Lynn H. Blackburn: Never Fall Again

By Kelly Bridgewater

Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.

Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.

Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.

 

My Thoughts:

Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn does a wonderful job of crafting a family saga filled with a number of people that will be able to be written into upcoming books. The books is labeled as a romantic suspense novel. However, it is not a romantic suspense novel. I would label this as a Women’s Fiction novel. Readers will be at 10% into the book before the first big climactic moment will occur. Then another one does not occur until about 50%, then we have at 85% the final showdown. I never felt like the main character Landry Hutton’s life was in danger. Never once did a bullet fly at her. She was not chased off the road. She was not caught in a burning building. The two damages that did happen she was not around. The story is more about the budding romance and learning to trust each other between Cal and Landry. Readers will see Cal’s family as they decide to accept Landry and her daughter. Readers will also learn what happened in Landry’s and Cal’s past. Overall, Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn, in my humble opinion, was a disappointment as a romantic suspense novel. If it was labeled as a Women’s fiction, the readers would not expect much excitement and danger for their characters, which is what this novel delivered.

I received a complimentary copy of Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  2.5  out of 5 stars

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Lynn H. Blackburn: Under Fire

By Kelly Bridgewater

USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend--and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.

Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president's protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light.

Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?

Sparks fly as award-winning romantic suspense writer Lynn H. Blackburn closes out her Defend and Protect series with this explosive tale of secrets kept, lies exposed, and relationships restored.

 

My Thoughts:

Under Fire by Lynn H. Blackburn is defined as a romantic suspense novel. As the genre suggests, should be plenty of suspense and romance to round out the story. Unfortunately, for my opinion, the story focused 85% on the development of the romance between Tessa and Zane and about 15% on the suspense element. The plot did not move that fast. Plenty of moments for Tessa and Zane to question their budding relationship. Plenty of moments of wondering why or why not that they should be in a relationship. At certain times, there were moments were Tessa's life was put in danger and then the story would plan the presidential patrol, but nothing really pressing. I would assume if a president of the United States would be coming to town, and someone has threaten to bring him harm that the story would be more focused on the protection and trying to figure out who did the threat. But that was not the case. It seemed to be a little important, but not that important to the characters. I would delete the suspense part of the genre title and just call it a contemporary romance novel.  While the writing of Blackburn is a delight to read, the plot just didn't deliver what it promised. I wanted more suspense and a sense of urgency for the readers.

I received a complimentary copy of Under Fire by Lynn H. Blackburn through Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Blackburn, Eason, and Walters: Targeted

 By Kelly Bridgewater

In this novella collection, an FBI computer hacker, the vice president's son, and a CIA officer each find themselves in the clutches of merciless criminals. These thrilling stories offer excitement, intrigue, and romance--and hit the bullseye every time. 

 

My Thoughts:

Overall, I’m not a huge fan of novellas. In my opinion, they never have enough time to develop the characters and give them the chance to really change. OR the novellas that I do like feature characters I am already familiar with but place in them a moment of time that readers are dying to see what happens. Of course, I am familiar with all three authors in the Targeted novella collection, so I was interested in reading what they have wrote.

“On the Run” by Lynette Eason

This novella is a quick run down of a girl on the run from her father’s legacy. Since it is such a tiny amount of space for a story, the entire novella was one big chase scenario with plenty of action and final showdown. The heroine has been featured in another of Eason’s novel, but as a background character. Now readers can see more of her past and see the romance that occurs. Would I want this as a bigger story? Yes, but for the moments of the story, Eason does a wonderful job at crafting enough background, romance, and action to keep any suspense reader happy.

“Deadly Objective” by Lynn H. Blackburn

While Eason’s story had plenty of action, Blackburn’s really did not have much. Her story laid out the foundation for a budding relationship, but the suspense was not there. Many moments of talking and taking a camping trip and the hero and heroine discovering more about each other and the charge they were watching. Occasionally, Blackburn would remember to throw in some bullets flying to keep the suspense element moving. Not really a good novella. Wanted more action to keep me interested.

“Caught in the Crosshairs” by Natalie Walters

Walter’s story had a little more action than Blackburn, but still not as much as Eason’s. Readers who are familiar with Walters first published series will see familiar characters, which is a nice touch. Plenty of suspense and action to satisfy the cozy mystery fans of the romantic suspense genre. As for the romance, it was ramped up and threw each character for a loop as they navigated the danger that threaten their lives. Good for the romantic suspense genre.

I received a complimentary copy of Targeted by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

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Most Anticipated Suspense Fall 2022

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Here is another favorite post:

Most Anticipated Suspense Novels for Fall 2022

All covers come from Goodreads.

Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks

The Premonition of Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright

Sundown by Susan May Warren

Targetted by Natalie Walters, Lynette Eason, and Lynn H. Blackburn

Dark Fall by Brian Andrews

How about you? I believe we need more stories in this genre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lynn H. Blackburn: Malicious Intent

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company's cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been heralded by government, medical, and advocacy groups and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose--and how far will they go to get what they want?

Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to spend the rest of his life with her. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life's work, her own life, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

Perfectly balancing chilling suspense and uplifting romance, award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a story of revenge, greed, and overcoming that you won't want to put down no matter how late it gets. 

 

My Thoughts:

Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn checks all the boxes off for a Romantic Suspense novel. The first chapter dives into a character, who happens to be the heroine of the story, who has been tortured recently. From then on, the story moves forward with trying to discover who harmed her and why. Of course, the heroine, Ivy, runs into someone from her past, the heroine, Gil, who actually has loved her and wanted to come back into her life. As the story progresses, the suspense is heightened also, allowing the readers to jump into the action just like the heroine and the hero. On the same vein, the romance is questioned, then jumped into with full emotions. When the climactic moment is revealed, there is many different elements that make the final answer different than I have ever seen before. Has it been done before? Not in any novel that I have devoured. Can I see it happening in real life? Most definitely. Overall, Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn does give fans of romantic suspense just what they want. Plenty of action sprinkled with fighting emotions across the page. Fans of Colleen Coble and DiAnn Mills should be pick this novel. They would definitely enjoy time spent with this story.

I received a complimentary copy of Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Lynn Blackburn: One Final Breath

By Kelly Bridgewater

When investigator Gabriel Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell--a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.

Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her--the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.

When Anissa's fractured past collides with Gabe's investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they'll have to put their complicated history with each other aside in order to uncover the identity of a killer. What they'll discover is that revenge has no statute of limitations.

Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn closes out her nail-biting Dive Team Investigations series with a story that will have you wondering how long you can hold your breath.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

One Final Breath by Lynn Blackburn is categorized as a romantic suspense. The suspense element was there and started in the first chapter after a "family" cookout, which was a good thing. The writing was top notch. I enjoyed seeing the different perspective of Gabe and Anissa as they told their story. They both had flaws and had to learn to overcome them in order to make way for their happily ever after. The main issue the plot carried for me was the romance. It was the main focus of the novel. Readers will see more about Gabe and Anissa  trying to figure out their budding romance and their romantic feelings than the suspense. The suspense felt like an afterthought; the romance was the main leading storyline. Also, the motive for the bad guy felt cheap. It didn't really justify, to me, why he was chasing the heroine. I shook my head in disbelief. Overall, One Final Breath by Lynn Blackburn is an okay romantic novel with hints of suspense. Not really one for the books. Fans of Elizabeth Goodard, Irene Hannon, and Colleen Coble might really enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of One Final Breath by Lynn Blackburn from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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From Amazon

About the Author:

Lynn H. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She's passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don't make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Her first book, COVERT JUSTICE, won the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery/Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Her second book, HIDDEN LEGACY, released June 2017. She begins a new series, Dive Team Investigations with BENEATH THE SURFACE in March of 2018. (Taken from Amazon.)

Lynn H. Blackburn: Beneath the Surface

By Kelly Bridgewater

After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston needed a change. She thought she'd left her troubles behind when she moved home to Carrington, North Carolina, and took a job in the emergency department of the local hospital. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present. She reaches out to her high school friend turned homicide investigator, Ryan Parker, for help.

Ryan finds satisfaction in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff's Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer--one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I haven't read anything by Lynn H. Blackburn, but she has written a number of romantic suspenses for the Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense line. I do enjoy a good mystery that grips my attention and keeps me focused on the story. With Blackburn's first full length novel Beneath the Surface, I expected to receive a military or FBI type character who is working to solve a case while the woman either works with him or he or she is trying to protect the member of the opposite sex. I expect the suspense to be non-stop with some explaining of the thought process to solve the case. With Beneath the Surface, I did receive all these things.

The writing is clear and concise. When the police officers got together to discuss the case, I trusted that Blackburn was actually writing what would have occurred in a police meeting as they discussed what they have and what they still needed to solve the mystery. No head hopping. Pretty good descriptions to keep me cemented in the mystery.

When I approach a mystery, I expect that the mystery I first encounter either in the first chapter or the prologue is the mystery for the entire book. Not in Beneath the Surface. It occurs, and I was drawn into the story, wondering about the body with no head, feet, or hands. But the next chapter focusing on Leigh, the heroine, and stays focused on her for the next fifty-five percent of the novel. Rarely, did it go back to the body in the water. Leigh had things happen to her, and the detectives, Ryan especially, wanted to know why. I wondered why Blackburn made us focus so much on Leigh when the opening chapter had nothing to do with her, or I was led to believe.

Another issue I had with the plot was that the series is called the Dive Team Investigations. The first chapter features the detectives under the water, but the rest of the novel occurs on land. They didn't even go back under to hunt for more clues. I thought the detectives would have spent more time diving for clues than hunting on land.

When another detective brings up the idea of the same killer hunting Leigh and murdered the body in the lake around sixty percent into the novel, then the novel becomes what I thought it should have been since the beginning. The novel becomes exciting, and I can't put the novel down. I finished the rest of the book in a little under two hours. Lots of actions and thought processes to solve the mystery.

The romance, in my taste, was a little rushed. So Leigh and Ryan liked each other when they were little. Do they honestly know the adult version of each other without someone hunting down Leigh? They want to jump into a forever relationship because of the crush they used to have on each other. If this was reality, I believe their romance wouldn't last.

Overall, Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn is different romantic suspense with a hurried romance but a hunt for the killer that kicked off around sixty percent, but dragged for the first part of the novel. There is a second book and probably a third, so I definitely will be giving Blackburn another try. Fans of Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, DiAnn Mills, and Terri Blackstock might, I believe, enjoy this romantic suspense story.

I received a complimentary copy of Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars