"Defending the Child" is a romantic suspense. Marielle and Graham were engaged ten years ago but broke up when Graham chose a job that Marielle didn't like. He just happened to be at the camp they met at when she fled an attacker during a heavy snowstorm. The bad guy walked into the camp through the deep snow, but somehow they can't get out even with a snowmobile. The bad guy followed their footprints in the snow to find them, again and again. Graham never thought to use this to set an ambush for the bad guy. Graham was so obvious when he tried attacking the bad guy that he was the one who got surprise-attacked.

All of the good guys seemed inept. For example, the good guys kept leaving their keys in their car ignition so the bad guys could easily hop in and drive off. Though Graham is a DEA agent, he seemed unable to shoot anyone, didn't think to pack some spare bullets for his several guns, and was super-easy to disarm (thus arming the bad guys). At the end, Marielle's hands were loosely tied with a bungee cord but she couldn't get free. And the cops looking for her nearly missed finding her because they glanced inside the building, didn't see her, and didn't bother to search any further. And so on.

At least Marielle and Graham will probably be happy in their marriage. Graham fell in love with the boy, decided he'd like to be a father after all, and Marielle fell in love with the way he bonded with the boy. She had confidence throughout that Graham could handle the bad guys so followed his directions, and he never thought twice about her driving during some tough situations. He gave her his extra gun so she could defend herself. She admired his courage in going after the bad guys to protect her, risking his safety for hers. Anyway, they're a good fit, they just needed to see that by spending time together again.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I couldn't get past how unrealistic the whole thing was, but it was suspenseful.

The story begins with Marielle and her foster son running for their lives. Ian is four years old and saw his mother murdered. The killers are after him to silence him. Marielle goes to a deserted summer camp and runs into her former fiancé, Graham, who is a DEA agent. He helps her and Ian keep one step ahead of the killers. The story keeps you guessing as to what will happen next and how will they escape. I enjoyed reading this book.

I was given this book by Love Inspired Suspense via Net/Galley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Marielle Coleman is fostering Ian, a little boy whose Mom was murdered . A murder he likely witnessed .
She’s startled in the middle of the night and realizes someone, likely the killer, is after Ian. Determined to keep the child safe, Marielle escapes with Ian. When she realizes she’s been followed , Marielle drives to the old Bridger Bible Camp. A camp she attended as a child and later as a teen.
Whom she didn’t expect to find there was Graham Flynn, the boy, now a man, she had been about to marry ten years ago until he broke it up and became an undercover DEA .
It seems his latest assignment and the murder of Ian’s mother might be related.
As these two overcome obstacles to keep themselves and Ian safe, the old feelings reignite.
From the start, this was an action packed , Christian, suspense story with a little romance. It’s also a story that reminds us that timing in life is everything. Sometimes we don’t understand why God puts obstacles in our path, but as time goes on, and in this case, these two get a chance to mature and experience life, we realize we are not only stronger, but also understand then God’s will.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Harlequin. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

A fast-paced and heartwarming tale awaits in Sharon Dunn’s “Defending The Child”. Mari and Graham’s dedication to protecting Ian makes them such strong and amazing characters that readers will want to support. I even found a redeeming factor in Ian’s biological father’s reason to stay in town, giving me hope for his survival for his son. I won’t say more on that, so as not to spoil the story.

The first time Ian spoke and the word he said made my heart melt. Bravo to the author for gutting me in that moment ;)

The authors’ final note perfectly encapsulates what Love Inspired Suspense is all about. I extend my gratitude to Sharon Dunn for a fantastic love story emphasizing God’s timing and its suspenseful plot.

Defending The Child is perfect for fans of romantic suspense, cop procedurals, stories featuring foster youth and single moms, inspirational romance, redemption, second chances, mysteries, and forced proximity.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

A foster child caught in the crosshairs of a crime? This story pulled at my heart strings and left me cheering for the little guy.

The story is fast paced and full of criminal activity! It definitely kept my interest and left me guessing until the end of who was involved!

I enjoyed that Graham and Marielle had known each other previously. It was interesting to see how that developed throughout the story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Defending the Cild is a very good romantic suspense. The plot is fast paced and a real page turner. Suspense fans will definitely enjoy this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Marielle Coleman a single foster caregiver was caring for a child who had stopped talking after he witnessed the shooting of his mother. It soon became evident someone was trying to capture the boy before he could identify the killer. Through a series of circumstances Marielle meets up with her fiancé from 10 years ago who broke their engagement and became a DEA officer. They team up to protect the child from the drug cartel. Fast paced, lots of action and tense moments make this story of love and second chances a fun read!

WOW! Danger at every turn and it never let up. This suspense novel started out fast and kept that pace throughout the book. Marielle Coleman is fostering a little boy who witnessed his mother's murder. When he is suddenly a victim of a foiled kidnapping, they are on the run. A blizzard is raging, and they left with only the clothes on their back. Seeking shelter in a Bible camp, Marielle finds herself face-to-face with her ex-fiancee, Graham Flynn. Can the two put aside their differences and seek what is best for the boy? Can they outrun their dangerous pursuers?

One look at the cover of this book and I knew I had to read it to see what was going on. I am so glad I did. Full of suspense, it definitely held my interest from page one. You will need to put on your TBR pile list for sure. I was not disappointed-Sharon has written another spectacular book.

This book is from the Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense line and is scheduled to be released January 21,2025. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

After her sister is killed, it is up to Mariella to protect her nephew, who happens to be next on the killer’s agenda. Meeting up with her ex is a good thing except they don’t trust one another.

Defending the Child is a good story that will keep you glued to the pages for the afternoon.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from Harlequin/Love Inspired Suspense and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.