Targeted

Targeted

by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, Natalie Walters

Get ready for triple the excitement, intrigue, and romance with three heart-stopping stories from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

In On the Run, Lynette Eason introduces you to IT Specialist Daria Nevsky, a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead--and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.

In Deadly Objective, Lynn H. Blackburn throws physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper into an impossible situation. They don't know why the vice president's son seems to be in the crosshairs of a killer, but they'll sacrifice anything to keep him safe.

In Caught in the Crosshairs, Natalie Walters pits former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman against his colleague, CIA officer Claudia Gallegos, when Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. Can he prevent a coup that would put America at risk?

Genres: Suspense, Christian Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Romantic Suspense

368 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2022

About the author

Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and then obtained her masters in education from Converse College. Author of twenty inspirational romantic suspense books, she is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). In 1996, Lynette married "the boy next door" and now she and her husband and their two children make their home in Simpsonville, South Carolina."

Series:
. Amazon Adventure
. High Stakes
. Women of Justice

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading full length novels but with three of my favorite authors in this collection of novellas, I had to read Targeted. These stories are action packed and suspenseful with swoon worthy romance between great characters, including some from the FBI, Secret Service, and CIA. We also get visits from characters from prior novels in all three of these fun stories. It is always a wild ride with danger, mystery, suspense, romance, and faith interspersed with these go to for me authors. In my opinion, the stories are all standalone but having read the others, I knew the stories of the past characters. Highly recommended for those who enjoy romantic suspense with a faith thread.
I received a complimentary copy from Revell Publishing and NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.

[Kristina Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Characters: Finally, Daria got her own story! I've been intrigued by her ever since Lynette Eason introduced her. I was also glad to see Ryker again as well in On the Run. Emily and Liam were a good match in Deadly Objective (even if Emily had to face her fears of the outdoors). I enjoyed watching Claudia and Ari overcome their misunderstandings of each other in Caught in the Crosshairs.

Language: Clean.

Plot: All the stories in this collection contained high stakes, action scenes, and suspenseful moments that provided plenty of motivation to keep reading.

Romance: Clean. Just kissing.

Theme: This collection of novellas featured themes of romance, faith, and family.

Writing: Each of the three novellas in this collection was well-written. Then again, Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters are great authors, so I'm not surprised.

Overall: Targeted was an entertaining read that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction, romantic suspense, and novellas.

[Cara Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable collection of three novellas from three of my favorite romantic suspense authors. Enjoyed learning more about certain characters. And the bite sized nature works well with the pace of my life right now.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonstop danger with a good dose of faith and romance.
ON THE RUN- Lynnette Eason
“What someone meant for evil, God took and turned it into something good.” Getting stabbed was something Daria did not expect, but she also did not expect to meet Dr. Ryker Donahue who patched her up and helped her realize a dream.

DEADLY OBJECTIVE- Lynne Blackburn
Someone was out to harm the son of the Vice President. Liam, his security, and Emily, his physical therapist, do all they can to protect Mason, but find it difficult in the middle of a remote forest. Something has been simmering between Emily and Liam for months. Could this be the real thing?

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS - Natalie Walters
Claudia gets a mysterious phone call for help, but when she gets to the house, all she encounters is death, and before she can call 911, the cops descend. After many close calls, she thinks someone is out to get her. What she does not expect is to get to know Army PSYOPS agent Ari Blackman. She tries not to let him into her head. But does not see him slipping into her heart!
You will not want to miss suspenseful tales by three of my favorite authors. We get to see some side characters from their wonderful previous series. Outstanding writing by three talented ladies.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Reads Review Program. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

[Dana Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who loves a romantic thrill ride will love these three stories in this anthology set. I loved each of the stories. I couldn't put them down. I went from one to the other. Y'all! You could literally read one story a night. Each of the stories had a perfect amount of romance and suspense to keep me turning the pages.
*I was given a copy of this book by Revell Publishers and this is my honest opinion.

