💀⚡🌑 “Hidden Mountain Secrets” (Tunnel Creek #3) (2024) 🌑⚡💀 – Book Review

MY REVIEW 

Series: Tunnel Creek (Book #3)
Paperback: 208 Pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (May 21, 2024)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1335598154
ISBN-13: 978-1335598158

⬅️ Click Photo for Pre-Order Information

 

“A mysterious death. A secluded mansion.

 This investigation could be fatal…

 

Antique dealer Brielle Holt uncovers more than just priceless relics when she overhears a secret that puts a target on her back. Caught in the crosshairs of a deadly family feud, Brielle has nowhere safe to hide…until CSI agent Lucas Scott steps in to protect her. With assailants following their every move, Lucas and Brielle must stay one step ahead of someone desperate to hide the truth…and bury them with it.”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Kerry Johnson, for providing a complimentary review copy through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own.

 

Well, y’all who know me, know that I do love my romantic suspense. And. When I’ve read a book, or two … or more … in a series, I have to keep reading. Part of the reason why series books are so contentious with me – being able to not only afford them, but have the time to read them in order.

 

I have the first book, Tunnel Creek Ambush (Jasper and Kinsley), on my TBR stack. That was actually a book I’d won back over a year ago (around April 2023). But, when I read the second book of this series, Christmas Forest Ambush (Noah and Lucy), I KNEW I was going to have to push Tunnel Creek Ambush up on the TBR (it’s still there though). I also knew that I was going to HAVE to read Brielle’s story.

 

That book cover was another draw. Did anyone else get the “creepy horror movie” vibe from it? Definitely seemed spooky to m. And, given that one of the characters was an actress – I’m wondering if that wasn’t some kind of foretelling.

 

I don’t think the books started as a series as they’re not listed as one. But, I strongly suggest reading the other books, Tunnel Creek Ambush and Christmas Forest Ambush, before this one. This one has spoilers for those books.

 

Returning to the series:

 

🏕️ Noah

👩🏻‍💼 Social Worker Lucy Taylor

🚓 Jasper

🔬 Kinsley

🐕‍🦺 Dash (Jasper’s K-9 partner)

👦🏻 Gabe (Jasper’s son)

🚓 Chief McCoy

🖼️ Brielle

🖼️ Dana (Noah, Jasper, and Brielle’s mother)

 

Johnson also introduces readers to:

 

🔬 Logan

📱 Shonda (Brielle’s worker)

📺 Stella (Ronald’s daughter; former TV star)

👨🏻 Peter (Ronald’s son)

⚖️ Aiden (executor of Ronald’s will)

 

There are going to be some themes of grief (Logan for a fiancée, and Brielle over her father), as well as some violent parts.

 

As always, for the line, the author jumps right into the action.

 

Brielle has been contacted by Aiden Donaldson, the executor of Ronald’s will, about the furnishings to be sold. The plan is to divide the assets between both Peter and Stella. Peter isn’t too happy, but Stella insists it’s a better thing to do (financially).

 

However, someone isn’t happy about Brielle having Mrs. Gaines’ belongings. She finds Shonda hurt and is attacked herself. She calls 9-1-1. The dispatcher sends her brother Jasper, along with childhood crush – Logan.

 

Brielle is wondering if the rumors surrounding the mansion and Gaines’ death are true.

 

Brielle and Logan are “reunited”, however she knows he isn’t interested and tries to keep her distance. That isn’t going to work when she needs to be protected, especially after someone almost blows her and Logan up.

 

Logan, as much as he cares for his friend’s sister, isn’t looking for love. He feels he let down his former fiancée and doesn’t deserve a second chance. Though, he does plan to watch over Brielle. And, there are some sparks.

 

Meanwhile, Jasper and Kinsey are expecting a baby girl. Also, Noah and Lucy are together and engaged.

