Secrets of St Augustine

Traci Hunter Abramson has a talent for weaving suspense tales that despite ending fully resolved, always leave you wanting more.
In this novella we get to spend more time with Doug Valdez and his wife Jill, from one of Abramson's earlier books. New readers need not worry though as this novella can also be read as a standalone.
Layla's experiences will have your protective instincts fired up, and Reagan's maturity and excitement at meeting her will warm your heart.
Fast paced and action packed, with touching interludes between the action, this is one you won't want to put down, yet as soon as you finish it you'll be wishing you hadn't because that means it's over.

Hounded
This one was hard to get through. From the character's reluctance to use contractions to the totally obvious being stated repeatedly, it felt like a chore to read. Even the criminal's threatening note had "I am" instead of "I'm", etc. Kind of hard to sound scary when speaking near perfect Queen's English.

Lieutenant Exposition feels the need to assert that the note with a death threat "sounds deadly", and Detective Obvious agrees, yet has done nothing to find the culprit prior to this; not even looking up the families of those who were killed when he was on active police duty. But suddenly it's a priority!

Other frustrating aspects of this story; repeated misogyny displayed by the male characters, everything being told to the reader instead of shown, Renn's total incompetency (particularly highlighted when he stands watching kidnappers drive off with their victim instead of jumping in his car and following them. Also when he parks his car right beside the criminal's cars instead of out of sight round the corner), frequent contradictions, and the caricaturishness of several characters on the police force.
Honestly, it felt like an attempt to squeeze as many plot holes and caricaturish villains into a story as possible.

In Plain Sight

This one is a fairly easy read. A few plot holes, but nothing too glaring that would detract from reading.
A big stretch when the author expects us to believe that Cody's emotions over killing a colleague were resolved within a "few sessions" with a "shrink", not to mention that these sessions supposedly took place while he was away on assignment. Cody had some cringe flirting moments reminiscent of a certain "I don't like sand" line of a famous movie.
The romance was mostly believable, but did feel rushed.

Bottom line; this trio of stories is worth buying, but only for Abramson's novella, though you could pass a pleasant hour reading Edwards' one as well.

Loved 2 of the 3 stories. One was just okay for me. The two that I loved however were action packed and detailed! I almost wish those stories were longer! I did like the variety of stories. Well written and a great suspense read!
Secrets of St. Augustine by Traci Hunter Abramson solid 5/5
Loved this story and getting to know more about Doug and his family! I loved that it wasn’t a traditional happily ever after because there are so many different versions of that

Hounded by Clair M. Poulson 3/5
This one was a little hard for me. The style of writing just wasn’t for me. It reminded me of an 80’s/90’s tv show. Just not my cup of tea. About halfway through I had to start skimming.

In Plain Sight by Paige Edwards 5/5
This was one of my favorites! There were so many details. So much was packed into this story. The imagery was also so good! Loved it all.

This collection of three exciting novellas written by three very talented authors is one of the best suspense anthologies I have ever read. Set in diverse locations, the stories will set your heart racing and keep you anxiously turning pages as the danger and tension escalate. The characters are well-crafted and believable. The fast-paced plots flow smoothly, and each story feels complete which is not always the case with a novella. Along with the danger comes a bit of romance that adds interest to the read. I enjoyed this entertaining book from beginning to end. If you are a fan of suspense and are looking for a quick, entertaining, satisfying read, I think you will be pleased with this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book contains three short novellas by authors that I wasn't familiar with till now. The first novella is by Traci Hunter Abramson. This is about a FBI agent that goes on a mission/vacation to Paris to investigate a private girls school where American girls go. While there he discovers a young girl in the back seat of his car. This wasn't an edge of your seat mystery. But I did enjoy it.

The nest novella is by Paige Edwards. Jaclyn is caught in the crossfire of a FBI sting. Cody rescues her before she is hurt. Now her life is in danger from the bad guys. I enjoyed this also.

The third novella is by Claire M. Poulson. Renn, a newly retired Army Ranger, is looking for a job as a Private Investigator. He learns that someone is targeting his boss and trying to kill him. This book is more fast paced than the other two books.

I enjoyed all three books and look forward to reading more by these authors in the future.

I was given this book by Covenant Communications via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Do you like to read books that are full of suspense and keep you on the edge of your seat? If your answer is yes, this book is for you! This book is a collection of three novellas full of danger, intrigue and a touch of romance. I loved it!

First you’ll find Secrets of St Augustine by Traci Hunter Abramson. This one was so great! I loved the way the author took me to France in this one. The reader quickly learns about Layla and they are immersed in her world as she deals with some lies that have been told to her. Lies that could cost her her life. But Doug Valdez thinks quickly and is able to help her. The author did such a great job with this one. I loved that it doesn’t seem like a novella.

