By Leigh DeLozier (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads)
I don’t usually highlight two books in the same post, but today it makes sense because I recently read Take My Hand and Hold Your Breath by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell. They’re the first two books in her Crossroads Suspense series, with book three — Watch Your Back — set to release in April 2025.
Let’s start with the back cover copy.
Take My Hand (Published November 2022 by Mountain Brook Ink)
Don’t find us. We’ll find you.
Trauma therapist Kaley Colbert needs a vacation from her job, and a ski trip with her church singles’ group seems like the perfect way to unplug. But while in the mountains, she learns that her last client was murdered hours after their meeting, and she wonders if the notes she’s receiving from a possible stalker hold a more sinister warning.
On the trip, ex-boyfriend and entrepreneur Reef Mitchell wants to give their relationship another chance, but Kaley questions if his past and priorities could ever mesh with her life. When her client’s underworld connections catch up with her, she has no choice but to trust Reef to help her stay alive, solve her client’s mystery, and bring the killers to justice.
Hold Your Breath (Published October 2023 by Mountain Brook Ink)
The end justifies the means — or does it?
Serial dater and travel blogger Jayna Scott lands a dream assignment in Bimini, Bahamas, at Mario Delgado’s resort. But after she falls hard and fast for her host, she discovers his terrible secret. Her flight instinct sends her to the mountains of North Carolina on a trip with a Tampa church group, but Mario pursues her, determined to prove his actions were justified.
Private investigator Liam Bracken helps his best friend plan a surprise engagement in Beech Mountain to the woman he once liked. Now, the mysterious Jayna, the new addition to their group, tugs at his heart, but his instincts warn him she’s running from something. When Jayna emerges at the epicenter of his agency’s high-profile drug investigation, Liam prays he can save her—and guard his heart at the same time.
My review
I read Kristen’s young adult dystopian series, The Rogues Trilogy, a few years ago and liked it. Take My Hand and Hold Your Breath were quite different because of the genre and audience shifts, but both were enjoyable reads. And although they’re part of a series, you could read either as a stand-alone.
The characters in both books are relatable and multidimensional, even the supporting characters. They reacted to situations in realistic ways, and I liked how they reacted differently — because isn’t that how we are?
Bits of humor were woven into the storylines, which I enjoy seeing. The sweet romances and chemistry between those characters were fun, and it was nice that they were different types of relationships — one was a second chance romance, the other a fresh meeting. I especially liked how the friends had each other’s backs in different situations. In a world where it’s so easy to keep relationships surface level, I liked seeing wider dynamics within the friend group. It was also refreshing to have side characters with substance. Sometimes side characters can seem to be there just to help prop up the hero/heroine storyline. They were more integral in both these books and I liked learning parts of their stories, too.
Suspense built throughout both books, with a few unique settings and elements that helped keep things interesting. There was some grittiness, but nothing that seemed overly harsh or dark to me (though there were backstory mentions of sexual and emotional abuse, which could be potential triggers for some readers).
Faith elements
Faith is an integral part of both storylines and most of the characters’ lives, which makes sense considering they’re friends because of their Sunday school/Bible study group. None of it feels forced, though the devotional Reef shared while they were at the cabin seemed rather surface level for young adults who had been in church together for a while. That said, the scene was there for a purpose, so it wasn’t a stumbling point for me.
Some of the faith-related struggles characters had in both books should be easy for readers to relate to, and ways to see parallels in their own lives. The characters also grew in their faith and in their perspectives. Those are all things I want to see in Christian fiction.
I also loved how supportive the characters were of each other (though not perfect, which would turn off readers). The way they welcomed Jayna and showed her what true friendship and acceptance are like was sweet to see.
Bottom line
Take My Hand and Hold Your Breath were both fun reads that kept moving because of the suspense and plot twists. They’re clean enough to be appropriate for teens but interesting enough for adults. I personally liked Take My Hand a bit more, but would recommend both books to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense. I’m looking forward to reading Watch Your Back when it’s available in the spring.
Your turn: What’s a great suspense or romantic suspense book that you’ve read lately? Leave a comment below so we can keep growing our reading list!
In Take My Hand & Hold Your Breath, @khogrefeparnell delivers #romanticsuspense that’s #cleanfiction but not boring. @mtbrookinkbooks #ChristianBooks
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