In the Dark by Lynette Eason - Loved it. The suspense kept me guessing and the romance was one I wanted to cheer for. This was my favourite of the collection.

Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn - I liked the main characters, but there were so many side characters that I struggled to keep track of who was who, who was related to each other and how. I didn't feel invested in the mystery.

Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters - I really enjoyed this story and the character relationships. I did not see the twists coming and was shocked at the reveals.

I enjoyed the first two stories in this collection but the last one, while well written, just wasn’t believable. If you love suspense, you can’t go wrong with this trio. Perfect for a vacation read.

Cornered
Three Romantic Suspense Novellas
Pub Date Nov 19 2024
Revell
Christian| Novellas & Short Stories| Romance

Revell and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of Cornered for review:


You're in for three times the thrills with these nail-biting thrillers from your favorite romantic suspense authors!


Lynette Eason's book, In the Dark, tells the story of accountant Steph Cross who is cleaning out a co-worker's desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that make her suspect that her friend's car accident was any other than an accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to assist her in cracking the case before anyone else is injured. Can he protect the woman who has so quickly claimed his heart?



In Downfall, a novel by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn is offered the opportunity to fill in at an exclusive mountain resort. However, when the kitchen is destroyed and Cassie is in danger, she is forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, in finding the culprit and ensuring her safety.



In Natalie Walters' novel "Perilous Obsession", teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone who is obsessed with redressing an injustice. Her first point of contact is Briggs Turner, a close friend of hers. In spite of having left a career as a police officer, Briggs still has a strong instinct to protect, particularly when it comes to Lahela.


I Give Cornered five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

When I saw this new novella collection, I knew I had to read it! Cornered has three of my favorite suspense authors doing what they do best, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more! Each novella is connected to a series, so Lynette Eason helped me catch up with her Lake City Heroes, Lynn H. Blackburn took me back to Gossamer Falls, and Natalie Walters shared more adventures with members of the SNAP Agency!

Please don't ask me which one is my favorite! Each thrilling novella has nail-biting suspense and sweet romance, so it's impossible to choose one over the other! I loved Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas and I recommend it to all who enjoy romantic Christian suspense.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. There was no obligation for a positive review.

From some of the biggest names in Christian romantic suspense, Cornered is a great selection of three novellas. I can’t choose a favorite as I loved them all. I had trouble putting the book down to tend to other responsibilities.
If you enjoy fast-paced romantic suspense, this is the one for you. It’s perfect if you need a quick read too.

I love a good novella, and these are paced so well -- they keep the reader's interest beautifully. I hope publishers will continue to publish novellas. Sometimes they really hit the spot as opposed to a longer more drawn out novel.

In The Dark by Lynette Eason ties in to the author's Lake City Heroes series, but you don't need to be familiar with that series to enjoy this one. Tate and Steph are great characters with an intriguing mystery to solve.

In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn ties in to the Gossamer Falls series but again no prior familiarity is needed. This one had terrific suspense and second-chance romance.

In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters rounds out the collection. I had a little bit of a hard time getting into this one but I did end up enjoying it! I especially enjoyed how the author wrapped things up with the ending.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

I loved that all three of these novellas build on other series by their respective authors. They each had familiar characters, great mysteries, and lots of suspense.

I think it's fascinating reading about a family feud set in the modern era. In "Downfall," Cassie wonders, "When had she turned into the stupid chick in a horror movie who didn't have enough sense to stay alive?" (location 2299). I like the Quinn family dynamics and how they show up for each other, even if it brings them into contact with their enemies. I can't wait to read Mo's story.

In "Perilous Obsession," Briggs is ready to move out of the friend zone with Lahela when he learns she has a stalker. His passion immediately turns to keeping her safe. "I'm just ticked off and worried and, well...I really want to punch someone, but I'm trying to focus that urge onto something more productive and less illegal" (location 4266).

All three books have close family or friend groups who support each other. There were a few twists and turns. They were all very enjoyable and hard to put down. I'd highly recommend them. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have read books by all three authors before, and this newest collection did not disappoint. I loved all three books in the collection. They kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more!

I was provided a copy of the book from the author/publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Cornered: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas
by Lynette Eason; Lynn H. Blackburn; Natalie Walters
Publisher: Revell
Series: None
Rated: 4
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors!
In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker's desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend's car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?
In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can't refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she's forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.
In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect--especially for Lahela.”

