Book picks similar to
Red Zone by Kelli Hughett


mystery
christian
christian-fiction
romance

A Work in Progress


Staci Stallings - 2010
    With less than fashion-plate looks and an off-beat, quirky style to living life, she has been relegated to finding “alone” activities to fill her time throughout high school. Unfortunately, college hasn’t changed that. Then she meets Eric Barnett, a nice guy who seems a little quirky himself. The only problem is, he’s in love with her roommate—one of the truly beautiful people. When Rebecca finds herself falling for him, she must find a way to break out of her shell or risk losing him forever. Who will win out in this mixed up jumble of feelings and loyalties?

When Danger Calls


Terry Odell - 2008
    Ryan Harper, on the other hand, uses a gun. Is it possible they can work together when their lives depend on it? Frankie’s returned to her childhood home in Montana to help care for her mother. Her biggest worries are balancing the budget and the upkeep of an aging home. When she offers a man a ride home from the hospital, she never imagines she’ll end up having to choose between her daughter’s life and matters of national security that could cost the lives of millions. Ryan returns to his family home to find a way to prove he didn’t leak vital information on a covert ops mission gone south. As he searches for the meaning of a file he’s kept hidden from the mission, he has no idea that international mercenaries have been searching for it—and him. When the mercenaries come after Ryan, he’s torn. Fighting for his country wars with fighting to rescue people he loves. Set against a Montana mountain backdrop, When Danger Calls is a story filled with action, adventure, and romance, where the stakes keep getting higher and higher. Excerpt: Frankie took his elbow. “You’re still shaky. I think you should stick around here, where someone can keep an eye on you.” His mouth narrowed. “No, I need to get away. It’s complicated, but I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.” He stared over her shoulder for a moment, as if it took a long time for the words to line up before he spoke. “Can I impose on you for a lift to a motel? I’d like to be nearby.” He lifted his arms shoulder height, palms upward, then did a slow pivot. “I’m not armed. And I don’t bite. Promise. In a few minutes I’ll be out of your hair.” Logic said to give him cab fare. She checked her wallet, and didn’t think three dollars would get him anywhere. She remembered his gentle touch on the dance floor. At the moment, he was in no condition to do anything to hurt her. She’d have him at a motel in a few minutes. Instinct trumped logic. “My car’s outside. Can you walk?” The Buzz for WHEN DANGER CALLS "...an action-packed adventure tale with agreeable results." Jay Boyar, Orlando Magazine "Odell has written a story with nonstop action. There are plenty of surprises, especially when the line that separates the good guys from the bad guys becomes blurred ... Odell's writing will keep readers on their toes." - Barb Anderson, Romantic Times BOOKreviews. “Terry Odell creates adventures that will keep you turning the pages. A perfect, getaway read from a very talented author.” – USA Today best-selling author Rhonda Pollero Terry Odell puts a fresh spin on romantic suspense with WHEN DANGER CALLS. The story teems with passion, action and characters as real as your best friend. The book intrigued me from beginning to end. I'll definitely be looking for her next installment! ... Linda Castillo, bestselling author of OVERKILL Formerly published by Five Star Expressions, WHEN DANGER CALLS is now available in digital format.