Next up is Hounded by Clair Poulson. Renn Huitt is hired as a private investigator in this one. And his job starts with a bang, literally. I loved the way the author weaved several story lines in this one. He created great characters, who the reader wants to be okay. This one was so great!

Last we have In Plain Sight by Paige Edwards. This is one of those novellas that I wanted to scream at the main characters to not do what they were doing. The reader knows at least a little of both the minds of the criminals and the good guys. And sometimes that’s the most suspenseful way. You know that something bad is going to happen and, as a reader, you have no way to stop it. The characters, especially Jaclyn and Cody are so well done in this book. I loved reading it! And yelling at them.

This whole book is so well done! I couldn’t put it down.

"Secrets of St. Augustine" by Traci Hunter Abramson

Something sinister is going on at St. Augustine! Layla overheard the Monsieur talking to another man that someone need to be disposed of, make it look like an accident! Layla realized it was her they were talking about! Terrified, she takes off running!

She hides in the back of an SUV in the parking lot. The SUV belongs to Special Agent Doug Valdez, he has been sent to investigate the questionable finance practices at St. Augustine. Suspense builds as Reagan finds Layla hiding in the back of the SUV! Layla explains why she's hiding, her story of running sounds all too familiar to Reagan. Agent Valdez needs to get Layla to a safehouse to protect her! Jill his wife, and Reagan his daughter, step up to protect Layla as well! History is about to repeat itself for the Valdez family!


"Hounded' by Clair M. Poulson

Someone wants Detective Bob Layman dead! Former Arny Ranger, Renn Huitt is hired by Bob to find who's responsible for the threats.

A brick was thrown through the office window showering Lia with broken glass. Lia is in the office when someone starts shooting at the building. She drops to the floor behind her desk, she calls Bob and Renn. Renn has had enough. He calls the local police for help, they're slow to take any action.

Renn has been asked to help District Attorney Kimberly Cantor prove that her client Alex Cushman is not guilty of murder! The evidence shows that she couldn't have possibly comitted murder, but Dective Fricks has zeroed in on her only! Renn has his hands full working on two high profile cases!


"In Plain Sight" by Paige Edwards

FBI Special Agent Cody Ackert is headed to Virginia where he has been accepted to join an elite team at Quantico Virginia. A change is what Cody needed. Jaclyn works at a local coffee shop, Cody can't get Jaclyn out if his head even though she completely gave him the cold shoulder!

Jaclyn is participating in an FBI hostage bank robbery excercise. Cody is one of the hostage takers wearing a ski mask! Jaclyn is an actor in the excercise. The writing was so intense that I couldn't put the story down! This was all in chapter 2! The rest of the story is just as intense!


I was given an ARC from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review!

Sinister Secrets, a novella collection from three suspense writers, Traci Hunter Abramson, Clair Poulson, and Paige Edwards.

The first short story is Secrets of St. Augustine by Traci Hunter Abramson. FBI agent Doug Valdez is doing a quick stop to investigate possible money laundering at a boarding school in France before he goes on vacation with his family. Something is terribly wrong at the school, but he doesn’t really get any leads—until he finds a thirteen-year-old girl hiding in the back of his car afraid for her life. Layla has overhead a plot to kill her because of a recent inheritance and Doug must protect not only her, but his wife and daughter as well. An action-packed suspense from the first page to the last.

The second story is Hounded by Clair M. Poulson. Renn Huitt is an ex-Army Ranger starting fresh with a new job. His boss, Bob Lyman, has been receiving threatening notes and things have escalated. Renn must do whatever he can to keep his boss alive as well as help attorney Kimberly Cantor prove her young client is innocent of murder. There is a lot going on in this short story, but fans of true crime will enjoy the fast pace and detailed cases.

The third story is In Plain Sight by Paige Edward. Cody meets Jaclyn at a coffee shop before he reports to his new job with the FBI. He makes an impression on her, so when they meet at the Hostage Rescue training session later on, it’s inevitable that they should get to know each other better. But Cody is soon sent undercover with a drug cartel and Jaclyn accidentally gets caught up in the investigation and becomes a target. Cody races to protect her while bringing down a cartel and readers will be flying through the pages to see how it all ends!

Suspense fans will love this tension-filled collection that will keep you guessing until everything is finally revealed!

4.5 rounded up to 5 for this trilogy of suspense novellas by some of my favorite suspense authors.

Traci Hunter Abramson: Secrets of St. Augustine (5 stars)
FBI Special Agent Doug Valdez is back and this time he's in France looking for money launderers involving an exclusive prep school when one of the students, Layla, discovers there's a plot to kill her. Thankfully Agent Valdez is there to help her and thus begins a super suspenseful game of cat and mouse in France. This story definitely had me reading until the end. How could I sleep with all the close calls Doug, his family and Layla had with the bad guys? I loved seeing Agent Valdez again and getting an update on his family.

