About the Book
Author: Karen Randau
Genre: Romantic suspense
Release date: September 6, 2022
Love and danger spar in this thrilling romantic suspense novel.
Hands push Marie Jessica (“MJ”) Goodrich from a rural roadway into an icy creek. The clock is ticking for her pleading friend on the other side of the ravine.
Running from flashbacks of a life-altering attack in Afghanistan, MJ takes refuge with her mother, managing Peach Blossom Orchard. But peace is elusive in a rural Oklahoma town full of secrets.
After losing his wife and children in a fatal car crash, Josh Rivers doubts he deserves a second chance at love. He can’t believe his bad luck when MJ, the woman who plagues the nightmares of his military service in Afghanistan, shows up in his hometown. She claims a driver ran down and abducted her friend Kelsey. Frustrated with the county sheriff’s investigation, MJ and Josh partner to follow clues that lead to a kidnapper who demands a bizarre ransom.
With danger increasing for everyone MJ loves, will the clock run out before they solve the mystery? Find out how MJ and Josh—swirling in a whirlwind of mystery and suspense—lean on their mutual faith to find answers, courage, forgiveness, healing … and wholesome romance.
If you like to read Christy Barritt and Colleen Coble, you’ll love Into the Fog, a keep-you-up-at-night clean romantic suspense novel that launches the Peach Blossom Romantic Suspense series.
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
The title of this novel is appropriate for two reasons. A woman goes missing when she jogs into the fog one morning. But there is another situation where people are forced into a mind fog. This is caused by a drug from natural sources. I had never heard of the drug so did a little research, finding its use as described here was debatable but possible. It was an interesting aspect of the plot.
The plot is a good combination of mystery and second chance romance. The mystery is multi-faceted, combining the condition of MJ's mom with a missing woman and someone trespassing on their land. There is a good deal of suspense, some of it caused by MJ and Josh investigating on their own when the sheriff asked them to leave it to him. The sheriff did seem pretty incompetent, however. There are several suspects to the illegal deeds and several red herrings along the way.
I liked the characters. MJ and Josh are flawed characters, having suffered trauma in the past. The road to a potential romance seemed a little too easy. Their faith is well represented. And the villain was suitably creepy.
This is an enjoyable romantic suspense. Randau's imagination and writing style made this novel a good one to read.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author
More from Karen
Into the Fog is set in a farming community outside Tahlequah, Oklahoma, home of the Cherokee Nation, the largest of the 39 Native American tribes in Oklahoma.
If you’ve ever watched old Western movies, you may have heard a lot about the dangers of traveling through Indian Territory. Did you know that much of what is now Oklahoma was called the Indian Territory until Oklahoma became a state in 1907? Some of the tribes fought with the Confederacy during the Civil War, and some fought with the Union.
If those weren’t enough reasons for an identity crisis for the people of Oklahoma (who sometimes refer to themselves of Okies), the federal government lists Oklahoma in both the South and the Southwest regions of the United States. Many Okies claim their state is in Midwest region of the United States, but it is not listed that way in the federal census.
One thing is for sure: Oklahoma has a culture all its own, rightly earned by its confusing history. Many of these cultural oddities are explored in Into the Fog.
You’ll also enjoy the two main characters, MJ and Josh.
Marie Jessica “MJ” Goodrich served with the Army Rangers in Afghanistan until a bomb gave her a life-altering injury and a case of PTSD. She believes her injuries were so bad that no man will ever want to marry her. Besides, her mother’s failing memory and the peach orchard keep her too busy to embark on a romantic relationship.
Josh Rivers always wanted to be an artist, but he’s stuck running the auto shop he inherited. He’s dreamed of MJ ever since he pulled her from a bombed marketplace in Afghanistan, and it cost him his wife and children. He doesn’t believe he deserves another chance at love, but he prays for companionship anyway—and finds MJ unconscious in a ravine moments later. Could a guy’s luck get any worse?
The question answered in Into the Fog is: Will Josh die saving MJ again, or will they get out of the whirlwind of mystery and danger swirling around them in time to find their happily ever after?
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 21
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 21
Texas Book-aholic, November 22
Betti Mace, November 23
deb’s Book Review, November 23
Mary Hake, November 24
Inklings and notions, November 25
Cover Lover Book Review, November 25
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 26
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 27 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 27
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 29
For Him and My Family, November 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 30
Lily’s Book Reviews, December 1
Book Looks by Lisa, December 1
Bizwings Blog, December 2
Blogging With Carol, December 3
Lights in a Dark World, December 3
Pause for Tales, December 4
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)
6 comments:
Congratulations on your release of Into the Fog, Karen, your book sounds like a thrilling read for me and I like the cover! Good luck with your book and the tour! Thanks for sharing it with me!
Thanks, Avid Reader, for sharing your review!
Have a marvelous week!
Sounds like a very intriguing read.
This sounds very interesting
Good book for Fall reading.
Thanks for the contest.
Thank You for the review.
Marilyn
This seems like a really good suspense read- I can't wait to get started! Thanks so much for sharing it.
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