Prince Charming Undercover


Debra Salonen - 2018
    Their Gypsy fortuneteller mother predicted each would marry a prince…of sorts. She’s a princess with more to lose than her dowry. Las Vegas restaurateur Grace Parlier doesn’t gamble, but she’s risking her dowry on a new business with her late father’s friend because casino owner Charles Harmon has what she wants: location, location, location. The money may have been earmarked for a wedding, but everyone knows Grace has terrible taste in men. Look at the way her heart races every time her family’s latest Romani rescue comes close. But how could an ex-con from Detroit possibly be the prince she was meant to marry? He’s a Detroit cop with no skin in the game—or so he wants to believe. Nick Lightner goes undercover in Vegas for one reason only: to take down scumbag Charles Harmon. Does he believe Lucky Chuck is a human serpent threatening his birth father’s family? Hell, no. Nick knows who he is and where his allegiance lies. Certainly not with a sexy “princess” who makes the few drops of Romani blood in his veins run hotter than a winning streak at the craps table. His heart maintains a safe distance…until the princess takes a bullet meant for him, then all bets are off. PRINCE CHARMING UNDERCOVER is Book 1 in the Betting On Love series. If you're a fan of romance with a side of suspense, you'll love this action-packed story that introduces you to the kind of family Debra Salonen--winner of Romantic Times Reviewer's Career Achievement "Series Storyteller of the Year" award in 2006--is known for. “Debra Salonen captures reader attention with multifaceted characters, layered conflict and fast pacing.”
—Pamela Cohen, Romantic Times Buy PRINCE CHARMING UNDERCOVER--the perfect "staycation." Visit Las Vegas without leaving home. But remember, when your heart's on the line, there’s no such thing as a safe bet.

The Lies that Save Us


J.L. Redington - 2013
    She purchased a diner in the quiet out of the way town of Startup, Washington and hired employees to help run it. She’s just beginning to feel secure in her loneliness. <br>Suddenly her world is jolted awake by Cayman, a handsome young stranger that enters her diner seemingly from nowhere. Event’s happen quickly, and soon Alexa is deep into secret lives, deception and desire. <br>Will she figure out the riddle of her father’s death? Will she be able to resist the temptation to fall in love with Cayman in spite of her suspicions? Will she live to tell the tale?

Sway


Amy Matayo - 2014
    Unless you fall for the wrong person. Finally settled after a tragedy-laden life, 24-year-old Caleb has found security in his faith, his friends, and his career. It’s the life he’s always wanted—simple, predictable, and safe. Enter Kate Hawkins, the attractive 21-year-old stranger he rescues from a bar fight who has an odd affinity for the color pink and a unique sense of humor. It doesn’t take long to realize their connection is intense, but after only a handful of dates, a shocking revelation surfaces. Lines are drawn, sides are taken, and loyalties are decided as their newfound relationship is brought to a sudden halt. But unlike most couples who split, avoiding each other is impossible. As daily interactions become unbearable, one realization becomes clear: they’ve both fallen hard for the absolute wrong person, which leaves both scrambling for a way to make it right.

Six of Hearts


L.H. Cosway - 2014
    Mentalist. Trickster. I think in triangles. You think in straight lines.I show you a table and make you believe it’s a chair.Smoke and mirrors, sleight of hand, misdirection. I trick and deceive.But most of all, I put on a good show.The world thinks I killed a man, but I didn't. Bear with me. It’s all a part of the plan.Revenge is what I want. I want it for me and I want it for her.I want it for all six of us.She doesn't remember me, but she’s the reason for everything. She’ll be my prize at the end of all this–if I can hold onto my willpower, that is. Maybe I’ll slip up a little, have a taste, just a small one.So go ahead and pick a card. Come inside and see the show. Look at my hands, look so closely that you can’t see what’s happening while you’re so focused on looking. I’ll be destroying your world from right here in the spotlight.You’ll never see me coming until it’s too late.I've only got one heart, and after I've pulled off my grand deception I’ll hand it right to her.So, sit back, relax, and let my girl tell you our story. You’re in for one hell of a ride.