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Targeted – Three Romantic Suspense Novella – by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn and Natalie Walters

These novellas were such a great time! I loved the suspense aspect in each one and since I have never read anything by these authors, it’s given me an idea of their writing styles where I am SO excited to pick up more by each author in the future! I am rating each individual novella below, but I will give this overall 4 stars. I think if I would have read the author’s previous books that these novellas tie to, I would have enjoyed them more for sure, but such great writing styles, suspense, and romance here! They really keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

First Novella: On the Run by Lynette Eason – 3 stars

This first novella follows 24-year-old, Daria Nevsky – an FBI analyst who is on the run from Russian mobsters who are trying to kidnap her for reasons unknown. She is certain it’s related to her deceased father – a former Russian mob leader.

The story begins with Daria realizing someone has broken into her home in her quiet little neighborhood in Virginia. A man busts out of the broken into home and attacks her – leaving her with a stab wound. She steals the attacker’s car and starts driving to her old home in South Carolina. Her would is hurting her along the drive though, so she stops after driving 8 hours at a hospital in North Carolina, where she meets Dr. Ryker Donahue. Things get crazy at the hospital when those looking for Daria show up – leaving Ryker and her to flee together to South Carolina where they think they will find answers to what’s going on.

This first novella story was very engaging, action packed and just a really great time. I was more invested in the suspense aspect, then the romance. I really liked the characters, especially Daria. She is complex and multi-dimensional to me. I really want to know more about her life story because she really intrigued me. I did also enjoy Dr. Ryker as I felt he was a really nice guy and cared about what happened to her. He uplifted his entire life to follow alongside Daria. This one personally was a 3-star read as I didn’t love the romance insta-love story and felt like something was missing from the romance for me, but I would recommend this as a great suspense read because you’ll be turning the pages so fast to see what happens next!

Second Novella: Deadly Objective by Lynn H. Blackburn – 3.5 stars

This novella follows Emily Dixon, a physical therapist and Secret Service Agent, Liam Harper. These 2 have such a great connection, which is what I think I was missing in the first novella between those characters. In this story, Emily and Liam end up working together to keep the Vice President’s 16-year-old son, Mason, safe as the family is attacked.

My favorite part in this novella is the romance! I think the banter and cute camping vibes here were so much fun! Emily is not a camper girl, but she quickly faces the great outdoors. 😊 I also loved the chemistry between this couple and how they were getting to know each other. Here, I was missing a little bit more on the suspense side but really liked it overall.

Third Novella: Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters – 5 stars

I think this one is my favorite of the 3 in this novella collection! It had just the right about of suspense and romance for me!

This centers around CIA Officer Claudia Gallegos and Army PSYOPS Officer Ari Blackman. Claudia gets a mysterious phone call and text to hurry to Prince Mohamed’s, someone she helped and worked with before. With no idea why they need her there, she goes due to the sense of urgency. When she arrives, they find the Prince and his head of security dead. Before she can get to her phone to call the police though, they storm the building, and she is considered a prime suspect.

Then, Ari comes in to question her but soon realizes there is someone who wants Claudia dead and she couldn’t have committed this crime. They work together to figure out who wants her dead and the story takes off from here.

Such a great clean romantic suspense novella! I REALLY want to read more of Natalie’s books now! This was great! What a cute romance too. Their banter was hilarious, and I really liked the suspense in this one.

Overall, if you like books by these lovely ladies and a good, clean romantic suspense, you will truly enjoy these novellas!

Thank you to Baker Publishing and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a page turner read for, like M & M's, I couldn't stop at one, I was quickly at the next!

These are really great Christian Suspense, which I love, and from three of my go to authors!

Each read had me wondering whom would survive, and holding my breath as the danger and action increased, and looking for answers. Each story also gives a bit of sweet romance, and then I really wanted to continue on with their lives! If you enjoy good clean suspense, this is a really great book!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the books of these three authors, so when I saw they were doing a novella collection, I was all in. I was NOT disappointed, either. Not one bit.

Suspense is my favorite genre and these ladies know how to deliver it and deliver it well. Each has taken a secondary character from their earlier series and given them their own story. But don't worry! They can totally be read as a stand alone story.

Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters have just shown out here, folks. These novellas definitely satisfied this suspense lover's heart. Great action, totally unputdownable, and enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. They just knocked it plumb out of the park. I love it when a book makes me feel this way! Without a doubt, this trio of novellas, from some of the best suspense authors in the business is definitely one for the keeper shelf!!

My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is entirely my own.

[Nikita Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome set of novellas! 😍


I really loved this collection of suspense novellas! Each one is finely crafted, and goes along nicely with each of the authors' series. But you don't have to read anything before these novellas to enjoy them as they stand well on their own.
Thank you to Netgalley, the authors and the publisher for this e-book, I seriously enjoyed it!
A positive review was not required of me but was gladly given, and the thoughts above are my own. 

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Run by Lynette Eason
Daria Nevsky is a highly skilled hacker who finds herself in danger when her father's secrets come back to haunt her. A fast paced read with familiar faces that I was happy to see return. Ryker is an amazing guy, quick thinking on his feet, ready to jump in and help.

Deadly Objective Lynn H. Blackburn

Emily Dixon is determined not to fall for someone who runs towards danger like her brother. But her job has her working along side Agent Liam Harper, and they must work together to protect their client before its too late. A fast paced read with great characters, and interaction. I liked how this book balanced the action and romance.

Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters

Claudia and Ari find themselves working against the clock to prevent a possible war with the Middle East, they must put aside their misgivings about each other for the great good. A fast paced read, filled with action and a great addition to this collection of fantastic novellas by top notch authors. I liked how the relationship developed and grew over the course of the book.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of novellas from three exceptional romantic suspense authors will provide fans of this genre with a thrilling escape into the fictional world.

This novella show cased all the strengths of each writer which was easy to compare with these back-to-back novellas. From Lynette Eason's talent to throw her readers into one dangerous and action-packed situation to the next, with the focus more on the suspense than the romance, to Lynn H Blackburn's way to balance the romance and suspense element and Natalie Walter's talent with fun banter between the characters while they are solving crimes.

It is difficult to select a favourite, because each book has its own strengths (and some weaknesses). I enjoyed all three novellas a lot.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three solid suspense novellas by three good suspense authors:

On the Run by Lynette Eason
Deadly Objective by Lynn H Blackburn
Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable romantic suspense novella collection by three great authors. Lynn Blackburn's novella was my favorite of the collection, and I look forward to reading more from these authors in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

[Milena Bookish❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

All three novellas are action-packed from start to finish, featuring strong women, and they're also connected to other books by these authors. . If you have not read the previous books, you can definitely still follow along. But when you know the backstory, I think it makes the plots come alive. The suspense elements of all three novellas were outstanding, and the pace was good even with the shorter length. the romance was a perfect blend of sarcasm, humor, and banter. Action and romance into a shorter story that doesn't leave you wanting more.
Three well-written suspense romances by three awesome authors. This is a must-read for anyone that loves adventure and suspense.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Revell through NetGalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read books by all three of these authors, and they never disappoint. This is true with this new book which includes three novellas that tie to other series that they write. I am always impressed by authors that can pack action and romance into a shorter story that doesn't leave you wanting more. Ok, well, sometimes you want more, but everything is nicely wrapped up within that novella.

All three stories are action-packed from start to finish and feature strong women who know how to get the job done. All three feature different branches of the government - CIA, FBI, and Secret Service - and it is intriguing to see how they all act and react the same, yet sometimes differently, too. Love can be found right under their noses, and despite trying to fight it, reality sinks in, and each woman accepts that the man in front of her is the right one for her.

While I don't want to play favorites, I think my favorite story was Deadly Objective by Lynn Blackburn. Something about this pairing of a physical therapist and Secret Service agent and the tense situations they endured touched me. Perhaps it was the teen that they were protecting from himself and others.

That isn't to say that On the Run by Lynette Eason didn't grab my attention, with Ryker expanding his patient care beyond the hospital walls. Daria was a smart cookie on top of that, and despite her upbringing with a mob father, she runs the straight and narrow.

Caught in the Crosshairs has a swoony analyst, Ari, who has women fawning all over him no matter where they go. Perhaps that is why he has the playboy and James Bond nicknames. That doesn't stop Claudia from getting her man, both in the field and in love.

These are perfect for reading over lunch or before you turn out the light...but you might have difficulty putting the book down!

We give this book 5 paws up.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three headliner romantic suspense authors join forces to deliver a trifecta of edge-of-your-seat suspense reads with intrepid heroes and heroines who keep things interesting. Because heightened emotions lead to romance and the toe-curl/danger combo kept me turning pages. And rooting for three happily-ever-afters...once justice is served, of course.

Of note: each novella relates to a series but can easily be read as standalones, so no worries if you're not up to date. 'Targeted' provides the perfect opportunity to sample these authors' storytelling styles and get a feel for their series.

Each story involves plenty of action and danger and just the right amount of romance to keep things interesting. These authors excel at pacing and plotting and manage to deliver fully fleshed out characters and well developed plots despite the shorter word count (each novella is about 120 pages.) I can't pick a favourite because each of these heroines and their heroes are completely captivating!

A perfect collection to pick up during the holidays...or anytime of year, actually.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

https://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/20...

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Targeted is a great collection of romantic suspense novellas! I like that the three authors have written novellas that have characters who are connected as side characters in some of their previous novels, yet you do not have to have read those books in order to enjoy these stories.

In Lynette Eason’s On The Run, I really liked that Daria and Ryker’s difficult backstories, although different from each other, had some similarities that helped them find common ground early on. I loved that Ryker jumped right in and made sure that he was there to support Daria as she went in search of answers.

In Lynn H. Blackburn’s Deadly Objective, I loved that Emily and Liam were already getting to know each other when the story began, with Emily trying to keep things professional and Liam hoping for more. These two really had a great connection that I could feel zinging off the page and I was so happy when they both finally acknowledged their interest in each other.

In Natalie Walters’s Caught in the Crosshairs, I really felt for Ari as he seemed to constantly be reminding Claudia that he was more than any rumors she had heard about him. I thought it was fun that Claudia was kind of caught up in how handsome he was and that fueled her uncertainty about whether he was genuine or a player. I loved seeing them actually make a deeper connection together.

If you are a fan of romantic suspense, I definitely recommend this exciting collection.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m generally not a fan of novellas, because I always want a longer story. But these three authors make novellas come alive for compact, exciting and intricate reads. And readers get to see more of their favorite characters. And it’s in one volume, so you get all three stories. Annnnd you won’t want to miss out!

In On the Run by Lynette Eason, readers get more Daria Nevsky! She first appears in Vow of Justice, and eventually works for the FBI as an analyst. Except she’s now a target. Her past comes back to haunt her as someone with ties to her criminal father surface and she goes on the run. After an accident, she winds up in the hospital where she meets Dr. Ryker Donahue (remember him from Hostile Intent?) Ryker refuses to let Daria be alone in her plight and helps to keep her safe while she puts the pieces together to discover why she’s the target. You can’t beat the action and suspense in this story right from page one.

In Deadly Objective, Lynn H. Blackburn tells the story of Emily Dixon (Gil is her brother from Malicious Intent.) Emily is a physical therapist that is assigned to work with the vice president’s son. Secret Service Agent Liam Harper is also assigned to the vice president’s son and intervenes when the family is attacked. I love the chemistry between the two main characters as they try to get to know each other while surrounded by danger on all sides.

In Caught in the Crosshairs, Natalie Walters gives Claudia Gallegos the spotlight. Her sister is Pecca Gallegos from Silent Shadows. Claudia is a CIA agent, but things go awry when she walks in on the murder of a foreign dignitary. Ari Blackman is a colleague in the CIA assigned to help her, but Claudia isn’t one to trust anyone, let alone Ari with the reputation for being a bit of a player. But Ari manages to save her life on more than one occasion and gradually works his way into her heart. Plenty of action and suspense blends nicely with the romance to make this a fantastic story.

