Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander
Hunted for the Holidays
Christian Mystery & Suspense
Setting – Florida
Publisher : Love Inspired Suspense (October 22, 2024)
Mass Market Paperback : 208 pages
Keeping out of sight
is the only way to stay alive.
When Shae Evans spots a familiar face at a Christmas pageant, she knows her witness-protection cover has been blown. Six years ago, her testimony put a crime boss away for life, but his vengeful son never stopped looking for her. Fleeing with her daughter, Shae accepts protection from former FBI agent Mason Payne—her child’s secret father. Now they’re only seconds ahead of the ruthless crime family who want Shae silenced forever. With threats everywhere, will they live to see the New Year?
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
My review of Hunted for the Holidays
If you love inspirational suspense with second chance romance and secret baby tropes, you’re going to love Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander!
I love witness protection type books, so this was extra exciting for me! Since testifying against her employer, Shae has been in witness protection for 6 years, and during that time she gave birth to a baby girl, Gracie, who is now 5. During Gracie’s Christmas pageant, Shae spots two men in black suits who look as if they’re looking for someone. Fearing the worst, Shae quickly takes Gracie home to grab their bags and run. However, when she’s there, Mason, a former FBI agent she once loved, arrives at her house to warn her and take her to safety.
It was so suspenseful reading about how Shae, Mason, and Gracie were constantly on the run and in danger from the family of Shae’s former employer. Even when they thought they might be safe, someone ended up betraying them. This is where their faith in God got them through. Even when their faith was shaky, God’s provision was never shaky. They may have been in danger and not known if they’d live or die, but God provided just what they needed.
Deena Alexander does such a great job at making the reader feel immersed in the story. When it was rainy, and they were drenched, miserable, and afraid, I felt as if I were right there with them! The car chases and near misses were exciting. Even knowing that someone on the inside was betraying them put me on edge! Once the story was reaching its conclusion, I was right about who would betray them. There were a lot of choices though!
Of course, I enjoyed seeing Shae and Mason reconnect romantically. I love second chance romances, and this one was just perfect! The secret baby was an added bonus! The suspense was always at the forefront of this book with the romance secondary yet essential!
I think both long-time readers of Love Inspired Suspense and those who are new to this line of books will love Hunted for the Holidays for its exciting blown witness protection situation, secret baby/second chance romance, and faith filled message. I give it 5 stars!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Character Guest Post
Running For Our Lives
by
Shae Evans
When Hunted for the Holidays, the first book in Deena Alexander’s Jameson Investigations series, begins, I have already been in witness protection for six years after my testimony was the key to putting a vengeful crime boss away for life. I spend my days keeping a low profile while caring for my five-year-old daughter, Gracie. Unfortunately, my past catches up to me when I spot two stalkers at Gracie’s Christmas pageant and know I’ve been found. When I call the emergency number I was given, which should be manned twenty-four hours a day, no one answers, and I know I’ll have to flee and keep my daughter safe on my own. Then, as we’re about to go on the run, Mason Payne—the love of my life and Gracie’s father—shows up. Which makes for a few awkward moments considering he didn’t know about his daughter since he disappeared before I even knew I was pregnant and I was never able to find him. Now, I have no choice but to trust the man who abandoned me if I’m going to save my child’s life. Thankfully, his team at Jameson Investigations, the private security firm he now works for, pitches in to help.
Unfortunately, I find myself in a dark and scary place throughout this story. I am being hunted by a vengeful crime boss who will stop at nothing to end my life, no matter the collateral damage. And I have only a group of strangers and the man who broke my heart to depend on. Though my faith remains strong, I do find myself doubting whether or not we’re going to make it through this, especially when the gunmen find us before we even leave the house, then chase us into the swamp. When we plunge off a bridge into the swampy water in the middle of a scarily stormy night, I am almost ready to give up hope. The only thing that keeps me going is Gracie, knowing she won’t make it out of the swamp alive if the men chasing us kill me. And I just can’t find it in myself to trust Mason to care for her after he left me on my own and disappeared.
But, for now, I’m trying to hold onto hope. If we can just keep one step ahead of a killer, we may come out of this alive.
About Deena Alexander
Deena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, where she met and married her high school sweetheart. She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, a son-in-law, and four dogs. Now she enjoys long walks in nature all year long, despite the occasional alligator or snake she sometimes encounters. Deena’s love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night, and she now works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor.
Author Links
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Purchase Links
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Find All of Deena’s Books Here.
Enter the Giveaways (There are two!)
Hunted for the Holidays TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 22 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
October 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
October 23 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
October 24 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
October 25 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
October 26 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 27 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 28 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
October 29 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 30 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
October 31 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY
November 1 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
November 2 – Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting – REVIEW
November 3 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 4 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR GUEST POST
It’s a older romantic suspense by Linda Howard Mr. Perfect.
One of my favorite mysteries is The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I thought it was fantastic.
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! I’m so happy you enjoyed it. And thank you for sharing the release of Hunted for the Holidays!
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping!
Sounds like a great read.
I like the sherlock holmes mysteries and the english vibe from years ago.
Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle is a Christian romantic I highly recommend
Hunted Holidays sounds like a book that will be thrilling to read!
I love any mystery thriller written by Louise Penny. I have read them all – in order – and the 19th book in the Gamache series will be released later this month. I pre-ordered it!
I prefer true crime, so it always comes back to In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. Thanks!
I enjoy reading Sherlock Holmes books.