Hooked on You


Lindsey Brookes - 2012
    Frustratingly, he refuses to call the police, determined to handle matters on his own.Private investigator Chase Reynolds has no idea the woman he meets on the beach, the one whose son is determined to ‘catch his mommy a man’, is James Lansing’s daughter. James had assured him that his daughter was safely away in Miami. So when he sees the woman he’d met on the beach talking to James, even hugging him, Chase regretfully moves her to the top of his suspect list.It’s not until James invites them both to join him in his private dining room that they discover each other’s true identities. Lansing convinces Chase to become his daughter’s personal bodyguard until the situation with the threats is taken care of. Being thrown together twenty-four seven is the last thing Chase wants, considering the unexpected feelings he has for Shay. Distraction can make a man careless. But he accepts, determined to protect her and her son with his life.For the first time since her divorce, a man stirs Shay’s passion. More importantly, he makes her son smile. The last thing she expects is to fall for her ‘bodyguard’, a man determined to keep his heart at bay, but she does just that. Can she convince Chase he really is her happily-ever-after? Or will secrets uncovered ruin any chance of a future together?

Shackles


Dianne J. Wilson - 2014
    He’s foul tempered, a bit of a womaniser and has a conscience that has been collecting dust for years. All that is shaken up when he unearths a package of carefully preserved love letters and a portrait while diving off the coast of Africa. So many unanswered questions, the letters snag something inside of him. Intrigued despite himself, he begins to unravel the mystery caught up in pages. He finds himself tangled up in the life of a woman he’s never met... a woman who is in desperate trouble.

Northern Deception


Laurie Wood - 2018
     After a savage attack in university, Kira Summers fled to the safety of northern Canada and her work as a polar bear scientist. But when her whistleblower brother dies in a mysterious car crash, she must return home to bury him and pack his belongings. Unaware she’s carrying explosive evidence someone’s willing to kill for, she has no choice but to rely on the one person she never thought she’d see again. Lukas Tanner, a widowed single father of a special needs toddler, moved to Churchill five years ago. As the proud owner of Guiding Star Enterprises, a wilderness tour company, he and his daughter lead a simple life. But when Kira comes crashing back into his world, he realizes God has other plans. Now, Lukas and Kira must confront a merciless killer as their past and present collide in a deadly race—a race they must win if they have any hope of a future together.

Blind Her with Bliss


Nina Pierce - 2008
    He's attempting to hide. Together they'll discover a truth that threatens them both...Investigating the death of her best friend, uptight accountant, JULIE TILLING, discovers a world of adult nightclubs and Internet intrigue. When shock jock DAMON COREY rocks her world in a wild night of lust, she wonders if she's found love...or the key to solving a murder.

Saving Grace


Pamela Fagan Hutchins - 2012
    When she flees Texas for the Caribbean, Katie escapes professional humiliation, a broken heart, and a wicked Bloody Mary habit, but she trades one set of problems for another when she begins to investigate the suspicious deaths of her parents on the island of St. Marcos. She’s bewitched by the voodoo spirit of an abandoned house in the rainforest and discovers that she’s as much a danger to herself as the island’s bad guys are. As the worst of her worlds collide, Katie drags herself back to the courthouse to defend her new friend Ava, an island local accused of stabbing the senator she’s been sleeping with.

The Lady and the Mountain Man


Misty M. Beller - 2014
    Through God’s leading, she finds herself accepting a newspaper marriage proposal from a God-fearing young rancher in the Montana Territory. But when Leah arrives at the mountain ranch, she learns her intended husband was killed by a grizzly, leaving behind a bitter older brother and a spunky younger sister.Gideon Bryant has lost too many people to the wild elements of these mountains—his parents, his wife, and now his brother. His love for this untamed country will never die, but he’s determined not to open his heart to another person, especially this beautiful Easterner who shows up on their doorstep.But when an accident forces Leah to stay at the ranch for several months, can Gideon guard himself from a love he doesn’t want? Will Leah find God’s true direction for her life?