Impressions: I really enjoyed this trio of novellas. I am not familiar with any of the series that these novellas branched off of but I was able to enjoy the stories and look forward to reading more by their authors. All of the of the stories were exciting, and just the right length to be engaging. The characters and plots were likable without being over the top or unbelievable. The first story was probably my favorite of the trio.

Quotes: “…everything around him was a technicolor of God’s artistry.”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

I enjoyed all three of these novellas. Each one had secondary characters from each of the authors' series, which I had already read.
In The Dark had James Cross' sister Stephanie Cross in danger after a co-worker's murder.
Downfall had Cassie Quinn, another of the Quinn Family in Gossamer Falls, who is working as a chef, but someone does not want her there.
In Perilous Obsession, Kekoa Young's sister Lahela has a stalker.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley with no obligation to post a positive review.

In the Dark by Lynette Eason
Full of mystery and suspense, was Stephanie Cross' friend's car accident truly an accident. When Stephanie finds a notebook hidden in her friend's desk with encrypted messages she works with Detective Tate Cooper to discover the truth. Plenty of suspense and romance.
Downfall by Lynn Blackburn
Return to Gossamer Falls and the Quinn and Pierce families. This is probably my favorite series so far. Cassie Quinn is in danger and her ex-boyfriend Detective Donovan Bledsoe is determined to protect her and win her back. The rest of the Quinn family shows up to help and makes the story complete. There is plenty of suspense, romance and action involved.
Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters
Lahela Young (Kekoa's little sister from the SNAP series) becomes the target of someone with an obsession. Her friends, Briggs, Nash, and Daphne are all there to help and protect her. I want their stories now!! Action packed with suspense and a romance with Briggs.

{Thank you to @netgalley and @revellfiction for my gifted copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.}

Cornered is a fantastic novella collection, featuring three novellas, written by three incredible romantic suspense authors.

Novellas included:

“In the Dark” by Lynette Eason
“Downfall” by Lynn H. Blackburn
“Perilous Obsession” by Natalie Walters

I enjoyed this book so much! Each novella can be read as a stand-alone, but it was extra fun if you’ve read other books from these authors as each novella featured characters connected to previous books. Isn’t it fun when you get to know minor characters better like this?!

If you’re a romantic suspense fan looking for a fast, bingeable, read, this page-turner is it!

Definitely recommend!

A Colby Christmas Rescue by Debra Webb had me enthralled with the story and characters. The storyline really makes you think; what would you do in their situation. Even when I had to put the book down I was still thinking about it.

Jamie was a great character and I would really like to see more adventures with her and Kendrick. I loved that she trusted him even when she didnt understand some of his decisions.

I highly recommend this mystery. The only thing that would have made it better was a little more romance :)

I am new to the Colby Agency series but I immediately started researching the other books in the series. Now I have to decide how far back do I start :). Victoria was a great character and I really want her story. I will definitely be reading this series as A Colby Christmas Rescue was just book one in the Next Generation series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review of Cornered.

This book reminded me why I love Christian romantic suspense! If you’re looking for a fast-paced novel containing three novellas by three excellent authors, try Cornered today! Wow!! I love how romantic suspense novels always pull me right in and make my heart pound as I read, gripping me to the page. This book did just that! Each novella perfectly contained plot twists, effective and powerful action scenes, sweet and heartwarming romantic moments, and examples of Christ.

Because of the short format and three stories in one book, I’d highly recommend this story to new readers of romantic suspense! As an old hat of the romantic suspense genre, this book did not disappoint and I can’t wait to read more books by each other. Also, if you’ve wanted to try any of the authors’ books, this novella provides a perfect way to easily try their styles!

Finally, I loved how this story effectively portrayed Christianity and glorified God. Also, I loved the themes of heroism. Both elements created a superb combination!

Try Cornered today if you’re looking for gripping, exciting mysteries, swoony kisses, and moments that reflect Christ!

Happy reading,
Bethany the Bookworm Girl

I know that all these authors are well known and excellent based on the sheer number of books--but I just didn't really find any of these three novellas "gripping". It was like watching an episode of CSI or NCIS where a major mystery is solved in like 24 hours from beginning to end without any issues and everything working perfectly. The romances were nearly all in the lines of "love at first sight" or "you are my hero and I now am in love with you" which I am not a fan of for a trope. Also, I'm sure that each of these novellas is part of a larger series as I felt DROPPED into a story where everyone else seemed to know what was going on.

that being said, the first story worked the best for a novella and wasn't as predictable. I know it's so hard to condense a story into a novella--but while I may give a pass on how fast a mystery is solved, I just can't do the instantaneous romances.