Clair M. Poulson: Hunted (4 stars)
Retired Army Ranger Renn Huitt has just been hired by a small PI office run by Bob Lyman when the office is shot up. Could it have been done by the person who's been sending Bob threatening letters? When he was a police officer he made quite a few enemies. In addition to figuring out who's targeting Bob, Renn is put on the case of a woman wrongly accused of murder. This one had me wondering if the shooting and the murder case were connected. I really liked Renn and would like to see him get a book of his own or maybe one with him working with Kimberly, the attorney. They worked really well together.

Paige Edwards: In Plain Sight (5 stars)
FBI operative Cody Ackert is working undercover to bust a drug ring when a civilian, Jaclyn Girard, inadvertently becomes a witness. Cody must then protect her and her family while discovering who the big bad is behind it all. So much suspense in this one plus some romance and even a meet cute. I loved the dual point of view--it adds so much to my enjoyment of a story. I had to stay up to finish this one--who can sleep when someone's life is danger?

This is a great collection of suspense stories. There's a lot of suspenseful and perilous moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat but nothing graphic. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Covenant Communications via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Secrets of St. Augustine: 5 stars
If you have read any of this author's books, Agent Doug Valdez will be familiar to you. He's been in quite a few books so his character was familiar to me. Even if you haven't read about him before, his general backstory is covered so you will have a good idea just how awesome he is. This story is action packed and fast moving starting in France and then through Europe. Poor Layla. The history of her short life so far will break your heart. Doug was the perfect person to cross paths with her and save her. I loved this story! (no romance here, but definitely love!)

Hounded: 3.5 stars
Author Clair Poulson is going at knowing his terminology and the way the police process works. His stories always sound believable and reasonable. There was a lot going on in this story, and there were a lot of people involved. I didn't have trouble keeping them all straight, I just had trouble connecting to the characters and to any sort of emotion. I liked the strong men who had strong women helping them though. That felt good. (mild romance)

In Plain Sight: 5 stars
This story was such a good balance of all things emotional and suspenseful. I loved the dual perspective from both Cody and Jaclyn. Jaclyn's family was brought into the story and it really made things feel homey and gave that touch of realistic as they all shared a cramped apartment for a bit. The food, the sleeping, the bathroom. There was plenty of action and tension to keep me reading, anxious and invested all the way through. My favorite of the three novellas in this book. (This novella held the most romance.)

Content: peril, violence (running, chasing, gunshots, fighting).

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I liked this collection of suspense novellas. I liked how each of the stories were so unique and well written. I liked how each of the stories drew me in so I wanted to keep reading and find out who was behind everything. I would read more stories set in each of these locations. I didn’t want the stories to end so that shows to me that they were well done.

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.

This was a good one!
I was a little hesitant before reading it because the word “suspense” is always iffy. I don’t do creepy suspense. But this wasn’t the kind of suspense that leaves you feeling anxious or jumpy. These stories were wonderfully written and enjoyable to read. Great for fall reading or any time of the year!

A collection of three suspenseful non-stop action stories will certainly keep you staying up waaay longer than you expected! You will be absorbed in the stories that have high speed chases, crooked officials, stowaways, kidnappings, romance, and of course, high speed chases and edge of your seat plot twists.

Secrets of St. Augustine by Traci Hunter Abramson (5/5)
You would think if you come from a family with a vast fortune, that your life would be free of worries. But, that is not Layla’s case. She must spend her spring break at her boarding school and in doing so, uncovers the diabolical plot of school officials. Now, with the help of FBI agent, Doug Valdez, Layla is running for her life. I enjoyed the chase through Europe and the daring escape Layla must make in order to avoid capture. It was also fun to read about a courageous and intelligent high school girl as the main character. The ending was perfect!

Hounded by Clair M. Paulson (3/5)
Renn Huitt is quickly thrust into action after being hired by Detective Bob Lyman as he tries to follow leads of two separate cases. I liked that Renn never backed down from danger and pursued the truth, putting aside his own safety to see justice done. The scary scene in the mine was my favorite part of the story.

