right. I love that Juan doesn’t dig too much until he doesn’t have a choice and also because by than he has fallen in love even if he can’t admit it.

Vicki is admirable. Strong willed and works hard. The lengths she is going through to protect herself and her niece warms your heart. They are in danger and that danger isn’t going away. It is getting more dark and ominous to me. You get that creepy crawly feeling that soon things are going to go very badly and Vicki will need to let someone in. Her fear is a living breathing thing with the way it is written. You see her reluctance to let someone in as a way to survive and cut herself off from the world. If she doesn’t let anyone in she is safe and her heart can’t be shattered. Only Juan does slowly crack her facade. He not only cracks it, he shatters it and helps her as well.

Juan just loved him. I felt so much sadness at the beginning for him. He went through so so much. I think that helped him be the best person to help vicki though for he understands guilt and pain. He understands danger that is like a living breathing soul. And he understands loss. He is a kind man that has been through alot. My favorite scenes are him with his dog but also when he is taking care of Vicki’s niece and their interactions. Those are just adorable.

The story is flled with danger and intrigue. You are kept on the edge of your seat wondering how things will tie together. How Juan’s cold case is related to Vicki’s danger. How the clues lead to so many reveals and shocking ones at that but they also make sense as you sit bak and look at them. You root for the attraction between Juan and vicki to become more and see them give one another a chance and fall in love. they learn to trust one another and once they let one another in their relationship explodes and is steamy but also sweet and warm. They help each other heal and move forward. A story of love, family, healing and moving on. Of finding justice for some and safety for others while falling in love and learning to trust and live once more.

This is book 2 in the Texas Justice series but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone and still understand it. This one is about Juan Acosta and Vicki Holloway. Juan see's the daily reminder that he didn't save his wife and child in the scar on his face. He only lives for one thing now, revenge. Until his new neighbor moves in and he knows that something else is going on with her and her daughter. Vicki ran after she believes she saw the man she believes killed her sister, even knowing he is supposed to be dead. And with help she and her niece move to Texas with new identities and are now known as Nikki and Bell becomes her daughter. But when he finds out what they are running from, can he keep them safe and not let his own demons bring him down?

Overall, this was a good book. I just had a hard time getting into as it started off very slow for me. It also seemed to be more suspense than romantic suspense which threw me off since I was expecting more of that in there. The characters themselves were great, the story line was good, it was just slow for me to get to where it needed to. I would still read it again though since it was good read, just not my favorite!