🌨️❄️🛷 "Snowstorm Sabotage" (2021) 🛷❄️🌨️

Snowstorm Sabotage JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Snowstorm Sabotage by Kerry Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Snowstorm Sabotage
Author: Kerry Johnson
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: September 28, 2021
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Can she survive a blizzard…

and being framed?

Single mom Everly Raven didn't just discover the murder of her friend—she's being framed for it. Now she's on the run from hired killers at her family's ski resort, all while a deadly blizzard rages. Her only hope is her ex-husband, FBI agent Isaac Rhodes—the secret father of her child. But can they live long enough for him to meet their daughter—and clear Everly’s name?

MY REVIEW

I started with the romantic suspense genre over 20 years ago when I subscribed to Harlequin’s Intrigue line. It was my number one favorite for many years. I even have some Harlequin and Mira intrigue books in boxes yet to be read.

In the early 2000’s I got some Love Inspired (LI) books – the old ones from Steeple Hill. Two years ago, I rediscovered the Love Inspired line and it wasn’t long until I discovered the Love Inspired Suspense (LIS) line. Both of which are my favorite books.

When I saw this up for tour with JustRead, I decided to snag a copy of it through Amazon with my gift card balance. So, the review and the purchase just happened to coincide with each other and not as a result of.

Moving on …

Johnson is a a new LIS author and Snowstorm Sabotage earns its title as well as the category of SUSPENSE.

Back in “the day” before the internet, blogging, and other fun things; I could easily read an Intrigue book in one day. So, it didn’t surprise me when I read this in one day – they’re about the same length, at least that’s what I remember.

I started out reading it before bed, and took it to the Chevrolet dealership later in the morning to read during an oil change along with an air and cabin air filter change. The relevance? I got caught up in this book and before I knew it – my car was ready. I’ll admit, I was the second one in line for the two-stall express lube department. But, that tells you how focused I was on the story that I didn’t even notice I was waiting.

I really wanted to dive back in after they were done, but had to wait until I got my car’s smog test done, then breakfast … so many things keeping me from getting back to this book. So, yes, I really wanted to dive back in. At one point I crammed 100 pages of reading into two (2) hours.

Why was I SO interested? The cover is deeply ominous as well as the title and it called to me. The back blurb definitely hit the spot. Right off, with the first page, I was drawn in.

The characters are every bit in-depth as the story. Even the bad guys are so sinister and blatantly creepy, you can’t help but turn the page to see what they’re going to do next. And, the good ones? You’re definitely hoping they can outwit, outplay, outlast the baddies.

Isaac was expertly written and Everly doesn’t find out he is FBI until 51% in. I kept waiting for him to say it or her to discover it.

Single mom Everly is definitely a strong character, who wonders why this is going on. She has a feeling she knows who is behind it – and there is no secret as to who (yup, name rhymes with WHO).

It isn’t bad enough finding someone’s body, but being framed for the murder? That gets to a certain stage of wrong; then someone trying to kidnap or kill ya? Yup, evil is definitely afoot here. Being sent up to retrieve something in a blizzard? Dastardly. All of this starts off the story that kept me guessing at who all was involved even at the halfway mark.

Anyway …

Just when Everly is sure she’s been caught – it’s her ex-husband Isaac who finds her. What she doesn’t know – he’s with the FBI. But, there’s a problem with the divorce – that has to wait.

The chalet is destroyed which had me asking a few questions. No time to focus on that. Everly is also wondering why her ex-husband is carrying a gun and handcuffs. Not tools for the sports-writer she knew. Who is this guy? Full disclosure later.

Everly is worried about Hannah. Isaac wonders who the girl is – their daughter.

Another thing that strikes Everly as odd – her husband’s faith. He was silent of his own, but skeptical of hers. Turns out, it was after an accident he found his faith.

They know the resort’s manager is likely involved, though they don’t know why or how. After some incriminating evidence is found – Everly and Isaac have to stay alive to prove her innocence. It won’t be easy. The main baddie doesn’t want her locked up – he wants her dead. Question is – does he have the local police department in his pocket?

One thing is for certain, Everly’s sick father needed help running the resort which started this complicated mess. Of course, can I say that a plot twist involving her father I saw coming?

And, there were people I suspected – the sheriff, Issac’s “partner”. And, some I didn’t suspect.

But, Everly and Isaac stumble upon something that brings the murder into perspective. Something that explains the connections.

As the case progresses, Isaac finally reveals more about the accident along with Everly’s father’s connection to their marriage. And, Isaac reveals he is with the FBI.

Everly finds out some truths about her father as well as that divorce snag.

The story climaxes with a literal BANG and leads off to the standard happily ever after.

To say this is exciting, intense, and a sinister “edge-of-seat” read seems woefully inadequate. Johnson kept up the usual pacing that I have come to expect of the line – non-stop action, a bit of romance, and suspense that had me guessing until nearly the end. Actually, a few pages before the end.

Since this is from the LOVE INSPIRED line, there will be some faith elements such as mention of God and prayers. Themes of redemption and forgiveness are also a part of this. These are not preachy in tone.

There is a sweet moment at the beginning involving some monogrammed snowshoes of Everly’s. She had, mistakenly, packed them up to give to Isaac. He kept them. She admits she might have thrown them away. Isaac tells her that as a result of being in the foster system, he considers gifts precious and held on to them.

Fans of Lynette Eason, Elizabeth Goddard, Virginia Vaughan – to name a few – are certain to love this book.

Despite being a standalone novel (or is it), this could be the beginning of a great series. Either way, I can’t wait to see what the author has planned next!

RATING:

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – BookBub

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kerry Johnson has been conversing with fictional characters since her childhood in the Connecticut woods. A long-time member of ACFW, she’s a seven-time Genesis Contest finalist and two-time winner. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her engineer husband, two teenaged sons, her nine-year-old niece, and way too many books. She loves Jesus, long walks, all creatures great and small, and iced chai tea.

CONNECT WITH KERRY: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a pinecone necklace. (1) winner will receive a $25 Starbucks gift card. (10) winners will receive an individually wrapped snowflake soap.

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 28, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 5, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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