Be sure to check out Targeted to get three amazing stories filled with action, suspense, and heart.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through Revell and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Stephanie Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Targeted is a collection of 3 novellas. Each novella is by a different Christian romantic suspense author. Before reading Targeted, the only one of these authors I had read was Natalie Walters.

Novellas are typically NOT my favorite type of read. I much prefer a full-length novel. So I tend to only read novellas if they are by a beloved author and I know there’s a connection to a story I already love. I eventually preordered Targeted after deciding it would be a good way to sample 2 new-to-me authors. It was a way for me to get a feel for the other two authors’ writing, as well as enjoy another story by Walters.

All three stories obviously refer to people and events from one or more of each author’s other book(s). And yet, there is enough info given that someone unfamiliar with the other books and characters can still enjoy them.

My rating for Targeted (as a whole): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)

My ratings and reviews for each novella are as follows:

On the Run by Lynette Eason.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5 stars)
I enjoyed the character interactions, the conflict was quite interesting, and the writing was well-paced. I didn’t want to put it down. The hints at several side characters being in other stories caused me to look up the author’s book list. I definitely want to read more of Eason’s books!

Deadly Objective by Lynn H. Blackburn.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
I enjoyed the conflict of this story as well as the fact that the female MC is a physical therapist and not a special agent of some sort. The romance in this one, however, kind of annoyed me. This is purely a personal preference issue, but every time the make MC called the female MC “baby” it made me cringe. This is a friends-to-more romance. I’m not typically a romance reader, so if you enjoy stories where the romance is more of a focus, perhaps you won’t mind that. Despite occasionally cringing, I still enjoyed this story and it’s possible I’ll give Blackburn’s other books a try someday.

Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Having already read all of Natalie Walter’s books, I knew the main character Claudia, her family, and the history that is referenced. I loved getting to know Claudia more through this novella. Knowing some of the backstory to this novella *did* make it a little more enjoyable to me than the other two stories. So I know I’m definitely (and unashamedly) biased in my review. The character development, both snarky and serious character interactions, fast pace, and life-or-death conflict all made me want to continue reading even when I had other more-important things to do.

Ultimately, I’m happy to have read the novellas in Targeted and would recommend this book to readers who enjoy Christian romantic suspense.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the first novella collection I’ve read where I had read all of the authors within AND the series the novellas connected to. What fun it was to catch up with familiar characters! I read Lynn Blackburn’s first because I had just finished what was available in her series and I couldn’t possibly wait to jump in. That series is fantastic! And the novella was just what I needed to help tide me over until the final book releases. Then I read Natalie Walters’ and oh my gosh… Ari Blackman had me hooked right from his introduction (*fans self). This one was connected to her first series and was like visiting old friends I hadn’t seen in a while! I finished with Lynette’s and was excited to see more of Daria. This one was so aptly named because I felt like I was On the Run right along with them! Even though I had read all of the connected novels, it’d been a while (and a lot of books read in between). Lynn’s was the only one that was fresh in my mind, but I didn’t have any trouble following along with the others. Details came back to me and the authors did a good job of filling in some gaps while also leaving enough to intrigue readers into reading the other books. Definitely one of my favorite novella collections!

[Melony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, once you open this book, you cannot put it down. I mean, why would you want to? Action-packed, full of suspense and romance and swoony heroes. What more could a reader ask for? And in novella-sized chunks so that you can read one of the collections by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, or Natalie Walters in one sitting.

If you have read the series by these authors that link to these, it is even more fun to see the characters in the series make an appearance.

If you had to ask me which of the three was my favorite, I’d have to say that I truly could not choose.

Each of these stories is top-notch.

This collection is highly recommended.

The book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. My opinion is my own.

[Jeanne Alfveby Crea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these novellas!

