Four Doubt: A Silas McKay Suspense Book 4 of 5 by Luana Ehrlich

 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great Action, Puppy Training, and a Relationship I’m Still Not Sold On
When DCSS is hired by a murdered CEO’s widow, Silas gladly takes the case—mostly because the police are wasting time chasing gang members. While the widow is convinced a rival corporation ordered the hit, Silas looks at every angle, including those closest to the family. The investigation soon uncovers another target on the assassin's hit list, leading to a heart-stopping climax where survival relies entirely on having friends who watch your back.
Alongside the high-stakes investigation, the story does a great job balancing Silas’s personal life. As he brings a killer to justice, he’s also guiding a spiritually lost friend back to God, realizing his new puppy needs some serious training, and finally admitting he is actually in a relationship with Ashley.
I still don’t like her.

The Viscount She Chose for Her Sister By Alice Kirks

 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Betrothed for the Guarded Duke by Dorothy Sheldon

 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hiding in Plain Sight from a Guard-Dog Duchess
The "guarded Duke" of this title refers less to a brooding hero and far more to his formidable mother, the Dowager Duchess, who guards the front door and scrutinizes every piece of post that crosses the threshold. To circumvent this fortress, Cordelia slips through the back door, securing a position as governess to the Duke’s niece, Marina. Cordelia’s true mission is to confront the Duke, Theo, with a long-forgotten marriage contract and the childhood ring he gave her a decade ago. Unfortunately, due to a harrowing experience with cannon fire in Belgium, Theo doesn't recognize her at all.
Our heroine desperately needs him to acknowledge his duty, but she is trapped between the heartache of his amnesia and the terrifying vigilance of his mother. So, she remains under his roof, hiding in plain sight. The story is beautifully penned, and the characters are thoroughly engaging, though the narrative loses its footing slightly in the middle. Cordelia shifts from harmlessly omitting the truth to actively lying to Theo, which tarnishes her charm. It takes a perfect storm—her own deception, the Dowager dismissing her under the guise of a "better opportunity," and a menacing letter from her uncle—to finally force her hand.
The ultimate flaw lies in the heroine's final execution. While Cordelia thoroughly understands this new, fractured version of Theo, she ultimately makes a monumental decision for him instead of allowing him the space to piece together the dark rooms of his own memory. This sudden recklessness feels entirely detrimental to her original cause. It is a thoroughly good read, but it is always deeply frustrating when a character's established traits are broken just to force a climax.

The Duke and his Pretend Bride by Ophelia Winslow

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Sharp, Deeply Emotional Fake-Courting Romance

An emotionally powerful fake-courting story that delivers exactly what the ton usually lacks: actual justice and a backbone.

Jeremy, the Duke of Vaille, enters a sham courtship with Cate to get his matchmaking grandmother off his back, simultaneously rescuing Cate from a devastating public scandal. Cate has been thoroughly scorned by her former betrothed, Lord Dunkley—a manipulative monster who has successfully twisted society's gossip to favor his own version of events.

While Cate knows Jeremy’s attentions are a ruse, his intense gaze makes her feel entirely seen, throwing her off balance. Jeremy himself carries the baggage of a brief, unconsummated arranged marriage, making his growing connection to Cate all the more impactful.

The story features moments of violence, though it serves strictly as poetic justice. However, the most satisfying triumph isn't against the villain, but rather when Jeremy forces Cate’s parents to confront their own selfishness for prioritizing their social ambitions over their daughter's welfare.

It is a sharp, emotional read about overcoming fear and learning to actually live.

Groom for Josie

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smart Plot with Exasperating Leads
A classic tale of a mail-order groom who was, in fact, entirely un-ordered. Our fiercely independent heroine, Josie, has sworn off marriage, but her meddling brother decides she needs a husband anyway and places an ad. Enter Arlen: a weary sheriff looking to trade gunfights for domesticity. He arrives only to find Josie has absolutely no idea he was summoned. Naturally, instead of doing the sensible thing and leaving, he stays—smugly convinced he can win her over because he fancies the "fire in her eyes."
Frankly, Arlen’s arrogance is exhausting. He is so utterly sure of his own charms that one suffers a profound urge to bring him to his knees just to humble him. Josie, meanwhile, is trapped in that frustrating trope of the capable woman who somehow cannot see her own worth, convinced men only want her for her acreage.
Arlen attempts to court her by making himself useful and loudly appreciating the womanly figure hiding beneath her men's clothing. The plot thickens when a predatory lawyer tries to buy Josie’s land, foolishly approaching Arlen first—a blunder that rightfully sends Josie’s guard right back up. The pair are forced to put their romantic friction aside to unravel the lawyer's scheme, culminating in a high-stakes, gunpoint-wedding climax that delivers genuine tension.
While the plot is smartly constructed, the execution stumbles on the execution of the leads. A dash more character development could have transformed these exasperating archetypes into people we actually want to root for.

Three Confess by Luana Erhlich

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Foreign Espionage and a Chaotic Home Front
This latest installment of the Silas McKay series ramps up the stakes with a fierce focus on corporate espionage, balancing a high-pressure case with Silas’s equally chaotic personal life. Between a daughter home from college, a new puppy, and the delicate dance of introducing Ashley to his daughter, Silas has his hands completely full.
The central investigation hits close to home and feels incredibly timely. A Chinese company has stolen CID’s product right down to the factory floor, presenting an alarming breach of intellectual property. More concerning, however, is the chilling depiction of foreign handlers manipulating immigrants working within American borders. It raises a sobering question about corporate security, particularly for companies holding sensitive government contracts: should we be hiring non-native citizens when the risk of external leverage is this high?
As Silas untangles the web, the tension peaks with the realization that the enemy is already standing at his own front door. With heavy decisions weighing on our hero, the story races toward a gripping, suspenseful finish that delivers on every front. It is an intense, thrilling ride.

Anointed by TJ Monroe

 

Rated:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Intense Warfare, Unresolved Ending
I was highly impressed by the substantial use of scripture in this book. Spiritual warfare requires being fully equipped with God’s Word, and the battle scenes here are intense and gripping.
A pivotal turning point occurs when Cassie begins to take her gift for granted, only for it to fail her. God has His reasons for saying no, and her gift returns precisely when she needs it most.
However, the conclusion left me unsatisfied. During the battle, the demon recognizes Cassie, and Cassie seems to understand this recognition as well. Unfortunately, the author never explains this identity to the reader, leaving a frustrating gap in the narrative. I read through the extensive conclusion searching for answers, but found none.
Additionally, while I believe spiritual curses can be inherited, I believe they are passed down through families who do not know Christ, rather than those covered by His blood—though I recognize demons work harder to prevent the children of believers from following Him. While I do not need to know God’s ultimate plans, I needed to understand what the author awakened in Cassie, as it is entirely relevant to the story.