3 Stars for me I'm afraid.

*Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

Cornered Novella Collection - Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn and Natalie Walters - 4 Stars

Y'all I really think Romantic Suspense books are PERFECT in Novella format! I loved this one. After reading Targeted and now Cornered, I think this author trio should definitely continue these! They are fun, short reads with just the right amount of suspense and romance I prefer! Highly recommend to my Romantic Suspense fans!

5/5 The first novella is In The Dark by Lynette Eason. This features accountant Steph Cross who is cleaning out her co-workers desk after her shocking and unexpected death. It seems like an accident, but when she finds a cryptic note in her desk that looks like she was investigating something, it looks like her death was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper comes in and is determined to help her figure everything out before someone else gets hurt. Steph has quickly become someone important to him and he will do anything to help keep her safe. This is tied to her Lake City Heroes series and since I have read books 1 and 2 in that series, I really liked this novella because I was familiar with the setting.

4/5 The second novella is In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn. This features chef Cassie Quinn who fills in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. The kitchen gets destroyed, she is in danger and thrown into a situation where her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, has to help her. I haven't read Never Fall Again, but this is in the same setting of Gossamer Falls. I have to dive into that series now because this one was again, great suspense and romance! We had good depth with the characters here because they had history together. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was some of the second chance stuff because second chance can be hit or miss with me, but I did like their characters and ending to the romance.

3.5 to 4-ish /5 The third novella is In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters. This features Lahela Young, the sister of Kekoa from the S.N.A.P agency series. I really liked our characters here because it was familiar to me, as I have read the novella and book 1 for the S.N.A.P agency series. It is hard for me to remember the character names for some reason so I had a hard time there, but overall it was good. Lahela becomes the target of someone with a twister obsession to right a wrong. She turns to her friend Briggs Turner, who used to be a police officer, but wants to help protect Lahela in what is going on. The ending in this one was very unique in the suspense, wanted a little more romance here but great suspense and action.

Overall, these are some AWESOME novellas that I think a lot of y'all will enjoy! Highly recommend these author's books and series to look into if you want some good Christian romantic suspense options.

Thank you to Revell for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After accountant Steph Cross’ friend dies in a car crash, she finds evidence that indicates the death may not have been an accident at all.🚘

Someone doesn’t want chef Cassie Quinn at The Haven resort, and when her kitchen is destroyed and she receives other threats, she must turn to her police officer ex-boyfriend for help.🔪

Teacher Lahela Young has a stalker, and when things begin to escalate, her friend, an ex-police officer, will do anything to keep her safe.📸

A novella collection with stories from three of my favorite romantic suspense authors?? Heck yes! Lynette Eason, Lynn Blackburn, and Natalie Walters deliver three nail-biting adventures with loads of suspense and strong, swoony love interests. Because these are novellas, each story is pretty short, but each one felt complete and satisfying by the end. And while they’re all connected to characters from the authors’ other series, I think they can all be read as standalones. If you’ve been thinking about jumping into romantic suspense, Cornered would be a great sampler platter of the awesome authors and storylines you can expect from this genre!🩵

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thank you to Revell Fiction for sending me a copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.📘

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed these stories so much. They are great short mysteries and the plot and pacing made sense for their length and the characters were interesting and good to follow.

In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker's desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend's car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?
In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can't refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she's forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.
In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect--especially for Lahela.

In The Dark
5 stars
What a great little story! The pacing was good, a very interesting mystery that I did not guess, and likable characters from a series I’m enjoying immensely. I like how much Cole and James were in it and how they interact with Steph.

Downfall
5 stars
The conversation around the campfire… I just love it. The honesty, the commitment… not gonna lie I wish someone would say that to me. Even as a friend.

I can’t get enough of these cousins and their relationship. Mo and Cassie especially in this one. It’s so sweet!!!

I love it. I just love it.

Perilous Obsession
4.5 stars
I didn’t clue in until I was basically told what was going on. I’m slipping!

Love the found family aspect of this and the glimpse of Kekoa :)

"Cornered" has three romantic suspense novellas. Though not needed to understand the stories, it helps if you've read the books by Blackburn and Walters that feature the characters and setting that these novellas are set in. The main characters were all likable and interesting. The romantic couples generally worked well together, and they drew close as they spent time together. The mysteries were interesting, and the suspense was high. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense collection.