Sins of the Past Book Review

SUMMARY:  Secrets and lies.  Danger that will never go away.  Join three beloved masters of romantic suspense for novellas where the past will not stay buried.

Dee Henderson - "Missing" 
     A Wyoming sheriff is called to Chicago when his elderly mother goes missing from her retirement community.  Paired with a savvy Chicago cop, the two soon launch into a race against the clock when they realize something dark may lie at the heart of the disappearance.

Dani Pettrey - "Shadowed"
     Adventure, romance, and danger collide when a young Alaskan fisherman nets the body of a Russian open water swimming competitor.  Another swimmer, who'd been the dead woman's roommate years ago, is pulled into the search for answers as it grows more and more clear that something sinister is at play.

Lynette Eason - "Blackout
     A young woman once implicated in a robbery gone wrong finds herself at risk years later when the real culprit is up for parole.  The loot taken that night has never been found and he believes she knows where it's hidden - only her memory of that night has always been unreliable.  Can she remember enough to find her way to safety?

REVIEW:  This novella collection is probably one of my favorites.  The authors are my go-to ones for great suspense without all the gore and junk.  If you like suspense novels, this collection is one you might want to pick up.
     In "Missing," the relationship between John and his mom is sweet and admirable.  His concern for her is one we all should have for our parents.  I also like how the developing admiration between John and Sharon, the lieutenant assigned to his mother's missing person case, does not move too quickly as in most stories but slowly over time.  The resolution of the kidnapping story was anticlimactic.  The way the story is summarized led me to believe more action and suspense would be involved. I felt it fizzled at the end.  The story line was interesting but I wonder if more could have been added.
     "Shadowed" is written as a prequel to Dani Pettrey's Alaskan Courage series.  The suspense grabs your attention right from the beginning.  I enjoyed trying to figure out who killed Kat and why they were after Libby.  Sometimes it was a little difficult keeping track of everyone and how they were involved but that is probably my only complaint.  The story kept my attention all the way to the end.  Probably my favorite of the three novellas.
     In "Blackout," the action starts immediately and doesn't let up much until the end.  There were times when I really wanted to help Macey get her memory back.  I like how her neighbor Chad is determined to help her find out who was terrorizing her and protect her along the way.  There were times in the story I wish I had written down the past events and how they tied into Macey's memories but at the climax of the story, everything falls into place and everything is clear.  Lynette Eason did not disappoint.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O'Malley series.  Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, such as the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the ECPA Gold Medallion.  Learn more at DeeHenderson.com or facebook.com/DeeHendersonBooks.

Dani Pettrey is the acclaimed author of the Alaskan Courage romantic suspense series, which includes her bestselling novels Submerged, Shattered, Stranded, Silenced, and Sabotaged.  Her newest novel, Cold Shot, is the first book of her Chesapeake Valor series.  Her books have been honored with the Daphne du Maurier award, two HOLT Medallions, two National Readers' Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, and Christian Retailing's Best Award, among others.  You can find her online at www.danipettrey.com.

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series and the Deadly Reunions series, as well as No One to Trust, Nowhere to Turn, and No Place to Hide in the Hidden Identity series.  She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.  Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.