 

There’s also tension between Brielle and her mom. Brielle wonders if her mother and brothers blame her for their father’s death when she was seven. Her mother had to stay behind, leaving her father to get lost and die during a humanitarian mission; something Brielle confides to Lucas.

 

As they investigate who is trying to hurt her, they inadvertently open a past involving the Gaines family. They’re wondering if the Gaines’ siblings are connected to their father’s death, or is it the infamous Backyard Bandit?

 

At each turn, someone is intent to stop them – escalating the levels of violence and stalking with each incident. Even, at the fair where Brielle has taken Gabe it gets confrontational.

 

But, what they don’t see – what is the connection to Brielle, and how her attacker is connected to Peter and Stella? All they can do, while reconciling their hearts, is to stay a step ahead and try to catch someone in a lie.

 

Intense and suspenseful, this is fully packed with twisted family dynamics – in the Gaines’ family as well as the Holts. And, there’s even some family drama (that tracks given Stella was an actress).

 

In the middle of all that? A wonderful second chance romance between childhood friends; each looking for forgiveness and redemption, feeling as though they failed those they loved.

 

Johnson didn’t disappoint as she returns readers to Tunnel Creek for the third, perhaps, final round.

 

This did tend to be way more suspense than romance, which I didn’t mind. I enjoyed trying to piece the puzzle together. Though, my finished puzzle didn’t match what was in the book. Talk about a plot twist! 🫣 That was incredible!

 

The romance was about 10% of the book, but towards the end. And, I couldn’t hardly put this down. The only reason I did put this down was to reorganize my home, and sleep.

 

There is a reference to the children’s book, Charlotte’s Web in it. I had actually won a copy from a library back about 40 years ago. And, here’s something interesting about me – I read that in third grade … however, I was in a fifth-grade class for reading. In second grade, I’d go to a third-grade class room for reading; by third grade – I ended up reading two grades ahead.

 

Speaking of reading, there’s also a reference to Brielle’s favorite book Jane Eyre which (I’ve never read), and Transformers (one of Gabe’s favorites).

 

I had to laugh about the bad guy being born in Las Vegas (Nevada). I was almost wondering – do I know him? 🤔🤣

 

That said …

 

As this is from the Love Inspired line, there will be strong themes of faith in it – praying, forgiveness, redemption arcs, and faith guided healing.

 

Those who’ve read the previous two books will definitely want to get this one; it’s an absolute must read!

 

I can’t wait to see what Johnson has planned next (though I think I may have to read Tunnel Creek Ambush) as soon as I can.

 

 

 

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;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html) 

 

 

Previous Books in the Series: 

 

Series: Tunnel Creek (Book #1)

Paperback: 224 Pages

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (April 25, 2023)

Language: English

ISBN 10: 1335587721

ISBN-13: 978-1335587725

⬅️ Click Photo for Order Information

 

“Danger lurks in the shadows…

and a police dog is keeping watch

 

Officer Jasper Holt never thought he’d see his high school girlfriend, Kinsley Miller, again—much less become her protector. But when the wildlife biologist returns home for her aunt’s funeral, she’s attacked twice in a matter of hours. With his K-9 partner at his side, the single father will protect Kinsley with his life. But can they uncover the reason behind the assaults…before the next strike becomes the last?”

Series: Tunnel Creek (Book #2)
Paperback: 224 Pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense (November 28, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1335597778
ISBN-13: 978-133557779
Click Photo for Pre-Order Information ➡️

“A young witness targeted—

 

and danger in the wilderness

 

When five-year-old Boone Harrington witnesses his father’s murder, he is placed in social worker Lucy Taylor’s care for the holidays. But after someone chases Lucy’s car off the road in Sumter National Forest, she and Boone turn to ranger Noah Holt for protection from a gang of ruthless gun traffickers. Can Noah keep them alive…especially after discovering Boone unknowingly has something these criminals will kill for?”

 

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.

She can be found on the following social media accounts: 

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidkerry 

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerryjohnsonauthor/ 

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/candidkerry 

 

 

 

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