Nobody (A Stand-Alone Thriller)


Creston Mapes - 2021
     His world is blown off its axis when he discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Should he wait for the police, knowing the case will get lost in reams of red tape, or swipe the bankbook and take the investigation—and perhaps a chunk of the money—into his own hands? With sirens bearing down on the scene, Hudson makes an impulse decision that whisks him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the mysterious dead man, but about the lost soul lurking within himself. Uncovering bizarre links between a plane crash, a Las Vegas pit boss, a dirty cop, and a widowed Atlanta business mogul, Hudson is forced to find out: who was Chester Holte, what was he doing on the streets, and why are his homeless friends convinced he was an angel in disguise? With tension on every page, Amazon #1 Best-Selling author Creston Mapes demonstrates why he is a "Top Pick" among mystery, fiction and thriller lovers. PRIASE FOR NOBODY “Creston Mapes has given us a wonderful gift with Nobody. The story compels, the pages fly, the city of Las Vegas pulsates with life, and the twists keep coming. We can all benefit from the message of this book, and once you start it, you won't be able to put it down. Nobody rocks.” — Jud Wilhite, author of Stripped and pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas “Nobody was absolutely riveting from the opening scene to the final page... This book goes straight to the top of my highly recommended list.” — Deborah Raney, author of Remember to Forget and Within This Circle “A wild ride...a captivating mystery.” - Christian Retailing “A taut, entertaining novel of mystery, intrigue and spiritual truth. Creston Mapes deals a winning hand in Nobody.” - Best-Selling Author James Scott Bell “Tantalizing storytelling and unique plot twists abound. A winner.” - Romantic Times “A savory tale sizzling with deceit, greed, and selfish ambition, seasoned with just the right measure of grace. Highly recommended!” - Best-Selling Author Kathy Herman “An excellent murder mystery.” - Christian Fiction Review “Nobody had me fascinated from the first paragraph and kept the surprises coming to the very end. From now on I'll read anything by Creston Mapes the instant it hits the shelves.” - Best-Selling Author Athol Dickson “A great thriller. Don't miss this one.” - Best-Selling Author Linda Hall “Read this book where you can make a little noise. From the time Hudson Ambrose dips his hand into a dead man's pocket until the moment this novel ends, you're going to find yourself talking back at the pages.” - Best-Selling Author Tom Morrisey “When it comes to thrilling, fast-paced and provocative, I didn't think Creston could ever top Dark Star, but he has! And it's Nobody!” - Best-Selling Author Wanda Dyson “Mapes sculpts a story of suspense and beauty while guiding the reader to the ultimate ending, redemption…A page-turning thriller.” - Best-Selling Author Patti Callahan Henry “Mapes has a way with words. And a way with characters. And a way with dialogue. And a way with story. Read this one.

Murder on the Hill


Kennedy Chase - 2014
    Until now she’s been know as many things: Thief, Bandit, The girl dressed like a ninja… When she’s offered an investigative position at the Silvers Finders Agency, she decides it’s time to go straight. But when a jewelry store break-in she’s investigating turns into a murder case, Harley will need all her skills to find the killer and avoid the attentions of a Russian crime boss. With the help of her new friends, and some from her underworld past, Harley faces a race against the clock. She’ll need to uncover the secret behind the artifact left at the jewelry store if she’s to catch the murderer. If she fails, it won’t just be the job she loses — but her life.

Dirty Little Secrets


Liliana Hart - 2011
    Graves has seen a lot of dead bodies in her line of work...She's not only in the mortuary business, but she's also the coroner for King George County, Virginia. When a grisly murder is discovered in the small town of Bloody Mary, it's up to J.J. and her best friend, Detective Jack Lawson, to bring the victim justice.The murders are piling up...The residents of Bloody Mary are dropping like flies, and when a popular mystery writer shows up on J.J.'s doorstep with plans of writing his new book about the Bloody Mary Serial Killer, J.J. has to decide if he might be going above and beyond the call of duty to create the spine tinglers he's so well known for. It only clouds the issue and puts her reputation on the line when the attraction between them spirals out of control.And passions are rising...J.J and Jack are in a race against time. They discover each victim had a shocking secret, and the very foundation of J.J.'s life is in danger of crumbling when it turns out she’s harboring secrets of her own—secrets that make her the perfect victim in a deadly game.