In Plain Sight Paige Edwards (5/5)
How Ms. Edwards was able to pack so much into a novella (exciting plot, great characters, and a budding romance) shows what a masterful story teller she is. Hold onto your seat as Jaclyn Gerard becomes an accidental part of an undercover drug sting. The high speed chase and the boat rescue were my favorite scenes. My heart was beating quickly and I was holding my breath as Cody was racing against time to help Jaclyn.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

SECRETS OF ST. AUGUSTINE by TRACI HUNTER ABRAMSON A fast moving short story that pulls you in from the beginning and holds you to the very end. A young woman is being taken advantage of, because of her money. Someone wants her dead. When she saltarts to uncover the sorted details, he life is thrown into perilous circumstances. An FBI agent is checking up on some leads to a case before he meets up with his wife and daughter on their European vacation. But he gets swept into the scene of espionage The suspense is gripping. The characters are likable and intriguing. So much is packed into this short story, you won’t want to put it down. HOUNDED by CLAIR M. POULSON A gripping story about kidnapping and revenge. There is a lot going on in this story. At times a bit much, but I was still interested to find out the what, when, where and why. The character development was detailed and intriguing. IN PLAIN SIGHT by PAIGE EDWARDS This story revolves around drug deals, kidnapping and dishonest agents. It also has a sweet romance, which gave it a thumbs up from me! I found the story intriguing and suspenseful. The characters were very enjoyable to get to know and I wanted them to have a HEA.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love Novellas. These ones were perfect.

In Secrets of St Augustine we meet a young girl who needs serious help. Who better to help than Doug Valdez who stumbles across the situation? We meet Doug in other Abramson books, but this definitely puts him in his best light. It's a race that kept my heart rate up and turning every page. It's a good thing that this one wasn't a longer story, I am not sure I could have stood the suspense, it was that good!

The second offering is Hounded, where we run into the world of gangs, private eyes, crooked cops, and no nonsense attorneys. Who knew how much of that could be found in Boise, Idaho. This was a fascinating story set in places vaguely familiar to me. The characters were strong, well developed, and relatable. The suspense was on point.

In Plain Sight follows an FBI agent and a teacher with multiple jobs in an undercover operation to find a mole. This is thrilling well-developed story that is somehow as rich and fulfilling as a novel in it's shortened format. I love the characters especially the heroine's mother. She's a firecracker.

Overall this collection is worth the read and would be perfect when you want to read something in the evening and not stay up all night, but only if you can read one story at a time. Never mind.... Make sure you have time.

I received an early copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

These three stories are fun to read. They have suspense and action. Each of these authors have a great talent for sucking you in to their stories.

The first story is Secrets of St. Augustine by Traci Hunter Abramson (4 stars). Layla, a young girl has lived at her boarding school with no contact from her only living relative. When she overhears a conversation about her future, she fears for her life and hides in the car of FBI Agent Doug Valdez. Doug is undercover investigating the school and has no idea that she is in his car. The school has no intention of allowing her to escape and a chase ensues as Doug tries to keep her safe along with his wife and daughter. Years ago, Doug rescued his now adopted daughter, Reagan (her story in Twisted Fate) and it looks as if he has another one to save. Very entertaining!
The second story is Hunted by Cheri M. Poulson (3 stars). Former Army Ranger Renn Huitt has decided that he would like to pursue a career as a private investigator. He has the skill set and mentor, retired Detective Bob Layman. Bob is receiving death threats and it is up to Renn to help him eliminate the threat before the killer strikes. At the same time, they are investigating, along with a dedicated and attractive young attorney, the case of a homeless woman who has been falsely charged with murder.
The last story is In Plain Sight by Paige Edwards (3 stars). School teacher Jaclyn Girard unwittingly becomes involved in FBI Special Agent Cody Ackert’s undercover investigation into a drug cartel. Someone believes that she can identify one of the members of the drug ring and she has become a liability. Can Cody rescue her and expose the informant who has been providing information to the cartel? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

This collection of novellas will keep you on the edge of your seat! All of the novellas are well written and hold your attention from the first page until the last. If you enjoy suspense filled excitement, grab this book! I loved it.
I received a complimentary copy from Covenant Communications via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love three stories in one books. You get multiple of your favorite authors in one book. I think that's great! This Sinister Secrets did not disappoint. Traci Hunter Abramson's story is about Doug and where we left him in Not Dead Yet. I loved this story because I love hearing about what has been happening with Doug and his family. This story was jammed back with suspense and action. It was soo good! Clair Poulson's story was good, but it just didn't click with me. It was fast pace and filled with mystery, I just had a hard time liking the characters or the writing. Paige Edwards's story was good. It was fast pace and filled with action. The characters were interesting and I would love to have another story about them.

If you enjoy suspense, action, and mystery this book is the one for you!

These thoughts and opinion are my own. Thanks Netgalley and Covenant Communications for the ARC.

All these stories had good suspense and well worked through emotions. The moments were real, gritty and gripping.

Three well plotted, gripping novellas that kept me on the edge. It's the first time I read something by these author and won't surely be the last.
I had fun and throughly enjoyed it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine