A taunting text from a serial killer gives FBI agent Nolan Dalton only minutes to save the next victim. Former cop Adalyn Baxter, Nolan’s ex-girlfriend, receives the same message. That’s just the beginning of a cunningly orchestrated plan that unearths a shocking secret about Nolan. As the Texas lawman struggles to come to terms with his past and protect Adalyn, a madman’s end game could bury them both.
This was more of a suspense thriller than a romantic suspense. The romance seemed secondary to the thriller aspect, which was surprising considering it's a Harlequin Romance. The main characters, Adalyn and Nolan, were very likable and the plot was engrossing. The story dragged a little bit. I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the honor of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

Spurred to Justice

by Delores Fossen

There were a lot of “firsts” in this read for me. I had never read any books in The Law in Lubbock County series, books by Delores Fossen, or books published under the Harlequin Intrigue imprint. I am sharing my reflections on each topic:

The Series: I could tell that there was a personal relationship backstory between the protagonists Adalyn and Nolan but that gap did not affect my understanding of the plot in Spurred to Justice.

The Author: Delores Fossen is a good writer creating likable characters. Her plot has misdirection for the reader and for FBI Special Agent Nolan and ex-cop, current security officer Adalyn. She adds significant plot twists to keep suspense at the forefront.

The Imprint: I like Harlequin Heartwarming books so I thought I might like a novel from the same publisher but with a small amount of suspense. Spurred to Justice had only a little of things that I prefer not to have in books I read: foul language, open bedroom doors, and creepy murders. The inappropriate language is mainly handled by describing someone cursing with the actual words appearing only a few times. The sex scenes do not go all the way to culmination because the pair is always interrupted by phone calls or texts. The creepy factor is the Grave Digger whose taunting and method of murder gives those trying to stop him literal nightmares, but more of the book delves into his identity rather than how he commits the murders.

Reading Spurred to Justice was an experiment for me. My conclusion is that although I did not dislike this book, I won’t be pursuing any similar novels in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery and Thriller, Romance

Notes: #4 in The Law in Lubbock County series, but could be read as a standalone

Publication: January 24, 2023—Harlequin Intrigue

Memorable Lines:

But her body had to be firing off all kinds of signals that this was a primal sort of showdown with the person who’d tried to murder her and would almost certainly try again if he got the chance.

Nolan kept his tone as dry as the West Texas dust.

The Grave Digger would have known this shock would cloud their minds and maybe cause them to lose focus.

Nolan had just moments to save a serial killers victim when she comes across former cop Adalyn, his ex, already there trying to help. As they work on finding the killer, buried secrets seems to come to light possibly to distract Nolan from what's going on and making things even more complicated.

Theres was just so much going on it'll keep any readers hooked till the very end. I loved that there was never a dull moment and thought it was interesting seeing how they worked on solving the case as they gone on. Just when they thought they were getting closer to the killer something would happen or some truth would come out making things even more complicated and I really enjoyed following along to see what would happen next. Highly Recommend!

This is a fast paced, action packed, and gripping romantic suspence. I found it was an excellent thriller and the romance took the back site.
It's not a problem for as I really liked to follow the plot and being kept guessing.
There's plenty of twists, the characters are fleshed out and their romance is realistic and sweet.
I want to recommend it and I think it's can be appreciated also by people who are not usually into romance
Many thanks to Harlequin Intrigue for this arc, all opinions are mine

Spurred to Justice (Law in Lubbock County #4). By Delores Fossen. Harlequin Intrigue. 2023. (ARC eBook).

Spurred to Justice is an entertaining romantic suspense. Fossen’s writing and development of wonderful characters is always strong, but this time I didn’t find Nolan and Adalyn’s second chance romance to be very memorable. But if you are looking for a good mystery, then this book is a recommend.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Another great book from one of my favorite authors. Highly recommend to friends and family.

Text taunts from a serial killer
Send FBI agent off on a total thriller.
Racing against time to the scene to save
A victim buried in a living grave.....

Getting there he's shocked to discover
The victim's being dug out by his ex-lover!
It seems she had the same message, too,
But who from neither have a clue.

Get ready for a read that keeps you guessing throughout
Unable to decide who to trust and who to doubt.
There are red herrings and clues galore
But each revelation has you needing more.

A fascinating page turner that had me enthralled
Engaged in the romance as love is recalled.
There are surprise family revelations and doubts, too,
Leaving you perplexed and guessing the killer is who?