In On the Run by Lynette Eason, highly skilled FBI IT Specialist Daria Nevsky is on the run from someone that broken to her house and is after her. She's injured yet drives several hours until she finally has to seek emergency help and meets Dr. Ryker Donahue who successfully stops someone from murdering her in the hospital. They have a lot of mutual friends and he decides to have her back. Sweet romantic suspense, enjoyed every minute of it!

I really enjoyed Deadly Objective by Lynn Blackburn. The camaraderie between Secret Service Agent Liam Harper and physical therapist Emily Dixon is so much fun. Their mutual work assignment is to guard/work with the vice president's son Mason, who appears to be in the crosshairs of a killer. Mason is a 17-year-old who's thrown into a whole new world and doesn't always handle it very well. He learns to like and respect Liam and Emily as they strive to keep him safe. It was also fun to read about Emily's brother and several of the characters from previous stories.

In Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters, CIA officer Claudia Gallegos gets an urgent call from the body guard of a Saudi Prince to stop by his residence. It's not in the scope of her duties but they sound desperate. She decided to do a drive by and the next thing we know it, Claudia is implicated for murder. Former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman finds himself needing to find the truth about his colleague Claudia. Claudia both insulted and intrigues Ari. This pulse-pounding, page-turning story finds Claudia targeted and her life in danger. I loved watching this story unfold!

Fabulous romantic suspense by three top authors in this genre. Lynette Eason, Lynn R. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters are all on my must-read list. Fans will love this novella collection.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming soon!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novella collection by 3 of my favorite authors?? Yes, please! I have been looking forward to this collection for months! It did not disappoint. Each novella features characters we have already met in the author's series, so getting to see familiar characters was a real treat. The mysteries are spot on as I have come to expect from these ladies and held my attention throughout. I devoured this one in less than a day! A fantastic collection that has more than earned its spot on my keeper shelf!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher but also purchased my own Audible copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Targeted was a good read. It contains three novellas by different authors - On the Run by Lynette Eason, Deadly Objective by Lynn H. Blackburn, and Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters.

The first novella, On the Run, was not a favorite. For some reason I just couldn't connect with the characters and found the storyline unbelievable at times.

Deadly Objective was my favorite novella in this collection. Even though I haven't read Blackburn's book Malicious Intent (2nd book in the Defend and Protect series) yet, it was neat to see characters from that series and I'm eager to pick up that book soon. I liked the romance and how it wasn't insta-love and it held my attention.

Caught in the Crosshairs was a good story. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but did find that the story seemed to move very quickly and seemed a bit rushed at times. I still enjoyed it, though, and hope to see these characters in more of Walters' books.

All in all, Targeted was an enjoyable read.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[Trixi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bite sized suspense stories that lack nothing....except that I wished they were longer because I loved them so much! All three of these authors know how to write the kind of stories that keep me turning pages way past my bedtime. The “targeted” theme plays out very well in each one of these novellas.

In “On the Run” by Lynette Eason we have IT Specialist Daria and Dr. Ryker running from unknown killers with a death wish. Her late father was part of the mafia and would stop at nothing to kill those who got in his way. Could it be that even after his death, Daria is a target? My heart was pounding so much throughout this story. Daria and Ryker couldn't escape from the enemy who cut them off at every turn....what a thrill-ride! You'll have to read this to find out how it plays out.

In “Deadly Objective”by Lynn Blackburn, physical therapist Emily and Secret Service Agent Liam must keep the Vice Presidents son safe. Putting their own lives at risk and trying to stay one step ahead of the killers who seemed to target Mason. Another fantastic story that keep me on my toes!

In “Caught in the Crosshairs”by Natalie Walters, Army PSYOPS officer Ari and CIA officer Claudia must investigate the murder of a Saudi prince, all while being targeted by the murderers. Can they solve the case in time to also thwart a threat to America? I loved the depth of this one & how it kept me on the edge of my seat!

All of these stories are awesome! I loved that they had depth in spite of their short length, a fascinating storyline, a subtle faith theme and characters that I connected with. If you are a fan of inspirational suspense or any of these authors, then I highly recommend this book!