Another brilliant, suspense filled read,
Hopefully one you'll also feel you need.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Delores Fossen! I was so excited to read this one and the story certainly didn't disappoint! I'm also a sucker for a good cowboy romantic suspense. Everything was done so well and pieced together perfectly. I was completely hooked from page one. This is one of those books that grabs hold of you and doesn't let you go until the very end. It's also one that keeps you guessing with all of the twists, turns, and unpredictability. It's definitely going on my shelf of books to read again and again!

Adalyn and Nolan have not only been through so much tragedy individually, but their relationship has also been through so much trauma. They broke up because of what happened to Nolan's father and Adalyn felt so much guilt over it all. And Nolan was dealing with his own grief. Their relationship faded into the background until it was no more. But the chemistry and the feelings between them certainly didn't go away. And they absolutely didn't fade in the slightest. Delores Fossen has a way of writing that makes you feel like you are a fly on the wall to all of the scenes you are reading and it's magical.

The action was spot-on and kept me completely involved. After all this time, I think I was as eager as Nolan and Cody to take down the Grave Digger. It feels like I've been right there solving the mysteries with them. This is the fourth Law in Lubbock County book and I do strongly recommend that you read the first three. Not only so you have the complete story behind what is going on, but because they are all absolutely amazing and all have great stories and mysteries that are sure to pull you in. Each one is just as incredible as the one before it and you won't be sorry you checked them out! I received a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

Spurred to Justice by Delores Fossen, book four in The Law of Lubbock County series, is an edge of your seat wild suspense ride from start to finish. FBI Agent Nolan Dalton and former cop Adalyn Baxter were once together in a relationship. They broke up over the circumstances surrounding his father's murder, but now they're being brought back together by a serial killer who's hell-bent on spilling all the secrets that Nolan never even saw coming. The Grave Digger, the serial killer, texts Adalyn and Nolan, directing them to the location of the latest victim; as well as the victim's employer, retired sheriff Jeb Mercer. They rush to the location mentioned in the text, to try and save this latest kidnapped woman. There is nonstop explosive (literally) action blowing up around Nolan and Adalyn; not to mention the twists and turns, red herrings, and ambiguous clues thrown in for good measure.

Ms. Fossen did an excellent job keeping the readers on their toes, including red herrings, causing me to wrongly guess who the killer was and boy was I surprised when I found out. I loved Nolan’s protectiveness toward Adalyn and that they finally get their HEA. I highly recommend Spurred to Justice to other readers, especially those who loves romantic suspense or crime dramas.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This is a Cowboy Romantic Suspense, and this is the fourth book in The Law in Lubbock County series. This is a Fast paced action packed with a mystery and a little bit of romance mixed into it. I found the second chance romance in this book to be ok, but I really loved the mystery and suspense in this book. The twists and turns in this book had me wanting to keep reading nonstop. I loved the ending so much. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Intrigue) or author (Delores Fossen) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Not sure if you should read all the books in order but I felt this story was out of kilter. Not really one of my favorites and I enjoy Delores Fossen's writing style. I had a difficult time believing the storyline: it didn't always make sense.

I don't think this can be a standalone story and if so I missed something. If you've read the others, go for it. If not I would pass.

Although I received a free ARC eBook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Terrific conclusion to the series. The book starts with a rush as Nolan and his partner race to save the next victim of a serial killer after receiving a disturbing text from him. Someone had gotten ahead of them when they arrived at the scene. Adalyn, a former cop and current security specialist, had received the same text. The three saved the terrified woman together, but the surprises weren't over. Nolan was stunned to see Adalyn there. They were together until a murderer out to get her shot and killed his father by mistake. Their relationship couldn't survive the guilt and trauma, and they parted ways. Now Adalyn and Nolan are the targets of that same serial killer and his mind games.

I liked watching the rekindling of the relationship between Adalyn and Nolan. It is evident from the beginning that their attraction is as strong as ever, but neither can forget the circumstances that drove them apart. Adalyn still feels overwhelming guilt about Bill Dalton's death, and though Nolan doesn't hold her responsible, he hasn't been able to get past it. That won't stop him from keeping her safe while they look for the killer. The more time they spend together, the more he realizes he'd never stopped loving her. Meanwhile, Adalyn is sure they have no future together because of her connection to his father's murder. Both need to face that obstacle before they can move on. I loved the ending and seeing them look forward to a fresh start together.

The story's suspense had me glued to the pages from start to finish. Nolan and his partner, Cody, have been chasing the serial killer known as the Grave Digger for months. Adalyn's involvement added another layer of complexity, further complicated by the identity of the latest victim - Jeb Mercer's housekeeper, Caroline. When Jeb shows up, also having received a text from the killer, it becomes clear that the Grave Digger is playing a complicated game with them. Nolan is hit with a shocking secret about his past that throws everything he believes about who he is into question.

As Adalyn and Nolan dig deeper into the leads they uncover, the attacks against them escalate. Twists and turns and attempts at misdirection kept me turning the pages as they closed in on the identity of the Grave Digger. The final confrontation was a nail-biter, with Adalyn and Caroline in mortal danger and Nolan and the others racing to save them. The shocking identity of the killer and his motivations and manipulations added an extra layer of emotion to the conclusion.

Nolan and Adalyn have been lured by The Grave Digger to his next victim. These two join forces to try and stop this madman. But the further they get into his background the more Nolan’s background comes to light. Nolan’s family kept a big secret!

If y’all follow me at all, you know romantic suspense is one of my guilty pleasures. I have read a couple by this author. All of her books are fast reads with pretty good characters. I have not read the others in this series and I may have to get them just because these are great travel books.

I loved Nolan Dalton. He and Adalyn have a great connection. I did feel the story is rushed in places. And…this is just my personal opinion, I wish the author could have come up with a better name for the villain. “The Grave Digger” is used way too much.

Need a quick, intense, romantic suspense…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Delores Fossen was a new-to-me author with her previous release, Lawman to the Core, and I was hooked on her writing after reading only one of her books. And thank goodness I was because if I hadn’t been, I would have missed out on this heart-pounding new release. It hits the ground running (literally) and keeps the fast pace going for the rest of the book with very little time to breathe. Throw in a second-chance romance with a bit of steam and it was hours of entertainment for me. I couldn’t quite figure out the true villain until she revealed it, even though I had it narrowed down to two people by about ¾ of the way through the story. That’s high praise from a romantic suspense junkie like me and one of the reasons this author has already moved up to almost the top of my Must-Read Authors list. This book was 100% unputdownable!

Multitude of Suspects - Great Romantic Suspense!

Serial killer Grave Digger is pulling everyone's strings. He is sending texts so that if lawmakers act fast enough, they “may” save the next victim. Interconnected characters, both suspects and FBI.

In addition, inflammatory personal information is being “dropped”. Emotional, action-packed, pure adrenaline ride with plenty of chemistry. Whew - it was fun to read, and went fast!

***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****

This is the last book in this series. Nolan Dalton is an FBI agent and on the hunt for a serial killer. He only has a small amount of time to find the latest victim. When he arrives at the scene Adalyn Baxter his former girlfriend is already there; they need to dig out the person buried in the grave. Nolan broke up with Adalyn when his father was murder; the murder was really gunning for Adalyn. The last victim is the housekeeper for Jeb Mercer and when Jeb shows up at the scene it's apparent the murder is really playing games with everyone. Is Nolan the boy that Jeb lost years ago and was Nolan's dad lying to him for year? There is someone want to kill everyone and there is a lot of action in this book. Great tie-up for the story line.

You're going to want to read this twice!

This amazing romantic suspense story hits the ground running and gets more exciting with every page! Nolan and Adalyn broke up over the circumstances surrounding his father's murder, but now they're being brought back together by a serial killer who's hell-bent on spilling all the secrets that Nolan never even saw coming.

The first time I read this, I had my ideas about the killer's identity, only to be shocked by a twist that made me reread the whole story so I could pick up on all the many clues that I missed in my first reading. This is the very best compliment I can give a suspense story, and I absolutely love it when the author has clearly put a lot of thought and research into every detail, large or small.

Nolan and Adalyn are rewarded with a very satisfying HEA, after a hard-fought yet swift serving of justice. The whole story was a pure adrenaline rush and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves romantic suspense or crime dramas. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Spurred to Justice by Delores Fossen
FBI agent Nolan Dalton and Former cop Adalyn Baxter are both strong H/h. They are after a serial killer who happens to be targeting them. There is angst, danger, horror, evil, suspense (lots), and some very interesting other characters, some wit and tears, hate, love and steam to get us to a HEA.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed Easy-to-read Entertaining Great world building Haunting Happily Ever After Informative Page-turner Romantic Scary Steamy Tear-jerker Tragic Twisted Unpredictable Witty.

Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, great police work and a great who done it! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

"Cowboy" Romantic Suspense, fourth in series, think I missed one. Action-packed, twists and turns, who-dun-it. Very little romance, but you could tell Nolan and Adalyn had chemistry and loved each other. Ms. Fossen could have made this story twice as long, and it wouldn't have been too much.