*I received a complimentary copy from Revell via Netgalley and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are mine. *

[Erin Laramore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun romantic suspense novella collection! My one complaint about romantic suspense novellas is that due to the shortness of the story, the romance always feels a bit rushed. The authors did a good job with this, but it still felt rushed to me, as is the nature of the beast. I otherwise thoroughly enjoyed the plot line and mystery for each of these stories. Though I've not read the other series books of Eason or Blackburn, I was able to keep up with each of them; however, I got the feeling I was missing a bit of history, so I think a richer experience is had if you've read other books in each author's series, but it's not essential. I have read all of Natalie Walters' books, though, and it was good to visit some of my "old friends" from her Harbored Secrets series (her story could also stand alone, though - it's just made richer if you know the history of some of the side characters).

Each story had its own unique tale and there was nothing that really pulled them together, so it was easy to take a break between them when my schedule dictated it. The first story was about an FBI agent whose biological father was associated with the mafia. When she's targeted, she has reason to believe that her dead father is somehow connected. She has to figure out how and put a stop to it before she is taken out, or those around her are hurt. The second story is about a secret service agent tasked with keeping the Vice President's son safe, as well as the physical therapist who is helping that same son through an injury. They're together when the VP's home is attacked and they have to work together to not only help keep the family safe, but figure out who is behind the attacks and why. The third story is about a CIA agent who has been called by a foreign royal who is in the States urgently asking for help. When she arrives to assist and finds a grisly scene, she's put in the crosshairs as well. And the agent sent to see if she's involved is the only one who can seemingly help her.

I enjoyed all of the characters in the stories as well as the story lines. The faith thread was more subtle in all of these stories - in large part because they were novellas, I assume. The mysteries and suspense elements kept me turning pages and though the romance moved too quickly for me in each story, it was not overly mushy and was therefore palatable. All in all, this was a collection I would recommend to fans of romantic suspense.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this collection. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Abigail Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page of Lynn Blackburn's Deadly Objective I was pulled in by the connection between Emily and Liam, they just had the perfect balance of chemistry without being blatantly annoying.

Mason on the other hand... He was a kid I did not like, not at first, he kinda grew on me as the story unfolded because the kid became not so annoying and very sweet.

The discussion on love and being hard to love was such a good conversation. It made me love the romance in the story so much more since it proved to be a real love story with true love and not a surface fling-like love that you sometimes come across.

Okay, I've been writing this review a little differently as I no longer have the time to read a book in one setting so this is a bit rambley... But! Mason, the sweetheart, oh goodness! He doesn't give the best first impression, but then once he's on page a bit more, man, he's a sweetheart and really sells the whole book!

The suspense was well done, as always from Lynn Blackburn. The romance was so sweet and not at all rushed even in a shorter story.

All in all, I loved it.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary ebook or physical copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher or blog tour coordinator All views expressed are only my honest opinion and are in no way influenced by others views or wishes.

[Michaela Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I've been hitting a wall lately with suspense reads, but I knew I enjoyed reading two of the three authors in this collection, and with Daria's story in Eason's (one I've been waiting for) and Natalie Walters in another, I decided to give this one a try, and WOW. I ended up reading Eason's story in one sitting -- about an hour and a half -- and loved it. A very powerful intro to the collection, and as soon as I read the opening lines of Blackburn's, I couldn't wait to keep reading. This is the first work I've read by Blackburn, but it won't be the last. (Natalie Walters has become an insta-buy author for me, so I already knew I'd love hers!) Each author had such a compelling storyline, impactful themes, an excellent balance between the romance and suspense, quick-witted characters, just enough humor, edge-of-your-seats action scenes, and overall a fantastic blend of stories for this novella collection. If you've read at least one of these authors, pick up a copy of TARGETED! You won't be disappointed. If you've never read any of these authors...what are you waiting for?!

[Lauren Acosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ The suspense in all three stories was very good but then since they’re shorter stories it was like in the last chapter they solved it all so fast and were all in love 😂. The romance was too much all at once.